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Chapter 14 – The Deepest Poison
There was little that irritated a warrior as much as useless inactivity. Watching the long uneventful hours pass by as the technicians struggled with Toshka's computer code was just such inactivity.
Halling had always been one for action, not just because of his Elite training, but his own people were never ones to sit around idle. His childhood memories of life in the Athosian camp were filled with daily walks for water, cutting of wood, ploughing of the growing land, the scattering of seed, and the eventual long hours of harvesting. Even during torrential rain, he recalled always being active inside the family tent as he had helped prepare bread, serve meals, repair the canvases and furniture, as well as help look after his younger brother. His brother who had been taken by the Wraith at such a young age.
It had been many years since Halling had let his mind dwell in those times, to remember his brother. It was still painful to recall Routh, as was the horrible fact that Halling could no longer truly remember Routh's face. It had been too long ago and Halling's own memory too youthful.
He remembered the terror of the culling though, and he remembered that Teyla had lost her mother during the same horrific attack. Routh had been young, and it had been years later when, having started his Elite training, that he had learnt that Wraith occasionally took young children to seal up in their Hives to allow them to grow a little older in order to provide a sweeter meal. That knowledge had horrified Halling and caused him to bring up his late meal that evening he had learnt such a terrible truth. To think that his brother had been taken and sealed away, restrained and scared, until he was old enough to satisfy a Wraith's appetite.
Halling had always hated the Wraith, but it had been that moment that had set him so securely on the path to battle the Wraith. He had not looked back, had not regretted the life he might have lived among his fellow Athosians. A life in which he might have married, become a father, and worked the fields of Athos. Yet, he also knew that such a life might have been far shorter than the one he lived now. Without the Elite and the Alliance, most Athosians now living would have been killed, or many never born at all.
Halling felt no regret in his choice, in his path in life, yet there were some days when he worried over how the Alliance he fought for was changing. It seemed that peace, as beautiful as it could be, was breeding idleness and greed. Some appeared to see freedom as an opportunity to take what they could from others.
Greed was an enemy that was difficult for Halling, and his fellow Elite, to battle.
As was computer code.
Or boredom.
Boredom was an unfamiliar adversary. But today he had nothing to bring to the struggle against the technological stalemate playing out before him. All he could do was remain present to represent the Elite and to try to be an interactive presence for the similarly bored Military Councillors.
At least Ronon had left with Oneakka. As much as Halling respected his Satedan friend, Ronon was known not to handle impasses very well. On Sateda that had led to great advancements for him as he had proven himself to be a warrior who would let nothing stop what he pursued. In the thick of battle or during the long purposeful waiting beforehand, Ronon could be patient. Halling had witnessed that in him, but waiting long boring hours watching frustrated technicians was not something Ronon was designed to handle.
Ronon's departure over an hour ago had calmed the tension in the room somewhat, but it had done nothing to bring resolution any faster.
However, the promise of resolution might just be ahead for Oneakka, Ronon, Edfu and Seeal had returned not too long ago, Malaca in their custody. Halling had no details yet if that meant that the Manarian was indeed responsible for this complex code, but at least it was something.
However, as usual, Oneakka was taking an extensively long time to process the suspect. Halling was in support of thoroughness, but after having waited in here for almost nine hours now, he was ready to see something, anything happen, and quickly.
The doorway slid open and Halling looked round with anticipation. Edfu stepped through alone. Halling headed towards him, Seifer at his side.
"Honoured Elite," Edfu greeted them.
"Hasn't Oneakka finished yet?" Seifer asked, his own patience stretched.
"Malaca is almost processed," Edfu confirmed. "We needed to be particularly sure he was not concealing anything. Seeal was not exaggerating about the man's skills. His workshop was quite impressive."
Halling had read all he could on the Manarian Malaca while they had been gone. The man was obviously the genius that Seeal had suggested him to be, having won numerous awards and honours for inventiveness and intellectual advancements among his people throughout his life. The official records did not include much about the man personally, but they did indeed suggest that perhaps Malaca had little in the way for social and personal pursuits. He was frequently published among the technological journals on Manaria, and it seemed that a considerable number of significant link upgrades had been initiated solely by his work. It might just be possible that they had found the creator of the complex frustrating code.
"However, we also found some unexpected items in his workshop," Edfu continued, his tone grave.
Halling shifted slightly closer, forming a small huddle of the three of them. "What items?"
"Military hardware, including weaponry," Edfu replied.
Halling had not expected that. He glanced at Seifer to see his fellow Elite frown.
"Elite?" Seifer asked, no doubt thinking about the recent stores they had discovered had been stolen from their own ship.
"No," Edfu confirmed. "Or at least, not so far. The weaponry is Satedan, and we also discovered several pieces of Genii weaponry interfaces, as well as some hull plating. We didn't wait around to catalogue everything. I have the hub station's Security Lead keeping the workshop sealed, discreetly."
"Can the Lead be trusted?" Halling asked.
"I believe so, I have worked with him twice before. He was a commander in the Fleet for many years before a knee injury returned him to Manaria. I have already spoken with Maja at the Training Facility, she is sending two of our best investigators to work through the workshop. Again quietly."
Halling sighed heavily. The Sector 18 hub station was partly owned by Saoka, and once again military equipment was being pushed through his civilian territory. Halling wondered if Si knew yet.
"He could lead us to the evidence we need about the High Council's new ships," Seifer suggested with a touch of excitement.
Halling became aware that the room was silent behind him, other than the tapping and quiet muttering between the working techs around the computer core. He looked round to see that the three Military Councillors were watching and listening in.
"That is possible," Edfu replied to Seifer. "However, we have only one individual's suspicion on the use of these stolen pieces." And an individual who seemed to be linked with the very problem. How trustworthy was Saoka? How angry was Si going to be about this?
"What other use is there for military ship components and weaponry?" The Xindan Military Councillor asked from behind Halling.
Halling had to concede the point. It was beginning to seem that each way they turned lately they were finding more evidence of the growing greed and betrayal within the Alliance.
It had all started with Iketani.
She had used her Elite status and sexual allure to manipulate people to her own means, to corrupt. If Seeal was to be believed, and so far the database from Dreamstation was confirming all the woman had told them, then Iketani had been working her underhand dealings for at least seven years prior to her death.
Seven years of silent betrayal.
Seven years of poison slipping into the Alliance's halls of power.
In that, the Elite had a part of the blame. They should have seen Iketani for what she was, and Halling still regretted his own blindness in that regard. It hadn't been complete ignorance of course, for many of them had not liked the woman's presence and thought her less than honest. But no Elite had suspected, or even considered, that one of their number could have been using their power and influence in such evil ways.
The traitor had even worked with a Wraith Queen. There was no greater betrayal.
It seemed that so much had been corrupted by her.
But, wasn't that just too simple an explanation? Could one corrupt something that was not already open to corruption? Open to greed and self interest into which Iketani had played? How many had Iketani used or even assisted to higher positions of power of the years? How many favours had been granted, how many threats made, or enemies removed at an opportune moment? How much human blood had been on Iketani' hands?
It was exceptionally worrying, but there was no way to ignore the disease that had been found within the Alliance from her actions. The mission now was to find out how deep the poison had reached and to cut out all that it might have infected.
In that at least they were gaining some ground, discovering more of the hidden reaches of the poison. It worried Halling that a man such as Malaca, with extensive access to the Alliance-wide Links system, might be one such corrupted individual.
How far did this deceit truly stretch? Would its reveal save the Alliance, or had it killed too much that the whole would be lost?
Behind Edfu there was movement in the open doorway and Halling was gratefully relieved to finally see Ronon step into the room, the flush of success across his smile. Behind Ronon, Malaca was escorted in by Oneakka's hand on the back of the man's collar.
Malaca was similar enough to his record images as he was in flesh, but it was only in person that Halling saw how skinny the man was, how his hair was somewhat unkempt, and he had grease or charcoal smeared over one cheek. He wasn't in restraints, which was interesting. It also explained Oneakka's rougher handling than usual, or was Oneakka trying to send another kind of message.
Malaca walked with his head down, but his eyes were moving under his brow, sweeping around to see as much as he could with his head pushed slightly forward by Oneakka's grip.
Behind them, last through the door, was Seeal. In her hands she held two small pieces of equipment. She was frowning at one, turning it over. Halling suspected instantly that they had been taken off Malaca, and he recalled all too clearly that similar devices had been found on her when she had been processed as Malaca had just been.
It worried him somewhat that she was handling evidence. All too quickly had this woman moved from a prisoner of the Sythus' brig to now working for them. Halling had not spent much time around her, but he trusted Oneakka without question, and Oneakka believed she was to be trusted. Or at least as much as was smart. Seeal had in truth saved Halling's own life twice now, and for that he felt he should give her some leeway. However, she should not be handling evidence, since she was still the one with a criminal record. It was all very well her assisting them in order for her to gain a clean record, but that did not mean she was wholly trustworthy.
Yet, Oneakka was keeping a watch over her, and Halling did trust his friend's judgement. Though, Halling had to admit that the near constant bickering and arguing between Oneakka and Seeal was beginning to grate on him somewhat. The problem was that Oneakka always liked to gain the last word in conversations, his opinion always directly and clearly stated.
It had been Oneakka's personal determined campaign to hunt down Iketani' influences that had led to these recent discoveries of corruption. That blind obsession had paid off for them it seemed, yet the same stubbornness often had the man arguing over small points. As he seemed to want to do with Seeal, who had her own stubborn, annoying need to get in the last word.
However, the two appeared to be able to work together well enough, quite successfully so. Halling was truthfully incredibly proud of Oneakka for his determined search and grateful that Oneakka had indeed kept at his hunt for so long. So many of the other Elite had doubted him in his obsession, but Halling, Si and Teyla had had trust in Oneakka's abilities.
At the thought of Teyla, Halling glanced at the time displayed nearby. The Sythus needed to leave for Athos within the next hour to be there in time. There would be plenty of time, but the Sythus had to run a complete scan and patrol of the Athosian system before the ceremonies. Halling and Si would be down in Tjaru for the festivities, and the Sythus would remain in orbit. It would be a clear and present message that the Elite supported the contract.
However, in truth Halling was not entirely sure what such a contract would really bring the Elite in any real physical, useful manner. But, the psychological and political message was clear. Perhaps Athos and the Elite's involvement in creating stronger political ties within the Alliance might work as a counterbalance against the growing corruption. That was his hope, just as much as he knew it was Teyla's.
He glanced at the time again as Edfu hurried the technicians out of the room, leaving the chairs empty around the abandoned computer core.
This time tomorrow the Sythus would be heading away from Athos, on its way to Outer Lantana, and Teyla would be married.
Some days it seemed that everything was changing.
Oneakka assisted Malaca down into a vacated chair at the centre of the far side of the table supporting Toshka's computer core. Malaca sat down heavily and glanced over the computer core while Oneakka took up position behind the man's chair, his close intimidating presence no doubt itching at the back of Malaca's neck. Seeal slid back into her previous seat at the far corner of the table, her arms and legs crossed with seeming boredom. Meanwhile, Edfu had moved across to standing directly opposite Malaca, watching him over the computer core.
Halling studied Malaca as the man glanced over the computer core with no apparent recognition, but then most computers probably looked the same when striped to their processors and memory cores. All of the abandoned computer tablets had been turned over to conceal the complex coding displayed on their screens.
"Malaca," Edfu began, drawing the man's attention up to him. Malaca's mouth was shut, his lips pressed together as if he was holding in words he wanted to say. "You are on the Elite ship, Sythus, and these individuals behind me are honoured members of the Military Council."
Malaca's dark eyes slid over the Councillors stood behind Edfu and then across to Halling and Seifer. He didn't look Halling directly in the eye, but Halling saw the gaze take in the weapons and tattoos displayed by him and Seifer.
"I don't understand why I'm here," Malaca said back up to Edfu. There was the faintest shaky edge to his voice, but for the most part it was strong and slightly defiant.
"Really?" Seeal muttered doubtfully from Malaca's right.
"You are here," Edfu explained calmly and politely, but firmly, "because the Elite have been undertaking an investigation of corruption within certain Alliance businesses."
Malaca frowned at that. Like most, he was probably surprised that the Elite would involve themselves in such internal, somewhat mundane, activities.
"Corruption that has resulted in loss of life and even involvement with Wraith," Edfu added.
Malaca's frown slid away and his face noticeably slacked with shocked worry. "Wraith?"
"As such," Edfu continued, ignoring his question, "you can understand the weight and significance when the Elite find themselves at your door."
Malaca's eyes slid back towards Halling and Seifer. "I've never even seen a Wraith," he told them. "I was too young when they last culled Manaria."
"But others have," Edfu replied, "and our tracing of their activities has led us to you."
Malaca licked his lips. "I only work code and circuits," he said with more confidence than he outwardly showed.
"For whoever pays you," Oneakka stated from right behind Malaca and the man twitched.
Malaca took a breath and lifted his gaze straight up to Edfu again. "I have no control over what customers may do with my work after they take it," he stated carefully. "I only produce work to fit the briefs they give me."
It was logical for him at least.
Seeal huffed from the far end of the table. "A brief like how to break into the most secure Alliance locks?"
Malaca's gaze slid to her. "What goes on between competing companies is none of my business. I just produce what they ask me."
"Like breaking into a bank?" Seeal pushed. Halling saw Oneakka's eyes slide to her with interest.
"I have never broken into any bank, or engaged in any criminal activity myself," Malaca stated, returning his attention to Edfu.
Edfu might have started to reply, but apparently Ronon had had enough. He leant forward at the closest end of the table and slammed his fists down on the surface, shocking Malaca and knocking half the computer tablets off the table onto the floor. Oneakka hadn't flinched, but Seeal had jumped and now glared wide-eyed at Ronon with annoyance.
"Where'd you get the guns?" Ronon all but shouted at Malaca. "The Satedan weaponry you stole from my people."
Malaca sat up from the flinched position he had fallen into at Ronon's outburst. "They were sent to me through official channels."
"Liar," Ronon spat back.
"I was told they were official," Malaca insisted. "He had papers and the seal of the High Council on the legal agreement to trade military hardware."
"Because you care about legal papers," Seeal told Malaca.
"WHO?" Ronon shouted. "Who gave you the weapons?"
Malaca's eyes slid to the computer in front of him, giving away his answer before he said anything.
Halling felt a burst of victory – finally something was connecting. Toshka not only had connections to Iketani, but he was also involved in the secret movement of military equipment through civilian channels.
"He had official papers," Malaca insisted again.
"Who?" Edfu pushed this time, though he must have seen Malaca's gaze on the core.
Malaca's dark eyes lifted to him. "Esna Toshka," he confirmed.
"And you made this computer for him," Edfu stated.
Malaca didn't reply straight away. Ronon leant further forward and Halling was almost certain he heard a growl.
"I simply created a new code for storing secure information," Malaca replied quickly.
"Open it up," Edfu nodded down to the core. "Give us access."
Malaca's eyes dropped to the core again. "Customers set their own passwords."
"And you set your own behind them," Seeal added. "Your own little backdoor into the computer, built into the code. Don't pretend otherwise."
Malaca glanced at her and then back to Edfu. "Isn't breaking into someone's computer illegal?" He asked.
Seeal snorted loudly at the question.
"Malaca," Edfu replied calmly, as if talking to a friend. "Do you think the Elite and Military Council require anyone's permission to access traitorous material that compromises the Alliance?"
Malaca's teeth appeared around his upper lip as he worried on it for a moment. "The papers with the hardware held the High Council's seal. How is that any less official?"
Seeal leant forward, setting one long forearm along the edge of the table as she faced Malaca. "Come on Malaca, you're not a stupid man. Do you expect us to believe that you had no doubts about what Toshka was asking you to do?"
"He had official papers and he's a respected businessman in the Alliance," Malaca insisted again.
"Okay, Seeal replied. "Let me guess how your 'employment' and involvement with Toshka began. You probably first heard about him looking for someone with your skills through someone else, they probably mentioned it casually in passing. They said that, as a gift to you, that they'd mention you to him. Then, out of nowhere, one day Toshka messages you, invites you to one of his big business bases, probably the large factory on Manaria that he owns."
Malaca looked round at Seeal with a frown.
"You get welcomed professionally, shown round the place, given lots of compliments and possible suggestions of work you could do for them," Seeal continued with her story. "Then Toshka takes you into his private office, probably gives you some expensive drink or food, and it makes you feel special." She smiled patronisingly. "He asks your opinion on some technical issue and you offer an answer free of charge, and he's so grateful. Maybe it was then that he asked you to make this code for him, and he offers you more currency than anyone had before."
Halling angled his head to see Malaca's face a little clearer. The computer genius was watching Seeal with his full surprised attention.
"You come up with this crazy advanced code and Toshka's still ever so grateful, full of praise and promises of more referrals of his other powerful rich friends. Which is probably when he confided in you that he was involved in some more interesting projects, work for the High Council perhaps. That he would like you to be involved, quietly, to help out with some small little things. But, its secret work and he says he hopes he can believe and trust in you."
Halling frowned faintly at Seeal. How much of this was her making a guess, probably borne from her experience on Dreamstation, and how much might be real direct knowledge?
"But, about that time," she continued, "Toshka stops communicating directly with you and his messages are delivered through third parties, probably through the heavies that deliver the shipments to you. Of course the contents of the shipments are never accurately labelled on the outside for the hub station's security to see. Because everyone trusts you on the hub, you're the golden genius working on the Links system, and you're always receiving components.
"But, you've become a techno mule," Seeal told him. "Taking in hot goods, the electronics of which you wipe and replace with whatever programmes Toshka asked you to replace them with. More heavies come and pick up the pieces when you've finished and you get a nice large bag of physical currency to spend. Am I close?"
Malaca took a second to answer. "I just did the work I was asked to do."
"Paid to do without asking any questions," Seeal corrected. "You were used because you didn't want to know what you were doing, you just pressed your buttons on orders and did what you were told. Like a good little technician."
Malaca glared at her. Seeal's approach was somewhat obvious, insulting the man's pride, but it was clear that her unique form of bored scornful storytelling had gotten to the man.
"If you think these honoured warriors, with their lifetimes of experience against monsters, are going to believe that you had no idea that what you were doing was illegal, then you're not the genius I thought you were for creating this code," Seeal added. Again, it was an obvious approach, a baiting, open throw down and insult, but Halling watched Malaca's nostrils flare.
"Because this code is the work of a genius," Seeal continued quickly. "And clearly Toshka picked you with good reason, but half of that reason was because he knew he could use you. That you'd cover for him, keep quiet, and not tell anyone."
Malaca glared at her. "I thought that was your role," he challenged her. "On Dreamstation wasn't it?"
Seeal nodded. "And working along with the Tile Brothers."
That seemed to make Malaca pause.
"You think I'm here on this ship because the Elite are upset about the gambling and prostitutes on Dream?"
Malaca frowned. "Is this about the Elite woman?"
"What woman?" Oneakka demanded immediately.
Malaca peered up towards Oneakka. "The crazy one, Ika something."
"Iketani?" Edfu asked.
Malaca nodded looking round, frowning deeply, his eyes on the computer code. "Her tattoos were around her throat. She came to the hub once."
The tension in the room seemed to shift around Halling.
"With Toshka?" Edfu asked.
"No, she just turned up one day," Malaca replied up to him. "Appeared in my workshop like a ghost. Guess she used one of those code crackers you used," he added to Seeal.
"What did she want?" Oneakka asked heavily, his voice deep and carrying all the anger he still felt towards Iketani.
"I'm not really sure," Malaca replied. "She talked about looking after the Alliance, doing good work for everyone's sake." He was looking confused. "She bought a few pieces of tech, umm, I think one was a multi-interfacer I had developed for Genii computers, and I can't remember the other. It was well over a year ago."
"And she was probably seducing you at the time too," Seeal put in. "That distracts a guy."
A faint blush rose across Malaca's cheekbones. Halling had the suspicion that Malaca was not approached all that often by females as intense as Iketani had been.
"You called her "crazy"," Edfu asked. "Why?"
"She was..." Malaca paused, searching for the right words, "scary and...unpredictable. She said that she would have work for me in the future, but she never contacted me again."
"When did Toshka first employ you?" Edfu asked.
Malaca looked up with realisation. "Not long afterwards. He never mentioned her."
Halling glanced at Oneakka. Iketani had been involved with the stolen military hardware? How long had this been going on?
"So you have been working for Toshka for over a year?" Edfu asked for clarification.
Malaca nodded. "I have records in my computer; I can tell you the exact date. The date Iketani visited as well. I note everything down."
"We will have all your records already," Edfu informed him.
Malaca smiled faintly up at them. "Not if you can't break this code," he indicated the core in front of him.
"It's breakable," Seeal told him. "It's just that the Elite are on something of a tight time schedule here."
Malaca frowned again. "You're after Toshka."
"He has become a person of interest," Edfu replied. "And, as such, you are now as well."
"I was visited by an Elite warrior and then Toshka had papers from the High Council," Malaca repeated. "I thought I was working for the right people."
"You thought wrong," Ronon growled at him. "You're as much as a traitor as they are."
Malaca was leaning slightly away from Ronon's end of the table. His eyes were moving across the computer core and then over to Seeal. He looked up to Edfu and then across to Halling. "I would never knowingly work for anyone who was helping the Wraith, but I can see that I've found myself in a difficult position. However, I can see that you are reasonable honoured people and can forgive me my ignorance."
"You mean your indifference," Seeal corrected.
"If she has found a way to work her freedom by assisting you," Malaca ignored Seeal's comment but gestured at her with one hand, "then I am hoping that I can as well."
"You will tell us everything you've done, everything you've touched, and everyone you've talked to related to Toshka," Ronon stated with barely suppressed violence.
Malaca licked his lips nervously, but there was growing determination in his intelligent eyes. He understood the position he was in and was working out how to save himself. "I am a simple computer worker, I am only interested in that, but in that area I can help you." His eyes lifted to Edfu. "You want into this code, I will get you in, but I have more to give."
"What do you have?" Edfu asked gently, as if they were having a relaxed afternoon conversation.
Malaca licked his lips again, his eyes moving over the Military Councillors. "I have heard talk from those in the workshop, bits and pieces said that I've put together over the years. I know that the High Council and the Military Council, and the Fleet before it was formed, are at odds. I'm not stupid, the only reason I can think now as to why they had me working on the military hardware and components was to make them untraceable and protect them from standard Military interference frequencies."
"Are you saying you have a way to trace them?" Edfu asked.
Halling looked at Oneakka again, seeing his friend locked in on every word from Malaca.
"I can't trace them," Malaca told them. "But, there's something else I can offer."
"You built in a backdoor into that code too didn't you," Seeal told him.
Malaca glanced at her and back to Edfu. "They won't know it's there, I'm very good at what I do."
"What are you offering?" Edfu pushed.
"All my knowledge of who employed me over the years, what I heard, and a programme that will get you into all of their acquired components that I worked on," Malaca tempted them. "And in return, I get to keep my position on the hub station. I will do no more work for anyone but the Manarian authorities, or without your permission, no more extra projects."
Edfu looked round. Halling met his gaze and then over to Oneakka. Oneakka nodded faintly, giving permission. Halling pondered it. Malaca was an intelligent man, but not of that much interest to them beyond the information he was willing to give. Now he had been marched out of the hub station by Elite it will frightened off those who would have employed him, so it was unlikely that he would be used by his former employers again. He would have to be watched and probably protected as well. It would be annoying use of resources for Enforcement, or even Division, but he could also be useful. He could be used for computer work, in return for him keeping his standing on Manaria.
Halling looked round to Seifer who shrugged with indifference. Halling looked to the Military Councillors. There were only nods of agreement. Halling nodded silently down to Malaca.
Malaca let out a heavy relieved breath and reached for a computer tablet on the table in front of him. He turned it over, revealing the code that had been resisting for hours. He began to tap away on it. "I will be able to keep my position on the hub?" He asked, even though he was already working on the code.
Halling noticed at Seeal was leant foward watching her own tablet interface through which she could watch Malaca's work. Halling hoped he could trust her to ensure that Malaca wasn't doing anything that would compromise the ship. However, he wasn't so sure he had that faith.
He looked to Oneakka, who was watching over Malaca's lowered head, but Halling knew that Oneakka's skills were in physical engineering, not computer code.
"Yes, in return for everything you've promised, and especially the backdoor programme," Edfu told Malaca. "Which will have to be proven using the components we found in your workshop."
Malaca nodded up from the tablet, his fingers pausing in his work. "And the Manarian authorities? If they think-"
"We will tell them you have been graciously assisting the Elite, that you informed us of illegal activities. We will follow through with an internal investigation on Manaria anyway, Toshka's factory in particular."
Malaca nodded and returned to his work. He tapped away only to frown at the tablet. "Tacky novices," he muttered and began tapping away again with more feeling.
Seeal looked up with a slight smile. "Toshka tried to put a block over Malaca's backdoor into the computer."
"I'm insulted he would think this would work," Malaca muttered.
"It would work against most people," Seeal told him.
"It's not a cause for concern?" Edfu asked. "Toshka put explosive elements in the casing of the computer."
Malaca frowned angrily at that. "Oh did he?" he muttered derisively, apparently forgetting himself with his work. Clearly Toshka's willingness to destroy Malaca's complex code did not go down to well.
Halling looked to Seeal, though Edfu had picked up a tablet to watch the work as well.
"The patch over the backdoor isn't an obstacle for Malaca," Seeal told the room.
Halling relaxed a fraction.
Malaca pressed once more on his tablet and sat back. "You have complete access."
Oneakka reached down and took the tablet from Malaca's hand, frightening the man out of his smugness. Malaca cringed into his seat.
Edfu put down his tablet. "Malaca, you will be escorted to the local planet's surface, where Enforcement officers are already waiting for you. You will provide all you promised and in return you will keep you position and standing with your people. You will, however, need protection now and we will be keeping a close eye on you in the future."
Malaca nodded nervously.
Halling looked to the open doorway to the corridor where several security personnel had been waiting since Malaca had been brought in. Halling nodded to them and they quickly entered.
Malaca moved around the cable hanging from Oneakka's tablet and slipped up and out of his chair, avoiding Ronon as much as he could. The Satedan crossed his large muscular arms and glared at the Manarian.
Malaca edged around Ronon, seeming eager now to get to the waiting hands of security, but as he moved away from Toshka's core, he looked to Seeal. "You saw enough to work with the code now?" He asked.
Seeal looked up from her own tablet. "I think so. I'll know where to find you if we get stuck."
Malaca nodded. "It is some of my best work," he sounded almost sad to be leaving it behind.
"Then you should have provided it to the Elite, not Toshka," Seeal told him.
Halling approved of that reply, but wondered if it was more for show than from any real feeling on her part. He looked to Oneakka, but his friend was too engrossed in whatever interesting information he was finding in Toshka's computer. Halling itched to move across the room and look for himself, but at the same time he was tired of Toshka's computer.
He glanced at the time again. The sooner they left for Athos the better. He should go up to Central Station and speak with Si, then get the Sythus moving as soon the Councillors were off the ship.
As Malaca was led from the room, the Military Councillors moved forward and picked up discarded tech tablets for themselves, looking at Toshka's database.
"That went well," Halling summarised as he approached the intent table.
"Very well," Edfu replied, looking up from his tablet. The Military Councillors were talking animatedly over their tablets. "And with good help," Edfu added with a smile towards Seeal. Her head was down though, looking through the computer files.
"Seeal," Edfu added, drawing her attention up to him. "I can see why you were such an effective Security Lead on Dreamstation." The compliment was smooth and accompanied by a smile. Edfu was very good with people, having a naturally kind disposition, but it was obvious to Halling that Edfu was not simply being kind towards Seeal.
Halling had to admit that Seeal had been useful. "It was good work," he offered to her with a slight nod. He still wasn't entirely sure about her trustworthiness.
Seeal smiled back to him though, or was most of the smile directed towards Edfu at his side? "Just remember to put it down on my file to help get me my clean record."
Edfu chuckled. "I will make sure that it is. And I am sure you will only add to the list further. For example, I still have more questions about your report on those carry waves and codes that Karthig used."
Seeal frowned faintly as she returned her attention to her tablet. "I'm not sure where I'll be after this," she shrugged, "but I'll try and help."
"She'll be on this ship," Oneakka stated, apparently having been listening in despite his intense focused work on his tablet interface. "Working on her database of criminals for the Elite."
Seeal looked back up to Edfu and smiled tightly. "Apparently I'll be on this ship," she said with no small amount of sarcasm. Halling felt his shoulders tightening at the prospect of another verbal sparring match beginning between her and Oneakka.
"Perhaps we could converse by link then," Edfu suggested, the flirtation somewhat overt to Halling's tastes.
Seeal looked up to Oneakka. "If I've got enough free time," she said pointedly and looked back to Edfu, "I'll help." She returned her attention back down to her tablet.
Halling glanced at Edfu. It seemed to him that Seeal wasn't responding all that well to Edfu's advances.
"I look forward to it," Edfu concluded, not appearing to be put off.
"We need to leave for Athos shortly," Halling reminded the security man.
Edfu nodded. "Now we have access to the core, I will head back to the hub station, collect what we need from Malaca's workshop with the investigators, and begin some repair work with the Manarian officials to keep to our word with Malaca. I'll leave my techs to stay with Toshka's core as it leaves the Sythus."
Halling nodded.
"I'll report directly on Malaca and his workshop this evening," Edfu promised.
"Thank you for your presence, Lead Edfu," the Xindan Military Councillor added.
"Thank you for your patience, Honoured Councillors," Edfu replied as he moved away. Halling noticed him glance back to Seeal, but she was still engrossed in the database.
Halling didn't bother to pick up a tablet for himself, there were plenty of eyes on it, so he simply watched Ronon's tablet on his right.
"Malaca didn't just give us open access to the computer," Seeal explained. "He opened up every file and folder for us. We have access to everything."
Halling watched as Ronon passed through the files. They were labelled with codes, indecipherable, but what was in them was obvious.
"There are hundreds of records of currency transactions paid to Toshka by a large number of individuals," a Councillor was saying. "This name is familiar; he is in the lead security detail in the High Council building on Aria."
"Who is clearly not satisfied at home," Seeal muttered over her tablet. Ronon had opened up the file himself and various compromising pictures appeared.
"And the woman is, I believe, the Rosenthalian Ambassador to the Genii," Halling noted.
"She certainly does thorough work," Seeal noted.
"There is more than enough information to prove blackmail at the least on Toshka's part," the Xindan Councillor stated. "We will order Toshka's arrest immediately and the core will be handed over to Enforcement. Do you agree, Honoured Elite Oneakka?" She asked formally, but politely.
All eyes turned to Oneakka. He looked up from his tablet. "We will keep a copy of all of this."
The Councillor exchanged a look with her colleagues and nodded. "We agree."
"The copy has to go on a completely separate memory drive," Seeal put in with a touch of concern in her voice. "Just in case there's some other backdoor or viral programming that could infect the Elite systems."
"I'll organise it," Seifer stated eagerly. He moved away, his orders already being relayed over his radio link at his collar.
Halling understood Seifer's need to get out of this room finally.
"There is a wealth of information here," another Councillor muttered. "It will take considerable time to go through it all."
"We have enough to end the matter with Toshka," the Xindan Councillor replied, "and to absolve the Elite publically. And we shall make it very public."
"Should it be?" Seeal asked, seeming not to worry about joining in the Councillors' conversation.
All eyes lowered to her at the corner of the table, the only one sat down.
"I mean, you've just found more evidence that the High Council might be behind, or linked to, this stealing of military hardware. If you make Toshka's arrest public, everyone he's been blackmailing will either run and hide, or majorly cover up their tracks."
"It won't matter," Oneakka stated as he lowered his tablet. Halling noticed that there was an image of Iketani on it. It looked like she was walking through a space station's hallway. "We have enough to find them easily, and they'll know it."
Seeal looked up at him. "You want to frighten the High Council," she interpreted his words.
One of Oneakka's eyebrows lifted slightly as his only response.
"Then they'll only hide their secret stash of space ships better," Seeal replied only to pause. "Which will probably mean moving them," she considered out loud.
"Or removing those who might be linked to where they are hidden," Ronon added. Halling glanced down at the tablet his friend held to see a quite considerably compromising image of a well known Satedan commander. It was an image that Halling instantly wished he could forget. How could anyone find that pleasurable?!
"Either way, a trail will form," the Xindan Councillor concluded. "They will have to either put the project to ground, or conceal it further. While we, meaning Enforcement," she quickly corrected, "now have information enough to track matters."
Halling took in a breath. "The Elite might have a line of enquiry as well."
It was just whether Si would be willing to push Saoka. The timing would be important too. Timing which was fast running out.
He looked to the display of the time again. "We need to leave for Athos very shortly."
Oneakka nodded, but his attention was already focused back on his tablet.
Footsteps through the doorway behind Halling made him look around to see that the techs had returned, and that they were carrying pieces of computer. This would be the equipment to copy Toshka's database.
Halling didn't need to be here for this.
"I shall head up to Central Station," he informed the room.
"We shall leave as soon as Toshka's database has been copied," one Councillor stated. "Thank you, Honoured Elite."
Halling inclined his head to the Councillors, but with Ronon, he patted a hand on the man's thick upper arm. "I shall see you tomorrow, in Tjaru?" He asked quietly.
Ronon nodded, glancing round. "Can't believe she's doing it."
Halling had to nod at that. An Elite marrying into a Political Marriage was new enough, but that it was Teyla would still take some time to assimilate.
Moving through the growing number of techs entering the room with various cables and fast steps, Halling glanced back over his shoulder to see them all buzzing around Toshka's computer. Seeal was stood in the middle of it, pointing out things and apparently in the middle of a disagreement with one male tech about how certain connections should be made. Amidst it all, Oneakka stood, tablet still in hand as he looked through Toshka's material.
Halling had to smile at the island that was his friend, whose determination had brought them so much information. He had no doubt that it would keep many people in Enforcement and Division busy for a long time. After all his angry, obsessed days of hunting, Oneakka finally had what he wanted and Halling was pleased simply for that fact.
It was a rare day that Oneakka seemed happy, but today, it was clear to Halling that his friend was very happy.
Of course, that would only mean that Oneakka would now spend even more obsessive hours going through Toshka's database, as well as the one from Dreamstation.
Whatever made him happy.
Halling headed out of the room, the techs swiftly giving him space. It was time now to focus on another friend though, for if their twice daily links had told Halling anything, it was that Teyla was in need of support tomorrow.
He wondered what it was going to be like having her Genii husband on the ship...
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Yeah, sleep was never going to happen, so John hadn't even tried. Instead he'd taken the remains of his six pack of beers and headed out to sit in the warm darkness of a pier.
He had made sure to pick a new spot to sit in tonight, because he didn't want to be anywhere that might have some memories of her that could ruin his beer buzz.
Which was stupid, because the memories just went with him.
The beauty of the dark cityscape and ocean didn't help make him feel any better though.
Tonight, the magical presence of an Ancient alien city that he had the power to fly wasn't enough. The sea breeze wasn't enough and even the usually soothing beer buzz didn't seem to make much of a dent on the swirling aching mess going around inside his head.
He swirled the last of beer number five around in the bottom of its can and then threw it back, the taste familiar and the warmth running down his throat with the hope of oblivion.
He knew he needed far more for that, but hey, why not try.
The can empty, he crushed it in his fist, the sound satisfying and the little bit of aggression even more so. The metal bit into his palm as he held tightly onto it.
It wasn't like he hadn't known it was all going to end eventually. Course it was.
He just hadn't expected...
In his nightmares it had been Wraith, gunfire, or another shiny blade burying into her back that would take her from him.
He hadn't expected a breakup. Not a shouting match and storming out.
Not her marrying another man and his having to dress up and watch tomorrow.
He hadn't seen that coming. Hadn't expected the bitterness, the ache in his chest, and the horrible taste of heartbreak burning far brighter than the beer ever could.
He should never have touched her, never have kissed her that first time...
He threw the crushed empty can, uncaring about the environment or whatever right now. It wasn't like there were any seagulls to swallow the thing. He watched the can disappear down into the shadowy water below, the ocean and darkness engulfing it without a stir.
Gone without anyone noticing, without making any difference to anyone.
He rubbed both his hands up into his hair, digging the heels of his palms into his eyes. In his head he could hear her frustratingly poised words, her perfect unnatural calm as she told him about her future husband, as if it didn't matter, as if she didn't care.
All while he had felt like the floor had opened up under him and had been trying to drag him into a twisting spinning hell.
He'd been so stupid. Thinking it had meant more to her, that it had all been more than great sex and laughs; that they could have kept things going despite the massive differences in their lives and cultures. That the differences wouldn't get in the way of their relationship.
Except it was never supposed to be a relationship. There had been no promises.
He rubbed his palms roughly over his eyes and exhaled loudly into the dark empty night as he looked out past the end of the pier. The sea air rushed over his face, cooling his skin, but especially over the dampness in the corner of his eyes.
He was an idiot. She was an Elite warrior, off fighting Wraith, her life wrapped up in the Alliance and Athos.
God, what was he going to do? If he was kept on with Woolsey visiting Athos, he was going to have to walk the same hallways, make small talk with her dad, all while knowing that at any moment she could suddenly appear. With her husband...
He reached for the last beer, opened it quickly and lifted the sweet brew to his lips. He kept drinking, wanting to down the whole thing. The taste of Earth, of his old home.
Almost at the point of choking, he finally had to lower the can, all but the last few dregs now gurgling down into his stomach.
The memory of her cheek against his stomach surfaced, with her beautiful smile as she had listened to his stomach after he had downed some of that evening Athosian tea.
Her laugh.
Her noble profile, the curve of her ear, the length of her throat...
He shut his eyes again and crushed the last can, the dregs splattering over his hand.
If only there was a way to just make it all go away, all the soft memories, the hot sultry ones, and the bright technicolour detail of her body. Of the way she had tasted, her hands on him, the feel inside of her, and the whisper of his name on her sweet swollen lips.
The pier swung around him, his head spinning and the wind around him cold and unfeeling.
The pier met his back and he let out a heavy painful breath.
How the hell had he gotten himself in this situation?
It had been so simple before - easy, just smiles, flirtation, and a first kiss. A onetime deal that had turned into two, then into any chance they had. When had it gotten so serious for him?
Probably when he had found out she was choosing a Genii as he husband.
Genii!
Why did it have to be a Genii?
The bitter anger rose up again – raging against her and against Kolya, who had almost stolen John's city from him and then tried to take his life. Why did she have to choose a Genii?
Because it was the political thing to do apparently.
Because that was all that was important to her.
Not him, not what they had shared.
Who was he kidding? It wasn't as if there could have been any kind of future in it. It had been an affair, and it wasn't her fault that he'd gotten in over his head. Fallen for her, felt more than he should have.
He was such an idiot.
And now he had to go walk back into Tjaru, all fake smiles and empty promises of political crap.
Maybe he could be sick tomorrow, because the way his stomach was feeling at just the idea of having to be there when she married her Genii, he wasn't sure he could make it.
Except he'd faced hardship before, had a marriage collapse around him, had his whole working life split apart and tear him wide open, so really he should recognise this depressing place. It was just he had started to think that he had found the right place to be, a life that felt right, his place in the universe, but now it was splitting apart again and spitting him out.
The beer burned up his gullet while he lay on his back, the fuzzy edges around his mind and senses increasing. It was a numbness that he craved, wanted to swim into and drown in. It wasn't enough, but he let the swirling sensation just drag him where it wanted. The sky above with its alien clouds looked ominous and dark above him, moon and starlight breaking through in tiny slithers.
He'd been so stupid, and now he was going to have to face the consequences. Face the sight of her stood in front of everyone, smiling and so sure of her perfectly calm Elite side. A warrior selling herself off to the Alliance for trade, to glue the pieces of the Alliance jigsaw together. Well, he didn't care if the thing just fell apart, let the Alliance dissolve...swirling away...
The warm night closed in on him, the breeze pushing away the pieces of pain and bitterness as the buzz engulfed him, pulling him down into the dark welcome pull of sleep.
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TBC