Choosing So Carefully

by Seven


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



Author's Note: During "Crossfire"



**********



"Arrest Da'an."

As Sandoval entered the bridge, Zo'or's satisfied voice rang in his ears like a bad echo. He held up a hand to the armed Volunteers, and began to button his coat. He wasn't entirely certain why his appearance in front of the Taelon he had previously served mattered so much, but it did. To him.

Da'an was looking out the window, motionless, his back to Sandoval. "Agent Sandoval. I have been expecting you," he said softly. Sandoval lowered his head and swallowed, trying to keep his face under control. He walked over to Da'an and asked, "Hold out your hands, please."

Da'an turned to the implant and held out his hands, palms up. Sandoval deftly strapped the cuffs around Da'an's wrists, and activated them. The cuffs snapped together with a jolting finality.

****

Sandoval waved the forcefield away from the holding area while the Volunteers kept their weapons trained on Da'an. Not that it mattered, Sandoval thought. Da'an would not try to escape, and he also knew that it was physically impossible. Sandoval touched the cylinder and Da'an's cuffs snapped apart, as Sandoval waved the forcefield back.

"Leave," he ordered the Volunteers, who immediately turned and left. Sandoval watched as Da'an walked slowly to the far wall of the cell and leaned against it, eyes closed, back to Sandoval.

Sandoval couldn't stand it any more, he ran away.

****

"Even now, you do not serve the Synod or even Zo'or, as much as you serve your own ambition..." Da'an had never realized how much those words had hurt Sandoval.

Sandoval leaned against the doorway to the Volunteers's quarters. Most of them were on Earth, rounding up Resistance members, so there was virtually no one there. He took a shuddering breath. He had arrested Da'an.

*At Zo'or's wishes,* he tried to convince himself. *I serve Zo'or, and he told me to arrest Da'an. My personal feelings have no connection to this.* But it was a lie, and Sandoval knew it. His deactivated MI no longer allowed him the excuse of being an implant, not to himself.

But he could do no more. If Zo'or told him to do anything at all to Da'an, Sandoval could not. He would not.