Echoes of the Past

This is a rewrite of the story "Echoes Of the Past" by Gillian Puddle in the
Avon Club Zine "The Avon Special" [1998].
I thought the plot had interest, but the prose-writing was very weak.
Being untalented to rewrite prose, I rewrote it as a script.
(Somehow that was easier.)
Chopped fair whacks of it that seemed silly.

Feedback welcome.

Time: a few days or weeks after 41.Power

[A dimly lit storeroom in Xenon base, shelves partly full of stuff]

[Soolin just barely catches a bottle of wine that nearly slips from
her grasp. ]

SOOLIN: Damn! That was close. [She puts it on a shelf by other bottles.]
[Aloud but to herself] Well, I defy even you to find these, Vila.

[She looks across the storeroom at a door, goes over to it, tries a
few times to open it.]

SOOLIN: Vila could probably open it. But he's the last person I can ask.

[She stares curiously at the door; then leaves the dimly lit room,
going into a larger bedroom. She presses a hidden switch; a door
slides across, perfectly blending into the wall. Soolin leaves the
bedroom and walks down corridors of Xenon base to the lounge.]

[Xenon lounge]

VILA: [ voice fades in ] ...only a day or so, no more.

SOOLIN: [sharply] What did you say?
[Vila drops the glass he's holding, which shatters ]
VILA: All I said was it's very peaceful here without Avon and Tarrant.
DAYNA: You mean they've already left? I thought they were doing the supply
run tomorrow.
VILA: Avon said it was a spur-of-the-moment decision.
SOOLIN: [angrily] Premeditated, more likely.
VILA: [understanding] You wanted to go with them to Arnos 2. I've never
been too bothered about shopping, myself. At least they're using
Dorian's money.
SOOLIN: [frowns] If the supply run is all they're doing.
DAYNA: What do you mean?
SOOLIN: Haven't you noticed how distracted Tarrant's been since their first
trip to Arnos 2?
DAYNA: Well, yes, now you mention it. You think he's distracted about a
woman there, don't you?
SOOLIN: It seems likely. And I'm concerned he may be 'persuaded' to
'accidentally' reveal the location of this base.
VILA: Tarrant wouldn't do something that stupid. At least, I hope he
wouldn't...
SOOLIN: From what I've seen I wouldn't put it past him.
DAYNA: [considering ] I don't think he would. Besides, isn't Arnos 2 your
usual supply stop? They were friendly to Dorian there, weren't they?
SOOLIN: I really wouldn't know.
DAYNA: Didn't you ever visit Arnos 2 with Dorian?
 SOOLIN: No. Dorian was away for long trips on his salvage operations and he
used to combine those with supply trips.
VILA: [surprised] You mean he actually did salvage work?
SOOLIN: That's what he said... which probably means he wasn't.
DAYNA: Then I wonder what he _was_ doing.
SOOLIN: I have a feeling Avon and Tarrant are about to find out.
VILA: And you wanted to go along? [Soolin glares at him.] You could
always just ask him.

[Soolin exits from lounge into adjacent control room. Dayna and Vila
follow. Soolin presses a commlink, then again, then several others.]

SOOLIN: I don't believe it! Avon's thoroughly disconnected all

communications. We can't contact them and they can't contact us.
VILA: Why would he do that? [He glances at Orac.] Avon's left Orac
switched on. Look, perhaps we could persuade him to have a little
chat with Slave.
DAYNA: Worth a try, but if Avon doesn't want us to contact Scorpio, he'd
have thought of that.
VILA: Orac, are you feeling cooperative?
ORAC: I am incapable of feeling. What do you want?
DAYNA: Orac, we'd like to contact Slave.
ORAC: I am unable to comply.
SOOLIN: [sharply] Unable or unwilling?
ORAC: I am operating in accordance with prior instructions.
DAYNA: [sighs] And we don't need any guesses to know whose.

[Soolin exits. Dayna starts to follow her.]

VILA: You wouldn't like to help clean up in the lounge, would you?
DAYNA: You're right, we wouldn't. [exits]

[Xenon base corridor. Dayna catches up to Soolin.]

DAYNA: I suppose he'll drink himself insensible.

SOOLIN: Maybe, but once he's finished that bottle, he'll only find plonk,
which I've noticed he's not too keen on.
DAYNA: Don't tell me he's already got through all the best wine!
SOOLIN: No, but the rest of it's out of his reach. If we ever have something to
celebrate, it would be nice to have some decent wine to celebrate with.
DAYNA: There doesn't seem much use in locking up wine - it's Vila we're
talking about here!
SOOLIN: Who said anything about locking it up? I've hidden it and I
guarantee he won't find it.
DAYNA: [a calculating look] It's in the same place you hid after Dorian
died, isn't it? None of us could work out where you'd gone. We
searched the base thoroughly and thought you must have left.

[Soolin only smiles, presses a door-control and goes in; the door
closes behind her and Dayna continues down the corridor]

[Scorpio flight deck ]

SLAVE: My humble apologies for interrupting your noble thoughts, Master.

AVON: What is it, Slave?
SLAVE: We are within five minute's approach to Arnos 2.
AVON: Good. Tarrant. [Tarrant is leaning back in his flight seat, arms
behind his head, eyes closed.] Tarrant!
 [Tarrant blinks and shifts to check the flight instruments.]

TARRANT: Almost there. Slave might as well handle the landing, it's routine.
AVON: You're staying on board this time.
TARRANT: What did you say?
AVON: You heard. You're to stay on board Scorpio.
TARRANT: I don't take orders from you. I'm not staying on Scorpio.
AVON: [half-musing to himself] I wonder if she likes you as much as she
liked Dorian.
TARRANT: What's that supposed to mean?
AVON: Can't you work it out? You're staying on board to prepare for an
emergency liftoff once the supplies are loaded.
TARRANT: Why should we need to do that?
AVON: Because this time we won't be paying for the goods. And this will
be our final visit to Arnos 2.
TARRANT: What's the matter with you, Avon? Dorian left ample funds to pay for
supplies, and last time Beron seemed to accept our story that Dorian
had gone into partnership with us. In fact I thought Beron and Mya
were very friendly and cooperative.
AVON: Well, I don't trust friendly and cooperative people. Especially when
they can supply highly specialised spare parts and equipment that
are unexpectedly available at an obscure trading post on Arnos 2.
TARRANT: What do you mean?
AVON: Last time while Beron was loading supplies and you were ... occupied
with Mya, I had a quick look around. I wondered where Dorian got the
specialist parts for his work and from what I saw, there's no doubt
in my mind that Beron supplied them. And he shouldn't have been able
to. They were far too advanced for a trader like him to obtain.
TARRANT: Perhaps he's got good contacts. I think you're jumping at shadows.
[They glare at each other]
SLAVE: My humble apologies for interrupting, Master, but landing clearance
has been received.
AVON: All right, Slave, take us down. I mean what I said, Tarrant, you're
to stay on Scorpio.
TARRANT: [frowns but nods] All right, but tell me, exactly what happened to
Dorian's funds?
AVON: I ordered a few parts last time for something I'm working on, I had
to pay in advance. Very specialised parts... extremely expensive.
TARRANT: [exasperated] But worth every penny we had, I suppose.
AVON: That remains to be seen.

[Scorpio shudders as they touch down. Avon exits flight deck.]

[Outside is brilliant sunny sky over barren wasteland; cloud-shrouded

mountains are in the distance. A mishmash of prefab buildings are nearby.]

[Two tall dark-haired and dark-garbed people come out of one

building and approach Avon.]

BERON: [smiles & nods] Ah, Chevron. How was the trip?

[Beron is middle-aged; Mya is very beautiful and smiles invitingly

at Avon, who tears his gaze away.]

AVON: [acting friendly] Hello, Beron. Fine. Is everything ready?

BERON: Yes, all ready. I have all your usual supplies ready for loading,
and Dorian's special order.

[They walk towards the building. Mya goes to Scorpio.]

[Inside the prefab building, a storeroom.]

AVON: [acting apologetic] Dorian particularly asked that I inspect the

components he ordered before they're loaded. I hope that's all right
with you?
BERON: [stifles annoyance, points to a crate.] It's all in there. [smiles
wryly] Doesn't seem like much for the amount it cost, does it?
AVON: [opens the crate] It never does. Perhaps it would save time if you
started loading the supplies while I check this. Sorry about that,
but Dorian asked. It won't take me long.
BERON: Of course, I'll get the men to start right now. [exits]

[Avon walks back to the door and peers out, then quickly ducks back
inside, extracts a small container from his jacket, removes a device
from it and sets it on a shelf. He exits. Outside he looks warily
around & sneaks to another building, putting another device in it.]

[Scorpio flight deck. Tarrant is concentrating on his instruments,

then looks up, sniffs, and smiles. Suddenly two female hands gently
cover his eyes and a musical voice whispers.]

MYA: All work and no play....

[Tarrant grins, takes her hands in his, swivels his flight seat
around and pulls her into his lap.]
TARRANT: We'll have to see about that, won't we?

[Back in the first trading post building, Avon is resealing the

crate. Beron enters.]
BERON: Right, everything's all loaded, except that.
AVON: Everything's in order with it. Don't trouble yourself, I'll carry it
on to Scorpio, no need to put it in the cargo hold.
BERON: [firmly] I won't hear of it. It's no trouble at all, I'll get it
loaded for you straight away.
[Two burly workmen enter the room.]
AVON: [stifling annoyance] Thank you.

[The workmen pick up the crate between them and go out. Avon and
Beron follow. Outside the building, Avon & Beron watch the two men
approach Scorpio with it.]

BERON: You look worried, Chevron.

AVON: Oh, it's not important, but we had a slight problem with Scorpio on
the way here. My colleague is working on it and I'm wondering if
he's been able to do the repair. In fact, I think I ought to check.
BERON: I hope it's not serious. I'll wait for you in my office. [exits]

[Avon approaches Scorpio passing the two men leaving the area. He
casts a glance around, then swiftly boards Scorpio.]

[Scorpio flight deck.]

[Avon runs in]

AVON: [shouting] Tarrant! Seal the cargo hold and get us out of here!

[He stops, seeing Tarrant and Mya entwined in a passionate embrace,

then he dashes to a control panel and slaps a button. The cargo hold
door closes.]
 AVON: Slave! Take us out of here. Emergency liftoff. NOW!
SLAVE: At once, Master.
[Tarrant disengages himself from Mya]

TARRANT: Avon - [He stops in shock seeing Avon aim a Scorpio clipgun at him.]
NO!

[Avon fires. Mya collapses to the floor. Tarrant gapes. Avon,

expressionless, eyes on Tarrant, slowly walks to his flight seat,
sits, and places the gun on the instrument panel in front of him.
Tarrant kneels beside Mya.]

SLAVE: Master, forgive me for -

AVON: (interrupting) What is it?
SLAVE: A number of explosions on Arnos 2 have obliterated the trading post.
AVON: Thank you, Slave. Relay visual to the forward screen, then plot a
course to Xenon base and execute immediately. Maximum speed.
SLAVE: Certainly, Master.
[Forward screen shows burning remnants of trading post buildings,
then stars. Tarrant stalks over to Avon.]
TARRANT: [dangerously quiet voice] Why?
AVON: [impassively] Sit down, Tarrant.
TARRANT: [starting to shout] Avon, you -
AVON: [coldly over Tarrant's volume] She was in the way. Now sit down.

[Scorpio banks sharply; Tarrant falls, Avon clutches his console ]

AVON: Slave, what caused that?

SLAVE: Master, I regret I... my apologies for... [whirls frantically]
[Tarrant climbs back into his flight seat, scanning instruments.]
AVON: Slave!
TARRANT: Both Slave's and Scorpio's controls are being overridden.
AVON: What?!
TARRANT: It sounds crazy but - we're being brought down.
AVON: Where? Can you get a fix?
TARRANT: No, these controls won't respond. But from the limited distance
we've travelled I'd guess it must be one of Arnos 2's moons.
AVON: [resigned] Well, this bears out one of my theories. If I'm right,
it'll be quite a graveyard down there.
TARRANT: [turning to glare at Avon] How appropriate... because at this moment
I'd like to wring your damn neck.
AVON: [reserved amusement] Probably. But if you can manage to think
logically, you'll realise you need me to get us out of here.

[They glare at each other. Scorpio shudders as it lands. Avon rises,

removes his jacket and takes a step towards Mya. Tarrant jumps up,
grabs the jacket from Avon's hands and tosses it back on the console
in front of Avon's flight seat. Tarrant takes his own jacket off and
gently covers Mya's face. He stands, looks somberly down at Mya,
then turns to Avon.]

TARRANT: [bit choked] All right, Avon. I'm listening, but it better be good.
AVON: Dorian... left us [slight smile] his ship, his base, and belongings.
TARRANT: And Soolin.
AVON: Unfortunately, I think we've also inherited the fallout from
Dorian's distinctly unpleasant past. We know Dorian sacrificed many
people to stay alive, and as he grew older he required an increasing
number of substitutes. We also know Dorian used the Seska's
technical knowledge in his work, which required a good deal of
 specialist equipment and parts.
TARRANT: [sounding unimpressed] So? Tell me something I don't already know.
AVON: [thoughtfully] Centuries ago, men deliberately attracted ships
at sea onto rocky coasts to loot them when they ran aground. They
were called wreckers.
TARRANT: [sneering] A history lesson as well.
AVON: I believe Dorian and Beron were engaged in the modern equivalent.
Dorian's claim that he worked in salvage was a half truth. He
conveniently omitted to say he brought down the ships in the first
place.
TARRANT: [partly convinced] And just how did he do that?
AVON: I'm not sure exactly, a mix of tractor beam and standard systems
override, but whatever it is, I believe we've come within range of
it and [sardonic smile] just had a demonstration of its effectiveness.
TARRANT: [slowly] And Dorian stripped the ships for spare parts and used the
crews for his own purposes. You know, you could be right. So
presumably that means we can expect company pretty soon.
AVON: Not this time. Dorian's dead and I trust Beron and his men died when
I destroyed their base on Arnos 2.
TARRANT: [sarcastically mock cheerful] Then all we have to worry about is
being stranded here for the rest of our lives.
AVON: [smiles] All we have to worry about is getting into the cargo hold.
I left it pressurised this time. I suspected Dorian was up to
something like this, and from the parts I ordered I should be able
to make a jamming shield to deflect the override, to regain access
to Scorpio's flight controls.

[Tarrant brightens and approaches the cargo hold door. As it opens a

soft pop is heard and Tarrant staggers, then collapses to the floor,
unconscious. Avon quickly turns in his flight seat toward the cargo
hold door but with another pop a dart sticks in his arm; he slumps
and slides sideways out of his flight seat, hitting his head sharply
on the console edge. Beron enters from the cargo hold, tucking the
dart gun in his pocket. He bends and pulls the dart out of Tarrant's
shoulder, steps over to Avon and removes the dart from his arm. He
pockets the darts as he walks over to Mya. He removes the jacket
covering her face, pulls a device from his pocket and twists a dial.
Mya opens her eyes; with a radiant smile she accepts Beron's hand as
he helps her gently to her feet.]

[Tarrant opens his eyes; then from his blurry view we see straight
into the barrel of a gun. The figure holding it sharpens into focus
as Mya, smiling seductively at him. Beron strides over to stand
between them.]

BERON: [to Tarrant] Go and sit at the controls.

[Tarrant slowly gets to his feet. Beron walks to Avon and pushes him
in the ribs with the toe of his boot. Avon stirs; Beron gives him a
firmer push. Avon eases himself to a sitting position on the floor,
puts a hand to the side of his head and stares at the blood on his
hand. He looks at Tarrant, Mya, then Beron. Beron gestures to Avon,
who rises and reseats himself. Mya covers them both with her gun.
Tarrant glances at her and she smiles brilliantly back at him.]

BERON: [gently chiding] Mya. Concentrate.

[Mya nods. Beron walks around the flight deck, examining the
controls, Slave, the teleport. Then he returns to stand in front of
 Avon and Tarrant. He holds a gun.]

BERON: Congratulations! Your modifications to this ship are impressive.

AVON: [reservedly sarcastic] I'm glad they meet with your approval.
BERON: [laughs] Dorian was ecstatic when he realised Liberator was heading
towards our.... sphere of influence. [He gestures widely, then slams
one hand down on the console.] But when the Liberator veered away
from our net, Dorian couldn't bear the thought of such a prize
slipping away. So he went after you. I presume he met his death.
AVON: It was rather overdue.
BERON: Indeed it was. Dorian was in partnership with my family for
generations, it was lucrative for both sides. My ancestors were
willing to aid Dorian in bringing down any ship of interest that
came within range. We plundered them for anything of value, Dorian
had first pick and my family used or sold the rest. Incidentally, I
expected better from you. Your pathetic attempt at sabotage only
scratched the surface; the main complex is underground.
AVON: [shrugs] Well, we all have to learn to live with disappointment.
BERON: Now... we will take this ship back to Dorian's base.
TARRANT: Not enough to plunder on this ship?
BERON: I want more than Dorian's ship. I want what's on his base.
AVON: [speculating] Immortality.
BERON: Who wouldn't? Where is his base?
TARRANT: You don't know?
BERON: Dorian refused to reveal the location of his base. I know about the
underground room, why he needed victims, but he was very secretive
about the location of his base. I knew it would be useless to try to
force him to tell me anything, or to attempt to take Scorpio - the
flight computer was keyed only to his voice. He was very possessive
of this ship.
AVON: So when we arrived on Arnos 2 the first time, you suspected we had
lied and Dorian was dead.
BERON: I knew your identity the moment you first stepped out of Scorpio,
Avon. And I suspected Dorian had finally met his match, and that you
had overridden his security systems here on Scorpio. So I played
along with your pretence. But when you arrived a second time without
Dorian, I knew you were lying.
TARRANT: What gave us away?
BERON: [smiles] Dorian wouldn't miss a visit to Mya. Not twice in a row.
AVON: [not really a guess] She's an android.
BERON: She was on board one of the first ships brought down by Dorian and
my grandfather. She was a great favourite with Dorian.

[Tarrant looks at Mya with loathing; she returns a coquettish look.

Beron takes from his pocket his device, touches a button; Slave
whirls to life, Scorpio's control systems hum again.]

BERON: Slave?
SLAVE: Yes, Sir?
BERON: [walking over to Slave] So, you will obey me now?
SLAVE: I am programmed to take orders from anyone on the flight deck, Sir.

[Avon, taking advantage of the momentary distraction, quickly feels

for his gun under his jacket on the console in front of him. Mya
notices and at the first sight of Avon's gun she shoots. Beron
whirls around. Avon drops his gun and clutches his left shoulder,
then slides sideways out of his flight seat to the floor. Tarrant
leaps up.]
 BERON: Stay where you are, Tarrant. Don't be as stupid as him. Mya, do what
you can to stop the bleeding. I have plans for Avon but his
immediate death isn't one of them.
[Mya kneels down beside Avon. She gently traces the outline of his
mouth with her fingertips]
BERON: Mya!
[Mya turns and smiles engagingly at Beron]
BERON: The wound, Mya.
TARRANT: There's a medical kit on the wall. [Indicates behind him]
[Mya rises and saunters over, her hand trailing across Tarrant's
shoulders and fondling his neck as she passes him. Tarrant flinches.
Mya returns to Avon with the medical kit & loosens the clothing
around his shoulder.]
TARRANT: Does she know what she's doing?
BERON: [grins] She's surprisingly capable in that area too. Dorian spent a
considerable time trying to find Mya's home planet once he'd
discovered her... talents. Unfortunately without any success.

[Avon groans. Mya is binding a pad, tucked under his damaged

clothing, over his shoulder wound. Then she bends and presses her
lips to Avon's, her hands stroking his hair and caressing his face]

TARRANT: [confused/outraged] What does she think she's doing?!

BERON: Mya doesn't think at all, she's only programmed for passion without
the tiresome complication of feelings.
TARRANT: [bitterly] Well that certainly explains a few things.
BERON: [indicates the far end of the flight deck] On Dorian's last visit
he still hadn't got the teleport working. So Avon must have been
able to finish it.
TARRANT: We both worked on it, actually.
BERON: [assessing look at Tarrant] A Federation-trained pilot with teleport
expertise. That might keep you alive a little longer. I've studied
what little information there is on Liberator's - the former
Liberator's - crew. Mya! Get him ready for liftoff.

[With android strength Mya gently picks up Avon, steadying his

injured side, places him in his flight seat, and fastens the flight
harness. Tarrant looks at Avon. Groggily Avon stares at Beron.]

BERON: Slave. Plot a course for your home base and execute. Maximum speed.
SLAVE: Yes Sir, at once.
BERON: You can spend the journey wondering which of you will become my
first substitute. Although you'll both end up in the room... sooner
or later.

[Later. Avon is unconscious, slumped in his flight seat.]

SLAVE: I humbly apologise for disturbing your noble thoughts, Sir, but we
have permission to enter fixed orbit.
BERON: Journey's end! [rises and approaches Avon and Tarrant]
ORAC: (v.o.) Scorpio. This is base. Are you receiving?

[Tarrant hides his surprise at hearing Orac. Beron catches and

retains Tarrant's gaze; Beron slowly and deliberately points his
gun at Avon's head.]

BERON: Answer, Tarrant, or your colleague may become expendable sooner

rather than later.
TARRANT: [presses comms] Base. This is Scorpio. We hear you.
 ORAC: Slave has been instructed to put Scorpio into fixed orbit. Problems
affecting both the landing silo and the teleport make single
teleportation the only option.
BERON: [hesitates, gestures at Tarrant who releases the comms] Ask him to
define the problem.
TARRANT: [presses comms] Base. Can you define the problem?
ORAC: (v.o.) I can define the problem but your limited intelligence would
fail to understand it.
[Beron looks surprised & gestures again; Tarrant releases comms]
TARRANT: What now?
BERON: [thoughtfully] That must be the only other male member of your
group. Vila, isn't it? His manners leave much to be desired and I
will correct them for him shortly. Tell him to stand by.
TARRANT: [presses comms] Stand by to teleport. [ releases comms]
BERON: I will teleport first. Tarrant, you will place Avon in the teleport
and follow immediately after. Mya, you will teleport last. Remember,
Tarrant, Mya operates under my instruction and would have no
hesitation to kill you. So I suggest you cooperate. Now, I don't
think you and Avon just happen to have the same taste in
accessories, so I assume I need to wear one of these bracelets.
[Beron puts on a bracelet and steps into the teleport. He holds his
gun ready.]
BERON: You may inform your colleagues I'm ready, but be careful how you
word your instruction.
TARRANT: [presses comms] Ready for teleport.
[Mya moves over to Avon, keeping her gun trained on Tarrant.]
MYA: He's next. [With her free hand she caresses Avon's face and hair]
TARRANT: Leave him. [Releases Avon's flight harness, catches him as he
slumps, and gently drags him to the teleport. Steps back.]
[speaks into bracelet] Ready for teleport.
MYA: Now you, Tarrant. [her seductive bearing is at odds with her gun]
TARRANT: [in teleport area, speaking into his bracelet] Ready for teleport.

[Xenon base, control room]

[Tarrant materialises to find Dayna & Soolin facing him with guns
drawn. Avon is on the floor. Orac is buzzing loudly.]
TARRANT: [shouting] Where's Beron?
[Soolin & Dayna look at each other and shrug, holster their guns]
SOOLIN: You and Sleeping Beauty here are the only ones who materialised,
although Orac seems to be working overtime.
TARRANT: [bewildered] Then what's going on?
DAYNA: That's what we'd like to know. You could try asking Orac, but he
hasn't been very communicative to us.
TARRANT: Orac! What happened to Beron and Mya?
ORAC: I sent them into deep space as instructed. Now the emergency has
been dealt with satisfactorily, I suggest you return to Scorpio to
supervise landing procedures.
TARRANT: Instructed? By whom?
SOOLIN: Who do you think?
DAYNA: Avon seems to have prepared for every eventuality - [she gasps as
she bends over him] - apart from getting himself shot.
SOOLIN: [joins Dayna] That was actually quite thoughtful of him for a
change, to save me the trouble, but I'd have been more accurate.
[She takes a quick look at Avon's shoulder.] I'll fetch a gurney,
we'd better get him to the medical unit fast. [exits]
[Dayna is starting carefully to lift Avon's torso; Tarrant steps
over to her and supports Avon]
TARRANT: You take his feet. Orac, how did you distinguish who you were
 teleporting just now?
DAYNA: Does it matter?
TARRANT: It's unnerving to think I might have been teleported into oblivion.
ORAC: Avon left instructions that only you and he were to be teleported to
the base. It was a simple matter of recognition.
DAYNA: So. A case of mistaken identity could have proved fatal.
TARRANT: [disturbed] That's what I was thinking.
[Soolin enters with gurney, Tarrant & Dayna lift Avon onto it]
SOOLIN: We'd better hurry, he doesn't look good. [exits pushing gurney]
DAYNA: You bring Scorpio in, we'll handle it. [exits]
TARRANT: Why not. Orac, I'm ready for teleport.

[Xenon base medical bay]

[Avon is on one of the beds, his shoulder bandaged. The door to the
medical bay opens. Avon wakes.]
SOOLIN: How are you feeling?
AVON: Much better.
SOOLIN: You lost a good deal of blood, but the wound is healing well.
AVON: That was fast.
SOOLIN: I learned a thing or two from the Seska.
AVON: Any problems?
SOOLIN: No. Well - we've lost Vila. Nobody's seen him in over three days.
AVON: [small smile] He'll come out when he's hungry. [Notices Soolin's
grave expression.] Well, there's nothing I can do, is there?
SOOLIN: Yes. Drink this. Seska special.
AVON: [grimaces] Do I have a choice?
SOOLIN: Yes. You can take this and be up tomorrow, or you can stay in bed
for the next week.
AVON: [resigned] I'll take it. [Drinks, coughs a bit, seems woozy.] Get
the others to help you search for Vila. [sleeps]
[Soolin holds the cup, looking troubled]

[Xenon lounge]

[Dayna and Tarrant are seated.]

SOOLIN: [enters] Avon's making a good recovery. He should be up tomorrow.
TARRANT: Good. Then we can kill him for having spent all our money.
DAYNA: Soolin, I wish I'd had you around on Sarran. Weapons-testing was a
dangerous growing-up process, I could have used someone like you.
SOOLIN: Orac says Vila hasn't left the base, but I've searched everywhere.
DAYNA: I seem to remember looking all over this base for someone else once
without any success.
SOOLIN: [quickly] I've checked there.
TARRANT: And where is 'there'?
SOOLIN: Dayna, you didn't only train as a weapons expert on Sarran, did you?
You trained as a hunter too.
DAYNA: [laughs] Shall I go hunting for Vila then?
SOOLIN: In a way. If Vila's not in the base, he must be outside. Wouldn't
you be able to tell from marks on the ground around the exits, if
he's gone out recently?
DAYNA: You know, that's not a bad idea. Yes, I'm sure I could.
TARRANT: But - [Dayna & Soolin look at him] - three days?
DAYNA: [looks serious] He might be hurt.
TARRANT: Probably dead by now then.
[Nobody seems amused.]
SOOLIN: You can take a first aid kit.
DAYNA: Won't you come with me?
SOOLIN: [hands Dayna a small medkit] I'm going to search the base again.
TARRANT: You already said you did.
[Soolin just glances at him and exits.]
DAYNA: Maybe you could check the silo.
TARRANT: [disgustedly] Oh, why not. Maybe he got drunk and fell into a
crevice.

[The dimly lit storeroom in Xenon base, where the wine remains still hidden]

[Soolin, gun in hand, tries the locked door; this time it opens. She
takes a torch from a shelf beside the door, switches it on and
enters. It's a jaggedly-hewn steeply inclined passage, pitch black.
Gun in one hand, torch in the other, she makes her way carefully
down; it levels out just at the bottom at an apparent dead end at a
smooth blank rock-face. Soolin casts her torchlight all around the
blank wall and spots a metal lever. She holds the torch between her
gun-arm and side, and turns the lever; a door swings open. She steps
through it and finds herself on the landing immediately above
Dorian's chamber of horrors. She looks disappointed, and returns to
the passage, pulling the door shut behind her. On the way up the
steep incline she slips, drops the torch which goes out; she falls,
hits her head on a protruding rock, her gun flies out of her hand,
and she is still.]

[Dimly-lit Room in Xenon base]

[Tables covered in equipment & a central horseshoe-shaped desk area.

Avon is sitting on a chair in the centre, in front of a screen
connected to a box-like device; Orac, on desktop, near him. More
screens & equipment crowd the other tabletops. Avon moves controls
on the box-front and occasionally looks inside.]

[Dayna & Tarrant enter]

TARRANT: There you are!
AVON: [distracted] Evidently.
DAYNA: We checked the medical bay and were afraid you'd disappeared too.
AVON: [half-ignoring them] Well I haven't.
TARRANT: Are those bits and pieces the parts you spent all our money on?
AVON: [irritated, turning to them briefly] WHY exactly are you needing to
know? Doing the books, sums not adding up? [turns back to screen]
DAYNA: Avon, doesn't it concern you? First Vila, now Soolin. Can't you
think of something to help find them?
AVON: [preoccupied] I AM doing something.
TARRANT: [disgusted] We're wasting our time.
AVON: No sense in wasting mine. [Tarrant opens his mouth but Dayna tugs at
his arm & they both exit] Shut the door on your way out. [He examines
the screen closely, then takes a bulging strap-like device from the
box & looks at it.] Orac.
ORAC: Yes, Avon?
[Avon flexes the strap-like device experimentally, puts it in his
pocket and picks up Orac]
AVON: Have you located a suitable position yet? [ Exits Lab ]

[Avon carrying Orac, walking swiftly down Xenon base corridor]

ORAC: Within error tolerance.

AVON: You have the coordinates?

[ Avon enters control room, sets Orac down & steps into teleport area ]
 ORAC: Of course I have. But I must warn you that the proximity of the
energy source could affect the operation of the teleport.
AVON: I am aware of that. [checks his gun & reholsters it.]
ORAC: Shall I give you the odds?
AVON: Don't bother. [picks up a torch] Just get on with it.

[Pitch black rocky passageway.]

[Soolin is climbing painfully to her feet. She feels her way to

standing upright, takes some staggering steps upward.]

AVON: [softly] Soolin!

[Soolin freezes. A torch flashes on, then off, a few steps away.]
AVON: [softly] Over here. Sssh! Don't speak!
[Soolin is pulled back into a sort of crevice in the wall. She still
seems a bit dazed & struggles as Avon puts one hand over her mouth,
his other arm pinning her in an armlock. Soolin's eyes go wide as
her temples meet hard metal on the face of the one holding her.]
AVON: [softly & imperiously] Don't move and keep silent.

[A loud grating noise; brilliant light floods the passageway. Soolin

shuts her eyes; Avon pulls her back further into the shadows. He is
staring through mask-like goggles right into the bright light.
Gingerly Soolin looks to see a very tall, powerfully built man
standing a few feet away from them in the passageway, silhouetted
against the light. The man glances up and down the passageway
several times, consults something he carries in his hand, then turns
and walks toward the source of the light before the grating noise
resumes, and the light is cut off.]

[Avon releases her and Soolin moves away, rubbing her arms. Avon
touches her arm, she jerks it away, & he gestures up the passageway.
They go several meters up the passage, then stop.]

[They speak softly]

SOOLIN: Damn you, Avon, you didn't have to hold me so tightly, especially
once I knew it was you.
AVON: I couldn't risk you giving away our position. He knew there was
someone in the passage.
SOOLIN: Who was that?
AVON: I'm not sure yet. But if I hadn't intercepted you, you would have
become another of his... guests.
SOOLIN: You think he has Vila?
AVON: It's possible.
SOOLIN: You say he knew we were here?
AVON: His instruments registered that someone was in the passageway. I
have a device in my pocket to project a field that deflects scanning
beams, so I'm invisible to him. Your... proximity to me guaranteed
you were within the field's envelope. Perhaps you noticed he consulted
an instrument in his hand; it told him no-one was here.
SOOLIN: Oh! [pause] How did you find this place?
AVON: Shortly after we arrived here, Orac detected a massive energy source
very close to the base. Orac investigated and found the energy
emanates from not one, but two entirely different sources situated
very closely together. One, it seems, is a computer without Tarial
cells; the other is as yet undefined. Orac plotted the coordinates
so I could teleport near the sources. Here's your gun. Alright now?
SOOLIN: Yes.
 AVON: Good. Then let's pay a call on the neighbours and see if they've
stolen our thief.

[A different dead end in the rocky passageway]

[Avon's torch flits around the dead end, but no visible way of
opening. He hands Soolin a teleport bracelet.]
AVON: Put that on. We'll have to try Plan B. Orac. Plot coordinates a
metre due west of our present position. Then bring us up.

[Xenon teleport bay]

[Avon removes the bulky goggles & puts them in his pocket. He takes
an extra bracelet from the rack and clasps it on his wrist. Soolin
is shielding her eyes from the light.]
AVON: Ready?
SOOLIN: No, wait a minute. If I should need to, I couldn't focus on a target
at the moment; my eyes haven't adjusted yet.
AVON: I'll give you a couple of minutes while I fetch another gun.

[Xenon teleport bay]

[Avon re-enters the control room, gun in hand; goes to teleport]
AVON: Ready now?
SOOLIN: As I'll ever be. [draws her gun]
AVON: Right. Orac. Teleport us to the new coordinates.
ORAC: I must warn you again, Avon. These coordinates are closer to the
energy source which may affect the operation of the teleport.
AVON: Warning noted. Do it.
ORAC: Very well.
[They teleport. Tarrant & Dayna enter]
DAYNA: I thought I heard voices. Ghosts, do you think?
TARRANT: That's all we need. I imagine Orac knows what's going on, if we can
just persuade it to share the information with us.
DAYNA: Then I'll get a couple of chairs. [heading to lounge doorway] This
could take some time, and we might as well make ourselves
comfortable.

[Brightly lit deserted corridor with doors here and there on either side]

[Avon & Soolin appear, semi-fade, then materialise normally. They

spin around, covering each other back to back, then relax.]
SOOLIN: Orac had a point, I thought for a moment we weren't going to make it.
[Avon pulls a device from his pocket, consults it, points at a door
to their right.]
AVON: Well, we are very close to both energy sources. In there would seem
a good place to start.

[They approach the door, listen, glance at each other, Avon presses
the door-conrol; it slides open; guns at the ready, they burst in
together.]

[Room of computer & display banks]

[No one in room. Avon points to one display showing the interior of
the Hommik main chamber.]
AVON: Just as I thought -
[Both Avon & Soolin whirl toward the door, aiming at the man last
seen in the rock passageway. Their guns are wrenched by an invisible
force from their hands, and they collapse, unconscious]
[A dimly-lit bedroom]

[Avon opens his eyes; unfamiliar ceiling. Props himself up on elbow

and gazes down at Soolin's figure beside him. Her hair is spread out
on the pillow. Avon gently eases into a sitting position; Soolin
starts, her hand instinctively going to the empty holster at her
waist; she springs off the bed, looking wildly around. Avon watches
her. She composes herself.]
AVON: Nightmares?
SOOLIN: I just woke up suddenly and didn't know where I was. How long have
you been awake?
AVON: Not long. [He goes to the door and examines the lock]
SOOLIN: That was quite something he hit us with.
AVON: Oh, I don't think he hit us with anything.
SOOLIN: Don't be ridiculous, Avon, he took us and our guns out with no
trouble at all.
AVON: Well, something did. [Fiddling with locks]
SOOLIN: If you know more than you're saying...
AVON: [smiles] Orac detected a computer but was unable to tap into it
because it doesn't contain Tarial cells. It's a relic of a
civilisation that died out centuries ago... as are the computers
which service the Hommik chambers to which it's linked.
SOOLIN: Are you saying that man is a Hommik?
AVON: [distracted by the lock] It seems unlikely but...
[He hurriedly steps back as the door slides open & the man in
question fills the doorway. He has shoulder-length golden hair and
wears golden Hommik-style robes. He looks at them kindly.]
ZOR: I regret it was necessary to incapacitate you, but your hostility
upset our harmony. I imagine you are searching for your friend.
SOOLIN: Is he here?
ZOR: Come with me. I will take you to him. [exits]

[Underground complex corridor]

[Zor is striding very rapidly & disappears round a corner. Avon &
Soolin break into a run and turn the corner, almost colliding with
Zor who is checking the lock on an open door.]
ZOR: I confined your friend here, but as you can see, he is gone.
SOOLIN: Well, at least that proves it was Vila.
[Zor looks at them, puzzled]
AVON: Vila has a way with locks. And having given you that piece of
information, perhaps you would care to to reciprocate in kind?
ZOR: [smiles] Follow me.

[Room of computer & display banks]

[An elderly man is seated at a console.]

ZOR: You've been here before, but it will make explanations easier. This
is Baz, and I am Zor.
[One of the screens shows the Xenon base main entrance]
AVON: You knew Dorian.
ZOR: I knew of Dorian.
AVON: [confidently half-guessing] But he wasn't aware of you, and neither
were the Seska, nor the Hommiks.
ZOR: You're very astute Avon. Centuries ago, when my people recognised
war to be inevitable, they prepared shelters within the tunnels and
chambers which are a natural feature of this region. When nuclear
war broke out, our retaliation was automatic. Some escaped to the
 shelters; but most of the population were killed and civilisation as
we knew it ceased to exist. By chance, when the missiles hit, my
brother and I were inspecting this master complex - completely
separate from the shelters; totally self-sufficient. We have not
left it since. The years slipped by and the people were governed by
an elected Council which had decreed they should revert to a simple
way of life.
AVON: And you thought they might not welcome the reappearance of their
king, especially a king who had not aged one day since the war.
Dorian's source of immortality was yours as well, wasn't it?
ZOR: We were not aware of anything unusual during the first years except
for perhaps a feeling of well-being. But as the years went by,
neither Baz nor I aged, and we didn't realise why until we started
exploring further into the passageways beyond the complex.
SOOLIN: [scathing] And you found Dorian's precious room.
ZOR: No, we found we had been living with a creature invisible to light,
but in the comparative darkness of the rock passageways we can see
its existence in the way it shines and sparkles on the rock walls.
We imagined at first it was composed of pure energy, but over the
years we have come to recognise its intelligence. It is benign,
peaceable, and will not tolerate violence, as you experienced
earlier when you threatened me with your guns. But the most
startling of its traits is its desire and ability to prolong life.
We originally thought it gave to both of us equally but have come
to understand that it chooses the stronger to live at the expense of
the weaker.
SOOLIN: Why is the creature active in the rock chamber under our base, but
not actually inside our complex?
ZOR: It doesn't live in your part of the chambers at all. It dwells here.
That rock chamber under your base is divided from our complex by
porous rock, and the creature's influence permeates through just there.
AVON: [smiles] Into Dorian's mysterious room.
SOOLIN: That explains Dorian's inability to discover the secret of the rock
chamber, but it doesn't explain why you and your brother have
remained alive for centuries, while Dorian had to sacrifice many
people in return for his immortality.
AVON: Remember that Dorian had an insatiable appetite for any experience
that would excite him, despite the adverse effects on his body and
mind. [Soolin glares at him.] So his substitutes had to pay the
price of his excesses as well as compensate for the passing years.
SOOLIN: [icily] I find it difficult remembering things I don't know about.
ZOR: [looks from one to the other] My brother and I have lived
exclusively in the presence of the creature which in itself has
slowed the passage of time for us. But, when my brother began to
age, we understood that he bears my ageing in addition to his own,
and when he eventually dies, I will also perish.
AVON: Until Vila showed up, and you saw a way to continue your life even
then.
ZOR: [looks ashamed] I can't deny that the thought crossed my mind. It
was one of the reasons I locked him in.
SOOLIN: One of the reasons?
ZOR: [smiles apologetically] I didn't quite know what to make of him.
SOOLIN: Hardly surprising.
ZOR: He appeared fairly lucid but insisted he was searching for bottles
of wine. I thought perhaps he was a little simple.
AVON: [smiles] You changed your mind about using him, why? Or was it that
he just escaped?
ZOR: I ... found I had no desire to prolong my life at the expense of
another.
 AVON: [distrustfully] Very honourable.
ZOR: [loud voice] Honourable?! Centuries ago, I felt responsible but did
nothing as my people teetered on the brink of extinction, until the
coming of the Seska brought them a chance of survival. But now...
[He points to a screen, showing the remaining Hommiks at a
makeshift camp elsewhere on Xenon.] But now, at last, I will take
the opportunity to make amends, for once again the future of my
people is in jeopardy. My bother will stay here and die. Once I
leave the creature's range of influence, my ageing will occur more
rapidly. Even so, I can help them.
AVON: I wish you luck. As it seems there's nothing to detain us here, we
should return to our base. May we take our weapons with us, or will
the creature object?
ZOR: [opens a drawer, takes their guns out and offers them] Do not
attempt to use them while inside our complex.

[Underground complex corridor]

AVON: Orac. [no reply] Orac. [sighs] The teleport doesn't seem to be an
option at present. [walks to a door, operates the lever in the wall
next to it. Grating noise, door opens, revealing pitch-black
passageway. Avon reaches into his pocket, taking out the goggles,
and puts them on.] You could wait here and I'll try to teleport you
when I get back, if you -
SOOLIN: 'If you're afraid of the dark'. Whatever gave you that idea?
AVON: If you like, I was going to say. [They enter; door closes behind
them. Avon grasps Soolin's arm.] Well - are you coming?
[They walk up the steep passageway, then Avon suddenly pulls Soolin
to him.]
SOOLIN: What do you think you're doing?!
AVON: Sorry, overhanging rock. You nearly hit your head. Are you ready to
go on, or would you like a rest?
SOOLIN: Actually, I'd like an answer.
AVON: That depends on the question.
SOOLIN: Why wouldn't you wait for me to accompany you to Arnos 2?
AVON: Ah! That's still rankling, is it?
SOOLIN: You could say so.
AVON: [after a moment] I deduced that Arnos 2 was potentially deadly to
us, and the precautions I took for our protection were based purely
on educated guesswork, which is why I kept my intentions to myself.
Your dogged determination to find evidence of Dorian's past life
would have been an added and dangerous complication. I didn't know
then how Mya would react to female competition, but I now realise
with hindsight that she would have coped better than you.
SOOLIN: What's that supposed to mean?
AVON: Her response to other females would have been written into her
programming, so jealousy wouldn't have come into it.
SOOLIN: [angry] Believe me, I wouldn't have been jealous. Far from it, the
way I feel about Dorian.
AVON: I'm sure Tarrant gave you all the details of our trip. There's
nothing more to be said.
SOOLIN: I want to know if Dorian planned my death, or was he just making up
the numbers at the last minute for his gestalt.
AVON: From all accounts it seems you lasted longer than any other woman he
took back to his base, because your skill with a gun introduced an
element of danger into his liaison with you, which he found
exciting, as he realised you were more than capable of killing him.
SOOLIN: I see.
AVON: You wanted the truth. Make no mistake, you were marked for death the
 moment you set foot in Dorian's base.
SOOLIN: I wish I had killed him myself. [Avon stops walking; Soolin halts
too] What is is? Why have you stopped?
AVON: We can't go any further. Ah, there's a lever here. [He operates it
and a door swings open.]

[At the same time there's an explosion from inside the base,
flinging them both back to the ground.]
AVON: Are you alright?
SOOLIN: I think so. The door must have taken most of the force of the blast.
AVON: [removes goggles and goes to doorway] Your bolt-hole has seen better
days. [Picks his way across debris of the storeroom, past broken
bottles of wine, to a large hole in the wall]
TARRANT: [looking through hole in wall] Avon!
AVON: What's the matter? Forget your key?
TARRANT: [climbs through hole] Um. Bit of a mess.
DAYNA: [following Tarrant] 'Bit of a mess'. That's an understatement. It
must have been the door we blew instead of the wall.
SOOLIN: Over here! [She is clearing debris around some fallen shelves.]
Look! [They can make out a pair of green-tan boots visible amongst
the wreckage]
AVON: Tarrant. We've found Vila. Or part of him.
[Together they push the shelves upright while Dayna & Soolin move
larger pieces of debris covering the body. Vila asleep is revealed,
a beatific smile on his face as he sleeps off over-indulgence]
TARRANT: Well, what a surprise. Vila's been having a party.
SOOLIN: He's lucky not to have been killed, but you know what they say about
drunks.
AVON: [dabbing at the powders and liquids covering Vila from head to toe]
Yes, but he may not be that lucky. [Grabs Vila's shoulders] We'd
better get him cleaned up fast. Dorian's chemicals could result in a
lot more than Vila bargained for if he's ingested any of that.
[Tarrant takes Vila's feet; Avon & Tarrant carry him through the
hole in the wall. Dayna nudges the broken wine bottles and shakes
her head.]
DAYNA: I did warn you Vila would sniff out the best wine, however cleverly
you hid it.
SOOLIN: [holds up one unbroken full bottle] [wryly] My wine conservation
policy wasn't an unqualified success, was it?
DAYNA: Not exactly.
SOOLIN: And for an explosives expert, your handling of the entry here was a
little mismanaged, wouldn't you say?
DAYNA: [eyeing the surrounding wreckage] Just a bit!
SOOLIN: Then why don't we retreat to the lounge and celebrate our shortcomings
with this while the others are busy?
DAYNA: Sounds good to me! How long d'you think we've got?
[A strangled cry followed by howls of protest reach them. Voices
raised in anger and furious splosh of water follow.]
SOOLIN: It sounds as though Vila's intent on sharing his cold shower with
the rest, so I imagine it'll be some time. Shall we begin?