Lyssa Thorne's
Science Fiction Novels
Double Dragon Ebooks
WARNING:
CONTENT MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR GENERAL AUDIENCES DUE TO EXPLICIT SEXUAL CONTENT.
“DESTROYER RECOMMISSIONED”
EPISODE 67 – RESCUE
BY: LYSSA THORNE
FADE IN:
INT. KUMANI HOSPITAL
Sannaro shuffled into the elevator.
The door closed.
Sannaro collapsed to the floor, wracked with sobs.
The door opened to Danu and Varanani standing him up to take him to his isolation room at the hospital.
Sannaro stepped into his isolation room and flopped onto the bed in a fetal ball.
Hadah rushed into the room.
HADAH
I just got a report Marc’s shuttle was tractored by the pirates. I didn’t expect this to happen, San! I didn’t!
SANNARO
I can’t do this anymore, Hadah. She’s gone. Marc took away the only thing I cared the most about. Hadeon’s won.
HADAH
Now, wait a minute, Sannaro Damirateyak. Hadeon has not won!
SANNARO
Just hand me over to Hadeon and save everybody more grief. I can’t live without her.
HADAH
Sannaro, will you snap out of your self pity? I need your attention, Senior Team-leader!
SANNARO
It’s over.
HADAH
Damn it, man, stop it right now and listen to me or I’ll have Vara mind-slap you. I’ll send you to Hadeon, but you’re sure not going to give up the fight! Marc and Cheri are both great warriors. I need you to free them and get them off that infernal pirate ship! I know you can do it. You’ve done it before!
Sannaro felt his tears stop and he sat up to look at Hadah.
SANNARO
Infiltration?
HADAH
Houk, and once you have them free, I don’t care what you do after that. Go after Hadeon and grind him to meat paste or escape and allow the fighters to do it, I don’t care. Now are you up to it, Senior Team-leader?
SANNARO
Houk, Commander, I’m up to it.
HADAH
That’s my Senior Team-leader.
SANNARO
But he’s going to rip me to pieces as soon as he grabs me.
HADAH
Not if I keep him distracted. I’ll launch an attack shortly after your capture so he’s too busy with me.
SANNARO
They’ll try to lock me down.
Hadah held up a small cylindrical object about as long and wide as a finger.
HADAH
Well, I’ve acquired a Police magnetic key. I think this should help you get around.
SANNARO
They’ll shred my clothes off my body as soon as I’m in. How am I going to hide that?
DANU
Just about the size of a suppository. I could hide it in the rectum.
SANNARO
Owe, can’t we hide it somewhere else?
HADAH
You might be able to hide it under your tongue, but it might be a bit uncomfortable and the pirates may choose to check your tongue if you’re holding your mouth like something hurts.
SANNARO
Fausa, okay, but only Danu does it.
DANU
I’ll be gentle.
SANNARO
You better. I know where you live.
DANU
Of course you know where I live. We’ve been friends since we were children and I married your sister!
VARANANI
That’s a Human saying. It means you’d better be gentle or he’ll come to you for a rather unpleasant visit.
DANU
A veiled threat?
SANNARO
Like my sister would allow me to hurt her mate?
DANU
Good point. I’ll be gentle.
Everyone stepped out of the room except for Sannaro and Danu.
Danu stopped at a supply cabinet and pulled out a small bag. He put the cylindrical device into the bag and zipped it sealed.
DANU
There. I don’t want any contamination. That would be just messy. Get undressed.
SANNARO
Why didn’t Marc wait until I could go too?
DANU
Hadah explained that.
SANNARO
I know, but he should have known something could happen again!
DANU
He was in a corner, Sanna. He had to make a call.
Sannaro unclipped his air tank and lowered it to the floor. He untied his sash and draped it on the bed, then lowered his pistol belt to the floor. He pulled off his gloves and boots, then pulled the stretchy fabric over his shoulders, pulled his arms out and pushed the jumpsuit down to his ankles and stepped out. His groin protector soon followed with his underwear. He sighed as he turned around and bent across the bed.
Danu prepared the area and pushed the key in.
DANU
Go rescue our sister, Sanna.
SANNARO
I will.
He dressed again then stepped from the room.
INT. SANNARO'S APARTMENT
Sannaro sighed heavily as he changed out of his flight suit and into some old Saili clothes he'd kept from his temporary stay with Devasru.
He pulled on black leggings and a midnight blue tunic. He found his most worn boots and pulled them on. He pulled the hairband from his hair and dropped it on the vanity beside Cherna's hairbrush.
He stroked that hairbrush and chocked back tears. He turned away and rushed to the door.
He took the elevator to the Upper Flight Deck.
INT. KUMANI UPPER FLIGHT DECK
Metei met him just beyond the elevator.
METEI
The shuttle's ready. Go get your lady back, boy.
Sannaro nodded and walked up the ramp. He pulled on the headset.
SANNARO
Shuttle 1 is ready to launch.
FLIGHT CONTROL (V.O.)
Roger, shuttle 1. Beginning launch sequence.
SANNARO
You're getting what you skisla want, Pirate. Make it good cause I'm out for blood.
He still sighed heavily as he flew the shuttle into space and adjusted his heading straight for that hated Pirate ship.
INT. PIRATE SHIP
Sannaro gritted his teeth as he was dragged wearing six similar shackles again through Hadeon’s ship and was dumped in front of the pirate.
Hadeon rushed Sannaro with a red face. He pulled out the knife at his side.
SANNARO
Before you stab me, allow Cherna and Commander Daniels to leave.
Hadeon grabbed his shirt and viciously ripped it from his shoulders. He made a shallow slash with his blade down Sannaro’s sternum.
Sannaro shuddered.
Hadeon stopped the blade just below the sternum.
HADEON
Which heart should I cut out first, Destroyer?
SANNARO
Hard question to answer since I’m attached to both.
Hadeon turned around to a towel and cleaned off his knife.
HADEON
Bring me another blade. I don’t want to ruin my favorite knife on the caustic mud Saili call blood.
A pirate drew his own knife and offered it to Hadeon.
Hadeon took the blade, then whirled around to slash both of Sannaro’s hips, then took the waist and tore his leggings.
Sannaro was flipped onto his back and he was stripped naked.
Hadeon lowered himself to his knees and pressed the knife against Sannaro’s throat.
and pressed the knife against Sannaro’s throat.
HADEON
It will be my pleasure to kill you this time, myself, Sannaro.
SANNARO
Let my wife and Commander Daniels go.
HADEON
I don’t think you’re in any position to make demands.
PIRATE
Hadeon, the Kumani is attacking!
HADEON
Shit. Take him to the t-pole. I’ll deal with him after I beat those gypsies back!
Hadeon ran from the room.
Sannaro was pulled from the floor and dragged through the halls again until they came to the room he had occupied before and was hung by his shoulders on the t-pole.
He took a deep sobbing breath as all of his weight crushed down on him.
The pirates rushed from the room and the door swept closed and locked.
Sannaro shifted to find the most comfortable position.
Marc’s form appeared from the shadows.
MARC
Wow, am I glad they didn’t put me on that. You look in agony.
SANNARO
I am. I’ve felt this three times before and it get’s worse each time.
Marc tested the lock on Sannaro’s wrist and ankle shackles.
SANNARO
Don’t bother, they’re interfaced with the pole. I can’t move. They didn’t even lessen the paralysis this time. Though I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. Iachi’awei, this is going to rip me apart and I can’t get to the magnakee I was given.
MARC
A magnakee? You have one? Uh, how do you have one? They stripped you in a brutal way.
SANNARO
The only thing I have left.
MARC
You mean up your butt?
SANNARO
Blame it on Danu. Since I’ve been prisoner to pirates before, I know they don’t like to let slaves keep their clothes.
Marc looked at his own naked body.
MARC
I noticed.
SANNARO
So we wanted the pirates to miss the device and the only way was-
MARC
Inside. Well, a magnakee would even open your shackles. The only problem is extracting it.
SANNARO
Can I endure any more humiliation?
MARC
I guess you can, if you want to rescue your wife.
Sannaro strained to lift his legs.
SANNARO
Okay, get it.
MARC
You do understand, I’m not going to enjoy this at all?
SANNARO
I hope not. We’re both married men.
Sannaro tried to curl his arms around the t-pole as Marc worked.
MARC
Got it.
Sannaro dropped his legs and cried out as his shoulders felt like they could dislocate.
MARC
Well, at least it’s in a contained medical bag.
SANNARO
Danu doesn’t like contamination.
MARC
I should thank him the next time I see him.
Marc walked around behind Sannaro.
Soon, the ankle shackles were lowered to the floor.
MARC
Sorry about this, but I don’t want you to come crashing to the deck.
Marc put his arm around Sannaro’s middle before he released the wrist shackles.
The ship shook from impact and Sannaro’s arms slipped from over the pole.
Marc braced himself against the upright and lowered Sannaro to the floor.
Sannaro settled to the floor, curled up and buried his head between his knees.
MARC
Now for the ears. I promise I’ll be gentle.
Sannaro nodded and swept his hair back.
Marc squatted down.
MARC
Wow, I’ve only seen your ears so closely once before. They’re quite elegantly shaped.
SANNARO
Just please get the shackles off.
Sannaro could feel Marc carefully extend the bridge of the shackle so he could slip it off without injury. He repeated with the other ear then placed the last set on the floor.
SANNARO
Now we have to find Cherna.
He groaned as he picked himself up off the floor.
Marc took Sannaro’s arm.
MARC
You’ve got caked blood down your chest and hips. Aren’t you afraid you’ll injure yourself worse?
SANNARO
The cuts are shallow and the clots won’t open again until Danu washes them down with Cerlacticine. They’ll make me feel a bit stiff, but I can ignore it.
MARC
It looks hard.
SANNARO
My blood clots a hard golden shell. It’s good for sealing the wound, but it’s a nightmare to clean off without help.
MARC
How did your people live before doctors?
SANNARO
It’s called bleeding the wound. You slice yourself in other places to draw fresh blood, take the pre-hardened blood and spread it over the shell to soften it and clean the wound out.
MARC
Ouch, that doesn’t sound pleasant at all.
SANNARO
It isn't.
MARC
San, Hadeon’s a Brocana.
SANNARO
I was in a lot of pain each time I met him, but now that I look back, he did look a bit bluish.
MARC
He’s the worst kind of Renegade. He turned away from Clan Tomihika.
SANNARO
How do you know this?
MARC
He was wearing a sleeveless shirt and has a harak brand on his shoulder with the TH symbol of Clan Tomihika.
SANNARO
But doesn’t that mean your mother is the worst kind of renegade because she turned away from her clan to live with a Human?
MARC
To become Renegade because of love is very different. He’s much worse because he became a thief and wants to steal as much as he can from the Humans. He’s elevated himself to godlike. The gods have branded him for the severest punishment.
SANNARO
Wow, you’re starting to sound like an Astrisi with a grudge. What happened to the upstanding Human Policeman?
MARC
This is different. This Brocana is an abomination. He can’t be allowed to continue or he’ll make the plight of the Brocana much worse. He has to be stopped.
SANNARO
Okay.
Marc pressed his finger to his lips before he pressed the magnakee on the door and activated it.
The door swept open.
They slipped out the door.
Sannaro guided Marc across the hall and went into a small storage room. He opened some boxes and handed Marc a formless crude brown tunic before he pulled another one over his own head.
Marc pulled it on and frowned in dismay at the tunic that laid half way down his thigh.
MARC
Wow, an inch shorter and this tunic wouldn’t hide anything.
Sannaro fingered his own hem that laid two thirds down his thigh.
SANNARO
That’s the advantage I have of being shorter. These are slave tunics.
MARC
So where is Hadeon’s slaves?
SANNARO
It seems he doesn’t like slaves on his ship and keeps them on a second ship.
He grabbed another tunic and draped it over his shoulder.
SANNARO
Just in case they stripped Cheri.
MARC
I hope not. I don’t want to rudely stare at your lady.
SANNARO
Got to admit, she is very pretty.
MARC
Yeah, but she’s your woman. You can admire her all you want, but I don’t want to be rude. Amber would kill me.
SANNARO
Right, Amber’s also a pretty woman, but I see what you mean. I would feel uncomfortable looking at your woman naked too. Now, do you remember how we traveled through the Zuran ship back in the war?
MARC
Oh yeah, that was incredible. My Father has never forgotten and still appreciates how we rescued him, Uncle Mat, Parik and Di'ok.
SANNARO
I want to do that again to stay unseen while I track Cherna.
MARC
Okay, just make that link you like to have and I’ll follow your lead.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Okay, done. Let’s move out.
MARC (PSI V.O.)
Lead on, my friend.
Sannaro set up his empty space false image and stepped into the hall.
Marc followed close behind.
Sannaro opened his telepathy and began to search through the ship from stern to stem.
SANNARO (PSI v.o.)
Follow me. I found her.
Sannaro walked cautiously down the hall to an intersection. He stopped along a wall and peeked around. He saw it was empty so he moved around the corner to travel down the new hall.
MARC (PSI v.o.)
Hey, that’s a nice hair band you wore. I liked the design on it.
SANNARO (PSI v.o.)
Quit staring at my head. Yeah, it was made for me by Cheri’s mother.
MARC (PSI V.O.)
Isn’t she a leather-crafter?
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Houk, but she can etch other materials too.
Sannaro sensed a pirate approach them. He strengthened his false image of the empty hall and the pirate walked past without noticing.
MARC (PSI V.O.)
I’m still amazed that you can do that so casually.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
I may look casual about it, but it takes a lot of concentration.
Sannaro took another turn to the left then stopped at a door.
Marc slipped around and pressed the magnakee to the door.
The door sounded a click and swept open.
Sannaro rushed in.
Cherna sat naked in the corner of another cage.
CHERNA (PSI V.O.)
Oh, San, you look horrible!
Sannaro tossed the tunic at her.
She slipped it over her head. Her tunic was long enough to cover the stumps of her thighs.
Marc went over to the door and pressed the device to the lock.
It clicked and Marc swung the door open.
Cherna leapt out of the cage into Sannaro’s arms.
CHERNA (PSI V.O.)
I asked Marcayo not to take me, but he said he had to.
Marc released her wrist shackles, then bowed his head.
MARC (PSI V.O.)
Captain Selik told me the proceedings could no longer be delayed and I had to return to the Yorktown with someone in custody. I’m sorry I had to take her, too. I don’t understand why that Ukvatu knew I was transporting Cherna? You were in battle so you were too distracted to know what I was doing.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
I think you have a sell-out on your ship, Marcayo.
MARC (PSI V.O.)
That’s what I need to find out. The ADF can’t have pirate plants among its ranks.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
For now, we need to find a way off this ship.
They turned toward the door, but before they could trip the sensor, the door swept open.
Hadeon was framed in the door with a big grin on his face and his knife in his hand.
END ACT 1
ACT 2
Cherna cringed.
Sannaro radiated burning rage as he pulled back to the bars of the cage again.
Sannaro’s skin became unbearably hot.
Cherna jumped to the top of the cage.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
He raped you while I was in isolation?
CHERNA (PSI V.O.)
There was nothing I could do! He paralyzed me so I couldn't fight back.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Nui, there was nothing you could do, ko'ia. It’s just another reason for me to kill this ni'yaroi.
Marc slipped into a corner a few meters away from Sannaro in a crouch.
MARC
Tomihika Renegade.
HADEON
You call me a Renegade, Kelhidi Harak? I’m surprised they still branded you after your bitch of a mother ran off with a Human! You use their machines as much as I do, so you have no room to talk!
MARC
I try to give the Brocana a good name by enforcing the laws of the Humans who share our lands. You sully it through the mud just by being a pirate!
HADEON
Oh yes, I heard about your heroic investigation of the renegades to find the Brocana killer. We should all kiss your feet and tell you how great you are!
Marc growled.
HADEON
I just learned from him that if he could sneak around among us, I could sneak around among Humans! I think I’ve done pretty well so far, don’t you?
MARC
Balda and Aldumu burn you for what you’ve done!
HADEON
Please, you sound like my stupid father. Balda and Aldumu are just balls of fire in space! There are no gods, Marcayo! There are only Humans who come take the lands from us and show us their incredible machines so we can learn to take what we want from them. I mean to take everything like I took Sannaro’s precious wife!
Marc looked at Cherna in shock.
Sannaro was now growling, in a crouch and ready to attack.
Hadeon rolled the pommel of his knife so the blade was pointed down the length of his arm.
MARC
Classic Brocana knife style.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
It’s okay. I’m the Martial Arts Senior on the Kumani. I know how to counter weapon fighting.
Hadeon laughed and took a few trial swings at Sannaro’s middle.
Sannaro undulated to avoid the swipes. He dropped to the floor with his hands to prop his back off the floor and swung his left leg to tangle Hadeon’s legs.
Hadeon danced backward.
HADEON
Nice move, Sanna.
Sannaro leapt back to his feet.
SANNARO
Don’t call me that.
HADEON
Sanna! It sounds like a girl’s name!Or that stupid Human who brings presents to the children once a year!
SANNARO
I am San-nar-oh! And the only present I’ll bring you is your death!
Sannaro launched a left forward kick.
Hadeon blocked down.
Sannaro bent his knee and pulled it back down to the floor, then followed with a right roundhouse that landed on Hadeon’s side.
Hadeon growled in frustration as he slammed into the wall. He swung his knife laterally around the height of Sannaro’s head.
Sannaro ducked and punched at Hadeon’s stomach, then danced back out of Hadeon’s reach.
Hadeon swung toward Cherna.
Cherna leapt over the blade.
Sannaro rushed Hadeon.
Hadeon pivoted around and nicked Sannaro’s ear.
Sannaro screeched in a tone so high, the hard plastic cup that had held water for Cherna shattered.
Cherna, Marc and Hadeon were shoved into the wall from the forceful kinetic energy that rippled from Sannaro’s body.
Sannaro dropped to the ground and writhed in agony.
Hadeon held his back and rushed from the room.
Cherna jumped to the floor and sat beside her mate who was keening with his teeth clenched.
Cherna pulled back part of his hair that wasn’t slick with yellow and looked at the ear.
She could see a shallow slice between his second point and his lobe. It was bleeding vigorously but the slice hadn’t reached the raised nerve that connected his upper points to his lobe.
SANNARO
Don’t touch it!
CHERNA
I won't.
MARC
San? Can you move?
SANNARO
Give me a few seconds more.
He wiped the tears from his eyes before he sat up and pressed his hand against his ear.
SANNARO
I’m going to kill that ikata ni'yaroi for slicing my ear!
MARC
What’s a ni'yaroi?
CHERNA
It means no father.
SANNARO
Bastard.
MARC
Oh, yeah, he’s a bastard, all right.
Sannaro swayed as he stood up.
SANNARO
Let’s find that bastard and relieve him of his worthless life.
Cherna dropped to the floor.
SANNARO
Don’t you want to ride on my back?
CHERNA
Nui, you don’t need my weight complicating your movements in combat. I’ll walk.
MARC
On the stumps of your thighs? Won’t you be slow that way?
Cherna showed Marc how she used her arms to swing her body forward like a monkey.
CHERNA
I can do just fine.
SANNARO
But it can hurt.
CHERNA
You just fight. I can manage myself.
Sannaro led the way out the door and created a false image again just as pirates rushed down the hall.
They pressed themselves against the wall to avoid colliding with pirates.
Sannaro opened his shields to scan for Hadeon and followed the Renegade’s mental signature through the halls.
The pirates were now alerted to their escape, so there were a lot more pirates in the halls.
Because Sannaro had to keep up the false image around so many people, he felt sweat run down his face. He wiped his face with his arm to keep the sweat from running into his eyes. He led them into a small storage room and flopped to the floor with his head between his knees.
SANNARO
Cherna, let me channel my telepathy through you to strengthen my injured ear. I need to send a message to Hadah.
CHERNA
You know Hadeon has telepaths in his ranks. Aren’t you worried they’d pick up your sending and come after us?
SANNARO
Houk, but I’m tiring. I’ve got too much blood loss. My ear aches horribly and I’m straining my telepathy to hide us from too many pirates. You’re going to have to join the fight soon and I need the Kumani to slam this ship to distract some of these damned pirates so we can get out of here.
Cherna nodded somberly and offered her hand.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Hadah, attack Hadeon’s ship with all you have now. The pirates are making it very difficult for us to escape and I’m almost exhausted.
HADAH (PSI V.O.)
Houk, deploying the Vizha'i.
Sannaro cut the link and groaned as he stood again.
SANNARO
The pirates are converging on this room now.
MARC
I have some martial arts training from the ADF. Nothing even close to yours, but I’m willing to fight with all my strength.
CHERNA
And you know I can still fight, too.
Sannaro nodded as he slipped into a defensive stance in the center of the room.
Cherna was on his right and Marc stood on his left.
The doors swept open and several pirates rushed into the room.
Sannaro raised his arms up to block the first blow of a pirate’s fist. He kicked the pirate in the knee.
The pirate crashed to the deck and grabbed his knee.
Sannaro drove his hand into the man’s stomach.
He fell unconscious.
Another pirate double-fisted his back.
Sannaro arched his back and grunted in pain. He swung his arms up and cracked the pirate into the chin.
That pirate dropped to the floor, his mouth bleeding from a crushed windpipe.
Sannaro quickly rubbed his back before he grabbed the arms of another pirate and rolled the man over his shoulder.
That pirate crashed into the wall.
MARC
San, the floor’s getting crowded with bodies.
SANNARO
Let’s get out of here.
Sannaro slid through the legs of a tall pirate and rushed through the door.
Marc tackled his own pirate to rush through the door.
Cherna also slipped through the legs of a pirate and punched him between the legs as she passed.
Sannaro groaned when he saw the crowd that rushed down the hall and resumed his defensive stance.
A pirate rushed him with a knife raised.
Sannaro sidestepped the down swipe and elbowed the man’s side. He followed with a back kick to the middle of the man’s spine.
The man dropped to the deck with a scream.
The next pirate swung his fist into the side of Sannaro’s head.
Sannaro was pushed sideways into the wall. He yelped from the pain to both his ears and leaned against the wall to regain his balance.
The pirate swung his arm out to strike him in the head again.
Sannaro squatted down.
The man struck the wall and screamed.
Sannaro felt a gush of Human blood spray his head. He swung his left forearm into the man’s midriff then used his right arm to sweep the man’s legs out from under him.
The man struck his head on the floor and lost consciousness.
Sannaro sensed another pirate above him so he entwined his hands together and swung his arms up as he stood. He connected with the man’s face as he had bent down to attack Sannaro’s neck.
That pirate joined the pile on the floor.
Cherna cried out.
Sannaro looked her way to see she was struggling in the arms of a pirate who had her around her waist, facing away from him.
She folded herself at the waist to strain the pirate’s hold. As she slipped from his grip and flipped into the air, she held out her arm to strike him in the stomach. She landed on the deck on her stumps.
The deck shook and a loud boom reverberated through the hall.
Sannaro leaned against the wall to steady himself until the shaking subsided.
SANNARO
There’s the Vizha'i.
MARC
Good, I’m tiring.
Sannaro blocked low and swept the kicking leg out from under another pirate.
SANNARO
I was already tired. Now I’m approaching exhaustion.
Some of the pirates rushed back down the hall to go to attack shuttles.
SANNARO
That thins it out some.
CHERNA
But many are staying.
SANNARO
Get behind me.
CHERNA
Oh, not again! San, mind-slams are dangerous in your condition!
SANNARO
We’re not going to make it if I don’t.
MARC
He’s right, Cheri. We’re tiring out.
They ducked behind Sannaro just as he began to draw in energy around him. He felt his hair rise to swirl around his head. Once he was satisfied with the draw of energy, he pushed it out ahead of him.
The air rippled with energy in waves before him.
Pirates grabbed their heads as they screamed and dropped to the deck.
The few that endured the attack rushed them with red faces.
Sannaro drew in more energy and slammed them again.
The rest of the pirates dropped to the deck.
Sannaro swayed on his feet.
Marc grabbed his shoulders to steady him.
SANNARO
We have to get to Hadeon.
Sannaro ran down the hall, leaping over the prone bodies.
CHERNA
Sannaro!
Sannaro turned around in time to see Cherna whisked around the bend in the hall behind them in the arms of a pirate who had flanked them.
SANNARO
Cheri!
Sannaro ran back down the hall.
Marc grabbed his arm.
MARC
San, he’ll take her to Hadeon anyway! Let’s not waste time following him and go straight to Hadeon.
Sannaro stopped and thought for a second.
SANNARO
You’re right.
He turned back the way he had started to go and brought up the false image again.
They rushed as quickly as they could against the wall of the halls that shuttered periodically from impacts to avoid pirates who still hunted them.
Sannaro stopped them outside a door.
SANNARO (SPI V.O.)
Hadeon is here and so is Cheri.
MARC (PSI V.O.)
Are you going to be okay? Your mental voice even sounds winded.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Do I have a choice?
MARC (PSI V.O.)
No.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Okay, let’s go.
He rushed through the door.
Hadeon stood in the center of the room with his arm pressed into Cherna’s neck.
HADEON
It took you long enough. But I have to say, you’re good, Sannaro. Rumor said you move like a ghost. I can see why.
SANNARO
(SARCASTICALLY)
I’m really flattered you admire me so much.
HADEON
You are a worthy adversary, but-
He shrugged his shoulders raised his knife to Cherna’s throat and pressed down.
Sannaro raised a barrier between Cherna’s throat and his knife.
Hadeon drew his knife through air. He looked down at Cherna’s throat when the expected blood didn’t flow.
Cherna bit his knife arm.
He loosened his grip.
Cherna leapt through the air and landed at Sannaro’s feet.
Hadeon shook his hand to ease the pain and wiped the blood on his shirt.
HADEON
You are full of surprises, but this party is wearing thin.
SANNARO
Yes, this is wearing thin and now I’m going to kill you. No one tries to kill my wife and lives to tell it.
HADEON
Commander Daniels, I’m deeply shocked you’d stand beside this man who has confessed to premeditated murder!
MARC
Your pirates killed two of my good men, hunted us incessantly, destroyed two shuttles and tortured me, Cherna and Sannaro Damirateyak. Personally, I don’t care what he does to you anymore.
HADEON
Do you think I worked alone?
MARC
I have been speculating about that. As much as you’ve dogged my heels and knew when I was transporting Sannaro or Cherna, I’m guessing you had an informant.
HADEON
It took you this long to figure that out? Not such a great detective, are you, Marcayo?
MARC
Well, I have been preoccupied. Not the best circumstances for an investigation.
SANNARO
Marcayo, I think this has gone beyond talk.
MARC
I agree. Lead on, General Damirateyak.
The door behind them swept open and four grinning pirates stepped in.
SANNARO
How could you invite gate crashers? Ever heard that’s rude?
HADEON
I never said I was polite.
Sannaro spun around, dropped to a crouch and swept the feet out from under two pirates.
Marc blocked a right cross and slammed his right fist into the other pirate’s side.
The last pirate bent down to grab Cherna’s waist.
Cherna leapt over the pirate’s arms. Ran up one arm, vaulted around his shoulder and crashed her stumps into his back.
The pirate crashed to the deck.
Cherna jumped into the air and landed on the back of the pirate’s neck.
The pirate’s neck snapped back and he died in a pool of his own blood.
HADEON
Shit! Get them! Kill them!
A crowd of pirates rushed in and the room became a mass of confusing flying limbs.
Sannaro was being struck from every direction. He growled in frustration.
Marc cried out in pain across the room.
CHERNA
Let go! Let go of my hair, Unkafata!
SANNARO
Enough!
A swirl of pirate knives rose into the air.
CHERNA
Sannaro! Marc, floor, now!
MARC
Sh'kukte, what’s happening?
Marc dove to the floor.
Sannaro felt energy crackle around him.
SANNARO
I’m tired of this!
He snapped his arms out from his sides and shoved the energy away from him.
The blades flew through flesh and embedded into the metal walls. Fearful screams filled his ears, then was suddenly silent.
He dropped his arms.
The swirling blades that still remained in the air clattered to the floor.
Sannaro fell to the blood-saturated floor. He closed his eyes and dropped his head to his chest.
CHERNA
Sanna, are you calm now?
SANNARO
I did it again. I’m too dangerous now.
CHERNA
Nui, don’t say that. You’re not any more dangerous than you’ve ever been. You only move things with your mind when you’re stressed to the breaking point.
SANNARO
I can’t trust myself not to lose control again. Maybe I should be put in isolation at a New Saili hospital.
CHERNA
I can’t live without you. Don’t ask me to live without you. I swear, I’ll follow you anywhere. Nothing will stop me and you know it. Please don’t do this to yourself or me. It’s over.
SANNARO
Until the next time I get really angry.
Marc shuddered as he looked at the carnage.
MARC
San, how many times have you done this?
SANNARO
This is my third time.
CHERNA
No, it’s not. One time you didn’t throw anything because I calmed you. He threw things only one time before this and it was to kill another pirate who tortured him to exhaustion, too.
MARC
So only under extreme stress?
CHERNA
Yes. Please, Marcayo, don’t take him away from me. I’ll die without him.
MARC
I know. Let’s get out of this awful room so we can breathe cleaner air. San, can you walk?
SANNARO
Houk. Cheri, hold on.
He stood himself and Cherna up and stumbled out into the quiet hall.
MARC
We need to check the rest of the ship to see if there are others.
SANNARO
If they’re alive, they’re probably not very functional. I slammed the whole ship hard.
MARC
If you could see you the way I do, you’d see a Saili man who is almost completely covered in green bruises where it’s not glossed over in a shell of dried blood. And you’re feeling sad for the pirates who gave you these grievous wounds?
Sannaro connected his vision with Marc’s.
MARC'S P.O.V.
Sannaro's tunic was torn in places and almost indecent. He looked so alarmingly like a green mad man with tangled matted hair and a glossy yellow shell over his chest, thighs and down the left side of his face.
BACK TO HALLWAY
SANNARO
Iachi’awei Ushi, I look ghastly.
The door opened again and Hadeon stumbled out the door.
END ACT 2
ACT 3
Sannaro crouched into an offensive stance.
Cherna leapt to the floor.
Hadeon was bleeding from several minor wounds, but he seemed mostly uninjured. He raised his knife, roared and rushed at Sannaro. He slashed toward Sannaro’s middle.
Sannaro undulated and blocked low with his left arm, then pushed Hadeon in the chest with his flat right hand.
Hadeon stumbled back and clutched his chest.
HADEON
Uksake, don’t you ever tire?
SANNARO
First, I’m not a skunk-like creature from Alpha Centauri Seven. And I am getting tired of all the attacks from you.
HADEON
So die!
Hadeon rushed Sannaro again with an upper cut.
Sannaro blocked left to his side, then kicked a reverse roundhouse and drove Hadeon into the wall.
Hadeon yelped in rage and swung around with another upper cut.
Sannaro blocked down again and pinned Hadeon’s knife arm against the wall, then drove the flat of his hand into Hadeon’s chin.
Hadeon dropped his knife and reeled back, gasping.
Sannaro moved to close in.
Marc grabbed his arm.
MARC
Stop, San, he’s defeated. Let’s take him into custody and hand him over to Arcturus.
HADEON
No! You won’t take me!
Hadeon dove to the floor to grab his knife.
Cherna moved in a blur to the knife and picked it up from the floor.
HADEON
Give me that, bitch!
Cherna glared before she launched the knife, hilt up toward Sannaro.
Sannaro snatched the knife from the air and leveled it at Hadeon.
SANNARO
That woman you called a bitch is my wonderful wife. Legs or no legs, she’s pretty amazing.
Cherna blushed.
Hadeon swung his arm out to hit her in the face.
Cherna blocked, grabbed the arm and twisted it around his back.
Sannaro rushed to Hadeon and pressed the knife into his throat.
MARC
Surrender, Hadeon. You’re not getting out of that hold.
HADEON
You’re a crazy demon, Sannaro! I should have listened to the other pirates when they warned me to leave you the hell alone! Marcayo, get me the hell away from that ukvatu Saili!
SANNARO
I am not stinking!
Sannaro pressed the knife harder into Hadeon’s throat.
MARC
Easy, San.
Sannaro suddenly burst out in hysterical laughing.
SANNARO
Actually, I do stink! A foundry doesn’t stink half as much as I do!
HADEON
Marcayo, I surrender! Get me away from this crazy Saili!
SANNARO
Where do you keep your shackles?
HADEON
Don’t put me in those!
SANNARO
Where are they?
Sannaro drew a shallow slice on Hadeon’s throat.
Hadeon’s eyes showed panic.
Sannaro smirked when he sensed Hadeon think about where the shackles were stored.
SANNARO
Marc, the shackles are in the room we’d been in. They’re stored in the cabinet on the wall. Would you get Hadeon a wrist and ankle pair?
Marc nodded and stepped back into the gory room. Shortly he returned with the shackles and a hand held remote control set. He locked the shackles around Hadeon’s wrists and ankles then turned them on with the remote on a moderately restraining setting.
MARC
He’s locked.
Sannaro dropped the knife to his side and stumbled back a step.
MARC
He’s going to crash bad, and soon.
CHERNA
He may sleep for over a week in a hospital.
Sannaro turned so quickly, he swayed and crashed into the wall.
Hadah turned the corner with a large group of Vizha'e and ADF pilots behind him. They all had energy guns out and ready to shoot.
MARC
Hadah, catch San before he hurts himself further.
Hadah grabbed Sannaro’s shoulders to steady him and took the knife from his hands.
An ADF officer rushed to Marc.
ADF OFFICER
Commander Daniels! Are you all right?
MARC
I’ve been better.
ADF OFFICER
Can I take the shackle controls from you? You look exhausted.
MARC
No, I’ll keep them for now.
HADEON
That Saili’s crazy!
Hadeon tried to pull away then glared down at the restraining shackles.
HADAH
No, you just pushed him too far. He’s quite nice when you don’t try to kill him. Fausa, San, I’ve never seen you look so horrible.
SANNARO
I haven’t either, well, yes I have, when I saw my own burned body through Ku'an’s memories.
HADAH
Okay, that was worse.
Sannaro pulled himself away from Hadah and sagged against the wall.
SANNARO
I did it again, Hadah. I used my telekinesis.
HADAH
After all this? I would’ve been surprised if you hadn’t.
SANNARO
I killed them all!
Sannaro's eyes filled with tears.
CHERNA
Hadah, he’s crashing.
HADAH
Hey, San, we’ll get you back to the Kumani where you can get cleaned up, healed and have a long talk with Wanakaya. I’m sure a soft warm bed sounds very enticing right now.
Sannaro nodded as he tried unsuccessfully to stop the flowing tears.
HADAH
Just let the tears flow, man. You’re over-exhausted.
They walked together to the flight deck where two white shuttles awaited them. One had the red firebird on its’ top and the other had an eagle with outstretched wings. In one talon was a cluster of arrows and in the other talon, a laurel leaf.
Marc led Hadeon to the shuttle with the eagle.
Cherna stopped and looked at both of the shuttles.
CHERNA
Marc, what do I do? I was arrested right before we were captured by the pirates.
MARC
Go with your husband. He needs you and you need medical treatment too. We’ll work out the issue with Sarto later.
Cherna nodded and moved to Sannaro’s side as he was guided up the ramp. She held out her hand.
Sannaro curled his fingers around her petite hand and, together they entered the shuttle and sat down on the passenger seats.
Sannaro slouched deep into the soft cushion.
HADAH
Don’t sleep yet, San. I’m not sure that in your condition you’ll wake again.
SANNARO
I didn’t escape this time, Hadah.
HADAH
But you won. You would’ve escaped if we hadn’t managed to board. We’re just making your final escape much easier. It was a good tactic to tell me to attack the ship to distract them from capturing you. It worked.
SANNARO
But I alerted the pirates to our position. We had to fight so many that Cherna was captured.
HADAH
Well, she’s clearly as intact as she was before capture. You did fine.
CHERNA
He did amazingly, Hadah. I don’t know how he kept himself going, especially after Hadeon nicked his ear.
SANNARO
Sheer stubbornness. I’ve never felt that kind of agony and I never want to feel it again.
SIKYATAVO (PSI V.O.)
You’re getting closer!
Sannaro felt the shuttle stop and settle onto the retrieval lift.
A clang resounded and they were lowered into the maintenance deck.
The shuttle lifted, flew for a minute then landed again. The door swept open and the ramp lowered.
As soon as the ramp met the deck, Danu rushed into the shuttle.
DANU
Oh, Iachi’awei! You look it’s indescribable!
He waved the sensor over Sannaro’s body and sighed with relief.
DANU
I’m not reading any internal damage but a lot of lacerations and contusions. You’ve been beaten to a pulp! Jeremy is going to have to carefully heal that slice on your ear. Okay, let’s move San to a gurney.
Danu moved to Cherna and scanned her.
DANU
You’ve been beaten too and- fausa.
DANU (PSI V.O.)
Cheri, were you raped?
CHERNA (PSI V.O.)
Houk, Danu. Hadeon forced himself on me.
DANU (PSI V.O.)
Okay, I’ll gather the evidence to hand over to the ADF.
DANU
Okay, Cherna has a lot of contusions and a few minor lacerations. Let’s get her to a gurney too.
Danu helped to move Sannaro onto the hovering bed outside the shuttle.
SANNARO
Can you lay Cheri with me, please?
DANU
Sure.
Soon after, Cherna was laid on top of Sannaro.
He hugged her shoulders and she snuggled against his chest.
Danu covered them both with a warm blanket.
CHERNA (PSI V.o.)
I don’t ever want to leave you.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
We can’t predict the future, Cheri, not even the Saili can do that. We can only treasure what we have now.
CHERNA (PSI V.O.)
I can be as stubborn as you are.
Sannaro kissed her forehead.
SANNARO
Oh, without a doubt, lover. Let’s just heal ourselves and not worry about the future.
They were pushed to the elevator and transported to the Hospital.
They were returned to the same room they’d occupied the last time. The room still had two beds.
SANNARO
What is this? My permanently assigned room?
DANU
Well, you have been visiting often lately.
Jeremy stepped up to Danu’s side.
DANU
Jere, would you work on San while I work on Cheri? San has a sliced ear and I don’t dare touch that.
Jeremy nodded. He came over to Sannaro and pulled back the blankets. He cringed.
JEREMY
Wow, that’s a lot of blood.
He pulled on the metal-coated gloves. He went to the cabinet to pull out a large bottle of Cerlacticine and a large metal bowl. He poured the blood derivative into the bowl, wet a sponge and began to wipe the blood off Sannaro’s chest. After a few swipes, he tossed the sponge into the waste can and picked up another.
JEREMY
They sure lacerated you a lot, San.
SANNARO
Houk. Comes from wanting to kill me.
JEREMY
Plenty have tried. None have succeeded.
SANNARO
That’s right. Something on your mind?
Jeremy smiled self-consciously.
JEREMY
Houk. Ambri. Since I met her on Sailia, well, I’ve thought about her every day, even when I was finishing my medical degree. She’s amazing. She has so much courage and spunk.
SANNARO
Are you thinking?
JEREMY
Can I have her hand in marriage, Tsikakayu? That is, if she’ll have me.
SANNARO
Uh, since it’s between Us’uata, it’s not entirely my decision. You’d have to ask the Council. Owe.
Sannaro shuddered as Jeremy reached the end of the slice just below his sternum.
JEREMY
Kasai.
SANNARO
Evi’it. You’re picking up Astrisi quite well.
JEREMY
Ambri has been teaching me.
SANNARO
So it seems she shares the same feelings for you?
JEREMY
I think so, but I don’t want to risk offending her by scanning her mind to be sure. Please turn to a side so I can clean a hip.
Sannaro turned onto his left side to see the young Saili better. He hissed as the sponge touched his hip.
SANNARO
I’m sure I’m going to have more stitches than a quilt when you’re finished with me.
JEREMY
It won’t be a few.
SANNARO
You have my approval to ask her to tasra, but Ambri will have to ask the Ships Council for the final decision.
CHERNA
Decide what?
JEREMY (PSI V.O.)
May I ask your permission to ask Ambri to marry me?
CHERNA (PSI V.O.)
Oh my! You want my baby as your wife?
JEREMY (PSI V.O.)
If she wants me.
AMBRIKA (PSI V.O.)
Houk, houk, houk! Please, Cha, Ya?
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
I’ve already given my permission.
CHERNA (PSI V.O.)
And I will too.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Remember, you have to ask the Council for the final approval since it’s between Us’uata.
AMBRIKA (PSI V.O.)
Oh, wait, I’m so glad both of you are home! I hope you gave that unkafata a good beating for what he’s done to us.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
I gave him a good beating.
DANU (PSI V.O.)
But your Yaro and Chali are quite beaten, too. We’re cleaning them up right now.
AMBRIKA (PSI V.O.)
Are they bad?
JEREMY (PSI V.O.)
Your father is worse than your mother. I’m cleaning his wounds now.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
I’m not going to be happy to be sporting about a thousand stitches.
JEREMY (PSI V.O.)
Sorry, Tsikakayu, I’ll try to heal your wounds the best I can.
DANU (PSI V.O.)
Soon I can put both of you in healing tents.
HADAH (PSI V.O.)
I hate to intrude but I’m getting a message from the Yorktown. They want an update on San and Cheri’s condition.
DANU (PSI V.O.)
Cheri should be fine in several hours, however, San is going to be healing for a week. How many stitches do you approximate, Jere?
JEREMY (PSI V.O.)
Sorry, but about three thousand, minimum. I don’t dare allow the healing tent to heal the ear, so I have to begin that healing and I don’t know how much energy that’s going to take. Maybe two or three days until he’s fully healed.
DANU (PSI V.O.)
I’ll help what I can with a hand healer. That should save you some energy.
JEREMY (PSI V.O.)
I still haven’t even assessed the ear. Tsikakayu, can you sit up so I can look at the injured ear?
Sannaro sat up.
Jeremy began to look then sighed as he picked up a new sponge, dipped it in Cerlacticine and began to carefully wash the ear.
JEREMY (PSI V.O.)
Okay, I can see the ear now. It’s not bad. The tear stops a centimeter before the nerve.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
But it was the most agonizing injury I’ve ever felt. I can’t describe it.
CHERNA (PSI V.O.)
I can. He shattered a hard plastic cup on the table and shoved all of us against the wall with the shriek and the energy that burst from him. I’ve never seen him do anything like that before.
HADAH (PSI V.O.)
Fausa! Okay, so Cheri will be healed by the end of the day and San will be in the hospital for about a week, if he’s lucky.
DANU (PSI V.O.)
Houk.
HADAH (PSI V.O.)
Fa’arata for the report, Danu.
Hadah turned his attention back to talking to the Yorktown.
JEREMY
Now to get your left hip, Tsikakayu.
HADAH (PSI V.O.)
Oh, and congratulations on asking for Ambrika’s hand.
JEREMY (PSI V.O.)
Fa’arata, Commander.
AMBRIKA (PSI V.O.)
We’re very happy.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Well, I’m not. I’m in terrible pain now that the dried blood is cleaned off!
Sannaro curled into a tight ball.
Jeremy slipped a vial of pain reliever into a syringe and pressed it into Sannaro’s shoulder.
JEREMY
Please lay flat so I can begin the stitches, General.
DANU
Cheri’s finished. I’ll help you stitch San.
Sannaro glanced over to Cherna’s bed and saw the healing tent was already over her and she was deep in sleep.
Jeremy scrubbed his chest wound with a local anesthetic then he and Danu stood on either side of him and began to stitch his chest wound closed.
Sannaro sighed and tried to relax.
DANU
This has got to be terribly painful, you haven’t needed this many stitches since you almost amputated your leg. Okay, your chest is done. Roll to whichever side you want first.
Sannaro rolled onto his left side.
Danu rubbed a local anesthetic on Sannaro’s right hip.
Jeremy and Danu worked together to stitch up that wound.
SANNARO
I wish I was asleep like Cheri.
DANU
I’m sure, but we need you awake so you can help us get to these wounds. I’ll be glad to let you sleep after the sutures are done. Now roll over again and we’ll get your other hip. Jere, can you heal San’s ear without him being conscious?
JEREMY
I can.
DANU
Good, once we’re done, I’ll give you a full sedative and you can sleep, San. We’ll do the rest.
SANNARO
That’s a relief.
Sannaro laid his head down and curled his arm around the pillow. The soft linen felt comforting to his uninjured ear while the rest of his body throbbed despite the pain relievers he’d been given.
Danu placed his tools onto the tray and uncurled his fingers.
DANU
The sutures are finished.
He pulled off his silver gloves and threw them into the container with the sponges.
DANU
He’s all yours now, Jere. If you need assistance, just send me a request.
Jeremy nodded.
Sannaro laid on his back and Danu pulled the blankets over him again.
Jeremy prepared a syringe and pressed it into Sannaro’s neck.
DANU
Naila’ahina, San.
Danu patted his shoulder before he stepped from the room.
JEREMY
You just go to sleep. I’ll be healing your ear before I erect the healing tent.
Sannaro nodded then closed his eyes. He dropped into sleep almost immediately, relieved the torture was over.
INT. MARC'S OFFICE YORKTOWN
Marc sat in his small office and poured over the communications records of the Yorktown to find clues to who communicated with Hadeon to update him on the transport of Sannaro and Cherna from the Kumani.
The door opened and Jim Meyers stopped before his desk.
JIM
Any luck, partner?
MARC
I’m still sore from the crash and the escape from the pirate ship. It’s not easy for me to concentrate.
JIM
From what you told me, it was quite a nasty crash and that escape sounded like a nightmare. Do you want me to help you go through the records?
MARC
Sure, two pairs of eyes are better than one. Pull up a chair.
Jim pulled over a simple chair, sat down at the corner of the desk and began to read over the printed communication records.
JIM
How is San and Cheri? I heard they were beat up worse than you were.
MARC
I’m surprised San remained conscious, much less continued to fight. What wasn’t covered in a shell of blood was deep green from bruising. He looked like a crazed mad man. It was amazing. And Cherna still fought spectacularly even without legs.
JIM
I was so sad when I heard Cherna had lost her legs to a Vizha'i crash. Those two people are quite an amazing pair. Marc, look at this.
Jim handed him a communication page.
JIM
That’s an odd frequency, right there.
Marc scanned the page. He looked through the other pages to find when Marc transported Cherna. He picked up both papers and compared the two entries.
MARC
Sh’kukte.
JIM
You said it. Now what?
Marc slammed the pages to the table.
MARC
I hate to do this, but we’ve got to get a message off this ship without anyone overhearing or we’re totally screwed.
JIM
You know he’ll be watching every incoming and outgoing communication.
MARC
And when San and Cheri are transported for the trial, other pirates will be alerted.
JIM
We can’t let that happen. Hadeon can’t be freed.
MARC
I totally agree, partner. Do we wait until we’re down on Arcturus?
JIM
No, San and Cheri will be transported by then.
Jim tapped the side of his head.
JIM
Sannaro!
MARC
Damn, you’re right. I have to speak to Sannaro. If I use telepathy, he won’t know and we can have the Kumani send the message. Good idea, Jim.
Marc concentrated and imagined Sannaro facing him.
MARC (PSI V.O.)
Sannaro, we need to talk. Please respond. Sannaro, please hear me.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
(SLEEPY)
What’s wrong?
MARC (PSI V.O.)
Captain Selik is collaborating with the pirates.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
You’re telling me the Captain of the Yorktown is passing information to pirates?
MARC (PSI V.O.)
That’s what I’m saying! I don’t dare send a message to ADF Command about this cause it’ll be sure to be intercepted. Could you ask Hadah to send the message to the ADF Command? We need some serious help. I don’t think I can arrest the Captain of this ship without being accused of insubordination and also arrested.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
I see your problem. I’ll talk to Hadah.
MARC (PSI V.O.)
Thanks, oh, and how are you feeling?
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Jeremy has healed my ear. Soon, I’ll be going into the healing tent to finish the rest.
MARC (PSI V.O.)
Good. I hope Hadah will help me or I’m going to be in serious jeopardy.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
I’ll stress that to Hadah.
MARC (PSI V.O.)
Fa’arata, my friend. This is definitely more than I can handle alone.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
I would say so.
Sannaro’s mind became distracted for a minute.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Okay, Hadah is cursing up an ion storm. He’s sending the message to ADF Command.
MARC (PSI V.O.)
That’s a relief. Thank Hadah for me, please, and I’ll let you get back to sleeping.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Hang in there and don’t tell anyone other than Jim what you’ve found.
MARC (PSI V.O.)
You knew Jim was with me?
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Sure I do. You’ve been looking at him the whole time. He’s really worried about what the two of you have found.
MARC (PSI V.O.)
I should have known you’d know my partner was working with me.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
We’ve known each other for a long time. You’ll get out of this problem too. Naila’ahina, Marc.
MARC (PSI V.O.)
Naila’ahina, San.
JIM
He’s sending the message?
MARC
Yeah, and Hadah’s cussing up an ion storm. The ADF is being alerted. We just need to keep this between the two of us until help can arrive.
JIM
I hope we can. I’m feeling very nervous.
MARC
Me too, partner, me too.
Marc turned to his computer and opened his mail program.
Jim walked around the desk.
JIM
What are you doing?
MARC
Sending a letter to my Dad.
He arranged the papers on the desk and activated the camera option on his computer He immediately attached the picture to his letter and sent it. A few seconds later, he was informed the message was successfully sent.
MARC
There, the proof is embedded in my letter to my Father with a picture of me at my desk. If they don't believe Hadah, Ambassador Jonathan Daniels will believe me.
JIM
Good idea.
Marc turned off the message program.
MARC
Now we wait.
FADE OUT.
THE END.