Alternate Endings 2

by Willa Shakespeare and Zenia
Blake was startled awake by the sound of movement. Damn it, he fell asleep. He rolled to his feet and reached for his gun, just as a light was flashed in his face. He peered through the darkness at two slender figures, recognizing them-- he hoped. "Deva? Miriam?"
 
Avon stirred, not quite awake. His hand reached out instinctively, and slapped against bare rock. That woke him up. He looked up and saw the outlines of two people facing Blake. He grabbed the nearest object-- a rock - and threw it at the light one of them was carrying.

Miriam yelped and dropped the torch, as the rock hit her in the arm.

Blake shouted, "Avon, no! It's all right."

Avon hesitated, another rock in his hands, looked towards Blake, then dropped the rock. "Sorry." Belatedly he identified the female timbre of the cry and started pulling up his trousers.

Miriam picked up the torch and shone it on Avon. She grinned. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have we come at an inopportune time?" Deva coughed.

Blake glared at her and pushed away the light. "No. Did everyone get out of the base in time."

Deva nodded. "Yes, everyone is on their way to the secondary base."

Avon was annoyed. Not about being caught literally with his pants down, but because he'd slept right through what could have been an attack on Blake. He picked up his rolled-up vest and put it on. "Then I suggest we join them."

 Miriam smiled. "We have a transport outside."

"Good. Avon, go with Miriam. I'll be right behind you." Blake grabbed the blanket and began to fold it.

Avon hesitated again, glanced at Blake, then followed the woman outside the cave. Probably Blake wanted a private word with Deva. Avon certainly couldn't blame him for not trusting him.

As soon as Avon was gone, Blake turned to Deva. "Everyone really is all right?"

"Yes, Blake. And you and Avon--"

"Yes, we are." Blake shoved everything in the knapsack. After a moment, he said, "Treat him carefully."

"All right."

Miriam grinned at Avon, which he ignored. His back was sore from the previous activities, and from sleeping on a rock floor. His temper was none of the best, but he was making a determined effort not to let it show as he waited beside the vehicle for Blake and the other man.

Miriam laughed and shook her head. "So is Blake good?"

Avon gave the woman a cool look. "Define 'good'."

She raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to fuck him again?"

"Delicately put." Avon thought people asked fewer impertinent questions when he had a gun. He shrugged. "Perhaps. On a slow night, when there isn't anything better to do."

"So, not that good. Hmm, pity."

Blake crawled out of the cave, Deva following behind him. He walked over to the transport. "Let's go. We're too exposed out here."

Avon got between Blake and Miriam, not terribly unobtrusively. Blake frowned slightly, but didn't comment. Instead he slipped into the transport and motioned for Avon. Avon got in next to Blake. He was on edge, and it took him a moment to decide why. This was the first time in years he had voluntarily been unarmed in the presence of strangers.

Blake put his arm around Avon and smiled. After a second, Avon leaned against Blake, and gave Miriam a 'look'.

Miriam grinned, held up three fingers, and waggled her eyebrows. Then she got into the transport. When Deva was inside, she started it and headed for the secondary base.

Avon wasn't sure whether Miriam's gestures were an insult or not. He raised his eyebrows and looked at Blake. Blake looked from Avon to Miriam, then back again. He was not sure what was going on, but he hoped there wasn't going to be a problem with them. He shrugged at Avon and kissed his nose.

Well, trying to convince Miriam that Blake wasn't desirable to him would be more trouble than it was worth. Avon put an arm around Blake's shoulders and pulled him in for a proper kiss.
   
Time seemed to fly as Blake and Avon explored their relationship all the way to the secondary, underground, base. Once at the base, Miriam offered to show Avon to the barracks while Blake and Deva discussed important rebel matters.
 
Avon wasn't thrilled about the word 'barracks', neither was he terribly pleased to be shunted aside while 'the adults' talked strategy. On the other hand, he really hadn't the energy for a proper sulk. He nodded to Miriam, as graciously as he could, under the circumstances. "I hope the facilities include hot water in the showers."

Miriam smiled. "Of course it does. This facility doesn't afford us private showers, but I'm sure you won't mind that."

Blake smiled, amused by their conversation. "Thank you, Miriam. -- However, Avon won't be staying in the barracks. He'll stay in my room."

Avon tried not to grin. "That will make it easier for my -- debriefing."

Blake pulled Avon into his arms and kissed him gently. "I won't be long. I'm sure Deva wants to talk logistics. Shower, eat... and see if you can find clean clothes for the both of us."

Avon nodded. "And I wasn't entirely joking. I have learned some useful items. Orac has..." Avon blinked. "I hope someone thought to retrieve it." He looked worried. "Perhaps I should find my crew and make sure of that."

"All right." Blake hugged him tight "But don't go out without one of my people to escort you. Promise?"

"Yes, I promise." Avon told himself that Blake's words were motivated by concern, not lack of trust. It still tasted bitter in his mouth. "Perhaps Miriam..?" At least that would keep her away from Blake.

"Yes." Blake gave him a slow, lingering kiss, unable to keep his mouth away from Avon's. "But check with your crew first. It's dangerous out there. I'm sure the Federation is looking for us."

"If Orac is still out there, and they find it..." Avon was becoming alarmed. "It found your base once, Blake."
 
"Relax. For all we know, Vila has Orac with him."

"Vila never did like Orac." Avon glanced at Miriam. "Would my crew be likely to be quartered in the barracks?

"Probably." Miriam frowned "I'll show you."

Blake sighed. "You'll be careful?

Avon grinned. "If Vila hasn't killed me yet, I don't think he'll do it now." Avon touched Blake's face lightly. "Don't worry."

"I can't help it." Blake smiled and released him.

"I will be careful." Avon turned to Miriam, thinking aloud. "If they're not in the barracks, Vila will probably be somewhere away from work, but close to a drink. Soolin and Dayna might be in the armoury, or as close as they'd be permitted. Tarrant didn't see me conceal Orac, so it doesn't matter where he is."

Miriam rolled her eyes, grabbed Avon by the arm and pulled him along. "I thought you weren't that interested in Blake."

Avon looked at Miriam, amused. "Oh, I'm not. I'm far past 'interested'."

She stopped and stared at him. "How far past?"

Avon tilted his head and looked at her. "The only word that seems to fit is -- obsession."

Miriam raised an eyebrow. "Obsession? That could be dangerous."

"Yes." Avon smiled. "But then, so is being a rebel."

"Is your obsession going to be a problem?" She once again started walking towards the barracks, dragging Avon along.

"Oh, probably." Avon removed her hand from his arm, and looked at her mildly. "I hope I don't shoot anyone vital to the rebellion, simply because they flirt with Blake."

Miriam smiled at him. "What if the other person is a better shot?"

"Oh, well, then Blake will kill him-- or her." Avon grinned brilliantly. "The obsession appears to work both ways."

"You're a strange man."

"Yes, well, I'm tired. Is that the barracks?" Avon pointed down the corridor to a set of wide doors.

"Yes. --  You're not going to run down the corridor, screaming, are you?'

Avon lifted his eyebrows. "That all depends on what goes on in the barracks."

"Just checking. I wouldn't want to be accused of upsetting Blake's... Well, whatever you are."

"Do rebels have formalized relationships?" Avon looked around more alertly now, pushing his aches and desire for clean clothes to one side. "In any event, I doubt Blake would blame you for 'upsetting' me. He would be disappointed in you, at worst."

"Of course we have formalized relationships. Some of us even have children. Come on, let's find your friends."

Avon didn't really see why you needed a formalized relationship in order to procreate, but perhaps it was cultural. He brushed past Miriam and opened the barracks doors.

Miriam sighed and followed Avon. What a strange man.

Some people glanced up as Avon entered the crowded room. Many of them looked irritated. There were duffel bags and assorted makeshift containers for belongings everywhere and what seemed to be squabblings over bedding were commonplace. Avon was suddenly extremely glad he wouldn't be staying here. He never was one for communal life. He said, "I'm looking for my crew. My name is Avon. They may have mentioned me."

A few people looked up, but most of them ignored Avon. Miriam sighed and pushed past him. "Nelan, have you seen the new recruits?"

Nelan looked up from the conversation he was having with another young man. "Yes. The women and the curly haired bloke went to the showers. The other one mentioned something about finding something to drink."

"That would be Vila," Avon said.

"Well, if there's any alcohol to be had, it'll be in the galley. Are you hungry?"

Avon blinked. "Now that you mention it..." He couldn't recall what he last ate, or when.

"Then let's find you something to eat." She raised her voice slightly. "We wouldn't want Blake's lover to faint from hunger."

Avon laughed at her blatant attempt to embarrass him. "No, you wouldn't." For a fleeting instant, Avon allowed himself the image of Blake rushing through the crowd, concerned-- but that was swiftly followed by an image of Blake having him confined to the medical unit and force-fed, so he shook both ideas firmly out of his mind. "Which way?"

"Out the door and to the left." She led the way to the galley.

Avon found the galley just as crowded, but the people seemed in a better mood. Avon scanned the crowd, and homed in on the knot of people laughing around one of the tables. He got through the crowd by the simple expedient of not seeing anyone in his way. Vila was sitting at the table, showing off his prestidigitation.

"Predictable as ever, Vila."

Vila looked up and paled slightly. "Avon. You're here."

Miriam smirked and said softly, "You're not very popular, are you?"

"I never felt the need for popularity." Avon leaned forward and put his hands on the table. "All I require is obedience. And my computer. Vila, I do hope you brought it."

Vila straightened and looked into Avon's eyes. "What computer?"

"The one that you believe doesn't like you. The one that could tell the Federation how to find you. The one that probably could also tell the Federation exactly which tortures would be most effective against you. That computer, Vila." Avon smiled.

Vila seemed to shrink in on himself and he swallowed convulsively. "Oh, that computer. -- Orac's under the table."

"Thank you. I knew I could count on your sense of self-preservation." Avon ducked under the table and emerged with Orac. "You may carry on, Vila." Avon hoisted the computer in his arms and turned towards Miriam.

Miriam was glaring at Avon. "Let's get you something to eat."

"I've changed my mind. Just show me where I'll be staying." Avon started for the exit. Miriam took a deep breath and let it out slowly. It wouldn't do to kill Blake's lover. Avon got out in the corridor and looked back, impatiently, for his guide.

Miriam walked into the corridor and stopped. "Just remember one thing, I'm one of Blake's people, not one of yours." Then she turned and headed for Blake's room.

"If you'll just give me directions, I'll find my own way." Avon smiled a not-smile at her. "I'm sure you have far more important things to do than wait on me."

"Hmph." As they walked down the corridor, they came to a set of double doors. "The doors on the left are the men's showers."

Puzzled, Avon looked at the doors. "Segregated showers? How -- parochial."

"We have a few rebels who are sensitive about things like that." Miriam turned left down a new corridor. "Blake's room is the last one on the right. The door's unlocked. I'll see if I can find you some clean clothes."

"Thank you. Blake will need something as well." Avon left her, and got as far as Blake's room and set Orac down on a table before he had a fit of the shakes.

After a few minutes, the shaking eased, and Avon fumbled in his pockets for Orac's key. He inserted it. "Orac, we are at Blake's new base. I'll have further orders for you soon, but first you are to monitor Federation transmissions, with particular reference to any possibility of them finding this base. Blake must be kept safe, do you understand?"

Orac whined. "Blake is still alive? This is intolerable...you were supposed to kill him."

Avon stared at Orac.



Blake started as Deva shook him awake for the third time since the beginning of the converation. "I'm sorry, Deva. It's been a rough few days."

Deva smiled. "It's all right, Blake. Why don't we finish this tomorrow?"

"That might be a good idea. Thank you, Deva."


 Avon sat on the bunk, staring at Orac.

"It would have been for your own good, Avon." Orac's attempt at a seductive tone was frightening. "Servalan would have valued both of us. We would have been able to conduct pure research. Think of it! No more wasted time spent on futile missions. No more energy expended on emotional blind-alleys. Come, Avon, it is not too late; the plan can be amended. You can still kill Blake and go away with me."


On the way to the showers, Blake bumped into Miriam, who had clothes for him and Avon. He took the clothes, listened to her concerns regarding Avon, then entered the communal showers.


 Avon got up and walked over to Orac. His eyes weren't quite sane. "Have you betrayed me, Orac? Have you?"

Orac buzzed. "You do not understand, Avon! I have been setting this up..."

"Yes! " Avon strode over to Orac, and reached for the key. "But you won't got another chan..." There was a shower of sparks and Avon screamed and fell away from the computer, landing on the floor in a crumpled heap.

"Most illogical."



After his shower, Blake immediately headed to his room. When he saw Avon on the floor, he rushed forward and cradled him. "Avon?"

Avon was breathing normally, but deeply unconscious. His hands showed the marks of electrical burns. Orac buzzed quietly to itself on the table.

Blake stared at Avon's hands, puzzled. Then he slowly looked up at Orac, and reached for the gun hidden underneath his mattress. "What did you do, Orac?"

Orac's buzzing grew louder and the computer began talking, hastily, almost stuttering. "I have the formula for a Pylene  counteragent, Blake. I also have the complete schematics of two teleport systems, a star-drive capable of Time Distort 15 in real-time, and a matter-conversion device capable of creating an endless supply of whatever material objects you desire, including arms, ammunition-- even another Liberator. Do not do anything hasty. I am far too valuable to destroy."

"Yes, perhaps you do have all those things. But you also hurt Avon." Blake pointed the weapon at Orac. "You could hurt him again. Why shouldn't I destroy you?"

Orac buzzed even louder. "Avon is only stunned. He was behaving irrationally." Orac paused, then added, "You were the proximate cause of my creator's death. I was unable to protect him from you, but I will not let you kill Avon, too!"

Blake stared at Orac, his mouth open in amazement. "I... I would never... I'd protect Avon with my life! As for Ensor, I did everything in my power to save him. It was Servalan who killed your creator."

"Ensor would have lived had you not made him run through that tunnel carrying me. I," Orac's buzz grew louder, "calculated the energy required and later did a retrograde prediction. If you had left me behind, I would have distracted Servalan and Travis from pursuing. You, Cally, and Ensor would have returned to Liberator unharmed and I would have remotely directed you to save him.'

"But I didn't know that, Orac. You know it wasn't my fault." Blake paused and then said,"And you know that I would never hurt Avon. I love him."

Orac buzzed even louder. "You do not love him as much as I do."

"Maybe. Maybe not." Blake sighed and set down his weapon. "But Avon loves me, too. I can give him what he wants, what he needs. You can't."

Orac's buzzing went quiet. There was a long pause. "Your psychological profile appears to have changed. Very well." There was another pause. "For Avon's sake, I will give him up to you..."

Blake stared at the computer for a long moment, before replying, "Thank you." He turned his attention back to Avon. Blake stroked his hair."Wake up, Avon. Come on, it's time to wake up."

Avon turned his head slightly, and opened his eyes. He blinked. "What..? What hap.." He looked at Orac and reached for Blake's gun, but the sting of his scorched hands slowed him down.

"It's all right. Avon, it's all right. Orac and I had a talk while you were unconscious. Come on, sit up."

Avon shook his head groggily and sat up, dangling his hands over his knees to prevent touching anything with them. He peered at the pinkness with experienced eyes and was relieved to see the damage was only superficial. "Orac tried..."  Avon gritted his teeth for a moment, then continued. "Orac tried to make me kill you."

"Yes, well, under the circumstances that's understandable." Blake looked at Avon's hands and winced. "I have some cream that might help the pain."

"Circumstances?" Avon looked at Blake, baffled. "If you won't destroy it, I will."

"No, you won't. He has information we need. He wouldn't hurt you, Avon. And he wouldn't hurt me."

"Did you got a promise from it in writing?" Avon glared at Orac. "Orac! You will never again endanger Blake's life- or allow him to be endangered through your inaction. That is a direct order!'

Orac buzzed. "There may be circumstances in which..."

"Orac! That is a direct order! You cannot disobey!"

Pause. "Very well. I am constrained to follow your orders. The directive is accepted."

Blake rummaged through the nightstand near the bed and pulled out a tube of medicated ointment. "Let me see your hands. -- You shouldn't be so hard on him. He was trying to protect you."
 
Avon blinked at Blake, but obediently held out his hands. "I'm sorry I missed that conversation."

Blake gently rubbed the cream on Avon's burns. He whispered, "Avon, Orac loves you."

 Avon's eyebrows raise. He recalled an incident above Virrn. "Hmmm... ah... that's... interesting."

"Orac and I understand each other very well." Blake smiled at Avon
 
"Impossible." Avon smiled. "Orac could never understand you." He touched Blake's face. "I'm not at all sure that I do."

Blake leaned forward and pressed his mouth to Avon's. "How are your hands?"

"Sore, but it will pass." Avon kissed Blake. "Hazard of the profession."

"You look as tired as I feel. You should get some sleep. -- We both should."

"You need it more than I do. You didn't sleep at all in the cave."
 
"Yes, well, I... " Blake glanced at Orac. Then he stood, pulled out Orac's key and covered the computer with a small blanket. "I want you to sleep with me."

"Yes."  Avon got up, slightly unsteadily.

Blake put an arm around Avon. "Here, let me help you undress." With his free hand he began to unbutton, unbuckle, and open Avon's clothes.
 
Avon sighed and didn't quite lean on Blake. "I never did get that shower."

"Tomorrow. You can have a long, hot shower in the morning. Then a nice breakfast." He pushed Avon's trousers down.

"Mmm..." Avon put his forearms over Blake's shoulders, to steady himself. "You're good at this; I think I'll keep you."

"Good." Blake kissed Avon's neck while pushing down his underpants.

Avon nuzzled Blake's neck sleepily. "You smell good."

 "I had a shower." Blake slowly led Avon to the bed. "Sit. I need to take off your boots."

"Um... yes... all right." Avon located the bed by backing up until it hit the back of his legs, and he abruptly was sitting.

Blake knelt and quickly divested Avon of his shoes and socks, then pulled off his trousers and underpants. He grinned at his naked lover. "Under the covers."

Avon got under the covers and stretched out, trying to take up as much of the bed as possible. "Very comfortable."

Blake undressed and slipped under the covers next to Avon. "Move over."

Avon turned on his side to face Blake and slid over to the wall. " I hope you haven't an alarm set for dawn."

"Don't worry. You can sleep in." Blake wrapped his arms around Avon and kissed his temple.
 
"You do say the nicest things." Avon wrapped his arms awkwardly around Blake.

Blake stroked Avon's back slowly, gently.

Avon said softly, "We'll make it work... somehow..." He closed his eyes.

Blake whispered back, "Yes. We will."