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The dull ache of pain, which had – until mere microts ago – felt a million miles away, on some other poor soul’s body, now hurtled towards her, as consciousness enveloped her.
Sikozu weakly opened her eyes, and gasped as the agonies of her ribs and face and kidneys seemed to clutch at her from every direction. ‘Concentrate.’ she told herself, and gradually slowed and deepened her breaths. ‘That’s it…push…the pain away’. Looking at her surroundings, Sikozu saw nothing but four claustrophobic walls, closing in on her small frame. The ceiling was low…and it was hot…so…hot. She struggled to recall what had happened to her. She’d been on the Command Carrier – with Scorpius. Then…a shot…no, a number of shots. Something was attacking the ship….confusion. She remembered a jolt, and falling…falling to the floor, dazed by the sparks and flames that danced around her. Then…here. Here. And it’s so very hot. Reason and logic hit her like a stone. ‘Scarrans…a Scarran dreadnaught.’ Logic was quickly replaced with panic, and she winced as she struggled to her feet. Her breathing was rapid, rushed, and she was sweating…gingerly she walked toward the door. Her hand reached out to test it. The seconds dragged like arns, and she was suddenly aware of the trembling in her fingers as she extended them to touch the door.
Footsteps. Her hand retracted, as if burnt. Panic again draped itself over her, suffocating, clammy. The door opened. Instinctively, she backed away from the approaching figure. As she gazed upon the large Scarran soldier in front of her, her ribs cried out to her to fall, to die.. to cry, and beg for mercy. She could do none. She stood, frozen as he got closer, closer……
The sound as he struck her rang through her mind…louder than any explosion she’d ever heard. She felt the hot floor as it raced up to greet her aching back. Stunned, Sikozu rolled over, onto all fours, gasping for breath. ‘No. This cannot be’ she thought. Again pain washed over her as he hit her again…and again…
As her eyes, once again, were able to focus, she instictively dabbed at her face with her hand, hoping to soothe the raw pain. She barely noticed her hand streaked with her own pale, orange-hued blood. No. She was concentrating on this Scarran.
“We know what you are, Kalish. A fugitive from your organisation….and a bioloid.” Sikozu’s mouth hung in horror…how did they find out so fast?…what had they done while she was unsconcious.? .how - “You will tell us where your…pathetic…resistance is based”. “No!” She was shocked by her own resolve. “We’ll see…”
The arns passed at an agonising ,tormentful, pace. Lying on the floor, bathed in her blood and pain, Sikozu’s mind wrestled with itself…she wished she could have the strength to tell the Scarran what he wanted…after all, her people would kill her without regret for screwing up her first assignment. She would be glad to see some of them suffer for their quick judgement. If she told them…the pain would stop. She could die quickly. It’d be over. No more predjudice, or distrust. No more endless sacrifice. No more pain… She thought about her people…the mighty Kalish, the noble Kalish…she would have laughed had it not been so painful! She thought of her true people. The others in her movement… how they had endured without protest. Willingly sacrificing themselves for the greater good – the destruction of the Scarran Empire. She bristled with anger at the selfish…no, cowardly… part of her that even suggested selling her brethren out….She thought of Scorpius. Scorpius. The one who had mysteriously saved her life, who had comforted her, was there for her….. cared for her. Where was he? What were they doing to him? She shut out the thought. She knew that he was going through far worse than herself. And she knew he would never bend or break for Scarrans. Shame consumed her. How had she even considered saving herself at the sake of others. Her train of thought was shattered by another cruel blow, she could feel bone splintering inside her body, as she arched in agony. Blood filling her throat, and rage filling her soul.
“Are you ready to talk, Kalish?” He was close…his foul, hot breath filled her nostrils. Through bloody and gritted teeth, she spat her answer “NO!”. The Scarran laughed. A hideous sound, which sent shock waves of disgust through her. He pulled a large knife from his belt, and grasped one of her arms. Realisation dawned on Sikozu, and she closed her eyes. Bracing. Hoping she could remain silent, and defiant……She was wrong. She felt the knife plunging through the sinew and bone of her lower arm, and long, embittered scream tore from her throat, and blackness, again, took hold of her.
She awoke with a start. The echoes of her injuries calling her back from her deep reverie. Bathed in the blue of pain, she could dimly see her forearm lying across the room…the cell. The fingers twitched convulsively, and already the area gripped by the large Scarran hand, was sprouting bruised purple flowers. Summoning her remaining strength, Sikozu dragged herself toward it, and hungrily pressed the abused limb onto her stump. Lights danced under her eyelids, as she felt the strange sensation of her limb striving to be, once again, apart of her…she mused at how pleasurable this felt when compared to her more recent experiences….
Alone, the urgency of her predicament fell upon her. What should she do? There was only one chance. She could not emit her radiation, as it would leave her vulnerable for too long… long enough for the other Scarrans to investigate. Her strength was not the best… she had no weapon. It suddenly struck her how pleased she would be to see Crichton and Aeryn appear at the door, guns blazing, whisking her away to safety. A dry, sore laugh caught in her throat. Even if they knew where she was, they wouldn’t bother to come. She had no illusions as to their feelings for her. She paused at that. Tears welled up in her large eyes. She forced them away. ‘No time for selfpity.’ She heard the approaching ‘soldier’… torturer more like. Taking a deep breath, Sikozu altered her gravity centre and began to climb the wall.
It always gave such a beautiful feeling – even here, now – as the ground slipped away. It felt free. The wall was hot. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t even consider touching it… but these were not normal circumstances. The heat baked through the soles of her boots, burning. As the footsteps outside came closer, Sikozu positioned herself directly above the door. She closed her eyes, inhaled deeply, and pressed her body flat against the scalding wall. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to remain calm… quiet… still.
The Scarran entered the cell. As the wall released it’s grip on Sikozu, she thought ‘I either fail, and die now, or I escape…. And die later…..’ Landing deftly atop the Scarran, Sikozu gathered her resolve.
She could feel the rippling muscles down his back…strong, hard….scaly. A bizarre contrast to her small, aching, abused body. There are not many vulnerable points on a Scarran, but one came to mind. She remembered Scorpius telling her of his abusive background, his pain…and his revenge on his tormentor. Sweet irony, she mused, and plunged her slim fingers deeply into the Scarran’s eyes. As she penetrated the soft orbs, his cry was terrible to behold. Clinging on, she herself screamed, hoping it would cover the Scarran cries. She drove him to the ground, pulled his knife, and expertly slit his throat. She held him underneath her until the gurgling stopped.
Sikozu burst out of the cell, and went to the mercifully cool ceiling. She hung there, deep in a far corner, gasping for breath. It had felt like years since she’d been cool. But here, the metal ceiling soothed her body, and restored a little of her strength. Her heart raced, she had spots cavorting in front of her eyes, and the sound of her heart beat was so loud, she feared it would reveal her. Her damaged arm trembled with it’s recent exertion, and the aching in her ribs returned in force. She had to find Scorpius…. Before they found her.
It was easy to learn the layout of the ship, for one of her immense capabilities, and knowledge. Schematics had always fascinated her, and she knew Scarrans. Yes, she knew them well. Even as a child, her fear and repulsion for them was matched by her curiosity, and thirst for knowledge. Oppression brings out the best qualities in the weak. Her people were weak. She was strong. She had always known that her bioloid status made her special. Driven. Nothing would prevent the completion of her task. Nothing.
Making her way silently through the cell area, she could hear Scorpius. He was here! He was alive! Her heart leapt at the thought. Alive. She knew – hoped…no. KNEW he would be. For a microt, all her pain vanished in the glorious feeling that she was not alone.
Scorpius’ cell had a vent. ‘Only Kalish cells would be totally isolated. They wouldn’t want their prisoners to stride across the ceiling and out of a vent!’ Sikozu observed the scene. Scorpius was all bravado, defiance…. But she knew. She saw through it. She knew him as intimately as he knew her. She saw how weak he looked… physically, not mentally. She’d thought they could keep him under torture forever, and he still would not break. She wished she was that strong. She had to wait until he was alone… until the Scarran – one of the heirarchy, she noted – was gone. With falling heart, and rising bile, she watched as her lover was tortured.
Scorpius’ blue eyes glistened as he regarded the hated Scarran in front of him. Pain and humiliation racked his body, but he ensured it did not show on his pale, tense face. Well, he was as sure as he could be that it didn’t show….His thoughts were clouded, unclear. His coolent apparatus stuck out from the side of his helmet, and steamed viciously. Heat poured through Scorpius’ body, pulling his memory back to those dark, tormentful days he spent as a child.
Scorpius shook his head, and focussed his eyes. His sharp teeth clamped tight together as he fought to strike the Scarran down dead by his gaze alone. Mortal beings would have shaken in terror at Scorpius’ wrath, but here, prone, restrained, with failing motor skills, the Scarran dared laugh at him. At HIM! Hatred consumed Scorpius, as he drew a harsh breath over his teeth. “You… will never break me.” A simple statement. Scorpius inwardly smiled. His voice was as light, and pursed as it ever was. Perfect diction. No sign of stress. Perhaps he could kill this Scarran through frustration…. Another smile.
Oh yes. He remembered being captured. Braca, charging into his quarters aboard the command carrier. “Sir! We’re being boarded! It’s Scarrans!” A gutteral growl unleashed itself from his throat, Sikozu was in a panic. Scarrans. “What shall we do? Can this ship outrun them? Hold them off? What ..” A large blast stopped Sikozu as she spoke. A devastating hit. It took out half the carrier. Braca. Braca had been killed. Such a loyal officer. One might even say…a friend… As the blast shook the ship, he saw Sikozu fall to the ground. Laying himself over her, he hoped to protect her from the debris. As the ship fell around them, the Scarrans arrived. He had been dazed… must’ve been struck by …something….He had fought as they pulled him away from his unconcious lover…fought hard. But they were Scarran. Armed to the teeth, and fully armoured. He could do little. He could do nothing. He was their prize. He vaguely saw Sikozu being scanned as he fell….
A flash of pain evilly brought back the present. “Tell us what you know of wormholes.” The Scarran was so close. There was a fizz as his, relatively, cool saliva splashed onto Scorpius’ red hot coolent device. Scorpius laughed, a hollow and bitter sound “Do you know… that’s exactly what I …once asked of someone…” His serrated teeth glinted in the hot glare of his cell, infuriating the Scarran. As his eyes spat fury, Scorpius retreated his mind away from the ranting Scarran. He felt the heat in the room, on him…in him….pouring out of him. He was immersed in it. The hated heat. Part of him rejoiced in it , craved it… wanted more of it. He fought to keep it down, but could not. Spittle exploded from his twisted mouth, and poured down his chin. He could hear his feral side growling in the …pleasurable… heat. He shook his head again. This torment was excruciating… the heat…. His Sebaccean side was screaming in his mind, as his body began to convulse, and shudder, saliva constantly spewing from him. His fingers clutched, and scratched at the hot metal chair, and his even hotter restraints. He could feel his skin bubbling and boiling within his armour. “You…will.. NEVER ….break,…me…” He panted, and gasped, as his body spasmed. “Control….must… keep …control….” He vainly told himself he could beat this. He could win…. But the long days…stifling…. With out his rods… without water ….in constant heat….. He could not bear it. His eyes were squeezed tightly together, as his breath came in stunted rasps from deep in his throat. Still the Scarran pummeled him with questions, with threats, with promises of cool water……
A ferocious roar exited Scorpius’ lips as he thrashed wildly under the restraints. He tensed….. it seemed an age. Then his body sagged, as blessed unconciosness swept him up.
The Scarran screamed abuse at his prone prey, and thundered out of the cell. Sikozu bit her lip, and softly negotiated the vent open. She entered the cell, and dropped gracefully to the floor. A wave of fear hit her as she approached Scorpius’ motionless form. She observed him… he looked so strong. Clad from head to foot in black, armoured leather, concealing his scarred, abused body. Concern overwhelmed her, as she tip-toed closer. She could she his shallow, ragged breaths now, her own aching body fell into rhythm with him. As she gazed at him, his eyes closed, peaceful, she remembered that first time she saw him. Vulnerable… hurt. He was in an open grave…dead, she had thought… but he’d saved her. She still did not know why. Even when facing death, his strength was apparent for all to see…but now….
“Scorpius” she whispered. The word had stuck in her throat. Barely audible on it’s release. “Scorpius.” Nothing. Her eyes closed in despair and resignation. She had not the strength to escape again. At least she could die , here. With one whom she would do anything for. “Sikozu.” Was she dreaming? She opened her eyes, hoping she had heard correctly… could he be…alive?! As her eyes opened, she saw she was looking directly into those clear, blue eyes that she had come to adore. In her eyes, her beautiful pale green eyes, he could see her relief. Also her pain. Reddish bruises tinged her eyes, her cheeks. Outrage surged through him. They’d hurt her . But she came for him. He’d secretly hoped she would, but Sikozu is difficult to read… even for him. A smile tickled his dark lips. “You’re late.”
The burden of the last few days seemed to lift, the instant she heard his voice. She looked at him with adoring eyes, breath caught in her throat, and gave him one of those coy, admiring looks, that she knew thrilled him so.
As Scorpius caught his breath, still reeliing from his exertions, Sikozu frantically worked at his bonds. Sighs and groans of frustration escaped her as she toiled… her left arm stung where it had been severed, and restored. It’s fingers felt swollen, clumsy… like they did not belong to her at all. Her progress was slow, and her mind raced… she was already, prematurely, thinking about their escape, while her limbs struggled to keep up. Gritting her teeth, she fumbled at the straps that fastened her lover to his chair. ‘I can’t do it! I can’t do it!’ ,was all she could hear in her mind. Panic caressed her, and frustration overtook her. She wrenched, and strained at his bonds, heart pumping faster, sweat from the stress, and infernal heat, poured from her. “Calm yourself.” His icy cold voice cleared her mind instantly. So calm, so clear, so direct, so… normal. She inwardly shook her head in awe. There was a conflict beneath his calm, but the relief to hear him again, carried away any fear. He fixed her with his cool blue eyes. “Focus. Take it …slowly.” He’d seen her urgency, her desperation. She felt ashamed that she could not be stronger at this time. He was so strong. So sure. She felt immediately self-conscious about the lack of control she had over her sorry limb. She was weak. She didn’t deserve him. Meeting his gaze, she nodded, swallowed hard. She took a deep breath, and set to slow, deliberate work. Finally, she managed to release one of his wrists. The relief that he could now assist her with his release, made her tremble. She was not used to this.
Her life had been relatively quiet, up until the time she had crashed into that damned Leviathan. She winced at the thought, and silently reprimanded herself. Okay… bad things had happened to her since then.. but had Crichton not been aboard, she would never have met Scorpius…a being who both baffled, and enticed her every time she looked at him. Had she met anyone before who was her intellectual equal? But he was more than equal. Much more. Yet he seemed so private, so… shy… about revealing his vast knowledge. Yes. She could learn much from him. Unlike Crichton. Quite how he had survived this long was lost on her. . Still… he had saved her life, and without him she would almost certainly be dead, and most probably, publicly shamed for her failure in her duty.
Scorpius’ grunt as the last of his bonds fell away, pulled her instantly back to he situation in hand. He was breathing hard. The coolant apparatus, which protruded from his head, steamed and roared in it’s heat. She helped him to his feet. His weight pressing on her as she supported him, made her ribs groan and scream in protest. Her legs were like jelly. The whir as Scorpius closed his empty carriage, deafened Sikozu in the quiet cell. As her heart stopped, an alarm rang out. She jumped, and instantly regretted it, as her body sent shocks of her past agonies through her. She gasped as terror and pain embraced her.
She’d forgotten. Her escape had been noticed. She’d been so lost in the moment of helping her prone lover, she’d forgotten the urgency. How could she? She looked at Scorpius. Still so calm. She could see him thinking.. planning. She could now also see his struggle. Trying to control his Scarran side in her presence,– his weakness. His eyes were still, but conflict etched it’s way across his lean, pale face. He did not want her to see, and she pretended that she did not. Not notice the growls, or saliva, or wildness touching at his soul. But she did. She wanted to weep, to take him in her arms, and comfort him until it passed… but she held fast. Concern seeping out of every pore.
He leanes away from her, shifting his weight fully on to his own weakened legs, motioning for her to head out of the vent she had entered. No. She shook her head in protest. “I will stay with you!”, she pleaded. His eyes glinted softly. Again a smile. “I want you safe..I..will deal with this. Do you know …the layout of.. this ship?” She nodded silently, in a dream state.. unable to quite believe that he wanted her to go. She didn’t know whether to be touched at his protection, or hurt at his rejection. He asked again “Do you know… this ship?” It was a strain, she could see, for him to remain calm for her. “Yes, but –” He cut her off. “Go.. to the docking bay… wait …for me.” Wait for him. It filled her with joy and terror, in equal measure. Wait for him.
The Scarran’s were approaching the cell. Scorpius stood directly in front of the door. No tactic, no concealment. Right there. Sikozu shot him a look ,that she prayed was full of confidence, love, regret… everything.She placed the knife she’d taken from the Scarran into his gloved hand. She kissed his cheek, tears welling in her eyes, as on trembling legs, she let gravity fall away again. She scooted to the hatch, dread crushing her organs, stopping her heart.
She did not look back at him. She thought if she looked upon him at this moment, she would run back into the cell and die with him. He didn’t want that. And one thing she knew. She could not allow herself to interfere with his plans. She silently closed the vent behind her, and clung, quietly sobbing, to a dark corner. Sobs racked her body, reawakening pain. She was alone again. Senses enhanced by fear, she made her way, slowly, away from the cell. Dimly, she heard the cell door burst open. She gritted her teeth, closed her ears to the sounds, and continued.
As he looked upon her face… delicate, tinged with red and gold, he fell into her eyes. Large and of such a pale shade of green, they were near yellow. He saw the bruises wrapped around her face, and a wave of emotions, that he never thought would be his surged through his heart. Caring, joy… relief, not just that he was being rescued, but that it was her doing it. She looked at him, into him, with those heavy-lidded eyes, and it lifted him. Those looks always made his heart skip a beat.
Sikozu’s hands began to pull at his bonds. She seemed frantic, sighing, moaning, awkwardly maneuvering her feeble left fingers at the clasps. He watched her work. Concentration etched on her swollen face. He saw the ragged wound, still raw from where here arm had been torn off. Her teeth were gritted, and the more she tried to free him, the less she achieved. “Calm yourself.” He said. It took such great effort to ram his gutteral voice down, leaving only his refined Sebaccean tone audible. He could not… would not… allow her to see him relegated to his prehistoric, brutal, Scarran self. She had seen enough after the Wolaxian attack on Moya. The shame of that memory still stung like sweat in the eyes. His body trembled slightly with the strain of his valour. How did he deserve one such as her. She who was close to him, lovers with him, when all his life he was labelled an ‘abomination’… ugly. She seemed not to see it… or not to care. And yet she, herself, was so beautiful. “Focus..take it…slowly…” The bottled Scarran rage screamed at him to MAKE her go faster. He sickened himself… he would not contemplate doing her harm. Never.
He allowed his gaze to fall on her again. Her head bent, working at his restraints. He heard her breath. Rushed. Exhausted. He wondered what had been done to her while he sat, roasting. His mother… Rylani Jeema Dellos… sprang to his mind. Rylani Jeema Dellos. He rolled the name through his mind, savouring it’s sound. How he wished he had a name as precious as that. He thought of her face, blonde hair falling over her eyes. Beautiful. All he had done was for her. But all the deaths along the way.. every person he had killed without remorse or hesitation, was for her. He would avenge her soul, and prove himself a worthy son to her name. Son. No one ever called him that. He longed to hear it. To feel his mothers arms around him. Safe. Banishing his dark demons…
One of his cuffs snapped open. A gasp of triumph from Sikozu, and he had freedom. He flexed his fingers, and set about aiding Sikozu with the rest of his restraints….
Sikozu’s arms were around him… warm, gentle. She hepled him to his feet. The room span around him, as he rose to his feet for the first time in… days. Woozy, his weight leant on Sikozu’s small frame. He felt her tense and gasp, and knew that his weight added to her agonies. He could have kicked himself. How could he be this weak? She was helping him, yet he was harming her – however unintentionally. His trembling fingers went to his helmet. He punched in the sequence, and a brief, cool breeze entered him, along with his empty, useless rod carriage.
An alarm rang. Sikozu’s body leapt beside him. He fought to contain his rage. He was losing. He pulled away from Sikozu, turning slightly, so as not to let her see the pain on his face. It ate through him, filling him with a terrible ferocity. His fists clenched, and his teeth gritted, as his throat waged a battle to prevent his spittle exploding from him. He looked at Sikozu… she was terrified. The Scarrans occupied, and subjugated her race. She knew full well what they would do to her… as did he. He motioned for her to leave… via the vent. She shook her head. Rage, again swallowed him. He desired to lash out at her, punishing her for not obeying instantly. He imagined how it would feel to crush her throat… He shook his head.. he WOULD NOT harm her. He breathed deeply, trying to maintain his Sebaccean demeanor “I want you safe. I… will deal with this.” Her face was wracked with confusion, concern.. he ignored it. “Do you know… the layout of this ship?” Nothing. He fought off impatience and asked again, his voice on the very edge of control “Do you know… this ship?” “Yes” Finally. “But-” “Go to the docking bay” he interjected. He had no idea how long he could stop himself “Wait… for me..”
The emotion in her eyes overwhelmed him. They were full of so much. Unspoken hope, love, and strength. He could not look at her for long. He was not that sure of his own strength. He cast his eyes downward and walked to the door. He stood directly in front of it. His chest heaving with fury, and pain. No one could stop him. His rage was terrible to behold. Sikozu was beside him. Still he did not look at her. She took his hand, and placed something there. Then, gentle as the wind, she kissed him. Lightly. Softly. He could no longer feel his heart, or his pain, or his fury. His eyes closed as her lips touched him, and he felt as he it were he defying gravity. He wanted to take her in his arms. He wanted that so much.….
He watched as she slipped from view, disappearing through the vent. He prayed she would be safe. He glanced down at his hand. A long bladed knife lay in his grip. His stomach retched at the sight of a thick, liquid resting on it. A mixture of the cream blood of the Scarran – a hallmark which he, much to his dismay, contained…yes he could disguise his appearance somewhat, but inside he was part Scarran… and the pale orange blood from Sikozu. He brought the blade to his lips, and tasted of her vital fluid, before squaring himself at the door, and concentrating on the job in hand….
With Sikozu gone, Scorpius relieved his control over his Scarran side, bathing in the heat coursing through his scarred body. He hadn’t wanted her to see him like this, out of control, drooling, so he’d told her to go. Liquid gushed from his mouth, as hot as the air in the cell, ran down his chin and armour, sizzling as it splashed on the floor. He felt strong… so strong… the knife felt like it weighed nothing in his mighty hand… the heat felt good. As the door burst open, a ferocious growl exited him, as he dove toward the Scarran…
He had said to head straight for the docking area. But Sikozu found herself hanging on the ceiling outside the medical facility. It was empty. She hoped. The alarm bell continued to ring distantly. It’s noise impregnated her senses, dulling everything but that infernal noise. She rehearsed her daring move in her head. It was simple. Get the coolant rods, get out, get to the docking bay, wait for Scorpius, tackle half an army of Scarrans, escape, avoid being detected… or destroyed. Like she said. Simple. If her fear would allow her to move, that is…. This plan, she mused, was pathetic enough to have come from Crichton. She closed her eyes, fooling herself that she was not alone. No. In various strategic positions were her crewmates… friends?…no. Crewmates. The infuriatingly optimistic Crichton. The cold, tactical brain of Aeryn. Strong D’Argo. Chiana and her… loomas? Guile. She stifled a chuckle that made her ribs burn and brought a grimace to her face. She missed them. She actually missed them. Her body groaned with the effort of moving. Wondering exactly how bad the damage inside of her was, she slipped silently into the medical area.
The Scarran towered over him, but his grit and fury were legendary. Baring his sharp, cream teeth, Scorpius roared. Saliva spewed from him, his eyes blazed like lazers. In this Scarran he saw the rape of his mother. Brutal. Merciless. He felt his wrath at causing her death, turning his self-hatred against the foul beast before him. He saw Sikozu ,so small, struggling to fend off this brute, as he beat and mutilated her. The Scarrans breath was all over him, in his eyes, nose and mouth. Smoke poured from his skull with the force of the struggle. The Scarrans claws biting through Scorpius’ armoured leather, drawing small droplets of blood. Feeling strength course through his legs, Scorpius shoved with all his might, sending the Scarran slamming against the hot walls. His lean body pushed forward. He felt The Scarrans rippling, muscular bulk beneath his gloves. Heat was everywhere, baking them in it’s grip. With one hand over the Scarrans face, Scorpius rammed Sikozu’s blade into the rippling gut of his prey, jerking it upward spilling innards and fluids across the floor. He held the knife in deep… twisting it… feeling the muscles and organs puncture under his will. He rejoiced in the squirming, spasming Scarrans pain, feeling the steaming guts on his hands. He held the knife fast until no movement or sound came fron the carcass. He pushed his face close to the Scarrans, and deeply inhaled the stench of death.
Sikozu grasped two coolant rods. They chilled her. Reminding her of just how hot it was in here. As she turned to leave, various chemicals caught her eye. She knew they were coming for her. It would not take them long to find her… unless she could divert their attention elsewhere…..
Scorpius reluctantly let the corpse slide to the floor. His Sebaccean side long gone, he revelled in the act of killing. Sikozu had left his mind, clouded behind revenge and rage. He had no thought other than to quench his bloodlust.
An explosion. A loud one, originating from the command centre, sent the Scarrans scrambling to locate the source. Another, from the living quarters…Another, from the kitchens…. The intense noise span Scorpius’ head. He remembered where he was, what he was doing… who was waiting for him. He charged off toward the docking areas, more and more blasts behind him. Catching his breath, which now came in ragged, stunted bursts, he realised that the only place he hadn’t heard explosions from was the docking area. He grinned. Head spinning, and heat engulfing him, he ran towards the docking bays.
Sikozu, attached to the ceiling near the bays, congratulated herself. The devices had been simple, and quick to formulate, and the confusion they caused the Scarrans made her wonder how such a gullible race could conquer a people as intellegent as hers. Scooting across the ceilings and walls had given her easy access to all areas of the ship. It was quick, and more risk free than she had anticipated. Once the first explosion… of twelve, placed in all areas of the ship, bar the outer docking areas… had gone off, the panic amongst the Scarran population there was so great, that as they charged through the corridors, not one of them even glanced upwards…
Sikozu waited. She waited longer than she had ever waited for anything before. Her heart thumping, she thought of nothing but Scorpius. Why wasn’t he here? She told herself he wasn’t dead… he NEVER died. He never lost. But why wasn’t he here?? She idly rolled a coolant rod between her fingers. Her mind would not remain still. There were so many Scarrans. So very many. They had killed him. They must have. Or he’d be here. What if he was hurt, calling to her, in pain… dying…. And she was here. Selfishly saving herself. She was such a Rajnot!. Why did she go when he told her to? Where WAS he?! She glanced frantically around… another explosion… only two more, and that’s it. They must already know it’s a trick. She scanned the area for escape routes… once they realised, a transport pod would be no use. They would shoot her down in an instant.. Loneliness again took her. Her breathing sounded in her chest… an explosion… or was it her heart beat? She lost all sense and lucidity, as she waited for the inevitable. Her body was berating her. Pain sucking at her resolve. Her head swam with emotion, exertion, pain, hope, loss…. So many feelings clammouring for priority. She felt dizzy. Sick. The wall was trying to expel her… banish her from it’s comforting concealment.
The final explosion. She closed her eyes. Hopeless. Defeated. She heard a gasp, and a thud. Opening her eyes, to what she knew was certain death, she saw Scorpius… he was on the ground. Smoke billowed from his head, and he was convulsing. Her heart in her mouth, she dropped to the floor, and ran to him. “Scorpius! Scorpius!” He was barely conscious, his breath rasping. She had not the strength to carry, or even drag him to safety. She rolled him onto his back. Saliva jetted from his mouth. She quickly opened his carriage, and with trembling fingers, inserted both rods. Since her modifications, it could now hold four, but she prayed that two would be enough. As the carriage whirred closed, Sikozu ran to the door, knife in hand.. She stood guard, but could not keep her gaze from falling on the man she cared so much for.. Scorpius was thrashing wildly on the floor. Growling, spitting. Slowly the seizures eased, and the convulsions became more spasmodic. She ran to him, pulling at his weight, heaving him toward the pods.”Get up! Help me, I cannot lift you on my own!”. He seemed not even to recognise her, as he struggled to his feet. Holding him close, she could feel his heat burning through to her. It was terrifying, but comforting. He was close. His mere presence calmed and soothed her.
Once in the escape pod, Sikozu patched through to the command centre. She spoke in Scarran. A harsh, sharp tongue. She coloured her request for the hatch doors to open with a variety of expletives, and threats, that the Scarrans seemed to respond to. The confusion of the explosions, the first of which would’ve taken out certain command controls, was still in effect – she could hear the bewildered Scarrans over the comm. The menial Scarran that opened the hatch to space actually apologised for his tardiness!
Sikozu glanced at Scorpius, who was slowly awakening. Joy filled her, and for the first time in… she couldn’t say…. Hope entered her being. She took a deep breath, and deftly piloted the small craft out of the heat.
Even from inside the small pod, Sikozu could feel the coolness of space embracing them. It felt good. She looked at Scorpius. Her lover. Her saviour. Her companion. A warm glow surrounded her as she watched him stir. His breathing had virtually returned to normal, and his eyelids fluttered and twitched in restlessness. She observed the sharp contours of his face. The small pink scales around his eyes, which contrasted so beautifully with his pale skin. She sighed, and felt that she could never tire of looking at him…
She sped through the darkness, travelling as fast as she could, hoping to put as much beautiful dark space between the dreadnaught and the shuttle.
They travelled mostly in silence, flying for many arns. Sikozu wearily looked out and observed the region of space they were travelling through. Empty. As usual. Still, the wonder of all this was not lost on her. Until fairly recently, she had barely left her home world. But now… now she’d seen those races she’d learned about. Listened to their voices. How they spoke in their native tongue. The best part of a single cycle, and she had learned more than in her entire life.
They had ensured they flew a random, indirect route, making pursuit very difficult.. Scorpius sat next to her, on the right. Considering his ordeal, he looked quite well… better than her, she mused, feeling her swollen face. He was a little flushed perhaps. His pale cheeks were edged with small pink blossoms. He seemed embarassed at his reaction to the heat. She broke the silence. “You are aware, are you not, that the Scarrans will come after us?” She spoke often in that tone… one that, if you didn’t know her could be mistaken for rudeness. But Scorpius knew her. All he had to do was tilt his head downward, and see the suggestively coy look she gave him. She was so gloriously practical. Scorpius smiled at the thought. “Of course…But when we find a small commerce planet, obtain a… slightly more… innocent …looking transport, we should be virtually impossible to trace.”
She smiled. She often dreamed of settling down on some small, quiet, distant place. She almost had… with Zerbat. Her head told her that they would, of course, return to Peacekeeper space, so Scorpius could continue his wormhole research. Still, a dream never hurt. He was obsessive when it came to Scarrans. But it would take them many cycles to recover from their losses at Katratzi. She leaned her head against his chest. Heard his steady heartbeat. Felt his breathing. As hers fell into rhythm with his, the pains that wracked her body floated away. Oh, they were still there… but not so aggressively close. She wondered how long it had been since she last slept, weighing up the reasons as to why unconsciousness was not sleep. A small yawn escaped her mouth. She blushed.
Scorpius regarded her. Glad she was there. He watched as the light from the control panel danced off the small red and gold scales that edged her face, neck and arms. Red hair, spilling over her orange-hued face, and spilling over her, equally orange hued, clothing. She was beautiful. He breathed deeply, savouring her scent. He felt… good. Comforting her like this, protecting her. Showing her he cared. His left arm slid around her shoulders, as she nestled close to him. His mind flew back to that first intimate embrace in the elevator at Katratzi. It felt good then. It felt good now. Sikozu always made him feel good.
Her eyelids carried on them heavy weights, which gradually forced them down. She felt his warm embrace as she melted into him. Melted into a rare, restful… safe…. Sleep.
