Upon the King
Prologue "To unpathed waters, Major Liam Kincaid slowly walked through the iridescent corridors of the Taelon Mother ship. His steel-toed, black boots whispered softly against the bioslurry. The black mid-thigh length leather jacket he wore over a steel gray turtleneck and charcoal slacks, created a faint rustling sound with each movement he made. His body weary from lack of sleep, Laim's pace was slower than usual, almost clumsy. Face ghost white and shoulders slumped, his bloodshot eyes stared at the floor beneath his feet. He paid little attention to his surroundings, his thoughts centered internally. Over the previous days, Zo'or had insisted on accessing Me'al's recording device as often as the primitive technology -- by current standards -- would allow. Because he was the only 'Human' capable of assisting, Liam had been on call 24/7 for over nine days. Besides being completely exhausted; at odd intervals, he felt eerily lethargic. From one moment to the next, he would be physically drained and nearly unconscious on his feet, then suddenly he felt almost normal -- if somewhat more tired. His hands stung painfully. A sharp, throbbing ache radiated from the center of his palms outward. It traversed up his arms, across his chest and blossomed within his skull. As the days of little or no sleep and insubstantial dietary supplements accumulated, the slight discomfort of a headache, had steadily increased. It had slowly become quite excruciating. Liam attributed these new sensations as a simple cold. The nausea and brief chills he felt washing intermittently through his body, could easily be flu symptoms. Although he'd never experienced the flu firsthand, Lili had it Liam's first winter. He assumed his Kimerian heritage kept the rest of the flu at bay, since he wasn't coughing, sneezing, or even remotely congested. He didn't want to think about any other possible cause. Unfortunately, the mind didn't always follow directions. In this case, he couldn't help but think the problem was his ancestry. Me'al's devise had specified a Taelon and a Human working in concert, could access the information. Although, he had been able to fore fill that requirement, he worried that his continued use was causing him physical harm. The problem was, he couldn't think of a way out of his self-appointed duty. As he wearily stepped onto the bridge, Agent Ronald Sandoval turned a baleful glare on the young man. Liam barely concealed a flinch. His father's hatred for him was almost tangible. It wasn't surprising really, they'd often been at odds. More so recently. "You requested my presence, Zo'or?" Liam asked softly. His voice was a mere shadow of it's normally smooth baritone. The Synod Leader waved away the Data-stream he'd been viewing. "Ah, Major. I called you more than thirty minutes ago, where have you been?" Liam sighed, absently massaging his left temple with a trembling hand. "I apologize for my tardiness, I seem to have caught the flu." He noticed Sandoval's eyes still on him. One eyebrow was cocked upward as though he found it unlikely Liam had been honest. The hybrid didn't bother to acknowledge the older mans presence. He didn't feel well enough to deflect a fly at the moment, let alone Sandoval's ire. "I care nothing for your simple Human illnesses. See that it does not happen again." Zo'or snapped impatiently. "I am in need of your assistance." Nodding slightly, Liam winced as pain erupted within his head. "Of course, Zo'or." Slowly walking toward the device, the hybrid staggered briefly from exhaustion. He was mildly shocked when Sandoval steadied him by placing a hand beneath his elbow. Liam raised his gray eyes to meet his father's and whispered a sigh of thanks. The Agent's brow furrowed in consideration, he almost, reluctantly released his hold of Liam's arm. Stopping opposite Zo'or, Liam placed his palm over the device. Images, thoughts and text began to scroll before his eyes. The pace became faster as Liam stored the knowledge in his memory. At first, he didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. However, as more information tumbled forward, a pinching sensation began in his palm. His head throbbed in cadence to the spiraling information. A slight burning sensation began behind his eyes. A soft, ominous glow started in the center of the device. Sparkling with awesome beauty, a luminous plasma fire danced and swirled upward. Sandoval, seeing the change from it's normal function, acted on instinct and shoved Zo'or out of the way. As they fell into a tangled heap on the floor, the cascading lights came to a culmination. Flowing outward from the ancient recorder, a swirling blue aura surrounded everything within three feet of the source. Writhing madly, tentacles of pure antimatter lashed out violently. A panicked, horrified expression crossed Liam's placid face as he tried and failed to withdraw his hand. The whips of white hot energy snaked across his flesh, leaving burned, blackened tissue behind. Throwing his head back, Liam howled. Wave after pulsating wave of pure agony washed throughout his lean body. A rippling shudder ran across his frame. He gasped loudly as his spine arched sharply. His hand still resting over Me'al's recorder, he dropped to his knees. A grimace contorted his features as spasms of energy raced over his flesh. Blue veins stood out vividly against his pale skin. His cries became hoarse stuttering croaks of breath as his throat became raw. His previously inactive sha'kara'vah' , blossomed, exploding against the Taelon device. Liam felt like he was being ripped apart. Boiling and tumbling in rhythmic chorus, the blue aura became a white mass of superheated energy. His clothing began disintegrating, withering to dust before his very eyes. Horrified realization flashed through his mind as the energy bathed his flesh. He didn't want to die like this. Chapter I "To know the darkness is to love the light, Once he'd ensured Zo'or's safety, Agent Sandoval quickly rolled to his knees. One hand resting on the bioslury floor before him, he glanced back at the device. And gasped in shock. Major Kincaid was trapped within a bubble of seething energy. Screaming pitilessly, he desperately fought to free himself. The hand still attached to the device, held little resemblance to it's companion. Burnt, blackened tatters of flesh and muscle clung lifelessly to the appendage. The bones of his fingers; no longer white; had literally melted, welding themselves to the recorder. Like an animal caught in a bear trap, he struggled ceaselessly despite the pain. Or perhaps, because of it. Unsure how to respond, Sandoval slowly levered himself to his feet. He assisted Zo'or in rising and quickly ushered the Taelon from the room. Ever since the lose of his gold, Zo'or's behavior had been terrifyingly inconsistent. It was almost as though the Taelon had split personalities. From one moment to the next, Zo'or's moods varied to such extremes, that Sandoval had begun to question the Companions sanity. At present, he seemed subdued, almost passive, as he allowed the Agent to lead him from the room. Sandoval returned to the bridge quickly. No matter how much he disliked the Major, he couldn't allow him to suffer like that. The younger mans anguished cries died down as he collapsed to his knees. He whimpered softly, lungs and throat no longer capable of producing sound Expanding and contracting in perfect harmony, the flames appeared alive. The terrifying beauty of it contrasted sharply with it's obvious destructive capacity. Twisting wisps thrashed against Liam's unprotected flesh. Angry red welts and blackened wheels replaced smooth pale skin. It appeared to be slowly devouring Liam alive. As the simmering nebula changed color, Sandoval could no longer deny the course of action he must take. Raising his arm, he aimed his skrill at the offending mass. Chapter II "God topples from the sky, Sandoval fired two consecutive pulses directly at the center of the mass. The blasts disintegrated the device instantly, taking the remains of Liam's left hand with it. A shuddering wave of heat and energy exploded outward. The force propelled Liam's lithe body across the room, where he slammed brutally into the virtual glass shielding. Sandoval staggered backwards, falling to one knee as the tide to buffeted against him. He placed a steadying hand on the floor, only to yank it back with a yelp of pain. The bioslurry was blisteringly hot. Pulling his global from his coat pocket, Sandoval called for emergency medical assistance The Agent pushed himself vertical and jogged across the room. Crouching beside the still form of the Major, he checked for a pulse. Although faint and thready, it was desrenable. Sandoval wrenched off his jacket. Spreading it on the floor behind Kincaid, he carefully turned the young man onto his back. Most of his clothing had been burned away. Liam's skin was a motley mess of burns, bruises, and lacerations. His left wrist ended in a half cauterized, seeping, bloody stump. The jagged edges of bone poked out from amidst the burned flesh. Pulling a handkerchief free of his coat, Sandoval quickly wrapped it around the Major's left wrist. He turned his head as he heard footsteps approaching from beyond the chamber. Moments later, four Volunteers entered the room at a run. Two black uniformed men carried a stretcher between them. A third carried a bulky, orange first-aid kit. The fourth shouldered a large black bag. Sandoval stood and took several staggering steps away. For the first time in years, he felt like he was going to be sick. For some unfathomable reason, the young mans injuries disturbed him a great deal. He didn't even like the Major. In fact, he'd tried to have him killed on multiple occasions. Ethical to the point of saintliness, Liam brought new meaning to the word staunch. Since the day he'd arrived, the young man had been the bane of Sandoval's existence. Yet, despite that fact, Sandoval found himself oddly worried for Kincaid's health. It was irritating, to say the least. The Agent watched silently as the Volunteers began checking the Major's vital signs. They're emotionless features were unnerving in the midst of such repulsion. Over 70% of the Major's body had second and third degree burns. Both his lungs and throat had been scorched. There also existed the possibility of retinal damage. His temperature was alarmingly high, where as blood pressure and pulse rate were nearly non existent. The most frightening variable however, was Kincaid's brain wave pattern. The small scanning device the medic held was unable to record the full extent of activity. The readings went literally off the chart. Carefully, the fourth member of the team wrapped the injured body in thermal blankets. Once done, the first two in the room lifted him onto the stretcher. After strapping the Major down, the stretcher was hefted upward. The group left the room without comment, just as they had entered. Chapter III "The past rests at the top of the heart; Part I Once the sanitation crew had cleared the bridge of debris, Zo'or had insisted on returning. He slowly paced toward his dais, his hands held before him. Fingers splayed slightly, he stopped and tilted his head to one side. "Agent Sandoval, where are Ma'el's logs?" Zo'or softly spoken question intruded on the silence amid the unoccupied bridge. "I regret it was necessary to destroy the device." Sandoval's apathetic answer was equally as softly spoken. He hoped it would keep Zo'or calm. Unfortunately, it did not have the desired effect. "Necessary?" Yelling furiously, the Taelon turned on Sandoval. "Why was it necessary to destroy my property?" "The device was in danger of..." The Agent began. "Da'an told you to do this. Because I had possession of the logs and he did not." Zo'or snarled accusingly. Sandoval had to fight the impulse to roll his eyes. He sighed. "Zo'or, you saw the energy engulf Major Kincaid. If I hadn't stopped it, it could have harmed the ship." "No, you lie." The Synod leader screamed. His facade fluctuated wildly. Spinning back toward the virtual glass, he stalked across the platform. Sandoval briefly rolled his head from one side to the other. Bones popping and muscles stretching, he silently wished for a masseuse. He'd thought with time and patients, Zo'or would eventually come back to his senses. However, from what the Agent could tell, the Taelon was only getting worse. He was paranoid and often violently erratic. Both oddly forgetful and frighteningly brutal, the Taelon had made the last several weeks a living hell. "You will take me to my gold, Agent Sandoval." "We still have not been able to track it down. It will be found soon, Zo'or." The question was asked multiple times a day. Sandoval had even considered the simple expedient of placing a holographic image of the gold within it's former chamber. He had regrettably decided against it, since Zo'or enjoyed actually being in physical contact with the material. "Why are you here wasting my time here, then?" Demanded the Companion. Counting back, Sandoval realized Zo'or's behavior change had roughly coincided with the destruction of the core energy at DI. It had simply been slowly increasing in intensity. "Call Major Kincaid to the Mothership." Zo'or commanded in his usual aloof tone. "I wish to retrieve more information from Ma'el's logs." Bowing his head, Sandoval closed his eyes. "Of course, Zo'or." The Agent turned away and slowly left the bridge. Part II Dr. Belman turned as a commotion outside the lab interrupted her concentration. Stepping away from the samples she'd been studying, she walked toward the labs entrance. Medics were busily trying to stabilize a badly burned human. Julienne quickly removed her white smock and gloves shoving them into the biofilter. As she paced toward the chaos, she grabbed a fresh set of scrubs. Pulling the protective material on, Belman began giving orders for the preparation of an antibacterial bath and a Blue Tank. Stopping beside the biobed, Julienne briefly studied the statistics. "Brain activity is..." *Oh God, Liam.* She gasped as she glanced down at the victim. Although incredibly unstable at the moment, Liam's brain wave patterns were normally much higher than a full humans. Thus, trying to stabilize it amidst people who thought he was human, would be impossible. Julienne could either reveal his secret; sentencing him to death, or put it off and hope it balanced itself. Once he was capable of being moved, she would transport him to Earth. There, she and Dr. Park could attend him without worry of discovery. Quickly looking back at the monitors, she made a desperate decision. "The abnormal brain activity is second priority, we must debreed the burns first and foremost." Two Volunteers carefully placed Liam's lithe frame in a large chemical bath. After placing an oxygen mask over his mouth and nose, he was fully submerged. Chapter IV "And we are left alone, Part I Nearly five hours after Liam was brought to Medbay, Dr. Belman sat before a large tank filled with blue liquid. The antibacterial fluid contained a mixture of chemical nutrients, proteins, and immune builders, which allowed the body to restore itself without using it's own minimal reserves. At this stage, it was the only thing keeping Liam alive. His lungs and bronchial tube had been so severely burned, it had been necessary to oxygenate the bacta-fluid. In their current condition, they would have ceased to function had Liam simply been put on oxygen. "Dr. Belman?" Julienne lifted her forehead from her folded hands when she heard Agent Sandoval's voice. "Yes, Agent Sandoval?" She remained seated, her elbows stationed on her knees. "What is the Major's condition?" Inquired the ridged monotone. "Severe." Her scratchy voice was soft from giving terse, rapid orders. "If he makes it through the next twelve hours, he's got a good chance of surviving this." Sandoval nodded fractionally. His gaze locked on the tank, he wondered aloud. "What about his hand?" Dr. Belman sighed. "We've had some phenomenal breakthroughs since Julie Payton's unfortunate setback. I'm pretty sure I can replace it. His eyes are another matter entirely. If it were just the retina, we could repair or replace it easily. However, the damage appears to extend beyond the optic nerve. I'm afraid I'll have to wait for more thorough test results." "Thank you, Doctor. I'll inform Zo'or." The agent threw one more quick glance at the tank before turning away. "Agent Sandoval." Julienne called to the retreating implant. He stopped and twisted his shoulders enough to see her. "Yes?" "If you hadn't gotten to him when you did, he wouldn't have any chance at all." Julienne smiled fondly at the floating young man before looking at Sandoval. "Thank you." The Agent regarded her quizzically. "I had not been aware the two of you were close." Dr. Belman smiled sadly. "We're both virtually alone in the world. He helped me get over the lose of my daughter by giving me someone else to mother." Sandoval cocked his head to one side. One brow arched, his eyes fell on Liam again. He questioned softly. "Who did you help him get over?" "Everyone." Julienne whispered. Her eyes pulled with tears, she looked down. Regarding her silently for the space of a breath, the Agent finally nodded in understanding. Almost reluctantly, he turned and marched from the room. Part II Unable to remember anything beyond the horrible pain in the energy stream on the Mothership's bridge, Liam wasn't sure where he was or how he'd gotten here. He remembered watching his hand disintegrate and the terror when he realized he was dying. Perhaps this was the afterlife, the fabled void the Taelons believed in. Maybe he was dead. Somehow, that thought didn't hold the amount of trepidation he'd once thought it would. It was almost a welcome respite. No more day to day worries for the Resistance. No more wondering when the sham would end and he'd be caught. No more fear of what the Taelon's would do to him if they discovered what he was. If he were honest with himself, he couldn't think of that many things that made his life worth living. He was constantly in fear of Sandoval's, Zo'or's, or even Da'an's next move. He was never sure how far he could trust Renee or Street. He didn't really have anyone left, they'd all abandoned him in one way or another. Finally, with the loss of Haley, he'd begun to doubt more often his ability to lead the Resistance. What kind of life was that for a two year old? For over a year, he'd done everything in his power to repress his Kimerian traits. From bold faced lying to Renee about the loss of his sha'kara'vah, to denying all memories that weren't his own. Against his will however, they'd continued to evolve. Case in point: the fact that he lasted nearly three minutes before succumbing to the incapacitating effects of the deadly parasitic worm. His body had fought the creature viciously, rather than losing consciousness as any human would have. Ever since that gruesome episode, he'd had nightmares about that thing crawling around in his head. He'd wake up screaming, fiercely scratching at his neck. Incoherent sobs escaping his lips as he desperately tried to regain control. He rarely slept an entire night. Pulling his thought away from matters he could not alter, he surreptitiously glanced around his surroundings. Whisper soft, like rose petals on flesh, memories cascaded before his minds eye. From the lightest, most gentle shade of peach, to the darkest, maleficent cast of black. They formed a waterfall of twinkling, translucent raindrops. Trembling, swaying delicately, like leaves caught in a soft breeze, the myriad tears fluttered onward, caught in an endless dance. Each crystalline bead held a moment of life. A single breath of thought and feeling. So fragile, yet so very dangerous. For those breathtaking pearls contained the lives of Liam's parents. From the very moment of his Mother's birth, to the second his Fathers came in contact with one another. He was unsure whether to rejoice in pleasure, or cringe with fear. He had always wanted to be capable of fully touching those memories. Of seeing the lives his parents had lived. Of knowing the people his parents had been. Yet, now that the possibility was within reach, he found himself terrified of what he might find. However, being dead had it's advantages. He would never have to face Sandoval, knowing every horrible thing he'd ever done for the Taelon's. He would never have the urge to visit Grandparent's who didn't even know of his existence. Last, he would never complete his maturation and wish to one day see the universe Ha'gel had so loved. Finally coming to a conclusion, he mentally moved toward the waterfall of memories. Probing the river with a tendril of thought, Liam gently gathered a single luminous, yellow bead within himself. Like an iridescent soap bubble, it popped. The images released into his mind, flowing smoothly over the contours of his thoughts like liquid mercury. *"Siobhan!" Elizabeth Beckett scolded. "If ya eat all the cookie dough, ther' won' be enough to make cookies." The six year old redhead pulled a short, stubby index finger from her mouth. Chastised, she looked down at the floor. "Yes, Mum." Leaning forward, Elizabeth leaned forward and gently wiped the flour and excess dough from Siobhan's cheeks. "Ya goin' ta turn in ta Shortbread if ya eat anymore." Giggling, the child stood defiantly before her Mother. "Will no'."* The single moment in time faded slowly away. Comparable to fog dissipating as the sun rose above the horizon, within seconds, nothing remained of that minuscule tear. Liam sobbed unabashedly, not merely from jealousy of a childhood he had never been allowed, but for the innocent girl his Mother had once been. The next drop he apprehended, foreshadowed something much more sinister. It's dull, ebony hue held no beauty, only death and destruction resided within. *In his pristine gray Armoni suit, Agent Ronald Sandoval stood calmly before his office window. His apathetic, monotone voice gave precise, unquestionable orders to the Global he held in his right hand. " ... She is not to survive. Is that understood?" "I'll take care of it today." Confirmed the hit man. "Kate Boone, wife of Commander William Boone, right?" "Correct. Another $500,000 will be wired to your account when the job is complete." "Understood." Hearing the final reply, Sandoval closed his Global. He dropped it in his pocket and turned to the only other occupant of his office. "Very good, Agent Sandoval. I thank you for your diligence." Complimented Da'an.* Liam wished with every breath he'd ever drawn, he could banish that memory to the farthest recesses of his mind. The thought that he had once trusted Da'an with his life, galled him a great deal. He couldn't understand how he'd been so wrong about the Taelon. For the first time in his short life, he truly began to despise Da'an. Chapter V "By the cold breast and serpent smile, Part I *"You're not well." Agent Sandoval told the small blond women at his side. He held tightly to her thin arm as they walked toward the waiting ambulance. His emotionless voice was unnerving. "This is for your own good, Dee Dee." "Ron, please!" She begged the implant. "Don't do this." Ignoring the sobbing plea, Ronald Sandoval released his wife's arm. He watched silently as the medics escorted her into the vehicle. Gently stroking Raven, he turned away as the sedative was administered.* Liam could almost feal the tears trailing down his cheeks. The phantom images faded into nothingness, leaving only the memory of that horrible action in it's wake. One after another, he'd watched thousands of memories. Everything from the moment Ha'gel was trapped in the stasis capsule, to the second the CVI needle entered Sandoval's brain. He'd seen his human parents at their best: before the Taelon's arrival. And he'd witnessed every horrible action of their worst: after the Taelon's arrival. He viewed the deception and betrayal the Taelon's committed against the Kimera and he saw the day to day lives of a people he would never meet. With each shocking, horrifying image, his hatred grew. In his naivety, he had wished for the peaceful joining of the Human and Taelon species'. Now, he realized that such an event was not only impossible, but inconceivable. The Taelon's were little more than a blight on the universe. In their Atavus state, before the Kimera had created the Commonality, they were vicious predators. Mindlessly hunting down and destroying anything and anyone in their path. Once the Kimera connected them, they renamed themselves, hiding their malicious tendencies behind docility. In their new form, they were capable of destroying an enemy from the inside. By feigning companionship, they discovered each weakness and soft spot. Then exploited that knowledge, casting the inferior into oblivion. The Taelon's were nothing like the altruistic allies they portrayed themselves as. They thought themselves superior to all. Methodically destroying everything and everyone. Manipulating what they found useful and breaking what they found inconvenient. They were the very incarnation of evil itself. Part II Dr. Belman removed her glasses from her nose. Placing thumb and index finger on her eyes, she massaged gently. She was exhausted. Having spent hours researching huge volumes of information, she wanted nothing more than to go home and climb in bed. That was not possible, she realized as she shoved her glasses back on, because Liam was still here. Standing, she stretched sore muscles. Julienne grabbed her white coat from the back of her chair and pulled it on. Once straight, she slowly made her way from her office to the lab. It had been over twenty-four hours since Liam had been placed in the tank. She had catnapped occasionally, getting some much needed rest whenever possible. But, she had been unwilling to leave for any period of time for fear that someone else would see the young mans eerily swift recovery. Liam's skin was blemish free, except for the few pink areas where the worst of the injuries had been. Although his brain activity was still elevated, it was not nearly as temperamental as before. Through her research, Julienne had discovered that with the benefit of his Kimerian DNA, the regenerative properties of the Taelon limb replacement surgery would be permanent. Upon entering the lab, she saw the silhouette of a figure on the opposite side of the tank. Immediately concerned for Liam's safety, she quickly circled the container, and stopped. Zo'or stood before the glass, his hands just inches from touching the fragile material. "Is there something I can assist you with, Zo'or?" Dr. Belman did her best to hide the panicked, frightened tone from her voice. Visibly flinching, Zo'or withdrew his palms. Turning, he defiantly regarded the physician. "What is his condition?" "He's almost fully healed." Julienne announced proudly. "His injuries weren't nearly as severe as we'd first suspected." Facing the tank once more, Zo'or absently waved a hand through the air. The slow, jerky motion held none of it's usual grace. "Very good. Leave us. I wish to be alone with the Commander." Dr. Belman arched a single brow. Clearing her throat, she carefully corrected the Taelon. "I'm afraid I can't do that. It is imperative that I check Major Kincaid's vitals on a regulated schedule. If he is left in the bacta-tank too long, it could cause irreparable damage." She hoped by stressing the word Major, rather than blatantly amending him, she would not offend Zo'or. Tilting his head slightly to one side, the Synod Leader silently watched Liam. Stepping closer to the tank, he raised his hands once more. "Zo'or..." Dr. Belman gasped. Before she could continue however, another voice interrupted. "Zo'or, there is an urgent matter on the bridge that needs your attention." Sandoval's smooth indifferent voice halted the Taelon's intentions. "You can come back at a later date, if you wish." Awkwardly, Zo'or wrenched himself away from the tank. "I will do as I please." Snapping viciously, the Taelon glared at the implant in fury. Without a word, he suddenly turned and left the chamber. Julienne breathed a soft sigh of relief. As he followed the Companion from the room, Sandoval advised. "If you value his life, he will not be here when Zo'or returns." Watching the implants straight, stiff back as he exited the chamber, the older women began mentally devising a plan as she traipsed back toward her office. Part III Floating amidst the cerulean nutrient bath, a lithe, pail form moved a single elegant finger. With the slightest twitch; seemingly nothing more sinister than a muscle spasm; the man meticulously checked each limb. He tested every appendage for weakness and discomfort, cataloguing the most negligible imperfection. The soothing chemicals of the bacta-tank made breathing much less arduous. Slowly, as though gliding into a Yoga position, the hybrid arched his back. He carefully rolled his head and shoulders, stretching rippling, sinuous neck and back muscles. He straightened his legs, then leisurely drew them close to his chest. With each deliberate, cautious motion, he diligently gathered information. A hand, he no longer felt, would have to be repaired. Although his eyes had ceased to function, he believed; with time; he could regenerate the impaired portions. Flesh new and untried, would have to mature and strengthen before he could subject it to Earth's harsh environment. Both lungs and bronchial tube were healing nicely. His muscles and nerves were in perfect condition, having never come in direct contact with the nebulous energy stream. Entombed deeply within the gelatinous substance, the Sleeper awoke. Chapter VI "Ancestral voices prophesying war." Part I After arranging Liam's removal from the Mothership to a secured facility on Earth, Dr. Belman had immediately contacted Dr. Melissa Park. They'd agreed on the most convenient time for a meeting between the two parties. Nearly an hour after her confrontation with Zo'or, Julienne had Liam removed from the Bacta-tank. Once stabilized, he was transported via portal to a small, privately owned laboratory in West Virginia. Dr. Park was currently working with a Taelon Research Facility in California, under the pretense of discovering a new viral agent to combat CVI failure. In reality, she was giving all her information to a Resistance Cell's physicians. Who in turn, were developing a method to counteract an MI once implanted. Unfortunately, they had thus far been unsuccessful. Although he had not yet regained consciousness, Liam was in remarkably good health. Besides his left hand and optic nerve, all injuries had dissipated to the point of virtual nonexistence. Brain wave activity was above normal, but remained at a steady level. It was a remarkably fast recovery, even by Liam's usual standards. Now, seven hours later -- with Melissa's arrival -- they were ready to replace Liam's left hand. On either side of Liam's comatose body, Dr. Belman and Dr. Park carefully arranged the necessary equipment for the limb replacement surgery. Secured to the chairs left armrest, a plastic container holding sufficient boi-matter for the procedure lay in wait. Julienne had procured the still experimental enzymes earlier in the day. The Taelon scientists had yet to discover a permanent solution capable of replacing a lost limb. The longest period of time the material had remained cohesive was no more than two months. However, once encoded with Liam's unique DNA, cell degradation ceased. Gently placing Liam's arm within the boi-matter, Melissa introduced the final component. Part II It had been nearly two weeks since Da'an had seen more than Liam's passing shadow. With his ever increasing duties to Zo'or, the young hybrid had very little free time. Most of that was spent with Renee, delegating jobs to the remaining Resistance fighters within Washington DC. Since the creation of the ANA and the loss of five Resistance Cell Leaders, fewer operatives were willing to put their lives on the line for a lost cause. The cohabitation -- on equal terms -- the ANA were preaching, seemed to satisfy the majority of the population. Unfortunately, Zo'or had not yet seen fit to sanction such a venture. "Da'an." Agent Sandoval's calm voice interrupted his musings. Flinching slightly, Da'an slowly turned to face the Implant. He could no longer be classified as a Protector, since the only being he seemed capable of protecting was himself. Regrettably, Da'an could not place the blame on the former FBI Agent. The fault lay solely in his creators; the Taelon's themselves. "Yes, Agent Sandoval?" Da'an questioned softly. He was fully aware in which direction this meeting would inevitably turn, yet he did nothing to stop it. Liam had warned him about it's use and the consequences of a lack of inner strength. Nevertheless, Da'an remained dependent on Kriss. "Major Kincaid will be unavoidable detained for several days due to illness." The monotone voice held not the slightest trace of emotion. Sighing in resignation, Da'an whispered. "What has occurred?" "There was a problem with Me'al's logs." Sandoval stated nonchalantly. "Is Zo'or well?" Da'an gasped in shock, completely forgetting Liam's possible injuries. The Agent smirked humorlessly. Eyes widening in mock astonishment, he shook his head. "It never ceases to amaze me. Zo'or tries to have you killed on several occasions, yet you completely disregard your Human Protector's well being in favor of that of your enemies. Are you always this benevolent, or do you have an ulterior motive?" Da'an tilted his head upward in defiance. Fingers splayed, he tipped his right hand palm up before him. "I questioned Zo'or's well being." "Zo'or is in perfect health. I pushed him out of the way in time." Sandoval cocked his head slightly to one side. Raising a single eyebrow in question, he challenged wordlessly. "And Major Kincaid?" Turning away, the Taelon ignored the Agents smirk. Lacing his fingers behind his back, Sandoval began slowly pacing the room. "He's blind, Dr. Belman is unsure for what length of time. He lost his left hand..." "Excuse me?" Da'an interrupted. His facade quivered dangerously. "The blast destroyed his hand." The Agent repeated just as coldly as before. "He has burns over most of his body. I'm afraid I don't have any more recent information." Da'an said nothing, simply turned away from the Agent. His eyes closed, he slowly sank into his chair. A sharp, grating bark of laughter erupted from Sandoval's throat. His shoulders trembling, he simpered. "Wasn't it Rho-ha who said 'Anguish emerges with the fury of truth.'?" Da'an's head wrenched up abruptly. Eyes wide in alarm, he demanded fearfully. "What do Rho-ha's words have to do with this incident?" "Ma'el's logs were a composition of all his work on Humanity, his truths, so to speak." The implant shrugged coolly. "After they get all that knowledge, the device blows up in Kincaid's face. I think it's a rather appropriate statement." Da'an, however barely heard a word of the Agent's reasoning. His mind desperately sought to extinguish the dread rising like bile in his throat. The Taelon had long feared the mythological Avatar. The very name struck terror in the hearts of an otherwise apathetic species. They had gone so far as to commit genocide, rather than allow for such a possibility. In destroying the Kimera, the Taelon had thought themselves safe. No other species had the ability to tamper with the Commonality. Now, thousands of years after the extinction of their most feared enemy, the Taelon's would pay for their arrogance. A single survivor, so minuscule in comparison to the universe as a whole, had weathered the storm of the holocaust. Buried alone beneath the wide, deep sea, the last Kimerain had slept a hundred life times. Rising from the waves like the mythological phoenix from the flames, Ha'gel brought the instrument of destruction. His very existence foretold the fall of the Taelon's entire species. Unfortunately, they had ignored the warning, continuing on their path of self-righteousness. Da'an had even been insolent enough to think, that by protecting the harbinger of his own annihilation, he could stop it. In reality, it was his own betrayal that sealed their fate. Liam, under his belief that Humanity needed the Taelon's for survival, had been willing to work toward a harmonic living arrangement. Because he did not wish to see either species harmed, he believed the Taelon's and Human's, working in tandem, was a far better solution. Through the naiveté of a child, he had trusted Da'an to work in favor of this dual venture. His gullibility had lead to the destruction of countless Resistance Cells, the betrayal of his best friend, and eventually, the loss of Lili. How much loss could one person take before breaking? "Are you feeling all right, Da'an?" Sandoval sneered, jerking the Taelon from his thoughts. The Agent's honey sweet voice dripped sarcasm. Da'an no longer wished to fight the inevitable. The Taelon had chosen their path millennia ago. It was far to late to turn back now. Lowering his head in surrender, he whispered. "I am in need of more Kriss, Agent Sandoval." The Sleeper had awoken, the Unrathma -- the deceivers -- would join the void. Chapter VII "Care-charmer Sleep, son of the sable Night, Part I Lost in thought, Agent Sandoval slowly circumnavigated the corridors of the Taelon Mothership. Blindly passing Volunteer's at work on their simple tasks, he silently made his way to the bridge. He paced across the bioslurry, past iridescent virtual glass and into his usual cubicle. Glancing about surreptitiously, he initiated Zo'or's personal code. Da'an's reaction to the Implant's mention of Rho-ha's statement, ignited Sandoval's curiosity. He hadn't even been fishing for information. The Agent found the whole situation rather ironic. In making a simple observation, he had possibly been given the final piece of a very complex puzzle. Anything that frightened the Taelon to such an extreme, must be truly horrendous. Sandoval hadn't seen Da'an that weary, since the reanimation of the Kimerain; Ha'gel. Launching a search pattern for anything relating to Rho-ha, the Implant waited with a barely concealed air of anticipation. Within moments, the computer brought up a long list of pertinent subjects. Quickly downloading the information onto his Global, the Agent erased all signs of entry. He shoved the Global in his pocket, silently leaving the bridge. Part II Rising from the depths of sleep, like an ancient sea beast out of the ocean waves, Liam gradually pulled himself back from the nether regions of his mind. The sharp whistling of birds and the gentle rustling of curtain fabric, invaded his senses. Feeling the dry, smooth, cotton sheets beneath his fingers, he stretched his lithe frame. Muscles and tendons protested painfully. Oddly itchy, his left hand caught the thin sheet covering his body, making a slight raspy sound. Flexing his fingers and toes, he identified the presence of all twenty appendages. The hybrid rolled his shoulders. Detecting no hesitance, he canted his head to one side, then pushed back into the pillow and around to the other side. Although the muscles were tense, they moved fluidly. Infinitely slow, Liam opened his eyes. The cold, emptiness that had replaced his once perfect vision was disturbing. It held no color or texture. It was merely a blank, complete void of blackness. The young man blinked several times, as though the process would dispel the nothingness. Regrettably, it remained in place, concealing the world from view. It would normally have been a terrifying experience. However, with his newfound realization of his inherited memories, the disability did not have such an effect. Through Ha'gel's experiences, emotions, and thoughts; Liam was able to feel the rooms dimensions. In a way, he could picture the walls, doors, and window. It was a combination of several factors that contributed to this unfamiliar ability. The very air surrounding him was a large component: the way the flow bounced off solid walls like a sonar pulse, the way it whistled through cracks beneath doors, and the unique vibration when it hit the glass of the window. Everyday noises were the strongest element of assistance. Sounds had different effects on different materials: it echoed slightly between the frames of walls, had a slithering, muted effect when in contact with windows, and a sharp tinge sliding beneath a door. Liam also found the thoughts of others, hovering at the edge of his mind, extremely helpful. It wasn't actual words, more an impression of feelings and emotions. Like the almost tangible warmth of caring or the cold, malicious breath of hatred. From the perception of such moods, the hybrid was able to pinpoint people in relation to solid objects. It made navigation without sight almost easy. Withdrawing an arm from beneath the sheet, Liam plucked the IV from the back of his hand. He grabbed the edge of the sheet between two fingers, carefully folding the fabric to the side. Levering upward on one elbow, he pushed himself into a sitting position. His abdominal muscles objected the sudden activity, clenching tightly. A sudden wave of dizziness assaulted his weakened body. Momentarily nauseous, he dropped his head forward, waiting patiently for the sickness to ease. One at a time, he lowered his feet to the floor. Resting his palms flat on the mattress, he rose to an unstable standing position. Taking hesitant steps forward, he walked toward what he sensed was a door. His bare feet slapped against the cold tile floor. The warm cotton pajamas slid smoothly against his skin. Stopping suddenly, he slowly reached up with one hand. Blindly, he groped for the metal door knob. His knuckles smacked against the cold surface, making a low ringing sound. Turning the knob, he pulled the door toward himself as he backed up slowly. "Liam!" An obviously surprised female voice gasped. "What are you doing up, young man?" Tilting his head to the side, Liam smiled shyly. Dr. Park was playing her Mom role again. "I got hungry." His voice had a rough, raw quality. "I'll have something brought to you." Before he could thank her, she pulled him into a gentle hug. Placing a soft kiss on his right cheek, she whispered. "It's good to have you back." Liam clung to the older women for a moment, before finally drawing away. Stepping back, he rasped. "Where's Dr. Belman? I thought I heard her." "She went to meet Renee. Don't worry, Julienne will be back soon." The physician reassured him. "Now, go get back in bed." "Yes, Mum." The hybrid teased. Turning away, he realized Melissa hadn't even mentioned his lack of sight. Part III Leaning back in his office chair, Sandoval began reviewing Ne'eg's data on the Devolution project. Roughly two and a half years previously, Ne'eg --a Taelon scientist -- injected his colleague, Rho-ha, with Human genetic material. As a result, he became dangerously violent. The Agent vividly remembered Rho-ha's use of his Sha'kara'vah, organs usually attributed to the Taelon's primal ancestors, the Atavus. Downloading the file into his desktop computer, he brought up a video feed of the laboratory on the date of the event. Before starting the sequence, he activated an automatic translation program. As he watched the recording, the Implant jotted down the occasion note of interest. His head came up when he heard Rho-ha's belligerent two-toned voice. "The Sleeper comes, embrace the Void." "What is the Sleeper?" The Agent murmured. When the feed ended, Sandoval read Ne'eg's personal notes. It made several references to a Taelon myth of the Avatar. The scientist seemed to view Rho-ha as the incarnation of Sha'kara'vah -- the destroyer -- a mythological being thrown into the void by his twin Unrathma. The myth suggested Sha'kara'vah was not consumed by the void, thus would return to judge Unrathma for his crimes. It's arrival would foretell the coming of the Sleeper, who would cast Unrathma into the void. A later entry suggested Ha'gel had been the Sleeper. Since he reemerged after thousands of years of cold sleep. Because the Kimerian died at the hands of the Taelon's, Ne'eg was confident of the prophesies destruction. Sha'kara'vah had failed in his attempt to gain justice, thus he would forever join the void. Eyebrows furrowed, Sandoval absently tapped his pen against the desk. *If Ha'gel was the Sleeper, why was Da'an on the verge of panic when I mentioned Rho-ha's statement?* He mused. *And what does Kincaid have to do with all of this? Da'an actually looked scared when I mentioned the Major's hand.* Chapter VIII "A sadder and wiser man Part I Nervously pacing the small hospital room, Renee Palmer looked everywhere except at the young man on the bed. Studiously avoiding his sightless gray-green eyes, she sketched the past few days events. "Street doesn't seem quite as helpful when you're not the one asking for favors." She joked lamely. In reality, she didn't find the situation the least bit funny. Although Augur had never liked her, he'd been willing to do what she asked, for the right price. J. Street was a mystery. She liked Liam, even teased him. Renee however, Street was completely indifferent to. She did what Renee wanted when and if she chose to. "It's probably my boyish good looks." Liam smirked. The sheets rustled as he shifted position in bed. "Yeah, right." Renee threw the hybrid a mocking smile over her shoulder, before quickly turning her head away. "That pale, sickly look gets them every time." It wasn't that she wouldn't look at Liam, she couldn't. The CEO didn't want to see that blank, unfocused stare. The way his eyes tracked just behind her footsteps. The way he always looked just beyond her shoulder. It wasn't Liam! Kincaid was a man of action. When he spoke, it was always short and to the point. His accomplishments were no different. He was very much like a child in that respect. His blunt, tactless way of approaching life held no room for diplomacy or delays. That very quality was one of the reasons Renee was willing to concede leadership of the Resistance to, in a manner of speaking, an inexperienced infant. "You know what they say, brains before beauty." She was snapped back to reality by Liam's reply. Laughing, Renee teased. "They who, the voices in your head?" When she didn't get an immediate reply, she turned and faced the bed. His head tilted slightly to one side, Liam seemed to be thinking something over. Renee wondered if through her desperate attempt at normalcy, she'd hit a soft spot. Nodding slowly, Kincaid glanced across the room. His bizarre eyes speared her own dead center. "Actually, yes. Siobhan's Mother used to say that when she was a child." "Oh." Renee whispered, embarrassed. The problem with Liam was, he really did hear voices in his head. If you counted the memories from his three parents. She still hadn't quite gotten used to that. Even though Liam insisted he couldn't retrieve the memories, Renee found it eerie that Liam functioned like an adult solely because of those memories. Furrowing her eyebrows, she planted her hands firmly on her hips. "Wait a minute, I thought you said you couldn't access your inherited memories." Liam shrugged nonchalantly. Looking away he muttered. "Now I can." Her eyes narrowed to thin slits as she regarded the man before her. Remembering an earlier conversation with Melissa, Renee demanded answers. "Melissa said you found your way around here without any help. Even Julienne was shocked by how fast you healed. What else can you do now?" "You know, the regular super hero stuff: fly faster than a speeding bullet, leap tall buildings in a..." "Liam." Renee sighed in exasperation. "This is serious." "I'm fully aware of the serious nature of this situation, Renee." Laughing coldly, Liam threw the sheet aside. He stood and confidently stalked across the room. Stopping just before the window, he crossed his arms over his chest defensively. He breathed softly. "More so than you could ever imagine." "Big strong Major Liam Kincaid's going to handle it all by himself, is that it?" She accused. She couldn't stand this egocentric, macho attitude. Spinning around, he snarled. "What do you want to do, Renee? Hold my hand? You can't help with what I have to do." Liam collapsed bonelessly into the widow-seat. Leaning his head against the wall, he closed his eyes and whispered. "You'll only get in the way." She glared defiantly at him. Snatching her coat from the edge of the bed, she threw Liam one more scowling glance. "Fine, have it your way." Part II Drawing both legs onto the seat, Liam released a slow, hushed sigh. He was tired of explaining himself to everyone. He was tired of fighting: against Zo'or and his greed, Da'an and his mislaid faith in his people, Sandoval with all his intricate little agendas, Renee and her attitude, he was even fighting against himself. Because of the incredible growth rate he was subjected to prior to birth, his structure merely emulated the Human form. Within the first year of his life, his anatomy had gone through radical changes. The Kimerian DNA within his cell structure was continually working toward stability: eliminating the unnecessary aspects of his physiology and actively encouraging those features deemed essential. His liver had been enlarged and strengthened, thus allowing it to process and purge more forms of toxin. His lungs were streamlined and modified, permitting them to absorb and conserve additional oxygen. Though only slightly larger than the Human brain, at 1400 cc Liam's was capable of using roughly 43% capacity. Half of which was concentrated in the memory centers of the brain. The remainder was dispersed in accordance to significance. Other areas, not considered priority, took longer to develop. His body had broken-down and reabsorbed both his appendix and tonsils, having found no apparent use for such structures. The lining in his stomach was reinforced, and his cells altered to allow better nutrient consumption. The VNO -- Vomeronasal Organ -- vestigial in Human's, contained neurons capable of sensing pheromones. This structure within the nasal canal, was in a state of flux as Liam's body decided whether or not it was necessary. While Dr. DuPree treated Liam's injuries after the Jaridian invasion, she discovered extremely high levels of luteinizing hormone in his blood. This abnormality explained his apparent attraction to the Jaridian female, who's pores secreted a hormone which emulated pheromones. The chemicals were deceiving his brain into thinking the Jaridian was alluring. Shaking his head, Liam banished his demons. He had far more pressing issues to deal with than his bodies near betrayal. Ma'el's Logs, although sophisticated by human standards, were primitive compared to modern Taelon technology. Liam's DNA was too complex for the device to process. Which resulted in an overload and memory dump. The ancient Taelon's entire catalog of research was downloaded into the hybrid's brain. Combined with his recently accessible inherited memories, Liam devised a course of action. A core of plasma, deeply imbedded within the Commonality, bound thousands of Taelon minds together. Like live wires, their thoughts created the catalyst necessary to power the core. Unfortunately, both the core and the Taelons needed constant energy replenishment. The link had a calming, subduing effect. It suppressed emotion and eventually resulted in sterilization. With fewer offspring came less energy; thus the drastic reduction in core energy reserves. If the core were destroyed or removed, there was a strong possibility the Atavus could produce viable offspring. By working together, the Atavus' and Jaridian's might be capable of building a stable society. As the evening lost it's fight to the coming night, Liam heard the faint sound of footsteps. They became louder and more pronounced as time passed. Eventually, they came to a stop before his room. Silently turning the knob, someone walked into the room and closed the door behind them. The oddly familiar sense took Liam by surprise. He had not expected his father to come to the clinic. "Hello Sandoval." Liam sighed. Part III "Hello Sandoval." Lima's soft, weary voice caught the Agent off guard. Blinking in surprise, Sandoval stared at the young man on the window-seat. The slowly ascending crescent moon flung an unearthly cast across the Protector's ashen face. His sharply defined cheekbones and chiseled, straight jaw line created an oddly cadaverous image. His left hand whole and intact, hung over his raised left knee. While the right hand lay comfortably on his right thigh. Drawn up on the seat, his right leg was stretched full length before him. Eyes closed, head thrown back, the Major looked like a big cat, basking in the glow of the evening stars. "I hadn't expected to see you fully recovered so soon." Sandoval matched the younger mans faint tone. Receiving no reply, the Agent cocked a single brow upwards. "Zo'or is concerned as to when you will be returning?" Turning his head, Kincaid opened his pale green eyes. The large, peculiar orbs stared blindly across the room. "I doubt I'd be very effective as I am." Startled, Sandoval took an involuntary step back. He'd not anticipated this turn of events. When he arrived, he simply assumed the Major had fallen asleep star gazing. Until Liam stopped him, he'd been prepared to leave before the younger Protector was disturbed. The Implant had completely forgotten the injury to Kincaid's optic nerve. "Besides," Liam continued. The edge of his lips curving upward, he faced the window once more. "I suspect Zo'or doesn't even remember the logs were destroyed, let alone that I was injured." "I'd wondered if anyone else noticed." Sandoval muttered under his breath. Chuckling softly, the Major whispered conspiratorially. "I think their just to cowed to say anything." He shook his head in annoyance. Every time Sandoval tried to hate him, the Major would do or say something to change his opinion. Over the past year, events had forced the Implant to respect the Protector's ability, courage, and moral fortitude. The younger man caught the Implant with his pants down -- literally -- in the Koba Club. Kincaid's discovery and resistance to the Amoralist Taskforce, combined with his conniving undermining methods, once again destroyed Sandoval's plans. His blatant refusal to permit Zo'or to mistake Earth's allowance of the Taelon's return as acceptance. "The lose of his core energy had a rather profound effect on him." Sandoval reluctantly confided. "Murdering T'than might have contributed a little." Liam smirked, his eyes twinkling merrily. He must have heard Sandoval's startled gasp, because he questioned. "Weren't you a little curious how he replaced his energy? Then again, why should you care? One less for you to worry about." Not allowing the comment to ruffle him, Sandoval sighed. "Perhaps you should be in bed, Major." "For a while, I couldn't figure you out." The Major ignored the remark. Drawing his legs close to his chest, he shock his head. "I'd always known your MI didn't work, but I couldn't understand why you'd stay with the Taelons. The first time, you went after Dee Dee." His eyes narrowing, the older man silently cursed his own stupidity. He'd let his guard down, forgetting his "place" on occasion, but he hadn't realized he'd been this sloppy. Liam continued. "At first, it was a toss up: you were undercover or actually loyal. You almost managed to convince me, the only thing you were really loyal to, is you. Until you got sick, that's when I figured it out. Later, I saw it for the first time, in your eyes, on the bridge." Sandoval unbuttoned his coat sleeve. Rolling back the cuff, he raised his arm. Fist clenched, the Implant stared silently down his arm at Kincaid. Raven purred softly in anticipation. "You're scared." The young mans gray eyes looked directly at him. "You want to care, but you're afraid to take the risk. You lost your wife, any chance for a real life, and don't know anything about your son. So you decided to do whatever it took to save your own ass . Unfortunately, the Jaridian's and Taelon's conspired against you by threatening Earth. You never even realized you cared about it until it was almost to late."
Chapter IX "As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods, Gritting his teeth, Sandoval closed his eyes. Justin Kalen had gotten closer to the truth than anyone else ever had. His only fault had been the mistaken assumption that the deciding factor in Sandoval's loyalty had been solely one of monetary value. Kalen's lack of foresight made him underestimate his query, which proved to be a fatal error. Unfortunately, Kalen wasn't the only one guilty of underestimating his opponents. Sandoval had grown accustomed to Zo'or's unwarranted brutality and callous disregard for life. If at any point in his life the Synod Leader had had a moral code, it had long since been abandoned by now. He held nothing above his own survival, not even the continued existence of his own people. However, the Taelon's resent descent into madness was certainly an unexpected turn of events. With his complete loss of sanity, Zo'or had become more of a liability to the Taelons than a savior. His unpredictability was a serious difficulty. It made maneuvering around the Taelon a very dangerous venture. Dark eyes opening, the Agent glared coldly at the silent figure across the room. Yet another individual Sandoval had underestimated. The mention of his son had caught him off guard. Only Dr. Curzon knew about the child's existence. Or, so Sandoval had thought. Of all those parading amidst his life, the Agent had thought Major Liam Kincaid the simplest. With his fumbling attempts at forestalling Taelon agendas, Kincaid appeared to be little more than a court jester. He often neglected to cover his tracts, rarely had decent alibis, and never tried to disguise his appearance. The Major's complete lack of subtlety and foolish Boy scout tendencies allowed Sandoval time to relax. The Agent let his guard down and stood on the sidelines as the Resistance played cat and mouse with the Taelons. Therefor, he was unprepared for the birth of the ANA. Too late he realized the Major had only been playing the fool. His diversionary tactics allowed the ANA the secrecy they needed to acquire a sufficiently influential power base. With a single united front, Earth -- under the guise of the ANA -- had the ability to demand nearly anything from the Taelons. The Companions had no choice but to comply because they desperatly needed assistance. Since his own house of cards had come tumbling down, Sandoval only had two choices left. Allying himself with Zo'or wasn't even a consideration. That left either allowing the game to go on without his interference or joining the Resistance. Neither prospect sounded particularly promising. With a frustrated sigh, the Agent realized he couldn't afford to stand by and watch any longer. He had to much invested in the outcome to simply hope things would turn out for the best. Slowly lowering his arm to his side, Sandoval drew a deep, trembling breath. "Thank you!" The younger man whispered. The Agent massaged his temples wearily and murmured, "For what?" "Not killing me." Liam responded quietly. Glancing at the Major, Sandoval watched Kincaid's broad shoulders rise and fall, in a silent shrug. The shadows flickered across his back as the muscles fluidly rippled down his spine. "And for trusting me." "So, what do you want Major?" The Protector sighed. "Your help." "That's just great." Shaking his head, the Agent chuckled in mockingly. "Let me guess, if I don't pay up, you'll..." "I'm not trying to blackmail you, Sandoval." Liam interrupted quickly. "I'm asking you for a favor. If it makes you feel better, we'll make an exchange." The Implant regarded Kincaid suspiciously. An exchange of information sounded reasonable. "What do you want?" The smile gracing the younger mans thin face never reached his calculating, hazel-green eyes. Spearing the Agent with those cold orbs, the Major stated boldly. "I need you to contact the Jaridians."
Chapter X "Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero." "What gives the impression I can just call them up like I'm inviting them to a tea party?" A cold humorless laugh erupted from Sandoval's thin lips. "I'm sorry Major, but you'll have to find another scapegoat." "This isn't a pissing contest Sandoval." Liam growled. "We either work together without all the petty games or go back to circling each other. I refuse to have you at my back unless I know I can trust you." "And how do you propose we go about that?" Sandoval smirked. "I seriously doubt you'd accept my word of honor." Staring off into the night, Liam ignored the Agent. He contemplated his next course of action. No matter how much he might want to fully trust his father, he'd been betrayed far to often to simply hope it wouldn't happen again. Walking away now before he got in too deep was equally as ludicrous an idea. That left finding a way to ensure Sandoval's continued alliance. Unfortunately, the only factor the would ensure the Agents loyalty would put Liam in mortal danger. He was not willing to reveal any knowledge regarding his fellow Protectors child, let alone inform him who said child actually was. No! There had to be something just as personal, just as important that would force the Agent into compliance. The only other thing his father truly loved was... Liam's eyes widened as inspiration struck. *Of course, how could I have been so stupid.* He berated himself silently. He'd have to find her, then convince her to at the very least meet with Sandoval. Augur would have all the information on file, perhaps Street could... Sighing, he shook his head in defeat. He couldn't put someone else's life at risk, especially when he wasn't willing to risk his own. His only option was to offer a blind proposal. He could confirm the particulars at a later date. "What if I could offer you something of great value?" Throwing his head back, the Agent laughed aloud. Once the chuckles finally dwindled, he glared at the younger man and snapped harshly. "There's nothing you can offer me I can't acquire myself." "Are you sure about that?" Liam questioned softly. Humorously cocking an eyebrow, he smugly wondered aloud. "Perhaps something important enough to put photos of in you wallet?" Remembering the conversation they'd had in the hospital during his illness, Sandoval silently demanded answers. His cold, dark eyes glinted in the rooms pale light. Liam shook his head. "I have something you want. Once you've shown me you're willing to meet half way, I'll hand it over." "And how do I know you're not just saying this to get what you want?" The Agent growled menacingly. "How do I know you really have anything I might want.?" "You don't. However, the moment I have confirmation you've contacted the Jaridian, you are free to take your payment and go or stay and continue to help. No strings." Turning away, the Agent began slowly pacing the room. Silently, he pondered the offer. To blindly accept such a wide offer was beyond foolhardy. Yet, if he were honest with himself, the proposal wasn't the reason he had decided to help anyway. He'd made his choose and this time he intended to follow through to the end. "All right what do you want me to tell them?" Sighing in relief, Liam replied immediately. "You remind them the Kimerian helped them once before. Then, tell them their reproduction problems can be solved." Furrowing his brows, Sandoval stopped his continuos movement. Facing the Major once more, he questioned, "What does an extinct species have to do with the Taelons and Jaridian?" "Is that what you want in exchange?" Kincaid queried mildly. Exasperated, the older man snapped, "This trust thing works both ways or not at all." One corner of Liam's lips twitched slightly. Faint wrinkles at the corners of his eyes crinkled as he fought the eminent smile. He nodded in acceptance, as though he were proud of a child finally learning an important lesson.. "The Kimera aren't completely extinct." Sandoval's eyes grew wide in surprise. To say he was merely shocked would be the equivalent of suggesting a hurricane was no more than a mild thunderstorm. This newest revelation left the Agent wondering if he truly knew anything at all. He'd been so full of himself. Calculating moves and motives, he'd foolishly thought himself in control of the board. Obviously the Major had slipped beneath his carefully built defenses, gaining control with the ease of Bobby Fisher himself. "For now," Kincaid continued. "I'd like to leave it at that." Zo'or's Protector nodded absently. "Once they've agreed to a meeting, we'll need to get the ID tech to them." He sighed, rubbing his closed eyelids with his right thumb and index finger. "What's left of the Resistance is made up of the most militant supporters with a only few who are willing to compromise. I can't ask them for help." Sandoval quirked a single eyebrow upward. "What about the ANA?" Leaning his head back against the wall, Liam murmured. "No. Renee Palmer has more influence with them than I do and she despises anything not human." *She barely tolerates my presence.* He thought silently. "Would Da'an be willing..." Not allowing him to complete the thought, the Major interrupted. "Da'an can't be trusted. Anyone with enough Kriss can buy his allegiance. Jerking his head toward Kincaid, the implant regarded the younger man with surprised wonder. He watched as the man muttered to himself, tearing apart every option, considering every path. Sandoval began to wonder just how many secrets the Major had hidden beneath that long, lithe frame. "...Any implants or Volunteers are out of the question." Liam mused. "We might be able to convince..." Stopping mid-sentence, Kincaid's head snapped forward. "Dark Knight," he gasped softly. "What?" Sandoval curiously questioned. Liam shock his head, one hand absently waved the question away. "An organization I'll introduce you to if you decide to stay." His noncommittal answer expressed his reluctance to surrender any unnecessary information. "Fine." Sandoval agreed. He'd find out soon enough anyway. Turning away, he marched toward the door. Placing his hand on the silver knob, he stopped. "When do we meet again and where?" "I'll be here." Confirmed the quiet voice behind him. Nodding, the Agent quickly left the room.
Chapter XI "Everyone exists, but how many of us really live?" Raindrops clicked softly on the clinic roof as they fell. They glistened as they slowly rolled down the window panes. The forest beyond the small building was alive with chirps and whistles. Wildlife basked in the occasional burst of sunlight pushing through the cloud cramped sky. Water sparkled on leaves, branches, fur, and feathers. Nothing escaped the light early morning drizzle. His forehead resting against the cold glass, Liam sat on the window seat. His long legs were loosely folded beneath him in Sukhasana: the cross-legged Yoga position also known as easy posture. The hybrids bare feet were tucked under his thighs, his hands lay idle on his knees. Swathed in baggy, white cotton slacks and long sleeved shirt, he shivered slightly in the chilly room. Blind eyes tightly closed, he tried his best to ignore the lulling quality of the gentle rain. He'd been awake for several hours, silently contemplating his previous conversations with both his Father and Augur. He had contacted Augur the moment Sandoval left the room. Once he'd recovered from the shock of discovering Liam knew his whereabouts, Augur had noticed his friend's distant stare. The news of Liam's injures came as quite a surprise to the tech expert. He had even volunteered to come back to DC. Not knowing how much information he could trust Street to keep from Renee, Liam accepted the offer. After hearing the plan, the hacker had grudgingly agreed to assist. Although Augur's abandonment still chafed him, Liam could not blame the older man for wanting a life. Liam had spent many nights lying awake, imagining the different possibilities if he were free. Unfortunately, such dreams always reminded him of what he could never have: a childhood, a loving family, a real home. Which in turn lead to questions he'd never voice aloud: If Sandoval knew what he was, would the Agent be able to accept Liam as a son? If so, would the only reason for that acceptance be because they were family? He knew how much Sandoval despised Major Liam Kincaid. What he feared, was that the Agent would feel the same about Liam Beckett-Sandoval. Liam violently shook his head. He did not have the time to dwell on things he could not change. It was pointless and only served to disturb him further. A lite taping behind him interrupted his thoughts. Lifting his head from the window, he turned slightly toward the door. "Come in." His voice barely above a whisper. The knob twisted silently before the door was pushed open. Dr. Belman came in, her arms laden with food and medication. "You'll freeze to death over there, dear. Come and eat." She flashed Liam a gentle smile. "There's Minestrone soup in the center of the tray, bread and butter in the upper left hand corner, and a hot cup of Echinacea tea on the right." Unfolding his legs, Liam stood. He ducked his head, burrowing his chin against his chest. His eyes sparkling with unshed tears, he smiled sadly. He may not have his Mother, but Dr. Belman certainly tried to fill in some of the emptiness. Once he climbed onto the bed, she drew the blankets up. She covered him securely within the warm folds before setting the tray of food on his lap. Pouring a glass of water from the picture on the bedside table, Dr. Belman handed Liam a small plastic cup full of pills. Liam tipped his head back and dumped the tablets in his mouth. He took the offered water, quickly gulping down enough to swallow all the medication. Setting the glass on the tray, he reached for the soup. He was thankful to have something to wash away the bitter taste left in his mouth by the dissolving pills. "Now, you eat every bit of this and I don't want to find you on that sill when I come back." Dr. Belman scolded. "Is that understood, young man?" "Yes." Liam whispered after swallowing another mouthful of soup. "Good." Nodding, she patted Liam on the shoulder and left the room. Liam slowly ate the hot soup, occasionally dipping the bread into the salty broth. His mind wondered as he took a sip of the warm tea. He didn't really expect to hear from Sandoval for at the very least a week. The message had to bounce off multiple relay stations between Earth and the Mahurava Galaxy, home to both the Taelon and Jaridian. Hopefully that would give Augur sufficient time to arrange his end of this multiphased plan. If the hacker failed, Liam would have to fall back on plan B. He did not look forward to telling Sandoval his true identity. There were many things far worse than death.
Chapter XII "It is good to have an end to journey toward, Part I Swirling globular masses of incandescent light shimmered amidst the white expanse. Each globe contained the essence of a single being. Thoughts, emotions, and memories were carefully stored within, creating a metaphoric hard drive. The shining spheres orbited a towering column of plasma. Cerulean energy writhed within the rounded pillar. Each Taelon was connected to both the colossus and their immediate relatives -- parents and children -- by thin filaments of plasma. Minute sparks rapidly traveled across the threads, relaying messages to others within the Commonality. Tapped into the line connecting Da'an to Zo'or, Liam could easily eavesdrop on the entire Commonality without discovery. Zo'or's insanity and Da'an Kriss addiction served as the perfect screen. Even if one of the two Taelons did discover him, no one would believe them if Liam immediately withdrew his presence. Since the moment he'd first awoken in the hospital room, Liam had been covertly observing the interaction between the Taelons. The intricate species was spread across more than thirty galaxies. Through subterfuge, they had either enslaved or destroyed more than ten thousand species. Earth was no more than a tear drop amid a vast ocean of ruin. Working slowly, the young hybrid had been weakening the strands attached to the core. The Taelons would revert to an Atavistic state once they were permanently separated. Their natural preservation instincts would override the feud with the Jaridians, or they would join the ranks of extinct species. In the end, the survival of the Taelon and Jaridian species would be up to them. With each passing day, Liam siphoned more core energy into himself. Since a large portion of females in North America were infertile due to Taelon intervention, Humans were in danger as well. He would need to use the collected power to repair the damage. A distant knocking interrupted his concentration. Gently disentangling himself, Liam withdrew from the Commonality. Part II "Honey, I'm home." Augur announced cheerfully as he sauntered through the doorway. Closing the door behind him, he glanced around the small hospital room. Sparsely furnished -- with only a bed, night stand, and a recliner in one corner -- there were no obstacles for the healing patient to maneuver around. Indented within the wall at the opposite end of the room, a large bay window allowed sunlight to filter inward. There was a cushioned bench-seat beneath the window. It had been six days since Liam's request for assistance. Augur had searched three continents and an infinite number of contacts via the web. Thankfully, his diligence had paid off. Finally, after days of haggling with the subject of his search, he'd managed to devise a reasonable arrangement for all three involved parties. Upon his arrival at the small West Virginian laboratory/clinic, Augur and his companion had been met by Dr. Belman. They had been informed of Liam's room number and cautioned that he may seem a little different. As Augur looked at his friend, he realized how much of an understatement Dr. Belman's warning was. Liam was sitting on the bed. Clothed in baggy white pajamas, with his unruly hair going in every direction, he looked like the child he truly was. The hybrid radiated barely controlled power. His lean form was swathed in a weak nimbus of white-lazuline light. The glow was so soft, Augur probably wouldn't have seen it at all, had he not known Liam since birth. Where he had never seen any resemblance to Beckett or Sandoval, the hacker suddenly recognized Ha'gel's parentage in the sharp planes and lithe frame. The young man was maturing in unexpected ways. Head tilted slightly to the side, Liam silently regarded the hacker. His sightless emerald eyes locked on the figure behind Augur. Stepping aside, the hacker waved one hand toward his companion. "Liam Kincaid, meet Dee Dee Sandoval."
Chapter 13 "We were the first that ever burst Part 1 "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Sandoval." Liam stated softly. Although his eyesight had begun to return the previous day, his vision was still quite blurry. Vague shapes and clouded images were all he could make out. The division in the air current and the slap of leather against tile, told Liam that Augur was walking toward the recliner in the corner of the room. Dee Dee however, remained standing near the door. "Likewise, Major Kincaid." Whispered the small woman. "Liam. My name is Liam." "I go by Dee now." His stepmother nodded her head. "Augur explained to me that Ron's CVI malfunctioned again. Is he working for the Resistance now?" "In a manner of speaking." Liam confirmed. "That's why you're here." "So I'm a bargaining chip. He does what you say and you promise not to harm me" "NO!" Gasped the hybrid. "He'd exhausted every other avenue. I offered him another option besides remaining on a sinking ship. He does something for us, I give him something he wants." "What would you have done if I hadn't agreed?" Dee demanded. Fists on hips, she glared furiously at Liam. The diminutive, shy women his father had married so long ago had been forced to take command of her own life. She was no longer as trusting as she had once been. "I..." Liam began. Closing his mouth in contemplation, he silently stared at the women for several moments. If he told her the truth, there was no guarantee she would keep his secret. However, his only other option was to lie by telling her she would have been forced. Although informing her of Liam's heritage could potentially put him in great danger, it was far better than allowing her to think she was being used against her husband. He'd have to take the chance and hope for the best. "Two and a half years ago..." As Liam recited the tale, his mind automatically flashed back to the day of his birth. He could remember every detail; from the moment Dr. Park pulled him from the warmth of his mother's womb to the last seconds before sleep took over as he lay in bed that night. What remained most prominent however, were the few moments he'd had with his Mother before her CVI was reprogrammed. In the time between his first and his second metamorphoses, Lili had taken him in to see Siobhan. He had climbed onto the bed and lain at her side as she sang him a lullaby. Sometimes, he found himself absently humming that very tune. "...at some point, I would like to tell him." Liam shrugged as he finished the lengthy narrative. "But, he doesn't like me very much and I don't want or need his pity." Dee slowly walked across the room. Stopping before the bed, she looked him over carefully. Shaking her head, she sighed, "You probably got that stubborn determination from him. Well, I've always wanted a child, I just didn't expect one so big." His eyes sparkled with unshed tears as he stared up at Dee in amazement. The words he'd been about to say were forgotten as she pulled him into a tight embrace. "We'll tell him together when the time is right." She whispered against his hair. Burrowing into her warmth, Liam greedily accepted the comfort she offered. Wrapping his arms around her slim waist, he held her tightly. Not even Lili had given him this unconditional love. She had been more of a sister/mentor. Because of his size and apparent age, he'd never been given the physical affection he so craved. This new experience intrigued him. He reveled in it. A flash of barely remembered pain from Sandoval's memories caught his attention. Sandoval and Dee Dee had never had children because Dee was infertile. Coming to a sudden decision, Liam focused on the core energy flooding his system. Gathering a small portion, he pushed it into his Sha'kara'vah. With his palms flat against Dee's lower back, the hybrid flushed her small frame with the cleansing energy. Someday, Dee Dee Sandoval would have her child.
Chapter 14 "A man's reach should exceed his grasp For two weeks, Sandoval diligently performed his duties while waiting for the Jaridians to reply. He had barely been able to contain the anxiety clawing through his stomach. Each day held a greater chance that someone would discover the communication relay had been rigged. At which point, it would only be a matter of time before he was caught. When the Jaridians finally responded, Sandoval nearly committed the ultimate act of stupidity by whooping in pleasure. He consciously tramped down his glee and desperately fought not to run about the bridge in what would have been the Taelons' first personal view of a Happy Dance. The information could potentially give Sandoval a chance to get away from the Taelons, permanently. Once Sandoval was positive a composed mask was securely in place, he made an adequate excuse before escaping into the Mothership's corridors. On his way through the passages, Sandoval sent Liam's global an automated signal, informing him of the Agent eminent arrival. Taking the nearest portal to the Washington DC Embassy, he quickly programmed his next destination. Before taking the portal to the laboratory, he set the computer to erase the coordinates 5 seconds after departure. He wasn't taking any chances with Zo'or's current state of sanity; or lack thereof, as the case may be. Since being informed of his protector's injuries, Da'an had remained isolated within the Embassy. His only attempts at communication consisted of frantic calls induced by heightened Kriss cravings. While the North American Companion careened further into his solitary abyss, Zo'or seemed more inclined to public displays of lunacy. He had become so delusional -- giving unreasonable orders and making impossible requests -- the personnel had begun looking to Sandoval for their assignments. If the remainder of the Taelons on the Mothership weren't present, the Agent could freely take control. Upon his arrival in the clinic, Sandoval marched immediately toward Liam's room. He passed the small waiting area without comment to the duty nurse. The Agent stopped at the injured Major's door. Knocking twice in quick succession, he twisted the knob and walked inside. Kincaid was sitting on the bed holding a small red ball in his left hand. He slowly squeezed the bright object before letting up. Dr. Park stood at his side, calmly directing his actions. "Slowly, you don't want to cramp the muscles." She warned. "Can you feel any difference?" Squeezing the ball again, Liam's lips curved upward in a slight smile. "It feels the same way it felt last week, Melissa. There's no difference between the two." Dr. Park briefly glanced across the room before sighing. "We'll continue this later. Don't over exert yourself." Liam nodded minutely. Sandoval held the door open for Melissa as she left the room. After closing the door firmly behind the Doctor, the Implant walked toward the bed. He reached into his coat pocket for the disk he'd copied the Jaridian fleet's coordinates to. "Perfect timing." Liam told the Agent. "Another hour of that and I think I might have preferred being one handed." "I'm sure that could be arranged, Major." Sandoval remarked dryly. Smirking, Liam shook his head. "Thanks, I'll remember that." "The Jaridians have agreed to your meeting." Sandoval tossed the shiny, silver disc on the bed. "Their present coordinates." Liam ignored the Agent's diskette. Instead he reached for the call button beside the bed. Pressing it, he requested: "Judy, could you page Augur now?" "Right away, sir." The desk nurse confirmed. "Thank you for holding up your end of the bargain, Sandoval." Liam nodded his head toward the door. "A friend will be here with your payment in a moment." Sandoval briefly considered telling Liam payment wouldn't be necessary. After all, he really did hate the Taelons. However, he was curious to discover what the Major thought adequate recompense would be. With a soft snick, the door opened. he turned just in time to watch a vision out of his most treasured fantasies enter the room. Her hair no longer dirty blond, but a deep golden-brown, Dee Dee appeared more beautiful than Sandoval's most vivid dreams ever allowed him to wish for. "Dee Dee?" Sandoval whispered. Staring at the small figure before him in shocked wonder, he slowly walked forward. "It's really me Ron." Gently, he touched her cheek. Feeling warm, living flesh, he gasped in a shaky breath. Sandoval carefully drew the smaller figure into his arms. "How?" "Commander Boone was Resistance. He faked my death and gave me a new identity." She buried her head in his shoulder. Defiantly choking back a sob, she murmured, "I couldn't tell you, not while you were working for them" "Let's leave the past where it belongs." The former Agent breathed against Dee Dee's neck. "All that matters is now. I love you , Sunshine." "I never stopped loving you, Ronnie." Burying his face in his beloved wife's hair, the dam broke. Companion Protector Ronald Sandoval shamelessly released the tears of rage and sorrow he'd been holding in for three years of living hell. Once again, he had underestimated the Major. However, this time, he didn't mind.
Unfinished
Undreamed shores."
- William Shakespeare
To welcome dawn and fear the coming night."
- Anon
Hells fires fade,
Exit Seraphim and Satan's men,
I shut my eyes
And all the world drops dead."
- Sylvia Plath
The future in the back of the mind;
And the present at the tip of the fists."
-- Zen Proverb
Looking into the abyss,
Staring into the mouth of madness."
- Frederick Nietzsche
By the unfathomed gulf of guile,
By the most seeming virtuous eye,
By the shut souls hypocrisy,
By the delight in others pain,
And by the brotherhood of Cain,
I call upon thee!
And compel thyself to be thy proper Hell."
- Lord Byron
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Brother to Death, in silent darkness born."
- Samuel Daniel
He rose the morrow morn."
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge
They kill us for their sport."
- William Shakespeare
(Seize the day, put no trust in tomorrow.)
- Horace
- Anon.
But it is the journey that matters in the end."
- Ursula K. LeGiun
Into that silent sea."
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Or what's a heaven for?"
- Robert Browning
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