Tranquility Besieged

Part Eight

Grey makes a last stand against the seekers

This is more wartime romance than erotic with a lot of battles, violence, and hardcore science fiction, so some readers may wish to search elsewhere. If a few of the terms appear antiquated, please remember this novel was written 40 years ago. The original version includes a map of the colony which isn't presented here. I hope it's not too confusing. All characters are over 18 years old.

Recap: The renegade seekers are destroying the colony. Grey has decided they need to be stopped at any cost.

Chapter Ten

THE FINAL DECISION

The rescue team formed up on the engineering level at the bottom of EN-1, leaving the hatches behind them open but on alert status. Nicholas was wearing his own customized armor from Sharkov, recovered from the wreck by the ground crew units. Glenda and Kris had new outfits from Neighbor. All carried heavy impact weapons with the modified power packs Grey had devised to combat the sentinel series.

"Speed is essential," Grey explained. "Access landing bay major, cross over to minor, then take a position below the hospitality complex. When I draw the seeker down into 100W, free the survivors from the central airlocks and retreat the way you came. By the time the seeker returns, you'll be back on the community level with the impact hatches closed."

"And you?" Glenda asked.

"I'll keep the seeker occupied, then return as soon as I can," he explained. "Remember, these recalibrated power cartridges carry double charges but burn energy at four times the standard rate. They'll foul your firing mechanisms. Don't try to stretch it out. If the weapon flutters, discard it and draw a new one."

Kris inspected the equipment prior to leading her team up the tunnel, then stood next to Grey with her visor open.

"You're going to be careful, aren't you?" she asked.

Grey smiled softly through his open visor. Nicholas and Glenda watched the interaction with growing appreciation of their relationship. For two people with reputations for rough edges, they were surprisingly tender with each other.

"How about a date later?" Grey asked. "Dinner and a movie?"

"Grey, this is the first time you've ever asked me out," Kris smiled, hugging him despite the armor. They kissed awkwardly through the open visors. "Come back healthy now. I've got plans for later."

Kris closed her visor and started up the tunnel with a skip in her step, Glenda following close behind. Grey grabbed Nicholas's elbow.

"Just a moment, Captain," Grey said.

"I am sorry about the meeting this morning," Nicholas said. "We believed--"

"It was wrong for me to become angry," Grey interrupted. "You did what was necessary, and I apologize."

"I don't know what to say," Nicholas said, shifting uncomfortably.

"Doing the right thing is not always easy, but I think you'll do well," Grey continued. "I've never asked anyone for a favor before, but if possible, will you look after Captain Fairfield for me?"

Nicholas suddenly realized Grey's agenda was different from the one he outlined at the planning session, pausing to study him with a sense of concern. Then Nicholas nodded and followed the others up the tunnel.

"Thanks, Nick," Grey whispered too softly for Nicholas to hear. Then he turned in the other direction, heading toward the upper deck of the engineering level.

Behind them, another person in armor followed from a discreet distance. Outfitted in her own customized suit discovered in the training center, Tamera had watched the team split up just moments before. As much as she wanted to follow Nicholas, something mysterious in Grey's manner drew her to his route.

Keeping up with him wasn't easy. He moved rapidly, but not so rapidly as he could have had caution been abandoned. They entered the Loop, then avoided the direct route to the storage level up SL-1, crossing instead to the lower science tunnels and backtracking through the staging level. A final short but steep tunnel brought them down to the east end of the storage level.

Grey went immediately to a computer station generally used to keep track of shipping and receiving. Tamera saw him there as she reached the bottom of SL-3, being careful not to reveal her presence. He must have been greatly preoccupied, for he concentrated on his conversation with the computer without a glance in her direction. Then she noticed a cause for concern. Two seekers hovered at the very far end of the storage level, just outside the landing bay airlocks. They weren't sentinel class. Nightwatcher series. Twenty year old antiques.

Afraid to run back up the tunnel, Tamera ducked behind a row of sturdy storage frames loaded with shipping containers. Gradually, she noticed she wasn't alone. A securatron was hidden not far from her behind a storage locker. And another one. The whole east side of the deck was massed with hidden securatrons, more than a dozen in all. Tamera wondered if Grey knew the robots were there.

"Are we ready, Security?" Grey asked.

"Affirmative. All systems are in place, and the charges you requested have been installed per your instructions. Don't be too close when they go off. Explosives are just as dangerous as seekers," Security advised.

"The idea is to have the seekers too close," Grey said. "Remember, use the charges to screen my retreat, but don't discourage the seekers from pursuit. This trick is only going to work once."

"Agreed," Security said.

Grey checked his weapons array again, eight blasters with double charges and a new shield arrangement with redundant cabling. He pumped up his e.s. system and made sure the drug injectors were primed.

"Well, I guess this is it then," he said, taking a deep breath.

"How do you feel?"

"A little scared, I guess," Grey admitted.

"Only a little?" Security probed.

"During our battles, it was different," Grey said. "Nothing mattered except victory. Life sure got complicated when humans started showing up."

"Concentrate on tactics," Security urged. "Remember, you are the best. No one can maneuver faster or strike harder, not even these seekers. Stay focused. And when I say retreat, get the hell out."

"Thanks, Security," Grey said, feeling more confident.

"All monitoring has been reestablished on the middle decks," Security said. "When you draw the seeker from landing bay minor, all four will be on tracking. I'll give Captain Fairfield's team the go ahead."

"And close the emergency hatches as they retreat," Grey reminded. "I don't want any of the team members trying to follow me back here."

"Acknowledged," Security said.

"Prepare for red alert," Grey ordered. "I'll be back in ten minutes with plenty of company."

The Security Computer blinked and Grey edged off the main floor, moving quickly along the back wall and through the accounting offices, then sneaking out the other side until reaching the main corridor.

The landing bay emergency hatches had been left open since the invasion. Grey slipped through the largest hatch and hugged the inner wall slowly searching for his quarry. Somewhere on the far side of the bay, Kris and her team would soon be in position.

The wrecked hopper still lay in its burned-out condition as no maintenance units had been available for salvage. The damage to the landing bay would take time to repair. The seekers had blasted two tractors and one of the large hoppers in the repair bay, exactly the kind of random destruction Grey was determined to stop. He checked to see if the airlock had been penetrated. The hatch protecting the survivors had taken a severe pounding but remained intact. Not doing so well were the adjoining oxygen storage tanks which were nearly ruptured, a yellow alert signal going unheeded.

Grey reached the hatch, patching a communications line.

"Humans," he whispered.

"Who's that?" a female voice answered. One with authority.

"A team is coming to get you out. Be prepared to move," he advised.

"Is this Waters?" Commander Kimura asked.

"Affirmative. Do you require assistance with wounded?"

"We're mobile," she assured.

"The window of opportunity is small. I'll buy you as much time as I can," he said.

"Why you?" she inquired.

"Good question. We can discuss it later," he replied.

The seeker appeared, floating along on hover jets without a care in the world. Grey pulled the shield's oval presentation plate up on his left forearm, activated the converters, and charged into the open, bouncing evasively. The seeker rushed to meet him, then was walloped as Grey's opening shot blasted a scorching wave of heat energy. The seeker was forced to veer off, then circle around and approach more cautiously. Grey was already running in the opposite direction, reaching the emergency hatches and turning left into the corridor. The seeker ignited full thrusters in pursuit.

On the storage level, the securatrons began shifting into their final positions, forming a crescent along the east wall. Within minutes, Tamera saw four more units arrive to strengthen the center, then two nightwatchers appeared, using their hover jets to perch in the high corners of the ceiling. She glanced to her left and discovered a mobile retractor placed between two large steel canisters, angled in such a manner that the energy cannon could not be detected from the west end. There was another retractor to her right underneath the northside catwalk. Was a trap being laid for the Governor?

"What are you doing here?" a voice suddenly called out from the accounting station.

Tamera was startled to see black signature patterns dominating the monitor screen. What would the computer do to her? she wondered.

"Answer the question!" Security demanded.

Tamera stood up and put a tentative hand on her blaster.

"I wanted to speak with the Governor," she said.

"There is no time for that now. Take shelter behind the securatrons. Stay low and don't transmit any signals. Hurry, there are only seconds left!"

Relieved she wasn't going to be hurt, Tamera moved behind a row of lockers where several of the turtle-shaped securatrons were dug in. The computer was correct. Seconds later an explosion rocked the deck, clouds of smoke and blown debris obscuring the far end of the storage level. Out of the smoke, Grey appeared, sidearm blazing. A seeker followed him, and then another. Grey turned to make a stand and exchanged fire at point blank range. One seeker was knocked off course, the wing jet badly damaged, but the other struck back fiercely, striking armor with good effect, then trying to turn Grey's flank.

Grey shifted with the seeker's movement, maintaining fire while covering his left flank with his shield. He moved forward, cut off the seeker's effort, then gave ground as a third seeker emerged from the smoke. Grey briefly turned to bear down on the new threat, then ducked as two more explosions demolished an entire section of the south wall. A seeker emerged from the smoke damaged, wing jets barely functioning. But when Grey emerged a moment later, it was apparent he'd been injured.

Beginning in a half crawl, he regained his feet and limped in a hasty retreat, then turned to make another stand at mid-deck, throwing his weapon aside and drawing a fresh one. The damaged seeker tried to close, only to take another hit. The other two seekers emerged from the smoke, each circling for a different flank. Grey spun, skipped and fired, scoring two hits before taking a hit that knocked him down. Both seekers closed, one ripping his e.s. system, the other challenging his shield flank. The damaged seeker swung wide probing for weakness. And found it. At point blank range, the seeker punched a hole through the right side of Grey's armor as he struggled to hold the other seekers at bay.

Blown off his feet, Grey rolled over to present his shield on the weak side, then fired from his knees, driving one seeker back, then the other two. He stood for a moment before sinking back to the floor, gun hand clutched over his wounded side. When he raised the weapon to fire again, blood dripped from his gauntlet. His return fire was effective, holding the seekers off as he slid backward. A third explosion shook the walls, disrupting the seekers' flight patterns. When the smoke began to clear, a fourth seeker appeared amid the flames at the far end of the storage level.

Grey reached the east end several paces ahead of the pursuit, fired the last charge to bunch the seekers up, then dropped the expended weapon and staggered to an area well within the crossfire zone. There he turned to make a stand, drawing his remaining weapon. The seekers delayed as the fourth seeker slowly came forward, giving Grey a chance to kneel down and catch his breath. The e.s. system was gone, forcing him to open his visor and suck the hot, battle scorched air. He felt something welling up in his throat, possibly blood, and hoped the anti-shock drugs being pumped into his body would buy him a few more seconds.

"Governor, fall back," he heard the Security Computer calling through the com. "Fall back now. Fall back. Fall back."

The damaged seeker entered the trap first, hovering low and waiting for the others to provide support. Then the second seeker crept within range. Grey delayed fire, then took a pot shot at the third seeker, giving it just enough motivation to move up. The three seekers opened fire, blowing through the last of his shield power and ripping armor, but Grey scored three successive hits, driving them back just far enough to entice the fourth seeker forward. He hoped.

"Grey, get out of there!" he heard Security implore. But Grey wasn't willing to retreat. The fourth seeker needed a target. He decided to give it one.

Struggling to his feet one last time, Grey shook off the damaged shield and raised his weapon, standing erect as all four seekers accelerated at him in a closed front formation.

Though he might have gotten away, Tamera saw Grey turn to make his final stand. She could hear the Security Computer urging retreat, but he would not retreat. He waited for the fourth seeker, standing defiant against the backdrop of the burning storage deck. Through the com, Tamera heard Grey's voice, a ghostly echo at first, then stronger;

"With his sword, he drew a line;

'tween the living and the dead.

And from his pocket, took his speech;

trembling as he read.

Fear not, dear Lord, who loves us still;

To you our lives are rendered.

In freedom's cause we serve thy will,

death but not surrender."

The last line of the old barracks ballad was nearly washed out as the enemy charged down upon him with pulsars blazing.

Grey opened fire, ripping the forward array of the first seeker, striking a second, blasting a chunk out of the third. The damaged seekers rolled out to flank him firing as they turned, giving the fourth seeker a chance to charge in and fire at point blank range. Tamera saw Grey take a direct hit, bursting seals and armor. He returned fire, then took another hit, and another. Grey stumbled backward and went down, a gaping hole in his chest plate. He grasped for his weapon but only flailed at empty space, the sidearm having fallen beyond reach. Then his head dropped back and all motion ceased. The seeker hovered over him for a finishing shot.

"No!" Tamera shouted, jumping from her hiding place.

She rushed forward into the combat zone, firing wildly at the seekers and taking hits as she went. When she reached Grey's side, she grabbed a buckled shoulder plate and started to pull him from the battlefield. Suddenly all hell broke loose.

As the seekers focused on their new target, both retractors opened fire simultaneously. The securatrons poured forward in a disciplined line, discharging peppery bursts of disruptive energy. Delta and Epsilon dove from their hiding places, cutting off the enemy's retreat with full power bursts.

Wounded in the shoulder, Tamera dropped her weapon and crawled underneath the battle, dragging Grey behind her until she reached the safety of the storage lockers. There she cradled him in her arms as the fight raged above them, the deafening pulse of the retractor cannons and shrill scream of the seeker jets ringing in her ears.

In but a moment the terror was over. The entire east end of the storage level was a flaming wreck. One of the retractors bellowed clouds of thick black smoke. Delta was gone. Epsilon circled on damaged jets. Half of the securatrons lay torn and shattered. But all four sentinel class seekers were down, destroyed or disabled.

Tamera let Grey lay back on the floor. He hadn't moved since she'd reached him and he was bleeding from his mouth, drowning in his own blood.

"Oh, God," she said, seeing the bloody holes in his armor. "What do I do? Someone help us!" she yelled.

She was pushed away. Next to her, a slender cylindrical robot was unfolding six appendages. A second medical unit arrived towing a medical truck. The first robot extended a claw, punched a hole in Grey's throat, and inserted a breathing tube. The second unit packed coagulate wraps into the ripped body armor, stemming the massive blood flow. Tamera had hardly understood what was happening when A-5 lifted Grey to a mobile stretcher and raced off.

A-4 stayed behind, injecting her with a pain killer, then packed her wounded shoulder and gently set her on a second stretcher. It moved quickly also, rushing her to the medical center faster than any ambulance she'd ever heard of.

The pain killer didn't help. Nothing would. She had waited too long, Tamera thought with tears. She had wanted him dead, and now she'd gotten her wish. There was no joy. No release from the demons. There was only pain.

____________

With a clang of armored boots against tile floors, Kris, Nicholas, and Glenda came running down the medical center corridor just as A-4 and A-5 were delivering the wounded combatants to the trauma rooms.

"Grey? Oh, God, no!" Kris shouted, reaching the side of the stretcher as Trooper Perez helped Dr. Meriwether push it into the first trauma room. A-7 and A-9 were standing by with all systems online.

"Tamera," Nicholas called, catching up to her stretcher as A-4 pushed it to the entrance of the second trauma room. "Tamera, what happened?"

"I tried to help him, Nicholas," she cried, grabbing his hand.

Nicholas saw her armor was cracked, scorched in a dozen places. Blood was seeping through the damaged shoulder seals. She tried to get up, searching for the room where Grey had been taken.

"Will he be okay?" Tamera asked, nearly hysterical. "He fought them! Nick, he fought them all! I should have tried sooner. Will he be okay?"

"Calm down, my love. Be calm," Nicholas said, removing her helmet and stroking her forehead. "We need help here," he summoned.

From the gathering crowd, Michiko ran over to push the stretcher into the trauma room. Lieutenant Lisa Scott, a tall blonde with broad shoulders, rushed to help. They put Tamera on the table and started removing her armor.

"I've had some training, Koltov. Everything's going to be all right," Lisa said, dropping the last of the armor on the floor while A-4 cut off her bloody underclothing.

As the Medical Computer's systems came online, the overhead panel dropped and tubes attached to Tamera's arms and legs, providing plasma and stabilizers for shock. Her breathing grew easier as the drugs took effect.

"Tell me he'll be okay, Nicholas," Tamera said before the anesthetic made her sleepy. But Nicholas had seen Grey's wounds, and he knew it wasn't going to be okay.

In the first trauma room, A-7 moved Grey to the table as Kris hung on nearby with Glenda trying to hold her in check. A-9 sawed through the blood-soaked armor, throwing pieces helter-skelter on the floor while A-5 improved the emergency tracheotomy.

"Full prep," the Medical Computer announced. "All systems standby for full engagement."

"Mother of God," Dr. Meriwether said as the battered chest plate came free.

Kris gasped and fought Glenda's grip when she saw the wound in Grey's chest. There was another deep wound below the rib cage, and at least half a dozen lesser injuries. The wounds were clearly fatal.

"Oh, God, no, no, no," Kris moaned, reaching for Grey's hand.

Grey lay motionless on the table, not even breathing. The blood flow slowed as vital signs became intermittent.

"Glenda, get her out of here," Meriwether ordered.

Michiko entered, followed by Commander Kimura, leader of the recently rescued survivors.

"I'm scrubbing up," Kimura announced, taking charge of the chaos. "Hasegawa, make room for us. Perez, clear this junk out of the way."

Michiko helped Glenda take Kris out to the hall, then returned to the trauma room as Perez was casting away pieces of chopped up armor. "Let me help, I've studied battlefield medicine," she said.

Tubes dropped from the overhead panel, life signs weakly showed on the monitors, and surgery implements appeared as three multi-appendaged robots surrounded the table. Meriwether looked at the make-shift medical staff before returning her attention to the patient.

"Don't get your hopes up," Meriwether said. "If this man isn't dead yet, he soon will be."

In the corridor, Glenda led Kris to the waiting area where others were gathering.

"Happy now? Mission accomplished?" Kris shouted.

The large crowd, which now included members of the recently rescued Diamond and Eager squads, tried not to show their embarrassment. Several quietly slipped away to offer their help in the trauma rooms.

"Kris, come on, let's get some air," Glenda urged, leading her off.

In the admittance area, a securatron entered and rolled up to Kris, com lights blinking urgently. She went to the computer station where black signature patterns were in high flux.

"Kris, hurry. There isn't much time," the Security Computer declared.

"How did this happen?" Kris asked, her hands trembling.

"He lured the seekers into a trap," Security said. "The trap worked. All four seekers are disabled."

"And you let him do it? Knowing he'd be killed?"

"The plan was his. That's not important now," Security countered.

"It's important to me, goddamn you! He didn't deserve this," Kris sobbed. She began crying, crying like she hadn't done in years. Glenda offered her shoulder. "He tried so hard, Glenda. You don't know what's he's been through. And for what? To save a bunch of ungrateful--"

"Kris, get a hold of yourself," Security demanded. "There's a sub-orbital shuttle standing by in landing bay major. Your flight suit is ready. The course programmed. All the equipment is standing by."

"A shuttle? What the hell are you talking about?" Kris asked.

"Trust me, Kris," the Security Computer said, the signature patterns subsiding to a deadly intensity. "There is no time for explanations. Everything depends on you leaving right now."

"But--"

"Get going, girl," Security ordered. "Run that ass of yours like it's never been run before."

Kris looked at the monitor screen, the signature patterns bucking with anticipation. Beyond misdirection. Beyond urgency. Kris took a deep breath, kissed Glenda on the cheek, and bounced for the door. By the time she reached the promenade, she was at a full run.

____________

"You're going to be fine," Lisa told Tamera more than an hour later, placing cold packs on her bruises. "That arm's going to hurt for a few weeks, though."

"Thank you, Lisa. And thank you, robots," Tamera said.

A-4 and A-6 blinked acknowledgement and exited the quiet ICU.

"Think I'll see if anyone else needs my help," Lisa said, following the robots out just as Nicholas entered.

Tamera rested on the table dressed in a fresh hospital gown while Nicholas studied the life sign monitors.

"Sit down, Nicholas. The data won't change now," Tamera finally said. Nicholas nodded and found a stool by the side of the bed.

"We can move you to a room soon," he said. "I don't think the others will be busy much longer."

"Are you sure it's that bad?" Tamera asked.

Nicholas could only nod.

"There was nothing you could do," Nicholas said. "Ted and I looked at the playback of the battle. The Governor made his stand deliberately. I don't think he wanted to die, he just refused to give up."

"I know I should still hate him," Tamera said, finding the words difficult. "For so long I wanted him dead, but this morning, when he was so sad, somehow I stopped hating him. What he did shouldn't change anything, but it does."

"You do not need to hate him," Nicholas said. "There is much I needed to say this morning. We found the records."

"This is going to be a hard story, isn't it?" she asked.

"If you mean we were wrong about him, yes, it is very hard."

"He didn't kill Catarina, did he?"

"No," Nicholas said. "They were friends. Very close friends."

White signature patterns surged on the monitor panel as the Medical Computer came online.

"Miss Kantanee, a room has been prepared for you next to Mister Davis," the computer announced.

Nicholas picked Tamera up and walked from the trauma room, giving the swinging door a kick on the way out. Glenda, Johnston Woo, and Trooper Perez were in the hall looking unhappy. Seeing Tamera caused a few smiles.

"I apologize, Tammy," Glenda said. "I was wrong about you."

"You were not wrong, but thank you, Glenda," Tamera said.

"I hope we'll be friends from now on. I think Grey would have wanted that," Glenda said, tears streaking her face.

Tamera noticed something odd in their expressions. A look of admiration she didn't understand.

Nicholas carried Tamera to the medical ward and found her room.

"No, Nicholas. I'm not tired. Let me sit in the bed next to Ted so we can talk," she said.

"You will not get much privacy there," Nicholas warned. "Just about everybody has been asking questions and watching replays of the fight."

"That's not important. I can always move later, but right now, well, I have questions, too."

Nicholas nodded and entered the next room.

"Hey, Ted, ready for more company?" Nicholas asked.

"Always ready for pretty company," Ted smiled. "And who wouldn't want to share a room with the hero of the hour?"

Tamera looked at Ted, then back to Nicholas.

"I'm no hero," she protested.

"Others may see it differently, Tamera," Nicholas warned, setting her on the bed and tucking a blanket around her. She got comfortable, then motioned for him to sit nearby.

"Okay," she said. "No nonsense. Tell me about Catarina. Tell me all of it."

"Ted, you know the story better than I do. And you tell it better, too," Nicholas said.

"Here goes," Ted said. He activated the beside monitor and turned the screen where Tamera could see it.

Hours after surgery began, and several times after the patient's life signs had flat-lined only to be brought back with desperate measures by the Medical Computer, Dr. Meriwether stepped back to look at Michiko, Lisa, and Commander Kimura. The vital signs had once again ceased to register.

"That's it. I'm stopping this," Meriwether said, making a note of the time. "It's not fair to him to keep going when it's hopeless."

"Is there nothing else we can try?" Michiko asked.

"The damage is too extreme. We'll never control the bleeding," Meriwether said, her voice filled with resignation. "Lisa, go get Kris. She'll want to be here when we call it."

Lisa went into the hall feeling sad even though it was for someone she hadn't really known. But wished she had.

Glenda and Nicholas were standing in the hall, talking quietly with Tamera who had elected for a mobile chair. They all looked in Lisa's direction.

"It's over," Lisa said.

"It's my fault," Tamera said. "I just sat there and watched it happen."

"Tammy, don't say that. You're a hero," Glenda said.

"No. I'm no hero," Tamera insisted.

"Charging into that fight was very brave," Glenda said. "Grey would have been DOA if not for you."

"I'm supposed to find Kris," Lisa said. "You know, to say goodbye. Where is she?"

"She's gone," Glenda said. "Left about two hours ago."

"She had better get back in the next few minutes or it will be too late," Lisa said.

Suddenly, they heard a noise in the corridor. Bouncing footsteps approaching rapidly. A pair of footsteps. Seconds later, Kris appeared accompanied by a strange looking middle-aged woman with long white hair. A ground crew unit brought up the rear towing a large container.

"Hey, Kris, you--" Lisa started to say.

Kris ran right past her without paying the least attention, directing the stranger into the trauma room.

"Who's she?" Lisa asked.

"Haven't seen her before. Maybe she's a doctor?" Nicholas guessed.

"No doctor on Earth can help him now," Lisa said.

Meriwether looked up from her patient as Kris entered.

"Kris, I'm so sorry," Meriwether offered.

"Over here, Kes," Kris directed, pointing to the overhead panel where it connected to the computer monitors.

"Kris, what's going on?" Meriwether asked.

The stranger stood over Grey, examining the wounds with a shake of her head. And studying the surgical techniques with a sense of horror.

"What barbarity," she muttered.

The ground crew unit brought the shipping container to the head of the table where Kes opened it. The box was filled with odd looking components, possibly electronic, that she quickly assembled into a long, tall apparatus. Kris worked fervently at the stranger's elbow, following whispered instructions. Within moments, the device was complete.

"Medical Computer, have you accessed Red's program?" Kes asked.

"Unusual, but not incompatible," the Medical Computer said. "Initiate procedure?"

"Yes, please initiate," Kes said.

Kris stood over Grey listening to the bubbling sound in his lungs that passed for breathing, feeling sure she was seeing him for the last time. Then she leaned over and kissed him before going to the door. The stranger likewise took her leave. A red glow emanated from the apparatus that quickly spread to the computer monitors, and then to the entire room, every source of illumination suddenly taking on the same crimson hue.

Kris escorted Dr. Meriwether from the room. Kes watched the monitors for a moment, then stepped out and closed the door behind her.

"What is this all about? You must know he's dead," Meriwether said.

"The injuries are more critical than I'd hoped," Kes said. "But sometimes just a spark of life is enough to make the difference. Time is of the essence now. Time and your prayers."

The visitor looked at the group of people standing in the hall and closed her eyes, feeling their distress. There was strength there, but by far the greatest strength came from Kris.

"Come with me," Kes instructed, leading Kris down the hall to the morgue. Kris stopped at the threshold, hesitating to enter. Kes drew her inside.

"That's Grey's mother," Kris said when Kes paused before the glass coffin of a small, sturdily built woman with long silver hair. "Did you know her?"

"Yes, dear. Crystal is my sister," Kes said, her hand lovingly placed on the side of the container.

Kris didn't know what to say, nor did Kes give her a chance to think.

"Sit," Kes said.

Kris nodded and they sat on the floor of the antechamber facing each other. Kes took both of Kris's hands, closed her eyes, and began to hum softly in a chanting fashion, motioning for Kris to do the same.

Kris thought it was about the dumbest thing anyone had ever asked of her. She wanted to get up and leave, to be with Grey when the end came, but the humming continued and soon Kris realized her hands were locked in Kes's grip. Her legs lost feeling. The humming grew louder until it blocked out everything else. Kris discovered she was humming, too, joining Kes in gentle song that reached the intensity of a summons.

Everything grew dark. Kris felt like she was standing in a great, foreboding shadow. Then she heard a sound. A child's giggle. Like in a dream, a tiny boy dressed in a ragtag outfit dashed by her, bouncing wildly as if being chased, and delighting in the game.

Another image appeared. A young boy studying with great intensity. Green light patterns flashed around him, soon joined by brown light patterns, then white light patterns. Before long other colors shimmered as well, the flashing going around and around and around until they made her dizzy. The boy just studied that much harder.

More images followed, some vivid as battle, many bare shadows. Kris began to experience emotions that were not her own. Feelings of boredom. Fear. Resentment. Feelings of longing. The longing hurt the most.

A shuttlecraft materialized and Kris could hear noise. Music and laughter. It's a party where a shy young man watches as four boisterous people sing and dance in a huge empty banquet hall. "Come join us," a deep voice says. "Yes, come join us," a woman urges. The man is Colonel Gregor Koltov. The woman is Catarina Kantanee. The faces are filled with smiles. Then, with awful suddenness, the flesh on their faces dissolves, leaving ghastly skeletons standing in their place. "Come join us," the skeletons beckon in deathly unison. "Come join us!" There is terrible pain, but it's not her pain.

A hand clutches her shoulder and Kris feels the grip of an unearthly terror, but the flash of panic is quickly overcome. It's Kes who stands beside her. Kris takes her hand and feels a wave of reassurance. The fearsome images fade, replaced by a shining silver figure on a dark landing bay walkway. It's Grey dressed in the same sentinel suit he was wearing the first time they met. Kris sees herself standing in the dim light, cautious but unafraid. The thumping sound of fear in her ears isn't her heart. It's Grey's. The sentinel bounces away, disappearing into the darkness.

Kris and Kes stand alone in a small place. An unknown place.

"Not much farther now," Kes said, squeezing her hand.

The undefined receded into colors and shapes. Kris found herself standing on a beach. The surf rolled in on her left, the sky blue and clear. The damp sand felt good beneath her bare feet. She glanced down, discovered her entire body was bare, and instinctively put her hands up to cover her breasts.

"Don't be embarrassed, dear, I was naked my first time, too," Kes said.

Kes was standing beside her at the edge of the surf dressed, if it could be called dressed, in a soft white light that looked like long robes.

"Shall we take a stroll?" Kes asked.

They walked along the shore together without talking. Seagulls flew overhead. Small crabs burrowed in the wet sand after each wave. Kris enjoyed the warm sun on her skin. A low cliff loomed before them, the steep side overlooking the ocean.

"Let's go for a climb," Kes suggested, leading Kris up the bluff where a well-worn path led to the top.

"Oh," Kris said, covering herself again when she saw someone sitting at the edge of the cliff. Kes moved forward without her, sitting next to the person and starting a conversation. When her new companion turned his head, Kris saw it was Grey.

Kris rushed forward, then stopped a few paces away. He was dressed in an old work suit, one she'd seen many times. His feet were bare, the boots tossed to one side, and he was relaxed. He looked in her direction and smiled, then turned back to Kes. Their conversation continued for several minutes, Kes using her hands to make a point, Grey shaking his head in disagreement. Finally, Kes stood up and walked over to join Kris.

"He doesn't want to come with us," Kes said.

"Come where?" Kris asked.

"Back," Kes answered, glancing over her shoulder. Kris saw a... she didn't know what. A curtain of light, like a waterfall, just a few meters away.

"We haven't much time. Go talk to him," Kes urged.

Kris moved forward slowly, then sat down in the sandy grass, looking at the churning surf below them.

"It's nice here," Grey said, gazing at the horizon. "The sun feels interesting."

Kris reached for his hand which he accepted without flinching.

"I miss you so much. I love you," Kris said.

Grey looked at her, his eyes widening when he saw her nude body. He clutched her hand and kissed it.

"And I love you as much as I'll ever be able to love anyone," he whispered. "I'm sorry it wasn't enough."

"It's not too late. We can still go back. Together," she said hopefully.

Grey sighed, his shoulders drooped. His eyes took on a faraway look.

"I performed my duty," he said. "Now all I want is to sit here, where it's quiet. Maybe I'll look for shells later."

"You can't stay here, Grey," Kris said, getting up on her knees. "This isn't for you. Forget the humans. Forget the responsibility. You're a person who has to do things. It's who you are. You could never be happy just sitting around looking at sunsets."

Grey reached to touch her face, then stroked her hair. He pulled her into his lap and kissed her like he'd always wanted to, without shyness or reservation. She held his neck and kissed him back, kissed him like his life depended on it. His life, and hers.

"If only I could have loved you like you deserve," he said, slowly releasing her. He turned his gaze back to the ocean. Kris saw the sun setting rapidly now, a blood red glow on the distant horizon. She looked to Kes with apprehension. Kes nodded, confirming her fear.

"Listen hear, mister. Report!" Kris said, jumping to her feet and hovering over him.

Grey looked startled, as if someone had slapped him on the head.

"Your job isn't finished. You have work to do," Kris demanded. "We have a life together. I'm not letting you walk out on me just because you're tired."

"I can't go back," Grey said, tears welling up in his eyes. "You don't know. You don't understand."

"I understand that I love you, and I understand that I'm not losing you. Not now. Not when I don't have to. Now get up!"

She reached for Grey's hand and pulled him to his feet, then kissed him as passionately as she knew how. He began to respond, holding her firmly, kissing her neck and cheeks. Suddenly they were down in the grass clutching each other with a lifetime of hopes and fears.

"Sorry, my children, it's time to go," Kes said, interrupting them as the sun began its final glow on the horizon.

Kris and Grey got up, shook off their disappointment, and followed Kes toward the curtain.

"I never knew you were such an animal," Kris said happily, being sure to keep a tight grip on his arm.

"There are a lot of things you don't know about me," Grey said.

____________

Kris opened her eyes. Kes was sitting across from her, eyes open and fully alert. They were sitting on the floor just outside the morgue. The hall was quiet. The night cycle had begun, bathing the entire community level in dim twilight.

"I moved us out here," Kes said. "It started to get cold after the first few hours."

"Hours? That was a couple of minutes at best," Kris said. Kes smiled as one would indulge a child.

"We have been gone nearly fourteen hours," Kes said. "You must be hungry by now, and I need to use the lavatory in the worst way." Kes helped Kris up and let her stretch her legs.

"I had the strangest hallucination," Kris said. "Grey was alive, and we were together. I know it was only a dream, but it seemed so real."

Kes walked down the quiet hall toward the medical center. Kris adjusted her flight suit and followed, curious by the way the strange woman walked with such assurance. They went into the trauma room where Dr. Meriwether stood over her patient. The red glow had subsided and the white signature patterns of the Medical Computer had returned to dominate the monitor screen flux. The tubes, trays, and equipment were moved back from the table on which Grey's body lay, all but his head covered by a clean white sheet. Meriwether turned with tears in her eyes. Tears of relief.

Kris looked at Meriwether, then jumped to Grey's side. He was resting quietly, breathing normally, sound and peacefully asleep.

"Quiet, child," Kes said, taking her arm. "You have returned his spirit, now he needs time."

The three women drew back from the room while A-4 and A-6 prepared to move the patient to more comfortable quarters.

"He's okay?" Kris asked.

"It will be a long time before he recovers his strength, and he may never again be as he was," Kes warned. "But with continued treatment, you will have him back."

Kris hugged Kes, trying not to cry on her shoulder, then started to cry anyway. Somewhat awkwardly, Kes returned the embrace.

"It's a miracle," Meriwether said. "Except for a few scars, the damage is all but gone. Organs healed. Blood flow restored. The brain activity grew very weak, and for a while I thought we were going to lose him. Then it bounced back as strong as ever. I don't understand."

Meriwether accepted a grateful hug from Kris, then turned to Kes.

"I know it was that device you installed," Meriwether said. "That red glowing whatever it is. How did you do it, doctor? How does it work?"

"To be honest with you, Tey, I have no idea," Kes answered with an elusive smile. "I am not a doctor. I'm an astronomer."

* * * * * *

Two parts to go.

Author's note: I hope the descriptions of the colony's tunnels, corridors, and levels aren't too confusing. The original novel, published several decades ago, includes a detailed map.