Da'an sat upright, the energy shower around him diminishing. He knew he'd been resting for over an hour, and yet he felt as if he'd lost energy, a lot of energy.
The woman came to though almost instantly. But that had only been a dream...hadn't it?

*******

Da'an didn't have time to think about it long, as he was expected up on the mothership. But when he tried to stand he found that he was unable to make even the smallest of movements! Straining with all of his energy, he finally managed to get to his feet, only to collapse in a helpless heap.
A volunteer, who had been passing by ran into the room, fear overwhelming her. 'What had done this?' was her first thought. But she couldn't think long, she had to get Da'an to the mothership, and fast. Not bothering to call for help, she dragged him to the portal and set the cooridinates. In a flash of bluish white loight they both disappeared.

"Volunteer Johnson, is it?" Sandoval questioned, glancing from his global to the woman. She nodded mutely. "Did you see anything that would have attributed to...this?" He gestured to the nearly lifeless Taelon.
"No, Sir," she replied numbly. "I didn't even think to look around. My first priority was to bring Da'an here."
"Thank you. You may leave now." As She left another Volunteer entered.
"Shall I notify Zo'or, Sir?"
"Not set," Sandoval said. "I want to know more about this...condition...first."
"Whatever it was, sir," the volunteer continued, "I don't think Zo'or could survive another attack. His core energy is nearly depleted."
"And if an attack of the same stature were to occure on Zo'or?"
"Zo'or...Zo'or wouldn't make it, sir."
Sandoval dismissed the volunteer with a wave of his hand. There was perhaps a way, he thought; a way in which he could use this to his advantage.

********

Zo'or sat up, waving away his energy shower with a simple wave of his hand. Someone was in the room, a gut instinct told him so. And he was right. A young woman stared at him from the shadows, her eyes peircing his like two knives.
"Who are you?" He demanded.
"My, you are much stronger then your friend," she replied cryptically. "Already you resist my will."
"Security! Report to the bridge immediately!"
"They cannot hear your cry," the woman laughed. "I have seen to that. This is my time, my world. Everything is as I say. Ony when I join your world once more will your rules apply to me...somewhat."
"A Qui'aan!" Zo'or gasped. The woman lunged at Zo'or, grabbing him by the shoulders when he tried to run.
He felt the energy being taken away, the sharp drainging feeling stabbing him everywhere throughout his body. "You will not win...you demon!" Zo'or hissed, pushing her away.

"Zo'or!" Liam called, watching the Taelon who seemed to be struggling against the air. It looked to him the equivalent of a human night mare. "Zo'or!" Suddenly the Taelon's eyes shot open, glancing around the room quickly.
Was it his imaginatipn, or was the woman really still there? It was impossible! If she was a Qui'aan then she should have disappeared when he woke!
"Who are you?" Zo'or asked again, his voice coming out in a faltering whisper. Liam followed his gave to the corner, catching a glimpse of what appeared to him as only a shadow...but who was casting it, he didn't know.
Sudeenly a voice filled the room, loud and clear enough that even Liam could here it. "I am your worst night mare...and soon, very soon, I wll be your worst reality."

******

"Liam, what's going on up there?" Renee questioned, watching Liam's gaze slide from her to the numerous Volunteers that were scrambling about the bridge.
"There's been an attack on both Zo'or and Da'an," Liam explained. "Both of them have had their core energy drained of them, Da'an's condition is a bit worse."
"Did you see the attacker?"
"I'm not sure," Liam sighed. "But Sandoval has the entire mother ship on lockdown, no one gets in or out until we know who or what this is."
"What do you mean your not sure?" Renee pressed. "Either something was there or it wasn't there."
"I saw a tiny glimer of a shadow, maybe, but I did hear it speak. It was feminine, but its hard to describe...creepy would fit well for an understatement."
"Well, what she/it say?" Renee asked.
"Something about being the Taelons worst nightmare, becoming a reality...whatever that would be," Liam asnwered. "I'd ask Da'an but he's too weak, and I don't think Zo'or wants to be bothered at the moment."
"What about security tapes?" Renee inquired.
"Sandoval already tried that, they're all blank."
"Blank?" she repeated.
"Yeah, completely dark. Like a shadow had been cast over all of the security cameras, including the ones that are hidden."
"Did Zo'or say anything else that might help?" Renee pushed. "I mean, this could be a big break for the Resistance, espcially if we can get whoever or whatever is attacking them on our side."
"I didn't catch anything else," Liam admitted. "I have t go Renee, I'll keep you posted." Her global screen went blank as he closed the connection.
The mother ship was a hell hall, Volunteers rushing about, and the other Taelons in a panic. If something could take down their Synod leader, then anyone was open for attack; and no one wanted to be next.
Liam journeyed to one of the many sub-decks, moving inot one specifically. It was void of any other person. This was his hideaway, his place when things got to stressful. The room was almost bare, save for a desk and a mini tv.
He sat down at the desk, flipping the tv onto the sports channel, for lack of anything else being on, and leaned back, closing his eyes.
"Stressed are we?" a feminine voice questioned. Liam jumped up but he could see no one around. "Awww, did I frighten you?"
"I'm not afraid of you," Liam replied, half lying. He was, after all, part Taelon.
"That was what you humans call sarcasm," the voice noted. Was Liam's sight playing teicks, or was there maybe the faintest of shadows forming at the doorway? "Yes, that is me. A few more of your friends, and I will be able to be seen in full view, almost. What you humans would call an apparition."
"What are you?" Liam demanded. "And what have you against the Taelons that you would destroy them like this?"
"The Taelons destroyed my people, and my home, thousands of years ago!" the voice hissed, an anger resonating throughout the atmosphere of the room. Whatever she was, Liam thought, she was pissed. "And now I shall lead my people to a reawakening, and we shall take our home back once more."
"I can help you," Liam began slowly. "I have friends...they don't like the Taelons either. They...we...can help you."
"Typical!" the voice snapped. "Just like your kind to spin webs of lies in order to trick other species. I know what you are. You are not human, and you are not Taelon. The Kimera are our enemies as well."
"Is there anyone not your enemy?" Liam questioned sarcastically.
"There is one." The shadow was becoming more distinct, as it neared him slowly. "But I will not reveal them to your kind, to be hunted down once more like our people were."
"So you hate the Taelons, the Kimera, and obviously humans; but what about the Jaridians?"
The voice didn't answer, but the disticnt rage in the atmosphere increased, to an almost overwhelming feeling.
"Alright, if you won't answer that, then why me? Why did you come to me down here?"
"You are alone," she replied. "And you are such a tempting target...the Qui'ann enjoy a variety-" She stopped short, realizing that she had betrayed herself.
Suddenly Liam's global beeped, and at that noise the shadow, and the feelings of rage brought with it, began to back off.
"I will be back for you, and for the rest of them!" And then it was gone, everything.
Liam, breathing heavy, opened the global. It was Sandoval.
"Major, where are you at?" the Asian American demanded.
"On my way to the bridge," Liam replied quickly. "I've heard from our assailant. And you may have just saved my life."

******

"Major, what do you mean you heard from our assailant?" Sandoval questioned.
"I was almost attacked," Liam explained shortly. "The noise from the global scared her off."
"So the attacker is female?"
"Yes." Liam looked around at all of the Volunteers, then back to Sandoval. "I believe she may have found her way down to Earth."
"None of the shuttles or portals are opperational at this time, due to our shut down," Sandoval argued.
"I think she may have a different way of travel, one we don't know about. But I'm rquesting permission to go down to Earth to track her."
"And how do you plan to do that, Major?" Sandoval demanded.
"Well, she said that she was going to act again, and that I was a promising..."target". All I have to do is lure her in."

********

"Liam, I thought the mothership was on lockdown!" Renee hissed when Liam sat next to her inside the Flat Planet Cafe. "How'd you get down here?"
"I convinced Sandoval to let me go, since our attacker contacted me and has made me somewhat of a target," Liam explained. "I think he's hoping I'll lure it back down to Earth."
"Yeah, well, a few of the Taelons that are still down here, I think, are getting kind of upset that they can't go to the mother ship, or contact it."
"All of the Taelons are on the mothership," Liam stated.
"No, not all of them," Renee argued. "K'lee, the Egyptian Companion-"
"I know who she is," Liam interrupted. "It figures that she would refuse to go up to the mothership, even if there are attacks."
"So, what's the deal with it all? Why is this...person, or thing...attacking the Taelons?"
"She called herself the Qui'aan," Liam explained. "And supposedly a long time ago the Taelons destroyed her home and her people. Apparently she wants revenge, and she's pissed enough to take it."
"Yeah, well, you might want to explain a few things to Street, she's been hammering me about why the shut down occured and why all of her uplinks to mothership files have been fried. I've been holding off on telling her until you found a way down."
"Good," Liam sighed. "Lets go then, because I don't know how long our friend is going to wait."

"Liam, what the hell is going on?" Street demanded as the two walked into the lair.
"Something is attacking the Taelons," Liam explained quickly. "And whatever it is doesn't have a physical body...yet."
"Yet?" Street repeated.
"Yeah. I don't know how to explain it. She calls herself a Qui'aan, what ever the hell that is. It doesn't ring a bell to anything I know from my Taelon heritage. She/it has already drained the energy from Da'an and Zo'or, and has targeted me."
"Sounds like you have a real problem," a new voice piped in from behind the group. They all turned around to see a young woman standing near the entrence. She had slate gray eyes and long silvery hair.
"Siren," Street greeted, sounding surprised, unenthused and yet hurt.
"Juliet."

********
Siren gazed cooly at J, her slate colored eyes appearing to hold no emotion. Street on the other hand, seemed furious with this new guest.
"How did you get in here?"
"Easy," Siren replied. "That DNA scanner at St. Michael's is still opperational. I was a member of the resistance."
"I know all of the names of former Resistance members. Your name doesn't ring a bell," Liam called.
"It wouldn't," Street interrupted. "She left, quite suddenly. Everyone thought she was dead, including me."
"I am quite sorry if I caused you pain, Juliet-"
"Don't even start that crap! You have no place here, Siren. So you might as well just disappear again."
"You're wrong," Siren argued, "I do have a place here. But seing as you don't want me here, I will leave. But I'll be around D.C., my global number is still the same as it was three years ago." Turning to go, she looked over her shoulder at Liam. "By the way, Major, I'd watch your back."

*******

"God I hate her," Street muttered, turning back to a computer screen.
"What's the deal with that?" Renee inquired.
"A lot of stuff that I don't want to go into," Street replied. "Siren's trouble, so you might want to do as she says, and watch your back."

* * *

Zo'or woke to find the woman hovering over him, her deep blue eyes studying his face. "If you are here to finish me off, creature, then do it!"
"I have no interest in finishing you off just yet," the woman replied. Her hair had less gray in it, and she seemed to have a sharper focus, like someone was using a camera and was just now getting the image correct. "I have more interest in the humans at the moment. You are becoming well guarded meals, not something I wish to deal with at the moment."
"Then why do you remain here?"
"Its fun to watch you suffer," she replied coldly. "I'm sure you found it amusing to watch us as well?" Zo'or didn't answer. "Of course. Well, since I am here, I might as well have a snack."
She reached out and touched Zo'or's chest, taking a quick jolt of energy that, in turn, nearly knocked Zo'or unconscious.
"Thank you." The woman was now even more define. A few more energy drains, Zo'or thought, and she would re-enter the real world. And there was nothing to stop her...

*********

"Liam, have you seen the news today?" Renee asked, entering his apartment.
"No, why?"
"Honestly," Renee muttered, adding something about male intelligence under her breath. "Three human deaths...all of them appeared to be mummified."
"Mummified?" Liam repeated in grotesque curiosity.
"That's right. Looks like it was dinner time last night for that creature."
"It also looks like humans don't stand up as well to her draining teqniques like the taelons do," Liam added. Suddenly his global beeped, loud and clear, interrupting the conversation. "Probably Sandoval."
But when he answered he was greeted by a dark and silent screen. "Who is this?"
"I think you know who this is," the feminine voice replied smugly.
"Why don't you show yourself?" Liam inquired, hoping to get a fix on what she looked like. He could freeze the image and use it for later.
"You underestimate me if you think I am foolish enough to give you advantage over me," she scoffed. "I've watched your technology advance while I lied in wait. But, despite what some of your fellow humans have so often thought, your technology will not be your downfall."
"And what will be our down fall?" Renee asked, stepping into the conversation.
"Your alliance with the Taelons." The line went dead on the other line. With a heavy sight Liam set his own global down and leaned back in his chair.
"Its an empty threat," Renee dismissed.
"Those three deaths and two attacks were not empty threats, Renee," Liam pointed out.
"So what are we supposed to do?" Renee demanded. "What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to get some answers.

********

Liam entered the medical wing, Da'an sitting up to greet him. It had been two weeks since his attack, and the Qui'aan had not returned. In fact, it seemed that she had been laying low for quite some time.
"Major," Da'an greeted. His voice still sounded strained.
"Da'an," Liam replied. "I need answers." Da'an looked blankly at him for a moment so Liam continued. "If I'm going to stop this...thing, then I need to know everything you know about her."
"What would I-"
"She called herself a Qui'ann," Liam interrupted. "Now, for some reason, I have no knowledge of what a Qui'ann is, despite my Taelon heritage."
"No," Da'an said softly, "you would not." "Why not?"
"Because our ancestors made an attempt to erase that part of our history."

*******