Under the Silent Stars - Chapter 7
Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate: SG-1, Atlantis or Universe, I am only playing in the world.
Previously: Ch 1 | Ch 2 | Ch 3 | Ch 4 | Ch 5 | Ch 6
Under the Silent Stars - Chapter 7
RAF Manston, Kent, August 1944
Cam stepped off the ladder onto the tarmac and handed his helmet to the member of the ground staff waiting patiently by the nose of his Gloster Meteor F.1. He'd taken command of No. 616 Squadron RAF once they began flying the jets since no one else could handle the brutes quite like he could. They were the fastest thing the Allies had, though they were still over a hundred miles an hour slower than the Me-262s used by the Luftwaffe. He grimaced slightly as he loosened some of the straps on his flight suit, she was a rough bird. He was startled by someone calling him and turned around.
"Wing Commander Carter!" It was Flight Lieutenant Hodgkins. The kid had followed him from No. 609, good lad. He was walking up to the apron where Cam had parked his jet, escorting an officer from the US Army Air Force.
"What is it, Hodgkins?" He pulled off his gloves and stuffed them in his pocket as the two men approached.
"Sir, this is Major Treadwell, he's come from US Eighth Air Force Command at Bushy Park." He indicated the shorter man beside him, who regarded Cam rather dismissively.
"What can I do for the USAAF, Major?" Cam turned his own gaze at the man and frowned slightly.
"I was informed that there was an American-" He was stopped as Cam raised his hand in front of his face. Hodgkins was wincing beside him.
"How long have you been on this side of the Pond, Major?" he asked with a steely edge to his voice.
"About three weeks, why?" replied the man with an irritated look. Cam rolled his eyes and looked at Hodgkins.
"Major Treadwell, Wing Commander would be the equivalent of a Lieutenant Colonel in your service. You're addressing a superior officer, sir." he whispered as an aside to the Major, whose eyes widened.
"I'm sorry, sir. It was presumptuous of me to speak as I did." He seemed contrite enough so Cam decided to let him off the hook.
"That's fine, Major, let's start from the top. What can I do for the USAAF?" He looked down the airfield to see another Meteor taking off with two more waiting to taxi behind it.
"Sir, it has come to the attention of General Spaatz's staff that an American was serving here with No. 616, flying Meteors." As the Major spoke Cam raised his eyebrow. Unofficially it was no secret he was an American. Officially he was Canadian, it was the only way he could have joined up back in '39. "VIII Fighter Command has recently received some new planes from the States-"
"The YP-80As." Cam stated matter-of-factly and the Major's eyes widened in alarm. "It's irrelevant how I know, Major, carry on."
"Yes, sir, we received orders from General Spaatz to bring you aboard to head up the test group, sir. Repatriate you, so to speak." Treadwell's glance now was more apprehensive, Cam knew things he wasn't supposed to and that had him on edge. Another thing Cam knew was that the YP-80A never saw combat during the war. He'd effectively be done with it. His eyes narrowed.
"Orders you say? You've gone to RAF Fighter Command G/HQ already then?" he asked of the suddenly nervous Major. Hodgkins was looking away discretely.
"Uh, yes, sir. They've agreed, I have your new orders. You will be attached to VIII Fighter Command and granted commission in the USAAF." Treadwell handed Cam a sealed envelope and he opened it. Inside was exactly what the Major described, seems he was back to being a Lt. Colonel again, no, wait, the commission was for full bird Colonel. He sighed and turned to Hodgkins, holding out his hand. The young man took it and shook it sharply before saluting.
"It was an honour, Wing Commander." he said and Cam saluted him in turn.
"Stay alive, Hodgkins. I'll be back to see your kids when this is all done." He gave Hodgkins a lop-sided grin at the young man's emphatic nod and turned to frown at the Major again, whom he was going to take great pleasure in terrorising from now on. "Dismissed, Major."
Galar, December 2005
"We shouldn't do this." Cam said as he pulled away from the kisses he was sharing with Dr, Reya Varrick. She was beautiful and smart and funny, and it had been quite some time since that flight attendant, but he felt... strange. Like he was doing something he would seriously regret.
"You wouldn't have come here if you didn't want to." she breathed, running her fingers through the short hair at the back of his head, resting her forehead against his cheek. The warmth of her skin against his was throwing him off.
"Mm, I didn't say I didn't want to." He kissed Reya again. He did want to. He wanted something that wouldn't disappear as soon as someone said the wrong word or breathed the wrong way or thought the wrong thing at the wrong time. He desperately wanted to kiss her. Caress her cheek. Look into her eyes and tell her everything. He just wanted her to be Sam. He closed his eyes and raised his hands to Reya's cheeks, cupping her face in them and pulling away from her slowly. "I just... I... can't." He brushed his fingers over the skin of her right cheek as he opened his eyes, seeing the confusion turn into sadness then resignation.
"I can't be someone else." she whispered while placing her hand over his, stilling his fingers against her face. He shook his head with a sigh.
"No, you can't, and you deserve far better than what I can give because of that. You're amazing and... I can't-" His thoughts evaporated as a sound caught his attention, he turned his head towards the hall past the kitchen, but saw nothing. He glanced at Reya and saw the same alarm in her eyes as she clutched at his arm. "Stay here." He pulled her hand from his green jacket and walked through the kitchen. He turned as he heard Reya starting to follow him and shook his head sternly at her. She steeled her features and opened her mouth to voice a rebuff, but closed her eyes and nodded after he drew his lips together tightly and frowned in warning. He padded along silently past the drinks cabinet and looked to the end of a side corridor. Before he could turn back he felt a sharp stab of pain in his right shoulder, he shuddered and fell to his knees against the wall, his muscles spasming involuntarily and his vision clouding over. Pitching forwards his cheek connected with the cold tile floor and he could see feet walking past his nose.
He couldn't hear anything except buzzing, his vision greyed out and cleared intermittently and his muscles barely worked. He couldn't pass out. He had to stop this, whatever this was. Help Reya. Pulling his arm along the floor he planted his palm on the tile in front of his face. His fingers wouldn't respond to him, but he pushed against the floor and planted his other arm under him. Stumbling up to one knee he tried to push up against the wall onto his feet, but fell back down to his knees with his face pressed against the plaster. Gritting his teeth he lifted a foot and once more planted it into the ground. Leaning on the knee with a shaking hand he lifted himself up to balance against the wall. His knees were screaming at him and he nearly fell again, stumbling past the cabinet back towards the end of the hall. He pitched forwards into the kitchen in time to see a man in a dark knee-length suit, in the Galaran style, standing over Reya's still form. As his face struck the tiles again he saw Reya's glassy stare looking straight at him while a pool of red liquid spread from behind her head. Pain flashed through him again, blossoming in his right side, his temples throbbed and the buzzing in his ears became a horrible, keening whine. He was roughly kicked on to his back, he tried to look into the face of the killer, but could not make out any features, his vision was blurry and faded in and out. Hands, sticky with blood, gripped his and began dragging him back towards the hall and he blacked out.
Half a day later he was sitting in a cell doubting his sanity, while the other members of SG-1 stood beyond the bars in the hall. How could they stand to look at him? He felt a cold, hollow filthiness rising up from inside him. He couldn't bear to have them look at him. No, he couldn't bear to see the look in their eyes when they looked at him. The look in hers. He'd just murdered someone in cold blood. He saw it clearly every time his eyes closed.
"It wasn't you, okay? These people can implant memories." Daniel said from the other side of the bars. Cam snorted slightly in disgust. He knew that! He'd experienced it! It changed nothing!
"Yeah, I've been trying to tell myself the same thing all morning." He looked at Daniel with an intense pain in his eyes. "It doesn't stop me from still seeing her face. What if I told you everything that happened to you yesterday was a false memory? How would you know the difference?" He knew he hadn't killed Reya, except he also knew he had. He remember kissing her, telling her it was a bad idea, but confirming her opinion that he wanted to. Then things went blurry and strange. Strangest of all that he hadn't stopped kissing her right after that when his thoughts filled with Sam. He was sure he would have stopped.
"The Emissary would like to speak with the prisoner." said a security officer who came up alongside his teammates. Jackson and Teal'c nodded and began to move past the man, but Sam raised a hand and indicated she wanted a moment. The officer looked between her and Cam and nodded once, turning away with the other two in tow. Sam stepped closer and placed her hands on the bars.
"Cameron, I know you didn't do it. Nothing will convince me otherwise, do you understand?" The fierceness in her eyes when he finally met her gaze made him want to cry. He looked away and pushed himself off the bench he was sitting on, turning to look out the barred window behind him.
"I know, Sam, but all I can remember is swinging that statue. I've never felt such rage. Never. And that's what scares me. I remember the rage, but not the reason." He glanced over his shoulder and met her eyes. "So, I know I didn't do it, and it's driving me crazy, like I don't know myself anymore." He looked out the window once again.
"Cam, look at me." she called and he dropped his head and brought his hand up to squeeze his eyes shut. "Look at me." Her soft voice pulled him around to meet her eyes. She reached out to him and smiled, beckoning him with her fingers. "I'll still call you Superman. Just remember that." He snorted and closed his eyes with a sigh. Looking at her again he reached out and took her hand in his, feeling her fingers closing around it and squeezing hard. "I know you, Cam. I know you. Don't doubt that." Even when the guard came by again she wouldn't let go of his hand until he looked into her eyes and nodded in acceptance.
New York, May 2009 (alternate timeline)
"You have to admit, Sam, you and Cameron have the weirdest marriage ever." Daniel smiled at her with a hand in his pocket and the other on his cane while they walked side by side on the path by Conservatory Water. Spring was well under way in Central Park, where they whiled away the hour or so until they were due to meet Cam to celebrate his birthday. She bumped his shoulder and smiled at him, pushing a windblown lock of hair back around her ear.
"Weird for a dead person and someone who was never born, you mean?" she clarified and he chuckled, shrugging. "The scientist in me sometimes wants to sit down and quantify exactly how much our marriage differs from the norm. Then I just remember that I love him, and that he loves me, and that one way or the other we'll make things work." She looked at him with all the confidence she had, her version of the look Cam always gave her as she looked in his eyes when they discussed this very topic. Daniel threw up a hand in surrender, leaning on his cane slightly.
"I know. I know. I believe you." He crooked his arm out and she slipped her hand through it. "When Vala first came to me with a myriad of questions about you I was thoroughly confused." Sam looked at him in puzzlement. "This was just after Cam took over. When Vala first arrived and I had that theory about Merlin's treasure being under Glastonbury Tor." She raised an eyebrow. "She wanted to know all about you because she was absolutely certain Mitchell was in love with you."
"Is that what Cam meant by her figuring him out after five minutes?" she asked from behind her fingers raised to her lips. Daniel shrugged.
"I told her she was crazy. I mean, as far as I knew you two hadn't seen each other more than a few times for years before his crash. I told her about that time I met him at the dinner ceremony in D.C. and how you two talked most of the night, she just told me that proved it." Sam remembered the night well. She'd been nervous introducing Cam to Jack and Daniel. He was a part of her past that she'd wanted her teammates to accept. "I remember him being cocky back then too, but I guess that comes with being a pilot." Daniel chuckled. "Vala asked me one thing after I talked about that night, want to know what it was?" Sam glanced at him and nodded her head. "She asked me if you played with your hair while you talked with Mitchell. I couldn't remember if you had, but I did remember your smile when you talked with him. Funny that. I suppose It must have been because I hardly ever saw you smile that way." Sam blushed slightly and nodded. "When I told her that, she grinned and said that was even better. After she met you that first time she came rushing to me when we were aboard Odyssey-"
"No!" Sam looked horrified and shook her head. "She didn't!" Daniel grinned and nodded.
"She did!" he confirmed. "She came bounding over and grabbed my arm and told me she was absolutely sure you were in love with Cameron too." Sam blushed crimson and covered her face in her hands. "I told her she couldn't be right, and that it didn't matter even if that were the case, because the frat regs would keep anything from happening. She just scoffed and bet me that the two of you would end up together. I bet her that if you did it would only be after one of you left SG-1." Sam looked at him askance as he breathed in through gritted teeth. "I tell you, Vala was sweating bullets that whole year you were on Atlantis." She laughed and he joined her. "Now I've won the bet and I can't collect because she's somewhere out in space, probably with a Goa'uld in her head." He looked at the ground and drew his lips tight.
"You miss her, don't you?" she asked him gently after a few moments and he turned to smile sadly at her.
"Like you wouldn't believe. Like I wouldn't have believed if you had told me the first day I met her." She leaned against him and rubbed her hand over his arm as they walked on over the grass towards the lake.
Selenis, Luna, August 2010
"No offense, Thellas," Cam muttered in frustration, "you have no idea how grateful I am that you came to help us out, and we never would have been able to catch the bastards leaving ourselves, but how can you be saying you lost them?" His disappointment must have been clearly in evidence. "What happened?" Thellas nodded with a rueful smile, he clearly understood Cam's frustration, sharing it himself. Bra'tac watched them both impassively, General Landry's brow furrowed sternly and General O'Neill looked slightly bored. They were all gathered in front of subspace comm screens on their respective commands. Sam stood next to him while Teal'c hovered nearby behind them.
"Our operatives followed the enemy vessels until they dropped out of hyperspace." The Tok'ra began. "With the aid of Selenis' sensor telemetry we were able to stay clear of their sensor range ourselves, but they must have had a plan in case of being followed. Shortly after stopping we detected several matter streams moving back and forth between all the ships," Sam glanced at Cameron and he shook his head with a shrug, he had no idea what that was about, "then each vessel entered hyperspace on a different vector. We had only two vessels and both followed after one ship. However, each reported the vessel they followed self-destructed sometime after entering hyperspace again."
"The volume of ring activity was used to mask the transfer of all crews to a single vessel." Teal'c posited. "The other vessels were fated to self-destruct, perhaps all of them, if there was a cloaked vessel already waiting at the rendezvous point. We were very unfortunate, Colonel Mitchell, but no more." Thellas nodded gratefully at Teal'c and Cam sighed, covering his eyes.
"I know, Teal'c. I'm just venting. Sorry, Thellas, like I said, I'm really grateful for your help." Cam looked at the Tok'ra in apology.
"I understand, Colonel Mitchell. I share your consternation." Thellas nodded. "Such an enemy will be a thorn in all our sides, identifying them and their motives is imperative."
"I agree, Thellas." Bra'tac offered with a nod. "Such a foe must be dealt with promptly. They fight without honour, shying from open battle in favour of cowardly terror attacks. Had it not been for the forewarning provided by your new base I shudder to think what losses the Tau'ri would have suffered yesterday." That was something none of them wished to contemplate. He'd spent the previous night, after returning to Selenis, holding on to Sam like a drowning man. She'd huddled into his embrace in turn.
"Have we learned anything from the debris recovered, General?" Sam asked into the lull.
"No, Carter, we've never seen anything like it. At least that's what the report said." Jack replied with a look of slight surprise, he's not usually the one providing technical information to Sam. She nodded and looked away for a while in thought. "Needless to say we're running all the tests we can think of and some we didn't, thanks to the Tok'ra." He received a piece of paper from off screen and scanned it quickly. "Sorry guys, we have to wrap this up here, I'm being summoned by the boss. Let's get together again soon, maybe do lunch." Thellas and Bra'tac nodded and signed off, but a look from O'Neill had Sam and Cam staying on the line. "Mitchell, Bra'tac is right you know, you're crazy." Cam smiled sheepishly.
"Yes, sir." he replied and rubbed the back of his neck.
"The President sent me word that the Chinese Government is very grateful you destroyed the warhead targeting them first." O'Neill tilted his head to the side.
"It was the first one in line, sir. That's all." Cam muttered
"I know, but it still helps us with them. Sun Tzu blowing up the last two headed for Russia and Europe has them crowing though." Jack smirked ruefully. "We'll talk about it later, Hank has further orders for you kids, O'Neill out." Both of them focused on General Landry whose features softened.
"Exceptional job yesterday, SG-1. Tell Jackson and Vala for me, as well. You did us all proud." He smiled while his eyebrows rose high on his forehead.
"Thank you, sir." both Sam and Cam said automatically while Teal'c nodded respectfully.
"Obviously we have to figure out who did this. This has become the SGC's top priority. SG-1 will also take part in this, but I want to stress that your work on Selenis is also important. Dr. Carter, concentrate your efforts as you have been." Sam nodded. "Mitchell, I want you to get Teal'c, Jackson and Vala on the search full time. You need to stay on top of everything yourself." Cam and Teal'c nodded in acknowledgement as well. "Get to work, SG-1, SGC out." Cam came to attention with a quick 'yes, sir' until the connection was cut. He leaned back against the communications console and Sam leaned against him.
"Yesterday was a good day, Colonel Mitchell. Our foe's attack was repulsed and our bonds with our allies were strengthened." Teal'c intoned from behind them. "We could not ask for more under the circumstances."
"Yesterday was a freakin' tough day, T-man, and I wanna ask for a week off to sleep!" Cam grinned at his friend over his shoulder and the Jaffa nodded with a slight smile.
"Sam, Cameron, Teal'c, you need to see this." Daniel called over the radio. He and Vala had left in the middle of the conference call and gone to one of the deeper tiers being investigated by the engineers when they received a rather panicky call from the search party's leader.
"What is it, Daniel?" asked Sam. The three SG-1 members were moving towards a transporter a little way along one of the curving corridors leading off from the 'gate room.
"The search team found what looks like a stasis chamber cluster room, and well, one of them isn't empty." Sam's face drained of all colour and Teal'c blinked in surprise. Cam ran the last ten meters to the transporter with the other two close on his heels.
"~Selenis, how come you didn't tell us we have a house guest?~" he asked, stepping out into a corridor not far from Daniel's position. He ran into the room to be greeted by the sight of one occupied stasis chamber, with several connecting leads and cables disgorging out of an open panel at the side and ending at an untidy heap of machinery on the floor. Sam immediately started examining the equipment while Cam motioned over one of the Marine escorts and took the man's P90 and handgun, sending him to fetch more weapons for the rest of SG-1.
"~I don't know what to say, Colonel Mitchell. According to my sensors, and the information returned from the stasis chamber to my enquiries, all the chambers in that room are empty and drawing no power.~" Selenis finally replied. "~My logs confirm no change in readings from this room since the last Alteran left this facility.~" Sam glanced up at him.
"~She's right, Cam,~" Sam was officially in cahoots with Vala in genderising the base, "~the sensors and command relays to this chamber have been by-passed by this,~" she held up a small box with a simple display on the top and several connections leading from it to the chamber and the other machinery on the floor, "~it's getting power from these puddle jumper power cells,~" she pointed at the largest bits of machinery, connected together in a complicated arrangement, "~effectively it's been spliced out of Selenis' control.~"
"~You should step away from it, Mitchell, we don't want history repeating itself.~" Daniel teased him and he glared at the man in return.
"~I learn from my mistakes, Jackson, no more waking up the spawn of Anubis for me.~" he retorted. "~When can we expect Rip van Winkle to wake up?~" he asked Sam, she glanced down at the jumper fuel cell and read off some numbers on the display.
"~There is plenty of power in these fuel cells,~" she replied, "~we don't have to worry about that.~" As if to spite her the chamber beeped and hummed and a countdown started on its display. "Crap. That wasn't me!" she cried, crouching down by the machinery. "~There must have been some sort of proximity sensor to auto-activate the thawing procedure if someone approached the chamber and stayed close for long enough.~" The engineer who had led the search party spluttered a half-hearted protest, but Sam smiled at him. "~You couldn't have known, Dr. Jasper.~"
"~Sam, get back to command, I want internal sensors and video under constant monitoring.~" Sam nodded and hustled the scientists and engineers present out of the room. "Teal'c, take the Marines with you and coordinate with Captain Wells. I want you and a team defending the Chair Room, and teams at the primary and secondary power junctions." He motioned another Marine over to grab his weapons, he handed the P-90 to Vala and the handgun to Daniel. Teal'c took the Marine and left the room.
"Cameron, don't you think this is a bit excessive?" Daniel stuck the gun in the back of his belt as Cam and Vala checked over their P90s. "The chair doesn't even work without the control crystal."
"Knowing our luck, Jackson, this guy's gonna wake up pissed and will take it out on us. I want to be prepared. Selenis says he's been here since before the last Alteran left, which means he didn't want to leave. He even put a fail-safe on his chamber." He pointed at the machinery on the floor. "Does that look like he wanted to be found and woken by someone else?" Daniel looked at the jumper fuel cells for a while and mulled over Cam's words.
"He's right, Daniel. Our luck in these situations is awful." Vala rubbed his arm gently. "Still, being cautious doesn't mean we won't be polite. That's why you're here. Right, Cameron?"
"Absolutely, Vala." Cam clutched his P90 and pointed it down at the ground in a ready stance while they watched the chamber in front of them slowly release its grip on time. "Jackson speaks softly, and we carry the big sticks." The countdown proceeded apace and soon a shaky Alteran man stumbled out of the chamber, breathing heavily for a few moments and looking between each of them in turn, frowning warily. "Welcome to the future, friend." The man's eyes narrowed further.
"He's from millions of years in the past, Mitchell, he has no idea what English is." Daniel said in exasperation before turning to face the Alteran. "~Greetings, friend, we are peaceful explorers who have recently discovered this Alteran facility. It is an honour to meet- ~" Before Daniel could finish the sentence the man's features turned into one of disgust and he was rushing the archaeologist, slamming a closed palm into Daniel's solar plexus and driving him back against the wall to slump down to the ground, insensible. Cam and Vala both raised their P90s, but the Alteran was already on the move past them, sweeping a leg around under Vala and kicking her down to the ground and shoulder barging past Cam when he was forced to lower his gun as the other's movements brought Vala into his firing line. The Alteran ran for the door and disappeared into the corridor before Cam could draw a bead on him again. He cursed and pressed the button on his comm.
"Code Red! We have an intruder on base!" He helped Vala back to her feet and she rushed to check on Daniel. "Medics to Dr. Jackson's location immediately!"
"Cam, what happened?" asked Sam incredulously over the comm. He motioned for Vala to stay with Daniel, knowing she would anyway, and began chasing after the other man.
"I think this guy is the original saboteur, Sam." he replied grimly. "~Selenis, have you got this guy on sensors?~"
"~I tracked him down your tier, travelling to a transporter which he took to tier six, treblin side.~" Cam smirked at the phrase.
"~I really wish you wouldn't indulge his foibles like that, Selenis.~" Sam huffed in exasperation. Cam and Vala had arranged for the right side of the base when facing the Supergate to be termed hamman side with the opposite side being treblin side. Selenis had been happy to oblige.
"~It makes Vala giggle, Dr. Carter.~" Cam snorted at the reply, obviously the AI didn't feel it needed a reason beyond that. Vala's giggle over the radio was matched by the sincerity in her voice.
"~Thank you, Selenis.~" she said. "~Medics say Daniel is okay, just a bump on the head and a big bruise on his middle.~"
"~Good news, Vala.~" Cam said as he smacked the control panel to go to a transporter on tier six on the opposite wing of the base. "~Sam, what is on tier six, treblin?~"
"~Auxiliary control room two.~" she breathed in alarm. Cam cursed and hurried out of the transporter.
"~Colonel Mitchell, Dr. Carter, the intruder is severing command and control relays to that section of tier six.~" Cam rushed on with another curse.
"~What's he doing?~" he asked desperately.
"~Video feed in AuxCon is still operational. He pulled a crystal out of his jacket and inserted it into the control console, zoom in please, Selenis, he's programming it. Holy Hannah, Cameron! That's a control chair interface crystal! He must have taken it with him into stasis! You can't let him use that! If he decides to take Selenis out of orbit it will cause catastrophic damage on Terra!~" she cried and Cam rounded the corner leading to Auxiliary Control. He raised his P90 and moved on towards the room, sliding towards the doorway. Before he could react a hand snaked out of the darkness and grabbed the underside of his P90, twisting it and pulling, Cam didn't lose his grip until a fist smashed into his face for the third time. He grabbed the Beretta in his belt and a hand gripped his wrist, twisting it with far greater than normal human strength, causing him to lose the pistol as his fingers went numb. Definitely an Alteran. He was spun around and the back of his knees kicked out from under him and his arm was pinned behind his back. He saw his P90 held out in front of him by the Alteran saboteur behind him. The weapon was turned over and examined.
"~Solid metal projectiles, a mass driver? No, there is no power pack, no electromagnetic rails or coils. Chemical propulsion? How primitive.~" The voice dripped with disdain, the hand holding the P90 shook and the gun was thrown away to slide across the floor, his Beretta was kicked away to join it.
"~Works well against Replicators and idiots who only worry about energy weapons. We use rail guns on our ships as well.~" Cam taunted and received a twist on his wrist in return.
"~You are weak, savage.~" The saboteur slammed an elbow into Cam's back and sent him sprawling to the ground, by the time he could move again the Alteran was long gone. He turned over onto his back and groaned.
"Cam! Are you okay?" Sam cried in concern.
"Yeah, Sam, I'm okay. Saboteur is on the move." He shook out his aching wrist and opened and closed the fingers.
"~Cam, he can't be allowed to take control of the chair room with that crystal. We'll lose control of the base.~" She was calming down again, speaking in Alteran. He turned his head to look down at his left hand and lifted the crystal he was holding up to his face.
"Nope, can't have that." he smiled and chuckled before groaning in pain again.
On to Chapter 8