Deatra felt as if her mind was on fire. The invasion of her mind by Geenis wasn't pleasant. She fought the invasion with her whole being. Her weakened state made it more difficult to concentrate. The loss of the bond with Jon had handicapped her mental abilities.
Geenis sensed her weakening and pressed the advantage. Soon he would have access to the areas he needed to rewrite. Soon he would have the throne and control of the Eutharan Empire. Then he would rebuild the Empire back to its former glory and push the Invaru back to their boarders. The Princess and Ghost Station were the key to this plan. Once he had control of the Princess, the rest would fall into place.
Andie laid on the floor where she had been tossed, she was sure her arm was broke. Her nanites were already working to repair the damage. The break would need to be set but the pain was lessening. Andie glance around the room, most of the guards were tied up or dead. What was left of the medical personnel were locked up, things didn't look good.
A brief flash followed by a silver ship appearing signaled the return of the Atlantis and her crew. Several of the bridge crew got sick, but those of Jon's crew seemed to perk up as their minds cleared and bodies stopped attacking itself. Jon's mind snapped as the connection to Deatra was restored.
"Relinquishing computer control, return to our universe achieved," Atlantis reported.
"Helm plot a course to Ghost Station, best speed," Jon ordered.
Wassiki glance back towards Jon, "Sir?"
Jon's look back at her, "What seems to be the problem ensign?"
"Uh Sir, I'm sorry but I have no idea where Ghost Station is," Wassiki blushed under Jon's scrutiny.
Wassiki's station beeped drawing her attention to it. 'Atlantis to Ensign Wassiki: Coordinates to follow... ' "Never mind Sir, I have the coordinates now. Plotting the best course to Ghost Station now Sir."
Jon glanced up at Atlantis, who just nodded. Jon smiled as he though of the improvements to the AI units. He was feeling better than he had in weeks, he felt whole again.
"Switch on secondary IFF transponder," Jon said. "Comm try to raise Ghost Station, let them know we're coming home."
Atlantis moved to her fold point and disappeared in a flash of light.
"What do you mean they made it back?!" Quellis screamed.
The Comm officer shrunk back from the verbal barrage, "Sire, Command is ordering us to pull back and to not engage the enemy. They have reports from the Mysterious ones that Atlantis has made the transition back."
Quellis didn't need this, the brink of crushing the enemy that had been a thorn in his side in several engagements. They had made him look like a fool too many times, this was supposed to be his payback. Now his plans are in ruins once more, damn Captain Jonathan Hunter and damn his ship the Atlantis. If it was the last thing he ever did he would see them both crushed. He would feed on Hunter's life force and toss his drained body in front of the Council in victory.
"Sire, I'm picking up a transmission from the Eopolis Sector. It's being directed at the Station," Comm reported.
"Intercept it," Quellis ordered. "play it back."
'Ghost Station this is the ADF Atlantis. We're inbound to all hands alive and well, plus some.' A male voice said.
"That's all I have Sire."
"How far out are they? Can we intercept them? How long until they reach the Station?"
"I don't know sire," Tactical said.
"What do you mean, 'You don't know'?" Quellis growled.
"Sire, I'm not sure of their speed or their plotted approach. Another transmission from them or two and I can give you their arrival time or their project exit from their fold."
Quellis sighed, "Ok, order the fleet back to the Kachas System. We'll maintain position there and wait for orders. Have all ships stand battle ready."
Gilas and Breq stood over the main planning table located in CIC. The situation didn't look good. Geenis had managed to breech the medical section and sensors last showed him entering the room of the Princess. Attempts to retake the level had failed. Geenis had pulled his troops with him as he made his way towards his objective. Though they had regained control of the decks below Medical, they couldn't get a foot hold in the medical section.
"I don't like not knowing what's going on in there," Breq said.
Gilas looked down at the table, "All we can do right now is try to push through. We have cut off their escape route, their not going anywhere."
"While that's true, what happens if he gains control of the Princess? That has to be his plan, it's the only way he could even hope to get off the Station."
"I don't think the Princess will allow that. She would rather die than to allow Geenis to gain control of the Station."
"I agree, but Geenis has proved himself to be very cunning and resourceful. I wouldn't count him out just yet."
Breq looked up at the hologram floating over the table, "Let's reinforce these positions here and here. Also have an additional detachment stationed here."
Spots lit up on the map where Breq touched it. The positions he had pointed out would effectively cut off all escape routes and the reinforcements could reach any area in little more than a couple minutes.
"Admiral, I think we should launch a squadron of fighters to patrol the out side of the Medical deck. He might be thinking of cutting through the outer hull and leaving that way." Gilas said.
"Wouldn't we pick up any ships that got that close to the Station?"
"We might, it depends on if he has gotten his hands on a cloaked ship or not. We know they exist and are almost invisible to our sensors. For all we know he could already have one in position somewhere."
"Ghost, can you boost sensor output? Scan for anything out of the ordinary, anything that seems like it doesn't belong."
Ghost nodded, "Yes Admiral."
"Gilas, pick a squadron and have them keep an eye on the outside of the station. Tell them to look for anything that seems out of place. Have them coordinate with Ghost and Ops."
"Yes Sir. Launch, dispatch Gold Squadron and have them patrol the station for anything out of the ordinary. Tell them to coordinate their efforts with Ghost and Ops."
"Yes Sir, Launching squadron now."
On the hologram 10 small green blips appeared as the squadron launched. Now only time would tell, it was Geenis' turn to make the next move.
By the time that Atlantis made her final fold to Ghost Station, Dr. Wilson had all of the crew out of stasis and back at their posts. Their recovery was fast and they were as healthy as if they had never been sick. Jon was happy when his bridge crew started to show up and take their posts. He had retained some of the former bridge crew to help the old crew learn the newer systems.
"Entering range of the station Captain," Wassiki reported.
"Unfetter the whiskers and prepare to send command authorization codes to the Station," Jon ordered.
"Captain, I'm reading a Eutharan fleet holding position outside the outer markers. The Ge'daes is holding position between them and the station. The Hammer and Scythe are holding position between the secondary markers and outer markers," Tactical reported.
Jon stood up, "What? Is there any weapons fire?" Jon moved down to the planning table. "Bring it up on the main table and belay my last order rig for silent. Battle Stations, set condition red."
'Battle Stations... Condition Red... This is not a drill, all flight crews to launch bays... Battle Stations... All Gunnery crews to station... ' Atlantis' voice echoed.
Atlantis appeared next to Jon on one side and Ghost to the other. Jon looked over the situation. Neither side had weapons powered, but they were both in an aggressive stance. How could things have spiraled out of control so quickly?
"Con, bring us a long side of the Ge'daes. Ghost contact the station and find out who is in control of the Ge'daes, quietly please."
"Yes Sir," Ghost said.
"Atlantis, find out the status of our ships. Comm get me Captain Hunter of Death's Hand."
"I have Captain Hunter, Captain," Comm reported.
"Captain, I have a mission for you and your squadron," Jon said.
Her mind was crumbling under Geenis' assault. She felt him pushing his way into her most private recesses. The kissing was distracting her and making it hard for her to fight back. She felt him trying to rewrite her feelings and emotions.
"STOP! How dare you do this to me," Deatra screamed at Geenis.
Geenis covered from head to toe in armor grinned at her, "Princess even your astral self can't stop me from doing what I need to secure your willing participation."
"It won't work Geenis, I'm already bonded. When he gets back you'll be sorry you even touched me. Jon is very protective, that is if Oojoung or Terri doesn't reach you first. Stop what you're doing now and stop the assault on the station and I'll help... Uh... What are you doing?"
Geenis grinned as he reached up and grabbed her arm, "Princess, your precious Captain is dead. The Atlantis was destroyed and all hand with it. The fools left to run this ADF are incompetent, only I can keep you safe."
"Let go of me," Deatra tried to pull from his grasp. Geenis squeezed harder and pulled her closer. "Jon's not dead, I might not be able to feel him. But deep in my mind I know he's not dead."
"Oh? Then why are you dieing? If you knew he was alive your body wouldn't be failing. It would mean you can sense him, your resistance would be greater. I'm easily entering your mind and rewriting what I need to make you mine."
Geenis' mind reached out and snapped another connection that kept Deatra from him, at this rate it would take a while. She was stronger than he thought and he was quickly tiring. He might have to take a break and resume after he had rested. Once he had her under control, he would use her to take control of Ghost Station and the people on her. Then he would turn his attention to Eutharan and the King and Queen. It was nothing but a matter of time and he had plenty of that with Jon out of the way.
Deatra struggled and fought against Geenis but in her weakened state, she was having a hard time. She felt him move deeper into her mind, searching for the connections he needed to sever to take control of her. If she survived, he would pay for this. This was an outlawed practice, raping someone's mind was against every law they had. If Geenis got out alive, he would be hunted down and executed for this. Not only attacking someone's mind like this but brutally attacking a member of royalty.
It was at that point in her thinking that something snapped. Energy filled her being as her connection to Jon was restored. She could feel him and he was close. Tears came to her eyes as his well being filled her sole and gave her life. She sagged as she coped with feelings filling her mind.
Andie saw Deatra sag as tears spilled from her eyes. Andie stood up shoving one of Geenis' guard out of the way with her good arm. She had almost made it to Deatra when a rough hand grabbed her by the hair and flung he back against the wall. When the spots in her eyes cleared she was looking down the barrel of a rifle.
"Do that again and I'll shoot you where you stand," The guard growled from under his helmet.
"He's killing her! I need to monitor her vital signs..." Andie shouted at the guard.
The guard dropped the rifle for a second as he backhanded her making her slam into the wall again as she fell to the floor. "I said shut up. Admiral Geenis knows what he's doing."
Andie grabbed her cheek as the pain filled her mind. Blood seeped from between her lips. "How could you stand her and let him assault a member of the royal family this way? I thought you were sworn to protect them."
The guard kicked her in the side, breaking several ribs in the process, "I said shut up, you don't know anything about us or our ways. One more word and I'll shoot you right here."
Andie glared up at him from the floor, the side of her face was beginning to swell from the blow and she was having a hard time breathing. When she said nothing, the guard turned back to watch Geenis and the entrance to the medical ward.
"Go ahead and shoot me you bastard. If you can't see she's dieing and needs medical attention that's your problem. I took an oath to protect lives and that even includes you and your men."
The guard turned back around raising his rifle, she had been warned. But Andie was standing close enough that she caught the rifle under her arm as he spun. She reached up catching the edge of the guards chin guard and snapped it towards her and up, like Oojoung had taught her in a training session. She felt the mans neck snap as she completed the strike.
"I'll come back as soon as I make sure the Princess is ok and see if there's anything I can do for you," Andie said as she hefted the rifle.
She took three steps towards the Princess before the first of five laser bolt caught her and knocked her to the floor. "I'm sorry Princess, I tried please forgive me... I'm coming Brother..." Andie's vision faded as her heart stopped beating.
Unnoticed to the guards Deatra jumped when the rifles that killed Andie went off. Geenis felt a sudden pressure in his mind forcing him to break contact with the Princess. He stumbled back and stared wide eyed at the Princess. Her hair floated around her head as though gravity had suddenly been turned off to the room. Her feet were not touching the ground and her robes fluttered around her as through they were being blown by a wind.
The guard stepped back from the Princess as Geenis stared at her in awe. Her head was bowed, but when her eyes snapped open Geenis seen them lock on him. Her anger was clearly displayed on her face as mental energy, that had manifested itself, seeped from the corner of her eyes. There was legends of women who held such power but Geenis had never actually seen one. All of the guards in the room fell to their knees, only Geenis stood trying to decide what to do.
"Time's up Admiral Geenis," Deatra's said. "My husbands back..." Deatra glanced towards where Andie was lying. "and your men have killed one of his best friends and one of my honored friends. The doctor was one of the most honorable people I knew. She never let race or political standings stop her from caring for people."
"I..." Geenis glanced over where Andie was. "It's not my fault..."
"Time to pay for your transgressions," Deatra said. She slowly moved towards Geenis, never touching the ground.
Outside of medical Geenis' scream could be heard for 3 decks up or down.