See Part One for Disclaimers
John Matheson, first officer of the Excalibur was stressed, very stressed. His Captain lay in Med Lab recovering from an unknown virus. Dureena, Eilerson and six of his team were also out of action and Galen had gone missing yet again. No one had seen the mage in over forty-eight hours. He had left Med Lab in the early hours of the morning two days ago after collaborating with Dr. Chambers to find a cure for the ailing away team and had not been seen or heard from since.
Matheson ran a hand across his eyes in a gesture of utter weariness. He had had no sleep for the past thirty-six hours and to cap it all every system on the ship had gone down with no apparent reason. Propulsion, navigation everything with the exception of life support; the Excalibur was adrift. For the past three hours, technicians had been going over every inch of the vessel, testing, poking and in some cases hitting units and junctions to no avail. Not a flicker on any read out.
Sleep deprivation had loosened the mental barriers holding back the surge of minds all around him. Stray thoughts and emotions bombarded him as his energy levels and concentration dropped. He could sense the growing anxiety among the crew and was very aware of the need for Gideon to get back in control. He knew his job, but the crew needed the man they had long looked to as leader.
Wearily he settled back into the captain's chair and let his eyes drift shut for a moment. Possibly, he dozed, for the next thing he became aware of was the startled gasp of the navigator and then the commotion of other officers as a ship suddenly appeared outside the quiet room's window.
Opening his eyes his attention was immediately drawn to the vessel parked almost nose to nose with the bridge. Sleek black, carved in an angular symmetry familiar to all the tense men and women currently staring at the vision in amazement, it hung almost invisible against the bleak star less vista. The ship was identical to Galen's, with the added adornment of two ornate gold dragons emblazoned on either wing. Another Technomage! This did not bode well.
Shimmering into existence right in front of him, Matheson found himself face to face with a rotund individual in dark garb that seemed in some state of agitation. The face seemed old, yet bright eyes twinkled unsettlingly at him. There was a vigorousness about this mage reminiscent of Galen's harnessed energy. Unbelieving of his own eyes he put out a hand to touch the apparition, only to have it go straight through.
"Young man, don't you know better than to poke your elders! Where is Captain Gideon?"
The cross voice echoed in his head. He felt at a distinct disadvantage with no access to his monitors or weapons, and in consequence, his tone took on a belligerency normally foreign to his nature.
"The captain is not available. Who are you, what do you want?"
"Now there is a question, two in fact. I like curiosity in the young, it's healthy, it's good for them, it's . . . at this moment very annoying. I want access to your ship, I need to see Galen and I don't want to waste any more of my time. Now, open up and let me in."
Aware of the raised anxiety levels around him he asked again for the mage's name.
The sigh that accompanied the brief "Alwyn" made him feel incredibly small, as though he had offended some great personage. He shook off the feeling, quickly attributing it to fatigue.
"I'm sorry, Alwyn, all systems are down. I can't let you onboard."
"Down you say?" Alwyn's image moved to the blank screens and rested one unsubstantial hand against its glassy cover. "Hum, interesting. I'll see what I can do. In the meantime tell me where Galen's flyer is and make sure there is a space for mine as close as possible to it."
Almost without volition, he caved to the authority in the mage's tone.
He knew no other vessel was housed in Galen's bay. It was the mage's specific request and had been honoured for every stay. If this Alwyn could fix the Excalibur, well, he'd never say a bad word against them again!
* * *
Dureena sat on the edge of her bed in Med Lab ready to argue with Sarah should the doctor refuse her request for release. Hell, there was nothing she could do to stop her in any case, but she had a fondness for the woman and would rather not offend if possible.
She watched from her vantage point as Matheson entered the facility and headed straight for the captain's sleeping form. He hesitated for a moment, then gently shook the older man's shoulder. The conversation was brief but agitated. Gideon tried to sit up, failed and fell back against his couch in obvious ill humour issuing a string of orders that stiffened Matheson's spine almost to breaking point. As he hurried off, she decided to test how much she could glean from the ailing commander.
"Captain? Everything alright?" She hovered at his side, leaning against the bed with as much nonchalance as she could muster. The troubled eyes turned in her direction and held hers briefly before turning away to contemplate the far wall.
His voice was soft, confidential when he finally decided to talk. "All the ships systems are down bar life support. We have no sensors or navigation and no weapons. We are blind and immobile, unable to defend ourselves . . ." His lips thinned against the tirade hovering behind them. "Galen is missing again and now Alwyn has arrived demanding to see him. If he has had anything to do with disabling my ship -- I swear, I'll never let him on board again, no matter how valuable he is to the mission!"
"Do you really think Galen would do that?" Although she knew about the Well of Forever, it was hard to imagine the mage doing such a thing again; at least not without giving a reasonable explanation.
He sighed heavily, "No. No I don't think he would. But where is he this time, Dureena? He isn't answering any call to his ship or on general around the Excalibur. If he is on board, why doesn't he answer?"
The colour faded from Dureena's cheeks as a possible reason occurred to her. "Galen was on the planet with us, right? He had access to the boxes; everyone who touched the damn things took ill. What if Galen is collapsed somewhere on the ship? What if they just haven't found him yet?" Her fingers curled tightly into Matthew's bedding as her anxiety increased.
"Find him, Dureena. If anyone can track him down you can." She turned to leave but was called back by his insistent tone. "Dureena! Check with Alwyn, maybe he has a quicker way to find him than combing miles of corridors. His flyer should be coming in by Galen's. That is, if he managed to fix the ships systems." Tired and defeated by his lack of strength he fell back on the bed to wait in frustration for reports to filter back.
With a nod, she was on her way, heading quickly toward the area reserved for the mage's flyer. Unpleasant memories returned as she sped down the corridors; of her berating him for desertion, of trying to slit his throat and finally of collapsing at his feet. She shrugged philosophically, it was over and done with; no amount of soul searching would change a thing.
She became aware of a subtle change in the ship's atmosphere. The almost undetectable vibrations that had been missing for the past two days were now purring quietly under her feet. Alwyn had obviously worked his technomagic on the Excalibur's systems; their renewal spurred her on her way.
Hurrying into the bay, she found herself about to cross paths with a rotund brown clad individual who was heading purposefully toward the black flyer sitting before them. In the distance, she could see its twin parked further up the ship. This then, must be Alwyn. He stopped by the almost invisible entrance on the flyer's side. Hearing her rapid approach he turned and studied her as she slowed to a walk then stopped in front of him.
"Alwyn?"
Returning no reply, he cocked his head in inquiry and waited expectantly.
Not usually at a loss for words, this innocuous looking individual leached her normal self-possession with a look.
"Is Galen in there? Is he okay?" She began to explain, about the boxes they had found, of the illness that had struck down all the members of the away team that had had contact with them.
Before she could finish, he had turned his attention back to the flyer.
"Ship. Recognise my voice. Open."
Vague recollections of Galen's previous warnings made her hesitate for the briefest of moments before she ventured in after the old man. But, if he could enter with impunity, then hopefully she too was safe.
Alwyn raised the lighting level to full revealing Galen's prone form collapsed on the floor, his face ashen, no sign of life about him. He stopped her forward rush with a raised hand. Pulling out a crystal device, he quickly scanned his friend. Muttering to himself he put his hand against the fallen mage's side and pressed hard. No twitch or movement answered his action.
"This is not good." Alwyn switched his attention to Dureena; between them, they lifted Galen's not inconsiderable form from the floor conveying him into the sleeping area and onto his bed. Bruises had formed on his cheek where bone had smashed against metal floor, the only colour on his lifeless face.
"I'll call Med Lab." She began to run back to the entrance and the nearest com link.
"He's beyond their help." Came the matter of fact response.
She stumbled back, not wanting to believe that she had lost him. That she had found the one person who might truly understand her, love her only to have him taken away before they could discover one another.
"Don't just stand there, young woman; give me a hand here."
The mage was struggling to remove the heavy black coat from Galen's unresponsive form -- no easy task as the younger man was tall and compactly built and the coat fitted him tightly.
"He's dead isn't he?" she whispered.
"Would I be trying to give myself a hernia if he was! Now get over here and help!"
Between them, they stripped off the heavy material. As she put it to one side, her fingers automatically checked pockets and sleeves, looking for any hiding place that valuables might be secreted. What her questing digits found were thin wires woven between lining and outer covering. Tiny terminals rested on one shoulder and further down at the small of the back. In one hidden pocket, her fingers could make out a hard oval shape, maybe a locket or charm.
She left her unconscious task when she realised that Alwyn, not content with removing Galen's outer garment, was struggling to remove the mage's shirt as well.
By the time she reached his side, he had rolled Galen over revealing a massive bruise reaching from half way up his back down into the waist of his trousers and obviously beyond. Again, Alwyn ran the crystal over the injured section.
"There's your problem, massive damage to his . . ." He stopped himself suddenly remembering he was talking to someone outside his order.
"Damage to what?" She put an insistent hand on the old man's shoulder. "Can you save him?"
The vague blue grey eyes latched onto hers, their misty depths seeming to clear and intensify in a way that was too reminiscent of Galen's penetrating look for her liking. He seemed to be in the middle of a mental debate, not about Galen, but about her.
"How well do you know him?"
Aware of the fragility of their relationship she nevertheless answered honestly. That she had been his companion on various expeditions that they were friends, in as much as a mage could be with someone outside the order. Of the closer ties that seemed out of reach now, she said nothing.
"I wonder how much he trusts you, young lady. Enough to see his home, be party to some his most intimate secrets? I wonder how much his friend you truly are."
Not knowing how to answer this, she remained quiet and waited for the mage to decide how things would be.
"Ship. Display fasted route to "home" and state time required."
A detailed map sprang into existence in the middle of the room beneath which ran a time of ten point two four hours. Alwyn studied the route intensely, made some corrections and had the computer recalculate the time. His changes added some three hours to the journey, which he obviously found acceptable.
A faint alteration in the Excalibur's rhythms alerted them to its change of status; they were on the move.
"You will stay here with Galen I will follow in my flyer. We will be linked at all times. I want you to notify me if he gets any worse, clear!" It seemed that Alwyn had made his judgement, and had decided to trust her after all. Without hesitation, she accepted his proposal. Looking at Galen, she wondered how much worse he could get, for to her untrained eye he appeared lifeless. No reassuring rise and fall of bare chest, no movement of limb or features hinted that he lived still, yet Alwyn obviously believed he could be saved. She settled down to her lonely watch, having to put her trust in the stranger now hurrying back to his own flyer.
Life had been a hard road for her; everything she held dear had been taken from her -- Her freedom, her world and her trust. And now, just as she felt that something good had entered her existence, fate seemed determined to take it away. She had relaxed too much on this ship had foolishly allowed herself to think she could put her faith in a little happiness. "I warned you, Galen, not to do this to me again," she whispered, hurting and angry.
What conversation went on between Alwyn and the Excalibur she had no idea, but some ten minutes later Galen's flyer lifted quietly from its berth and headed to the main exit then out into space with Alwyn's flyer right behind them. A small viewer was running giving her a link to the depths of space outside the small craft. The image currently on its screen horrified her. Excalibur had been heading back to Terea, but the planet no longer existed. Far in the distance lay a massive field of debris; chunks the size of the Excalibur, were tumbling through space, their speed indicative of the huge eruption caused by the planet's destruction. Terea had been unstable but could natural causes have sufficed to destroy it? Determined to tackle Alwyn at the first opportunity she sat herself beside Galen's bed and took time to study her friend in detail.
She had believed herself familiar with his face and form but now she saw him as though magnified in her mind. The strong face with its deep-set eyes and strong chin loomed before her minds eye. The sensual lips looked soft and inviting and she wondered if she would ever allow them to caress hers; whether she could stem her fears long enough to enjoy the pleasure that she was sure he could bring. Once before she had touched them with her own, but at the time she had only been thinking of his well being. Dying from the parasitic virus that abounded on Naxim, she had found him unconscious, barely breathing. Administering the antidote and forcing life into his collapsing lungs had brought him back from the brink of death. Maybe even then she had known what he might mean to her.
His broad chest lay immobile, not even the faintest of breaths stirred within it. Carefully she reached for where his heart should lie; pressing lightly hoping to feel some whisper of life. Crisp curls lay between her hand and his flesh, its texture a new and interesting sensation. The men of her world had been hairless, as were those who had taken her by force. Not that she had any desire to touch one of those animals. A brief shudder ran through her, quickly suppressed. The virus though quickly out of her system had left its mark in an unusual lethargy. Pulling up a chair, she lay her head next to his supine form and cat napped briefly, an attempt to restore some of her waning energy.
The hours dragged by, there was nothing to see outside the ship, Alwyn's route took them far from the more travelled space lanes. She feared to touch anything within the flyer knowing that Galen was sure to have set guards on every sensitive access. In the end she let her curiosity get the better of her and picked up his coat, feeling again along sleeves and around the lining until she found the hidden pocket within its depths. The amulet was beautiful, wrought silver surrounded a stone the like of which she had never seen before. The deep green drew the eye into it, focusing on the carving within its depths. Two symbols seemed intertwined, clasping one another, though on further inspection she saw that one had been added to the original design.
Alwyn's remote voice startled her, and she quickly slipped the stone back in its hiding place, guilt replacing her curiosity. The flyer was about to make its descent; she should take a seat and then stay where she was until he came for her.
Hair raising didn't begin to describe the flyer's headlong dash at the planet rapidly filling the screen. It hurtled toward the surface at a suicidal rate, sending her scurrying for the nearest chair, her fingers clenched tightly against its hard surface, feet pressing into the floor as though to slow the rapid fall. She was not a coward but as the machine skimmed into the atmosphere and dived for the surface she closed her eyes and sent up a plea to any of her Gods who might be listening.
Email the author!
[email protected]
Main B5/Crusade Fanfic Index Crusade Fanfiction Index
Back to Main Library Index
Back to Main Fanfiction Index
Adventures of Sinbad ~~~ Andromeda ~~~ Angel ~~~ Babylon5 ~~~ BeastMaster: The Series ~~~ Beauty & the Beast
Buffy the Vampire Slayer ~~~ Charmed ~~~
The Crow: Stairway to Heaven ~~~ Crusade ~~~
due South ~~~
Farscape
Gundam Wing ~~~ Highlander: The Series ~~~
Miscellaneous Fiction ~~~ Mortal Kombat ~~~ Mortal Kombat: Conquest
Poltergeist the Legacy ~~~
Raven ~~~
TSAoJules Verne ~~~
The Sentinel ~~~ Stargate SG1 ~~~ Star Trek: Voyager
I can't fix it if I don't know it's broken, so if you see anything wrong, please let me know. Thank you and enjoy your stay!