Cat And Mouse

by Lyta


Disclaimer:  Earth: Final Conflict and its characters are copyrighted by Tribune Entertainment Company.  All rights reserved.



Note from Author:      I rewatched (again) the Crossfire Promo and one clip stuck out in my head. This is based on speculation from spoilers and may be totally off base.



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Liam Kincaid led Jonathan Doors into the empty Flat Planet Cafe's back room. With the curfew in place, the bar had been closed but Liam lived above the bar and had a key to the back door. It would be dangerous to remain here long, but they needed to wait out the curfew until he could move Doors to a Resistance safe house.

"Who do you think it was that attacked us?" Doors asked. He looked odd to Liam in his tan jacket and plaid shirt. Then again, Liam had usually only seen him in suits.

"I don't know for sure, but there have been rumors about a warrior implant. Maybe he was one of those." Liam said distractedly.

"You're worried about Augur." Doors stated.

"Yes, I don't know if he got away." He said softly, then Liam was startled by the sudden chirp of his global.

It was Lili, Liam could'nt see much of her location, it was too dark.

"Lili, where are you?" He exclaimed.

"I'm on a cloaked Jaridian ship." She responded. Liam was about to question her when she added, "Julia and Augur are being held on the mothership. The prisoners will be forced to talk sooner or later, Liam."

"I know." Liam said carefully.

"Zo'or is taking advantage of this opportunity to destroy the resistance. From what I saw of Sandoval's progress...they're wiping us out!"

"How bad?" Doors injected.

If Lili was surprised to hear from him, she did not show it. "We've lost thirty percent of our cells. The only thing saving us is the Taelons don't know how big our group really is. The European resistance got wind of our situation and has scattered. They seem to be focusing on the American resistance, but are by no means ignoring the rest of the world. I contacted Halley, they have'nt come for them yet, but they are moving to a secondary base only she and her second in command know about in case they've been compromised."

"My global has been fried, its a long story. Can you warn the other cells?" Liam asked.

"Halley's taking care of that. What is your status?"

"Liam, Augur and I were ambushed. We're safe for now but with the curfew in effect we don't dare try anything." Doors sighed. "There also is no way to know if he identified Liam, so using his position with the companions..."

"Sit tight. I think I have an idea that could distract the hunt. Liam, I'm going to have to go, I'm entering orbit around the dark side of the moon and the transmition won't be able to reach you soon." Lili told them.

Liam nodded. "I understand. See you soon."

"Take care of yourselves, both of you."

"We will." Doors told her.

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Liam leaned against the wall, then turned to face Doors with a strange expression. "We both know alot about the Resistance. Any ideas on if we'er caught and interrogated?"

Doors smiled coldly. "Belman told me the Taelons use a specific chemical in their interogations. There is a small device planted in my body, if the chemical is introduced into my bloodstream then another chemical will be released that will have a fatal reaction. You?"

"Very few know my true nature. Not even Julia. I'll use my shaquarava." He sighed. "If nothing else just flashing them might get one of the Volunteers to skrill me."

They stood in silence for a moment. Then both jumped up at the sound of approaching footsteps. Liam readied his gun and quietly moved into the hall. Without warning he was shoved against a wall, the weapon falling from his hand. He was too surprised to use his shaquarava, a Volunteer skrilled him into unconciousness a moment later.

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Da'an was surprised to be arrested and escorted to a holding cell until he saw an unconcious Liam lying in a crumpled heap on the floor. He knelt beside his protector and was able to rouse him after a few moments.

Liam's green eyes blinked rapidly as he reconciled his current circumstances with recent events.

"Da'an?" He questioned. "What's going on?"

"That is what I would like to know Major." Zo'or said from behind them. He was accompanied by a skrill wielding Volunteer.

Zo'or deactivated the force field and stepped up to Da'an. Taking advantage of the Volunteer's focus on the Taelons, Liam hit her with a small shaquarava blast. She fell quietly to the floor.

Zo'or was speechless. He stared at Liam's glowing shaquarava.

Liam motioned Da'an out of the cell and shoved Zo'or in after knocking him out as well. He activated the containment field.

It was easy to free Julia, Doors and Augur and to relieve the guards of their weaponry. Too easy, Liam thought. They were headed for the shuttle bay when the alarm sounded.

Liam noticed Sandoval and two armed Volunteers approaching. He motioned Da'an to lead the others to the shuttle bay and prepared to make a sizable diversion, when Sandoval spotted him and raised his skrill to fire. Liam activated his shaquarava.

The look on his human father's face was priceless.

Sandoval motioned for the two Volunteers to back off. They stood there facing each other for a long moment before the mothership was unexpectedly rocked. The Volunteers fired, one hitting Liam in the shoulder and the other's blast catching Sandoval.

Liam winced and fired, the energy flinging the two Volunteers against the wall. He picked up Sandoval's global and called Lili. She was surprised to see him and stopped her assault on the mothership temporarily.

Liam suddenly collapsed to the floor as another Volunteer fired...

To be continued