Chapter 17: Phaon

Raymont hissed into his com link, hoping that Leon's hearing was sharp enough to pick up his almost inaudible voice. ""Weapons on stun, count of three."
Raymont checked to see that his rifle was indeed on stun, and seeing that it wasn't, reset it for the non-lethal setting. Again, he hissed softly, "One...", but no voice came back and trying to make eye contact, Raymont found that he couldn't see Leon at all. Without support and feeling weak and sick to his stomach, Raymont was reluctant to take any action against the unknown priest.
As they observed the figure, it seemed to take interest in the cannon nearest to him. As they watched, he retreated and awkwardly raising his rifle, tried to steady it on of the cannon's chairs, near to where Leon was hiding. In a voice that sounded remarkably like Solo, Leon and Raymont heard him growl, "Come out or I'll blow ya in half!"
Ducking for cover, Raymont called out, "Video games."
Solo growled again, "I only play one ... Which one is it?"
Raymont replied with enthusiasm, recognizing the voice, "And I quote 'I've got "Wing Commander MCVIX!!' What else would I have?!?!? One Hundred and One Ways to Pick-up Women? Debbie Does Deneb? The Holy Hunk and Harriet? Beach Babes From Inner-Space? I ain't got fuckin' time for all that happy horseshit. About the only way I can brush up on my flying skills these days, is with the best flight simulator game to ever hit the market. I swear those guys get off on making the game for one computer Mk Number more than anybody's got!' I think my head's still scrambled from the Sendai, but that's how I recall it." Unseen behind the cannon, Raymont smiled, mirrouring the smile spreading on Solo's face as he recognized the voice.
Before Solo could do or say anything else however, Leon jumped out and quickly slapped the rifle away from the one armed Solo.
Solo calmly regarded Leon and asked, "Hello Leon. Nice to see you again. Now would you mind telling me - WHY THE FUCK YOU DID THAT!"
Leon smiled. "Well, excuse me Solo. I guess it really is you. Aren't you supposed to be dead?"
"Wishful thinking will get you nowhere," Solo grinned. "You were probably just after my share of the loot."
"That would be a big share of nothing from the way it looks," Raymont piped in. As Raymont crawled out of his hiding place near one of the far cannons, Solo was shocked to see how ill he looked.
"Raymont! Dia! What the hell have you been into?!"
"Radiation," Raymont grimaced. He had been trying to smile. "Don't worry. It's really worse than it looks."
"In exploring the reactor area of engineering, we came upon a console that seemed to be running the self destruct. Raymont here got a good dose of radiation from a leaking reactor while trying to shut it down. We both got hit, but I don't seem to be so bad off."
"Any luck?" Solo asked. But he saw right away the answer in their faces.
"Well, don't expect any sympathy from me," Solo warned Raymont with a smile. "After the day I've had, you can forget any coddling." Though the words were gruff, Solo seemed genuinely concerned about Raymont. He and Leon exchanged anxious looks.
"What about you?" Raymont asked, blinking as though the dim illumination from their torches were hurting his eyes.
"Well, I was rescued from my fate by one of the craziest loons you'd ever care to meet," Solo told them. "It was a good reminder why I'm not religious. His name was Antheus and he claimed to be the last survivor of the Divinity. He only rescued me from that combot because he wanted to save my soul before we all fried in the explosion."
"Where is he now?" Leon asked.
"Very dead," Solo told him. "It was the least I could do for the trouble he's given us."
Looking at Raymont, something struck Solo. "Hey kid, you know, I think one of the bunks in Antheus' room might have been a one of those doctor bed things. I think its what he used to patch me up."
"Do you think you could remember the way back there?" Leon asked.
"Well, it was dark and I frankly got lost on the way. But we could at least try."
"Alright, it's at least something and I think Raymont could use a rest," Leon nodded. He went to pick Raymont up, but Solo waved him away.
"Hey, you're the only one of us in any shape to put up a fight if we meet one of those security droids. I'll carry Raymont while you scout and guard us." Saying this, Solo hefted Raymont up by one arm.
Raymont was surprised at how ill he had gotten so quickly. He realized that he was going to die. It surprised him that he felt no fear in the realization.
"Why Solo, I didn't think you cared," Raymont commented.
"Shut up, kid," Solo barked. "You're hardly my type."
Raymont realized that Solo wanted him to rest and let the comment pass.

They crawled back down into the belly of the dead ship, trying to find their way back to where Solo had so intently desired to escape from. It was a tortuous series of climbs and mishaps over torn wreckage, with Raymont growing weaker all the while. However, with what strength he had,. Raymont monitored his scanner and it was with this skill that he was able to trace energy flowing through a conduit. It was a trail that they could follow and following Raymont's hunch that Antheus' room was the source, they followed it and finally found the room.
Entering, Solo at once pointed out what he suspected was the medbed and Leon wasted no time in hefting Raymont onto it. Leon confirmed that it was indeed a medical station and he began to set the auto functions to come on. A plasteel sheet lowered into place and sealed Raymont off from the two of them, injecting him with unknown drugs. But his lifesigns were at least remaining stable.
It took several hours for the med unit to work its magic, but as Solo awoke from his sleep, he found a tired, but more healthy looking Raymont nodding back to him.
"I feel great," he answered Solo's unspoken question. Solo looked over to see that Leon was now being treated by the machine.
"I'm glad to see that you're alright," Solo admitted. "Frankly, I thought we were going to lose you."
"I thought the same thing," Raymont told him. "Fortunately, Leon says that this unit is a more advanced version than the one that was used on me earlier. Apparently this stateroom belonged to someone important. Maybe even the ship's Captain."
"Did he say if that thing can fix my arm?" Solo asked hopefully.
Raymont shook his head. "Sorry Solo. But if we get out of this, I'll buy you a new arm."
"Well, I'll hold you to that, kid," Solo told him. "Right now, that's a big if. And even if we do escape, we won't have enough for you to buy me a swig of synthol at Dicey's," he stated.
Solo ate some of the breakfast that Raymont prepared and then gave Raymont and then later Leon a tour of the quarters.
The stateroom consisted of three rooms in all. In one there was the bedroom, with simple Spartan bunks, including the med unit. Off of this was a living area with a computer console and the strange dark platform that had intrigued Solo earlier. Gazing into its black glassy surface, neither Leon nor Raymont could offer any clue as to its purpose or use. And then finally, almost reluctantly, Solo showed them the holograph room. The projection of the Emperor had vanished and only Antheus lonely body, turning putrid, was there to greet them. Blood from his smashed head had flowed over the entire floor, making it sticky to their feet as they entered. Raymont could feel the blood stick to his feet through holes in his shoes.
"Sorry for the mess," Solo commented. Leon just looked at him and nodded, as if thinking something to himself.

"Attention! We are under attack from a Combot near base camp. The Sergeant we unfroze has been taken out. Lord Rabastus is currently combatting the threat. We may require assistance. Joe out."
Joe sent the message, basically hoping to inform the others that they were engaged in combat and that the arrival of Margrave Rabastus had injected more dynamics into their already hopeless situation.
Ducking from a stray plasma bolt, Tessa came crawling forward.
"This is only a suggestion, but I'm thinking now is a good time to get out of here!" she commented.
"I'm in full agreement," Joe voiced. "Where's Bug?"
"I don't know. I think he left already," she said.
Joe nodded and together, he and Tessa squeezed quickly past damaged cryoberths, not even bothering to see who was winning the fight. Crawling past one that had been damaged in the fighting, Joe felt something cold splash down upon him. At first he thought it was water, but examining his hand, he noted the telltale crimson colour and silently noted the passing of the life that the cryoberth once contained. He had never seen anyone die before this trip, and yet, all around him, people he never knew were dying, unnamed and unknown. Even Garsya seemed like a distant image.
"Are you coming," Tessa hissed, crawling back for him.
"Sorry," he apologized and crawled to catch up.
Just then, there was another explosion above them and red hot plasteel rained down upon them, burning them where it touched. A sliver from the grenade sliced through Tessa's back. Joe saw her face grimace in pain, but she checked her voice, refusing to cry out and give away their position. (Tessa take 8 hits, A critical, no effect). Joe, watching her anxiously, was treated to a curious run of expressions on her face. The painful look disappeared and an expression of shock and disbelief replaced it.
"What the fuck is going on?!" Jessine hissed.
Joe groaned. He didn't have time for this.
"Follow me!" he told her and crawled away quickly, hoping she would follow. Everytime he paused, he felt her bump into him so he knew she was there.
Once past the entrance to the room, they got up, verifying that combat was indeed continuing. Fires were raging inside the room while explosions continued, sending writhing columns of smoke which snaked their way everywhere, even into the corridor they were in. It seemed the combatants were evenly matched. Racing back to their camp near the medical bay, they were nearly blown away by Thorn, who remained guarding the camp. Fortunately, Bug, fleeting as ever when it came time to flee from a fight, had braved Thorn's gauntlet earlier and even though his hysteric narration had claimed that all was lost, it at least warned Thorn that the others might still be returning. Only when they were sure that Joe and Jessine hadn't been followed did the four of them gather together. Joe filled Thorn and Jessine in on what had transpired with the awakening of Garsya and then the Margrave Rabastus. Then the four of them set about trying to decide what course of action to take next. Assuming Raymont or Leon were still alive, it was unlikely either knew much of what had transpired.

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