I'm posting this at the request of jaxomsride who was curious...

I've been writing another story series, not B7. It is a bit like an AU in that I've taken the dystopian world setting plus 'borrowed' a couple of characters but have changed them. I will also be using some of my OCs from the other story and slotting them in here but in different ways.

Rating: Gen
Genre: Drama

Synopsis: The Confederated Worlds have been under siege for a millennium, ever since the curious Terrans managed to venture beyond their own galaxy towards Andromeda. In desperation, a confederation of the strongest planets, with Earth being at the forefront, have formed a united Empire to fight off each wave of invasion and incursion.

Unfortunately, out of a need for an iron fist and harsh discipline, whose sole purpose was the protection and survival of its citizens, the Confederation Empire has become increasingly totalitarian. Its once noble goals have become excuses for escalating oppression of its citizens. Corrupt, power-hungry leaders are the norm rather than the exception.

Into this world we find our heroes, Adrian Stannis, a cold, brilliant loner trying to stay out of the clutches of the power hungry, and Kali Tranton, a humanoid alien with psi abilities, whose world has escaped the oppression of the Confederation Empire - until now.

When the story begins, they are both serving as far from 'civilization' as one could possibly get, on a science and deep space exploration vessel, the C.S.S. Sedener.

**********

Why does time seem so slow when you're waiting for something to happen? Was it simply a trick of the mind or was there a dimension you entered, a special mocking place, where time expanded just to drive you crazy?

Kali drummed impatient fingers along the rounded edge of her control panel. The solitude of the bridge was eerie during the night shift. The slight energy-hum of various ships’ systems, normally ignored, were magnified in the absence of other noises, and gave the room a cavernous, echoing feel.

Where was Adrian? They'd arranged to have this shift together - or rather, she did, and he didn't object - but his tactical station was conspicuously empty. It was highly unusual for him to be this overdue, or late at all, for that matter. The man was so punctual you could set a time indicator by him.

Something had to be wrong, and he was going to be in trouble if he didn't have a good reason for being missing from his post. She sensed nothing from him. He was completely closed to her, as if he was trying to block her psi senses.

Where was he? If he didn't check into his station soon, his lapse would be logged in for review by the first officer. Then Adrian would be in real trouble.

Being a deep space exploration/science vessel, the C.S.S. Sedener tended to be more lax in discipline than the regular Confederation Empire's military ships, but even here, not showing up was not an option.

If he put himself on the radar of the first officer, Kali shuddered to think what might happen.

Sub-Commander Barker, the First, as he liked to call himself - though the crew had far more colourful names for him when he was out of earshot - didn't like Adrian. He had a real hatred of anyone who was smarter than he was, and Adrian didn't bother to hide his intelligence.

Unfortunately, Barker was the Empire's eyes and ears on the ship. Anyone who stepped out of line, or committed any of the thousands of infractions deemed harmful to the security of the Empire, was subject to a sliding scale of disciplinary measures, from a stiff reprimand, up to physical punishment for the lower ranks, or psychological adjustments for the officers.

Barker and his people loved their work, moreso because they were a sadistic lot – Kali suspected – than for an actual love of the Empire. On the Sedener, there was little scope for their ‘talents’. Infractions tended to be minor. The only one immune to their attentions was the Captain, but even he was wary of attracting Barker's suspicions.

Adrian had not felt the "wrath of Barker" yet. His mind was far too valuable to risk the "retraining" methods employed for officers. Not to mention he was a First in the Privilege Levels, born one and tested as one.

Unless there was a gross breach of discipline, Adrian could not be touched. Not showing up for his duty, without a good reason - like being on his deathbed or captured by aliens - would definitely qualify as a severe violation.

Should she use her psi abilities to contact him? The use of her talents made Adrian nervous - it seemed like an invasion of privacy when she used them on him - so she refrained from projecting her voice into his mind without his permission.

Kali was a humanoid alien from Tellar in Sector 5. She was human enough in all the right places, with only a few minor, internal differences, hardly noticeable unless you were into dissecting bodies or were in the medical profession. With her jet-black hair - cut regulation short for females - sharp grey eyes, thin, athletic build and black officer's uniform, she seemed like any other Terran woman onboard.

The only other obvious differences were her psi abilities. She was fully telepathic among her own people but with humans, it was limited to sensing emotional states and projecting her voice into their minds. It was a haphazard thing at best, except with those she was closest to. On this ship full of humans, her closest human friend was Adrian, their resident computer specialist and all-round scientific genius. It was ironic since he was the one person on the ship who shunned personal relationships with others.

She had felt an instant connection with Adrian the first time they met, and he had found her easy to work with, which was the ultimate compliment from him. They had developed a comfortable relationship over the past year, usually away from the prying eyes of the other members of the crew. Adrian was an intensely private man, and for his sake, they maintained a proper, professional rapport in front of the crew.

From the beginning, she had sensed great depth in him, and his emotions rolled like hidden waves below the surface. If she didn't have her psi abilities, she might have also viewed him the way the rest of the crew did; a cold, arrogant loner whose brilliant mind made him even more unapproachable.

Now he was a loner who was missing.

Through her connection to him, she knew he had been agitated and highly stressed today. She had hoped to use the quiet time of the night shift to slowly tease out the reason from him. Should she have tried to approach him earlier?

She closed her eyes and drew in her concentration, absently placing her fingers to the side of her temple in preparation. It was harder projecting to someone if she didn’t know where they were or how far.

"Kali!" shouted Bryce -- their ship's weapons specialist and one-time thief -- as he raced in, his shock of burnt-orange hair, just a little too long, waved like flames on top of his head. He came to a wheezing and panting stop as his out-of-shape lungs protested this increased demand for oxygen.

Kali opened her eyes and turned towards him. Bryce always seemed to overreact to everything and he considered sharing, one of his primary missions in life. She found it amusing at first, but it could be irritating if she was trying to do something important. "I'm trying to find Adrian." She tapped the side of her head in emphasis. "Trying to contact him. He didn't show up for his shift."

Bryce, wearing the grey jumpsuit of the lower ranks, said excitedly, "That's why I'm here. Thought you should know."

Kali's heart quickened in apprehension. She said in a rush, "What's wrong? Where is he?"

"He's in the brig."

"What?" Kali asked in shock. As far as she knew, Adrian had never been in the brig before. "What happened?"

"Beats me." Bryce shrugged unhelpfully. "Just saw two of those big bullyboys dragging him off and shoving him in one of the holding cells." The big bullyboys, Bryce's irreverent name for the security staff under Barker, were nasty 'discipline' specialists. No one liked them, which was just as well because they didn't like anyone. Adrian might be a loner who was wary of people, but next to him, these men didn’t seem human.

She asked in a stuttering voice, "D-did they do anything to him?"

"Didn’t see any bruises if that's what you're asking for," said Bryce. "'Sides, he's a Firster and an officer; they wouldn't dare lay a finger on him."

Kali's lips thinned. She wasn’t so sure about that. The security staff might not dare, but the first officer was a different matter. "Was Barker there?"

"Oh, you mean old grom…I mean, our esteemed first officer?"

"One of these days," warned Kali, "They'll throw you in a punishment cell."

"What do you mean, one of these days? I was there two weeks ago." He shivered involuntarily.

"I thought you said you were on leave?"

"Yeah, well…" Bryce's light green eyes lowered in embarrassment. "I was supposed to be. I sort of…started early."

"You didn't?" she said incredulously.

"I didn't think anyone'd notice."

Kali's grey eyes seemed to darken slightly. "You've done this before, haven't you?"

"Well, if you must know, yeah. I've never been caught though. And what's a few extra hours early? It's not like we're doing anything important. I haven't had anything to shoot in ages."

"I hope you've learned your lesson."

"Oh, was I supposed to learn something?" asked Bryce facetiously.

"You're not the problem now."

"Yeah, good old Adrian. I knew he was all right when Barker didn't like him."

"We've got to help him," said Kali.

"Why? It's not like we're friends." In Bryce's experience, all relationships were barter ones where no one did anything unless you were guaranteed to receive some benefit in return.

Kali had found Terran culture very cutthroat, unlike her own Tellaran world. There had been great controversy about joining the Confederation Empire, but a small neutral planet found it rough going during these troubled times.

"Bryce, he's only got us."

Bryce grimaced at the tone in her voice. He was always a sucker for a damsel in distress. "What d'you want me to do?"

"I'm stuck here until my shift ends."

"Oh. You want me to do some digging 'round?"

"You're good at that."

"I'm not sure that's a compliment," said Bryce wryly, his eyes rolling upwards.

"It is this time."

"All right, I'll see what I can find out."

**********

Adrian sat stiffly at the edge of the hard metal sleep platform; his back ramrod straight and his hands resting lightly on his knees. The cell was square, grey, cold, and devoid of anything resembling imagination.

His liquid hazel eyes were dark and brooding, his dark brown hair cut regulation short, and his features, though boyish and at times could be considered handsome, were severe to the point of grim.

"Psst." A voice called to him from the doorway.

Adrian's lips curled downwards as he reluctantly got up from the platform and went over. "Bryce. What are you doing?"

"Trying to be quiet." The weapon's specialist poked his orange-topped head from the side of the energy-shielded doorway.

"Why? There isn't anyone here."

"Oh. Yeah." More of him came into view. He peered inside past Adrian. "Comfy in there?"

"Did you come to annoy me or did you have a real reason?" asked Adrian coldly.

Bryce grinned. "Kali sent me."

Adrian's normally hard, impassive face softened briefly - at least Bryce could almost swear it had - before the cold mask slipped into place again. "Tell her not to worry."

"That's a hard one to sell. Look where you are." Bryce rested his hand on the side of the doorway. "She wants to know what happened."

Adrian gave him one of his classic stares - Bryce imagined the millions of wheels turning in his head - before saying, "I will tell her later."

"You're going to let her spend her whole shift worrying?" Bryce pointed out.

Adrian stared at him again. Bryce really wished he would stop doing that, it was very unnerving. Bryce asked, "Well?"

Adrian's eyes focused on a spot just past Bryce's head, almost as if he were trying to see through the walls to where Kali was, except it was in the wrong direction. "I've been told to report to the C.S.S. Trykor when we reach Base 337."

Bryce's eyes widened and his mouth opened in a big O. “Wow!”

Adrian said flatly, “That wasn’t my reaction.”

“But the Trykor! That’s Admiral Verel’s ship. Fleet Admiral Verel.”

“I know who he is,” said Adrian in a measured voice that gave nothing away.

“Your career is set if you’re assigned to his ship. I hear they serve real food there. Not the reconstituted junk we get.”

Adrian’s voice rose a tad, “Then you go.”

“Well, I’m not the genius, am I? Just a lowly weapon’s specialist. Press the buttons and things go boom. Not much to it really. But you, I’m surprised they didn’t snap you up sooner.”

Adrian turned away and began pacing his cell. He stopped suddenly and said, “Tell Kali not to worry.”

“She’s not going to believe that, you know. But I’ll tell her,” said Bryce. “And I’ll tell her you’ve lost your mind.” He raced off before Adrian could object or glare at him.

**********

After Bryce relayed what Adrian said, Kali’s lips pursed in thought. “Did he say why he’s refusing?”

“You know him. Likes to keep everything to himself. He probably won’t even tell himself if he could.”

“You’re exaggerating,” said Kali.

“It’s true.”

Kali’s fingers tapped her console. Why would Adrian refuse assignment to the best ship in the fleet? Did he know the Admiral? Was there a personal conflict? Knowing Adrian, that wouldn’t be out of the question. “Did you find out what they’re going to do with him?” she asked Bryce.

“Nothing good,” said Bryce. “You know the ‘Fed. You go where you’re sent or you go where you’re sent, or else.”

“So you don’t really know.”

“Yeah, well, I wasn’t about to ask, was I?”

Sighing worriedly, she hesitated a moment as she contemplated Bryce’s face.

Bryce held up his hand in a defensive gesture, “Now wait just a minute, I’m not about to stick my neck out again.”

“You won’t be. I only need you to get an answer from him. You don’t even have to say anything.” She touched her temple, “I will.”

“I don’t know...” His face scrunched up as if he’d eaten something extremely sour.

“You can wait until no one’s around. That should be safe enough.”

Bryce rolled his eyes. “Why do I do this to myself?”

“Because you’re a good man.”

“Yeah, well, don’t let it get around. I have a reputation, you know.”

Kali regarded him with amusement and shook her head slightly. “You and Adrian aren’t too different from each other.”

“I resent that,” said Bryce.

“Both of you want people to see you worse than you are.”

“Me, maybe.” Bryce grinned.

“You should give Adrian more of a chance.”

“He doesn’t give anyone else one.”

“Adrian’s very fair. He treats people the way they treat him.”

Bryce shook his head wryly, “You’ve got it bad for him, don’t you?”

Kali bristled. “That has nothing to do with it.”

“Yeah, yeah -and pigs can fly.”

“Adrian’s right, you can be very irritating,” she said with a scowl. “Are you going to do it?”

“I’m a good man, aren’t I?” His chest puffed out in exaggerated pride but there was an impish smile on his face. He was the kind of man some women found the need to mother.

“I’m beginning to reconsider that opinion,” said Kali with an exaggerated displeased frown.

Bryce chuckled. “I’ll go.”

**********

Adrian continued pacing his cell after Bryce left. He knew something was going to happen now that Kali knew where he was. Not to mention, Bryce was an incessant gossip and busybody.

It didn’t take Kali long to project to him, Adrian.

His steps slowed.

She said into his mind, Can you tell me why you’re refusing the new assignment? You know you won’t have a choice and Barker is only waiting for a chance to make your life miserable.

Adrian sniffed and sat down on the hard platform. He knew very well what Barker wanted to do to him. Apart from the Captain, he was the only officer onboard who hadn’t been sent for retraining yet.

The tyrannical first officer wasn’t stupid enough to risk endangering the mind of someone who had been deemed a valuable resource to the Empire. Not to mention Adrian had been born into Firster privileges and had tested as a First Level.

“Psst.”

Adrian directed annoyed eyes to the door. Sure enough, Bryce was back. Before the weapon’s specialist could open his mouth, Adrian repeated, “Tell her not to worry.”

Bryce gave an exaggerated grimace and complained, “You know if I tell her that, she’s just going to send me right back. Maybe I’ll make up something.”

Adrian shot him a hard and very 'loud' glare.

Bryce swallowed and said quickly, “Or maybe not.”

As much as he didn’t want to admit it, Adrian knew the one-time thief had a point. Women liked understanding the deep emotional reasons most men would prefer to deny, and himself even more.

What answer would satisfy her? He knew Kali would say something simple, like the truth.

It wasn’t that Adrian was opposed to truth. In fact, he demanded it as a necessity in his life. It was why he preferred working with computers and machines. They were truthful in a way he knew human beings couldn't be.

But some truths touched more deeply than was comfortable for him.

He didn’t want to tell anyone why he was refusing this prestigious assignment. It had a great deal to do with why a genius of his calibre was spending his time doing research in the outskirts of the civilized worlds, far away from the privilege that his position and reputation gave him.

No one had bothered to ask, though he suspected Kali wondered. They all thought he was an eccentric loner who didn’t want to associate with people. He encouraged that image, of course. It made for far fewer irritating questions from the majority of people who, in his experience, did little thinking.

So far, Kali was the only one who had braved his prickly exterior to dig deeper. She had the advantage of her Tellaran psi abilities, but he suspected she would have even without them. There was something about her. Adrian mentally shook himself out of what could become pleasantly diverting thoughts.

Bryce looked nervously down both ends of the corridor. “Can you hurry it up? I don’t want to get caught here.”

“Then leave,” snapped Adrian.

“See if I don’t.” Bryce’s voice rose in indignation. “But I’m not doing it for you.”

“I never asked you to.”

“D’you have an answer or not?” asked Bryce in a huff.

“Tell her.” Adrian hesitated as he considered his words carefully. “Tell her it’s a military vessel.”

“I’m pretty sure she knows that. Everyone knows that. It’s the Admiral’s flag ship.”

“That’s my answer,” said Adrian.

Bryce was finding this thirsty work and wish he was back in his bunk where he had a flagon of whisky waiting. He grumbled, “Would it kill you to say a few more words?”

“It might.”

It was Bryce’s turn to stare at him, uncertain if Adrian was kidding. The man had the poker face to beat all poker faces and revealed nothing. Bryce said with ill humour, “I’ll tell her. But don’t be surprised if she sends me right back.”

Just as Bryce turned to leave, Adrian said, “Tell her, I’m not ready to explain.”

“Yeah, what else is new,” said Bryce. “You sure know how to break a girl’s heart.”

“I...” Adrian stopped himself in time from saying something more personal.

Bryce turned around with a startled look. “You feel alright?”

The blank, expressionless look was back. “I’m fine.”

There was an awkward moment of silence. Adrian was as blank as a statue most times, except for his eyes. Those were deep and alive with expression, as they were now. Bryce said, “I’ll just tell her what you said.” He headed off.

“Bryce.”

The weapon’s specialist turned to face him again. “Yeah?”

Adrian stared at him a long few seconds, as if he wasn’t quite sure why he had called him back. “Thank you.”

Bryce’s mouth dropped open. “It’s...well...nothing to it.”

**********

After passing on Adrian's highly uninformative message, Bryce sighed resignedly and asked, “D’you want me to go back? Ask him what it means?”

Kali’s eyes were troubled. “No. It’s all right.”

Adrian was telling her it was not a personal conflict with someone onboard the Trykor. It had something to do with it being a military ship.

“You know what it means?” asked Bryce in mystification.

“I'm not sure, but I can guess.”

Kali wondered if it had anything to do with why Adrian was on the Sedener in the first place. She'd always wondered what someone of his calibre was doing here. He would have had far greater privileges, money and position serving anywhere else in the Empire.

Had he offended someone? Had he deliberately chosen this middle-of-nowhere posting? How had he been able to avoid notice? The Empire tended to snap up its valuable resources quickly - although, it seemed that his time of relative anonymity was over now, and not in a good way. She had to find a way to help him and discover what was going on before it was too late.