Captain-Master:
Seeds of Rebellion
Disclaimer: These are not my characters. They are owned, copyrighted and created
by far wiser people than me. I have attempted to bring them back to life for a short time,
attempting to ease that gaping hole in my heart where B5/Crusade once was.
Note: Series is NC-17. m/f, m/m.
Archiving: SW and the WWOMB archive
Matthew Gideon I
Jeff Sinclair just laughed, but Ryan and I both gave Randy Morrison a whole ration of
shit for what he had just done.
What were you thinking? Are you fucking nuts? A DOG? Why the hell didn't you just
get him a pony while you were at it? We could put him into a spangled outfit, and let him
ride through the fucking Zocalo!
"He
didn't want a pony, Ed, that's why I didn't get him one. He wanted a dog. I always wanted
a dog, but I never could have one." The blond Assassin's southern drawl was getting
more pronounced, while the two men glared at each other. Randy towered over Ed, and it
would be a massacre if he started pummeling his Commanding Officer. He could use his little
finger and snap his CO in half.
From the little bit I knew about the Guild of Assassins, Eddie's Assassin was acting
a little too independently and far too stubbornly for the norm. While I couldn't have wished
that possible problem on a nicer General, with the exception of Sinclair, I was hoping
that Randy wouldn't kill Ed. Just what I'd need was one of the Shadows... Guides...to show
up and investigate.
What a fucking day. First I was tortured, then a puppy showed up, complete with
a fucking pink bow, then I was going to witness a murder. Wonderful. I'd REALLY like to
go home now, and don't worry, I'll pass on the complementary parting gifts.
"While I'm sure you'd like to scream at me some more, General. I've got a Guild
Meeting to attend." Morrison gave a perfect salute, and then pivoted on his heels,
leaving the room in a blaze of deeply offended black and scarlet.
That little bit of news finally settled Sinclair down.
"A Guild Meeting. On my STATION? Don't you think someone should have
informed me? Jeff appeared deeply concerned. "All those Guild members running around
on my STATION!"
"Enough, Jeff. You know they'll be less problem than the Shriners. At least they
don't get drunk and streak through the Alien Quarters." Ed didn't appear to have much
sympathy for Sinclair, but then again, neither did I.
You think you got problems, Jeff, try being in my shoes!
"You sure about them being no trouble? I know that no Assassin has ever broken
their conditioning, but I think that the Guides and the Inquisitors would be most concerned
about how your Assassin acted just now. He's ..."
Sinclair was interrupted by Ed, who was looking very haggard and tired. "Yeah.
I'll go ask them to talk with him. 'Hi! I'm in the midst of planning a rebellion, and well,
my Assassin's acting a little odd lately.' Randy knows everything about our little insurrection.
If they ever get their hands on him, and break him to get the information, we're fucked.
Now, I'm going to bed. Jeff, you talk to Matthew, and remind him of our agreement."
Ed left, and then Jeff gave me a smile that reminded me so strongly of Max Eilerson,
that I knew I was cracking up. He took out a small controller and made a show of letting
me look at it.
"You do one thing, just one little thing that I don't like, then we hit the red
button. Trust me, if either Ed or I hit that little red button, your Avatar isn't going
to be very happy." His voice was smooth, as though he wasn't threatening my Avatar's
life, and I just smiled back.
Remember what you promised. You'll take care of JT for me.
Sinclair left soon afterwards, and I decided to go to bed. Hopefully the damned dog
hadn't made a mess of things, or chewed my leather boots.
What the hell was Randy thinking? Giving JT a dog?
I
wasn't expecting to find a quietly sobbing JT cowering in the corner of the room. He was
such a perfectly well trained Avatar that he had chained himself to the damned bed, and
he was clinging to the damned puppy for dear life. He was such a picture of abject misery
that I couldn't help but sigh.
I can't deal with this right now. I just can't. Goddamn it, I hurt... all over...
and I just don't have the patience to deal with a heartbroken Avatar and a puppy that isn't
housebroken.
JT then realized I was in the room, and he looked terrified, as though he expected me
to hit him. He stopped his sniffling almost immediately, and he made a pitiful attempt
at straightening his dog's rather ragged pink bow. Then, JT scurried to where I was, and
silently offered the dog to me. I wouldn't take the damn thing, so finally he shoved the
mutt into my hands. That done, he then curled up into a little ball, as though he was waiting
for the physical abuse to start.
But JT fucking kept staring at the dog as though he thought I was going to throw it
against the wall or something.
Don't give me those puppy dog eyes! Not from you! And not from the mutt!
"I don't want the damn thing." I growled that at JT, and his face fell.
Shit. John Matheson always had such a poker face, and a dry wit, and in this place his
alter couldn't match his emotional control. My Avatar was fucking devastated because he
knew that I wouldn't let him keep the damned dog. I could hear the sound of his heart breaking
into a billion and one fucking little pieces.
Fuck. I should really stop using that word, because if I so much as looked at
JT that way, he'd probably put a bag over his head and do it for the fucking puppy.
"Stop sniffling, damn it!" I roared that louder than I should have, as the
Puppy with the Pink Bow in her hair snarled. I gave her back to JT rather happily. "Here.
You're going to take care of the damned thing. If she so much as makes a mess, gnaws on
one of my good leather boots, or just becomes noticeable, I'll be... Very... Very... Unhappy...
With both YOU and the damned mutt."
Ok. I was being a real hard ass right now, but it was for JT's own good. He wanted
the damned thing, and he was going to be responsible for it. It wasn't going to be one
of those situations where the kid brings home an animal and promises to take care of it,
'can we keep it, please?' but forgets about the damned thing next week. I wasn't going
to take care of the dog.
JT put the puppy down and grabbed my hands. He began kissing them profusely, and I felt
a sudden chill down my back. It took everything I had not to rip my hands away from his,
and refrain from rubbing my hands off on my pants.
"I'm going to bed. Make sure the damned thing doesn't make any noise and wake me
up. UNDERSTAND?"
I collapsed onto my bed, wishing that I could to sleep or at least not hear my conscience
cursing me out.
"Well, Mr. Big Man on a Starship, aren't you proud of yourself? Does it make
you feel self-important that you can curse and scream at JT? He's been so badly abused
that he expected you to hit him because you were angry, did you see the fright in his eyes?
Are you happy? Do you think I'm going to let you sleep tonight? No, I'm going to let Randy
sleep tonight because at least he treats JT as well as he can, considering he's as much
a Guide victim as JT is. It's going to be an extremely long night, between the physical
pain you're in, and the fact that I'm going to be cursing you out. And don't think a few
more data crystals of music is going to soothe me, you better do something pretty damned
decent to him to make up for the fact that you were such a LARGE prick."
SHUT UP! I WANT TO GO TO BED! I WANT TO GO HOME! Putting the pillow over my head,
I could still hear my conscience, who apparently had a bit of a temper. Wonderful.
"Look, you nit wit, you're not going home, and if you actually got home I'm
still going to be here, and I'll know what you just did. And I'll remind you every single
night!"
ENOUGH... God, I was beginning to whine.
"He thought you were going to kill the dog, did you see it? That poor little
puppy..."
Look. Stop it with the poor little innocent puppy routine. They shed! They smell!
They chew! They crap! They never stop making little messes! Now even I could hear the desperation
in my thoughts, as I couldn't even convince myself that I had a reason to be so damned
foul-tempered. Look, I just got tortured today! Signed up in an illegal rebellion! Got
cursed at! Got threatened a few times with a permanent case of DEAD. Can't I have my bad
behavior excused for once?
"I would think that would make you more sympathetic to JT's plight. Hmm...
even Randy was nice to him. Did you see how HAPPY our poor little..."
Stop it with the superlatives. Starship Captains don't have hearts, and they aren't
affected by adjectives!
"Did you see how HAPPY our poor little physically and mentally scarred Avatar
was when you said he could keep that puppy? He tried to hide it, but admit it..."
Silence. Maybe if I ignored my conscience it would decide to leave.
"Nope! Still here! I bet anything that since JT is scared shitless of you,
he's sleeping on the floor, like he did with that OTHER Matthew. Probably he's wrapped
up tight, intent on keeping that puppy safe from Mean Old Master Matthew, warning her that
she can't even BREATHE too loudly because you'll do something horrible to her. What type
of person hurts an animal? Huh? Not somebody that I'd be happy being the conscience for,
because I'd have to keep him up at night, telling him what a lousy human being he is. Look
at Eddie, you can tell that his conscience has been bothering him. I don't think he's slept
decently in the last two years. Wonder how Mr. Big Shot Starship Captain - Animal Hater
is going to look in two years ..."
ENOUGH! YOU FUCKING WIN!
"I always do, Matthew. I always do. Now, try to start acting better, stop
acting so much like that Other Matthew. I don't particularly like him, and I don't think
anybody else does either."
What about Dureena? She really seems to like my alter...Huh huh huh? Mr. Smart
Ass Conscience doesn't have a snappy retort for that, now do you?
"Matthew. Your alter's probably hung like a horse. OK? And let me remind
you buddy, You're NOT!"
HEY!!!!
"Now, you've got a huge bed here, and you should let JT sleep in it. And
the puppy. And tomorrow, you're going to get the canine some treats and a real bed to apologize
for being such a schmuck."
Grumble.
"And stop acting like the other guy. You're turning into him, and I don't
particularly like the change! Now, Mr. Big Shot, Don't Care if I Brutalized a Poor Soul
that's Already had a Horrible Life- what the hell is going to happen to JT and the puppy
if you get to leave?? HUH?"
I sat up in the bed, and I sighed. Shit. There he was, curled up in a little ball, sleeping
snuggled up to his puppy. JT's eyes open warily, and I tried to give him a big, bright
smile.
"JT? Come on, get into the bed," I tried to keep my voice soft and soothing.
"You can even bring the puppy. But tomorrow we're getting him... her... her own bed."
It took a little bit of convincing but soon I found myself in bed with one shaking Avatar
and a puppy that snored.
Loudly.
Galen
Fascinating. That little bit of space where Matthew had his accident turned and twisted
on itself, like the Greek sign that represented infinity. I had only seen this occur one
other time, in what is known as Sector 14, where Babylon 4 had once resided until it disappeared
one day.
Some claim that it went to another dimensions, others say that Babylon 4 went boom.
I don't know why Terrans get so excited about Booms, as there's always a boom today,
and probably a boom tomorrow. It was similar, but not to Sector 14, and so I investigated
it with sensor and probe, until at last, I had to shake my head in disbelief.
I had an inkling of a suspicion what might have happened to my wayward Matthew, and
I then sent the barest and smallest of spells through the spatial tear.
Then I waited, and hoped that I wouldn't be too late.
Dureena I
The wine was flowing, which I wasn't drinking, and Matthew was oozing charm. He kept
sitting closer and closer to me, and I finally put my hand down in the space that separated
us. I think it got his attention, as I noticed that he was giving the knife in my hand
an appraising look.
"Don't, Matthew. I refuse to become one of your conquests. I've always told you
that, since the day we first met."
"What do I have to do to change your mind?" He asked softly, and the look
in his eyes was one of pure, unadulterated lust.
"You've always been asking me that, and I keep telling you that I like to keep
it within my species. You think I'm playing hard to get, but I'm not. Now, Matthew, the
wine is finished, and I think it's time that you left." I stood up, and crossed my
arms, which seemed to nonplus Gideon.
"Dureena, Dureena. You think the absolute worse of me," Matthew seemed far
too serious, as though for a moment, he thought I was someone else.
"You don't give me any other option, now do you?"
Matthew Gideon II
For a moment, I got confused, and I began treating Dureena of this place, as though
she was my lover, Dureena-Assassin. She had often been unhappy with my harem, though I
had assured her that she was my favorite lover. I kept the others in line, I assured her,
by the use of sex and force.
Sarah I never trusted, for she and Eilerson were too close. Our sessions together were
usually battles in which each of us searched for the smallest weakness to exploit and manipulate.
But Dureena-Assassin, I am ashamed to admit, I cared for but I couldn't trust. For I
knew perfectly damned well how the Guide trained Assassins. Their final exams at the Assassin
training camp had the Assassin kill their family, or a close friend, to prove their loyalty
to the Guild. Randy had often joked about his family or his nephews, but the simple fact
was, Randy Morrison had killed them. If he hadn't killed them, then he would have been
put down. I saw his personnel files, and I knew Ryan well enough to know that he knew about
his Assassin's final exam.
A simple case of kill or be killed, but I had seen the small minute cracks in Randy's
psyche, as though he sometimes honestly believed that his family was still alive.
Matthew Gideon I
Sleeping snug as a bug in a rug, I suddenly heard something. A fizzle of light, and
then a miniature of Galen appeared. JT didn't appear to see the glowing Lilliputian Technomage,
which was a good thing. How the hell was I going to explain this - especially considering
this universe's version of Galen appeared to be on the Top Ten List of Entities That Everyone
Wished that They Could Kill.
"Well, well, well, Matthew. This could only happen to you, obviously. I'll see
what I can do, expect me when you see me."
"Galen? Can you hear me?" Carefully, I whispered that so as not to wake JT.
"Yes. There's no need to shout!"
Galen seemed a little--pardon the term--short-tempered, which I excused on the grounds
that probably Gulliver had seemed a little loud to the Lilliputians.
"I need to get out of here, and quickly." My voice was extremely quiet, but
still Galen flinched.
"I'm working on it." His voice was tart, as though the mage was offended because
I didn't think he was working hard enough to get me home.
"How are things on the Excalibur?"
"As well as can be expected."
"What do you mean by that, Galen?" I was worried once again What was going
on the Excalibur? With the search for the Cure? I had been so distracted by trying to stay
alive in this universe that I had rarely thought of the crew I had left behind.
"Don't worry about them. I'm going to handle the problem shortly. Your counterpart
is having a slight problem with John Matheson."
"He's THERE?!" I spoke too loud, and Galen began waving his staff threateningly
in my direction.
"Yes. John noticed it, as did Sarah and Maximilian. Now the three of them have
been placed under house arrest. Dureena's still free, and I'm sure she and I can handle
the situation adequately."
"Galen. You're to kill him if he hurts any of my crew. I mean that." I ordered
Galen, who appeared amused by my tone of voice.
"When did I become your pet Assassin, Matthew? I've assured you that I will handle
the situation and you will have to accept that."
I needed to get out of this universe, as I was beginning to casually order someone's
execution without a qualm. Well, this was a special case, I assured myself, and my conscience
agreed.
"But just this once, oh puppy-hater. JT's master is a special case."
"Just... hurry, please Galen. Get me out of here."
My conscience started bugging me, jabbing me with a very sharp pin.
"Galen. I need to get more than me out of here quickly. I have someone else that
I need to bring with me... and..." Bite the bullet, Matthew. "A puppy."
"MATTHEW! Do you think I'm the Universal Parcels Service?"
Galen's voice sounded insulted, as though I was merely asking him to ship a few magazines.
Damn it to hell, the mini-mage gave me a scorching look and I had the overwhelming urge
to swat him, like he was an annoying mosquito.
"I can't leave him here. He's being abused, and it's not right."
"And the puppy? How does the dog factor into Matthew Gideon's personal crusade
to save a stray?"
"I
save stray dogs, you save stray cats. I'm just a dog person, that's all. Cats can fend
for themselves, dogs need some help sometimes." Ok. I'll admit to myself, quietly,
that JT's Cairn Terrier was rather cute, and it looked exactly like Toto from the Wizard
of Oz crystals I used to watch as a kid. Dark eyes, dark hair, and...
Enough MATTHEW! You're GOING NATIVE!!!
"Sometimes stray cats are more trouble than they're worth, especially if they're
male. They need to fixed so they'll stay close to home. Is this stray the one in your bed?
Matthew... Matthew... Am I seeing correctly? Is your stray, John Matheson's Alter?"
"Shut up. You don't understand. Save me and you can make all the flippant comments
you want, and I'll take them gratefully." Ok. I would inwardly boil, but I had to
get out of here, and I couldn't leave JT behind.
Ed Ryan
I couldn't sleep, for some strange reason, so I returned to the DarkStar where I met
Sinclair.
"Ed... Your Assassin is incorrigible, do you know that?" Jeff was nursing
a drink, and he flashed a quick grin. "That girl he's picking up looks barely old
enough to be his daughter. She's probably younger than she looks."
I glanced quickly over to where Randy was. There was a tall strawberry blonde female
who looked familiar, even though I know I'd never seen her before. She wore the insignia
of a Marine 1st Lieutenant on the Victory. She seemed flattered by Randy's attentions,
and the two of them quickly left the bar, but not before she flashed a smile that made
her face all too familiar.
It
was Randy's smile, within the facial features of Lyta.
Dear God. She was the right age, but I remembered all to well the events that had led
up to her birth. It had been a furious few months after Galen's discovery of Lyta's unplanned
pregnancy. The Inquisitor had wanted Randy killed, and the child destroyed, but the Assassins'
Guild had argued against that. The Guild had promised their services to the Guides with
certain conditions to be fulfilled, including the introduction of the Telepathic gene in
the Guild gene pool. The Guides had been less than forthcoming with their end of the bargain,
and so the Guild had decided to push the issue, and had ordered their senior most personnel
to complete the covenant, in any way, shape or form, damn the consequences.
And somehow Randy had done it, right under Galen's nose.
It couldn't be the child, as she wasn't wearing Assassin guild colors, and she had been
specifically designated to be a child of the Assassins' Guild. Unless Randy had something
up his scarlet covered sleeve, and I suddenly wondered which side he was really on.
Randy Morrison. Assassin-Master. Guild Head.
I was informed at the Guild meeting that she was onboard the station, and I ordered
the Victory Assassin to have her meet me in the DarkStar. We would hook up, and then leave
together to return to my quarters, with everyone thinking that she was my latest sexual
conquest. Sometimes, it is useful to have the reputation of being a sexual reprobate.
Little did they know that the Guild would do more than frown on that proposition.
She had no idea who I was, but I had been keeping a paternal eye on her and her career,
marveling at her accomplishments. There had been successful fusions of the Telepath gene
into the Assassins' Guild before her conception, but I was proud to say that she was the
very best.
Wonderful. So appropriate that I would use my... OUR... daughter to avenge
our Master's death.
"Lt. Randene?" I smiled my most harmless smile when we were in my quarters.
"That's a rather unusual name. It means... warrior's wolf, I believe. Old English,
I believe. May I call you... Alyxa?"
She appeared somewhat in awe that the head of the Assassins' Guild was talking to her,
and I planned on using it to my advantage. My... daughter blushed, and assured me that
I could.
"That's a rather unusual name. Alyxandra Carmelita Randene. Pardon me for being
rude, do you know anything about your parentage?" It was a common enough question
among the Guild, as some of our families had been in the Guild for generations, and others,
like myself, were Johnny-Come-Latelies. Guild Mistress Siobhan had probably named her,
as Siobhan had placed strong emphasis on genetics. My daughter had been named after the
ship she had been conceived on, her mother, and myself. I smiled again slightly.
Her eyes darkened and her anger came forth. "Yes, my blessed mother, the Mind-Freak,
cursed me before I was born, and wished that I would never be born. As for my father, he
was an Assassin, that's all anybody knows, which is why a bastard Telepath-Mute like me
was accepted into the Guild. Inquisitor Galen delights in telling me that whenever he sees
me. Guild Mistress Siobhan refused to tell me anything about my parents, saying that I
didn't need to know."
I hit her, hard, once across the face. She might be my kin, but Alyxa needed to learn
manners and respect quickly. My daughter hit the wall hard, and she looked frightened by
my response.
"Don't you ever say that about your mother. She was terrified when she found herself
in the position of having a pregnancy that hadn't been Guide approved. It shouldn't have
happened, but your father followed his instructions from the Guild and easily achieved
his objective of mating with an Avatar that was being prepped for Avatar insemination.
He watched and he waited, and when the time was correct, he flew her."
I had been gentle with her, surprising both her and myself , and I had flown her for
hours, until at last the two of us had merged completely. She had lain in my arms for hours
afterwards, quiet and still, and I had stroked her hair, urging her to fall asleep.
"He didn't force her, you understand, but he deceived her, easily as she was barely
more than a child, seducing her with softly spoken words and the gentlest of caresses into
allowing the flight to take place. Galen was delayed elsewhere, unable to protect his fertile
Avatar from the Assassin."
"She tried to hide her pregnancy, but she knew it was futile, as sooner or later,
Galen would find out. When her belly first began to swell, she begged the Assassin to kill
her to save her from the Inquisitor's Wrath, but he refused her, offering her what he could
in the terms of protection. The child was a child of the Guild, and the Guild would not
allow her mother to be harmed. No Inquisitor has ever stood against the Wrath of the Guild."
I was telling her far too much, but I needed her to see that Galen was dangerous, and
who she should direct her anger against.
"Galen was furious and threatened her repeatedly until the Guild put him to rights.
Don't believe everything Galen tells you, even though it appears that the Guild holds him
in high regard. I spat that at her, and her eyes widened. It was close to blasphemy to
say that the Inquisitors had their own agenda and that they could not be trusted."
"Your mother was afraid for you, and the life you would lead, because of the fact
you were an Avatar-Assassin offspring. Galen would have willingly let the two of you die
because he believed you a mongrel."
I was pushing buttons, trying to find out how she reacted when she was angry. Would
her fury overwhelm her common sense? Or would she let her intelligence take over, guiding
and controlling her anger? The story of her conception and birth was not a pretty one,
but Alyxa needed to understand that it was now long past time to break the bond between
Inquisitor and Assassin.
Alyxa was still rubbing her jaw where I had hit her. "Really? Pardon me, Assassin-Guild-Master,"
her voice was cool and controlled, while her eyes blazed fire. "You seem to know a
lot about a simple girl like me."
"I was there when you were born. I heard your mother scream in her birth pangs,
and beg Galen for assistance, which he refused to give. Realizing that the Inquisitor would
let her die, she begged for help from the one who had fathered her child, reminding of
his repeated promises of protection. The Guild stepped in, and succored her as best we
could, but Galen did... NOTHING. If we had not been there, he would have let you die unborn.
He is no friend of yours, nor of your mother or your father. He despises our kind, believing
himself superior to me, to your mother, and yourself."
She worked her tongue against her jaw, appearing to be testing to see if her teeth were
intact, but I knew it was a ruse. Alyxa was stalling, trying to digest the information
I gave her.
"How strong are you?" I asked her bluntly. "Your mother is one of the
strongest Avatars in the fleet, which is why she was selected by the Guild. Galen has underestimated
her ability for years, not realizing that your mother was hiding her strength."
"I have not been tested. Guild Mistress Siobhan was uncertain what Galen's reaction
to that would be if he found out that I am not a Telepathic Mute. She believed that he
might decide to insist on my being returned to him for training as an Avatar." The
anger in her eyes had disappeared, but I knew that it was still lurking in her soul.
Rage.
That's what prepared me for her telekinetic outburst. She was furious, and it showed,
but she wasn't insanely furious, but instead controlled and rational in her attempts to
demonstrate her ability. First it was small things, pens, books, glasses, and soon she
was moving bigger items, chairs and tables.
I fought them off, some of them scoring on me, but others being deflected. That's when
she tried to mentally choke me. I felt my throat being closed, and I grabbed her, heaving
her against the wall. Perhaps I threw her too hard, as she blacked out, releasing her hold
upon me, but when one plays with fire, one should be prepared to be burned.
I restrained her, and I carefully cleaned her wounds, then I concentrated on my own.
Looking at my room, I decided that it was a complete loss and that Sinclair would end up
charging me for it. He would never get the money, of course, as I knew that at the most,
I had only a month left.
The Guild meeting had been informative, what with each Assassin reporting on their ship's
current status, who was in the rebellion wholeheartedly, who was feeling nervous, and who
were turncoats. The Assassin of the Victory had quietly reported that Galen had been visiting
Captain Anderson repeatedly in the last few weeks and that Anderson appeared to be being
groomed for a promotion.
His promotion would take place after my Master was killed. I knew that, so I had dismissed
the meeting soon afterwards, trying to place the game's pieces on the board. Who to trust?
Who would serve? Who could I use? And who would be my replacement?
It was time for the Guild to break the Covenant, and become our own Masters, as the
Guides had reneged on every point in the Covenant.
It was time to stop dying for something that brought us nothing. So when the rebellion
started, the Assassins, notoriously apolitical, would become involved and fight on the
side of my Master, killing the Masters who stood against his cause. It would be glorious,
as the Assassin on the Victory had promised that she would make sure that Anderson did
not survive his promotion to General for very long.
That left two potential problems, but hopefully, my daughter would be willing to kill
Galen for me. It was a matter of familial pride.
"Guild-Master," Alyxa's voice was subdued. "I wish to apologize, will
you release me?"
"No." I sat next to her, and began to stroke her hair. "Little one, you
should never attack a fellow Assassin, especially your Guild Master. For your penance,
you must promise me two things."
She surprised me, by asking permission to ask me a question.
"Go ahead," I was feeling a little too magnanimous, but after all, she was
Daddy's little girl.
"Papa?"
I had let my emotional control slip slightly when I had told her about Galen and his
treatment of her mother. That was enough for my child to pick up on who I really was.
Nodding my head, I admitted that she was correct.
"Did my mother ever stop hating me for what I was? How I was conceived?" Her
voice was soft, and for a moment, she sounded years younger than she was.
The question surprised me, and for a moment I recalled the first few minutes of her
life. Lyta had been so very terrified, with Galen, myself and other members of the Guild
present when she gave birth. Ed had been there, determined to give her some sort of emotional
support during her ordeal.
"When they came to take you away from her, just moments after you were finally
born, she begged and pleaded to see you. She never asked to see any from her other litters,
but she wanted to see you. Had to see you, screamed and begged just for one simple glance.
Galen refused, claiming that it would be better for all that she never laid eyes on you,
but I gave you to her, and she nursed you."
I wanted to stop, remembering how Lyta had crooned to our child while Alyxa had nursed
at her breast, but I found myself continuing. "I was punished most severely for that.
By Galen, the Guild and my Master who was furious over what I had done to Lyta. Galen was
going to punish her also, but I insisted that I be allowed to take her punishment. The
poor Avatar had been through so much... because of what she was, what I had done to her,
and everything else, that I had to do it. I had deceived a mere child on the express orders
of our Guild."
"Little one, she knows that I've kept an eye on you since you were born, as I have
always wished and wanted to acknowledge you. She asks me about you sometimes, hoping that
you are safe. You look so much like her, do you know that?"
Stopping my confession, I realized that my eyes were full of tears. Assassins never
cried, as our conditioning repressed our humanity, and destroyed any emotions besides the
darkest ones. I had lusted, angered, murdered and killed, and... somewhere along the line,
I had learned to love.
Perhaps that had been Maggie-Mistress' gift to me.
"You will kill Galen for me, as he has been and will continue to be responsible
for hurting the people I have ever cared for. Eddie, Lyta and you. So you will do it for
me, and you will make me and your mother so very, very proud."
"Yes, Papa. I will." She swore it, and then she hesitantly asked what else
I required from her.
"There is a man, named Matthew Gideon. During the rebellion, you will keep an eye
on him, and if he becomes a concern, you are to kill him. Immediately."
{1 And so it Begins} {2
Captain-Master & Executive Officer} {3 Captain-Master
& Assassin} {4 Battle Fatigue} {5
Story of an Avatar} {6 Story of a Captain-Master}
{7 Interlude} {8
General-Master & Assassin} {9 Babylon 5} {10 Lines are Drawn} {11
Alliances are Made} {12 Seeds of Rebellion} {13
The Storm Breaks} {14 Battle of the Light
Brigade} {15 "Theirs but to Do and Die"}
{16 "Valley of Death"} {17
"Jaws of Death"} {18 Finale}
{The
Main Gate} {HomePage}
{Wytches
World} {We
are Family} {A Little
Artistic Licence} {No, we don't
mean "A"riadne}
{Our
Home Is Our Castle}
{The
Witches' Diary} {Witches Familiars}
{The
Gateway} {Webrings}