"Airlocks and Ambushes"

Captain Kramer clutched his side and fell into the wall as the plasma bolt hit him. Feral took the advantage and pushed him into the airlock. With a manic laugh, Feral slapped his hand onto the airlock release.

"No Feral!", cried Blake rushing forward waving his hand. But he was too late, Kramer was expelled into the vacuum outside.

Kendra sobbed with her knees to her chest. Blake tried to focus on Feral and calm him, "Feral, listen to me...you must put that weapon down...I know Saladin-Vore betrayed you, I know what it's like to be betrayed remember...in fact I can reiterate a list as long as your arm..."

Feral lifted his eyes to look at Blake, the weapon shook in his grasp. He was starting to foam at the mouth. Kendra looked up to him aghast. Blake reached extended his arm to her.

"Come girl...come and stand behind me...", he glanced at Feral as she went to stand, "...but move very, very slowly"

Kendra rose to her feet and slid herself flat against the smooth wall toward Blake. Feral was laughing like a mad man, beads of green pus erupted from his tear ducts and smeared down his cheeks, like tears. Kendra was aghast, "what's happening to him?"

Blake wasn't sure, but had a stab at a guess, "he must have contracted something on Zeta Minor...some virus or an infection"

Kendra tried to sink further into the wall, her eyes wild, "infection? Is it contagious?"

"I don' know...but I am not taking any chances"

Feral's lips seemed to drop down, like melting flesh and revealed his bottom gum. He collapsed to his knees, a rancid green/black slime dripping from the stubs that were once his hands.

"The airlock Blake! The airlock", cried Kendra not wanting to see this anymore.

Blake tore his gaze away from the deteriorating Feral and lunged forward and slapped his hand onto the airlock pad. Kendra nearly passed out as she clung hold gasping for breath as Feral was expelled into space...his just deserts for what he did to Captain Kramer. Blake struggled against the suction, but managed to close the airlock tight.

Gathering back his breath, he crawled across the floor towards the crumpled Kendra and grasped hold of her by the shoulders, "are you alright?", he asked.

She nodded, He stood and left her on the floor to recover. He went into the flight deck and looked over the controls. He smiled to himself, he knew exactly where he was now heading...

VV

On the windswept quarry, Shiva Khan negotiated the slope and headed towards the metal ruin. Once his boots were on the framework, they clanged until he reached the door and waited.

The breeze howled around him until he heard a hiss. He turned weapon at hand until he called out, "Blake?"

Blake revealed himself from behind one of the rusting metal struts that held up the roof of the ruin. The freedom fighter looked shabby and unclean.

"Wow...how long have you been here?"

"Eighteen days...I had to wait until the dust settled before I attempted to make contact", Blake breathed.

Shiva ran a hand through his windswept locks, "you was lucky I could crack the code, Phellem was a great teacher"

"he was a great man", echoed Blake. They both stood out of the stiff breeze, "Blake, nearly everybody was killed on Izeptha 7, the base was completely annihilated by Federation bombers"

Blake swallowed down taking in the shocking news, "We was betrayed, Shiva...it was Saladin-Vore who ordered Phellem's death"

Shiva's eyes widened, "but I thought he was a trusted contact?"

"It seems not, that's why Phellem had to die...Project CARO was nothing more than a piece of worthless scrap...I was betrayed and stranded on Zeta Minor"

Shiva thought about the others on the ship, "does that mean the others were in league to him too?"

Blake nodded, his good eye was watching Shiva closely, "Krestal for sure...I'm not so sure about Doss or Zola"

Shiva nodded and seemed a tad distracted.

Blake knew that something was very wrong here. He had to act quickly and be clever. He pulled Shiva to a damaged wall that faced the bleak quarry outside, "Blake what is it?"

Blake looked at him and Shiva took the chance and mouth, 'run'. His face showing the pain.

Blake backed away and ducked beneath the iron girders towards the incline. He went flat to the stones on the ground and peered over the ledge. Federation troops were getting into formation. Shiva had been 'got to'. He obviously had been taken prisoner when the Federation ambushed Izeptha 7.

Blake rolled over and at a hares pace, sprinted down the slope and towards the next valley. Shiva turned and saw the troops gather around him. Officer Pascal removed his helmet and raised his plasma gun, "where is he? We know Blake exists...Saladin-Vore's report was made very clear to high command"

"I'm sorry...he twigged that I was wired...he made a run for it", replied Shiva nervously. Pascal looked at him sharply, "you are lying to me Khan...and you know what happens when you lie..."

The noise was deafening. Shiva clamped his hands over his ears as the piercing alarm threatened to scramble his brain. Pascal laughed as he watched Shiva seizured across the floor. Blake was then behind the corner. He raised his weapon and cut down Pascal with one plasma bolt. Eyes still wide open. The other troopers turned and Blake took a shot at the girders above that collapsed on top of them.

Blake grabbed hold of Shiva and pulled him through the choking dust and grime to safety.

"Blake..."

Blake smiled down at him, "we must be quick Shiva, before the rest of the garrison wonder what's happened to their friends"

He pulled Shiva to his feet, "Thank you Blake..."

Blake turned to him, "don't thank me too previous...we are not out of this yet..."