Lyssa Thorne's
Science Fiction Novels
Double Dragon Ebooks
"TWO BROTHER'S NIGHTMARE"
EPISODE 28 – RESCUE
BY: LYSSA THORNE
FADE IN:
INT. KUMANI - HOSPITAL
Days later, Sannaro was walking on his own, but he was concerned that he still felt a little unbalanced so he visited Zhad.
Zhad led them into his office and sat down.
ZHAD
What’s wrong, San?
SANNARO
You said my muscle tone’s almost back to normal and I’m looking great, but I’m still feeling unbalanced.
ZHAD
I guess I should have told you sooner, but it slipped my mind because I was so happy I saved your leg. To successfully replant your leg, I had to cut off an inch of the bone so your muscles wouldn’t tear from the sutures.
SANNARO
My leg is an inch shorter than my right?
ZHAD
I’m afraid it’s true, but you have your leg back and you’re functioning.
SANNARO
You didn’t tell me?
ZHAD
San, I had too, or the procedure wouldn’t have worked! You were lucky it was cut cleanly by that control panel or it would’ve been harder! I took as little bone as I could!
SANNARO
I’m like Lado, a gimp!
ZHAD
You’re less disabled than you could've been! Hadah can still let you fly as long as your left foot pedal is adjusted for the discrepancy. You can adjust to this new condition, Sannaro, and be no less active!
SANNARO
Do you want me to adjust my footwear too?
ZHAD
That would help. It may make you less unbalanced.
SANNARO
Thanks a lot, Yaro!
Sannaro immediately left the Hospital.
INT. KUMANI – CARGO HOLD
He went down to the cargo hold and moved over to the Zuran craft. He entered the ship, sat in the uncomfortably narrow seat and began to fiddle with the controls until he saw his legs below the panel and his hands slipped to his side.
SANNARO
An inch short!
CHERNA
Who’s there?
SANNARO
I didn’t sense you here, Cheri.
She entered from the rear of the craft.
CHERNA
That’s not like you! I was checking out their engines to see how they looked when I heard you say something. Your upset.
SANNARO
Nui.
He returned to checking the control panel.
CHERNA
You are upset.
SANNARO
I’m never going to recover from that crash, Cherna!
Suddenly he wanted to smash that control board, so similar to the one who robbed him of an inch of his leg.
CHERNA
What? That’s nonsense. Zhad said you’re making a fantastic recovery!
SANNARO
Fantastic recovery! He took an inch off my leg and he didn’t bother to tell me!
CHERNA
We’re just glad you got your leg back, Sannaro! You’re walking! You can still fly! If he hadn’t taken that one inch, he would’ve taken the whole leg!
SANNARO
But it’s not like it was before!
CHERNA
Nui, it’s not like it was before, but it’s close. It’s better than not walking at all, Sannaro! Don’t be so hard on Zhad. He knew what he had to do and because of it, you can go on this mission.
SANNARO
I guess you’re right.
CHERNA
I am right.
SANNARO
What would I do without you, Cherna?
CHERNA
You’d be stubborn.
SANNARO
I’m still stubborn.
CHERNA
And I’m the only person who can get through that tough body of yours and into your sweet mind to set you straight.
He relaxed and affection flowed through their link. She gasped and pressed her body to his as she added her feelings to his. He merged his mind with hers. He arched his head back and groaned as his body became electrified from their pressed bodies. Several minutes passed before he pulled back to a normal passive link.
Cherna sunk weakly to the copilot seat.
SANNARO
It amazes me how much it takes out of non-telepaths to have themselves completely open to another mind.
Sannaro sat on the pilot seat and took her hands.
CHERNA
But it gives me so much joy! I’m never alone with you and that mind-merge is so sensuous!
SANNARO
I warned you! When we were waiting for the Council to decide that we could mate, you almost drew me into a mind-merge and I told you it wasn’t appropriate. You have since understood why.
CHERNA
The first time you merged with me, I was overwhelmed. I can see why the Saili call it a sexual act.
Jim stood on the ramp, just outside the hatch.
JIM
Are you guys doing naughty stuff in there?
SANNARO
No. Why are so many people sneaking up on me today? I’m beginning to think I need to visit Zhad to get my ears checked!
Jim entered from the ramp with Marc close behind.
MARC
Why, are you having trouble hearing?
Sannaro laughed.
CHERNA
He means his telepathy.
Cherna grabbed his chin and turned his head. When she touched his ear, he shivered. He felt her finger trace the raised line that went down the length of the upper point joined half way by a similar line from the second point, then the two converged and ended at the pointed earlobe.
SANNARO
Oh, that tickles!
CHERNA
This line is a nerve that’s sensitive to psychic energy. When it’s stimulated, the impulses are sent down the length of the nerve to his brain where it processes it into other people’s thoughts. Closeness of thought waves sets the nerves off. He’s just annoyed that he failed to sense your nearness.
MARC
Saili anatomy is fascinating!
JIM
Oh, I could tell them about some of your own peculiarities, Brocana!
Marc leapt to cover Jim’s mouth.
Jim evaded Marc’s efforts.
JIM
Oh, yeah, he’s got a second transparent eyelid to shield his eyes from Centauri’s binary suns. If he doesn’t bask under a sun lamp, his skin turns pasty blue like he’s been suffocated!
Marc finally covered his partner’s mouth with his hand.
MARC
You didn’t hear that!
Sannaro and Cherna were propping each other up while they giggled heartily.
Muffled protests came from Jim’s mouth.
Marc yelped, drew his hand away and shook his hand. He held it up and showed them the small purple line on his palm.
MARC
You bit me!
JIM
I had to breathe sometime! Besides, I just didn’t want Sannaro to feel alone.
CHERNA
Maybe the two of you could live together so Sannaro could have the thermostat at one-hundred degrees!
MARC
That sounds wonderfully comfortable!
SANNARO
Don’t they like their temperatures too cool?
MARC
It chills me to the bone sometimes.
CHERNA
He calls eighty cool!
JIM
That’s why Marc lives in Arizona. He says it reminds him of Alpha Centauri Seven.
CHERNA
Where do you live, Jim?
JIM
I live in Los Angeles, California.
CHERNA
That’s still pretty warm.
JIM
I was born there, but it’s not as warm as Arizona.
SANNARO
Oh, Lazha's coming.
Lazha climbed up the ramp.
LAZHA
I’m glad to see the team all here and sharing a few laughs. I like to see my orders happily followed. Because, it’s time to go. The fleet has reported the new weapons online and they’re standing by. Sannaro have you studied the route the stevedores showed you for flying this ship out of here?
SANNARO
I did, Lazha. We'll launch as soon as I change into my flight-suit.
LAZHA
Then good luck.
She walked down the ramp.
Sannaro stood up.
SANNARO
I'll be back in five minutes.
Sannaro and Cherna left the shuttle.
INT. KUMANI – SANNARO'S APARTMENT
Sannaro immediately went to their room and pulled out a fresh flight-suit.
Cherna sat down on their bed.
CHERNA
This will be the first time since my crash I'm dressing back into my flight-suit.
Sannaro changed into his flight suit.
SANNARO
Well, let's go get Di'ok.
CHERNA
Houk, ko'io. Let's make those Zurans suffer like they've made my brother and mate suffer.
They returned to the cargo hold and went back up the ramp into the Zuran ship.
Sannaro sat down in the pilot's chair again and Cherna sat in the copilot's seat.
He closed the hatch.
They pulled on their communications gear.
SANNARO
This is Sannaro to all Stevedores, clear the cargo hold. I have clearance to launch the Zuran ship, I repeat, I have clearance to launch the Zuran ship.
His message rang out through the external speakers.
STEVEDORE
Houk, San, the cargo hold is cleared. Move the ship to the cargo bay hatch. Beginning depressurization, now.
SANNARO
Houk, moving ship to cargo bay hatch.
He brought the ship off the deck and moved it forward slowly starboard toward a huge door.
As they moved closer, the door began to open.
Sannaro carefully flew the ship through the doors and into space.
CHERNA
You can breathe now, San.
Sannaro blew his breath out slowly then grinned.
MARC
That was a tight fit.
CHERNA
San can thread a needle with a Vizha'i!
SANNARO
I prefer to thread a needle with my fingers. Preferably in my favorite chair with my latest cross-stitch project.
JIM
You cross-stitch?
SANNARO
It’s my leisure craft. I tried shaping pottery with my Foster Mother, but I kept collapsing the clay. So a friend taught me to cross-stitch to keep me occupied while my foster mother worked.
JIM
Oh.
SANNARO
Sannaro to Kumani tower, we’re going to hyper-drive. Kohura naki.
FLIGHT CONTROL (V.O.)
Houk, San, Kohura naki.
Sannaro checked the control board again to assure himself they were flying smoothly.
SANNARO
I'm still nervous that I can't make a lot of sense of Zuran thought patterns. I did notice some of their emotions seem similar, though. I wonder if I changed my tactics from understanding thoughts to analyzing how they feel, I may have more success.
MARC
No harm in trying.
They heard hissing and clicking in their earphones.
JIM
My translator is registering it. It’s some kind of tower control.
CHERNA
We're caught.
MARC
No, wait! These sounds are similar to the noises we Brocana use to call Klevie! I think I can repeat it.
SANNARO
Marc, say what you want to say and when the translator translates it, hand it to me. When I was with my Uncle for a while, I learned a lot about using translators. I know there's a recorded playback. You can use it to practice the pronunciation a few times before we try it!
CHERNA
Can’t we let the translator say it?
SANNARO
Nui, it’s too noticeable as mechanical and we don’t know how sensitive Zuran hearing is.
Cherna
What if they don’t accept it anyway?
SANNARO
I think with a little telepathic nudge they’ll let us by.
CHERNA
I thought you couldn’t read Zurans!
SANNARO
I can’t, but belief and disbelief is not a thought process. It's instinct and that’s totally different.
Sannaro adjusted Marc’s translator and returned it to him.
CHERNA
Zhad would be preparing a lecture about this, San!
SANNARO
If it gets us in, I’ll be glad to listen to Zhad’s lecture all the way back to Earth!
MARC
Okay, I’m ready.
SANNARO
Open the channel and talk to them.
Marc turned toward a secondary control panel.
Minutes passed as he hissed and clicked into his microphone.
Sannaro reached out to find the Zuran that was thinking on what Marc was doing and slipped in to that mind. Puzzlement flowed through him as he listened, but with a seed of acceptance. Sannaro cultivated the Zuran’s own acceptance. For a few seconds, the feelings warred with each other, but the Zuran slipped toward acceptance. Sannaro sighed softly.
Marc turned back to them and grinned.
MARC
We’re clear to land! The tower dispatcher told me to report to the doctor after we land, because I sounded terrible.
JIM
At least he thought you had a cold!
Sannaro took Marc’s approach commands and landed the shuttle.
SANNARO
We have to be careful out there. We won’t be able to blend in. I can fool one Zuran at a time, but no more than that.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Di'ok, can you hear me?
DI'OK (PSI V.O.)
San?!
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
I’m here on the Zuran ship with Cherna and a few others. We’re going to get you out of here.
DI'OK (PSI V.O.)
Fa’arata, Iashi’awei!
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Di, do you know where you are in relation to the flight deck?
DI'OK (PSI V.O.)
I’m sorry, San, not much, but I do remember the central chamber where we met Sikzik was near the center of the ship on the same level as the flight deck, but after we were beaten, we were taken where we are while semiconscious. We’ve only been taken to rooms near to where we're being held.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Who is Sikzik?
DI'OK (PSI V.O.)
Sikzik's the Zuran leader. He wears a headband with jewels sewn into it and rainbow robes down to his feet. He’s been torturing us to get us to give him information so he can defeat the Astrisi and ADF combined forces.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
I know. I’ve seen what you’ve been going through.
DI'OK (PSI V.O.)
How?
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Just leave it that I know. Hang on, Ka'iho, we’ll be there soon.
SANNARO
I’ve been in contact with Di'ok. He isn’t sure where they're being kept, but he did tell me they met the Zuran leader called Sikzik in a central chamber not far from here. Marc, in your studies of the Sjujeenya did you see any places that may likely be used as cells?
MARC
Several.
SANNARO
Good, then we’ll start with those.
JIM
I hate to break up this meeting, but I’m sure someone will start wondering why no one has exited this craft.
CHERNA
But no one can see us leaving!
SANNARO
I think I can alleviate that worry. Let’s go.
Sannaro released the door then pressed himself against the wall as the ramp lowered to the floor.
He picked out a Zuran who'd shown passing interest in the opening shuttle and sent to him an image of several Zurans exiting their shuttle.
As the Zuran lost interest, Sannaro jumped down to the floor and ducked under the ramp. The others quickly joined him.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
They're lax on worrying about intruders.
JIM (PSI V.O.)
That will work well for us. Can you hear me, Sannaro?
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
I’m linked with each of you so we can communicate.
CHERNA (PSI V.O.)
Just think you’re talking to him and he hears it every time.
JIM (PSI V.O.)
So he told me weeks ago. I just never thought I'd be telepathically linked to another person!
Sannaro led the group across to the undercarriage of another shuttle.
He felt someone become curious about looking under the shuttle, but he gently dissuaded the Zuran and it continued on.
This time Sannaro saw a stack of crates against the wall and led the group to hide behind them.
They were a few hundred meters away from an exit.
When Sannaro was sure no one was watching or approaching, he moved the group through the door into the main part of the ship.
MARC (PSI V.O.)
A few targets are on different levels. Luckily, I read the Gasbajans used tactile equipment, though some of it was just weird.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
That’s good, no voice sensors.
JIM (PSI V.O.)
What if the Zurans changed it?
MARC (PSI V.O.)
If the shuttle was any indication, they haven’t done much changes.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
So where’s an elevator?
Marc thought of a schematic of the Sjujeenya and concentrated on an approximation of where they were in relation to an elevator.
Sannaro (PSI V.O.)
Good imaging, Marc! I can take us right to it. Let’s move out.
The group moved carefully down the hall toward a bend.
Sannaro extended his telepathy to scan the next corridor before he took them around the bend. Several steps down the new hall his ears tingled.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Four Zurans approaching!
He began to scan rooms for a safe place to hide.
Jim went toward a door and opened it. He gestured for everyone to enter.
After all were inside, the door closed.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
One door down and we would've had a welcoming committee!
JIM (PSI V.O.)
You said this one was fine.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
I did not!
JIM (PSI V.O.)
You thought it, I acted.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
You’re concentrating on my telepathy and directly using it to form your own strategies?
CHERNA (PSI V.O.)
San, are we clear?
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
We’re clear.
They returned to the hall and made it to the elevator without further mishap.
END ACT 1
ACT 2
INT. ZURAN SJUJEENYA ELEVATOR
They entered the elevator and Marc chose a button on the control pad.
The elevator began to move downward then stop.
MARC (PSI V.O.)
We’re not at our floor!
Sannaro tensed as the door opened upon one Zuran. He sent an image of four other Zurans inside.
The Zuran casually stood beside Cherna and coiled out a tentacle to press another button.
Cherna stood rigidly with sweat flowing down her face.
Sannaro thought of that tentacle snapping across his face as one did in his horrifying dream. He shuddered, but kept his concentration on the image he was sending.
The elevator stopped again and opened onto their floor to another Zuran approaching.
He hissed in alarm just as Sannaro slipped a Siche out of a sheath on his forearm and he flicked it toward the intruder. It landed square in the chest.
The Zuran thudded to the floor.
Jim rushed out to the fallen alien.
JIM
Where do we stash them, San?
Sannaro scanned quickly and opened a door.
Marc helped Jim carry the wounded Zuran into the closet.
Sannaro guided the other Zuran to the elevator with memories of the four Zurans casually exiting into an empty hall.
He allowed the elevator to close again.
MARC (PSI V.O.)
You just let him go?
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
He has no memories of this incident, only what I allowed him to see. The less corpses we leave around, the less they have to find.
Jim handed the blade back to Sannaro.
JIM (PSI V.O.)
Here’s your double knife.
CHERNA (PSI V.O.)
I didn’t know you were carrying Siche, San!
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
I just started since Lazha told us to work with the shuttle. They aren’t going to become a normal part of my clothes.
CHERNA (PSI V.O.)
Good, I would hate it if I hugged you and was sliced.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
It’s fully enclosed in a leather sheath. It wouldn’t slice you if you touched it.
MARC (PSI V.O.)
The first target is ten doors down this hall.
Cherna blanched as she watched him return it into his red glove.
They stealthily moved down the hall.
JIM (PSI V.O.)
It seems too quiet for keeping prisoners.
CHERNA (PSI V.O.)
Let’s check it to be sure.
They moved down the hall to that door.
Sannaro scanned it and nodded in negative.
MARC (PSI V.O.)
Are you sure?
Jim triggered the door to open onto a room with supplies stacked against the walls.
MARC (PSI V.O.)
Sh'kukte!
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Let’s move on. Next location, Marc?
MARC (PSI V.O.)
One level down, one left, two rights and seven doors.
JIM (PSI V.O.)
So it’s back to the elevator! Your telepathy's helping, but we’re still getting surprises.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
I’m a Saili not a god!
They backtracked.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.) (CONT.)
We have to hurry. The fleet's approaching.
The elevator doors opened on yet another floor.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
This floor's more active. Come.
He led the group to a recessed entrance so the elevator could move on and he could get more scans.
He pressed himself against the wall and the others followed suit. He sensed a Zuran approach and gently discouraged him from glancing into the alcove.
Soon after they moved down to a T-intersection, they turned right.
When Sannaro sensed three Zurans just before they rounded the corner ahead, he quickly found a new place to hide.
After the aliens passed, they rushed down to the same corner.
Sannaro felt uneasy as his ears pulsed with the warning that someone was near so he moved toward a new hiding place.
As he arrived, a Zuran jumped up, encircled his tentacles around his chest and pinned his arms to his side as well as around his ankles.
He reached back to try to grab the Zuran, but it seemed to be so slim, he only grabbed air. He tried to push his arms out to break the hold, but the tentacle tightened painfully.
Sannaro amassed moderate energy to release a mind-slap.
Somehow the Zuran felt the threat and one tentacle uncoiled from around Sannaro and snapped against his head.
His vision exploded in a kaleidoscope of colors. He shrieked in pain and crumpled to the floor. Through blurred vision, he saw the three Zurans who'd just passed rushed back and attacked the others from behind.
He was still struggling to get the Zuran off his back when Marc suddenly blew a shrill two-tone whistle.
The Zurans replied with a high-pitched keen.
The Zuran on Sannaro’s back uncoiled its tentacles to grab its head.
Sannaro did a donkey kick that sent the Zuran flying into the wall.
It crumpled in a heap.
JIM
Even Zuran’s hate your damn Sinvati call!
Sannaro sunk to the floor and grasped his own left ear.
Sannaro barely noticed Cherna squat down beside him.
She tenderly turned him over to expose the left side of his head.
CHERNA
Oh, nui! The main point of his ear is bruised!
JIM
Check his head. Is it split?
CHERNA
Nui, it’s not a concussion, this is from ear damage.
SANNARO
I’ll be all right in a minute.
Sannaro tried to pull himself up from the ground. Cherna reached under him.
CHERNA
Marc, help me get San up.
Marc and she hefted Sannaro up to his feet. He groaned and leaned against Cherna.
JIM
We need to move.
The ship shuddered.
Sannaro put his arm around Cherna and they moved out together with Marc taking the rear.
A few doors down, Jim took out his laser and superheated the door lock.
The door swept open.
Di'ok roared out and jumped on Jim.
CHERNA
Di, stop!
DI'OK
What? Cheri, San!
Di'ok grabbed his friend and his sister.
Sannaro returned the hug.
Jonathan and Zerbeck came out supporting Parik.
Marc surged forward and took his father in a bone-cracking hug.
ZERBECK
I hate to break up the reunion, kids, but we’re still deep in the alien ship in the middle of a massive battle? I’m not going to call myself rescued until I’m comfortably back on the Yorktown.
JIM
Now that they know we’re here, it’s time to start blasting!
MARC
I’ll take the rear.
CHERNA
Di, can you take San? He has an injured ear.
Di'ok bent down and put his arm around Sannaro’s shoulders.
DI'OK
Come, San, we’ll get back to Zhad and he can help your ear.
SANNARO
I should be supporting you! You’re the one who's been tortured for several months.
Sannaro shook his head then pulled away from his friend.
Di'ok tried to put his arm back around Sannaro’s shoulders.
SANNARO
Nui, I came to rescue you and I’ll finish the job.
Sannaro swayed a little as he took the next-to-last position ahead of Marc.
MARC
Are you okay?
SANNARO
As long as I keep my shields firmly in place and keep my mind focused, I can keep back the-
Sannaro grabbed the wall and shuddered. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he moved out again.
MARC
Maybe you should go back with your friend.
Sannaro whirled around and fired behind Marc.
Marc turned around and saw two more Zurans behind them with one writhing on the floor.
MARC
Good shot!
Marc fired his own weapon.
Sannaro squatted and leaned against the wall with his left side to steady him while he continued to fire.
SANNARO
Jim, Cheri, more Zurans approaching ahead!
ZERBECK
We’re in a crossfire!
MARC
I thought you couldn’t use your telepathy anymore?
SANNARO
I’ve still got one good ear. It just that one damaged ear makes me sick because I’m unbalanced.
ZERBECK
If there was a spare laser, I’d join you!
Zerbeck went sprawling from a massive shudder of the ship.
Sannaro groaned and doubled over onto the floor to wait for the ship to stop trembling.
He saw the Zurans take that opportunity to close in.
DI'OK
Watch out, they can throw their tentacles!
A Zuran caught the wrist of Marc’s weapon hand.
Sannaro slipped out his Siche again and flicked it toward Marc’s attacker.
The weapon sliced through the tentacle and sunk into the metal wall.
It cried out in pain.
Marc finished the alien off with a right cross to the face.
MARC
Thanks.
Marc massaged his bruised wrist.
The other Zuran cracked Sannaro across the back.
He yelped in pain, but reared up to grab the recoiling tentacle and swung the alien into the wall.
It slid down to the floor, leaving a trail of pink ichor down the wall.
Sannaro turned around just in time to see Cherna skip over some foot tentacles. She kicked her left leg and cracked it across the same Zuran’s face.
The Zuran reeled backwards and collided with its peer who had been engaging Jim. The aliens fell to the floor in a tangle of tentacles.
JIM
Let's go.
Cherna helped Parik to stand and he accepted Jonathan and Zerbeck’s support.
Di'ok and Marc helped Sannaro to stand up.
Sannaro staggered to the wall to retrieve his Siche before the group rushed on to the elevator. Thankfully it was empty.
They took it back up to the flight deck level.
When the door opened again, they were met by a group of Zurans who immediately opened fire.
Cherna screamed and fell against Sannaro with her left shoulder blackened. She leaned on him for a minute before she recovered and fired her own weapon.
SANNARO
Let me get out front!
JIM
That’s crazy, San! You’re in no condition to take the lead.
SANNARO
I’m not taking the lead. I’m going to take them all down in one attack!
CHERNA
Not a mind-slam! San, with one ear damaged, you could fry your mind!
DI'OK
I don’t want to meet Sikzik again!
Sannaro easily pushed through the group and drew in mental energy. He felt his body begin to glow as the kinetic energy coursed around him. He braced himself against the door then mentally pushed the energy out ahead of him. He screamed as the energy exploded from his head. He crumpled to the floor, his body heaving.
The Zurans dropped their weapons and grabbed their heads as they screeched. They too fell to the floor.
The group grabbed up Sannaro and Cherna then rushed into the flight bay. Before they arrived at the shuttle, Marc saw the Namura.
MARC
I want to take the Namura back!
They redirected toward the Ambassadorial ship and rushed up the ramp.
As soon as Marc helped Cherna and Sannaro lay down at the back of the control room, he joined Jim and took the pilot’s seat.
Marc raised the ship off the deck of the Zuran ship and flew it toward the exit.
Two other Zuran shuttles rose off the deck and tried to intercept.
Jim worked the guns to fire at the intercepting ships.
One swayed from Jim’s volleys and rammed into the wall.
The resulting explosion tore a hole in the skin of the ship.
Marc flew the ship through the hole and gunned it away.
Cherna felt her own stomach lurch as she sat beside Sannaro. She closed her eyes and laid her head on her mate’s back.
Di'ok took his younger sister’s uninjured shoulder.
DI'OK
We’ll be home soon, ka'ina.
JIM
Uh oh, incoming Vizha'i at two o’clock, Marc.
MARC
AC Namura to Vizha'i. This is Marc Daniels. We’re bringing back the prisoners, I repeat, we're bringing back the prisoners, don’t fire on us.
ARCAS
Namura, where's San? We will surround your ship. If you do anything to cause us to doubt your intentions, we will fire on you.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Arcas, it’s me. We’re coming home.
ARCAS (PSI V.O.)
I don’t hear you too well.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
I have an injured ear.
Cherna took Sannaro’s hand.
CHERNA (PSI V.O.)
Arcas, it is San, but he’s hurt. He needs to stop sending before he gets sick again.
ARCAS (PSI V.O.)
I hear you, Cherna. We’re still going to accompany your ship.
CHERNA (PSI V.O.)
Okay.
ARCAS (PSI V.O.)
Is my Yaro with you?
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
He is, Arc, we were successful.
ARCAS (PSI V.O.)
Fa’arata! See you on the Kumani!
Just as Arcas finished, Sannaro’s vision dimmed and he lost consciousness in the safety of Cherna's arms.
INT. KUMANI – UPPER FLIGHT DECK
Marc flew the Namura into the Kumani’s upper retrieval deck and stopped at the lift.
The rectangle sunk through the floor and came to rest in the maintenance bay.
He hovered it over to two parking spaces and opened the hatch.
The medical crews surged in with Zhad at the lead.
Zhad stopped beside Sannaro and was checking his ear, wearing a deep frown before he checked Cherna’s shoulder.
Danu the young medic was hugging his friend Di'ok before he checked him for injury.
That reminded Marc of his own concern so he moved to his father, being looked at by Tila.
Marc sighed as he sat down beside his father.
MARC
We’re safe now.
JON
I’m proud of you, Marcayo. You rescued me, but you also considered your responsibilities.
MARC
If we hadn’t had Lazha’s support for this mission, I’m not sure we could've pulled it off. The Zuran shuttle they managed to capture shortly before they rescued us was invaluable for getting us on board. Also, surprisingly, the Zuran’s language sounds a lot like Klevie calls! I was actually able to approximate their speech!
JON
Klevie calls! I thought it sounded familiar.
TILA
I need to transport your father to the Hospital, Marc. They are all half-starved, dehydrated and exhausted.
MARC
Thank you, Tila.
Marc helped his Jon to stand up and lay down on the gurney.
ZHAD
You have first and second degree burns on your shoulder. You’ll be out for a few days, but I’m glad San’s ear's only badly bruised. If it was worse, like nerve damage, I would've needed to call the Saili.
Danu helped Zhad pick Sannaro up and set him on a gurney, then Cherna on another.
Arcas sprinted through the Refuel and Rearm pylons to the Namura and stopped at his father’s bed. He hugged Parik.
ARCAS
Don’t run off like that again!
PARIK
I’m sorry I hurt you, Arcas, but I was only trying to help our people avoid the war.
ARCAS
Leave the Hero stuff to me from now on, okay?
PARIK
Okay, after what I’ve been through I can honestly say you can keep the heroics.
Arcas hugged Parik.
BELIA
Let him breathe, Arcas, he’s had a rough time.
Arcas nodded then moved to Sannaro.
ARCAS
Fa’arata, you saved my father’s life, San.
SANNARO
I said I would.
ARCAS
You just get your ear healed.
SANNARO
I will.
HADAH (V.O.)
Arcas, is the Namura landed?
ARCAS
Houk, Hadah, San’s got a bruised ear that needs to be healed so he won’t be able to fly for a few hours. Cherna looks like she has a burned shoulder.
HADAH (V.O.)
Fausa, all right, get back out there.
MARC
Jim and I can fly. We’re uninjured.
ZHAD
Be careful with that bruise on your hand.
MARC
I will. I'll get it checked later.
ARCAS
Red one to Blue one, we’ve got Sierra-lima fourteen!
HADAH (V.O.)
Houk, take them under your wing.
ARCAS
You’ll fly with Red Team Mate up with Powers and Thatcher.
MARC
Got it.
Marc and Jim ran to their cruiser.
INT. KUMANI – HOSPITAL
Sannaro was pulled into a treatment room at the hospital.
SANNARO
Zhad, please give me the portable regenerator? It’s just a bruise on my ear.
ZHAD
You let me be the doctor. You can go fight after I do a full examination of your cranium and ear so I can choose a proper treatment. If it’s a full healing tent, you’ll do it, is that clear?
SANNARO
Houk, Zhad.
As Zhad was preparing the imager to look at Sannaro’s head, the ship rocked with another blow.
Sannaro groaned.
ZHAD
A little nauseous?
SANNARO (V.O.)
Bedpan!
Zhad leapt to a supply table and handed Sannaro the plastic bowl just in time.
ZHAD
I know you were desperate, but that sending hurt.
Zhad massaged his head before he returned to the machine and turned it on.
A real time image lit up the screen on the wall, showing Sannaro’s skull.
Zhad studied it for a few minutes.
ZHAD
I see no cranial damage.
He returned bedside and inspected Sannaro’s left ear.
Zhad (CONT.)
What hit you? Was it some kind of whip?
SANNARO
A Zuran tentacle. I was going to mind-slap him when he snapped his tentacle across my ear.
ZHAD
Oh, that hurt. Okay, I’ll give you the portable regenerator.
He went over to his supply box and pulled out a cylindrical device. He held it over Sannaro’s ear then pressed a switch.
Sannaro felt the beam of light washed over his ear.
Zhad turned it off and set it down.
ZHAD
You’re healed, but it’s going to take some time for your body to realize it so I suggest you get some sleep.
After a while, Sannaro found he couldn’t sleep so he swayed and lurched as he walked down the hospital hall and entered a door.
Di'ok jumped and winced when the IV shifted painfully in his arm.
Sannaro rushed to his friend’s side.
Cherna glared from the other side of Di'ok’s bed.
SANNARO
Di!
DI'OK
What are you doing up?
SANNARO
I just had to see if you were actually here and not a dream!
DI'OK
It's me.
Sannaro hugged Di'ok tightly.
DI'OK
Uh, San, not so tight, you’re going to break my ribs!
SANNARO
No more nightmares! No more nightmares!
DI'OK
Nightmares?
SANNARO
I told you I knew you were being tortured!
Sannaro let go of his friend.
DI'OK
You did and I asked you how.
SANNARO
You were sending me everything! I only knew it when I was asleep! Uh, you were being held by your arms and ankles as a Zuran slapped you across your face. Then he showed you that circular device, he pressed against your neck, causing terrible agony! I felt it! I lived through it with you!
Di'ok gasped and he paled even more than he already was.
DI'OK
How? I’m not a telepath!
SANNARO
Remember what Uncle Devasru said about what happened when I brought you into that link when we were children so I could understand Adara to listen into the Council?
Sannaro sat down on a chair beside the bed.
DI'OK
He said it made a permanent marriage link between you and my sister Cherna.
SANNARO
Houk, you also asked why it didn’t affect you. Uncle Devasru said it had and that it had just made our friendship deeper!
DI'OK
He did! Oh, I was thinking about what you'd do if you were in that situation because I thought it'd help me to face Sikzik!
SANNARO
And when you thought about me, our link transmitted your experience to me.
DI'OK
I didn't know!
Di'ok sobbed with his head in his hands.
SANNARO
You couldn’t. I didn’t figure it out until Zhad took readings while I slept through one of my nightmares and discovered my ears were receiving a sending, but it only made me more insistent to rescue you.
DI'OK
Fa’arata. I’m sorry I put you through all that pain. I would've never wanted you to experience what I did.
SANNARO
You’re home again.
Sannaro realized he was only wearing a hospital gown and his left leg was exposed. He moved to cover it with his gown again.
Di'ok stopped him and laid his hand on the crease.
DI'OK
What in the Firebird is that?
Sannaro brushed Di'ok’s hand off and covered the leg.
SANNARO
Well, I crashed my Vizha'i several weeks ago.
Cherna walked around the bed and hugged Sannaro sympathetically.
CHERNA
Houk, he almost amputated his leg!
Zhad reentered the room and gave Cherna and Sannaro irritated looks.
ZHAD
I told you to go to the burn room, Cherna. What're you doing up, Sannaro?
SANNARO
I needed to see if Di'ok was truly home or if it had been a dream.
The ship shuddered from a massive impact just as Danu wobbled into the room.
Sannaro surged to his feet.
SANNARO
I’m needed! We have to end this war.
ZHAD
Go on, San.
Then he rushed back to his room to change.
Cherna followed him.
CHERNA
You know you can sit this out?. You don’t even have a Vizha'i adjusted to your specifications.
SANNARO
We’re the same height. Your leg length would be fine.
CHERNA
But my tail fin is white, San! You’ll confuse people about who you are. They’ll think you are White Team-leader instead of Red!
Sannaro pulled the one-piece suit over his heavily muscled shoulders.
SANNARO
Can’t you understand? I need to help! If you could hear what I hear you'd be running to join them too! You non-telepaths are so remote from one another, an island in your own heads!
He pulled on his boots then ran out the door. He rushed to the elevator and pushed the call button.
INT. KUMANI – UPPER FLIGHT DECK
Sannaro slipped out before the doors were completely open.
SANNARO
Metei, prepare Cherna’s Vizha'i for me!
METEI
Cherna’s Vizha'i has the white fin and your Red leader.
SANNARO
Get some red tape and cover the white! I’m going out there, Metei!
METEI
Tape won’t hold out there for very long, San!
SANNARO
It'll hold long enough!
METEI
Did you clear it with Hadah?
SANNARO
For the love of Iachi’awei! Give me some Vizha'i with a seat close enough for me to reach the foot pedals and throw me out there!
METEI
Hey, San, I don’t mean to get you angry. I’m just doing my job to keep this flight deck running. It’s my ass if I give you a Vizha'i and you’re grounded.
SANNARO
Well, I’m not! You can call Zhad if you have to!
METEI
Tower, cut me to intercom and connect me with Hospital.
(BEAT)
Hospital, I need to talk with Zhad. Zhad, I’ve got San up here on my ass to give him a Vizha'i. Is he cleared to return to flight status? You have cleared him for flight status? Houk, Zhad. Metei, out. You’re cleared, San. Support Maintenance, you got San’s new Vizha'i flight-ready? Well, pull it out, I’ve got an eager pilot rearing to go.
Sannaro looked aft and for a few minutes saw only shadows, but it was soon sliced by a shiny new Vizha'i with his red on red on the tail fin.
Sannaro grinned at Metei as it was pulled into the Vizha'i maintenance area.
METEI
Metei to Zhuni, prep San’s new Vizha'i for flight.
Sannaro ran toward his parking area where his ground crew was already working on his ship.
ZHUNI
Here we go again. Get in so you can check the seat, San.
Sannaro sprang up on the wing, ran up the slope then climbed up into the cockpit.
She climbed up the stairs.
ZHUNI
Well, you could have waited for a ladder!
SANNARO
It’s positioned well enough.
ZHUNI
Nui, San, I know you’re eager to go, but I have to make sure this cockpit fits you perfectly or I’ll be called to task by Metei. Now, which leg has been shortened?
Sannaro glared.
ZHUNI
I’m not insulting you, Sannaro! Which leg has been shortened so I can adjust that foot pedal?
SANNARO
Left.
Zhuni bent into the cockpit with a special tool to loosen the seat. Then she pulled it forward and tightened it again.
ZHUNI
Put your feet on the pedals so I can see how much adjustment I need to make.
Sannaro reluctantly placed his feet and frowned when he saw his left foot only with the ball of the foot on the pedal where his right comfortably covered the right pedal.
ZHUNI (CONT.)
You can’t fly like that! Get out so I can adjust that pedal.
Sannaro reluctantly climbed out onto the wing.
Zhuni bent into the cockpit and stretched down to the floor. She pulled the pedal out a little then tightened it down again. She grunted as she pulled herself out and stood up.
ZHUNI
Your cockpit is so tight!
SANNARO
Is she ready?
ZHUNI
All you need to do is have the mag-controller drag you through V si V first to fuel up and prime your laser cannons.
Sannaro unclipped his helmet and pulled it on.
He climbed back in while Zhuni lowered the canopy.
Zhuni bid him good luck then Sannaro turned on his communicator.
SANNARO
Red one to Tower, engage Mag-Pull to V si V, over.
FLIGHT CONTROL
Houk, Red One, engaging Mag-Pull to V si V, over.
His ship pulled out backward into the taxi lanes, past the lift then stopped inside the refueling pylons.
The two crews rushed in to fill up his fuel tanks while another two crews worked on the cannons mounted on his wings. After a few minutes, they pulled away.
V. SI V. (V.O.)
Red One is packed. Ready to pull out.
The red light on the tunnel ahead of him turned green.
FLIGHT CONTROL (V.O.)
Engaging mag-pull to lift.
His fighter pulled forward onto the lift and the lift raised off the floor into the launch deck.
His fighter was pulled forward again then stopped at the catapults.
Sannaro turned over his engines and watched the red light. When it turned green, he was finally hurled into space. He fired the engines as he flew out over the Kumani’s nose.
SANNARO
Ku-red One to Ku-blue One, I’m with you. Where do you want me?
HADAH (V.O.)
Glad you’re healed! Ku-red Team's at coordinates 356492.2. Join them.
SANNARO
Fa’arata. Sierra-lima fourteen, coordinate attack on Zuran flagship with Ku-red Two. Target, position you deem vulnerable.
MARC (V.O.)
Sending schematic, Ku-red Two, with target position.
ARCAS (V.O.)
Received and understood, Sierra-lima fourteen. Ready for attack, Ku-red One.
SANNARO
Houk, Ku-red three, four, five, six and Alpha-alpha niner, cover bombers, over.
HADAH (V.O.)
Ku-blue One to all pilots, Ku-red Team attempting bombing run on flagship. Give them cover.
VIZHA'E
Houk.
Sannaro swooped in at Arcas' wingtip, helping to clear the approach.
At the seven o’clock position Sierra-lima fourteen was diving low with Alpha-alpha niner in the protect position.
Sannaro’s ship wobbled from an aft hit. He looked at his sensor and saw a Zuran firing behind them.
SANNARO
Ku-red One to Ku-red Two, we have a tail. I’m engaging.
ARCAS (V.O.)
Houk, Ku-red One.
Sannaro peeled off. He hoped the Zuran craft would choose to pursue the two-man fighter, but frowned when it continued to tail him. As he was evading fire, he noticed another Zuran had engaged Arcas.
Sannaro flew back toward Red Two as another bolt rocked his ship. He looked at his scanner to see if anyone was near to call on.
SANNARO
Ku-red One to Ku-red four, I’ve got a tail. Please assist.
He swept in on the Zuran on Arcas' tail and pressed the trigger.
Red light burst past his canopy on either side and the Zuran ship disintegrated.
His ship shuddered again and he checked his sensor in irritation. The blip expanded then disappeared.
SANNARO
Fa’arata!
Arcas was now closing in on the target, a raised segment covered with sensor arrays.
Sannaro jolted at a receiving of hostile emotions from an area on the flagship aft of the target. He targeted that area and fired just as a laser cannon fired from the Zuran ship. He fired again just as his first energy bolt dispersed the Zuran bolt and his second volley hit the gun, blowing it apart.
AKKI (V.O.)
Firing.
Akki let go of a bomb strapped to their undercarriage.
It dropped off, lit its guiding rocket and leapt toward the skin of the Zuran flagship.
Arcas pulled up.
Sannaro stayed a minute longer to make sure nothing intercepted the bomb before he banked sharply and increased his speed.
He looked down at his scanner and saw that Sierra-lima fourteen and Alpha-alpha niner had also veered off and a smaller blip that represented their own bomb was closing in on the large blip.
Nearly simultaneously, the two bombs hit.
The flagship began to blister before the center disintegrated and continued to take more of the ship with it with each explosion.
MARC (V.O.)
Whoohoo, we did it!
ARCAS (V.O.)
Ha'iko!
FLIGHT CONTROL (V.O.)
Kumani to all Vizha'i, Zurans are retreating! Repeat, Zurans in retreat!
Sannaro was tired, but he was also elated when he landed and pulled into his parking area. He popped the canopy, slid down to the flight deck floor and clipped his helmet to his left side.
All around him were pilots and engineers cheering and talking uncommonly loud.
A crowd of people hefted Arcas and Akki onto their shoulders as another crowd did the same with Marc and Jim.
Sannaro stood by feeling proud. He was shocked when another group pulled him off his feet and onto their shoulders.
Marc reached over with his hand in the air.
Sannaro offered his hand in a high-five.
A short crowd away, Sid and Greg were also elevated and cheering.
HADAH (V.O.)
All right, all right! Everyone settle down. We’ve got post-flight detail to do before any celebrations! Sannaro, get your ship stood down and I want reports by twenty-hundred.
SANNARO (V.O.)
Houk, Hadah! Red Team, let’s get going. I’m on a tight schedule here.
RED TEAM (V.O.)
Houk!
Sannaro was set back onto the deck and he trotted across the deck to the offices.
INT. KUMANI – HADAH'S OFFICE
Sannaro was sitting in Hadah’s office with Hadah at his desk.
HADAH
The Council of Ships has decided we'll return to Gasbaja for the negotiations, San.
SANNARO
I’m surprised they're willing to show the Worlders our Meeting Place!
HADAH
Lazha told me it was a heated debate, but Leighson said if the planet has been ours for centuries, the Worlders need to know the claim so they won’t colonize it.
SANNARO
Will that be a deterrent?
HADAH
I couldn’t tell you. Anyway, when we get to Gasbaja we’re going to be called on guard. Some will do flybys and some will be on the ground with Vizha'i standing by. The Speaker of the Terran Alliance is on his way out here to participate in the negotiations so we’ll have to work closely with his personal guard and the ADF so I want you on the ground to help the coordination.
SANNARO
What would you do without a Worlder to speak for you?
HADAH
Brush up on my Bozhi, I guess, but why worry when I’ve got you?
SANNARO
I can’t believe this, twenty years old and already a senior pilot!
HADAH
Age is no consideration when talent and ability is considered. Your extra senses made you an extraordinary fighter.
SANNARO
So did my Gonkacha. Some Saili doctors say, well, that people like me and Varanani aren’t really Saili.
HADAH
That’s fausa! Of course, you’re Saili, because you look like a Saili even though you have midnight blue hair and eyes, and you're a telepath like the Saili.
SANNARO
My Uncle said nearly the same thing.
HADAH
Your Uncle is a good man. He sent you back to us because he understood you were in danger and we were the only people who could keep you safe. It took a lot of faith on his part to recognize Cherna and you three years early. So, remember, not all Saili are as terrible as you think. You're one of them even though you pledge yourself to the Astrisi.
SANNARO
You know, Gavasno my telepathy tutor reminded me of you?
HADAH
He must have made quite an impression on you. I'm actually flattered you'd also think of me in that respect.
SANNARO
I have always respected you, Hadah. Lazha, Edat and you stood up for me when others would've liked to suppress me any way they could. You gave me a fighting chance.
HADAH
Vizha'e are a premium, San. We Astrisi can’t afford to brush off any child we don’t like. If that child's capable of handling a Vizha'i, he or she should be allowed to try. Filp was always just a bit too temperamental for my liking even though he was my senior. Many times I had to talk him out of giving out too severe punishments on the pilots.
SANNARO
He was a taskmaster.
HADAH
Houk, but that taskmaster made you an outstanding pilot. He actually shot his argument to fausa about you when he insisted on you meeting his standards of training.
SANNARO
I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of sending me to the ‘no-wings’!
HADAH
Mother-ship pilots are essential! I discourage the term ‘no-wings’ because it sounds condescending. We'd get nowhere if we didn’t have them or we fighters would be tied up doing boring bridge duty and not training for combat.
SANNARO
But Lado always says the best get to be Vizha'e and the best of the best get to be bombers.
HADAH
What he says is true, but we still need those who can’t take the pressure to be Mother-ship pilots and shuttle pilots so we can train for combat.
Sannaro stood up and stretched.
SANNARO
It’s time to get to the assignments. Where will you be?
HADAH
I’ll be in charge of the flybys.
SANNARO
Houk.
Sannaro left Hadah's office.
FADE OUT.
THE END.