Finders Keepers (B7 fic -implied het and slash)

[feng_shui_house]

Finders Keepers

(authorized sequel to hafren's Lost and Found
It's a HEX. I continued on from Hafren's lovely bittersweet story and made a Happy Ending. Hafren doesn't mind me doing that. I know many people feel it spoils their original story if it's HEXed, so I only HEX authors I already KNOW don't mind Hexing. I won't 'pressure' anyone by asking to HEX, so don't worry that posting a sad story means I'll be mucking with it. If you like the idea, you'll have to tell me you don't mind.



Avon led the way to the access port. "This is where it all started," he said softly, touching the bulkhead. "Blake and Jenna and I entered here."

Vila looked at Avon. He said softly, "It won't be the same, you know that."

"No. No, of course not." Avon frowned and looked thoughtful. "There's something I should remember."

"Well, we'll have lots of time, later," Vila said cheerfully as they headed towards the flight deck. "Oh, just think, what if it's got everything Liberator had? Think of the clothes...think of the jewels!" Vila was slightly in the lead as they approached the entrance.

"Yes," Avon murmured. "Everything Liberator had..." Avon followed Vila and looked around. Everything seemed the same, except that the hexagonal area Zen had used as a focal point was dull.

"I wonder if the computer will be like Zen," Vila said, following Avon's gaze and thought with the ease of long acquaintance. "Zen? Zen, are you in there?" Vila patted the hexagon.

And Blake looked at Avon, scarred and bloody and accepting. "Ay von," he said, softly, "I need you." Avon froze at the same moment that Vila cried out, "Kerrill! I'm coming!"

"Blake." Avon started forward, and then he froze again. "No, you're dead. You're not real, you're not!" He grabbed Vila and tried to force him back, but Vila was stronger than he looked, stronger than Avon had been in quite a while.

Vila pushed Avon aside and continued walking. "Kerrill needs me!"

"Vila! Don't make me do it! Not again!" Avon hadn't brought a gun with him, hadn't thought about a gun, hadn't wanted a gun in so long... He went to the place where Liberator had stored weapons, but the blank haze sealing them off didn't lift. This ship wasn't giving him the benefit of the doubt, wasn't giving him the chance to destroy the illusion, to kill Blake.

Vila screamed, and Avon did the only thing he could do, with Blake groaning and dying in front of him and Vila screaming and dying in front of him. He hit Vila, as hard as he could, and caught the collapsing body over his shoulder, running for the exit.

*******

"Ow." Vila rubbed his jaw. "Did you really have to hit me that hard."

"Yes, Vila, I really did." Avon looked across the hanger at the four DSVs. "You didn't see what happened before when Zen activated its intruder defense system. The lucky ones died."

Vila shivered and pushed himself up to his feet. "How did you get around it then? I mean, you did, didn't you? Laser probe in Zen's whatzits? A fast bit of programming? Threaten to recircuit his wiring?"

"No, Blake saw through the illusion, and shot it."

"Well, you saw through it this time, so we'll just go back with a gun and you can shoot it this time."

Avon looked at Vila. "You saw Kerrill. Could you shoot her?"

"No, but..." Vila saw the expression on Avon's face. "Oh. You saw Blake, didn't you?"

Avon didn't answer. Vila sighed and risked patting Avon on the shoulder. "Come on, let's have a drink and think about it. They must have left a key under the mat or something. There's always a way to steal a vehicle."

*******

"Blake thought he could see through the illusion because of his breakdown," Avon said after the third, or possibly fourth, drink.

"Makes sense," Vila said. "I think."

"But what if it was just... because he was Blake? Genetic, I mean." Avon's voice was slurred, only a little.

"No," Vila said firmly, pulling the bottle away from Avon. "I know what you're thinking, and no. Tej isn't Blake. He isn't even a perfect copy. And he doesn't want to leave Rashel. Or their planet. He likes being a farmer. He's not going to come with us and be a..."

"What? Vila, he's got perhaps ten years to live, and a woman he feels responsible for. That's all. Liberat... well, whatever we call the ship once we get it...that medical unit could give him more years, and he can't deny it would give Rashel opportunities after he dies."

"They wouldn't know what to do on a ship. They wouldn't be happy."

"They'd learn. We did. And how can you be sure they wouldn't be happy? People can adapt; just look at us." Avon laid his head down on the table and passed out.

"Yeah," Vila said softly as he got a blanket to drape over Avon. "Just look at us."


*******

The discussion continued after Avon woke.

"You know, even if they did come with us, you'd never get Tej to shoot anyone, not even an illusion," Vila said as he handed Avon an analgesic tab.

"An illusion isn't life." Avon downed the pill and went to the flight deck.

"Avon, you are not going to take over this ship! It's half mine, you know," Vila sat next to Avon at the pilot's position.

Avon looked at Vila. He said softly, "I have to offer Tej the choice, Vila. He saved us all, you included, despite his programming. We owe him that much."

"Well... all right, but we'll do it without going down. I'm not giving him any more germs." Vila began setting the course.

Avon scowled. "All right."

*******

Rashel answered the communications relay eventually. They'd been in orbit for two days, calling on a continuous loop, with Avon becoming quieter and more withdrawn every hour.

"I haven't time to talk," Rashel said as soon as they'd identified themselves. "I'm busy."

Avon's eyes went dark. "Is he..."

"Not dead. But he's sick. I don't like the look of it." Rashel's voice held the weariness of too many tears. "He's not blaming you, in case you were wondering."

Avon closed his eyes.

Vila glanced at Avon and then took over the comm. "We have some medicines; maybe we can help."

There was a pause. "Yes, all right. Come down. He liked Avon." Then she cut the communication abruptly.

*******

Tej was sitting up in bed, propped up by pillows, when Rashel led them in to him. He smiled and held out his hands. "It's good to see you again." He had to pause for breath halfway through the sentence. His colour was worse than it had been the last time they saw him.

Avon nodded. "I'm sorry you're not feeling well. We have some..." Avon turned to find Vila hovering in the doorway. "Vila, bring the medi-kit."

Vila reluctantly moved closer. Avon took the kit from him.

Tej smiled. "It's all right, Vila." He looked without much interest at the medi-kit. "You don't have anything in there for me, do you?"

"I don't have a cure for your basic problem, no." Avon sorted through the supplies. "What I do have will bring down your fever, reduce your pain, and help with your breathing."

"I'd appreciate that." Tej watched with apparent interest as Avon gave him the injection. He rubbed at the spot afterward, while looking at Avon. "You didn't come back here just.... to enquire... after my health, did you?"

"No. I came here to... make a request of you. And an offer. It's much the same, really."

Tej's eyebrows raised. "I can't think of anything I could do for you. Or anything you have that I want, for that matter." His colour had improved, and he pushed himself up on his elbows, Avon hovering, but not quite touching. "Well, as long as you've come all this way, you might as well say what it is."

Avon's mouth opened and shut. He looked at Vila. Vila shrugged and gave in to Avon's silent appeal.

"Avon and I, we found a ship, like the one we used to have. Only thing is, it doesn't like us."

Tej frowned. "The ship doesn't like you? Is it alive?"

Avon spoke, "Yes, in a way. It... the original... never liked me, but it would do anything for Blake."

"I'm not Blake. I don't know anything about him, except what I was taught." Tej shook his head.

"You don't have to know anything," Avon said, with more than a hint of desperation. "Just... be yourself."

"Be Blake, you mean." Tej smiled sadly. "I'm sorry you've lost your friend, Avon, but I can't be him for you."

"I know. I'm not asking that. I'm just... the ship has medical technology far in advance of the Federation. It could help you. Give you time. We'd take you and Rashel wherever you wanted to go. There are agro colonies where you'd fit right in, and... have company." Avon didn't quite look at Rashel.

Tej frowned again. He put his thumb in his mouth and nibbled on it.

Avon's eyes closed for a moment, and then he looked at Tej again. "You say'all life is linked'. Would you do this for me?"

"I'm not Blake. I'm not fighting the Federation. All I want is to live in peace," Tej said softly.

"That's all I want." Avon took a breath. "I swear that I have no intention of using the ship against the Federation."

Tej turned his gaze to Rashel, who'd been watching silently, standing next to Vila. "What do you think, Rashel?"

Rashel smiled. "As long as I'm with you, I don't mind." She came forward and took his hand. "But it's worth the chance, isn't it?"

Tej thought about it for a long moment, then nodded. "All right. We'll go."

*******

"And this is your bunk," Vila pointed out to Rashel. "I'm sorry we don't have a separate cabin for you."

Rashel looked at Vila, puzzled. "Why would I want that?"

"Erm. Because... you're a woman?"

"Oh, I see." She smiled at Vila. "That's very kind of you. Could you show me how to pilot this ship?"

"Oh, sure. Good idea. Avon and I have been taking it turn about, except for take-offs and landings that takes both of us. It'll be nice to have someone to share it with." He smiled back at her.

"I'm used to hard work," Rashel commented. "Since I won't be doing any of the things I did when I was a slave, or any farm work, I want to learn other things while we're here."

"What did you do when you were a slave?" Vila asked out of curiosity, then he blushed as he imagined what a beautiful young woman would probably be told to do.

Rashel laughed, and patted Vila on the cheek. "You're cute." She turned and went back to the compartment where Avon was giving Tej a more thorough medical check.

Vila stood there for a moment, touching his cheek and grinning, before he followed her.

"It will take a few weeks to reach our destination," Avon was telling Tej as they arrived. "I've prepared a vitamin solution and a schedule of medication for you to follow. Once we have the new ship, it should be possible to do more for you."

Tej said quietly, "You needn't fuss over me, Avon. My death won't be your fault."

Avon turned aside quickly and began shuffling through supplies. Vila coughed to break up the embarrassing moment. "So, how do you like our ship, Tej?" Vila said.

Tej smiled at Vila. "It's smaller than the last ship I rode in, but the company is better."

Rashel went up to Tej. "Vila says he can teach me to pilot the ship." She took Tej's hand.

Tej nodded and smiled at Vila. "Good. I'll just stay here and let Avon fuss over me."

Avon turned back to Tej, who was grinning at him. After a moment of looking at Tej with searching eyes, Avon said lightly, "I'm glad you're going to be sensible about this."

*******

"You know, you're the first man who's treated me as an equal," Rashel said to Vila after a long session on the flight deck.

"I am?" Vila was slightly startled. "But what about Tej?"

Rashel shook her head. "He's very kind and loving, but even before he knew about his condition, he kept a distance between us. You know."

"Oh." Vila looked down at the controls. "Jenna never had any luck with Blake, either."

Rashel smiled. "I feel towards Tej... it's silly, I suppose, but I feel motherly towards him."

"There's nothing silly about that." Vila looked up at her. "I hope you don't feel motherly towards me, though."

"No. No, I don't." Rashel met Vila's eyes. "I won't leave him. He needs me. But I have needs of my own."

"Oh." Vila's eyes widened. "OH! Ah, well. You know... erm... it's not very romantic, but I've got..."

"That place in the cargo hold you've fitted up with a mattress and food and drink?"

Vila smiled. "It's big enough for two."

"Put the ship on auto for a while, Vila." Rashel got up.

*******

"They're not very subtle, are they?" Avon commented as Vila and Rashel left the room, hand in hand.

"They're in love. That's not a time to be subtle, is it?" Tej folded his hands over his chest and smiled. "I'm glad."

Avon's eyes went distant, looking at nothing at all. "Why? All love does is set you up for loss."

"No. Love is never lost."

Avon scowled. "Your optimism is annoying, do you know that?"

"You've said so before." Tej's tone was amused. "Now, tell me again, why are we going to this ship of yours?"

Avon laughed.

*******

"Are you up for it?" Avon asked Tej as they stood outside the airlock of their freighter, looking at the DSVs. Vila was explaining things to Rashel off to one side, giving them a moment of illusory privacy.

"Oh, of course." Tej smiled, but his eyes were weary. "It'd be a pity to stop now, wouldn't it?"

"Yes." Avon put his arm around Tej. "You're hot."

"I'll be cool soon enough," Tej said placidly. "I've learned how to interpret the medical readings, Avon."

"You're not dying," Avon said fiercely.

Tej smiled. "No. Not while you remember me." He straightened, taking more of the weight onto his own feet. "Thank you."

Avon looked at Tej for a long moment. "Now, remember, the computer will show you illusions. B..Blake... saw through them and shot the images."

"I'm not going to shoot anyone."

"They're not real, just images."

Tej shook his head. "No, Avon. All life is linked."

Avon was about to protest when Vila and Rashel rejoined them. Vila asked, "Are you ready?"

Avon said, "No," at the same time Tej said, "Yes." They looked at each other. Tej said gently, "Waiting won't change anything."

Avon nodded. "Tej and I will go. You two wait here."

Rashel blinked and looked at Vila. "He's joking, right?"

"Of course he is; that's Avon, a laugh a minute." Vila and Rashel began walking. "Well, what are you waiting for?" Vila called back.

Tej looked at Avon, laughter in his eyes. Avon scowled and got a better grip on Tej. "All right."

"You worry too much, Avon." Tej looked around him as they walked, interested in everything.

*******

By the time they reached the flight deck, Avon was more than half carrying Tej, with Vila and Rashel hovering around them.

"I'm sorry," Tej said as his feet dragged. "I thought I had more... time."

"You do," Avon said. "You will."

Tej slipped out of Avon's grasp and sprawled over a console, hands going out automatically to break his fall.

"No, don't!" Avon shouted as Tej jerked upright, eyes wide, and Rashel ran for him. "Don't touch him!"

"But it's killing him!" Rashel said, struggling, but Vila held her back.

"No," Avon said, "No, I remember now. It happened this way with Jenna." He glanced around. "And we weren’t attacked this time, either."

Tej smiled. "I... like this ship, Avon." Then he slumped forward over the console.

Avon caught Tej. "Vila, get his feet." They put him on the flight deck couch. Rashel sat next to him, and took his hand. Tej was weak, but smiling. They looked around.

"Well," Vila asked, "what happened? And where's Zen?"

"I don't know. This... wasn't exactly how it happened before." Avon faced the dull hexagon so similar to the one he'd known on Liberator. "Zen?" Nothing happened. He turned back to face Vila. "Perhaps this ship doesn't have a central computer."

Vila went up to the hexagon and patted it. "Zen? Are you in there?"

The hexagon suddenly lit up in dancing patterns of light chasing around. A mechanical, yet feminine, voice said, "Your species requires a focal reference point. This will be that focus. Welcome to Life, Vila."

"Life?," Avon had whirled around at the first words and was looking at the hexagon intently.

"The name was taken from Tej's thought."

Avon raised his eyebrows. "And what is your name?"

"Zoe. Welcome to Life, Avon. Welcome to Life, Rashel. Welcome to Life, Tej."

Rashel looked up from Tej. "He's not... doing well."

Avon went to Tej and touched his throat for a moment, then he turned back to Zoe. "Zoe, make sure the medical unit is functional!" He put an arm around Tej. "Vila!"

Vila hurried over and between them, they chair-carried Tej at a run.

*******

"Well, he's stabilized," Vila said, wiping sweat off Tej's brow.

"For the moment," Avon said bleakly. His eyes were dark-circled and his hands trembled with fatigue.

Rashel looked down at Tej's unconscious face tenderly. "He's going, isn't he?"

Avon shook his head. "No. Not like this. Not so soon."

Vila put his hand on Avon's shoulder. "Avon..."

"No!" Avon shook Vila off, and ran out of the medical unit.

Vila followed a few steps, and then went back to Rashel, shaking his head. "I think he's gone to the flight deck to talk to Zoe. Maybe she can get him to accept it."

Rashel took Vila's hand and held tightly.

*******

"Tej is dying," Avon told Zoe. "Isn't there anything..." He sat down on the flight deck couch and rubbed his hands over his eyes. "Something... there must be a cure."

Zoe flickered. "Human physiology indicates there is no cure known to man. Tej's teleomeres are truncated, providing insufficient chromosomal protection. This results in premature aging, and low resistance to disease." The computer paused. "Knowledge must be earned, it cannot be given."

Avon looked up. "What does that mean? You know something that could help? 'Known to man', you said. Zoe, tell me. If there's a price, I'll pay it."

Zoe flickered for a long time. It responded in halting speech. "Teleport.... tele... port... matrix..."

"Of course! You could use Blake's matrix to repattern Tej's teleomeres correctly!"

"Blake's matrix is not in my system."

Avon's delight vanished. "No. He was never on board Life."

In the weeks since taking Life they had left the System, and wandered in uncharted space. Vila and Avon had reminisced at first, when they thought Tej was getting better, and they had hope of him sharing a few years of peaceful trading and exploration with them. Zoe knew of Blake, but it didn't know Blake.

"The computer... known as Orac... may have the data." Zoe sounded as if she was fighting to get the words out.

Avon got to his feet. "Zoe, set a course for Gauda Prime. Maximum speed. Battle computers on line. If anything tries to stop us, blast it."

"That is not in accord with The Rule of Life."

"I don't care! Do it!"

"Confirmed."


*******

Vila looked down at the planet beneath them and scowled. "That rat-in-a-box probably rusted out, or rotted, or got broken up by falling rocks or something."

"Probably." Avon was standing beside him, looking at the monitor. He went over to the blanked-off armory. "Zoe, give me access to a weapon."

"Negative. No. I will not. The Rule of Life..."

Avon interrupted the computer. "And what if they kill me down there?"

"All Life is Linked." The hexagon went dark.

Vila sighed and produced a pair of battered guns from under the flight deck cushions. "I saved these. I knew you'd be insist on being stupid."

"Thanks." Avon's hand shook slightly as he took a gun from Vila. "And you know, Vila... you're right." Avon left the flight deck, heading for the teleport.

Vila rolled his eyes at Zoe. "Now he agrees with me." He hurried to join Avon. Rashel was at the controls, and Avon was standing on the platform, teleport bracelet in hand, waiting for him.

"You know, Avon, just because there isn't a blockade around the planet doesn't mean everyone's forgot about it."

"I know." Avon handed Vila the bracelet.

Vila snapped it on and took his place beside Avon, gun held in readiness, unhappy look also in readiness. "It'll probably be raining."

"Probably." Avon nodded to Rashel.

She smiled at them. "Good luck. I can't stay by the teleport for long, I have to check on Tej."

Avon nodded again; his eyes were haunted. "We'll be as quick as we can."

Vila smiled at Rashel. "The quicker the better. I miss you already."

She laughed.

"We're ready." Avon took a tighter grip on his weapon.

Rashel teleported them down.

*******

"It had better be this tree, Avon. I'm sure that last one was poison something or other." Vila scratched vigorously at his arm.

"You can go up to the ship if you like." Avon continued poking in the leaf litter around the bole of a huge tree.

Vila looked at Avon. "Where's your gun?"

"It was in my way." Avon gestured with his chin. "I put it down on that rock."

Vila looked at the rock, ten feet away, and then back at Avon. "Not going to do you much good over there, is it?"

"Leave it, Vila." Avon was now on his hands and knees. "I think... yes!" He emerged filthy and grinning, with a battered, grimy, and dark Orac between his hands. "Signal Rashel for pickup."

"It's broken," Vila said dubiously as he fetched Avon's gun and lifted his teleport bracelet to signal Rashel.

"Perhaps." Avon hefted Orac closer to his chest. "If so, I'll repair it."

"While you're at it, can you make it nicer?"

"I'm a computer technician, not a miracle worker."

*******

"Are you sure this will work?" Rashel asked, looking down at Orac, blinking busily away, hooked into the teleport controls, and then at Tej, lying pale and still on a stretcher on the deck.

Avon looked up at her. It was obvious he hadn't slept or shaved in days. "No," he said softly. "But Tej can't wait any longer." He reached for the controls.

Vila looked at Tej, and then at Avon. "He will be Tej when he comes back, won't he?"

Rashel suddenly gripped Avon's hand. "You can't turn him into Blake!"

Avon looked at her. "I could. But... I couldn't murder Tej to save Blake. Tej would forgive me." Avon closed his eyes a moment. "That's why I couldn't do it."

Rashel released his hand, and Avon threw the switch.

Tej shimmered and vanished. They waited. Several minutes passed.

"Orac, what's happening?" Avon finally asked.

"If you will just be patient! This is a complex task!" Orac fussed and sputtered. The teleport glowed again, and Tej reappeared on the stretcher.

They all looked at the still figure.

Tej's eyes opened and he smiled at them. "Is there any of that stew left, Rashel? I'm starving."

*******

After Life set a course for neutral territory. Avon left the flight deck where the others were still celebrating with the help of various relaxants Vila had liberated from the medical unit. If Avon was any more relaxed he'd fall over.

He nearly fell asleep in the shower, and went through his normal pre-sleep routines with his eyes half-shut, letting his body work on automatic.

He fell into bed with a sigh, and felt the tension slowly slip from his bones and muscles. He was half-asleep when the door announcer buzzed. "Go away," he muttered to himself before hitting the door release and sitting up. He didn't bother turning on the room lights.

The shape silhouetted by the corridor light was unmistakable. "Kerr."

"Tej."

Tej stepped into the room and began undressing. Avon stared for a moment, and then looked away. "You don't owe me anything."

"I know." Tej kicked off his boots and lowered his trousers.

"I was repaying a debt, that's all."

"Yes, of course." Tej padded barefoot over to Avon. The door shut, and the room went dark.

"Rashel loves you."

"And I love her, and Vila." Tej got into bed and took Avon in his arms.

"Blake and I never..."

"I didn't think you had." Tej stroked Avon's back and shoulders.

"Then why are you here?"

"Because I want to be here." Tej kissed Avon. "Now, go to sleep. Tomorrow will be a busy day."

Avon held his breath for a moment, and then he buried his face against Tej's chest. "Yes."

Comments

Awww!

[hafren.livejournal.com]

- see, that's why I don't mind you HEXing stuff. It never comes out sugary or unrealistic, it's happy, but in their terms.

Re: Awww!

[entropy-house.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :^) I do like to give them hope, and a chance to work for happiness.

[highfantastical.livejournal.com]

I've just read both stories and absolutely loved them! Hafren, I somehow missed yours when you first posted it (I see it was in April, so my thoughts were pretty finals-oriented), so this was a brilliant double treat. Entropy_house, I was so impressed by this, it worked incredibly well with the original.

Thanks to both of you for such super stories.

[entropy-house.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm particularly glad you had the double treat of reading both at once. :^)

Hafren sets up such lovely, angsty scenarios, HEXing them is a pleasure.

Re: Awww!

[sallymn.livejournal.com]

I love them both (even if my Blake IS dead) - this fits perfectly into my idea of a B7 'happy' ending :)

And tej and Rashel are wonderful.

Re: Awww!

[entropy-house.livejournal.com]

Hafren gave me a great grounding for Tej and Rashel, I just had to extend the lines. :^)

It's so nice to play together. :^)

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

Awww. I like a good HEX.

[entropy-house.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :^) I'd forgot how much fun it was working within someone else's framework & trying to keep it consistent.

[alinewrites.livejournal.com]

Let's have HEX! It's a wonderful story. I knew it had a happy ending but I still worried until the end!

[entropy-house.livejournal.com]

Oh, good. A Hex where it's obvious they'll succeed is boring. :^)

[ultrapsychobrat.livejournal.com]

Oh, a very good HEX--yay!

[entropy-house.livejournal.com]

*glee* Poor Avon really needed a Blake break.

[jaxomsride.livejournal.com]

Aww that is sweet without being too sugary.

[entropy-house.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :^)