[Makebelieve] FIC: Brothers Of the Blood: Mark Of Cain (crits welcome)

[makebelieve archive]

Brothers Of the Blood: Mark Of Cain
Chapter Nine
Chapter Summary: the crew have been transported to the strangers stronghold,
but Ian isn't happy about what's been going down
Previous chapters:
http://www.squidge.org/~peja/cgi-bin/viewstory.php?sid=37198


Curled on her left side with her head pillowed on her bent arm, Yessenia
opened her emerald eyes to mere slits and watched Ian creep toward Dalton's
cot.

During the last three hours since the ground force had turned in for the
night, his restless movements back and forth to Dalton's side had awaken her
a minimum of ten times.

She'd be extremely angry with him right now if she didn't know that
something was disturbing him on a deeper level than she could fathom.
Not even the heavy, midnight gloom of the room could disguise the somber
scowl marring his habitually carefree expression.

"I could really be using your advice, boss." His words were a mere murmur in
the darkness as he lifted his left hand and glared at something in his palm.
"I be nay kidding, Dal. You can wake up any time now." His hand convulsed
into a tight fist. "I be thinking I may have really blown it big for certain
this time."

Groaning softly, he tipped his haunted glance toward the low ceiling. "Seems
I've walked us into some nasty trouble this time, boss." His soft, bitter
laugh sounded ominous in the hushed still of the night. "I be thinking it
might even be beyond your abilities to be snatching us out of this abyss
I've thrown us into."

Growling low in his throat, Ian glided back toward his own cot, only to
return after a mere moment.

Sighing, Yessenia leaned up on her elbow. "Want to talk?"

"Ah, my wee bonny lass." Ian padded over to the foot of her bunk. "I thought
ye asleep."

Her fingers curled around his and drew him down beside her. "Not now."

A wistful smile lifted his lips. "Well, since you be no...." he drawled,
gathering her into his hungry embrace.

She braced a stiff arm against his chest, unwilling to be put off by his
Irish blarney. "Not so fast, lover."

"Ah, come on, me darling. What be troubling ye?"

"I think that's the question I should ask you," Yessenia said, tugging the
heat-reflective blanket protectively around her shoulders. "Make no mistake,
I was most definitely asleep, but some great hulk of a man kept stomping
around near my head, so now I am not."

She turned in his arms and leaned sleepily against his shoulder. "I strongly
recommend you start talking. And you better make it good. I hurt, and I'm in
no mood to listen to nonsense."

"I truly dinna intend waking you, Yessenia mine," he rasped, nuzzling his
face in her tousled red hair. "No yet anyway."

"Go easy on the bod, lover." She squirmed against his possessive embrace,
resisting the strangle hold he had on her. "It's had enough."

He murmured a wordless apology against her throat and with obvious
reluctance loosened his grip.

For a moment she rested against the warmth of his muscular chest, listening
to the steady tha-thump of his heart, then she lifted her face to watch the
swift play of his emotions through a veil of bronze lashes. "You're worried
about Dalton, aren't you?"

He plunged tugging fingers into her flaming hair, revealing clearer than any
words the extent of his nervous agitation. "And Paris, for what it be
worth."

Yessenia loosened his tangled grip and laced her fingers though his. "Tell
me."

He blew a long sigh through pursed lips. "I have just completed a scan on
the boss and Paris."

"A scan, Ian?"

Ian shrugged. "I've been running tests on them all evening. Ever since the
rest of you turned in."

"Tell me something I don't already know. Like why it is you are using
scanners when you despise them so much?"

Another shrug. "Dalton would nay be pleased in finding I used Medusian
healing on him. Bearing that in mind, I be open to the possibilities at this
point. Whatever it be taking to bring them out of this endless sleep."

"What did you find out, Ian?"

"'Twas nay good, I be telling you. For awhile there, I thought we be losing
them. They slipped into what looked to be a deep coma. Scared me nigh
senseless, and that be no lie."

"I can imagine," she murmured, glancing toward the cot where Dalton rested.

"'Twas then I decided a laying on of hands might be the answer," he dropped
the bombshell almost incidentally.

"You laid hands on them?"

"Aye, that I did. And if Dal ever comes tae be hearing about that I will no
have any hands left. So 'tis keeping it between just the tae of us, I hope
ye'll be doing."

"That goes without saying."

"Anyway, when they still dinna respond I decided tae do a thorough hands-on
examine."

"And?"

"I be thinking I found the problem. In any case, it appears they've come out
o' the coma."

"You're certain?"

"Am I a medtech?"

"Not a medtech, but you are a healer."

"No quite, actually. I can access the ability tae heal, but I be na a true
healer."

"But you are. I've seen you heal."

"Ye have witnessed a communion o' souls, Yessenia mine. My twin, Meraina, be
the true healer. 'Tis through her, I heal. Through her spirit. At her
discretion."

"But she's dead. You said you saw her....."

"Die? Aye, I witnessed her assassination. But she be with me still. I speak
with her often, as a matter o' fact."

"Ah, Jez, this Medusan philosophy is just simply too weird for me," Yessenia
muttered. "I'd be ever so very grateful if you keep to the technological end
as far as the boss and Paris are concerned and skip the supernatural,
intuitive clap-trap, okay?"

Ian grinned. "As you wish. After I discovered what I suspect be causing the
problems, I used Domani's idiot mediscan on them. Ran a complete bio-series,
I did. Both scans confirmed a normal REM pattern be returning. The pulses be
at acceptable rates. Hearts be strong and steady."

He dipped his chin down on her shoulder. "Near as I can tell, both o' them
should be coming around at any time. And I sure as hell hope I be right.
I've a wee nasty feeling we are gonna need the boss, and soon."

Yessenia turned fully in his arms, searching his closed expression. "You
think we're prisoners?"

He nodded and opened his fist, revealing two small oval disks. "Oh aye, me
wee lassie. That much I be certain of."

Yessenia gingerly took the silver disks from him, studying the familiar
rounds with disgust. "Sedative pads? That's what you found when you examined
them? What prevented the healing from getting the appropriate effect?"

"Aye. 'Tis what I be thinking. Once the bleeding pads be removed, I got
positive scans."

He took the shining disks from her unresisting fingers and carefully slipped
both into his breast pocket, giving it a pat. "'Twas one pad attached to the
back-side, left knee on both Paris and Dalton. I be thinking the soft tissue
there makes the chemical absorption simple."
He caught her worried gaze. "I also be thinking someone didna' want them
waking up unexpectedly."

A thoughtful frown marred Yessenia's smooth brow. "You realize those two are
the only ones among us who can identify Falcone by sight?"

Ian smiled grimly. "I had considered that. Funny coincidence, do ye na'
think?"

Yessenia caught her lower lip between sharp white teeth. "I think it sounds
like our host has been lying. Like he's definitely trying to hide
something."

"More like someone."

She eyed him warily. "Falcone. You think he's been lying to protect
Falcone."

"'Twould go a long way toward explaining a lot of what be going on here, do
you na' agree?"

"Oh, indeed. I think you might really have something to be worried about."
Morbid excitement burned in her gleaming emerald eyes as she pushed out of
his arms. "Of course this means Sabre was right. That Adric is alive and
trying to keep a low profile. Now, that is an interesting concept."

"'Tis the right same conclusion I came to."

"But why would it be necessary to drug them?" she wondered aloud, tapping a
finger against her pouting lips. "Why not just stay out of sight? Let these
people provide cover for him?"

"There be only one possible reason."

"We've already encountered Adric."

"And he be afraid 'twould raise some nasty questions if he suddenly dropped
out of sight." Ian tugged at the skull- and-crossbones earring thoughtfully.
"Way I see it, Adric can na' risk disappearing. Not unless he wants to take
a chance on us sniffing around after him, and he sure as hell can na' walk
around big as life if the boss and Paris be alive and awake to point him
out."

"Surely you can't think he plans to kill them," Yessenia scoffed, then
frowned. "Can he?"

"I do na' know, now do I? But I can na' believe our dying be in the cards.
If that was the case, why mess around with the bleeding sedatives?
Termination would be easier, and much more orderly in the long run. He
doesna' need to clutter it up with a wee bit of drugging."

His worried gaze met hers and he continued, obviously trying to convince
himself as much as her. "I can na' say for sure, but I do na' be thinking
Adric means to kill them, or us either, for that matter."

"Just exactly how do you arrive at that conclusion?"

Ian shrugged a shoulder. "To hear Dal tell it, Adric was never hard enough
for this business. Never had much stomach for out-right killing. Dal said
Adric needed to be prodded to murder."

"Well, what then?" The color drained from her face. "Ah Judes, not the
patrols. We'd be better off slitting our own wrists before they arrive to
take us out."

Ian smiled, caressing her cheek. "Do na' let's go off half-cocked, lassie
mine. Right now all I can figure is Adric be planning something nasty and we
be the targets of said dirty business. But we have been in tighter spots
before and we will again. You have me word on that."

She gave him a sad smile, nodding. "I have never in my life panicked, Ian.
But Iwon't let my old comrades get their bloody hands on me, either. I know
what happens to deserters from the Coalition. I've done enough runners to
know I'd sooner do myself then fall into their twisted clutches."

"Nothing like that will happen to us, me sweet lass."

"You sound almost convincing. So tell me, lover, how are you going to stop
him?"

"Hell and I would have thought that would be obvious, lass. I be going after
him before he can do us deadly."

"Are you naturally stupid, Ian, or have you been practicing? The man is
completely protected on this compound. You'll only get yourself killed
prematurely if you go after him."

"Sure and he do be an enemy worse than any we've come up against before,
I'll grant you that. But I will na' allow him to win the day. I made a big
enough mess of this operation by crashing the ship. I be needing this to
redeem my honor."

"It's all a matter of saving face, is it?"

"Aye, me pride 'tis indeed a part of it."

"Judes, why did I have to involve myself with a pagan who believes in death
before dishonor?"

Ian grinned. "Mayhap I be a dangerous influence in your mind, sweet lass of
mine."

"Now that is a scary thought," she teased, probing his laughing gaze. "Okay,
we're going after Adric. But we still need to get a line on who he's is
pretending to be, don't we? Otherwise, it's gonna be a little hard to get
rid of him before he can do us any harm. Got any hot hunches?"

"I be the one going after the man, Yessenia, and pressed for an answer, 'tis
our host gets my vote."

Yessenia stood, wrapping her arms around her waist in a purely protective
manner. "He would be the logical choice."

"Stands to reason in me mind. The man never stuck around once we arrived
here on the base. Instead he turned us over to a lackey and vanished like a
banshee without so much as learning our names. It be a strange way to act, I
thought at the time."

"Yes. Very strange."

Ian pulled her unresisting body back into the circle of his embrace,
cuddling her against the hard wall of his chest. "You be uncomfortable
around him?" he whispered against her ear.

"He does frighten me a bit."

He tipped her head back, capturing her wide gaze, and smiled. "You'll be
telling me, lassie mine."

She shook her head. "No. It's nothing."
"I'll be knowing the truth from ye, handfast bride. And I'll be hearing it
now."

She heaved a heavy sigh, nodding. "It's that blessed scar, Ian. It could be
regenerated in a matter of minutes. Why would anyone choose to keep the
hideous disfigurement?"

"'Tis that all, wench?" He folded her more tightly into his embrace. "I be
sure he has some special reason behind his actions."

"You think so?"

Smiling, he traced her parted lips with his thumb. "Mayhap he keeps it to
frighten wee pretty ladies. Some men be mortal afraid of the opposite sex,
so I've heard."

"Is that so?"

"Aye. 'Tis god's own truth." His head dipped toward her and his sweet breath
warmed her cheek. "But you mustna' concern yourself. I will na' let anything
hurt you."

"No?"

His lips were a sigh away. "I be enjoying your company to much to let it end
without putting up a hell of a fight." His kiss, soft and brotherly, brushed
her forehead and was gone.

Yessenia pushed out of his embrace. She knew this man too well. He had
something in mind. Something that could easily get out of hand and turn
dangerous, even deadly. "Cut the snow screen, lover. What's forming up in
that tiny, devious mind of yours?"

He shrugged, grinning, and shoved his hands into his pockets. "I be thinking
I should be finding out just what I've walked us into. Only way I can do
that be by running a wee little recon."

"Alone?"

"Aye, lassie mine. Alone."

"You haven't done your share of the hero's work today, I suppose?"

"Appears na'. We be needing to know what Adric is planning." He held his
hand up, halting her protests. "Yessenia, I got us into this mess. I be
having to try and get us out." His sharp, wolf's features were set, serious.
"Do na' fight me on this."

"Do I have a choice? You've already made up your mind, haven't you?" Her
concerned gaze probed his veiled eyes for a sign of denial. "Do what you
have to do. Only be careful. Come back to us, hey?"

"Always."

Yessenia shook her head, smiling.

This dear, impetuous man rarely used the care of a termite. Instead, he
consistently took the most dangerous measures, landing himself, and for the
most, the rest of them, hip deep in one catastrophe after another.

"Sure," she drawled. "Is there something you want me to do while I'm waiting
for the fireworks to begin?"

He drew her back into the tender warmth of his embrace, cuddling her tightly
while he nuzzled her neck. "All you have to do is be here waiting for me
when I get back in half an hour."

"And if you don't come back?" she demanded doggedly. "What do I do then?"

"I will be back."

"And you know this for certain? Ian, what if you're wrong? What if you don't
make it back?"

"You do na' need me to tell you what to do, Yessenia."

"No," she admitted. "But I do want to hear it from your lips. I want you to
tell me."

"All right," he sighed. "If I do na' get back, wake the others. Tell them
what we suspect. Then get them the hell out of here, if you can. Do na' look
back, Yessenia. Just go. Go. And keep on going. Understand? Do na' take any
stupid chances on my account."

Yessenia pushed back to the limit of his embrace. "You want us to leave you
here, without even knowing if you're dead or alive?"

"That be what I said."

She shook her head. "Not in a dream. You have your implant. If you get into
trouble, use the damn thing."

"Yessenia...."

"You're blowing air. I'm not leaving here without you."

Smiling, he gave her hair a playful tug. "'Tis thinking I am, the others
would have obeyed without question, but na' you."

"That's right. Not me." She cupped his cheek, gazing deeply into his eyes.
"You will give the call?"

"My word on it." His lips brushed the top of her head lightly before he put
her away from him. "I've got to go."

"Ian?"

"Hm?"

"Don't be gone over long."

Grinning, he brushed his knuckles over her cheek. "Keep a light thought for
me, love. I'll be back before you're having time to imagine the worst."

He strode swiftly to the door, cracked it open and scanned the hall. "Now,
that do be strange."

"What's wrong?"

"No. Nothing. The hall be all clear, is all," he said, frowning, and
shrugged. "Oh, well. See you on the flip side."

He opened the door wide, then his worried glance tracked to the rear of the
barracks, stopping on Dalton. "Yessenia? Keep an eye on them for me. Do na'
let them backslide."

Her smile flashed, radiant in its simplicity. "Count on it."

"That be my own sweet lassie." He tipped her a jaunty salute and ducked out
the door, closing it silently behind him.

Wrapping her arms protectively around her waist, she slumped down on her
bunk. "Hurry back, Ian," she whispered, staring through the darkness at her
sleeping companions.

It was going to be a damn long thirty minutes.


end part 9

This story is long...very long, and complete. Tell me you want more,  and I
will send the next chapter tomorrow.


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