Fiction Home - More by Corry Vrecken - More in Other Stories

Date: 49:3:26 (14 years after the Battle of Yavin)

Rhyan Conwy hit the ground hard, falling forward to his knees. He swayed at the impact but held his balance even though his arms were tightly bound behind his back.

A moment later a body fell against him from behind, but it was grabbed roughly and forced to kneel at his side.

"Did you drop it?" He hissed.

Corry Vrecken didn't look at him. "Yes. Don't worry. It's gone."

He wanted to laugh at her dejected tone, but nothing was very funny at this moment. "It had to go. We couldn't let them find it."

"But it was your grandmother's!" She whispered.

"Didn't I tell you? My grandmother is still alive. When we get out of this..."

The guard's heavy fist caught him along side the head, knocking him to the ground. "NO TALKING!"

A shadow fell across Conwy's face and he twisted to see a squat, heavily built man wearing an officer's plume staring down at him. The man looked deadly serious as he said, "At least, not until we start asking questions."

* * * * *

The day had begun perfectly with only a few light clouds low on the eastern horizon. Corry stood on the stone platform that surrounded the Stargate and took a deep breath, enjoying the pine scented air. "Wonderful! What is this place?"

"Designation PXL-5933. The people here call it Sinera." Rhyan settled his pack more evenly on his shoulders. "We've been in contact for just over a month now. Friendly local government, eager to open up negotiations. They've been using the Stargate for about four years, exclusively for trade with one other world, although that knowledge is closely held. Kind of a strange setup. They haven't even developed the technology for atmospheric flight yet."

Corry looked back at the rippling surface of the event horizon. "I wonder how they view wormhole travel. I always seem to envision flying through space, but without that image to start with..." She shrugged. "Perhaps it's simply like walking through a doorway for them."

Rhyan shook his head. "I highly doubt the average man knows anything about the gate. The local Council of Elders controls access very carefully, but fortunately they didn't have any objections to our coming though on a limited basis. They just want to keep contact with the populace to a minimum. Seems they fear that finding out about the existence of life on other worlds would put the people into some sort of shock."

He looked startled as Corry began laughing. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Just sounds a lot like home. Looks like home too. This place is fabulous."

A thick forest of dark coniferous trees started right at the edge of the Stargate clearing. The tree tops showed the land rising in all directions. To the north and west a range of jagged mountains reared their heads just a few kilometers distant, and the song of birds and the murmur of a stream filled the air.

Corry shook her head in amazement. "It's curious how much all planets look alike. Some variations of course, and I've seen some strange plant life, but it's all so very familiar once you get over the fact that you're standing on a different world."

Rhyan watched her as she spoke, then reached out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her left ear. "One of these days, I'm going to show you some really amazing places."

She smiled at his touch. "Promise?"

"Of course." His hand slid into her hair and held her head gently as he bent to kiss her.

The sound of the wormhole collapsing made her jump and they laughed, rubbing bruised noses.

"Do you think they saw that?" Corry asked, looking down at the probe pod at her feet.

"Do you care if they saw that?" Rhyan countered.

Corry beamed at him. "Not anymore."

They half-covered the probe with branches just past the Stargate clearing and started off easily, following an animal trail into the trees.

* * * * *

It was late afternoon when they arrived at the foot of a long scree slope. Corry dropped onto a boulder at the base with a sigh. "You really make a girl work for dinner!"

"Not quite over yet." He grinned and jerked his chin toward the top of the slope.

"Oh, Rhyan!" She groaned. "You're a taskmaster!"

He grinned and started trudging up the slope, sending a slide of stones down toward her. "You're the one who said she liked to hike. It's only been 20 kilometers. That's just a nice stroll in the infantry." He paused, waiting for her to catch up. "And I promise it will be worth it."

He was as good as his word, and Corry gasped in delight as they topped the slope. Below them was a perfect tarn and circ, nestled in the arms of tall granite cliffs. A carpet of deep green covered the area and small copses of trees came right down to the water.

"Worth it?" He asked.

"Ohhhh yes."

As they picked their way down into the circ, Rhyan said, "Here's the plan. Tonight you get that wonderful dinner I promised you. Tomorrow we'll climb to the top of the southern cliffs. There's a great view from there. Then, if you're good, you get to swim all afternoon."

Corry nodded appreciatively. "That sounds great. But aren't we supposed to be back tomorrow night? I'm not going to have time for much swimming if we have to make this hike again."

"Oh, that's covered. Glantry and Thorn will be picking us up tomorrow evening."

Corry stopped dead in her tracks and glared at him. "You didn't! You didn't tell them where we were going? Did you?"

Rhyan hemmed. "Well...I kind of owned Thorn a favor... and she found out anyway..."

"Rhyan! You promised me a few days alone. Just you and me."

He held out a hand and drew her down to where he was standing, and then they hiked on together, hand in hand. "She promised to give us time together. She knows we need it, especially after that last mission."

The last mission had been to destroy Steele's base and orbital facilities at U1977, and Rogue Squadron was still reeling from the terrible costs of that battle.

Corry reddened. "I'm sorry. It's just that those two always seem to turn up when they are least welcome."

"Strange. I think I've heard them say the same thing about you."

"Rhyan!"

Corry punched him playfully in the ribs, but he just grinned. "Do you know, you're the only person who calls me that."

"What? Rhyan?"

"Yes. It's been Conwy since my father died. Always startles me to hear my first name."

"Do you mind?"

"No. Not from you." Rhyan smiled. "Now I hate to change the subject, but how about that area for a campsite?"

"Trees on two sides, water on the other and perfectly flat. Can't ask for better." Corry grinned.

Fifteen minutes later, the fire ring was in place and Rhyan was laying out preparations for dinner. Corry looked down at the packages that he was pulling from his pack and shook her head. "Are you sure you don't want me to cook?"

"Get some firewood!" Rhyan ordered with mock severity.

"Yes, sir!" she called happily as she disappeared into the trees.

* * * * *

The shadows quickly lengthened, drawing their small valley into night. But the fire was laid and crackling and the wonderful dinner had been cleared away, so they had no more chores for the evening. Corry leaned comfortably back against Rhyan's shoulder as they watched the flames flicker.

Finally she said, "I can't believe we came all this way and you forgot marshmallows."

Rhyan sighed. "Sorry about that." He paused to poke at the fire with a stick and then said, "Perhaps this will make it up to you."

He pulled a small, meticulously wrapped bundle from his pocket, and balanced it on his knee, carefully folding back several thicknesses of cloth. When he reached the center, he carefully held up the contents - a ring.

Corry stayed very still for a long moment, staring at it. She didn't want to sit up and break her contact with him. Finally she reached out a tentative hand and took the slender circlet in her fingers. It smooth and dark, almost like a blue black mirror. Masterfully etched around the outer edge was an entwined vine with tiny perfect leaves.

"Do you like it?" He murmured.

Corry nodded, not quite sure she trusted her voice. Finally she asked quietly. "Rhyan, does this... does this mean the same thing on Corellia as it does on Earth?"

Rhyan brushed her hair with his lips and smiled. "No. Not exactly."

"Ah." Corry ducked her head. She suddenly felt like crying and she didn't want him to see that. She had really hoped...

"But it's not Corellian customs that I'm worried about." Rhyan said, and gently slid his hand along her chin and tilted her face up look at him. "It's your customs that matter." He searched her face. "Will you?"

At her stunned look he said plaintively. "Do you want me to get on one knee? Thorn said it might take that."

"No!" Corry laughed and then blinked, "I mean, Yes! Yes, I will!"

Rhyan didn't need to hear anything more and crushed her lips with his, stopping her from saying anything that might ruin the moment. When they could breathe again, he held her close and slipped the ring on her finger.

"That's a relief!" He sighed.

Corry gave a low laugh and reached out to trace the outline of his jaw with her fingers, "Did you really think there was a chance that I'd say no?"

Rhyan groaned. "Want to hear about my nightmares for the past week?"

"Nope. No more nightmares." She held her hand out and let the firelight shine on the ring. "It's extraordinary. What is it made of? I've never seen metal like this."

"It isn't metal, it's stone. From an old quarry near where my grandfather grew up. He carved it for my grandmother."

Now Corry couldn't help it and just let the tears come. "You gave me a family ring?"

"We are going to be a family." He said seriously, brushing the dampness away from her eyes with his fingertips and then drawing her close again.

They sat together in companionable silence and watched the stars move across the sky. All too soon he whispered "sorry" and stood to lay more wood on the fire. Corry drew her knees up and rested her chin on them, watching him as he worked.

When he came back he asked, "What are you looking at?"

"I'm just trying to imagine what you'll look like in thirty years."

"Any good?" He asked curiously.

"Very good."

"I'm glad to hear that." He chuckled, picked up a long stick from the pile of firewood and handed it to her. "Would you care for a marshmallow?"

* * * * *

Corry wasn't sure just what woke her. She blinked sleepily up at the stars trying to remember. It was very dark now, the cold dark before dawn. Beside her, the fire had banked down to a pile of glowing embers, but she peered across it, hoping to catch a glimpse of Rhyan's sleeping form on the other side of the fire circle.

What she did see froze her blood. Even in the darkness she could recognize the glints of light reflecting from Rhyan's eyes and the point of the bayonet that was shoved against his throat.

"Don't move. Don't say anything." Rhyan said quietly, and then gasped as the pressure on the blade increased.

Corry did exactly as he said, staring wide eyed at the tableau, her heart in her mouth. Long minutes passed and then someone came into the campsite.

"That's it. Only two of them."

Someone else kicked at the fire and threw a few small branches on it. The tiny flames showed a group of shadowy figures standing around the camp. A thin dark man in a uniform thrust Corry's boots into her hands, and across the fire Rhyan was allowed to sit up also. As soon as they were dressed, rough hands bound their arms behind them and forced them to their feet. They walked away leaving everything behind.
a
They could hear the sounds of someone going through their belongings as their captors forced them over the rim of the valley and down the scree slope.

In the clatter of stones as they descended, Rhyan bumped up against Corry and hissed, "Lose the ring. Now." Corry wanted to stare at him, but they were quickly separated by the sliding of the stones and their guards.

Why? It was only too obvious. Even in civilian clothes it would not take long for their captors to figure out who they were. To anyone looking closely, they would appear to be scouts or even spies... but not what they really were. Only the ring might give that away.

Corry slowed, trying to keep her balance and work her hands around so that she could remove the ring. A sharp shove between her shoulder blades was meant to hurry her on, but it pitched her forward and she hit the scree with a cry and rolled several meters before sliding to a halt. That was all she needed. While her guards slipped down towards her, she quickly pulled the ring from her finger and dropped it into the mass of the scree.

When she reached the bottom of the slope the grey light of dawn was touching the tops of the trees. Rhyan was already there, kneeling in the dirt, and her guard thrust her forward and forced her to kneel beside him.

* * * * *

A string of hard coated horse-like animals appeared from the trees and Rhyan and Corry were each set on a mount with a guard to hold them in place and guide the animal. The officer and the rest of their captors had their own mounts, and two were left behind for the men ransacking the camp. The officer set a hard pace and for a while it was all the two could do to stay on their mounts while bound.

It was quickly evident that they were headed back to the Stargate. That meant that these people knew too much. Rhyan cursed himself for the twelfth time for not thinking to set up an alarm line. But this was just to be a simple camping trip. How could he have guessed that this would happen?

"I should have known." He muttered. He led the first contact team to this world and then had accompanied Admiral Fel on the official visit to the Council of Elders. The council had mentioned a disquiet among the people that centered on the use of the gate, and the existence of dissidents, but they hadn't said that they dissidents were members of the militia.

How could he have risked so much? Simple camping trip or not, this incident could cause a whole host of problems, both for the local government and for Rogue Squadron's newly founded pact with them. And for the people of the planet. If he didn't play this one right, they could touch off a war.

He twisted to look back at the mount behind him and watched Corry's dejected form bump along to the rough cadence. After a moment she realized he was watching and she sat up straight and gave him what she probably hoped was a brave smile. He nodded but didn't return the smile. They were being watched, closely, and he wasn't about to give away the one piece of information which would make him the most vulnerable.

* * * * *

The sun was high above the tree line and it was another perfect day when the group arrived at the Stargate clearing. The guards pulled their captives from the mounts and forced them to kneel in front of the officer.

"You came through that thing." The officer said, jerking a thumb toward the Stargate. "Show us how to use it and we'll let you go back through."

Rhyan said nothing and didn't move a muscle. Corry held her breath and followed his lead.

"I said show me!"

Rhyan made no response.

The officer shook his head. "Don't choose the hard way. We simply want to be able to use the device. Those fools on the Council have the secret locked away for their own good. It's time to spread the knowledge to the people who scrape for a living. One more chance. Tell me and you'll walk away without a scratch."

Rhyan stared into the distance, ignoring the man entirely.

"So be it. Take him."

Rhyan whispered urgently to Corry, "Not a word. No matter what happens. Not a word. It's important. Just close your eyes."

Finally she had done just that. He was glad because the pain in her eyes had cut through him worse than the splintered pole that they used. He'd taken a number of beatings in his life, but never one in front of someone he cared for. As long as she stayed strong, he knew he could. But soon a red mist rose in his eyes and he could no longer hear the officer demanding answers. Just keep quiet Corry. It won't be long now. We'll have beaten them at their own game. We won't have betrayed the Elders' trust.

* * * * *

Corry gritted her teeth and flinched at the noises that came from just a few meters way. With her eyes closed, the sound of the beating was almost bearable. Almost. Rhyan said to say nothing. He knows what he's doing. Corry was trembling and fought hard to keep from sobbing out loud. Then there was a long pause and Corry found she was too frightened to open her eyes.

"Get a fire going."

"NO!" The word was out of her mouth before she could stop it. The horror of that thought was just too much. Not fire. Please. Anything but fire.

Her eyes flew open and what she saw made her bones melt. How could she have just sat there and let them do that to him? She suddenly didn't care who knew what. "No! Stop! I'll show you how to use it."

The officer turned to look curiously at her. "You're a woman. Why would you know...?" His eyes narrowed and he barked out, "Cut her free."

As soon as the ropes where cut, Corry rushed to kneel at Rhyan's side. He was in even worse shape than she had hoped, but he was alive... and he could heal. She would see to that.

"Corry!" Rhyan muttered thickly through the blood.

"Hush, Rhyan. It will be alright."

"Don't help them!" His voice was strangled.

Corry wiped the blood from his face and kissed his forehead. "Trust me, Rhyan."

The captain threw back his head and laughed. "So it's like that, is it? When you two weren't sharing a bed it made me wonder. But now I understand. Two young lovers, eh?" He shook his head. "This will be just too sad. A tale for the bards to sing." He loomed over Corry and jerked her to her feet. "Unless you help us. Then, the story will have the happy ending it deserves."

"No!" Rhyan struggled to get to his feet but the pommel of his guard's sword caught him in the temple and he crumpled to the ground.

Corry was shaking with anger and fear. "Do that again and I won't tell you anything!"

The officer spat on the ground and made a quick signal. Rhyan's guard grinned in anticipation and brought his blade tip to hover just above Rhyan's face. "You'll do exactly what I say, and when I say it. Otherwise there will be bits of your man lying all over the ground. We'll start with his eyes."

Cold realization hit Corry in the face. This was exactly what Rhyan had been trying to warn her about. She had handed them her weakness on a platter, and now she was theirs to do with as they pleased.

"Don't. Please." Her voice shook. "I'll show you."

"That's right. All we ask is a little knowledge. Then you can take your lover home and forget this ever happened."

Corry looked down at Rhyan's too still form.

The balance of power was about to shift on this planet.

* * * * *

It took a while to find the DHD. The Council had hidden it well, trying to keep their secret safe. A small trapdoor was discovered inside the tree line, leading to a dugout just big enough to house the alien device and allow the officer and Corry to squeeze in with it.

"But you must have the correct address, otherwise it will never work." Corry had been forced to explain the concept several times, each time in broader terms, but the man finally got it.

"Good. Now show me. Open it to your home."

Corry stared at him for a moment. Home? Home Earth or Home Farpoint? It didn't matter. There was no way that she was going to give out either of those addresses. She searched her mind for somewhere that she could dial and finally the coordinates for Necropolis came to her.

There was no team on Sokar's desert planet now, and nothing that would give away anything about Rogue Squadron or their allies. They had left a small cache of supplies several kilometers out into the desert which might still be there, but these people would never find that, and Corry could get medical supplies from it.

The world would be ugly and inhospitable, but it would do no harm, and she and Rhyan could get home from there. Eventually.

"Tell your people to get clear of the gate."

While he stepped outside to issue the order she quickly began dialing. If he didn't actually see the sequence, he would have a harder time following. The officer came back in as she dialed the last three chevrons and then she pushed him aside to get out of the hole and watch the rings spin and lock in the sequence.

Nothing happened.

Corry walked forward in shock. Had this all been for nothing? She looked over to where Rhyan was now sitting on the ground, flanked by guards. Why hadn't it worked?

Then she knew - Incoming wormhole!

The event horizon burst out of the gate and a cheer went up from the Sinerians. The officer stopped at Corry's side, beaming with pleasure. "That's more like it."

But his smile froze as two speeder bikes ripped through the gate and slewed to a stop just off the platform.

* * * * *

Glantry's hand was half raised in greeting when the sight before him sank in. This wasn't right at all. Conwy and Corry should not have been here and the seven other humans were all too obviously guarding them.

"Ilexa!" He yelled into the comm as he threw the bike forward and pulled his sidearm. But he needn't have worried, she was right beside him. He clipped the nearest guard with his bike and fired on another who was standing over Conwy.

Thorn cut to the left, driving several of the now terrified group off into the forest. Glantry stopped his bike near Conwy as Corry ran toward him.

"The officer! Don't let him get away!"

Nodding, Glantry set off into the trees after them, calling to Thorn as he went. He had gotten a brief glimpse of the bloody job these people had worked on Conwy and he wasn't going to let that go unanswered.

* * * * *

The clearing was empty now, only the sounds of the bikes and the yells of the Sinerians filtered back to them.

Corry dropped to Rhyan's side and began working on the knots that bound him. The ropes where slippery with his blood and she wasn't helping by letting her tears drip onto them. Finally she got him free and gently touched his arm.

"Can you stand?"

"Don't touch me."

Corry stiffened at the coldness in his voice and scrambled around to look into his face. He was white and unsteady but his eyes were hard and set.

"How could you?" He hissed. "You violated everything we stand for."

She stared at him and stuttered out, "I couldn't let them hurt you anymore."

"You're the one who has hurt me."

Her world reeling, Corry cried in shock, "But they could have killed you!"

"Then I would have died for a cause. One you could have wrecked."

Behind them, the speeder bikes whined to a stop and Glantry appeared. He quickly took stock of their condition and said, "Those people won't be going anywhere. Conwy, let's get you home. Corry, can you dial out?"

Corry nodded wretchedly and lurched to her feet. The darkness of the dugout was a welcome relief after the hot sun. Or perhaps it had been the fire of anger in Rhyan's eyes that had made her feel like this.

When she rejoined them, the gate was open again—this time going home. Glantry was seating Rhyan on the bike, but he stepped back to talk to Ilexa when Corry appeared.

Corry tried to take Rhyan's hand but he pulled back from her.

She whispered miserably, "I did it because I love you."

"You did it for yourself."

"Rhyan...?" she sobbed.

"Don't call me that. Ever again."