Chapter 33: Targeted

Darren looked up from his practice circuit board and gave his instructor an annoyed glance. The material they were covering was so basic it almost seemed like they had started over. He briefly considered confronting the instructor right then and there, but decided against it. There was too much of a chance that the instructor would feel threatened, and perhaps there was a good reason for the class.

Darren's circuit was finished in less than a minute, and a small green light notified the instructor, who sighed and motioned Darren outside the room. The door closed behind them as the students started to whisper amongst themselves. The instructor cleared his throat. "Darren, you continually outperform yourself and the other students whenever we test you. You're always finished early, you learn quicker than anybody else, and because of it, you've taken the position of loner upon yourself."

Darren shrugged. "Maybe I don't see it that way. I can't help my abilities with repairs and such. Why call me out to scold me for not making friends easily?" The instructor scratched his chin. "You 'can't help your abilities;' that's true. So why haven't you applied or even considered applying for a promotion to a squadron leader's ship, or a higher position in leadership?"

Darren winced. "I'm not a leader. I prefer to remain out-of-sight for the most part. With leadership comes responsibilities, and I prefer living simple. Besides, at the rate my current crew is going, I'll be in a squadron leader's ship regardless." The instructor's eyes brightened. "Ah, so you're in ship fifty-six. Brilliant young pilot, I hear. Single-handedly won us the battle, or so the gossip goes."

Darren grinned. You're making quite a name for yourself up here, Sara. Just as I did on Shirn..."Well, I'd imagine that's stretching it a bit...but yes, she did quite well." "She?" The instructor's thoughtful look returned. "It's been quite some time since we had a decent woman pilot. Why do you suppose that is?" Darren saw where the conversation was going, and he didn't like it. It was time to steer it in a different direction. "Does it matter? Perhaps now that we have an excellent example of a good female pilot, others will follow, and talent previously unexplored will be brought to light."

Thankfully, the instructor let it drop. "Perhaps. You're done for this class period. I was going to go over some of the failed experiments, but I can see you already know them. Take care, and congratulate your pilot on her achievements." "I will. Have a good day." Darren turned and left for the cafeteria. He wasn't hungry, but for some reason felt the need to eat. He walked in and was immediately pulled to the side by Venom. "We need to speak. Now."

Darren let himself be led to a table near the corner. "This has to be important, or you wouldn't risk being seen with me. What is it?" Venom turned in every direction to make sure nobody was listening. His laptop was strangely absent from his hands. "Something's going down. Something big. Communications between Destiny and unknown contacts are at an all-time high. Whatever spooked the higher-ups has me worried, because they'll do anything to save their own sorry hides."

By now, Darren could read between the lines. "There was a huge battle. Sara did better than anyone else, so you think Sara's going to be a target." Venom put both hands out, palms up in a mock hand-cleansing. "I didn't say it. I just looked at the facts and came to the most logical conclusion." Darren smiled unexpectedly. "Since when did you look out for others?" Venom smiled back, not unkindly. "I thought it best to help you this one time, and who knows? I may need a favor in return someday."

Darren stood to end the conversation, spying a crowd gathering around what he knew to be Sara. Venom stood as well. "We probably won't talk again, Darren. But if I need you, you'll know it."

Darren nodded and made his way through the tables and chairs to the small crowd of people. Politely pushing his way through, he discovered it was indeed Sara, surrounded by a crowd of curious questioners. "How'd you do so well?" "What was your score on the simulator test?" "What's your room number?" Darren rolled his eyes and stepped next to Sara, offering his arm. "Walk you to class?"

Sara stood and slid her arm in his, practically jumping at the chance to leave. Somebody took her tray and went to put it away, hoping to gain favor in her eyes. Once out of the cafeteria, she hugged Darren quickly and kept walking. "Thanks. They came out of nowhere before I was even finished eating, kept asking questions, and I didn't think I could just push someone and walk away."

Darren grinned. "It would've been an easy way to keep them from mobbing again, though. Knock one down, and they'll fear you as 'Sara, the fan-killer.'" Sara smiled, but it didn't last. After a moment, she hesitantly asked "Is that what it was like for you on Shirn? Mobbing fans, people wanting your personal information, never a moment's peace?" Darren kept grinning. "Not exactly celebrity material, are you?"

He laughed as Sara rolled her eyes. "Sara, we're not major attention-grabbers. Everybody loves attention; you and I just need less and from fewer people. Unfortunately for you, your job on Destiny is rather high-profile." Sara nodded. "I know, I know. And my talents are best suited for my job, and my personality is best suited for my talents, and on it goes."

Darren smiled distantly. "Now you've got it. Welcome to my world." Sara shot him a look that said "You're not helping," but he didn't catch it. Sighing, she asked "Why did you offer to walk me to class? You know I don't have one. In fact, I thought you had one." Darren shrugged. "I got out early. And walking you to class was the best excuse I could come up with that would stand under scrutiny."

Sara noticed the direction he was walking was away from their room. "So where are we going, then?" Darren frowned. That's a good question. Where do we go from here? "I'm not sure. But stay away from our room for the day. Somebody I know just told me you could be attracting unwanted attention. I know, I know," he said, noticing her exasperated sigh, "you can't help it. I don't fault you for anything; I just want you to stay at Diana's room for a while."

Sara glanced at him. "You remember that Thomas and Diana are married and share a room now, right?" Darren winced. He'd forgotten that. "Well...to be honest, no, I hadn't remembered. I'm out of ideas. Know anyone else you trust?" A name popped into his head and he silently prayed Sara would find someone. "No, I can't think of anyone who would let me stay." Darren sighed. "Well...there is...one other option."
~
Celia May opened her door and blinked. "Darren. Sara. To what do I owe this visit?" Darren looked up and down the hallway and motioned Celia aside, pushing Sara into the room. "C, there's not much time to explain. Basically, someone's upset because Sara's a good pilot, my sources tell me she could be targeted, and our room's probably not the safest place for her. I figured since you two got along so well, you could put her up for a night."

Celia blinked again. "So...where are you going to stay? And doesn't bringing her here make me a target too?" Darren shook his head. "I’ve already made arrangements for myself. And no, you're not in any danger. See, even if they did watch the cameras near your room, they wouldn't have time to send security guards here. They're already waiting inside ours. Four, if I remember correctly. I'll take care of that later. The commander expects me to go talk with him, so I won't. It’ll give him something to chew on."

He turned to Sara. "If, by chance, security does come and find you...protect Celia. Consider her an innocent caught in the crossfire, and use any means necessary on the guards." Sara leaned forward and hugged him, whispering fiercely in his ear. "If you do anything rash, expect to sleep on the couch. I want you back in one piece." Darren grinned and kissed her quickly. "As long as you don't do anything rash, I won't have to do anything rash." He turned and left, closing the door behind him.

Sara turned to Celia, who was eyeing her with no small amount of suspicion. "'Any means necessary?' 'Innocent caught in the crossfire?' Care to explain?" No, thought Sara. But I'm going to have to, even if only to get you off my back. "Darren already considered that guards would come for me here. Because he trained me back on Shirn, he knows that I know the steps needed to protect someone who shouldn't be involved in a fight."

Celia snorted. "I can fend for myself, Barbie. I don't need you fighting for me." "That may be," Sara replied evenly. "But if it weren't for me, you wouldn't have to fight, and so I have to take full responsibility for whatever happens to you." Celia sat down on her bed, confused. “You’re taking responsibility for me, even though it was unfairly given to you?” Sara shrugged. “Darren knows what he’s doing. Even if I don’t see a reason for putting me here, perhaps he does.”
~
Darren took the elevator to the second floor and made his way quietly to the ISP room. The hallways were empty except for two or three students meandering aimlessly around. The bar from the previous night was still simulated, and surprisingly full considering the time of day. Slipping quietly through the crowd of people, Darren settled in a different corner than before. No sense in taking any chances.

A quick scan of the crowd revealed no familiar faces. Darren closed his eyes and tried to relax. Sara could take care of herself, so he didn’t need to worry about that. Venom was most likely safe. Celia was protected by Sara. Tim...Darren smiled. There was something about Tim that exuded a confidence of life. He’d be fine. So who was missing?

The room’s atmosphere changed almost imperceptibly, causing Darren to open his eyes. Something or someone was causing a rise of barely discernible tension. A gray-uniformed man that Darren recognized as the commander’s aide entered the room and sat on one of the barstools. The man barely touched his drink while obviously looking for someone.

Darren closed his eyes and waited silently. No more than two minutes had passed before he felt the air near him shift. “Can I help you?” he said quietly. The aide sat close to Darren and nodded, speaking when he realized Darren’s eyes were closed. “Yes. You can help me, and by helping me you can help other people.”

Darren opened an eye. “I’m listening.” The aide smiled. “Good. You may have noticed a lot of...activity among our faculty here. We believe we must take greater precautions with certain members of your crew.” Darren frowned. Being approached so quickly was something he hadn’t anticipated. “What do you want? Be brief.”

The aide nodded. “As you will. We want Sara to be safe from the prying eyes of the public. There are places on Destiny that very few people are allowed to even know about, much less enter. You know where Sara is, don’t you?” Darren opened his other eye and leaned forward, inches from the aide’s face. “Yes. But let me make sure I have this correct. The commander wishes Sara set apart to be ‘protected,’ while I rat her out?”

The aide scribbled numbers on a piece of paper and passed it to Darren. “We’d be willing to make it worth your while to change crews, avoid her, and so forth.” Darren fingered the paper, scratching his chin. “That’s a lot of money. All I’d have to do is tell you where she is?” The aide nodded. “Simplistic. Quick. Profitable.” Again with the nod. “Well? Do we have a deal?”

Darren stared at the man in uniform thoughtfully. “It’s certainly tempting...” The aide’s smile was pure relief. It quickly disappeared as Darren’s fist smashed into his left shoulder. Darren’s left hand closed over the man’s mouth, silencing his scream. Pulling him closer, Darren spoke cordially. “I apologize for taking it out on the messenger, but surely you understand. As a man of both honor and loyalty, I simply couldn’t let that go so easily.”

The man nodded and gingerly removed Darren’s left hand from his mouth with his good arm. His voice was tinged with pain. “Why do you think I was so hesitant to give you the message? I’d probably have done the same thing in your position.” Darren slid back in his seat slightly. “Go back to the commander. Show him your arm; I’m pretty sure it’s dislocated. Tell him he can keep his money. Tell him I won’t tolerate any further intrusions. And let him know that if this continues much longer...he won’t have control over the light in his room, much less Destiny.” Darren stood and walked to the door as casually as he could.

Once in the hallway, Darren’s walk turned to a run as he headed for the staircase. The aide watched him go, torn by loyalties. Darren held a great deal of respect in his eyes, but how could he ignore his duty to the commander? After a moment of considering, he lifted his radio to his mouth with sad, pain-filled eyes. I’m sorry, Darren. But I have people who depend on me too.

Darren raced up the stairs and ran full-speed down the fourth floor towards Celia’s room. Be safe. Be safe. Be safe. Scenarios danced through his mind, each more horrifying than the last. His footsteps beat a frantic rhythm on the hard polished floor, forcing other people to sidestep or risk collision.

He reached the room and checked the hallway for guards before throwing himself into the room and locking the door. The room was empty, but there were no signs of a struggle. Sara wouldn’t have gone with guards quietly, so they must have left on their own. A note on the table caught his eye and he picked it up.

All pilots and crew are required to meet at their ships at 1300 hours in the hangar.

Darren looked at the clock. 1254 hours. If it had been true, there would have been announcements, orders over a loudspeaker...this one was fake. So once again...now what? Pounding on the door shook him from his thoughts. “Open up, Darren! We know you’re in there!” He opened the door to find six guards and a different lieutenant. This one knew the previous lieutenant had died, but didn’t know why. Darren enjoyed watching him tremble, but felt the need to help him just a little. “Sara isn’t here.”

He expected doubt, and he wasn’t disappointed. “You led us to her hiding spot, Darren. Now let us in.” Darren gladly obliged and watched them search the room thoroughly. When they found nothing, they assumed again. “Where is she hiding? Did you move her?” Darren shook his head and said “No, lieutenant. I didn’t move her. Apparently she left without telling me.”

The gray uniforms moved a step closer to Darren. The lieutenant got as close to Darren’s face as he dared and leaned in. “Don’t lie to me, Darren.” Darren laughed directly in the man’s face. “Or what?” He let his statement sink in and continued, “I wasn’t lying when I said she left without telling me. Threatening me won’t get you anywhere. But let me assure you,” he leaned in, “that the commander’s double-crossing has not gone unnoticed.”

Darren turned and left the room. Once in the hallway, he pulled out the paper from his pocket and read it again before dropping it strategically on the ground. The hangar would be an excellent place to have everyone assembled. He walked a bit faster than normal, but didn’t run. There was no point in running yet. If they wanted to have him there, then he would be there at his own pace.
~
Sara and Celia waited just outside the ship. Celia checked her watch and sighed. “What in the blazes is going on here? They give us an order to appear, in uniform and formally arranged...by ourselves?” Sara blinked. Just...us? “Uh-oh. You don’t suppose they already found us and got us out here in the open for a reason, do you?” Celia checked the exits nervously. “Now that I think about it...that order did seem a little fishy.”

Sara groaned. “Now you think about it?” “I didn’t hear any comments from you about checking the note,” Celia retorted. “We were both busy with getting ready. And until we find out what’s going on for sure, we’re staying right here!” Sara ignored her and went into the ship, sitting down in her chair. Celia stuck her head in. “I’ll pretend you didn’t hear me so I won’t have to scream at you. They wanted us at attention, remember?”

Sara brushed a strand of hair out of her face. “Yes, I know. I’m just warming up the engines.” She rejoined the puzzled Celia. “Why on Shirn would you want to do that?” Sara shrugged. “It seems prudent.” Celia smiled unexpectedly. “You know the word ‘prude’ is in ‘prudent,’ right?” Sara returned the smile. “Darren doesn’t seem to mind.” The stunned look on Celia’s face was worth millions.

The sound of running reached their ears. Sara shot a concerned glance at Celia, who leaned inside the ship to check the instruments. A beeping from the radar drew her gaze, causing her to gasp. “Sara! The orders may be bogus, but there are enemy forces launching an attack at this moment. We’re the only ones ready to go.”

Sara looked from the direction the footsteps were coming to Celia, then back to the footsteps. “Don’t we need our mechanic and navigator?” Darren appeared abruptly her field of view, hotly pursued by the lieutenant and his men. “Sara! Shut the doors of the ship, now!”

Sara punched the door button and jumped inside as the door began to close. Darren increased his speed as his window of opportunity grew smaller and smaller. A flying dive was the only way to get through before it closed completely, and he executed it perfectly. He slammed to the metal floor of the ship, wincing slightly. Probably should’ve run faster at first. “Thanks for waiting, ladies.” He glanced at the beeping radar and shook his head.

Celia noticed. “I know, I know. A false order that turned out to be true. We have no choice but to go out and fight, hoping they send backup. I can do navigation.” Darren nodded. “The moment we got in the ship, the men fled to escape the vacuum left by the hangar doors opening. We’re good to go.” The seconds from check-up to launch seemed like eternity to the three tense crew members. Sara realized with a start as she sat down in her chair that entering space in two consecutive days was another precedent they had just set. Oh well. Not like we had much of a choice...The vast feeling of emptiness consumed the D3 Suppressor.

The radar lit up suddenly, red triangles displayed on every side. They were completely surrounded by larger ships, fighting alone against the alien forces. Sara grimaced and turned hard to her immediate right, hoping to break through the sphere to freedom. Although many enemy ships died from the high-powered fire, she was forced to turn back or hit a wave of returning detonations.

Again and again ship 56 tried to get free of the closing forces, but they were hard pressed for space. The constant shifting of their enemy made it difficult to escape a run unscathed. When Sara was about to give up hope and try to ignore the damage done to the ship...

“Sara!” The speaker overhead squealed to life. “Hang in there, Sara!” The Gray Knights had arrived. Backing them up was Striking Viper and Holy Force, all three determined to repay what Sara had done for them. The outward alien ships turned to face this new attack as the inward-most ships kept the trapped ship inside.

Celia looked up from her panel in sheer panic. “Sara! We have to leave now! There’s a huge-!” The whole ship shuddered suddenly and stopped moving. Sara slammed a fist against her controls in frustration. “I can’t do a thing! Nothing’s responding!” Darren looked around nervously. “This isn’t good.”

The sound over the speaker was fading. “...Sara...this is Daniel...can’t pursue...” Sara flipped a switch. “Daniel! Don’t worry about us; we’ll be fine. Take your forces and retreat! We’ll handle ourselves!” Daniel’s voice came back, filled with regret. “...understood. Sorry we couldn’t...not enough forces...good luck.” Sara nodded to nobody in particular. “Thank you for coming to help. Ship 56 out.”

The ship fell silent as Sara looked at the other two people onboard. Celia was looking around the whole place, nervous and panicked. “We’re going to die, aren’t we?!?” Darren was also looking around nervously, but shivering. A scraping sound could be faintly heard through the hull. Darren pointed at the roof of the ship. “Whatever they’re using to immobilize us is also being used to drag us somewhere.”

Sara moved closer to him. “Are you cold?” Darren shook his head no even as he wrapped his arms around himself. “I shouldn’t be.” He reached out and took Sara by the shoulders, staring into her eyes. “Whatever happens, we need to trust each other.” The burning ice in Sara’s stomach returned. “What’s wrong? What’s going on?” Darren let go of her and slumped against the wall. “I don’t know entirely, but the closer we get to this unknown destination...the more this feeling of dread increases.” He closed his eyes and exhaled deeply.

“Who...or whatever they are...they want us alive.” An alarm went off inside the cabin. Oxygen was being drained from the main tanks by an outside force. Eyelids became heavy and closed of their own accord. First Celia, then Sara and finally Darren slipped into sleepless dreaming.
- posted by Nick @ 8/31/2004 02:23:00 AM

 

Chapter 32: Hiding in Plain Sight

Tim examined his computer as their ship drew near Destiny’s main hangar. Statistics for the battle were not in completely, but the tentative losses had been heavy for their side. Various ships and crew had died, totaling five squadrons in all. Their numbers were down to 39 squadrons, or 195 ships.

The hangar door slammed shut with a loud crash, pulling him out of his thoughts. They were safely back inside Destiny, their first major battle over and done with. But had they won?

Sara opened the door and stepped out. The bright lights made her blink after being inside the dim, cramped confines of the ship. How long had she been in there? Thirty minutes? An hour? Five hours? Time was immeasurable when you fought for your life and the lives of countless others. The nearest clock was back in their room...

Tim and Celia stepped out behind her. “What’s the commotion?” Sara shrugged. “I have no idea. You’re the senior pilot, shouldn’t you know?” Celia frowned at her. “I can’t see through you, moron.” Sara stepped aside wordlessly and let Celia take a look, wincing as the shorter woman squealed. “He’s coming here? To us?” Sara shaded her tired eyes and noticed a small group heading towards them. “Who’s coming?”

“The squadron leader, you dolt! He probably noticed our excellent achievements during the battle and wants to give us congratulations!” Celia took several deep breaths. “Wow...he’s even more handsome up close than I had thought...” Sara hushed her. “Quiet. He’s almost here.”

“Am I correct in assuming that this young lady is the pilot?” The leader directed his question to Celia, but was looking at Sara. The former nodded breathlessly, entranced. “Daniel Welm is my name. I am the pilot of ship 127, and as you may have already guessed, the leader of the Gray Knights. Might I have your names?”

Sara felt her mind begin to slow. The effect this man had on women made him the envy of every other man. He was tall and well-built, his walk refreshingly free of a swagger, his speech refined and soft, the epitome of charisma and grace. His attitude was charming; he had the look of someone who said little, not because there was little to say, but because he was able to simplify it and reserve speech, which he obviously valued. Dirty blonde hair was combed back just enough to look neat, but not so much as to look excessively elegant. His hazel eyes were clear and focused at the moment, but threatened to gaze off into the distance at some unseen object.

Sara almost forgot a question had been asked. “Oh, right. I’m Sara, this is Tim, this is Celia, and Darren...” she paused and looked around. “Darren is inside the ship, still.” Daniel nodded. “Before I headed to the private debriefing, I wanted to thank you personally for doing such an excellent job. Your piloting saved many lives, and you probably don’t know that your kills rank you higher than any other new pilot.”

Sara blushed. “Well, it’s not just me in there. I have a very good communications officer, and my mechanic is second to none.” The deliberate exclusion of the overseer’s name was not lost on Celia, who folded her arms and glared at the back of Sara’s head. Daniel smiled warmly. “Well, the Gray Knights are certainly better for your skills. And I hope you can strategize as well as pilot...because at this rate, you’ll have your own squadron in no time.”

Celia woke from her trance for a brief period. “Her own squadron? But pilots have to have at least three years experience, and then the testing, and even then it’s less than fifty percent success rate...” The leader held up a hand. “I know the requirements quite well. I would not be surprised, however, if they bend the rules yet again. We have already bent them by making a pre-emptive strike on the enemy. What is to differentiate that strike from her early promotion?”

Celia couldn’t answer, to Sara’s delight. But she had one last question. “Why did you choose the Gray Knights as your squadron name? It seems different from all the others.” Daniel nodded, his eyes unfocusing as he began to speak. “Back on Shirn, I was an ordinary man with an ordinary job in a nondescript village. I went to work as a store clerk before the sun came up, and closed shop long after the sun went down. I was happily married for two years, with a baby soon to arrive. It was a simple life, but a good one.”

His voice remained devoid of emotion, as if he was reading a book out loud rather than telling his own tale. “And then raiders came. The local military was tied up with a riot in the larger towns. They couldn’t send aid. They couldn’t even contact mercenaries to come fight for money. The bandits slaughtered most of our village, taking the women for themselves...and then killing them soon afterwards. My wife and my unborn child were unceremoniously cut to pieces before my very eyes.”

Sara shuddered. “I’m sorry.” Daniel smiled reassuringly to show that his pain was past, and continued. “I flew into a rage and killed my captor, taking his sword up against the others. But there were dozens of bandits, better armed and armored than I. I expected to die fighting, and almost did. One attacker snuck up behind me and knocked me unconscious with the flat of his blade, giving the others ample time to tie me to a stake. They planned to burn me alive as a warning to any villagers who still held hopes of resistance.”

Celia gasped, her eyes wide. “Did they?” Sara rolled her eyes as Daniel chuckled, thoroughly amused. “No, they did not. Before they could throw the torch onto my pyre, a man cloaked all in gray walked among them. Nobody knew where he had come from or why they hadn’t noticed him before, but when he took the torch and set one of their own on fire, they counted him as an enemy. However, their sword strokes meant nothing to him. He was a wisp of smoke carried on the wind. Even if they had connected, his armor would have been more than sufficient.”

Daniel was coming to the end of his tale. “The man finished every last bandit and made sure they were all dead before cutting me free. He never removed his gray cloak or armor, though I did catch a glimpse of his face when he helped me up. I will always remember my rescuer. He took no payment other than our thanks, and although he left soon after, he graciously gave us his name. He called himself...Peregrin...The Gray Knight.” Daniel straightened up and his eyes focused once more. “So you see, I named my squadron after my rescuer and hero. If I can do even one small portion of what that man has done for others, then I can die a happy man.”

Celia fairly swooned. “That’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.” Daniel chuckled again, but glanced around. “I should probably hurry to the debriefing. It was nice meeting you all, Sara,” he shook each person’s hand as he said their name, “Tim, Celia, and I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet Darren. I shall have to talk to him some other time.” Sara nodded wordlessly and watched him walk away.

The two women stared in silence as their squad leader disappeared through a heavy door. One of Darren’s tools falling to the ground woke them from their stupor, and Sara turned to greet him. “You just missed Daniel Welm, our squadron leader.” Darren raised an eyebrow. “Did I? I heard the whole conversation except for the introductions, but didn’t think that we did well enough to warrant a visit from such as he...”

Celia nodded, still staring dreamily at the door Daniel had exited through. "Sara...can you do as good a job piloting next time as you did last time?" Sara shrugged. "Sure, I guess. No harm in trying." Celia nodded again. "Good...good...well, the battle's over. Classes are all canceled until tomorrow, so enjoy the rest of today day off. I'm going to head to the bar."

Tim blinked. "We have a bar? I didn't know that." Celia grinned. "Well, more specifically, a simulated bar. The ISP room proves useful once more...all of the buzz of the alcohol, none of the hangover and headaches. I prefer the atmosphere to the drink, however. Anyone care to join me?" She gave a pointed look at Darren, who politely smiled and declined. "It is, after all, still my honeymoon." He barely missed Sara's adoring glance and Tim's half-hidden smile because of Celia's look. It was...strange, as if she was searching for something in his demeanor. Whatever it was, she didn't find it, because she shrugged and left.

"Get some rest, you two. We'll need you awake to fly." With that playful parting shot, Tim left as well. Darren turned to Sara, who still had that adoring look on her face that he loved. "What's that for?" She smiled. "It's not technically still our honeymoon. You lied." He shrugged. "And if I did? Maybe I noticed she was trying something and decided not to go along with it." Sara slapped his arm. "I knew that already. That's why I gave you that look. I'm blonde, but I'm not that blonde." Seeing his grin, she raised her arm again. "And I swear, the first joke I hear..."

Darren started walking back to their room, still grinning. "Aw, but I had a ton of them all saved up..." Sara followed, shaking her head and smiling. The elevator was out of order again, so their climb down the stairs was quickly joined by a noisy group of male pilots rushing towards the second floor.

Darren and Sara looked at each other and shrugged. It didn't concern them. The room had been cleaned while they were out, another perk of being a pilot. The alarm clock read 6:23, but neither of them were hungry, just tired. The day of unfamiliarity had put a bit of a limp in their steps. Sara headed for the bathroom while Darren took off his shoes and lay down on the bed with a groan.

He could hear her moving around in the bathroom through the open door. Darren mused to himself for a while, and then said, "We should get paid to not make out in public." He buried his face in a pillow to keep from laughing as he heard Sara spit toothpaste all over the mirror. She finished brushing her teeth, cleaned the mess up and came out, glaring at him. "You did that on purpose."

Even with his face hidden, she could still hear his laugh through the pillow and see his entire body shaking. She leaped onto the bed and rolled him over, smacking him lightly on the head with another pillow. Darren contained his laughter long enough to yank the pillow from her hand and hit her back with it. "Careful, woman. You know not the secret techniques of the pillow as I-oof!" He was cut off when the other pillow connected sharply with his ribs. "…Very well. You win this round." Sara grinned triumphantly. "And don't you forget it."

With a note of humor in his voice, Darren changed the subjec. "How was your first day at work, honey?" Sara fell backwards onto him and sighed. "Not too bad, I think. I could do without Celia, but I suppose that can't be helped." Darren reached down and began rubbing Sara's shoulders. She groaned loudly and tensed before relaxing them as much as she could. Between painful gasps of breath, she managed "And how was yours?"

Darren shrugged. "Good, I guess." Sara shot him a glance. "You...guess? Are you okay?" He had to smile at the obvious concern in her voice. "Well, it's just that...I just don't feel too comfortable here. Surrounded by high-tech electronics and shining white walls...this just isn't where I like to be. I belong back on the forests and land again, living the simple life found only on Shirn." Sara nodded slowly. "I wish I felt that way...but I kinda like it up here. I guess the scheduling and electronics appeal to me more than the 'simple life.'"

Darren shrugged again. "Nothing wrong with feeling like that. Just personal preference." Sara yawned loudly, then covered her mouth. "Ugh. Sorry. I guess I must be more tired than I thought. Uh, Darren...I'm not sure how to say this, but..." Darren chuckled. "I know. but should I let you try to verbalize it and enjoy the result, or let you off easy?"

Sara sighed. When she was truly tired, her patience was thin even with him, and thankfully, he noticed. "I understand. It's alright. Get some rest." Darren pulled up the blankets and covered her gently. She sighed contentedly, warmth spreading throughout her body. She was asleep in moments.

Darren lay awake, staring at the ceiling for a bit longer. There is no way I'm gonna be able to get to sleep tonight...
~
Phil lead the group of people down the stairs. "Hurry up, guys! We're gonna miss the first part of the whole thing!" Someone he had never seen before caught up with them. "Hey, what's all the commotion?" Someone else in the group called back "We're heading to the bar! There's a show tonight!" People joined the rapidly growing gathering as they neared the ISP room.

Phil swung the door open and stepped into an old-style Shirnish bar, complete with stools, booths, and liquor. He grinned. "Now this is how the room should be used." The man next to him shushed him quickly. "Wait util the song's over!"

"...like a dream, come true..." The lilting voice of Celia May brought the first song to a close.. Phil groaned. "Aw, man. Now we gotta wait for the next one." The man who had previously shushed him grinned, and slapped him on the back. "Hey, cheer up! There's plenty of ways to pass the time, and the bartender knows the mix for every one!" With a laugh, he turned back to his drink.

Celia's evening gown glittered as she walked across the platform towards the edge. Her break in between songs was kept quiet by one simple fact: the bouncer would break the face of anyone who tried to talk to her without being talked to first. It was a good rule, from Celia's point of view.

She stepped off the small stage and spotted Darren sitting in a corner booth with his back against the wall, eyes closed and relaxing. In the room, the patrons could assume different types of clothing, within limits; Darren had chosen his usual hooded traveler's cloak. After scanning the room with a moment's hesitation, Celia walked over and stood in front of him. Darren opened one eye and smiled welcomingly, then opened the other. "Great job up there, C. You have an incredible voice."

Celia nodded absentmindedly. "Yeah…thanks." After a short pause, she went on. "Hey, could I ask you something?" Darren nodded. "Ask away." Celia sat down across the table and looked around the room. "You're a decent, good-looking, intelligent man. Why…did you choose Sara?" Darren shrugged. "Why do you ask?" "I don't have to give you my reasons!" snapped Celia. She calmed herself and continued quietly. "I just…want to know what you see in her, since I don't seem to be able to find any reasons for you to like her."

Darren closed his eyes again. "Very well. To start, we've known each other for about five years. We developed a very deep friendship, and I became the silent support after both her parents died." He didn't bother explaining Sara's real parentage; Celia didn't need to know that much.

He continued, "After traveling together, saving each other's lives many times, and generally experiencing closeness that others can only dream of...there was one time in particular…" His eyes became cloudy as his mind drifted off into the memory, reliving it.

Celia glanced up from the table at him. "And?" Darren shook his head and smiled. "Sorry. There was one time where everyone but me was helpless to fight, and so I fought alone. After a long battle, I had begun to destroy the creature that was in our way…and it dealt me a mortal blow. I was in pain, of course, but could still communicate with Sara. I thought it was best to let her know how I felt, just in case I did die. What I didn't expect was the power that she'd been holding inside."

He met Celia's gaze and grinned. "I guess you could say making the first move saved my life. It had taken a while, but we'd both been thinking about telling the other person about how we felt. She's got a pure heart, always willing to help, intensely loyal, and," he chuckled to himself briefly. "She just won't give up. On anything. Sara's a very determined person. And since we can match ourselves against each other mentally and physically without worrying about small details like who wins, every time we 'fight' it ends up with us drawing closer."

Celia stared off into the distance. "Sounds like an ideal marriage." Darren shrugged. "All I do is continually try to put her interests above my own. When she does the same for me, then we appreciate each other more and an ideal marriage becomes possible."

"C! You're up in two minutes!" Celia glanced over her shoulder at the stage manager. "I've gotta go get ready. Staying for the whole thing?" Darren smiled. "Sure. It's been a while since I've heard such great singing." Celia waved the compliment away, saying "What about Sara?" Darren's face was complacent. "She was rather tired, and so I let her sleep. I'd be sleeping too, but..."

"C! If you're gonna sing, you better get movin'!" Celia smiled apologetically and rose. "Don't feel bad if you doze off. A lot of the time, people come here to forget, so I sing a few slow songs." Darren nodded. "I'll keep that in mind." Celia headed backstage as Darren closed his eyes and sank into memories once more.
~
Sara woke up breathing heavily, not quite knowing why. She felt the bed next to her, experiencing a short stab of fear. No Darren. She looked at the clock through sleep-blurred eyes. 2:23 in the morning. Sara considered calling to him through the link, but only briefly. If he was out walking, he probably wouldn't want to be disturbed. And if he was somewhere else...Sara pushed the thought from her mind, mentally telling herself to calm down. Trust him. He'd tell you if there was something you could do about it.

The door eased open and Sara sat up slightly, shading her eyes from the light. A shadowed figure stepped in and closed the door quickly, Darren's voice comfortingly warm. "Sorry to wake you. I couldn't sleep and didn't think you'd appreciate my tossing and turing." A second later, he was on the bed beside her, obviously worried.

"You're shaking. What's wrong?" Sara made an effort to smile. "I just can't hide anything from you, can I?" She could feel his searching eyes on her face. "Considering I just got done explaining our wonderful relationship to Celia, I think there should be very little to hide." Darren could now hear a hint of something akin to jealousy in her voice, but not quite anger. "Celia? She asked about me, did she?"

Darren laughed quietly. "Oh yes, indeed she did. She doesn't think much of you, in case you hadn't already noticed. She was singing at the bar tonight, and asked some questions about us. I gave her some history, leaving out much for the sake of time. I think she learned something, though, and that's good." He put an arm around his wife. "But that's not why your breathing is erratic and the bed is shuddering."

Sara took a deep, albeit shaky breath. "I woke up...scared for some reason, feeling alone and abandoned...and you weren't here." Darren closed his eyes. "I'm sorry." He heard her hair swish as she shook her head. "You needed to think, to wander, to do whatever...and I know it's for the best." Darren pulled her close. "If there's anything I can do to put your mind at ease, just let me know, okay?" He felt her nod. "And Sara? This may be a strange time to ask, but before I forget...could you please try to be nice to Celia?"

Sara's face was unreadable in the darkness. "I...suppose so. Any reason in particular?" "While I was talking to her, I found out some things that she looks for. What she wants is a guy that will care about her more than himself."

Confused, Sara cut in. "But that's like the shy kid, Tim. And it seems like she doesn't like him or even want to be near him." Darren sighed. "Yes. You see, she attacks what she so desperately searches for, in an attempt to prove that what she seeks cannot be found. Twisted, but unfortunately it can't be helped. Someone must have hurt her very badly..."

Sara grinned. "Well then, she's in for a surprise if she's trying to find fault with Tim. He hasn't looked at me for longer than two seconds, and always my face." It was Darren's turn to grin. "He knows you're off-limits. He's not looking at you" his voice dropped to a low pitch, "because you're mine." Sara shivered in anticipation. "So how do you expect me to be nice to Celia, since she seems bent on taking you from me?"

To her disappointment, Darren's voice returned to normal. "Well, consider that she outranks you. Also consider that beneath her tough exterior, she's a scared little girl. I'm not saying you have to bow and scrape," he grinned. "On the contrary, I enjoy seeing you two trade insults. Perhaps I shouldn't, but the point is that you don't have to worry about somebody else seducing your husband."

Sara shrugged. "I wasn't too worried about that...just a little. How'd you guess?" Darren smiled at himself. "Because I felt the same little bit of worry when I heard your conversation with the esteemed Mr. Welm. He's quite the charmer, even if he doesn't intend to." Sara leaned over and kissed Darren. "Well, let me put your worries to rest, then. I hold my marriage vows in high regard, no matter where or how they were taken."

Darren smiled. "I know. And knowing that makes all the difference." He leaned back and stared at the ceiling, a thought coming from nowhere into his head. "We lost five squadrons today. If this keeps up, we'll all be dead soon. There's no way we can win using brute force." Sara leaned back as well. "Then we change our strategy to counteract theirs. If they use brute force, turning them against each other would produce the best results."

Darren sat up straight. "Tell Daniel what you just told me. Even if they already know, you'll look the better pilot for thinking of it. And if they didn't know...then you may have just saved lives." Sara glanced at him. "Alright...but in the meantime...how about sleep?" Darren put an arm around her and drew her close. "Sounds like a good idea to me. Any idea what tomorrow," he looked at the clock. "...today will be like?"

Sara shrugged.. "Probably classes, and most likely we'll be starting where we left off. It'd be no different than any other day, I imagine."

- posted by Nick @ 8/13/2004 10:17:00 PM