Author's Note: Slight spoilers for season two premiere episode.
'This might not be such a bad place if I didn't get such a bad feeling from these people.' She thought to herself. 'I just have to wait for the right moment I suppose. Then I am getting out of here and finding Dylan and the others.'
Her thoughts began to wander to Dylan and how things had started changing between them over the last few months. They had started spending a lot more time together after the Magog attack. Most of it was just spent talking about anything but the Magog. But not too long ago the conversation had drifted to that subject.
Beka entered the dining area after her shift on watch. It was midnight and she had expected the room to be empty. However that was not the case. Dylan was seated at a table with a cup in front of him. His head was bowed, resting on his folded arms.
"Hey," she said quietly, coming up behind him. "What's the matter? Couldn't you sleep?"
Dylan jumped at the sound of her voice.
"No," he said. "I couldn't. What about you? What are you doing in here so late?"
Beka poured herself a cup of coffee and got something to eat before joining him at the table.
"Just got off duty and needed a little bedtime snack." She replied. "So do you want to talk about it?"
"About what?"
"Come on Dylan, I have had enough 'had a nightmare and don't want to go back to sleep' nights myself to recognize the symptoms in others."
"That obvious huh?" he said with a small grin.
"Well I assume it was a nightmare. If it was the other type of 'keep me awake for the rest of the night' dream, you would probably be in the showers, not the dining area." She answered with a grin of her own.
Dylan laughed and shook his head. "I assume you have had your share of those dreams as well?"
"Now don't you go trying to change the course of this conversation Mister," she said, shaking her finger in front of his face. "We were discussing your dreams not mine. Now tell me what has you awake at this hour."
When he hesitated she reached across the table placing her hand on top of his.
"It will help to talk about it, Dylan."
Turning his hand so that he held her small hand in his larger one he began to talk.
"It was about the Magog attack. Only in my dream I couldn't fight them. I just stood there as they attacked. They were killing everyone and I just stood there." He couldn't continue speaking and once again bowed his head.
Beka quickly came around the table and put her arm around Dylan's shoulder.
"Dylan it was just a dream. It didn't happen. You did everything you could and you saved Harper and Tyr. You saved them and the Magog are gone for now," she said running her hand reassuringly up and down his back.
Dylan raised his head and looked at her. The despair and sadness she saw on his face nearly broke her heart.
"But what about next time Beka? What if I can't fight them next time? What if I can't save everyone?"
"You will Dylan. We will fight them together and we will win. We have to."
She sounded so sure of herself that Dylan immediately felt a small degree of relief.
Shaking his head ruefully he said, "You are right Beka. We will fight them and win. Together."
They stared at each other neither wanting to spoil the moment. Ever so slowly they moved toward each other. After a brief hesitation their lips touched lightly in a gentle kiss. They drew back after a moment and again just looked at each other.
Smiling gently Beka broke the silence. "You should go back to bed and get some sleep, Dylan."
Laughing he replied, "Actually I was thinking of heading for the showers first."
The door to the room opening interrupted her thoughts. Reenia entered carrying a bundle wrapped in plain brown paper.
"I have brought you some more clothes Goddess," she said. "I believe they will fit you quite well. After you are dressed I will take you to the dining hall to join Lord Tourk."
"Reenia will you please tell me what is going on here?" Beka pleaded with the woman. "Why does everyone keep insisting I am some kind of Goddess and just what is it that you people think I can do for you?"
"Lord Tourk will explain everything to you when the time is right," Reenia replied.
"You people have no right to keep me here against my will!" Beka yelled.
"I am sorry but whether we have the right or not doesn't matter. We have no choice. Our people's existence depends on you and we will do whatever we must to insure our survival. Now you must hurry and get dressed. My God Tourk is waiting."
****
After an hour in the village Dylan and Tyr were no closer to reaching Beka than before they arrived. The only information they had obtained was the fact that there were only six horses in the entire village and all six had left that morning with Beka.
"I suppose this means we are walking all the way to the palace." Tyr stated. "You do realize that it will take all day and most of the night to reach it?"
"That may be too late." Dylan said. "I have another idea."
****
Part 12
****
Rommie cut the transmission from Dylan and re-entered the Maru. Harper looked up from the console he was currently working on as she entered.
"What's up Rommie? Where are the parts you were going to bring in?"
"Sorry, Harper. Dylan just called me. They haven't caught up with Beka yet but they do know where she is. She was taken to the palace of someone called Lord Tourk. They need the pod in order to reach her in time."
"In time for what?" Harper asked nervously.
"I wish I knew, Harper," the avatar replied. "I am going to take the pod to the village where Dylan and Tyr are waiting. Then we will go to the palace and get her back. Dylan wants you to continue working on the Maru. He wants it ready when we get back."
"I'll do my best but I can't make any promises." He sighed. "She's pretty bad off."
"Just do what you can Harper and be careful. Keep the doors locked at all times. Dylan said the villagers had arranged an ambush for them and they do know where the ship is."
"Yeah thanks for the heads up Rom-Doll. That makes me feel loads better.
****
Dylan and Tyr waited in a field a short distance from the village. They had been silent for the past ten minutes.
"I still do not trust these peasants to leave us alone," Tyr said. "I am going to circle the edge of the village on look-out."
The only answer he received was a non-committal grunt. Shaking his head in exasperation at Dylan's distraction, Tyr turned and headed back toward the village.
Dylan barely noticed when Tyr left. He was thinking back over the conversation he and Beka had right before she left on the supply run.
****FLASHBACK****
Dylan entered the docking bay looking around for his first officer. He noticed her almost immediately, sitting on the boarding ramp of the Eureka Maru. She was reading a flexi and had not noticed his entry into the room. He took a moment to watch her. It was rare that he saw her when she was at ease. Since they had encountered the Magog and their world ship she had been worried about everyone including him. He still felt bad for laying his self-doubts and worries at her feet the night she had found him after his nightmares but she had never complained. She had reassured him that night and all the other sleepless nights that followed. Those nightmares rarely plagued him any more thanks solely to her. He looked closely at her face.
'Yes,' he thought sadly, 'there are a couple more worry lines than she had before but at least the dark circles under her eyes are about gone. That is probably because she is actually sleeping again since Harper's cure.' Dylan offered a silent prayer once again to whatever deity had led them to the small planet that had held the answer to the young man's survival.
Shaking his head he returned his gaze and thoughts to Beka.
'She definitely has lost weight as well. I will have to remember to tell Rommie to make sure she eats regularly.'
His thoughts were interrupted by a very amused sounding voice.
"Are you going to stand there all day looking at me or are you going to tell me what you want?" Beka asked looking up at him for the first time since he had entered the docking bay.
"How long have you known I was there?" he asked trying to sound stern but failing miserably. There was no way he could possibly be mad when she was looking at him with that trademark grin of hers that melted his heart.
"Awhile," she said. "So what's up?"
"Harper wants you to try and find these parts on your supply run." He said, sitting beside her and handing her another flexi.
She looked it over and then set it inside the door of the Maru along with the one she had been reading earlier.
"No problem. Was there anything else?"
"Yes," he said, "I still want you to take someone with you. I don't like the idea of you being alone. Too many things could happen."
Beka sighed and resisted the urge to scream out loud. They had had this conversation several times in the past two days and she was tired of it. She was tired of him being overprotective. She was tired of worrying about everyone on board. But mostly she was just tired. She yearned for some peace and solitude.
"Dylan, please understand that being alone is exactly the reason I don't want anyone else going with me. I need some time alone away from everyone and everything. And I don't want us to argue about it again. Please."
Dylan looked at her for a moment debating with himself as to whether or not he should push the idea of someone joining her. Looking into her eyes he realized just how exhausted she really was. Not physical exhaustion, but emotional.
Reaching up he gently laid his hand against the side of her face. She nuzzled her cheek against his palm.
"Promise me you will be careful and will keep in touch. I don't want you taking any chances or getting yourself into any trouble."
"Me? Get into trouble? That'll never happen," she said with a laugh.
Shaking his head Dylan laughed along with her.
"Yes and Tyr will dance the hula in full drag," he replied.
"Ooh now that is something I would pay to see," she answered.
Still grinning he leaned down and gently kissed her forehead.
"Take whatever time you need Beka but I want you to come back to me safe and sound."
"I promise Dylan. I will be back before you can miss me."
****PRESENT TIME****
'You were wrong Beka. I miss you. I have missed you since the moment you left.' He thought sadly to himself. 'But I will bring you back safe and sound. I promise you that.'
****
Beka dressed slowly trying to put off the inevitable as long as possible. She didn't want to join Tourk for lunch. She wanted nothing more than to run as fast as she could back to her ship and pray she could make it off this planet. But she was well guarded and knew she needed to bide her time if she ever wanted to see Dylan and the others again. And at the moment she wanted nothing more than to see them all. Especially Dylan.
****
Dylan was wrenched from his memories by the sound of Tyr repeatedly calling his name.
"What is happening?" Dylan asked quickly drawing his weapon.
"The two from the ambush have arrived and the villagers do not seem to be taking the fact that we killed two of their own very well. Shall we fight or do we hide like cowards, Captain Hunt, so that we may avoid harming the innocents?" Tyr's voice was laced with sarcasm though his face was perfectly composed.
"Remind me to have you work on your diplomatic skills when we return to the Andromeda. As for hiding or fighting we do neither. Our ride is here."
The lancer pod set down a short distance from the two men. The door opened and Rommie emerged to greet them. As she approached them she detected the faint sounds of the enraged villagers. "What is your plan, Captain Hunt?" Tyr asked.
"You and I are going to pay our respects to the local royalty. And hopefully while we meet new friends we will recover an old friend as well."
"Rommie, I want you to return to Harper. The villagers aren't too happy with us right now and may decide to take up their grievances with him. You should be able to make it back to the Maru in a couple of hours on foot. Do whatever is necessary to protect him. Even if it means abandoning the Maru."
"Understood Captain," Rommie replied. She turned to go but after a brief hesitation turned back to them. "Dylan, I want you to... I mean tell Beka...." She did not seem to be able to get the sentence out.
"Don't worry Rommie, we will be careful and we ARE going to get Beka back. I promise."
He seemed so sure of himself that Rommie was convinced. Nodding once she turned and without looking back began to make her way back to Harper and the Maru.
"You seem pretty sure of our chances of success." Tyr commented as they made their way toward the pod.
"We will get her back Tyr. Even if I have to take their `God Tourk' and his palace apart piece by piece to find her."
****
Beka followed Reenia down the corridor leading to the dining hall. The only sound was the echo of their footfalls.
`Why does it feel as though I am being marched to my death?' Beka thought darkly. `Maybe I am just imagining things. After all they haven't done anything to mistreat me.' `Yet' her subconscious added.
They reach the end of the corridor and two guards opened the enormous doors, which Beka assumed led to the dining area. She entered to find herself in a large room filled with a dozen long tables. Tourk was seated at the head table alone.
"Come, join me Beka my dear. We have much to discuss and our meal grows cold," he said.
Beka began to move toward the table. After a few steps she realized that Reenia had not entered the room after her and that she was alone with a man who considered himself a God.
`Not a good situation Valentine.' She thought as she took the seat opposite Tourk.
****
Part 14
****
Dinner passed slowly for Beka. Tourk refused to speak of anything important while they dined. He spoke about the weather and crops, about the palace and the lands surrounding it. He asked her dozens of questions about her ship and friends but did not seem particularly interested in her answers when she gave them.
The meal was finally cleared away and Beka was determined to finally have her answers.
"O.K. Tourk," she said leaning back in her seat and crossing her arms defiantly across her chest. "I want to know just what it is that gives you the right to think you can keep me here against my wishes. And then I want to get the Hell out of here."
"Direct and to the point I see." Tourk said smiling charmingly at her. "As I said earlier my dear, you are here to be our salvation."
"Yes and you also said you would answer my questions." She said glaring at him.
"Very well my dear but it is a very long and twisted tale."
"Yes, well as it seems I am not going anywhere, YET," she said glancing at the guards standing at the door, "I have plenty of time."
"You are here as I said, to save our people. The prophecy said you would come to us." "What prophesy?"
"Many years ago, our people were wronged by a race of cruel beings. Our medicine woman prophesized that before the end of one thousand years a Goddess would fall from the sky to save our people by breaking the curse. You are that Goddess, Beka." He said. "You have to be," he added so quietly that she almost missed it.
"What do you mean I have to be?"
"Because it has been nine hundred and ninety nine years and one month since the curse was laid upon us. We only have eleven months to break the curse before it becomes permanent."
"I think you had better start at the beginning and tell me everything."
"As you wish My Lady." Tourk sighed and relaxed in his chair as he began his tale. "I suppose the story began over two thousand years ago. Our people were simple farmers. We were peaceful and did not have much contact with other worlds. Occasionally a ship would come to our world for their own purposes but we did not have space flight capabilities or technology of any sort. The one thing we did possess was elemental magic."
"Magic?" Beka said disbelievingly.
"Yes. Our people had the ability to harness the very spirit of the planet we lived on. We were able to use this magic for many things such as medicine and healing. We used it to help grow our crops and raise our livestock. It wasn't much but many misunderstood it and many more desired it for themselves. This led to rumors and many people began coming to our world to try and steal what was ours. After many years they began to band together in an attempt to destroy us and take our magic for their own. Our king at that time was my, well he was my ancestor and was a great and powerful ruler. Using all the magic our people possessed he was able to transport our entire race to another world right before our home world was attacked. We lived in peace once again for many years but eventually the stories and superstitions began again."
"Transported you how?" Beka asked. "You said you have no space flight."
"King Atrimus was able to harness the energy of our planet and use that energy to carry our entire population to another world. I am not sure how he did it as all records of our peoples magic were later destroyed by the Demons."
"Demons?"
"That is the only name we have ever been able to give to our enemy. If any of our people knew their true name it was never spoken or written to be passed along to us."
"After King Atrimus transported us we lived in peace years with only the occasional visitor from outside our world. Because of what happened before we were hesitant to allow word of our people to leave our new home. But as stories and rumors have a way of traveling, people soon learned of our magic and once again those looking to take what did not belong to them besieged us. Again our king moved us and again after that. Then, nearly a thousand years ago we faced our greatest challenge. The Demons came and tried to take our magic for themselves. We resisted and our King fought them. Unfortunately they greatly outnumbered us and possessed magic abilities of their own. They destroyed our magic and our chances of ever recovering it. They killed King Atrimus. Then, as a last insult they cursed our females so that they were all made barren."
"But that is not possible," Beka started but Tourk did not seem to hear her as he continued.
"But we will have the last laugh. My father left the legacy of our magic to me. I will recover it all and avenge our people. The Demons made two fatal errors that will cost them their lives. Even as the curse was spoken our Medicine Woman spoke the prophecy that would one day save us and restore to us all our magic. And King Atrimus was able to hide his greatest magic from them. He left it to his heir so that the magic could once again belong to his people. So that I could bring back what was stolen from us. And when that has happened we will seek out our enemy and utterly destroy them." Tourk's voice had been steadily rising as he spoke and he ended his tirade by pounding his fist upon the table, knocking over glasses, and shattering a plate that sat close by him.
Beka had risen from the table and backed away, alarmed at the change in Tourk's behavior. The charming ruler was gone completely, replaced by an evil, enraged man hell-bent on revenge. She turned to leave the room only to be stopped by the guards at the door.
Tourk rose as well and walked towards her. Planting her feet firmly and standing tall, Beka faced him.
"You are insane. That story makes no sense. There is no way it could be true."
"Oh it is true my dear," Tourk replied having calmed down and regained his composure. "Which part do you find unbelievable?"
"How about every single word?" Beka spat out. "How could your people still exist if the females were made barren a thousand years ago? How could a person transport an entire race? And how could this King Atrimus have been there to transport you originally and then been there again to fight off these `Demons' a thousand years after that? How could a medicine woman possibly predict what would happen a thousand years after that? And never mind the fact that MAGIC IS NOT REAL!" Beka yelled this last part as she advanced upon Tourk. "You are mad and I want out of here."
With a quickness that caught her off guard, Tourk backhanded Beka, knocking her across the room. Walking to where she laid, Tourk reached down and grabbing her arm pulled her to her feet. He then forced Beka into a chair. Reaching deep into the folds of his clothing, he pulled out a thick chain. A large amulet hung from the chain, a deep blue stone embedded in its center. Tourk held the chain up so that the stone reflected the light. He spent several seconds gazing into its depths as if seeing all the answers in the universe.
"The story is true Beka, most of it anyway," he said grinning roguishly. "It is true and there is so much more to the story." He paused for a moment looking at her. "You are very different from the other women that have come here. You actually seem to possess a brain so perhaps you can understand."
"Understand what? And what others? She asked.
Ignoring her questions he continued. "The story is true except for the part where I said my people were simple farmers. We were GODS. And now because of you we shall become so once again."
"And just how am I supposed to accomplish that?" she asked sarcastically.
Ignoring her sarcasm he continued to explain.
"My people are an ancient race. We have existed since the beginning of time. We long ago abandoned our home world to travel to other worlds, to rule other races." He chuckled and added, "We even lived on Earth for a while when it was just beginning to become civilized. My father used to tell me stories of our ancestors and how Zeus, the first of our family to rule, would toy with the humans on that pitiful little planet. They were worshipped as Gods, the way we should be."
"You want me to believe that your ancestors were the Gods from Earth's ancient mythology? They are just myths. They weren't real." Beka stated firmly. "They couldn't have been real." She said much more quietly.
"Oh, they were real. But while the people of earth thought them Gods from their world they were simply.... Visitors. They grew tired of that planet and moved on. Except for a few, who thought the planet and its people had potential. They stayed behind which is why magic has been such an important part of Earth's history. There was this one member of my family who was particularly fond of the backwards people of that world. Hercules was his name I think. But I am rambling. Do you begin to see what I have been explaining Beka? Do you understand all that my people once were and deserve to be again?"
"Ok let me see if I have this straight." Beka decided that humoring him was her best bet at the moment. "Your ancestors lived on Earth and were what the humans considered mythical Gods. Only they weren't myths, they were just visiting. And Hercules, the famous half-god hero of thousands of children's tales was a member of your family?"
"Yes." He stated simply as though it was the easiest thing in the world to believe.
"I still don't understand how Atrimus could be alive for more than a thousand years."
"Then you probably wouldn't believe me if I said I was two thousand and eighteen years old and that King Atrimus was my father," he said jokingly.
Beka just stared at him.
"As I said the Demons made two errors when they attacked us. The first was that King Atrimus was able to hide his most powerful magical artifact, an amulet of great power. This amulet," he said raising it once again. "I have spent many years trying to recover its secrets and recently I have discovered how to control a small portion of its power. The second mistake they made was allowing our Medicine woman to make her prophecy. With the last of her own considerable power, she spoke the words and made them truth."
He closed his eyes and began to recite from memory.
`Before a thousand years have passed, the day shall come when a great leader will take the throne of our People. And he shall join with his one true love, the Goddess from the Sky, to become the saviors of our people. From their bonding shall come a child, whose life source, given to the spirit of the world, shall release us from the curse laid upon us.'
"Do you not see Beka? You are the one the prophecy spoke of. As am I. All we need to do is have a child together. Once the child's life is sacrificed in the Giving Ceremony, the curse on my people will be broken. I will avenge my father and what was done to us. Then together we shall rule, not only this planet but the entire universe as well."
For a minute Beka was too shocked to speak. Did this madman really think she would love him, that she would willingly have his child so that he could sacrifice it in order to recover a magic that could not possibly exist? Trying to hide the fact that her entire body was shaking Beka stood and began shaking her head in defiance.
"It will never happen Tourk. I will not be made a pawn in your insane fantasies. And I would never allow you to sacrifice a child, my child. I would die first."
"My brave, beautiful Beka. Perhaps you are not so different from the others. They all said the same thing. But they were unable to stop me, as you will be unable to. You cannot fight your destiny. We will be bonded at sunset today. And then tonight we shall begin making the next part of the prophecy a reality."
Turning on his heel, he left the room. Once she was alone, Beka sank to the floor, too shocked to move further.
****
A.N. sorry about the Hercules reference. I hadn't planned it as part of the story but it snuck in and I couldn't resist leaving it. ****
Part 15
****
Beka wasn't aware of how long she sat on the dining hall floor. Time seemed to have stopped for her. All she was aware of was Tourk's words echoing in her mind.
`My brave, beautiful Beka. Perhaps you are not so different from the others. They all said the same thing. But they were unable to stop me, as you will be unable to. You cannot fight your destiny. We will be bonded at sunset today. And then tonight we shall begin making the next part of the prophecy a reality.'
`We will be bonded at sunset today. And then tonight we shall begin making the next part of the prophecy a reality.'
"Like Hell we will!" she exclaimed finally coming out of her reverie. She ran to the door and began pounding on it. One of the guards opened the door but before she could try any form of escape, Reenia and Neffa entered.
"Come Lady, we must start preparing you for tonight's bonding ceremony. We have only a few hours until sunset," Reenia stated.
"Look, I hate to spoil your fun but I am not really the marrying type. I can't cook or clean. I snore loudly and steal all the blankets. I am sure your `God' deserves someone much better than me. So why don't we just call this off and part as friends?"
"I am afraid not my Lady. You will bond with Lord Tourk tonight at sunset., Neffa said adding, "One way or another."
"I am not bonding with that man or anybody else, thank you very much." Beka tried to push her way past the two women but the guards barred her way.
"I am afraid you have no choice," Neffa said. "Our people must be saved and you are the only one available to do the job. So many others have failed and our time is nearly up. You will join with Tourk to create the child that is necessary for us to regain our magic. Once we have our magic back, our females will once again be able to conceive children and our race shall continue."
"You said others have failed. How many times have you forced unwilling women to be subjected to this horror?" Beka asked though she was unsure if she truly wanted to know the answer.
"Lord Tourk recovered the power of the amulet that allows him to bring space travelers down to our world about one hundred and fifty years ago. We have attempted to break the curse many dozens of times since but each has failed. This time we shall succeed. I am sure of it," the old women responded.
Beka felt sick to her stomach. The words `many dozens of times' screamed repeatedly in her brain. She thought for a moment she would pass out.
"You people are monsters! How could you kill dozens of innocent babies? And the mothers, what did you do to them?"
"When we realized they were not the Goddess from our prophecy we had no choice but to kill them," Reenia said as calmly as if she were talking of the weather.
Beka began to laugh almost hysterically.
"You are insane. You won't get away with this. My friends will come for me."
"Your friends, if they do come, will never even get as far as the village before they are stopped. And even if they should make it to the village, without horses they will never get here to the palace before sunset."
Grasping at straws Beka asked, "How can you even believe this prophecy? How could some silly words spoken by a silly medicine woman a thousand years ago possibly be accurate?"
"Those `silly words' were spoken and made truth by magic. And that `silly medicine woman' was me." Neffa said sharply. "Enough of this. We must get you ready for the ceremony." Turning on her heel she strode from the room. Reenia gave Beka a little shove towards the door. Having no choice with the guards watching, Beka slowly followed her out the door.
****
The pod landed in an open field. They had chosen the location because it was hidden behind a dense copse of trees not far from the rear wall of the palace.
"It shouldn't take us more than an hour to reach the palace." Tyr said. "I suggest we wait until dark before moving any closer."
"We don't have the time to wait. We have to get as close as we can now so we can be ready for whatever is going to happen."
"And exactly what do you think is going to happen in the next few hours that warrants exposing ourselves to possible capture?"
"I am not sure exactly," Dylan answered honestly. "But I have a bad feeling that something is going to happen soon."
"A bad feeling?" Tyr repeated with what could almost pass as a smile. "You have been spending too much time with the purple girl. Her bad habits are starting to show on you as well."
"Perhaps, but considering how many times Trance's `feelings' have saved my life, and yours, I am not going to complain."
"Point conceded," Tyr said dryly. "Shall we go then?"
"We shall." Dylan said turning and walking toward the palace.
`Hang on Beka, we're coming.' He thought as they left the landing site.
****
****