The Forgotten Past Part 11: Descision

	Ness stared at Jeff in horrified dismay. "Jeff, no they're 
going to kill all of you," he said in a subdued tone. 
	"We thought you were dead already." There was a long, awkward 
pause. Ness wanted to ask Jeff if he knew where Paula was, but knew the
answer would be no. Instead he asked who was in the cell next door.
	"It's Paula!" Jeff exclaimed. Ness's heart both ached and 
jumped for joy.
	"Healing Gamma!" In an instant Paula returned to normal. She 
looked as confused as Jeff had been.
	"Where am I?" 
	"You're in a Giygan spaceship," Ness replied, his stomach 
feeling quite heavy. 
	"NESS!" Paula cried out. "You're alive?" 
	He smiled warily, realized she couldn't see him and replied, 
"For now, anyway."
	She took a long time to answer. "Yeah, I suppose. What do you
think they're going to do with the rest of us?" Ness couldn't answer.
"I see." 
	Jeff decided to give those two as much privacy as possible and
moved to the front of the cell. He peered out the window. Everything
was dull and gray. There was no real way to communicate with someone
from the opposite side of the hall. He sighed. At least death would 
seem to come more slowly this way.
				...
	Jezira entered the commander's quarters once again.
	"I see your mission was a success. You have done well."
	"Thank-you, sir! I-I have a proposal."
	"Spit it out," he replied in an unusually calm voice. 
	"Well, do you wish to inflict as much pain as possible to the
human race?"
	"Do you really need me to answer that? They are a plague 
which infects the galaxy." His voice had not changed from the monotone 
of before.
	"No, sir. Well, if we executed the boy we captured first 
publically and forced the others to watch, then I believe it would
have a greater effect on them as a whole."
	"A public death would have to be less painful." Even now, there
was no emotion in his voice. 
	"Despair and sorrow are more devastating than bodily harm, 
sir."
	"Ah, yes. Very well. I will consider your plan." A hint of glee
could now be heard in his voice.
	"There is one more aspect to it, sir."
	"What is it?"
	"I believe we should give Ganiana one chance to prove if she is
still loyal to you and to the Empire. She should be given the 
opportunity to carry out the execution."
	"I will consider it. Now begone!" Jezira complied immediately,
relieved that it was over.
				...
	Ness's jail cell door opened. "Come with us," the two guards 
ordered and dragged him out of the stall before anything could be said.
	Paula felt her heart break. "What do you think they're going 
to do to him?"
	"I'm not going to think about it," Jeff replied. 
	"Ness," she whispered. "Be strong. Come back to me." Three
hours later, he returned. No wound marred his skin, however there was a
change in him. He said little and would not discuss where he was or 
what happened there. They slammed his cell door and opened the one
right next to him.
	"Ganiana, come with us." She was dragged out of her cell by
two guards.
	"Where are you taking me?" she whispered. They stopped in front
of the commander's office. One opened the door and the other shoved 
Ganaina inside, keeping close to her.
	"Thank you. Now leave us."
	"Commander!"
	"Wait outside the door! This is a very personal manner." The 
guard saluted Giygan style and left quickly. Ganiana kept her head
low, as an excuse not look in his eyes. 
	"Ganiana, an interesting proposition was brought before me."
	"What do you mean?" He explained Ganiana's plan to her.
	"Will you do it?"
	It took her a long time to answer. [What should I do?] she
wondered helplessly. 
	[What choice do you have?] Another part of her answered. 
	[You have to do it.] She began to panic. 
	[But I can't...] The first part countered weakly, at last 
accepting defeat.
	"I'll do it," She replied at last, immediately regretting it.
	"Welcome back, Ganiana." He pushed a button near the door. 
"Guards! Take her back to her cell." The guards entered. As she was
being shoved out the door, he added, "It will take place in six hours."