<div><b>
<p align="center">CHAPTER FOUR</p>
<p>A flash of bright green on the Navigation panel set the sensitive nerves jangling in the back of Ian's neck. "Hey, boss, they be scanning us." </p>
<p>Dalton's chilled glance flicked over the beacon. "So they know we're here." A lazy half-smile curved his lips. "But they don't know who or what we are." </p>
<p>Paris snorted disparagingly. "What's up with that? We just gonna sit here like clay decoys waiting for them to shoot us out of space? Adric could well be needing...." </p>
<p>"Patience, Paris," Dalton murmured, rubbing his hands together in a slow-moving circle. "Adric is among his own kind, remember? One must assume he is safe and reasonably happy with his people. A few hours more or less will not be the death of him." </p>
<p>"No," Paris snapped stabbing Dalton with a hard glare. "But you might be though, huh?" </p>
<p>Dalton smiled. "Quite." He turned his attention to the watchful pilot. "Ian, how long before we're within range of the planet's defenses?" </p>
<p>Intuitive short hairs quivered at the nape of Ian's neck once more as he consulted his starchart. Acting on his own nervous suspicions, he called for the planet's historical stats, scanning them before he finally responded. "We're approaching orbital range. Unless Planet Security breaks their standard defense pattern and send out a patrol, I'm thinking we're probably safe until we make an initial orbit." </p>
<p>"Is that option open to us at this time?" </p>
<p>"The power levels be giving us the window we expected. We have a wee bit of time to stay out and observe before we commit to landing or no. I'm asking how you want to play this one, boss?" </p>
<p>Dalton's crooked smile flashed. "Put us in a stationary LEO over this colony." He pointed toward a remote section on the fifth smallest land mass. "Then, as you say, let's feel them out before we commit ourselves." </p>
<p>"I dinna remember that being what I asked." </p>
<p>"No?" Dalton asked. "I must have heard you wrong." </p>
<p>"Aye, that ye did." Ian squirmed as the cold fingers of premonition twisted his guts. "Dal, are you sure ye want to do this? There be danger...." </p>
<p>"I am aware of the danger. Initiate the orbit." </p>
<p>Nodding, Ian offered up a prayer to the elemental gods that he was as skilled as he often boasted. "Domani, compute the orbital coordinates." </p>
<p>Domani instantly rattled off a series of numbers. </p>
<p>Not wanting to kick the sequence, Ian repeated the numbers aloud, laying in the coordinates. He urged the crippled ship into the requested flight plan, locking in the orbit. "Orbit achieved." </p>
<p>His concerned gaze lingered on the instruments before him. </p>
<p>"Problems?" Dalton asked softly. </p>
<p>"I'm nay sure. The sensors indicate a high degree of gravitational activity. 'Tis fluctuating erratically." He scowled, making several minor adjustments in the flight plan. "Effecting our trajectory, Dal. Our orbit is dangerously unstable." </p>
<p>"And?" </p>
<p>"'Tis my opinion, if this contues, the orbit could decay at any moment." </p>
<p>"Serious enough to cause immediate danger to the ship?" Dalton demanded, consulting his own monitor. "Or can you handle it?" </p>
<p>Ian sighed. "I be on top of it for the time. We should be safe enough, unless it suddenly goes way off scale." </p>
<p>"There you have it, then. You'll just have to keep an eye on the flux. Let's not panic without due cause." </p>
<p>"As you say," Ian muttered. "Without due cause me furry ass." Leaning back in the enveloping flight chair, he sucked a deep breath through his teeth, pressed the heels of his hands into his gritty eyes, and tried to relax. </p>
<p>As Ian's hands fell back to his controls, a slight movement drew his attention toward Communications and his much cherished handfast bride. He was swamped by another warning wave of anxiety, this one coming from her. </p>
<p>"Dal, the planet is hailing," Yessenia said. "They're demanding we identify our vessel. Explain why we invaded their trade zones without proper authorization. Do I comply?" </p>
<p>Dalton's silver-blue gaze glowed. "Considering our reasons for being here, Sennia, I don't think it would be a good idea." His glance swept the bridge. "Go to alert, people. Let's find out if this planet is as bad as it's painted." </p>
<p>The crew responded quickly, each one knowing what was expected after sixteen months together, bringing his current station to active alert in total silence. </p>
<p>"The planet's hailing again." Yessenia broke communications with a flip of her wrist, grinning wickedly. "Contact is terminated. As per instructions." </p>
<p>Dalton acknowledged her with a curt nod. "This is it, people. Things are going to heat up now, or not, depending on the mood of planet security. Ian, special attention to that gravitational flux." </p>
<p>"I'm on top of it, boss. 'Tis knowing my job, I am." </p>
<p>"That, I think, is going to be put to the test. I hope you are up to it." </p>
<p>"Count on it." </p>
<p>"I'm afraid we are forced to trust your skills, Ian," Dalton said dryly. "Paris, monitor the planet. Report any hostile activity." </p>
<p>Paris was already bent over his sensors. "You don't have to tell me twice." </p>
<p>"Domani, increase magnification of the planet to maximum. I want to know if anyone so much as spits into the wind in our direction." </p>
<p>"Maximum intensity now." </p>
<p>The planet blossomed fully over the screen, blotting out the stars and catching Ian's attention. He had to admit this was a pretty planet, done in hues of pinks, lavenders and misty grays with just enough green spreading out from the equator to make it ascetically pleasing. </p>
<p>Still, past experience had taught that the beauty of a planet often disguised the inner ugliness of spirit that dominated sentient beings. If the report he'd just read was true, this planet and its inhabitants were isolationists. And ranked high among the worst offenders. </p>
<p>"Do you require a rundown on the planet?" Domani asked, drawing Ian's attention. </p>
<p>"That won't be necessary," Dalton assured him. "Euzkadi was settled by the banished Basque Nationals when they refused to bow down under the pressure of the world order and mix their bloodlines. It seems this particular band of people had managed to keep the bulk of their population pure from the beginning of recorded history. Am impressive accomplishment. And one they were quite determined not to have undermined. Even for the betterment of the so called human nation." </p>
<p>"How did they avoid wholesale slaughter," Arissa wanted to know. "Your own line was slated for eradication?" </p>
<p>"It would be bad form to massacre an entire race because it would not conform. So, like the telepaths, psychics, healers, whatever, they were disposed of in a...humane manner." </p>
<p>"And sent off world to die a quiet death," Paris added. </p>
<p>"Or to be harvested for slave labor as the mood struck them," Ian grumbled. </p>
<p>"Yes, Ian, death or slavery were the desired results, but the Euzkadi and several other hardy races, yours included, have confounded homeworld desires and survived. Even on your world, your people have won more than they have lost." </p>
<p>"'Twas nay enough to save me, was it?" Ian demanded. "To save Miramani." </p>
<p>"The past can not be undone, Ian," Dalton said. "Just overcome. Your twin knew that." </p>
<p>"Forget all that for now," Paris interrupted. "It seems the Euzkadi have flourished." </p>
<p>"After a manner of speaking, yes. It took the Euzkadi, with a minor helping hand from the Coalition, two hundred and fifty years, but they finally managed to bring certain areas the planet up to a spectral class G2 rating through massive terraforming." </p>
<p>"I thought you said they were a banished colony. Doesn't that usually mean total disassociation?" </p>
<p>"Not when the planet has something the homeworld wants." </p>
<p>"And Euzkadi has something they want?" </p>
<p>"Indeed they do. The planet turned out to be rich in several heavy elements vital to the space industry." </p>
<p>"But why would Earth give this planet to a banished race if they could use it themselves," Paris asked. </p>
<p>"The survey team sent here obviously got careless. Did not realize the planet's value until the Euzkadi were already settled. It was in their favor that they held title to the planet before they approached homeworld with the news of their value. The Coalition was forced to aid in terraforming the environment in exchange for mineral rights." </p>
<p>"Ingenious." </p>
<p>"The Euzkari are an ingenious people. Mind you, the Coalition only bothered with the equatorial areas. That was where they found the mineral resources they needed. The polar regions are not yet habitable." </p>
<p>"Sounds like you've done your homework," Paris sneered. </p>
<p>"I always do. It keeps us alive." </p>
<p>"It keeps you alive," Paris snapped, his hazel eyes flashing angrily. "We'll only survive as long as our lives are convenient to you." </p>
<p>Dalton's gaze glowed, darkening to an angry sapphire. "We'd all be a lot better off if you concentrated your attention on the sensors," he warned softly. "Everything else is better forgotten until we're out of danger." </p>
<p>"Commander, I have the battle computer online," Domani said, capturing Dalton's startled glance. </p>
<p>"How?" </p>
<p>The man shrugged. "It is standard procedure to bring the computer online in any dangerous situation. I gave it a shot." </p>
<p>Dalton nodded. "I doubt we should depend very heavily on the computer. However, since Yama seems to have rallied himself enough to get the battle computer back on our side, why don't you give stealth a try, Arissa? Just the defensive shields, mind. Nothing else. After all, they have already sighted our ship." </p>
<p>"Initiating." She thumbed the lever beside her left hand. "Shields are activated." Her black eyes remained fixed on her terminal. "The power is coming up. We'll reach full power in three. Two. One." Her smile was dazzling. "Power on, Dal." </p>
<p>A red beacon suddenly began a rhythmic flash in the middle of her console. </p>
<p>"Damn," she whispered, running her slender fingers over the controlboard. </p>
<p>Dalton scowled. "Report." </p>
<p>"We've got trouble." </p>
<p>A sardonic half-smile pulled at his lips. "I had surmised that." </p>
<p>"Isn't that nice for you," she grumbled, re-routing power through the shields. "Ah, double damn." She slammed a frustrated fist against the panel when the controls refused her commands. "Domani, system check." </p>
<p>Leaning across the console, Domani punched in several diagnostic checks, then turned to meet Dalton's serene gaze. "Commander, there's been a failure in the defense system. Shields are non-operational." </p>
<p>Dalton nodded thoughtfully. "And the battle computer?" </p>
<p>"I am sorry, Commander." </p>
<p>Sighing, Dalton glared toward the planet. "Wonderful." </p>
<p>"Commander." Domani looked up from the second terminal under his control. "It appears we are trapped in an energy damper." He met Dalton's stare. "The damper originates on the planet." </p>
<p>"And this damper?" Dalton said softly. "It is directed at our defenses?" </p>
<p>"That is correct, Commander." </p>
<p>Paris threw Dalton a heated glare. "Caught like mice." </p>
<p>"Ian," Dalton snapped. "Do we still control navigation?" </p>
<p>"Sure and we do, boss." </p>
<p>"Then break us the hell out of this damn orbit," he growled, his voice thick with frustration. "Take us away from the planet." </p>
<p>"I've already laid in the coor...." The Hellequin shuddered violently, bringing Ian up short. "What in the name of Hell?" </p>
<p>"What's happening?" Paris cried, his pupils dilated by terror. </p>
<p>"Arissa," Dalton snapped. "Report." </p>
<p>Her dark head was already bent over the sensors. "Checking." Then, "It's a grav beam, Dal. The planet's locked us in a drag. I'd wager that's what was interfering with the orbit before. They probably hit us with an intermittent beam to test our power," she shouted over the howl of the stardrive. </p>
<p>"Ian, counter it." </p>
<p>"I canna. We dinna have power to pull out." </p>
<p>"My God, I don't believe this." Arissa swiveled around, catching Dalton's heated gaze. Her own eyes wide and frightened. "Dal, they've increased the attraction. They're pulling us into the atmosphere." </p>
<p>Paris bolted to his feet. "We'll burn up." </p>
<p>"Sit down, Paris," Dalton snapped. "Ian, there might be power if you redirect everything else. No, don't argue. Just get me full reverse. Hit those thrusters hard. Bleed them dry if you must, but break us free." </p>
<p>Ian gave one, quick nod. "Attempting full reverse." </p>
<p>The screaming force of the retros sent Paris reeling back into his seat. "She can't hold up under this kind of strain," he cried, turning to Ian in desperation. "Can she?" </p>
<p>Ian scowled at the frightened man. He didn't have time to answer stupid questions. Not now. </p>
<p>Squashing the pain of his protesting shoulders into the far recesses of his mind, he concentrated on the struggle he waged against the grav beam. </p>
<p>"Can she, Ian?" Paris pressed. </p>
<p>Didn't the man ever let up. "I'm thinking we're about to find out." </p>
<p>"Power at twenty percent," Arissa shouted as a second warning beacon flashed before her eyes. "How about it, Ian? Can we break free?" </p>
<p>"Break free, hell," Ian said, his emerald eyes glowing. "'Tis lucky I'll be if I can keep her in one piece. Face it, people. We're going down." He leaned into the controls, adjusting the rate of thrust. "'Tis only a matter of how we get there." </p>
<p>The color drained from Paris' gaunt face. "We're going to burn up." </p>
<p>Grimacing, Dalton shook his head, dismissing the man without a word and turned his clear, veiled gaze back to Ian. "Can you control our descent?" </p>
<p>Ian grunted. "'Tis sure as hell I'm going to give it me all. We've a slim chance if I can keep her at a slow, controlled glide. I be warning ye, though, 'tis a delicate piece of flying. If they're increasing the beam too much in compensation for our drag, we could be forced into an entry pattern with too damn much angle. On the up side, if that happens, we've got nay more worries." </p>
<p>The ominous sound of an explosion filled the bridge, halting the nervous flow of his words. </p>
<p>"Stabilizers," Dalton shouted, saving himself from a nasty fall by grabbing his console. "Domani, what caused that?" </p>
<p>"We've lost the stardrive, 'tis what," Ian snapped before the other man could respond. He applied a short burst of thrust, bringing the shuddering ship back into the easy, gliding descent. </p>
<p>"Switch to impulse," Dalton commanded. </p>
<p>"Ian just blew the last of our impulse reserve, Commander," Domani informed him without emotion. </p>
<p>"Blood of the virgin," Ian grumbled. "I'll be having to attempt a forward slip to bring her down, but from this altitude.... If anyone's knowing any prayers, now might be a good time for saying them." </p>
<p>"What's it mean?" Paris squealed, clutching the arms of his seat, his eyes squeezed tight. </p>
<p>Ian glared at the panicking man. "'Tis meaning we be going to crash." </p>
<p>"Crash?" Paris screamed. "Crash?" His liquid hazel glance darted around the bridge desperately, searching for an escape that wasn't there. "Crash, hell. You mean we're going to die." </p>
<p>"Well now," Dalton drawled. "That remains to be seen. Why don't you shut the hell up. Let Ian concentrate on getting us to the surface alive." </p>
<p>He paused, catching Ian's bleak glance and the quick shake of his head before Dalton returned his brooding attention to Paris. "None of us need hearing your fears right at this minute, and it's a little too late to try crawling inside a bottle. Save it." </p>
<p>"Commander," Domani drew Dalton's attention. "I am reading signs of extreme stress along the outer hull." </p>
<p>Dalton sighed, frowning. "Do what you can." His remote glance moved slowly over the bridge. "Just hold her together for a few minutes more." </p>
<p>"I will do my best, Fa....Commander." </p>
<p>The ship dipped dangerously, wavering from side to side. </p>
<p>Ian, his shoulders and back screaming for release from the trembling burn of exhaustion, dragged back heavily on the flight controls. "Hold on. This promises to get a little rough." </p>
<p>"Activate the external buffers, Domani," Dalton snapped. </p>
<p>"Buffers activated," Domani threw over his shoulder. "The hull is overheating. Going critical." He flipped a lever near his hand. "I have activated the coolants, Commander." </p>
<p>A piercing whistle sounded from Communication. Yessenia leaned over her console, straining to hear the incoming message over the roar of impending disaster. </p>
<p>She suddenly sat bolt straight, fury blazing in her brilliant emerald eyes. "Those bloody-minded, murdering bastards." </p>
<p>Dalton quirked a thick, black brow, his lips twitching with suppressed amusement. "Problems?" </p>
<p>She swiveled her station around toward him, the anger coming off her in palpable waves. "Planet Security demands a report on the ship's distress. They want to know if their grav beam is responsible. Seems they think they can assist us, control our rate of descent, if we hand over computer control." </p>
<p>A dark dragon's laugh erupted from deep in Dalton's chest. "Ignore the fools, Yessenia. Break contact. They have done enough damage trying to force us down. They sure as hell can't help us now. Not if this is an example of their control." </p>
<p>Amazed Dalton could laugh so freely in the face of imminent death, Ian instinctively cast a mental probe in his direction. </p>
<p>And was rocked to his soul. </p>
<p>The intrusive read didn't reveal even a trace of fear in the man who commanded them. Only calm acceptance, and perhaps, a deep-seated hunger for the danger. </p>
<p>Could Dalton actually have that little emotion? Could any man be so out of touch with his own humanity, with his own mortality, and not lose what made him human? </p>
<p>"You Medusan infidel," Dalton snarled, jerking Ian back to himself. "You've got a job to do. One that doesn't include checking out my thoughts. Keep out of my head." </p>
<p>Before Ian could respond, the Hellequin nosed down into a deadly dive. </p>
<p>Acting on the most basic need to survive, Ian forgot his intrusive behavior and struggled against the superior pull of the gravitation beam. Fought until finally, in heart-stopping inches, he somehow managed to haul the ship out of the blood-chilling plunge. </p>
<p>"Fifteen seconds to impact," Domani shouted over the roaring engines. </p>
<p>"Activate station buffers," Ian snapped, managing to hold the ship steady while he wriggled into his own, less confining, safety harness. </p>
<p>With his restraints finally in place and secured, Ian cast a mournful glance over his immobilized friends. "'Tis fun, it's been," he mumbled, his words cloaked by the screaming stardrive. </p>
<p>Then it was too late...Even for prayers. </p>
<p>The Hellequin shuddered under the first resounding impact, slashing through the top branches of a thick, lemon-yellow forest. </p>
<p>The force of collision tore through Ian's body, wrenching his already exhausted arms in their joints. Sharp, thrusting pain stabbed though his chest and shoulders. </p>
<p>The ship, a stone tossed from a careless hand, bounced off tree tops. Skipping, bobbing, it sheared through the branches before sinking swiftly into the swirling, liquid darkness. </p>
<p>Hard earth reached up hungrily to meet the disabled ship and with a resounding crash, the maimed spacecraft skidded, bounced, out of control. </p>
<p>The age dulled hull, superheated from entry, cut a deep swath through the standing timber until, finally, the star-rover slammed into the immovable face of a rocky cliff. </p>
<p>The force of this last, violent impact tore the crew from the protection of their malfunctioning buffers. Flailing bodies hurled from their restraints, reeling through the air, and smashed viciously against walls and consoles, before landing in scattered heaps, like five broken dolls on the buckled floor. </p>
<p>Ian, still secured by the back-up restraints, shuddered and dropped his face into trembling hands. </p>
<p>It was beyond belief, but he somehow managed to survive. </p>
<p>But had he really survived? Or was it possible he'd been delivered into some private hell the dark energies had prepared for him? Had he been received into the land of purgatory that waited for all of them at the end of their lives? </p>
<p>Was he really alive? </p>
<p>Or was he actually dead and dreaming?</p>
<p>end part 4</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Comments? Complaints? anything?</p></b></div>
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