The Fall

by Wedjatqi

ALLIANCE FIC – 2 weeks after the events of 'Interlude 4' and Atlantis continues to search for Janus' secret lab; Teyla, still feeling slightly unwell, is aboard the Sythus on its way to hunt down the elusive Skerti out beyond the Alliance border. And in the Training Facility, Oneakka continues his recovery while struggling with new developments regarding Seeal.

28. Act 2 - Out of Control

ACT 2 – TRUTH

Chapter 28 – Out of Control

Seeal hadn't slept well, which wasn't all that surprising after yesterday but it was still really annoying.

As was the niggling reality that she was not handling things well.

She wasn't usually like this; life before working for the Elite had felt straightforward, which was just bizarre. She'd worked and lived among criminals, always watching her back and ready for the very worst to happen at any moment. And yet, somehow, that life had felt easier.

After leaving the Canteen – decidedly not storming out, she'd been careful about that – she'd come back here to her quarters and caught herself pacing up and down. There wasn't a ton of space, but the length from the front door to the table against the back wall had been a decent distance for her to continue her caged animal pacing routine.

It hadn't been so much the frustrated anger at Oneakka, with his oafish smug nosiness and difficultness ruining her friendship with Smee, it had been the burning denial against the embarrassing suspicion that she might have slightly overreacted in the Canteen.

She'd never overreacted to anything back on Dream, though admittedly most of the things that had happened there had required big responses, so maybe it wasn't a valid comparison. Still, she couldn't remember ever losing her temper and control of arguments like she had recently. Oneakka just had this way… She had no idea what it was, something about him recently, and maybe herself too; things were more argumentative and uncomfortable, but, at the same time, they'd had times where things had been so relaxed and easy. When they'd had Late Meal alone together the other evening that had been really nice.

She'd kept pacing through thinking about that particular bit, struggling against the fact that she was just plain too sensitive to him. She cared too damn much what he thought of her and those she chose as friends.

Stupid little feelings giving her this weakness!

But regardless of her own weaknesses, he'd still been irritating and awful about the whole thing with Smee. That new strange shifty smugness to him that she really didn't like and made him difficult and unreadable. Potentially having ruined her friendship with Smee forever. And so far, Smee still hadn't messaged her since they'd talked this morning, hadn't rescheduled their next meet up…maybe he never would.

Though, of course that only made the whole thing more annoying because Oneakka had been right.

But if he apparently didn't want anything to do with her personal life, he had a terrible way of showing it; getting involved in her business, wading in and making a mess of things. He'd just wanted to be right that was clearly the issue, even though he wanted nothing to do with her personal life.

The rejection in that had stung, especially the way he'd kept repeating that bit so forcefully.

Which made the soft little feelings get all hurt and had made her react so dramatically.

Stupid feelings.

Life really had been easier on Dream. She'd never gotten her feelings hurt back there; her body yes, her sense of security yes, but then it wasn't like she'd been comfortable throughout her life anyway…not until she'd come here.

The really frustrating thing was that she'd promised herself that she wouldn't get herself attached to another big dominant male in her life. She'd sworn she'd stop that, that she'd forge her own life and not be ruled by the needs and wants of males. That she'd be free. But apparently the feelings hadn't been listening.

She'd opened her wardrobe at that point and glared at her bag stored in there. But Smee's overly accurate description about her always ready to pack a bag had made her shut the wardrobe door again.

He'd implied it was running away.

But there was a difference between running away and making a strategic decision to move in a different direction.

So she'd sat down in front of her wallscreen and called up the message she'd had from Saoka yesterday. It had been an update about the incident on the station, apologising to her again about the lapse in station security and reminding her that she had a free meal waiting for her in his plush expensive restaurant on his station; and he had repeated his offer of employment.

She'd be just plain mad to go work for Saoka. Just imagine how Creass would react if he found out!

And there it had been again: making decisions about her life based around big male personalities!

If she did go work for Saoka, it would be closer to her main skill set; she could focus on just security again. Be away from Oneakka's prodding annoyingness. Maybe just see him occasionally…

It wasn't like she hated him, no in fact she…

No, she wasn't going to go thinking that other word again. It was just a passing crush.

At least one thing yesterday's events had made clear was what she felt was clearly not hero worship, because the male was an irritating, difficult, stubborn, oafish piece of edged ice.

He'd probably not care at all if she left the Facility since he had repeatedly insisted that he wanted nothing to do with her personally.

It was embarrassing how hurtful that felt.

She'd started pacing again, up until a text link had arrived from Massa asking if she was alright. She hadn't wanted to accept the offer to talk in his message, so had sent a reply that she was fine and was spending time with Amel. It had already occurred to her to seek out some female support, but the pacing had taken awhile. But, she hadn't wanted to lie to Massa, so she'd actually gone to visit Amel further down the corridor, just to see if she was free. Not to talk about Oneakka, just to have some kind easy company. Fortunately, Amel had been in and had launched into a story about how she had walked into Edfu again, Amel clearly finding amusement in her own crush.

Seeal wished she could find hers amusing.

It instead felt like a burden; one she should run away from.

But, she'd ended up spending a good couple of hours in Amel's quarters into the evening. They'd had some tea Amel had bought on Saoka's station, drunk from two of her new colourful mugs, and they'd ordered in some extra food. Sitting in Amel's extravagantly decorated home had actually really helped, as had not talking about anything Elite related.

After that she'd gone back to her quarters and not fallen asleep for hours into the night.

And she'd not had a text link from Oneakka.

Somewhere in the night she'd finally fallen asleep, decidedly not having read anymore of the overly romantic story she'd started the previous night.

She'd woken this morning groggy, no clearer in her head.

As she washed and dressed, she'd tried to imagine going to work for Saoka, being in Security again. As easy as that move would probably be, she'd be working for Saoka. That just felt like it went against some inner code she hadn't realised she had. It wasn't like he was worse than Creass, maybe even a little bit better, but he was still scum dressed in pretty clothes. As much as he insisted his bad behaviours were left in his past, the patterned dog never lost its spots.

Heading out of her quarters, far earlier than usual, she popped into a different Canteen and picked up some First Meal to take away with her. She'd then taken a long circuitous route through the Facility – one in which she'd be unlikely to walk into Oneakka – eating her toasted sweet-grain slices on the way and arrived at the Project Room before anyone else.

As she entered the big room, she noticed the lights were already on despite her being the first in here. As she headed towards her workstation, she glanced up and saw that the reason was that the morning's Security staff member was already up in the observation room overlooking the Project Room. The female glanced up from what looked like the start of her own First Meal brought with her to her duty station. Seeal gave her a nod and the female nodded back before focusing back down to her food.

Seeal headed on towards her desk, trying not to feel annoyed at the fact that she just wasn't seen as a security threat anymore here. She wasn't a threat, but the fact that the Elite didn't watch her so closely anymore still made her feel…unimportant.

She rolled her eyes at her own self talk; clearly there was something very wrong with her. Well, that wasn't all that of a surprise; cursed after all perhaps, just like the Glisi thought.

With that depressing thought, she reached her workstation, moving to put her jacket and pad down, only there was something out of place.

A small dark box was sat on her desk.

She froze, staring at it.

It was probably too small to hold any decent amount of explosives, not that there weren't a few that could do serious damage this close in small quantities. There were also deadly gas capsules that could be wired into boxes this small.

She glanced up to the Security member in the observation room; the female was still relaxed, now pouring herself some dark drink while she chewed on her food. Security weren't here all the time; she knew from Smee that the security oversight was actually more protective than watching for criminal activity. She knew they weren't in here overnight or through meal breaks. That the female was eating implied she'd only just gotten here, here in case of early arrivers like Seeal this morning. Which meant either that someone had left the box late yesterday or very early this morning…or someone had just left it, but they hadn't been concerning to the watching Security female.

Seeal let out a faint sigh. There was a chance that she was overreacting again…

Still, she knew there were a few people in the Facility who really didn't like her. The Project's 'Mr Angry Tech' being one of them, who would have easy access to her workstation in here without causing any suspicion…

She considered the box again.

She carefully set down her pad and jacket on her stool and glanced around all the sides of the box without getting too close. No sign of any triggers, but there were little hinges on the back of the box, so the lid lifted up.

She could probably risk it.

She picked up her pad again and used one of its corners to gently nudge the box.

Nothing clicked, opened, or exploded, so that was good. She nudged it again, moving it properly this time. She didn't have a sensor pad like the Elite used, and her electronic pad was only basic, specially adapted to reduce its functions so she couldn't use it to hack anything.

Back on Dream, she'd carried a small kit on her belt with small tools to help with this kind of thing, but she didn't have any of that now. The old direct way it was then.

Putting down the pad, she reached out with both hands, keeping her body at full arm's length from the box. She carefully gripped the lid and the base, carefully lifting the lid just a faint fraction. If there was a catch inside, she'd hopefully see it in time…

The glint of silver and dark velvet was all she saw.

Silver as in jewellery…?

She opened the box properly and the recognisable curved shape of the raven brooch glittered in the overhead light.

The brooch from Khepri' shop that was seriously expensive.

Even if you had a special discount to use.

She sat down sharply onto her stool in shock, inadvertently sitting on her pad and jacket as she did. She quickly removed them from embedding themselves into her backside, and returned her full attention to the expensive brooch.

It had to be from him. No one else would know or think to give this to her surely? No one else called her 'Raven' and he'd been the one to point out the brooch to her in Khepri' shop, encouraged her to buy it.

Though, Amel had been there too when he'd done that. Amel wouldn't randomly give her something so expensive would she? Though Amel's people did everything big and showy…

She set the open jewellery box down, picked up her pad and quickly typed a text link to Amel, asking if she had left anything on her desk for her.

A response came back almost instantly. Amel confirmed she hadn't left anything and then asked if she was supposed to have left something. Seeal quickly typed back saying no, she was just checking something.

She set the pad down and stared at the brooch.

She'd never been given anything so beautiful and expensive before.

As peace offerings went, it was a hell of a good one!

The little feelings stirred out of their resentful hurt from yesterday.

She picked up the box again and brought it closer, reaching in to touch the bright beautiful silver brooch, studying the tiny delicate carving of feathers along one side and the glittering jewel as it's eye… She'd never owned anything like this before.

She sighed as she put it down and reached for her pad again. She opened up a text link to him and started typing:

Thank you.

She wasn't sure what else to put, aware that she stubbornly didn't want to apologise to him for her part in the argument. Even if she had overreacted, he'd still been out of order…

She just sent that simple message.

He was such a male of extremes; he could be so unyielding and stubborn, but also capable of nice apologies, worrying about her safety, and now giving expensive gifts too! But then she imagined he was probably paid a lot of currency for being an Elite, and one who had survived into his mid thirty years unlike so many other Elite, so had probably saved a great deal of his earnings…for what though? He wasn't likely to make old bones…

She frowned at that depressing thought, always stirring close to the surface around him. Somewhere along the way, the horrific memories from the Rogue Hive and sitting with Halling afterwards, watching Oneakka's lifesigns reducing through the long hours, had become something of an antidote against the soft feelings. The chances were that, once he was fully recovered, that it wouldn't be long until he was hurt again.

Her pad vibrated in her hand, drawing her attention away from staring at the raven brooch to see that Oneakka had responded. For a brief moment she had the horrible thought that he'd say he knew nothing about the brooch, that it had been someone else!

Clearly supposed to be yours.

She smiled with a relieved breath at his brief simple comment; of course the brooch was from him.

She tapped to reply, but frowned down at the empty space to fill.

At her eagerness to mend the damage.

That he had given her this brooch said he wanted the same.

Had she overreacted? Both storming – no, walking – into the Rehab Gym to confront him yesterday morning and in last night's fight?

Though he'd said he didn't want to be involved in her personal life, maybe he really had been trying to help – in his oafish way – in regards to Smee?

She felt a little lost in the turning confused thoughts. She wasn't sure she could tell what was 'normal' around Oneakka anymore and that felt really worrying, both in relation to herself and him. Everything had used to feel understandable between them. Up to and through his recovery, he'd made sense to her, even when he'd been stubborn and annoying. She'd understood who he was and what he stood for. Now, though…since Halling and the Sythus had gone, since he'd been left behind to recover, he'd become murky to her.

Or was it because her own feelings had gotten out of hand?

Maybe he really had just wanted to help her realise that Smee's intentions weren't quite as clear.

Though, looking on it all with Security Lead eyes, she was inclined to think there was something more; something behind his shifty blankness in the Gym…unless that had just been him trying not to get involved?

Why had everything become so confusing lately?!

Well, that would certainly be helped by his leaving on his break away in two days' time. Before she'd not been looking forward to him going away, but now it was probably for the best. After all distance was what she'd wanted…only he'd failed his medical review so they'd had more time together. But once he was back from his holiday away, he'd be on administration work rotation and then, no doubt very quickly given his recovery speed, he'd be back throwing himself into battle. Getting hurt again, probably for the last time.

Falling for someone like that was just plain stupid on her part. So keeping things nice and clear, having time apart, well…it was for the best. So, she should just agree to the peace and let the friendship naturally become more distant. Just spend these two more days in peaceful friendship with him.

A thought occurred that maybe he was thinking the same? That this might be their last few free days together…could that be why he'd started getting so protective of her recently? Why he was worried about her being able to defend herself against future morons attacking her on stations? Because he wasn't going to be around as her personal Elite protector very soon?

That made a bit of more sense, and seemed to fit the Oneakka she'd formerly understood far better.

She considered her unwritten text link response to him. She should just let go of what happened yesterday and maybe extend her own peace offering.

If you are free for Midday Meal, we could meet up

She frowned at the rather desperate sounding invitation, so added

and talk about what you and Neligan decided for the goats.

That was better. She sent off the text link.

Someone was entering the project room, so she set her pad down and quickly reached for the brooch box. She shut it and set the dark little box further back on her desk, tucking it back out of sight. Several more of the team came in and she exchanged polite nods with them while focusing on starting up her computer interface access to the Project's part of the database.

Her pad bleeped. Oneakka had replied.

Due last scar treatment late this morning, not sure what time will finish. Can meet you at Project Room to go to Canteen?

She almost smiled at the direct brief statements, so very him.

I'll wait for you, she started to type, but that sounded like it could be misinterpreted, so she deleted that and sent:

Whenever you get here is fine.

Though had that been too casual?

She shook her head at herself. Honestly, she'd certainly never second-guessed herself this much back on Dream.

The rest of the team were arriving for the start of the day, the Project Lead calling a morning greeting to everyone as he entered. Behind him, Amel came into view, grinning brightly at Seeal as she headed up the length of the room.

Seeal smiled back and then dropped her eyes back down to her desk, reaching out to tuck the jewellery box a little further back out of sight where it was safe and hidden.

Like certain feelings.

She rolled her eyes at herself and focused on her computer, tapping into the latest thing she'd been working on.

Her pad bleeped again and she glanced down to see that Oneakka had sent her one of the emergency Portal address tests again.

Bizarrely pleased at the return of his obsessive tests, she reached down and typed in the correct answer, well within the short timescale he'd given for her to respond. His technique of these repeated, random tests had worked already, the Ugun Portal address now emblazoned into her memory. And, if Massa was to be believed, Oneakka would keep sending these tests for many years to come.

She certainly hoped that would turn out to be true.

00000

The four Drones tightly surrounding Mind Song and Long Sleep were, as always, silent as they escorted them through the massive ancient Hive. There had been no warning this time from New Breath that they were to be moved out of their chamber, which worried Mind Song somewhat. However, he could not risk lifting his mind up towards the network to see if he could detect her – to check she was still alive – not when Lost Lineage might be all too aware of them.

The Hive had dropped out of hyperspace a short while ago, which suggested they had reached the launch point from which the attack on the Skerti-held prey fleet would begin. However, normally before a battle, Hives were very active, with crew kin moving to their battle stations or to prepare Fighters for departure, all systems and weapons made ready at full power. Yet here there were no signs of such preparations in the hallways around them, which was strange.

Unless they had dropped out of hyperspace early for some reason…

Mind Song glanced to his left where Long Sleep strode along beside him within the Drone escort. As usual, Long Sleep had his impressive mind so tightly wrapped up and fortified that Mind Song could barely feel it, even this close, but he saw his Batch Brother's faintest nod. He was ready should dramatic action be required…

That New Breath had not contacted them was indeed concerning, but it seemed that they were again being taking up to Lost Lineage's Central Command Chamber. That, of course, could simply mean that they were to be executed in front of Lost Lineage, but that they were currently still alive was a positive. They just had to be far more cautious this time in Lost Lineage's presence, keep their thoughts concealed and their manner submissive in front of the Warrior Queen.

At least until one of the many action plans he and Long Sleep had discussed was required.

Turning a sharp turn into the final approach to the Central Command Chamber, Mind Song once again worked to wrap up his mind and focus on calm and clear emotions for Lost Lineage to read.

If she had time for such attention, as the closer they drew to the Command Chamber, the stronger and louder Lost Lineage's mind was becoming. Like a massive powerful ocean, her mind was flowing freely, full of waves of intense satisfaction and eager anticipation.

The eagerness of her lineage's bloodlust for battle.

The entrance to the chamber entrance ahead, the rolling waves of her dominating mind crashed around Mind Song. He resisted the urge to wince at the brutality of her unleashed emotions, as formidable as all of her former Blood Sisters.

Still, if such power could be unleashed on the Skerti, perhaps it could truly be what they needed right now.

The Drone escort, seeming unaffected by the onslaught of their Queen's mind, marched him and Long Sleep into the Command Chamber. As they entered, Mind Song lowered his head, keeping his appearance submissive, aware of Long Sleep doing the same next to him. However, under the cover of his brow, Mind Song quickly scanned as much of the Chamber as he could between the Drones around him.

As before, there were at least two Warriors stationed at each of the excessive number of consoles in the chamber, Drones were lining the walls of the space, and Lost Lineage stood proudly upon her raised central platform. Ahead of her, the entire front wall of the chamber was full of shifting holographic displays, but Mind Song's attention was immediately drawn to the other side of the raised plinth where, fortunately, he spied New Breath.

She was alive, but she was turned away slightly, her head lowered.

The Drone escort abruptly parted, leaving space for him and Long Sleep to approach one side of Lost Lineage's raised platform. Without any agreement, they both stopped at the same time, a safe and respectful distance from the Warrior Queen. Both of them kept their heads lowered, but Mind Song kept his eyes fixed on New Breath.

There was a body lying on the floor at her feet, fed upon and clearly not Human Prey, and there was blood glistening on New Breath's right feeding hand.

He shifted his attention quickly back to what he could see of the body; it was definitely a former Wraith kin, but from the clothing and size he could tell it had not been of Lost Lineage's line. The long white hair also, fortunately, excluded it from being Michael.

He glanced up New Breath and could see that her breathing was a little fast, suggesting she had literally only just finished feeding. He watched her lift her eyes from the body, her shoulders rising and falling into a more controlled shape. She turned round, away from the body, her eyes sliding to him and Long Sleep.

She appeared unharmed, though the former signs of wear in dealing with Lost Lineage appeared more pronounced now. Yet, despite the clear strain, New Breath was holding herself upright and in control, just.

"Now you are better sustained, Young Queen," Lost Lineage stated as she strode forward along her walkway, her attention focused on the front wall of displays. "Tell me what you see."

New Breath moved her eyes from Mind Song and he saw the brief sneering lift of her upper lip towards the other Queen, but she quickly controlled her expression. "The enemy fleet, as they were before."

"Yes," Lost Lineage agreed haughtily. "Still limping along at sublight speeds in their weak Prey vessels."

Mind Song shifted his attention to the large hologram that displayed the Skerti-held Fleet. The Human-made ships remained in the exact same formation as they had previously and, according to a quick scan of the live sensor readings displayed, Mind Song could see that the damaged engine readings were just as before…perhaps slightly worse.

Two more days had passed and yet the enemy had still not repaired a single ship? Had not decided to cut its losses and abandon at least a few of the poorly functioning ships?

The trap was so obvious now that surely Lost Lineage had to see it.

Lost Lineage turned on her platform, her sharp slit eyes focusing abruptly on Mind Song. He quickly lowered his eyes to match his bowed head.

"Tell me, Twisted Warrior," she stated, "what have you found in the historical records after your long hours of research?"

He had no doubt that she already knew exactly what he had looked at, had seen enough to draw her own conclusions.

"Have you found everything we need to know about the Skerti?" She asked, the question dripping with condescension as her mind throbbed with anticipation. Her eagerness felt like a thick permeating presence in the Command Chamber, no doubt feeding into her Warriors and Drones, surely now flushing through the entire Hive.

The infamous Warrior Lineage battle-lust and dominant arrogance made her feel unpredictable and especially dangerous.

Had she called them up here to drain her information and have them killed like the fed-upon Warrior lying on the floor?

Mind Song lifted his head a fraction so he could slightly see her face, but he didn't focus on her eyes; doing nothing that might overly provoke her.

"I found a short period of time back in the middle era of the Old Lanteans in which there were shockingly high numbers of lost kin, ships and especially Hives," he reported calmly. "And several significant accounts of feeding stores on isolated moons and planets having been slaughtered. Human Prey settlements entirely killed but not fed upon. As if something was attacking our feeding source."

Lost Lineage angled her head, the information clearly not new to her. This was instead then a test of what he would report, or was she actually keeping to her promise to ensure New Breath 'heard' the information at the same time as her?

"And you think this was the Skerti?" Lost Lineage asked him as she shifted her weight, wandering several steps along her raised platform.

"It is possible, Great Queen," Mind Song replied carefully. "It would match the time period we might expect."

"And their allegiance with the Old Lanteans," she nodded, keeping to her theory of Atlantis' involvement, despite him just telling her that Human Prey had been killed; something the Old Lanteans would not have tolerated, after all the great battles had been about the Old Lanteans protecting their Human-seeded worlds.

He said nothing more though, did not voice his opinion of her theory. She clearly had her mind made up and she was obviously not in a mood to tolerate anyone speaking back to her. All too ready for battle, her warrior nature pouring out of her veins and mind like a storm.

"So you found no mention of the Skerti at all," Lost Lineage concluded as she turned away from him, walking back towards the front displays. Her tone was one of humouring an infant, but he kept his response to that tightly contained inside.

"No, Great Queen," he agreed with Lost Lineage as he slid his gaze back towards New Breath. New Breath's eyes met his.

Her youthful face was flushed with her recent feeding, but it had clearly not been enough to heal her tiredness. Continuously holding back Lost Lineage's powerful Elder mind had already been taxing on the Young Queen, but with Lost Lineage's current forceful rolling mind, he imagined she was being pushed to her inexperienced limits. If she survived this, then she had certainly gained some significant experience in playing Minor Queen to Lost Lineage during this journey so far.

Though, that Lost Lineage had let her feed suggested New Breath was not in immediate danger, but the same could not be said for him and Long Sleep.

"Your research has yielded little then, Twisted Warrior," Lost Lineage concluded, her tone implying it had been a waste of his, and her, time.

He wondered how she had outlived all her other Blood Sisters with such a view.

"We will shortly learn all we need to of the Skerti," she hissed pleasurably as she stood in front of the live feed of the enemy Fleet on the holographic display.

Mind Song shifted his eyes over more of the displays, taking in the positions of the Skerti-held fleet. As before, the smaller ships were spread around the large central Human-made vessel. The very smallest of the prey vessels travelled at the outer edges of the formation, the ships that had displayed such powerful engine pods and thick hulls during their battle with Sharp Claw's fleet; having dodged weapons fire and apparently having torn open the belly of one Hive in the footage.

Here though, they looked innocuous. And a large number of them were showing engine damage in the sensor readings, all lingering on the outer, most vulnerable edges of the formation. A tempting trap for an unthinking predator.

Which clearly Lost Lineage intended this five Queen strong Culling Fleet to be.

He would imagine Sharp Claw had thought her own massive fleet just as strong before it had all been obliterated.

Scanning quickly over the sensor readings of the rest of the enemy fleet, Mind Song still saw no indication of the dangerous radiation being emitted. Perhaps Long Sleep was correct, that they would not turn on the radiation until a more opportune time; or, perhaps, they did not have the same engine drive that the Skerti Queen had installed on Long Sleep's former doomed Hive.

"Glorious Queen," a loud voice called to Lost Lineage, "both advance Hives report they have reached their launch points."

"Excellent," Lost Lineage all but purred. She lifted a hand and a section of the large wall displays shifted, now showing a chart with the locations of each part of the Culling Fleet and the enemy. As per Lost Lineage's plan, two Hives and their supporting Cruisers had flown on ahead of the enemy fleet's position, ready now at two separate locations to jump in on the enemy while Lost Lineage, New Breath and one other Queen would launch from this current position. Making short jumps via hyperspace, the three sections of the attack would arrive around the enemy, simultaneously attacking from multiple directions.

It was a reasonable plan of attack, but when it was clearly a trap waiting for them, then it was in fact a foolish strategy.

And he and Long Sleep would here in the middle of it, if Lost Lineage did not have them killed any second that was…

Beside him, he was aware of Long Sleep's head moving a fraction as he too took in all the information across the front wall holograms. He suspected his Brother would be gathering far more than he, his Keeper knowledge of technology no doubt helping.

"Tell the Queens to wait for my order," Lost Lineage announced across the chamber.

"Yes, Glorious Queen," one of the sea of identical Warriors instantly replied.

Lost Lineage spun round on her platform and started back along it, her attention focused down on New Breath.

"Young Queen," she stated, "have you learned a great deal from my tutelage these past days?"

"Of course," New Breath replied, "Great Sister," she added a fraction later.

"And you have provided useful intel to me," Lost Lineage continued. "I feel you have great potential, Sister. Assuming you prove yourself in this approaching victory and can earn the Feeding Ground I will bequeath to you."

It was a severe insult wrapped within a compliment, and Mind Song shifted his gaze across the platform to New Breath's face.

The Young Queen smiled up at the Warrior Queen in a surprisingly convincing manner. "Thank you, Great Sister."

"This battle will be excellent experience for you," Lost Lineage continued as she turned and started back along the walkway towards the displays. "Which is why you will lead this section of the attack."

Mind Song frowned down at the floor.

"You want me to command your Hive?" New Breath asked, the frown and surprise clear in her voice.

Close to where Mind Song was stood, Lost Linage stopped on her plinth and turned back towards New Breath. "You will take your Hive, leading it and our Sister Queen waiting out there in her Hive, and with six of my supporting Cruisers you will lead the attack on the enemy from this direction. Our other two Sisters will jump in from their directions, flanking the enemy and crushing it."

Mind Song glanced up from under his brow, looking past Lost Lineage to New Breath.

Michael had been right: Lost Lineage was sending the Young Queens into the battle, untrained and against potentially deadly unknown odds.

But a Warrior Lineage Queen not going into a battle herself?!

New Breath frowned up at Lost Lineage. "You are not joining the attack?"

"That depends on if you fail," Lost Lineage replied. "How are you to sit upon a throne until you have crushed an enemy under your heel? Or did you join this Gathering just to hide behind my skirts?"

New Breath's face darkened and a soft hiss escaped between the tips of her teeth against her dark lips.

Lost Lineage let out an amused laugh as she turned and started walking back towards her displays.

Mind Song watched New Breath carefully, seeing and almost feeling her warring internal battle. No Queen should take such an insult, but she was stood on Lost Lineage's Hive, surrounded by Warriors and Drones; her only support technically him and Long Sleep. If the need arose, they would fight for her, but they were clearly outnumbered; escaping this Hive from this crowded dangerous Command Chamber would be near impossible…

Lost Lineage let out another chuckling laugh. "You are thinking that if you kill me here, Sister, that you can have my Hive and my forces for yourself. If you want to try," Lost Lineage turned and held her hands out to her sides, "do so," she baited New Breath.

There was a long tense pause.

Mind Song shifted his gaze back to New Breath and shook his head a fraction, willing New Breath not to take the bait.

"Or," Lost Lineage continued after the short unmoving moment, "you can lead your Hive and the other out there to victory, and I will reward you."

Another long moment held as New Breath glared up at Lost Lineage, only to, finally and wisely, angle her head with a faint nod of agreement.

Ming Song let out the tense breath he had been holding.

"Good," Lost Lineage stated victoriously, "your Transport Pod is waiting for you and you can take these twisted things," one hand gestured towards him and Long Sleep, "with you. I have all I require from them."

New Breath held still for another pause before she nodded and strode away from Lost Lineage, moving around behind the Piloting Stations. "Come!" She ordered loudly towards him and Long Sleep, as she headed for the exit out of the Command Chamber.

Mind Song turned and strode after her, Long Sleep a pace behind him as they followed her hurried departure.

Outside the chamber, the four Drones that had been his and Long Sleep's guards all these days were waiting, but New Breath strode forcefully past them and down the corridor beyond. Mind Song lengthened his stride, quickly catching up with her, but she had impressive speed given her petite height. As Long Sleep caught up behind him, Mind Song glanced back over their shoulders seeing that the four Drones were following them, but New Breath's fast pace was limiting how close they could follow given their bulky size.

Mind Song shifted his gaze quickly to Long Sleep and they exchanged a nod. Looking forward again past New Breath's angry back, Mind Song watched the way ahead for potential threats. There were adjoining hallways and open chambers leading off the corridor, out of which an attack could arrive at any point. It was possibly unlikely, given Lost Lineage was sending the Young Queen off the Hive to command the attack, but he did not trust the Warrior Queen not to suddenly change her mind or attempt to test them.

A Warrior Queen sending another Queen into battle in her stead? He'd never heard of such a thing, but perhaps it explained how Lost Lineage had become the last of her lineage. And, perhaps, why this ancient Hive was so pristine. Was that how she had survived this long: not directly engaging in battles herself and sending in others to do her fighting? Her Hive never damaged because it had never been in a battle?

He had not predicted this in his many scenarios, but it was making more sense to him given the facts of this strange old immaculate Hive and its crew.

A few Warriors started appearing in the entrance to the chambers along the corridor, watching New Breath as she strode past. Mind Song lengthened his stride again to keep close behind the Young Queen, ready to defend her if necessary…

But no attack appeared as they turned into the long spinal corridor, more watching eyes following them. The judgement felt thick in the air, the moist air now feeling too cloying in Mind Song's throat as he worked to watch all angles as New Breath tore down the corridor.

Behind him, Long Sleep was keeping close, watching their backs as he watched the way ahead, but Mind Song also felt Long Sleep's mind briefly lift up into the network, sending out a call to Michael. The moment of escape was here, but it was speedy and Mind Song was still not convinced that Lost Lineage was going to let them all leave.

New Breath abruptly turned, striding into a Transport Chamber, surprising Mind Song, but he followed her inside. Long Sleep stepped in behind them, blocking the entrance preventing any of the Drones from following them inside. The transporter flashed and Long Sleep turned, stepped out into the new level corridor and stood aside for New Breath. The Young Queen strode forward and Mind Song paced after her, glancing around at the new junction of corridors they were passing through.

"Why is the Transport Pod not on the platform where we landed?" He asked New Breath as they strode towards a side entrance into the Fighter Bay.

"She returned it and my Drones to my Hive when we first agreed to stay onboard," New Breath replied as she led the way into the massive Bay.

Behind them, Mind Song could hear the footfalls of the escort Drones following, ensuring they left the Hive no doubt; or at least did so without sabotaging anything. Which could have been a good idea, but there was no time for that.

"She called across a Transport Pod for me when we dropped out of hyperspace here," New Breath added as they headed between lines of parked darkened Fighters. There were no Warriors or Drones in here, no one preparing for battle, because clearly Lost Lineage was never intending to join in the fight.

Mind Song glanced further out around the Bay, noticing some movement off to the left. Michael's short white hair glowed as he hurried along behind a row of Fighters, working his way parallel to their progress. Mind Song exchanged a brief nod with him and then angled his head forwards to where a lone Transport Pod was stood clearly waiting for them in the open space of the Bay. The back of the Pod was stood open and there were no guards around it, and no obvious Pilot waiting…

Unless the dead Warrior up in the Command Chamber had been the Pilot? Had Lost Lineage forced New Breath to feed upon one of her own Hive? One of her own batches? The Pod had been left unattended then…

Mind Song glanced back to Long Sleep and Long Sleep lifted his arm, pulling back his sleeve to check the flashing jamming device. Mind Song nodded and focused forward, lengthening his strides to walk right up close behind New Breath's shoulders, the trailing cape of her battle-dress flapping against him.

"Great Queen," he began hurriedly. "I wish to bring with us a Warrior we located on this Hive. He has been a captive onboard and has information I believe Lost Lineage has been keeping from you. He has requested to join us."

New Breath glanced round, clearly surprised at the request, but she roughly nodded and focused back on the Transport Pod only a few metres away from them. Rarely did a Queen turn down a request for a Warrior to join her Hive, but she seemed too cross still to ask anything further.

Emerging quickly from between two Fighters, Michael headed across the open space of the Bay to reach the open hatch into the Transport Pod ahead of them. He stopped outside the Pod and bowed his head respectfully to New Breath as she strode past him and up into the Transport Pod.

Mind Song pulled up and nodded Michael into the Transport ahead of him and turned back, Long Sleep barely two steps behind him. Across the Bay, not having bothered to follow them all the way in, the Drones were stood watching.

Long Sleep strode past and into the Transport so Mind Song followed, walking backwards into it, ready in case the Drones did anything.

Nothing happened, so, once inside, he mentally triggered the control to close the back of the Transport and turned.

"There is no Pilot," Michael stated what Mind Song had suspected.

"I'll pilot," Long Sleep replied instantly, heading past New Breath who was stood in the centre of the small vessel, her shoulders heaving. Mind Song headed forward, moving to her side.

"There is likely to be some listening devices or worse in here," Michael stated, looking around the inside of the Transport for anything suspicious.

Mind Song nodded. "We have a full spectrum jamming frequency working but," he looked to New Breath's profile, "I recommend that as soon as we are aboard your Hive, that you have this Transport Pod thrown out into space."

New Breath nodded, clearly agreeing wholeheartedly.

Mind Song felt the engine pods flaring to life under them as Long Sleep lifted the vessel up off the Bay floor, but he kept his eyes on the Young Queen. "You did well to withstand her mind for so long," he told her.

She glanced round at him as the shadows shifted through the ship, the Transport departing Lost Lineage's Hive. "Were all her lineage like her?" She asked, now clearly showing the pressure that had been on her.

Mind Song gave her a faint smile. "In mind and attitude yes," he nodded. "But, they were always the first into a battle, sacrificing themselves and their kin to brutally wage war. The Warrior Queens fought alongside their own, on the ground and in hand-to-hand combat. I have never known one to hold back and let others lead the fight as Lost Lineage is doing now."

"In the time I have been held aboard her Hive," Michael said as he moved closer, "it never once engaged in battle directly. Perhaps that is why she has survived as the last of the Warrior Lineage?"

Mind Song nodded. "And her Hive, so untouched and pristine, I doubt it has seen a single battle."

New Breath let out a long heavy sigh and moved forward, heading towards the piloting section. Mind Song followed, Michael with him, and they watched the view of the two other Hives and the hovering line of Cruisers outside, all ready for the battle ahead. New Breath's Hive though was the smaller Hive ahead, it's more modern seed-line making it look more vulnerable, but he knew its hull was thicker, its engines more manoeuvrable. And its internal systems reinforced by Long Sleep to greater withstand the deadly Skerti radiation.

Smaller and stronger, like the outer ships in the enemy fleet's formation.

No one spoke as New Breath's Hive grew larger ahead, all of them silently waiting to see if Lost Lineage might change her mind and fire on them…

Nothing happened though and, with excellent skill, Long Sleep flew the Transport Pod into the closest Fighter Bay, setting it down just inside. Even before the vessel had touched down, New Breath turned and strode through the back section. The webbing and back opened up to her mental command and she strode out into her own Hive again. Following her quickly, Mind Song again mused at how fast the petite Queen could move.

Two Warriors hurried forward to meet New Breath, bowing their heads to her.

"I want this Pod immediately dumped out into space," she ordered them and strode on.

Mind Song watched the Warriors hurry past to carry out her order, aware that Michael was only a few paces behind him and, just now leaving the shutdown Transport Pod, Long Sleep was following them.

They had survived Lost Lineage's Hive, and Mind Song let out a relieved breath as he focused back on New Breath. The Young Queen stopped, now a good distance from the Transport Pod, and turned to face them. She locked her eyes on Mind Song and pointed a dark claw towards Michael stood on his left. "Explain to me why I have let this one on my ship and why he smells strange."

Mind Song was aware of Michael stiffening up beside him.

"He was captured by Lost Lineage," Mind Song explained before Michael could say anything. "She has held him prisoner aboard her ship, threatened him as he is not one of her chosen lineage."

New Breath focused on Michael with more interest. "Unless he is a spy set to entice me to allow him aboard?" She suggested.

"I assure you, I am not," Michael told her. "She despises me, looks on me like some…unclean…thing."

"He has seen other previous Gatherings," Mind Song added. "Other Young Queens who Lost Lineage met with to wage war on other Feeding Grounds. None of the Young Queens survived the battles that followed," he added pointedly.

New Breath's eyes shifted back to Michael.

"She had my former mature Queen killed," Michael told her. "She is not to be trusted, Honoured Queen."

New Breath let out a breath that conveyed how much of an understatement that was in her opinion.

"I believe we should discuss this later," Mind Song interjected, "for now we need to decide what do about this ambush on the apparent Skerti-led Fleet."

New Breath's eyes snapped to his with a frown. "We will lead the attack, as Lost Lineage said."

Mind Song took a patient breath. "It is highly unlikely that the damaged engine readings detected off that fleet are accurate," he told her. "It is a trap, set to lure us into a fight. Probably just as they did to Sharp Claw."

"They are just Human Prey ships the Skerti are using, not even the more advanced ones of the Armoured Herd," New Breath argued. "We are five Hives and plenty of Cruisers. We will easily win."

"I am sure Sharp Claw thought the same," Mind Song pointed out.

"We are five Hives and Queens against one small fleet," New Breath narrowed her eyes. "Are you suggesting that I take my Hive and flee?"

"It may be the best tactical decision, Great Queen," Long Sleep commented as he arrived on Mind Song's right.

"If I leave the Gathering I will not win a share of Sharp Claw's former Feeding Ground. We have five Hives."

"Four," Mind Song corrected her. "Lost Lineage will not join the fight; she is sending you and the others in, while she watches from a safe distance. She will not risk herself and her Hive. And you may have noticed that the Hive owned by the sixth Hive Queen she killed at the Gathering is not part of the Culling Fleet. She has sent it elsewhere, not wishing to risk what she had won for herself."

"You do not know that for sure," New Breath frowned, but she was clearly unsure. She shifted her stance, her attention focused off behind Mind Song. He could hear a Fighter hovering low in the Bay, helping shove the Transport Pod outside. A brief scraping noise and a shift in the sound of the Fighter's engine told him the Pod had been successfully pushed out into the vacuum.

New Breath's gaze returned to meet his. "Even if you are correct, that Lost Lineage will remain out of the battle, the fact remains that the enemy is in front of us and must be dealt with. Was that not why you sought my help: to find and defeat the Skerti? Well, they are here and my Sisters and I will attack."

"And possibly be destroyed," Mind Song pushed.

"Feeding Grounds are not won by fleeing," New Breath stated firmly before she turned and strode off across the Bay, an entourage of Drones and Warriors waiting for her.

Mind Song let out a long breath as he watched her striding purposefully out of the Bay.

Long Sleep stepped round into view. "We could steal a ship," he suggested. "Leave while we can."

To the left, Michael moved closer to complete the three-sided circle. "Would she not destroy our ship upon our leaving?"

"Possibly," Mind Song considered. Most Queens would treat such traitorous defection that way, but he wasn't convinced that New Breath would do that. They were not technically of her Hive, they were guests and partners in what had so far been a mutual relationship.

"You wanted information about the Skerti?" Michael asked, angling his head. "If the enemy fleet is indeed controlled by them, then is this not the opportunity to study them?"

"And capture one," Long Sleep added, his own previous suggestion, but he did not sound all that convinced it was the best plan.

Mind Song met his Batch Brother's gaze. "Do you think we should leave?" He asked.

Long Sleep glanced over his shoulder to where New Breath had left the Bay. "The reality is that she is going to need our experience. Yet," he looked back round with a half smile, "the odds are not favourable to stay."

Mind Song smiled back at him. "It wouldn't be the first time we have survived such odds."

"We have not faced Skerti before."

"You have," Mind Song reminded him proudly. "You survived."

To the left, Michael glanced between them, clearly surprised at the news.

"One Skerti," Long Sleep amended. "But she was a Queen," he conceded. "Ultimately, the only way we are going to learn about the Skerti is to find more of them, and Michael is correct," he paused to look across at Michael – the two not having spoken directly before now – "this is potentially an opportunity, but it is a dangerous one."

Mind Song nodded.

"And you clearly prefer us to stay here," Long Sleep added pointedly.

"The situation has not been ideal, but we need a Queen and New Breath has welcomed us so far…" And he had to admit, he felt for New Breath's situation, her Mother Queen never having returned to properly school her in the politics and methods of being a Queen. The Young Queen's odds were not good, especially at her rather foolhardy determination to rush into this clear and obvious trap.

He shifted his gaze to Michael. The male looked far more confident and relaxed now he was off Lost Lineage's Hive.

"Have you been in many battles before?" he asked him.

"Plenty," Michael confirmed.

Mind Song held his gaze, seeing what looked very much like relieved cheerfulness in the male. It was a combination that Mind Song remembered well after Sheppard and his kin had dropped him off on what had turned out to be New Breath's world. The freedom from imprisonment created strange alliances, but also interesting opportunities.

Or, in this case, had thrown Michael into the frontline of a dangerous battle.

"I am not sure you have put yourself in a safer position in coming with us," Mind Song pointed out to him.

"Anywhere is safer for me than back on that Hive," Michael replied with feeling.

"If you want to take a Fighter and leave now, we will make sure no one stops you," Long Sleep offered.

Michael tilted his head in a half nod. "I appreciate the offer, but I am indebted to you both. I will stay and assist you as best I can."

Mind Song shared a look with Long Sleep; there were still plenty of unanswered questions about Michael, but his choice to stay with them said a great deal.

"Well then," Mind Song let out a breath, "let's see if we can help this Hive and its Young Queen beat the odds."

0000

Today's scar treatment had gone on even longer than the last session, but it was itching a little less as Oneakka headed out of the Healing Bay. The urge to scratch at his belly and back was still there, but it felt more easily ignored today. He wondered if that was a good sign.

Either way, it was another task completed before his break away: he'd had his Mind Healer session yesterday and the last scar treatment today. Tomorrow would be his last full day before he left, so he'd spend that time tidying up his quarters and packing. He'd already decided on which books to take, that he'd take the sketches for his possible new tattoo with him, and he'd selected some locations to visit on Pelydr during his stay. As expected, he'd had a message from Pauldron and Mareta, his parents' old friends on Pelydr, telling him they were looking to seeing him for his visit. He had grinned at the typical Pelydrian behaviour; he'd not been in contact to confirm which day he was visiting, but they already knew.

He was really starting to look forward to the break, and it felt even more necessary after the last few days. Not only was it going to give him time to rest and work on his rehab recovery plan in peace, but he'd get some time to himself and especially some distance from Raven.

His peace offering had at least been well received.

And he'd learnt a good lesson yesterday.

It had been a big mistake to react to Smee, but it had just been a momentary tactical error. He'd not make that mistake again.

He had to be more careful around Raven, have better control of himself. Not let himself get pulled into explosive arguments and pettiness.

In his back pocket his pad vibrated for attention, so he moved to the side of the hallway out of the Healing Bay. As he did, he caught himself scratching at his wound through his shirt. Frowning at the brief loss of control, he focused on the pad. He had a text link from Raven. He was already on his way to meet her at her Project Room, but had she pulled out, decided to cancel on him? He tapped open the message.

Will meet you in Ru's Skerti Drive Project Room.

He frowned at the message. He had no idea which Project Room was dedicated to the Skerti Drive work that Ru was involved with, but clearly Raven did. The only reason she would be in there was to meet with Ru.

He'd kept her waiting too long with his scar treatment, so she'd presumably gone to find company. Company with the male with seductive intentions towards her.

Oneakka headed towards the closest wall panel and called up the list of the Project Rooms. He quickly found the Skerti Drive project listed as being in Project Room Alpha Three. That was only a few doors down from Raven's Project Room.

He tapped open his pad and sent her a quick reply.

On my way now.

He set off quickly down the hallway.

Several corridors and a collision with a staff member later, he found Project Room Alpha Three's entrance and headed in.

He could already hear Raven's light laughter as he headed into the large room. It was set out the same in here as her own Project Room, with various lines of workstations facing the door, a large meeting table and tall wallscreens along the front wall. The room was also almost entirely empty, presumably all of the project team at Midday meal, with the exception of Raven and Ru. They were off to the far left, Ru sat at a workstation and Raven leaning against another desk very close by. Both were smiling, clearly enjoying each other's company.

Oneakka fixed his attention on Raven's cheerful and relaxed profile.

There was no arguing in here, no shouting.

He couldn't actually imagine Ru ever shouting in his life.

Both of them registered his approach and looked round, but Oneakka kept his attention on Raven. She straightened up from where she had been leaning and smiled at him; the smile looked welcoming, though perhaps not quite as fully relaxed as normal. But it seemed the brooch had worked better than he'd anticipated.

"Hi," she smiled as he reached them.

"Honoured Elite," Ru said politely from the right, the laughter now noticeably gone from the room.

Oneakka worked not to feel uncomfortable about that and gave Ru a vague nod before focusing back on Raven.

"You're late," she said.

"I said I might be late," he frowned at her, unsure if she was admonishing him despite the teasing tone she'd used.

"Its fine," she smiled again though. "Ru's project is only a few doors down from me now, so I came by to visit." She turned a far brighter smile to Ru.

"I see that," Oneakka replied and took a breath to suggest they leave for the Canteen. Hopefully she wasn't going to want Ru to join them.

"He was just telling me that their latest tests have confirmed that the deadly radiation from the Skerti Drive has been turned off and shouldn't be a problem," Raven reported proudly as if Ru himself had been responsible for the result.

"Yes, we knew that already," Oneakka pointed out. He was pretty sure the theory was correct that the Skerti Queen had tuned the Drive to emit the radiation to harm the Wraith crew and the Rogue Hive she had commandeered, but that piece of information had been worked out weeks ago.

"But yesterday we were able to prove it for certain," Ru supplied, his attention swinging quickly back to Raven with his wide-eyed dopey look of adoration.

"Why did it take so long to prove that?" Oneakka asked him.

Ru frowned back round, thrown for a second; yes, he'd clearly forgotten he was talking with an Elite Warrior. "Silvar felt that we should proceed carefully and methodically. It was only once we had the Drive safely secured in the Research Dock and could fully power it up that we could test the output thoroughly."

Weeks to prove what they'd already known? What were they doing in this project?

"At this rate the Skerti will have taken over the Alliance before we know how it works," Oneakka muttered.

"We are today formulating a plan forward on understanding the structural interior and functioning of the Drive," Ru reported, sitting up straighter now, finally being more professional.

"When will that plan be reported?" Oneakka pushed. Who was overseeing this project, because it was clearly moving forward at the walking pace of a gnat.

"I'm sure the Project Lead will supply it when it's ready," Raven suddenly interjected, an edge to her voice.

Ru' glaze slid to her with relieved gratitude as he nodded. "Yes, I'm sure it will be reported very soon, Honoured Elite," he added to Oneakka.

Oneakka considered the male, not appreciating the slightly condescending tone he'd used.

"You're going to be working in the Facility several days a week now?" Oneakka asked him.

"Yes, Honoured Elite," Ru confirmed.

"Working long hours on solving the Drive tech, I presume?" He pushed.

He saw Ru swallow faintly. "Of course," he nodded.

Yes, he should be focusing on the work that was critically required to protect the Alliance, not spending his time drooling over Raven.

"Good," Oneakka told him, aware of Raven in his peripheral vision, but he kept his eyes on the male. "Because this work could save lives."

Ru nodded.

"It deserves your full focus," Oneakka added.

Raven stepped closer. "I think it's time we get going, don't you," she stated.

He nodded, but kept his attention on Ru. "I will look for your Lead's report."

Ru nodded, his gaze dropped down to his workstation.

Oneakka turned and headed back towards the door. Halling had been leading the Skerti research initially, but now he was off on the Hunt Mission, Oneakka's wasn't sure if a sole Elite was keeping watch on this project's progress. He'd have to find out, because there certainly didn't feel like anything close to urgency in Project Room Alpha Three today.

Moving out through the large door into the hallway outside, Oneakka paused and turned, waiting for Raven to catch up with him.

Dark eyes were glaring at him as she stopped a couple of feet away.

"What was that about?" She demanded sharply, pointing towards the closed Project Room door behind her.

It was the same sharp tone as she'd used repeatedly yesterday. Clearly the brooch hadn't repaired as much as he'd hoped.

"What was what about?" He asked calmly, not rising to the tone.

"That," she gestured wildly back towards the Project Room. "You picking on Ru."

"Picking?" He frowned at her. "I was asking questions about the project."

"Interrogating would be a far better description, Oneakka," she frowned.

"I was asking about the project," he replied. "That's my job to get him and his lot to do their job promptly."

She pulled a face at him. "I thought your job was killing Wraith?"

He could feel his body react to the antagonistic tone she'd used, oddly desperate to rise to the same response level as her, but he made himself relax his shoulders. She was clearly still tetchy after yesterday, but he'd not let himself get pulled into anything today.

He would stay in control.

"We are relying on his project to work out how that Skerti tech works," he explained. "And they're taking far too long. Who knows when the Skerti will turn up again. We need intel and we need it yesterday."

"That's not Ru's fault," she pressed.

"He's part of the project and I asked some questions about that work."

"No, you lasered in on him like he had to explain his very existence to you, Oneakka," she accused, exaggerating excessively; just like she'd done about Smee being 'afraid for his life' yesterday.

"I didn't," Oneakka disagreed patiently and still calmly.

"Yes, you did," she argued forcefully.

The prospective argument hung in the air, threatening to set alight another fight about her feeling it necessary to defend her male friends against him. Making him the enemy, which was clearly the wrong way round… He frowned inwardly at that thought.

"Do you have something against Ru?" She demanded.

He blinked.

"What? No," he lied to her. The rush of guilt in that one simple, all too easy lie made him feel warm.

He wasn't someone who lied!

And especially not to Raven.

She narrowed her eyes at him, peering at him with that same suspicious intensity she'd had yesterday in the Rehab Gym. Had she spotted his lie?

He'd just asked Ru some questions…made the point about the male needing to focus and not get distracted by Raven.

It suddenly felt as if he might also have been referring to himself with that reminder. Was it possible that he was projecting that onto Ru?

No, Ru was clearly lovesick and needed to focus. Oneakka didn't need that kind of reminder; he was very clear how distracting she could be and he was dealing with it effectively…wasn't he?

Or was he stood in a public corridor having another petty verbal sparring match with her for no obvious reason?

She was still looking at him with her assessing Security gaze and abruptly he couldn't maintain the eye contact anymore, and looked away. But he covered it by looking over her shoulder and then around them, making sure no one was witnessing this little show. Fortunately, everyone else was at Midday Meal, except Ru in the closed room behind her…hopefully not listening in. No, the Project Rooms were purposefully soundproof, but the male could walk out at any moment.

The urge to move away from Project Room Alpha Three was abruptly strong, and it would probably be a good idea to get away from Raven right now, let her cool off some more.

"What is going on with you lately?" She asked though and he snapped his attention back to her and her exasperated look. He took immediate exception.

"Me?! You're the one picking fights with me all of a sudden," he pointed out logically.

He was getting pulled in again. He needed to keep calm.

"And I'm not getting into another one with you now," he stated firmly, yet calmly.

"I'm asking you the very valid question about why you suddenly seem to be taking exception to my friends," she returned all too quickly though.

There it was again, her defending her 'friends' against him, like he was the outsider.

"Just because Ru is your friend doesn't mean he doesn't have to answer questions about the engineering project he, an Engineer, is working on," he pointed out. "I'm not giving him special treatment because he's your friend, Raven."

She looked shocked at the suggestion. "I'm not saying that. I'm saying that you're not allowed to intimidate my friends," she repeated her order.

"I intimidate everyone who looks at me, Raven," he deflected.

She scrunched up her face at that. "Don't go giving me that Wraith crap, Oneakka. You play the role of silent, glaring dumb male on purpose."

"Dumb?" He frowned.

"Pretending you're something you're not."

That had felt like a compliment in the middle of the row, which felt rather confusing.

"Don't get me wrong," she continued as she crossed her arms over her chest, unusual body language for her, "It's not like I don't appreciate the Elite Protector thing, but you are taking it too far, Oneakka."

He frowned at that confusing random comment, which again had held almost a compliment in it despite her grumpy tone… "What are you talking about?"

"I don't need you defending me from people who are no threat and are my friends," she insisted like that made any sense.

"Why would I need to defend you against anyone here?" He asked; she'd said something similar about Smee yesterday. Clearly she didn't feel threatened by Smee or Ru or she wouldn't be friends with them.

"That's a very good question, Oneakka. Because apparently Smee and Ru are not deemed safe according to you."

He blinked at that.

Those males were no threat to her…but they were to his relationship with her.

Things were going in a wrong direction with this discussion.

"I don't see them as a threat to you," he clarified. "And I don't want to get into another fight with you," he stated clearly, calling an end to this confusing confrontation. He turned and walked away from her, heading down the corridor ahead of him that ran along outside the Project Rooms.

"Don't walk away from me like that, Oneakka," she protested loudly though from right behind him, following him down the corridor. "I'm not starting a fight; I'm asking you very valid questions why you're being so annoying lately."

He needed to keep his head, keep calm. "You're the one chasing me down a corridor and shouting at me," he blurted back.

"I am not chasing you and I'm not shouting," she argued back, her tone getting angry now, the sparks starting to fly despite his best attempts to stop this. "You've never heard me really shout," she added as a crazy insult.

He glared at her over his shoulder. "Oh, I've heard you really shout plenty."

"You started that fight by the Portal," she retaliated, hovering right up close behind his left shoulder, applying pressure in a way that didn't seem possible given he was taller than her and moving away from her.

"I said I was sorry for that," he countered, focusing ahead of him. "And I apologised for embarrassing you yesterday-"

"Embarrassed!" She interrupted him, clearly taking offence at that description. "I got angry, not embarrassed."

He rolled his eyes at that obvious lie; Massa clearly had been right for her to react that dramatically.

"And if you 'looked' at Smee in a way that was anywhere as close to how you just treated Ru," she continued hotly, "then I was entirely justified in my getting angry with you yesterday."

"I don't want to have this fight with you," he repeated louder as he kept walking forward, not looking round at her.

His body felt strangely hot and uncomfortable, his heart hammering in his chest, which made no sense. He was an experienced Elite Warrior, he'd faced scores of Wraith in vast deadly battles; he didn't get like this just because of an argument about…what was it even about?

"I'm allowed to ask you calm questions," she stated heatedly behind him.

"Calm?!" He repeated and pulled up sharply, glaring over his shoulder at her. She'd almost collided with him, but she jerked back away from him like he'd given her an electric shock. "This is you being 'calm' is it?" He asked her sarcastically.

"You don't want to see me get really angry," she threatened, again implying he'd not see her at her worst before.

"Oh really?" He baited her. "How about the time I called you my wife?"

She pulled back a fraction again, her mouth dropping open. "Hey, you said you see wives as meaning something different than I did. And I did not get-"

"Apparently you seem to 'not get' a lot of things," he interrupted her this time. "Don't get angry, don't shout, don't think things through before you start accusing people of things."

"Accusing?" She leapt on the word all too quickly and happily. "Is that an admission of guilt?"

"No, it's a direct description of how you behaved yesterday in the Rehab Gym, making a scene telling me off and behaving like you're still a Security Lead."

She narrowed her eyes at him, but it was with another flush of what looked like victory. "Did you see me in that light perhaps?" She asked, her arms crossing over her chest again, slightly pushing up her breasts within the bright red top she was wearing. The fiery colour seemed very apt today.

"It's very difficult not to see you in that light when you're getting all imposing and judgemental," he told her.

He almost felt like he was sweating now.

Was it hot in this corridor? It didn't feel like it, but his whole body felt overly warm.

He was sweating because of an argument? What was going on here?

"You're the one who's being all judgemental," she countered, her arms dropping away from her chest again, one hand rising to point a long finger at him. "You big giant oaf."

He shifted his gaze from the end of her index finger pointing at him to her face. "Now you're just being petty."

"Well I thought I'd just join you in that," she countered.

He held her gaze, glaring back at her…but this didn't feel like yesterday, didn't feel like the Portal argument either. There was something different here, something forceful behind the glowing sense of victory in her last statement.

Yes, she wanted a fight, and he'd gone and given her just what she wanted again.

Except…wasn't there something else in amongst the uncomfortable heat and sweaty sensation to his body, something just a little too pleasurable…not in fighting with her, but in being able to say what he was thinking for a change. Lately he'd had to be so restrained around her, keep tight control of what he said and did, monitor how much time he spent with her, controlling everything between them since the erotic dreams had started.

But this argument felt freeing, allowing him to let out some of the frustration while still keeping some control. And he thought he saw something similar in her eyes too. In the haughty lift of her chin and her sharp direct glare that suggested delight in having drawn a reaction from him.

Because maybe she felt some frustration too?

That felt an unnerving thought all of a sudden.

"What got nothing to say for once?" She baited him.

He narrowed his eyes at her; yes, there was part of her definitely enjoying this. He crushed his lips together, holding in more words because he needed to remember his lesson from yesterday. Not to respond to being provoked, not to give her what she wanted, not to kiss her-

He blinked at the abrupt sudden compulsion.

No, he wanted nothing to do with that.

He quickly turned away from her, returning to the safer act of walking away from her again.

"You know what your silence tells me?" she said a second later, once again right up behind him, pursuing him. "It speaks of guilt, Oneakka."

The heat in his body had shifted into a strange new chill across his skin, but his heart was racing still. He was breathing fast too, but shaky unnerving breaths.

"I don't understand what you could possibly have against Ru," she continued from behind his shoulder. "He's a sweet, kind male."

Oneakka scrunched up his face at that, at the reaction it provoked inside him; words hovering in his throat to be said.

Things he might confess or, more safely, what snapping brutal words he could say to make her go away. To leave him alone, to let his life make sense again. Not to want things that were dangerous, that…

He lifted his hands, aware of a faint shaky feeling in them too. The sweaty chill across his face suggested anxiety, panic...

He was an Elite Warrior, he fought monsters, had survived horrendous battles; sometimes more from chance than anything else. He didn't panic, he survived…

When so many others had fallen, whose bodies he'd had to step over.

The memories came flashing back as he headed down the corridor, the burnt broken pieces of his people he'd had to walk through to get to the Wraith base, to destroy the Queen and her killers who had murdered everyone he'd ever loved and who had loved him.

He wasn't going to go through that again.

And, of course, here he was in yet another hallway, just like that one in the Wraith Base, the walls in flame, the Queen screeching as she sliced her poisoned blade, the cutting burn eating into his face. Then on the Rogue Hive, the floor wet with his own blood as he'd struggled to get to Halling, to save him.

He WASN'T going to go through anything like that again.

He forcefully pulled his mind away from the old memories, focusing on the here and now and Raven's voice over his shoulder.

"…have anything against Ru?"

"I don't," Oneakka spat back without looking round. "I barely know the male."

Up ahead, he realised the corridor was coming up to a dead-end, which of course it was because this hallway only led along the entrances to the Project Rooms. Why had he come this way? Except, yes, there was the metal staircase against the right-hand wall that led up to the mezzanine walkway that provided access to the security observation rooms overlooking the Project Rooms.

He reached the staircase and started hurrying up the steps, taking three at a time. The motions pulled slightly at his wound, but the discomfort felt useful right now, pulling him sharply into the current moment. Away from old haunted pain.

"Just because someone isn't a Warrior doesn't mean you can be disrespectful to them, Oneakka," Raven said as she, of course, followed him up the stairs.

"What kind of comment is that?" He demanded at that insulting point. He'd reached the top of the stairs and strode forward along the metal mezzanine level. The metal clanging loudly under his boots, but again the forceful noise felt oddly helpful. "Ru is one of the foremost experts in space-capable engines in the Alliance. I was one of the main supporters of getting him on the Sythus to replace the engine. Of course I respect him."

"That's not how you just treated him, towering over him with your probing insulting questions."

"I asked him questions about an engineering project," he repeated the valid point.

"No, no," she argued back instantly, her own boots now echoing on the metal walkway behind him. "That felt personal in there."

And wasn't that just a little too accurate here: it was all too personal with her. His life had been easier before her, before her niggling, interfering attractive company. He wished she'd never come back to the Sythus with the Dreamstation database, that she'd actually gone and flown free as she should have done. Not end up here where she somehow kept getting into all sorts of dangerous situations still. Getting attacked by Slug Robots, criminals on stations, or setting off riots at Satedan music festivals. The female was just plain too much.

Complicating everything in his life.

And now she was accusing him of being some sort of idiot who didn't respect other professions!

"You're the one who's personal with Ru, not me," he pointed out.

"What is this going to be another warning from you about someone having intentions towards me?" She scoffed like it was a stupid suggestion.

How could she be so oblivious?!

"Yes," he pulled up sharply again, turning enough to be able to look at her down the line of his shoulder. "Since you ask, and it's very obvious to everyone that Ru does."

She looked thrown by that, her eyes darting away with a frown. Wow, she really didn't see that part of male behaviour towards her…that suddenly felt good for him.

A flush of empowerment hit him in that as he watched her frown back towards him.

"The male couldn't be more obvious about his intentions towards you if he was crawling around begging at your feet," he added, a little more hotly than he'd intended.

Her surprised frown slid back into offence. "Well that's his business."

He paused, surprised at that response.

"I'm sorry you got injured," she added, "and had to be left behind by the Sythus and then failed your medical review. But you can't take that out on other people."

"What are you talking about?" He asked. How had she gone from Ru' having intentions to his medical review?

"Just because you're more superior here as an Elite," she continued, "doesn't give you the right to intimidate anyone, let alone my friends. Just because you're bigger and stronger than other people doesn't give you the right to pick on those smaller than you like some giant judging-"

Bigger? Giant? Picking on those smaller…?

He turned to properly face her, the pieces snapping together in a shocking insulting rush.

"Are you comparing me to your people?" He asked her, cutting off her point. The former chill was instantly transformed into a hot blazing fire of insulted shock. "I'm not a Glisi," he hammered one fist against the middle of his chest. "They abused and excluded you, how can you possibly compare me to them in any way?"

He couldn't believe she was actually making that comparison!

Except she was looking shocked, properly stunned, as she blinked rapidly and took a slight step back from him.

Unless maybe she hadn't realised? Suddenly some things made more sense to him, including her recent, almost aggressive defence of her friends.

"Just because someone is bigger and stronger doesn't mean they're automatically a bully, Raven," he pointed out what had to be obvious. "I'm allowed to have an opinion about male friends of yours without you accusing me of 'picking' on them and being like your people."

"I'm not," she insisted. "Of course you're nothing like them," she added, the shock giving away again to an angry frown. He'd caught her off guard, but it didn't take Raven long to adjust in a fight…the Pit Fighter that she was.

He really wished he didn't admire that so much.

"You're nothing like the Glisi," she repeated more firmly and insistently this time. "Don't go trying to turn this argument on me. You were out of line and you need to keep out of my 'personal affairs' just like you said you wanted."

"I'm not trying to get involved, but you keep pulling me in."

He realised he'd been way too accurate with that comment.

"Well that's just fine, because I don't want you anywhere near my personal life," she retaliated loudly.

"Fine," he hollered back. The sweaty panicked chill was back across his skin, whispering of things he could say instead, the lure of that other life…the life without loneliness and grief…

"Because I did just fine in my life before you came stomping along into it," she added angrily, the comment clearly designed just to hurt him.

"Yeah, you did a great job, getting involved with criminals and people trying to kill you all the time," he retaliated forcefully and instantly regretted it.

Her eyes widened and her nostrils flared, his shot just as effective as hers had been. "I don't need you in my life," she stated, threatened.

"Fine," he said back forcefully. "Go live your life!" He gestured past her shoulder.

She was always going to leave him anyway, death or circumstance taking her, forcing him to be the survivor again.

Better that she go.

"I will!" She stated back, but instead of turning away, she started forward to move around him, her shoulder shoving hard against the outside of his even though there was plenty of space. He stepped aside enough to give her the room she wanted, but didn't turn to watch her stomping away along the clanging metal walkway.

He pushed out a shaky breath.

So much for not losing control.

But it was probably for the best.

Let her go live her life away from him…let his own mind and life make sense again.

Yet, he felt the compulsion to call out to her. To pull back the words he'd shouted at her, born from a panic that had wanted her to keep away, but now raged against the fact that she might leave forever.

"Maybe," she announced from a short distance behind him, the banging of her boots pausing, "I'll go find someone who actually wants me around, and respects my skills and opinions."

It was a frustratingly effective strike.

He turned back round to face her. "And where's that?" He found himself asking. "Back to Creass?"

She glared hotly at him across the metres between them. "I'm going to go visit Saoka, see if that job offer is still open for me."

"Fine, whatever," Oneakka said instantly, to which she huffed out an angry snort and started storming away again, moving at a fast pace away from him like she was heading off to war.

Good.

Go.

Though she wasn't really going to go see Saoka to take up that job was she?

Back onto that dangerous station.

"Take the taser gun with you to the station," he shouted at her fast disappearing back.

"Shut up, Oneakka!" She shouted back.

He rolled his eyes and turned away, not watching her leaving. He couldn't ignore her footsteps though as they smacked hard along the walkway, moving at some speed now.

He rested both hands on the metal railing in front of him and glanced down at the corridor below the mezzanine walkway. Fortunately, there remained no one in sight to have overheard.

Raven's heavy bootsteps reached the stairs at the far end of the walkway and stomped down them back to the corridor below, clearly making as much noise as possible.

He didn't look down that way though; he held his ground, weight leant against the railing through his outstretched arms.

Her footsteps faded into the distance, out into neighbouring corridors, leaving him alone.

He pushed out a long slow breath, fighting against the rush of emotions and the residual adrenaline pumping through his system. He couldn't remember reacting to an argument like this, not since he'd been younger and had believed what people thought of him was important. He'd soon learnt the truth of life: that it was an uncaring horror show. He'd put all his focus and life's work into doing everything he could to fight back against the unfair, unjust elements of the Universe. Monsters stealing life, tearing families apart, picking on the vulnerable…

She'd put him in that category…he'd thought she knew him better than that. To accuse him of being a bully…not that she hadn't been a little accurate that he didn't like Ru. Of course that had nothing to do with the male's skills and personality, it was the male's intentions towards her that made Oneakka's teeth clench.

Possessiveness.

It was all too close to jealousy and he didn't like it.

You held onto anything too tightly and something was almost obligated to wrench it from you…it was just a matter of time.

He closed his eyes against the returning old dark thoughts, the ones born of old pain and grief.

He found himself abruptly recalling his vision, focusing on something pure and nourishing, something beautiful instead. His family around him, his sister arranging flowers on his knee, Mother's hand across his hair. Laughter, joy, and the beautiful sunshine of the field.

Unexpectedly, it helped and he felt his shoulders easing down, his body feeling steady once more.

He opened his eyes, feeling calmer, but worry hovered tightly in the middle of his chest. Would she really leave the Facility permanently? He didn't want that for her, not that he had any say in her choices…she'd made that point very clear.

He reached to his back pocket and pulled out his electronic pad, tapping into it to pull up his list of Personal Beacons. He tapped on her name.

A second later the report said she was no longer in the Facility. It hadn't been a bluff then, she'd left to go see Saoka after all. He frowned at the time displayed. She must have gone straight from here to the dock to take a Transport to the Portal, which meant that she hadn't gone to her quarters for the taser gun.

The flush of worried panic hit him again, but he slid the pad back into his pocket.

She was an ex-Security Lead of Dreamstation and a Pit Fighter; she knew how to take care of herself. Even if she'd not taken the taser with her.

It really wouldn't be the smart choice for her to leave the Computer Project with its excellent pay and safety she had here in the Facility. Saoka's station was a busy and clearly far more dangerous place than he'd previously known given the criminals that had attacked her only days ago.

Maybe he should offer to just keep his distance from her, after all he had his break away in two days and then, once he was back, he'd return to non-battle rotation. Then hopefully back to the Sythus in a few of months...

Spending all this time with her here lately had just been a pause in his life, a way station on his return back to his usual life on the Sythus.

Back to his simpler life before her.

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TBC