REBELS AND SAVIORS

Malfeasance

“So anyway, there we were - heading for the planet after taking out three Imperial cruisers, and I say, ‘Michael! Don’t be daft, man! Stay and fight! We can take out the fourth.’ But Michael was having none of that...”

“Since you’re the Captain, shouldn’t he listen to you?” asked one woman, hanging on Sean’s left arm and listening to his tale.

“You’d think so, wouldn’t you? But never was there a more stubborn man born than Michael. Ack, you should’ve seen him when we were young. He was the terror, but I get ahead of myself...” Sean said, pouring himself and his companions another round from the bottle. “So there we were burning up in the upper atmosphere, and I thought to myself, ‘This is it, Sean old boy, the last count. You poor hapless bastard, no you’re never going to discover what all this love stuff is for yourself,’ as the ground was rushing to meet us...” Sean paused as the young women sufficiently fawned over him, and commiserated his lack of time and love.

“Anyway, there I was on my way to dying, a virtual virgin with the whole love thing, myself...”

“You’re a virgin?” One woman asked in wonder.

“In the practical sense?” Sean looked his companions over... “Absolutely, a total virgin. Never been in love, never experienced it...but I really, really wanted to, and with Michael, that blackheart, stealing the Princess from me...”

“And now he was trying to kill you?” His companion asked in a hushed tone. “That’s just mean!” She wrapped herself around him, the better to pet his poor tortured soul. She leaned in and whispered in his ear, “Did I tell you that I find virgins so incredibly sexy?”

“Really? This could be a dangerous job...you have any friends?”

“Word is you’re looking for special compensation?” Sean looked up at the man who would be stupid enough to interrupt him in the middle of making an obvious deal regarding having his ‘love’ virginity tweaked.

“I’m a little busy here, pal.” Sean indicated the six women he had at his table.

The man shrugged, “Guess I heard wrong.” He turned on his heels to leave when Sean groaned. Dammit!

“Hey, not so fast there, buddy!” Sean quickly stood and peeled a few of the women off him, stopping to kiss one. “Ladies, duty calls. But you wait for me, and I'll be back...I promise.”

“But, Captain...” Sean motioned to the barkeep to bring another bottle to the table.

“Now ladies, what kind of man would I be to shirk my duty? I need to see this man, so have another drink, and as fast as that, I’ll be back.” Sean smiled his most charming smile and set off after his contact.

It took some doing, but he finally talked the man into a drink. They were in the back, in a dark corner that faced the general room. The man seemed nervous and cautious, so Sean plied him with drinks.

“Three sets? That’s a tall order.” The man drank down his drink. “It’ll cost and take time.”

“Credits, I have...time I don’t. I need them two hours ago and I’m willing to pay.”

“This price might be too high...show me what you got.”

Sean just laughed and poured another drink. “Sorry, I wasn’t born yesterday. My credits stay safe until I see the product.”

“I can’t work that way. I need some scratch, a sort of down payment of goodwill on your part...”

“How much of a down payment?” Sean asked appearing casual, but his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

“Ten thousand now, the remainder when the job is done.”

Sean didn’t even blink. Instead he tipped his bottle, and poured himself another drink. Taking the drink and downing it, Sean looked at the man directly, a hint of a smile on his mouth.

“Well, then we’d be having a problem, wouldn't we? That’s a lot for a goodwill gesture, and what’s to stop you from making a good profit and then melting away with my credits?”

The man noticed a patrol of Imperials entering the establishment. “Well it looks like you’ll need to find some trust in me, doesn’t it?”

Sean didn’t even flinch, or appear bothered by the entrance of the Imperials. He calmly drew his gun, and jammed it into his companion’s gut under the table, while drinking his next drink with his other hand.

“Then it seems we have a problem. Contrary to appearances, I just don’t trust that easily. Now I'll offer half that amount, and I don’t leave your side until you’re done.”

Sean poured another drink and stared unfalteringly into the man's eyes. Smiling a slow smile that crossed his face, but didn’t reach his eyes, Sean watched the man’s nervousness increase as the Imperials came closer.  Sean’s weapon was nestled against his gut. Sean lowered his blaster to the man's groin and waited.

“Deal! Just take that damn thing away, give me my credits, and let's go!”

Almost out of thin air, Sean seemed to pull out the five thousand credits and passed them to his companion. The man quickly grabbed them, and started to count.

“Don’t be a total fool and insult me with counting them here. We don't have the time.”

The man shrugged. “Time I’ve got...trust I don’t.” He quickly put away the credits, and walked deeper into the establishment with Sean on his heels. They went through a trick door, and found themselves outside in the back alley. Sean kept his weapon drawn and at his side in case it was an ambush.

Following the man through twisting alleyways, they entered a shop through the back. The place was quiet and dark. It was obviously a dry goods shop that was closed for the day, that the man used to do his illegal transactions at night.

“This your place?”

The man shook his head. “My sister’s.”

“Who is standing right here.” Sean turned to see a young woman coming out of the shadows to stand next to them. She had moved silently, and Sean cursed himself for letting anyone that close.

“I’ve a contract. Don’t ruin this for me.” The forger begged.

The woman just shook her head. “Nothing legal, I’m sure.” The sarcasm was apparent.

The man just shrugged. “You stay here. I’ll go start work on the papers.” He quickly went up a back stairs leaving Sean with his sister.

“He’ll get caught one day.” The woman looked at Sean without amusement or even real interest. “And what am I supposed to do with you?”

Sean just smiled. “You wouldn’t have any food, would you?”

“Perhaps, but it’ll cost you.”

“That’s fine, as long as I can watch. I’m a great cook myself.”

The woman just made a face. “Really? In my experience men are lazy bastards that want to be waited on hand and foot, and can barely feed themselves.”

Sean followed her up the same stairs that his ‘employee’ had just climbed, watching the long lean lines of her back, and her nice ass.

“You obviously know the wrong kind of man.”

“There are other kinds?” she looked back at Sean and shrugged again. “That remains to be seen.”

“Well, you’re in for a treat. Some say that my stew is to die for.”

~~~

Michael lifted his weapon into Sean’s face.

“It’s about fucking time! You’re late.”

“I ran into problems.”

“What else is new? You get the papers?”

Sean nodded, squatting next to where Michael was resting with Maria in his lap. Sean looked at the lump next to Michael that was all huddled up.

“What’s that?”

“That is the loudest, whiniest, most annoying Immaculate to ever be born, and if you wake it before we have to, I’ll shoot you between the eyes.”

Sean noted the seriousness of Michael’s tone and just nodded. Then looking at the sleeping Maria, he frowned.

“What’s wrong with Maria?”

“She overextended herself. She had to use a enormous amount of power to get to that ‘thing’,” Michael indicated the lump sleeping next to him and Maria, “and then she had to open a distortion corridor to get us out of the Temple.”

“Can she get us back to the Trinity?”

“She is awake.” Maria said quietly.

Michael put his hand on her face and tipped it up so he could look her over. Swearing under his breath, he took in the exhaustion, and her pale skin, almost translucent.

“You can’t open a new distortion, not right now.”

“I can try.” Maria struggled to stand up, and Michael quickly unfolded his body from hers and helped her. Maria stood up, holding his upper arm as he supported her, and she concentrated.

Nothing happened.

Finally she sagged against him, and Michael folded her close to him. She was barely keeping her feet.

“She can’t.”

“Walk? We could walk out.” Sean said. They had walked into town, so it would follow that if they could avoid the Imperials, they might make it out.

“I’d have to carry Maria, and that...” Michael pointed to the sleeping Immaculate, “...I doubt has ever carried herself more a few feet, not without braying about it.”

“Oh God, don’t tell me that the new Immaculate is going to make me fond of the ‘Lizzard’?”  Sean just shook his head. This job was becoming annoying.

Michael started to say something, but a mark on Sean caught his eye. Looking closer, Michael made a pissy sound under his breath.

“You were off fucking a woman...or, something while we sat here?”

“What?” Sean feigned innocence. But Michael pointed to his neck, and Sean’s hand came up to cover the offending mark.

“You’ve got a mark and a bite on your neck, so unless you ran into hickey-producing marauders or Imperials, that means...”

“Hey, I was waiting for the papers and sort of had a run-in with the forger’s sister. Pain in my ass it was too, when the damn brother came back and didn’t appreciate me and his sister using the kitchen table.”

“Uh huh. I see, and...”

“Oh stop your bitching! I had to shoot the bastard. And you don’t see me making nasty remarks about the mark on your neck.”

Michael’s hand quickly came up to cover his own neck. Maria just chuckled.

“Other side,” she said softly. She looked at Sean sternly. “I wasn’t going to mention it.”

Michael looked at Maria, and a small smile moved over his face, but then he looked at Sean and it was gone.

“Let’s get this straight. You hired a forger, and while waiting for him to do his work, you fucked his sister on the kitchen table, and when he returned to find you...indisposed, you shot him?”

“Only in self defense, and in the leg. Mere flesh wound. I paid the fair lady her brother’s wages, took the papers and came here, not even bothering to finish what I was doing before being interrupted.”

That had to count for something. Sean didn’t mention that he was on his third round with the fair Lady Irene, but that wasn’t pertinent to the situation. The fact was, he had left business undone. He should be commended on his dedication.

Michael just made a face at his friend and then looked at the quiet Maria next to him. She needed sleep, food and time to get her strength back before they could leave. They couldn’t stay where they were.

“We can’t stay here, and I doubt we can make it out of the city before the Imperials find us. Pierce will be able to track both the Immaculate and Maria. So we need to find a place to let her rest for a couple of hours, and keep guard.”

“I’ll go find us some lodgings.” Sean frowned at the state Maria was in. She looked distracted and almost unable to understand them at all. “How we going to mask them from Pierce?”

“Alex.”

Michael and Sean both turned at the sound of Maria's voice. They had both thought she was asleep again. She was being held up by Michael, with one of her arms around his neck while the other held his upper arm.

“Alex is a more powerful force than both Courtney and I combined. Pierce knows his signature, his power, and what he feels like. If you contact Max and have Alex come down to the surface...”

“He can lay a false trail and pull Pierce’s attention away! Or at least distract him.” Michael finished. Maria just nodded and laid her head back on his chest.

“That might work.” Michael nodded to Sean. “You find us accommodations for the rest of the night, and I’ll contact Max.”

“Done. So who sleeps with the Immaculate?”

“She sleeps alone. Untouchable, remember? And personally, I refuse to share a bed with you until you’re checked out for herpes and other diseases.”

Sean looked indignant. “Hey those space herpes were a long time ago! They never let you forget. Bitch, bitch, bitch...” Sean took himself off before Michael warmed on his favorite subject.

~~~

“Alex?”

“I am almost ready. I was checking on Isabel and Lonnie.”

Max couldn’t stop himself. “How is Isabel?”

Alex knew. He looked at Max and he knew. “She is better. This morning she actually walked around a little. Lonnie has been taking care of her. I think she is almost back to normal but her knee took some damage. Kyle said it would heal. He repaired the ripped ligament, so now it is just sore to walk on.”

Max nodded. Isabel. The thought of her was bothering him.

“Michael wants you to move around the planet. We’ve prepared a small fighter craft with Maria's shielding so the ship won’t be detected, but Pierce should still be able to feel you.”

“Maria thinks that I am strong enough of a force to draw Pierce’s attention?”

“Yes.”

Alex just shook his head no. “She is wrong. She is damn near as powerful in disturbing the Path as I am, and when you add in the Immaculate and Michael...They are in grave danger.”

“Michael?”

Alex nodded. It was Michael who had moved the matrix, bent it so many years ago. Even then, unknown to himself, he was reaching out for something or someone. The path of their destiny was wrapped together. There were no coincidences. They were all joined.

“His connection to Maria is growing stronger. As is his connection to you. I can feel you both, and even you, Max are pushing the fabric around you.”

“I don’t like this, Alex. It’s not true.” Denial. Denial was good.

“How did Michael contact you, Max? We are in a communications blackout. So how do you know?”

“Michael. He talks to me.”

“Mentally. You have always been able to feel him, know him. But did he ever talk in your head?”

Max shook his head no. “It was a feeling, almost like images, or a sense of ‘knowing’ before.”

“But now?”

“His voice. Actual words.” Max rubbed the back of his neck. “What’s happening to us?”

“I think that the stronger Michael becomes, the stronger you become. Your twin link works that way. Sean has no twin and is no longer bonded, so he is not using his innate abilities.”

“Michael? He’s changing because of Maria?” Max couldn’t believe it. Sean and Michael were right. The love thing was a sickness, a disease to be caught.

“No. What is happening to Michael started a long time ago. I think that Michael was born to a destiny, and somehow along the way the rest of us became part of it. Maybe that is why he was born unbonded.”

“There’s a legend about an unbonded Attilaan. Is it Michael?” Max wondered. He always suspected that Michael was different.

“Like most legends and prophecies, it is hard to say until it happens.” Alex gathered his remaining gear and walked with Max to the landing bay. “I thought he was The One, then I thought it was Maria, but now...now I am unsure what it all means.”

“What do you plan to do?”

“Retrieve them before Pierce finds them.”

“I should go with you.”

Alex just shook his head no. “Too many ships looking for us. Your place is here. On your Bridge.”

Max had to agree. They were hidden, but Pierce had to know that Alex was near. Something or someone had to have drawn Pierce to Kheb. He was probably thinking he was tracking Kathleen’s unborn child and found the Immaculate instead. 

~~~

Sean stood watch in the small room he had acquired for the night. The Immaculate was asleep on a small settee. She complained all the way to the room, all the way up the stairs and then had a fit when she saw where she was to sleep. Sean had to agree with Michael - their new Immaculate was nothing if not annoying, and he now appreciated the quietness of Liz.

Michael and Maria were sharing the only bed. A lumpy narrow cot that barely had room for the two of them. Michael was awake watching the room as Sean watched the street below. Maria was asleep, or what appeared to be sleep.

“She moves a lot.”

Michael moved his hand over her back as if in comfort. “She does.”

“Dreaming?”

Michael shrugged. “She doesn’t say what causes it. It rarely wakes her. I don’t think she knows how much she moves, but whatever it is, it disturbs her.”

Maria moved in her sleep again, burrowing even more into Michael’s skin almost as if he were too far away. The sounds she made in her sleep were soft, but full of sorrow.

“She’s dreaming, Michael.”

“Yes. Tonight she is.” Michael looked down at the small body against his own. “She sometimes cries in her sleep, but the next morning she doesn’t seem to remember it.”

“What does she dream about?”

“Not sure. But she once told me that when her people died, all their voices rose in screams of horror and then suddenly they were gone. There was nothing but the void of silence and she was alone.” Michael moved his hand up her back to rest under her hair at the nape. “I think that’s why she can’t be silent or still.”

Sean suddenly felt tired. Sixteen years of just trying to survive. If this was to be the rest of their lives, he didn’t want it. He looked over at the two on the bed. They were so close and intertwined. Sean never thought he would ever see Michael so close to anyone. Then he noticed Maria’s hand.

“Is her hand down your...”

“Yeah. Her favorite place I’m beginning to suspect.”

“Maybe we should change shifts? You can watch the street, and I can...” Michael calmly set his weapon to kill and pointed it at Sean. “Hey! Just joking. You used to have a sense of humor.”

“No, I didn’t.”

Sean conceded the point. “Okay, so you didn’t, or at least not one that other people understood.” Sean chuckled to himself, enjoying the moment of making Michael react. Returning to his position, he continued looking outside.

“Michael, I’ve got movement on the street.”

Michael was suddenly on his feet to stand with Sean at the window. In the dark, they could see Imperials moving into position. Michael waited until it was clear that they were surrounding their rooming house.

“We’ve got to move.” Michael went to wake Maria. “Maria, come on wake up. Maria!”

She slowly pulled herself from sleep. Her limbs were so tired. Heavier than she ever remembered. Never before had she come so close to...”

“Maria! Wake up!”

“Michael.” Sean warned.

“I know. Come on, honey, I know you’re tired, but we need you to wake up and work.”

“Imperials?” Maria voice was soft and far away.

“Can you open us a way home?” Michael frowned. She was too out of it. Giving her a shake, he swore aloud when it was apparent that she had fainted.

“Maria! Dammit. It’s not going to work, Sean.”

Michael got off the bed and took his weapon to cover the door. Courtney finally stirred to the sounds of increased action and noise.

“What’s going on? Why did you wake me?”

“We’ve got company. Imperials.” Sean said over his shoulder.

Courtney just sat up on the side of the settee. “I don’t like this place. I don’t like you. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I want to go home to the Temple.”

“Shut up!” Both Michael and Sean said at the same time.

She just pouted at them, and sat back in a huff. Rude. All these people were so rude. The Priests weren’t rude. They were just boring. Frowning at the wall next to her, she suddenly stood up and screamed running to the other side of the room next to Michael and Sean.

Both men turned to see an opening forming in the wall. A Distortion corridor. Michael swore and grabbed his clutch weapon low on his left leg. Pointing it at the distortion with his other weapon covering the door, they watched as a figure emerged.

Alex.

“Alex, damn you!” Michael lowered his weapon as they heard the doors below kicked in.

“You boys need some help?”

“Alex, if you can open that thing again, then do it!”

Alex nodded and suddenly the corridor was back, as Sean broke the cardinal rule and grabbed the irritating Immaculate, dragging her into the rift against her will. Michael heard the soldiers mounting the stairs. He reached down to take Maria.

“I’ve got her.” Alex pulled Maria to her feet, and her eyes opened to look at him. She nodded as she moved into the corridor with Alex helping her. Michael was at their side covering the door when it burst open. The soldiers stood there looking into the distortion corridor stunned, when Pierce pushed them out of the way to enter the room.

Alex pushed Michael through, not trusting him to not to want to stay and fight. Still holding Maria up, they both looked back at Pierce for a moment before stepping through.

Pierce watched the corridor close behind them, and stood there staring at a wall.

~~~

Pierce leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. He could no longer feel them. Wherever they had gone, they went fast.

“My Lord, we are docking with the Imperial cruiser, Tiberius.”