¤

Antartic HQ, Medical bay

William Boone was behind the virtual glass. His eyes were fixed on the pale form lying on the bed. Da'an was in a bad state. The porblem was not with the body but with the mind inside. Not surprising, all the times they had tried to put a Taelon in a human body, one of the two had died during the experiment.

Da'an had explained to him that the Taelons were linked very closely to their body, un like the humans. If a Taelon mind was separeteed from his body, he lost his connexion with the Commonality and the power to sense psychically all their fellow Taelons.

Da'an's mind had handle the transfer without much dammage. There was no reason for that it might has some. Da'an was prepared for long for the day when, inevitably, Zo'or would discover his...ties with the human resistance movement. Despite all, seeing his Taelon body destroyed had hurted him deeply. Even the Marashis and the Taelons scientists could not tell if she would recover.

Boone crossed his arms on his chest and approached more of the window. He was nervous. He did nothing to hide it. Since the last two years, his relations with Da'an had changed a lot. He was closer to the American Companion he had ever been before. They were not lover. It has never gone till this, but he had a deep affection for her, and, for now, she was the more important person in his life. He paced in the small
space. He could not stay here without doing anything much longer. He pushed the door and entered in the chamber.

The room was paint in white. A color supposed to calm. Today it seemed a death color to him. He had never liked the hospital rooms. He went beside the bed and sat on a chair. Da'an's hand was on her chest, on the sheets. She was pale, very pale. Her skin was almost the same color of the human facade she wore in her Taelon form. She had no clothes under the cover. Her forms were visibles under the white sheets. It was the body of a young woman. Maybe 25, the older. Her face was soft, calm not without
beauty. Da'an's kind expression was on her face. Even in her sleep, she had a little
smile on her lips.

He tried to join his mind with hers as always, but the access was closed. Da'an had build a sort of psychic defense for that others Taelons, or humans, could not enter her mind while she was uncounscious. He checked all of it, searching for a breach, but Da'an was a strong telepath, even amonsgt the Taelons. Of course his own capacities had never equaled those of the Companion, but it was a wonderful feeling to sense himself surrounded by a familiar mind. He stoped and re-opened the eyes. He took Da'an hand in his and melted their fingers together. Even like that, he could just sense a so weak light of life in this being lying on the bed.

He raised his other hand and pushed away few hairs which fell on her face. He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. This contact seemed to rebring the Taelon back to reality. She turned the head and whispered something in her sleep. Boone smiled in relief. She blinked her eyes a couple of time and finally opened them. She looked at what surrounded her and then stoped on the man beside her bed. She tried to sat up but her head started to each and her sight began to be hazy. She lied on her back.

"Liam? Is he all right?" she asked in a strangely soft, feminine voice, so different from the more masculine one she had while being a Taelon.

"Yes, he's very good," said Boone with a slight smile."A little desoriented maybe, but it's understandable. And you, how do you feel, human?"

Da'an thought a moment. It had so much new things to her in this body. She could perceive the colors, the forms, the sounds, in another way that with the psychics sensors the Taelons have. Even this concept of sex, gender, the humans seemed to understant so easily.

She was female. The Taelons did not make difference between the two genders because their evolution had make of them spirit just between the matter and the energy world. Her people had left so beautiful things behind with their quest for the spiritual perfection. But maybe it was better to stay less evoluate and still can sense those wonderful feelings she was experiancing.

She stroked the sheets with her fingers. It was soft. She pressed her nails to her palm and for the first time she knew what was the physical pain. A vivid pain ran in all the nerves of her body. She stoped and the pain stoped too.

"It's so different. I could feel things I have never hoped to sense in all my life." She seemed amazed by her new perceptions, her new capacities. "But I cannot anymore sense the Commonality." She dropped the mind shield she had build against the possible attacks of her fellows and allowed Boone to come in her mind. In her Taelon body she could easily establish the contact betwenn their minds but now the things was a little more complicated. The man pressed his hand on her cheek and their two minds were linked again. It was the same thing, nothing had changed.

It was the man who broke it. He had still Da'an hand in his own and stroked it gently with his fingers. Da'an watched him do, smiling. He took his hand and brought it to is lips for a soft kiss on the back of it.

Never William had showed so affectional manner toward her. Da'an bowed the head for blush blue but, of course, it not worked. She flushed a bright red.

"I have missed you," whispered Boone after a moment of silence.

"I have missed you too," she answered almost non-perceptible. It has been one month since she had not came. She missed Boone's presence beside her.

Liam was here but he was just a child despite his charges and appearance and he was mistaken about a lot of things. Da'an had evidently some feelings for the young hybrid, but more like the ones a parent have for his child. Nothing comparable with the friendship between her and Boone.

Boone and her was closer like lovers but because of their differents activities they were not together very often. After all, officially Boone was dead.

Boone gently stroked her cheek. Their reunion were interrupted by the toc-toc of Doctor Belman on the door. The old woman pushed the door a little and entered. She shooted an amused look toward the couple.

"Ohhh...I can come later if you want,"she said while turned for leave. Without let go of Da'an hand, Boone get up.

"No, no doctor. We were just talking," he said with a little smile and a look at Da'an. The doctor sighed and went to some machines in the corner of the room.

"I'm sincerely sorry of interrupting your...talking, but I need to do some tests."

Boone squeezed Da'an's hand briefly and took a step back. Julianne approached her patient and posed two things on her forehead. Then she went to a computer and looked during some minutes to the readings on the screen. With a smile she returned beside the bed.

"All is well Da'an, or almost."

"What do you mean?" asked Boone in a nervous voice.

Belman took many seconds to answer.

"You know that the Taelons are energi being," she said to Da'an and Will. "But the greatest difference between our species are not there. Humans bodies are attribuated by…guess. A guess…well…after our parents genes. But the Taelons bodies are the exact reflexion of what they really are, the exact imagee of their minds. Then a Taelon cannot survive if he's not in his own body." Boone and Da'an exchanged a worried glance.

"Da'an's mind," she continued, " will take back the control of her body little by little. She will return her Taelon form in…48 hours at most. Boone sighed in relief. "I will let you two alone now," she added, "I have many others patients to see and a chamber to prepare for Lili."

With a last smile she left the room, taking care to close the door, after her. Da'an sat up in her bed and looked fixely on her hands.

"So I will stay only two more days like that…, she said, apparently deceived. Will shooked the head. He returned sit beside the bed and took her left hand between his owns. She closed her eyes. Boone passed an arm around her shoulders and hugged her thightly. Da'an let her head fall on the man's shoulder and twisted her arms around his waist. They stayed long like this. Da'an finally broke the hug. She smiled to William and took his hand between hers. Boone stared at their melted fingers and smiled timidly.

"I need to go. Katya have asked me her in explaining certains things to Liam before we went on the mothership for Lili." Da'an nodded slowly.

And whispered, as Boone was about to exit :

"Return alive." The man turned surprised. He was going to say something but the words stoped on the edge of his lips. The look he gave to Da'an said all he would not say. She was lying back in her bed when he exited the room.

Antartic HQ, West Wing

Katya locked Liam in a chamber of the West Wing. He seemed to surprised for try to protest. Of course, the rule was to show the lesser possible of the installations. A little before lose conscienceness, Da'an had "asked" her to take personnally care of Liam.

If it was just of her, she would have explained all to Liam when he had arrived, but apparently Da'an wished to tell him herself. She closed the door and locked it carefully. Before the door close, she just the time to see Liam fall on his bed. Maybe he believed he was a prisonner. Fortunatly the chamber was solid.

Enough strong to resist to Liam's sha'ka'ra'va. The door would break anyway but the sha'ka'ra'va would have take much energy to his "host". Supposingly…Here almost all was experimental, they were never sure of nothing.

She accelerated her pace and followed the corridors, evlevators and interdimentional portals. It had took her almost a whole year to know her way in this labyrinth. Another habit the Taelons and the Marashis had in common.

She catched William by his shirt sleeve when he exited Da'an's chamber. Katya allowed herself a slight smile. Because of their telepathic bond, rare amongst the Humans, even here, which linked them, she knew pratically all of his feelings for the Taelon.

"How's she?" asked Katya.

"For someone who just changed of body, being cut from the Taelon Commonality and declared treat to her specie, she's good. But she will have her Taelon body back soon if I trust the Doctor Belman."

They both walked toward the West Wing where Liam was "lodged".

"The Taelons have really decalred her a treat? she finally said, broking many seconds of silence.

"Not still, but it will come soon. You know how Zo'or is kind with the ones who are in his way? He answered a smile of knowledge on the lips. "We both know something of it."

She smiled. She was dead after Zo'or's order after all.

"He's not that bad. He's just despaired to save his dying people William. He just took the wrong way."

"Since when you take Zo'or's side?"

She sighed in exasperation and did not answer. Anyway they were before the door of Liam's chamber.

"I don't understand why Da'an don't want to explain him now. After all if he must come with us on the mothership, it would be better if he was informed, she said as they did the salute toward the Marashis guard who was before the door. "Never too careful."

The left hand raised, the thumb and the little finger turned toward the palm. Rot'ka'l, it was his name, returned the gesture and respectfully moved away from the enter. The Marashis were almost all dumb and, even if many of them were gifted of surprising psychic powers, they all communicated by a complete sign language. Boone did not answer the question of Katya but lifted the shoulders. She knew that Will knew much more that what he wanted her to believe, but she could not force him to speak of things he wanted to keep for himself.

"I believe it would be better if I go alone, I will try to convince him to come with us. I fear that we will need his help a lot, he said.

She nodded. "I need to go take care of the lasts preparations for our little expedition, she answered. "And don't forget, we need to depart for the mothership as soon as possible, maybe even this evening."

"Yes I know. I will convince him, don't worry."

He did not seem sure of his own affirmation. He smiled to her and entered the chamber as she turned on her heels and vanished in the corridors shadows.

¤

Jeanne? What happens next? (And I am curious: Will X-Men characters be coming into play in this fic?)

KC : I live in Québec and here we don't catch anymore the US channel which passed EFC in english. And in french we are just to the middle of the season 2. Fortunately I've taped all the S1 and when I saw something like sleeper or the first of his kind (I never have the guts to watch that ep till the end!), I can spend the rest of the night watching my S1 tapes, for survive till the other morning.

I'm in the numbers of the Liam haters, yes I think you can call me like that. I don't like the way he's appeared in the show (POUF!), I don't like the way the actor play this character, I don't like THE CHARACTER...It seems clear no!!! Okay I will stop or I will say something very bad. In my fics I like better to make him more intelligent and more kimera!

I'm working on the translation! Now I've just that to do. J'ai même p'us d'e'scuses!

Ciao, hope you like btw

¤

Taelon mothership, on the bridge

Agent Sandoval was in front of a computer in a reculed corner of the bridge. He was in the same position since the pasts two hours. Conclusion : his legs ached and his head turned because of his skrilleach seconds more importants demands in energy. He took a sip of his already cold cofee. He had just consulted his CVI file. His imperative was no longer existing but neither his whole implant. The entire system started to die. Slowly but surely.

The implant was dying inside his head! Joy! Since the last five years the implant had controlled all his life, from the smaller thought to every moves. His need to sleep had lowered so that he only needed to sleep 3 hours per day. All the food he ate went directly to feed his skrill, without letting much energy to him. He had got thinner, his CVI was the only thing which kept it awake 20 hours in a day. His concentration capacities were lowered considerably too. Don't need to say that he needed to do something and quickly. If the Taelons learned that his CVI was non-functionnal from a year, and that he knew it, it would be death or worst, the torture, without any judgement. And this time, even Zo'or could not do anything.

Since the other day, a strange friendship had grown between him and Zo'or. He had always seen the Synod Leader as a ruthless, cold chief, but he had now a different view of theTaelon. A child who truly needed to be protected. Zo'or had stayed all his life alone. He had built a wall of coldness around himself for hide his emotions to everyone, even to his own parent. He had not asked what had happened between Da'an and Zo'or. Without need of words, the Taelon and him had decided of a deal, Sandoval had his secrets and Zo'or had his owns.

It was strange how Zo'or had changed of acting with him. When they were alone, they could let their cold facade fall. They just talked. He had discovered the dark sense of humor of Zo'or. It's amazing how the thigns can change in only 49 hours, Sandoval thought.

He was lucky to be alone with Zo'or on the bridge. At this hour even the most enduring volunteers were in their quarters, resting or making love…The security patrols did not come to the bridge if an Agent of his grade was there. They worked separatly but Zo'or still heard the painful moaning which escaped the Human's lips.

Ronald sensed like a drill of pain in his head. He thought that it was, as usual, one of the terrible headache he had more often those times. But the pain grew. It remained him of the pain he had felt the first time when they had put this thing in his head, when he had first shared his thoughts with this alien creature. He shooked the head but it just made the pain more vivid in his mind. Even when his CVI had breakdown the first time, he had not felt such a pain. It took control of all his nerves. He had the feeling thaht his whole body was travelled by fire nerves.

He lost all perceptions of what surrounded him, he just sensed the pain, the pain….This word ran in all his mind. For the first time in his life he wished to die for that it stopped, the sooner as possible. He fell on his knees, the hands pressed to the sides of his head. He let his forehead against the desk. Suddenly, as fast as it appeared, it vanished. Pouf. Nothing. He got up, his legs were shaking. He touched his ear with his fingers. They were full of blood. He sighed in frustration. He let his head fall in his hands. He felt like he was about to cry. He was of a strong temper but ususally the CVI took control of all his feelings. Anger. Despair. Sadness. How many times he had wanted to leave, to leave all of that. To go and find someone who could kill this bug he had in the head. How many times…He had stopped counting from long ago.

He got up suddenly when he sensed Zo'or's hand on his shoulder. Never the Taelon should see him like this. The Taelon's face showed worry, a thing he had never seen in Zo'or's eyes. Again he thought how much Zo'or and Da'an were alike.

"Ronald, what is it?"

It was the first time the Taelon called him by his first name. The Human shot him a surprised look but did not answer.

Zo'or came closer and advanced the hand for touch him. Sandoval let him do. Zo'or touched his ear lightly, his fingers were covered with a red liquid.

"It's your implant is it not?

Ronald lowered the head and stayed in silence during seconds.

"The degradation of my MI have, I fear, accelerate the breakdown of my whole implant. It's worst each day. I felt it dying inside my head. By moments I cannot even control my skrill. My biologicals functions are not rulled by my implant anymore. I need more sleep and my concentration capacities are not what they were. I don't know how many time I will be able to hide it, I'm returning to a normal human state, Zo'or" he finished raising the head for looking at Zo'or in the eyes.

Zo'or sighed.

"Our implant have always had a very small chance of survival. Only the strongers can stand the implantation procedure. And the implants have a maximal time of life of five Terran years. As the skrills."

Ronald shot a sad look to the creature on his wrist. He would miss it.

In anger he turned his hand into fists. So hard that his nails entered deeply in his skin. The physical allowed him to forgot the mental pain for a moment. He felt something, something warm him. Not here, in his mind. Someone had come and surrounded his mind with his own, only during a seconds, bringing him comfort and love. He raised the eyes, for see Zo'or. The Taelon ahd covered his fist with his kinds, smalls, almost feminines, white hands. He had closed his eyes and all his face and body showed his real form, beneath the thin false human skin.

The Synod Leader finally realeased his grip on the Human's hand. He went toward the virtual glass bay at one end of the room. When he came back, the usual cold heartless facade was on his face again.

"Do you have find something about the young woman you told me you had seen at the Embassy?" said the Taelon in a tone still less harsh than usual.

"No I did not have the time to search for her Zo'or. With the degradation of my implant, I work more and more slowly. It's just if I can finish the work I do normally. My memory is coming back to the 'ridiculy' human capacity. My souvenir of the woman if less clear with each minutes," Sandoval said. He closed the eyes like if he wanted to remember something what happened long ago. "I saw her only a few seconds." he added.

Zo'or approached the man a little more and extended his hand, palm turned toward Sandoval.

"Share it with me," he said in a surprising soft voice. Sandoval raised the eyes toward his boss, amazed by the propostition and the tone of voice he had used. He was still hesitating.

"I'm not sure if…" he started, in a most hesitating voice.

"Don't worry. I will just look in your memory," he stopped, "and maybe I could do something for your implant," the Taelon added with his malicious smile.

Ron sighed and pressed his hand on the Taelon's one. Zo'or stepped closer and took his other hand in his. He let fall his human facade, letting Sandoval see his real form.

Sandoval did not close the eyes. He was like hypnotised by what he saw. Zo'or's whole body was composed of little orange-pink energy nerves. Beautiful was the only word which came to his mind for describe it. They covered all his body like the nerves with Humans, but they were in constant movements.

Evidently they moved faster for allow the Humans eyes to follow them. He raised the head for look in the eyes of the Taelon. The big formidables blues orbits were looking down to see him. He could not keep the eyes open much longer when he felt Zo'or's mind infiltrate softly within his own. He sensed their two minds curl around each others in a formidable mix of ecsatsy, joy and a pleasurable pain. He tasted the comfort of the Taelon Commonality. He even perceived the amazement of the others members of the Synod when they knew of his presence within them. And Zo'or tell them to shut up, Taelon style. It was Zo'or's turn to discover something new. Sandoval showed him the pleasure of being individual, alone, in your little private world. They stopped exploring each others minds.

Zo'or did exactly like what he had promised. He went directly to access the Human's memory. He found the scene he needed and rebring it in the fresh memory. It was still just a hazy souvenir for Sandioval but for the Taelon the image was like printed in his eyes. Despite all, before Zo'or broke the connection with his memory, Sandoval had time to see clearly the woman. She remained him of someone, maybe she worked on the mothership, or had worked?

Zo'or remembered what other thing he had told to his implant. After a brief mental caress to the Human who seemed a little overhelmed by the whole thing, he went toward the section of the mind he knew the implant, the dying implant, was. Despite the advanced deterioration state of the CVI, it still exerced a little influence on Sandoval mind and thinking.

The implant was dying. Zo'or heard Sandoval's voice in his mind. He was surprised that the Human was able to use this kind of communication.

Please Zo'or, I beg for you. Don't rebring my implant to life. I would like more to die than to suffer the pain I've suffered another time. Please.

Zo'or thought for a moment. Of course, all his thoughts were opened to Sandoval. He did not know the man had suffer this during his implantation. He touched lightly a specific part of the Human's mind and put Ron's mind in an almost uncouscious state.

Mar'le'on Kis'l'ret'Ra'sil'le so'Un'hy'äil'La

He knew perfectly well that Sandoval did not understand the Taelon language but it was more for comfort and reassure him. Da'an often said that to him when he was young.

He felt Sandoval's mind relaxed under his mental grip. He went to the implant and killed it methodically. The alien creature did not oppose much resistance to a strong mind like his own. The conscience, more evoluated, of the skrill was harder to kill.

He acheived the dying creatures and broke the sharing.

When they regained conscience, their hand were still linked tightly. Sandoval had a despaired grip on his smaller hands. He undid the hands of the Human and help him to stay up.

"You are well?" he asked, tentatively, worry.

The, now, ex-implant nodded sharply. A painfull moan catched his attention. His skrill slowly retired his tentacles from his right arm and fell on the ground, glowing softly. It vanished forever in the Void, disapearing in a mist of blue energy bubbles. Ron lookes at the skrill, dying with a little ache in his heart. Sharing body with something during five years, it creates links. They had lived in perfect symbiosis during five long years. Sharing body and thoughts at the same time. He pulled up his right sleeve and looked at his wrist. The only trace of a somewhat co-habitation between them were the little tiny red marks on his dark skin. Where the skrill had enfonced his tentacles. Would be permanent without doubt.

He constated how he was hungry now that he was 'alone' in his body. It was good to feel whole again.

He went toward Zo'or. The Taelon was leaned over the computer where he worked not twenty minutes before. He still found fascinating how the Taelons could adapt to almost all technologies. He had never seen one of them work with a human computer. And Zo'or did it like he had done it all his life.

He approached the Synod Leader and looked over his shoulder.

"Thank you," he whispered.

Zo'or had his usual malicious smile.

"It's nothing. After all, like the Humans say, I owed you one."

It was Sandoval's turn to smile. And he turned to look on the computer screen. Zo'or looked at all the voluteers, currently aboard or who had been, files. He stopped suddenly on a picture of the woman they both had seen. Zo'or turned the head for meet his Agent curious stare.

"It's her." It was not a question. They were both sure.

Ronald read the notice under the picture of the lovely young woman.

"Mara Dail. Disapeared during the assaut of a suspecting resistance cell. I remember that." Yes he remembered that very well. The whole thing had boomed in his face and he had spent three weeks in an hospital bed. "She's presumed dead but we never found her body. Or just a little proof about what happened to her."

Zo'or thought for a moment.

"Suppose, Agent Sandoval, that Da'an had discovered this young woman's body, had found a way to keep her alive and had transfered his conscience into her body for escape us more easily."

"It's possible but it would be surprising," said Sandoval doubtingly.

Zo'or saw the scene in flashback again. The Major Kincaid seemed to protect this young woman. And suddenly he saw somethign he had missed the first time.

"Look," he said to his implant, "on the picture, she have brown eyes. But in the Embassy she had bright blue ones."

"Like…Taelons eyes." Sandoval said as he began to understand what Zo'or meant. The Taelon nodded. "But if Da'an have changed of…body," continued Ron, "maybe it had a repercution on his connection to your Commonality, and you are not able to say if he's dead or alive," he suggested.

Zo'or walked away, turning his gaze in the stars. His fingers were moving fast, sign of a great anxiety or nervosity.

"Maybe you're right Sandoval, but in anyway I don't have enough energy for explore YOUR spiritual world," he stated simply.

Sandoval approached the Taelon and put one hand on his shoulder. The Synod Leader turned to him and looked at him gravely in the eyes :

"If you allow me, I could take a little of your vital energy for searching Da'an," whispered Zo'or softly.

"What it'll do to me?" asked Ron, tentatively.

"It will tire you, I think that you'll need a good night of sleep for recover from that," finished Zo'or with a slight smile.

Sandoval murmured his agreeing. He had still is hand on the Taelon's shoulder. Zo'or lowered the head ans sighed deeply. The man looked at the smalls energy particles which were floating trhough his body to Zo'or. He felt suddenly a great need to sleep like he had not sense from years ago. He shaked as Zo'or absorbed a little bit more of his energy.

Finally the transfere ceased. Both him and the Taelon were tired, shaking. Ron took a step back, letting Zo'or do. The Synod Leader stared at him. They exchanged a glance which spoke by itself. Zo'or, still his eyes locked in the Human's ones, returned to his natural form. He searched in the way of the Commonality. He searched despairedly. He must find Da'an. It was the only way. There was no other possibilities. He had even till tresspass the frontiere of the Human's mental Commonality. He did not find Da'an. Even within the Humans. His energy started to lowering dangerously. His body shaked and he put an hand on the virtual glass for steady himself. He abandonned and returned, despaired, in his physical form.

Ron saw Zo'or shakes and almost fall on the floor, if he had not put his hand on the virtual glass. Some seconds later, the Synod Leader opened his eyes.

"So do you find him?" he asked in an anxious voice Sandoval was, of course, curious of what had happened to Da'an and Kincaid, but he was more worry for Zo'or well-being. The Taelon did not looked at him, he just shooked the head, keeping his gaze lost in the stars beyond the thin line of the virtual glass.

Zo'or changed radically of subject. It was clear that he did not wished oto speak of Da'an anymore.

"We both need rest Agent Sandoval. You can return on Earth, I will not need you till tomorrow morning."

"Return on Earth? And for go where?" Ron replied in a most sarcastic tone, "I still have my room on the mothership. Anyway I don't have any other place to go." He went toward the computer and shot the screen down. "I bring you back to your chamber." Zo'or let Sandoval do. It was not exactly a suggestion, and even without CVI, this man had a great authority. It was a much too pleasant proposition, and he was too tired, for resist to it.

They took back their 'normals' attitudes. The Implant and his Master. The Synod Leader chamber had the advantage of being very close of the main bridge. After the usual labyrinth of corridors, Zo'or stopped before what seemed to be a normal part of the purple wall. He waved his arm and the door vanished without the softer sound. They entered inside. A whole wall was a large virtual glass. It had here one of the most neautiful view of the Earth.

"You still have the panorama," murmured Sandoval, mesmerized by the sight.

"Be the Synod Leader have some…good points sometimes," replied Zo'or a soft smile on the face. Sandoval did the Taelon salute and turned for leave.

"Agent Sandoval," called Zo'or.

Ron turned again for face the Taelon. Zo'or was before the virtual glass, turning his back to him.

"You can spend the night here if you want," whispered Zo'or. His tone of voice was soft, almost like a child one. He was scared by something. Sandoval knew enough of the Taelon society, for be almost sure about what scared the Taelon enough to invite a Human to share his personal chamber.

"Your first night alone?" he asked gently. Zo'or nodded absently. Da'an was one of the only permanents links which linked Zo'or to the Commonality. Zo'or was alone. Alone, within his own people.

"I'll stay here…for tonight," he said softly, his eyes locked in Zo'or's.

"I thank you Ronald. It have a bed in the other room," cotinued the Taelon. Zo'or opened the door which made the separation between the two parts of the room. Effectively, it had a bed and the chair with the energy stream.

Without saying a word he took off his belt, his coat and his shoes. He slipped under the white sheets always silenciously. Zo'or sent him on of his, so rare, smiles.

" 'Night Zo'or."

"Pleasant dreams Ronald."

¤

How the humans looked calms and innocents when they slept. He looked at the man who slept in his bed. He had never seen Sandoval in this way before today. But since two days, the things had changed a lot between them. Now the Agent Sandoval was more like his friend than his protector. Protector. Agent. Cold, impersonal, without meaning words.

His feelings for this Human had changed. A couple of day before, he would have hesitated to trust, even a little, him. And now Sandoval slept in his bed, in the same chamber than him. He had destroyed Ronald's implant. He had saved his life and freed his mind from this bug which parasited his brain little by little. He had enough killed the skrill for that this man could live and stay close to him.

But the question was what would happen next? They could not hide very longer that Sandoval was not an implant anymore. Even him, as the Synod Leader, could do nothing if others Taelons came to know it. Kincaid was the only human to be allowed to serve them without a CVI. The others Synod members had reprimanded him a lot when he had accepted Kincaid as Da'an's protector without implant him first. He was more and more hated by his fellows. If they knew, they would enjoy to force him to join the Void immediatly. And the fate would be even more painful for Sandoval. The torture, maybe. The man would be lucky to have a quick painless death.

He lost his human facade when he remembered what he had felt when he had opened his most intimous mind to Sandoval. His own feelings had been melted with the ones of the Human for a while. How beautiful it had been. He had never felt that…even with another Taelon. His perfect memory allowed him to remember every details of this sharing, of this fabulous joining. Zo'or sighed in pleasure.

Within the Taelons, the individuality was pratically non-existant. With the Humans, all being were their own masters, always free of do what they wanted, to think what they wanted. It was a feeling so…different that what he felt usually, within the Commonality. He had felt…free…for one second in his whole life. He now understood why Da'an had an admiration and a respect for the member of the Human race. Maybe he was wrong, maybe a total joining with the Humans was possible and without danger for their, so precious, evolution. Maybe Da'an was right.

This remained him of Da'an again.

"Da'an, where are you?" he whispered slowly, softly careful to not awake Ronald.

Of course, no one answered him. He took his gaze away from the stars and returned toward his protector. He went beside the bed and stroked Sandoval's cheek with his fingers. He looked the man flinch under his touch but he did not awake still. Zo'or sighed again and stepped away. He climbed on his chair and waved open the nergy stream. He moaned in pleasure, feeling the pure energy enter his tired body. With a last glance to Sandoval lying in the bed, he closed his eyes and, carefully distanced himself from the Commonality, entered the world of dreams.

¤

I'm a prisonner in a place I don't know of, Da'an has probably betrayed me, again, offered me to Zo'or and I have absolutly no idea of what I could do for escape from this ****, Liam thought amerely.

He was lying on his bed. The only bed of the room. His look fixed on the celling he thought of what had just happened to him. His…discussion with Da'an, their escape, and when Da'an had transeferd himself in this young woman body. Then they had came here, Da'an had disapeared and this woman, Katya, had brought him here and let him to think those already darks thoughts. Not that he cared much for Da'an, but still…

What he would say to Augur? That was if he saw him again. And Lili, dead or maybe prisonner on the mothership, like a little laboratory rat.

He sighed in frustration. He could do anything while stay lying on the bed, that was sure.

He raised and started to pace the room, nervously, like a tiger in his cage. His thoughts whirled in his head.

He heard the lock of the door open. The massive metal door turned slowly on its axe. A man appeared in the doorstep. Liam did not see him well, the light from the corridor was too bright. The man turned the lights in the room on and Liam could saw him perfectly.

He knew very well the man before him. He had never met him. He had never spoke to him or even seen him. This man was dead. Officially. His own father had injured him, and Zo'or had killed him.

William Boone. William Boone was alive. Well alive.

Liam did not believed what he saw. William Boone. How many times he had seen him die, in his dreams, the memories Ha'gel had let him…William Boone, injured deadly by Ha'gel, mercyless killied by Zo'or after, was alive, in front of him.

Something did not fit!

"So what Liam, you look like you'd seen a ghost?" said the man while closing the door behind him, a smile at the corner of his lips.

Liam finally was able to raise from his bed. He tried to make a sound, but his mouth just moved, nothing escaped it. After many tries, he could pronounce a word without confuse it.

"You are not a little…dead?" asked Liam doubtfully.

"The last time I checked I was well alive, yes…" he said not very seriously. He sat in a chair and signified to Liam to do the same.

"But, it's impossible…" Liam simply stated. Boone giggled. Liam could not did other thing than laugh too, contaminated by the mood of this man. "I mean," started Liam, "I've went to your funerals, I've seen your dead body, I've seen you being killed by my father, well by Zo'or, but…" Boone cut him :

"I was not in the coffin. Anyway Zo'or had somewhat vaporized me," he finished with an acid smile.

"You speak of your own death, but you seem well alive," Liam whispered. He started to get lost in all that. Boone sighed longly.

"Da'an have brought me back to life. And I'm not the only one. Katya, this Russian Beauty, who took you there, have been victim of your father Sandoval. As many other people, Taelons and Humans failed experience subjects, that she managed to save and bring down there."

"How…How do you know about my father?" whispered Liam.

"I know may things about you Liam, a lot of things in fact," answered Boone mysteriously. Will raised and started to pace the room. "Don't worry Liam. We'll explain all to you but, not now. It's not for that I came anyway."

Boone came near to a wall and waved his arm, in a gesture very alike what Da'an did every ten minutes to open a energy stream. A part of the wall, which have appear to him to be constitued of normal gray rock, vanished, litterally, for let place to a virtual glass. Outside was an icy panorama, white, all white, as far as the eyes could seen it was white. It was snowing, the snow covered the ground with the familiar white blanket.

Liam looked outside, eyes wide open.

"Just if you wanted to escape outside," said Boone, laughing. He took a long breath. "But I did not came here for that. I came for ask you something."

"And what this something would be?"

"We need you Liam," said Boone, taking care of say clearly each words. The questioning look Liam sent him told him to continue in more explanations, "As you know, the Captain Lili Marquette have been captured…"

Liam interrupted him violently : "Lili is dead because of Da'an, because he betrayed us and let Zo'or kill her."

"I think you would know Da'an better after the whole year you spent in her service," responded Boone simply, in a cold tone, the hands in his pockets.

"And who are you for speak of Da'an like this! You know her better than I maybe?" relpied Liam angrily, now.

Will shooked the head, looking despaired, "Liam you cannot judge Da'an like this. You don't know what she supported for you, how much you are important for her."

Liam did not seem so convinced "I trusted him and he betrayed me in the most awful manner. Hundred of us are dead, or will be, because of him. I should not have shown him our Head Quarters."

"You are right. You should not have shown her that. You must don't forget that, despite she wants to help Humanity, she's still a Taelon and will ever be. She could not betray her own people." Boone's face started to take a hard expression. "And for your information, Lili's not dead," he added

Liam opened the mouth for reply but he said nothing finally. Will sighed longly. "You have still many things to learn Liam. You are young." He smiled, "Da'an has been very…afflicted by the way you acted with her. She cares a deal about you you know?" he said softly for calm the angry young man. The look of Liam told him to elaborate. He coninued more professional than ever : "No, despite what you might believe Lili is alive. But we must hurry or she will not be for long. The Taelons know that she is very high ranked within your organization, and they will use all method for obtain what they want to know. Da'an did everything she could for save her from that, but Zo'or start to doubt of something about her implication. She had to escape, with you." He stopped for take his breath back. "They will torture her Liam. It's because of that we need your help. Just you can help us to save her."

Liam thought a moment, "And if, maybe, I accepted to help you, where is she?"

"That's the 'hic'," Boone said, "Lili is prisonner on the Taelon mothership." The young hybrid shot him an odd look.

"And what tell me that you'll not betray me like Da'an have, so well, done?" he asked sarcastically.

Boone seemed to hold back a particulary acid reply to Liam, but he controlled himself and when he spoke, his voice was calm. "You are very much like your father Sandoval. Nevertrust someone before know all of this person. I truly regret but I can not tell you anything. It's the rule here. And Da'an wants to explain it all to you herself, and even me I could not convince her of don't do."

Liam smiled sarcastically again, "Of course. It's so easy to say. Put yourself in my place Boone. I just saw some of my friends being captured, or even killed, under my eyes, Zo'or just miss to capture me, I arrive here, in a place which is totally unknown to me. And you want me to trust you just because you told me so!" he exclaimed violently.

"I have been in your situation Liam. When Da'an showed me this place for the first time, she just left me here, without any explanations or even life signs. She left me, during a month I have been into my little chamber not allowing outside. Then she came and told me that I was in security here, and I trusted her. Even if she had lied, or betrayed me, a countless number of time." He took a few steps back. "Think about it Liam," he shot a look to his watch, "You must understand that we'll not lose time with you. If you don't accept, very well, we'll bring you back on the surface, create you a new identity and you will be free to go where ever you want to on the planet. But if you accept, you'll contribuate to the biggest enterprise ever in all the history of the humanity, Ma'el's dream. Think about it Liam. You've one minute for decide of your future." Without anyword more he exited the chmaber.

Liam sat on the bed and ran his fingers through his shorts hairs. He thought longly, more than one minute, to Boone's proposition. He finally made his decision and walked toward the door.

¤

Boone closed carefully the door, but did not lock it. He trusted Liam. He felt a light hand on his left shoulder. Katya.

"He's even more obstinate I thought he would be," he whispered sadly.

"You were worst when you came here, Will," she gently remembered him, smiling as always.

"You are surely all right…as always." He turned the head for look at his watch, "And the preparations?" he asked as she started to massage his tensed shoulders with her experts hands.

"It was that I wanted to speak with you. We have a little problem," she said as her hands moved to his neck.

"Problems. We just have that 'problems'," he whispered angrily.

"We just received a call from Augur," she said suddenly very serious. "He has been captured."

"Ah! ****! Just like we had nothing to do other than that. The Taelons have started a big offensive against the Resistance. Augur had been captured in the old HQ surely!" he sighed. "Do we know where he has been emprisonned?"

"Yes. It's still that. He is in the same section fo the mothership that Lili is." Boone sighed longly again. The Taelons had chosen the worst moment to eliminate the resistance movement.

"We need to take care of Liam first."

¤

Captain Lili Marquette was lying on a metal table. The metal, very probably some steel if she judged just by its hardness, was cold on her naked skin. She tried to free herself from the straps but, to her surprise, she discovered that she was not really strapped on the table. But she could not move. A Taelon was in the room with her. Certainly a scientist who should study and 'question' her.

She tried to move her arms and legs, the more softly for not to catch his attention, but she could even not shook her fingers. All her muscles were simply paralyzed by something. Again some of those Taelon's things, she thought bitterly. She tried to move again, less discretly this time. Nothing. She let her head fall back on the metal with a hard noise. Pain ran in all her nerves. She smirked. At least her nerves system still worked, she thought sarcastically.

The Taelon approached her and taped on keys on a screen, a few inches away from the table. She felt her tongue being ran by prickling just like she had been non-active from a long period of time. She was finally able to articulate some words.

"What…What… have you done to me?" she asked the scientist in a very weak voice.

He simply ignored her. She sighed in frustration, understanding clearly that he would never answer her; orders probably. He continued to tape on the screen.

She sensed suddenly all muscles of her body relax and start prickling too. She tried to get up. The Taelon forced her to lay back on the table, with a surprising strong. She renonced to try again. Lili heard footesteps in the corridor. She was about to speak but the Taelon put his hand on her mouth for make her silenced. She fought him a moment, disgusted by the feeling of this cold and white hand on her mouth. But he was stronger than her, and she was dizzy and lying on a table. Then she saw the look in his eyes and she topped all mouvements. His voice showed his tongue of origin, "Captain Marquette listen to me. If you want to exit this place alive, don't move. Am I clear? Don't move," he said dryly. She nodded and he took his hand away from her mouth.

The idea of screaming travelled her mind but when she saw who entered, she did not moved even her eyeslids and fixed the celling, looking conscienceless. The War Minister T'than approached her and stroked her cheek. She pressed her lips together and simply waited, fighting against the desire to raise up and slap him in the face. She saw the stare of advertissements the other Taelon shot her.

¤

"Can she hear us?" he asked.

"No. Be reassured. She is conscious but she is still under sedative. She's hearing nothing and cannot speak," answered I. I had always hated T'than. Since the first time I had 'worked' for him. Him, too, hated me. He hated the people like me.The of'fran. The changed ones, the differents ones. I believe, when I think about it today, that I would had freed the Captain Marquette, just for make him angry, even if Da'an had not asked me.

I did not know what this woman represented for Da'an. But he was my friend, I could almost say my parent, and had asked me to.

I hated what I was doing since the departement had been overtaken by T'than. I'm a scientist and I had been taught for heal the living being, from all species. And he forced me to torture them, to kill them, to 'questionate' them like himself said.

"You may proceed," he said simply while shooting a disdainful stare to the Human female. He was just authorized, by the Synod, to see that she would be in perfect, or ideal, like they said, condition for the interogatory. I did not want to do that. Not in front of him. I did not want to make her suffer. She had did nothing but trying to save her race, because she believed the Taelons endangered her specie. Just like we did.

"I've not the authorization of the Synod for do such a thing T'than, I'm sorry, but I cannot," I whispered, waiting anxiously of what the reaction would be.

He smiled badly and walked toward me. His hands and fingers moved in a way I had seen many times in the past. I was worry for my sake and I could not keep my 'Human" facade any longer. He approached closer. I took a step back. And another. And another. But I was forced tos top when I sensed the wall against my back. He stepped even more closer. Our faces almost touched. His face wore a sarcastic smirk.

"I'm not asking you if you have the authorization of the Synod. I'm asking you to do it. That's all. Or maybe you would prefer that I tell to the others members of the Synod 'what' you are Ar'as…" he murmured in a soft tone but where it had a subtil anger.

"I refuse," I delcared. From this moment I decided that never again he would have such a power of decision on me He carefully took a step back. I knew that if he could do it himself he would do it. But it was relatively complex and hard to manipulate.

"Very good." All gentleness had disapeared in his voice. He raised a hand for stroke my cheek. I hated when he did that to me. But I was lucky this time. I knew him to be insane. The changes within our race are affecting each members differently. "Very well. Be sure that the Synod will know of your…nature, before you would leave or even try to escape this ship…"

Suddenly, he fell on the ground, an amazed expression on his face.The, now unconscious, body fell to my feet.

I raised the head and saw the Captain Marquette, beside the table an energy pistol between her shaking hands. I think that she could not believed what she had just done. I knelt beside T'than for see if he was still alive. Yes, he was.

Instinctivly, I got up with the help of my special capacities. My feet never touched the ground. The Human was looking at me, her eyes rounder I had ever see Human's eyes being. She slowly lowered the weapon. I came close to her and gave her her clothes. She constated that she was almost naked and clothed fastly.

¤

Taelon mothership, laboratory section…

"You're named Ar'as, if I understand well…" asked Lili. She and the Taelon scientisit walked in the dark corridors of the mothership. He nodded. Apparently he did not spoke the Human language very well.

"This, you have done…" Lili talked about what Ar'as had done when he had moved without touching the ground, "Can all the Taelons do it?" she finished.

He looked young, thought Lili at the same time she asked this question. He was the first Taelon she met that looking like young. His face was hard, more lke Zo'or, but still not completly without gentleness. It made her think of Andy, her deceased brother…

"No," he replied simply. He raised his eyes for met her stare and she saw that his eyes were green, more like Liam's one, not blue like every other Taelon she had seen in her life. She was so surprised that she took a step back. Ar'as continued, "The Taelons have not this power. They cannot do what I'm doing." He smiled, still keeping his eyes fixed on the ground. "And I'm not entirely Taelon, Captain." Lili's jaw was lucky to stay in its place and not to fall on the ground.

When she worked for the Resistance movement and the Taelons at the same time, she believed it was something important. That it would likely affect the future of the Humanity and the Taelon, and probaly the Jaridian, race fate. She believed too that the Taelons were all in the same patern, being totally emotionless, cold, and that they all hated humanity. She did not think it could have other who thought like Da'an…but in a more…dynamic way. She just discovered something bigger an far more important, than the Humans against the Taelons concept…

Never she had seen a Taelon act like Ar'as had done. He seemed a lot more physical than the other members of his specie. "And, there are others like you?" she asked, curious.

"Much others. We are the first generation of a Taelon-Human-Kimera people." Lili's eyes widened like plates again. "No, Captain. Liam Kincaid was not the first and, definately, not the last," he continued, seeing her disbelief. "Da'an has created us long ago, with Ma'el, the scientist who came to your planet for continue his research on your specie. Da'an offered us post into the Taelon society. For that we could change things. It's him who asked me to free you."

"And the other Taelons are aware of your existence within their society?" she asked more amazed than ever.

"Yes. They are. The Synod was aware of the experiment. But they have never tried to do something directly against us. The only restrictions they had gave us are to be took away from the most important post within their hierarchy. We cannot be members of the Synod or Companion on some planet. The most of us aer scientists here on Earth. We have followed Da'an when he told us that a part of our genetic heritage was there…"

"Those powers that you have…Is it normal or…" she asked timidly.

"We have not all the same powers evidently. One of the first hybrid had so much psychic power that he was forced to distant himself from the Commonality after harming some Taelons. The closest word that can definite my…powers would be mutation in your language". He lowered his voice as they met a couple of Volunteers across the corridor "And I must say that those changes…those mutations, start to be more and more frequent within your own specie Captain…" he finished. Lili felt that he wanted to say more but he stopped.

She turned the head and saw a control post a few meters away from them. There was also a communication channel. Ar'as took her by the shoulders and spoke gravely to her : "Technically I would not be aware of this but I learned the other day than T'than prepared a big offensive against your Resistance movement. You must warn them now or it will be too late." He stopped and looked nervously behind his shoulder. "T'than will not take much time to awake now. Go and call them."

At the very moment that he finished his sentence, the Volunteers appeared at the other end of the corridor. Their skrills was already pointed at them.

He leaned over toward her : "Go Captain. You just have the time. This post is not protected. I'll hold them back. They cannot fire at a Taelon. Go. Warn them."

She turned away but came back toward him : "Thank you."

Lili turned and waved open the energy stream. She dialed Augur's personnal global number. Now, she could do nothing more than pray for that he would be home.

¤

Ar'as exited the shadows of the wall and walked toward the volunteers who started to approache dangerously. They hesitated. Does they needed to fire at that Taelon who looking like a traitor or follow what their MI said them…?

Before they could decide something, their weapons were took away from their hands by a surnatural force… They saw Ar'as walking toward them, hands turned the celling. His eyes, unusually greens for a Taelon, glowed strangly. They felt like the air around them charged itself of electricity…or of another unknown force.

They sensed their body being slowly raised from the ground. The most of them lost conscience because of the energy around them. Other Taelons, attired by what was happening, was there watching to the…show, terrified and amazed by what one of them could do. Just one Volunteer stayed conscious. Before Ar'As could realize what he was doing, he raised, with difficulties because of the strange force which seemed to control his arms, his skirll and pointed it at Captain Marquette who was saying something repetedly before the datastream. Ar'as felt his intention too late, he had the eyes closed in his deep concentration.

The Volunteer gave a brief order to the animal who shared his mind and body, this one fromed a small ball of light. He fired.

The blast catched Lili's back. She let out a painful maoning and fell to the ground. Ar'as turned toward her, worry. When he saw what had happened to her, he turned back to the Volunteer, who had had the very bad idea to fire at Lili. Ar'as's eyeswere again of this iridescent green. All the others Volunteers fell on the gorund violently, still inconscious. Only the one who had fired at Lili remained in the air.

The Volunteer felt a pression on his neck. He tried to take his hands to his throat but he could not move anymore. He was completly paralized, completly dependent to the willing of Ar'as. He felt his bones break. A enormous pain washed over his spin. And all went black.

¤

Lili composed frantically the seven numbers of Augur's personnal number. The global at the other extremity rang a couple of time. She crossed her ifngers and prayed for that Augur was at his home and not with one of his…frequentation. Finally she heard a 'clic'. She turned toward Ar'as with a radious smile. What she saw made her smile widen. The young hybrid, she did not know how she could call him other than that,had his hands raised a a kind of energy turned around him. From where she was, she could sense it.

Augur's worry face appeared on the other screen. The man paled when he recognized the face of a woman he believed dead from almost a week.

"Lili…Lili…You're not dead?" said Augur, after many tries.

"Augur I don't have time for the stupid questions." She turned for see Ar'as, who seemed tired now, holding the Volunteers a few feet off the ground. "You'll listen to me carefully. I'm prisonner on the mothership. A Taelon helped me to get there, but our situation is…a hard one." She avoided a skrill blast that missed her from just an inch. "He told me that the Taelons prepared an offensive against the resistance. You know how contact them. Warn them! Warn them Augur! Please!" She was screaming now. Augur was about to answer something but a blast hurted Lili in her back, sending her on the floor.

"Lili…Lili…" he screamed, despairedly.

¤

Ar'as opened his eyes. The Volunteers were lying on the ground. They were all unconscious, but one body looked more pale than the others. He understood that he just killed a Human. With hi owns hands. He had killed. He fell on the ground, this last tentative had took all of what rested of his energy.

The other Taelons, when they understood that he was totally dangerless, approached him. He felt Mit'gai inject something in his neck and lost completly contact with the reality. The last thing he had wholy conscience of was that his body was lifted and brought soemwhere, in the long, darks, corridors of the mothership. All is finished now, the Human will talk and they will find the other end of the call, was his last coherent thought.

One of the Taelons who was stayed in front of the datastream, tried to recall the line. He smiled badly when he saw the message on the screen : Line recalled. A church, in Wasington. The Synod would be happy of this new development. He called one of the Volunteers and ordored him to send a team for capture the members of the Resistance who lived in this installation. The Resistance movement will not survive to this last attack, he thought happily…

¤

Augur cut the line angrily. He just learned that Lili was alive and the Taelons captured her again.

He paced the large room, that has been the Resistance HQ, and was now his home, during some minutes. Finally he decided what he was going to do, he called all the other Resistance cell in the whole world and told them about what Lili had said to him. If the Taelons declenched the offensive that Lili had spoke of, it would be a dead and final attempt to destroy them. He went then lying on a couch, when he heard some bizarre noise in the church, 100 meters above his head. He understood wholy when the door was destroyed by the skrill's blasts.

The Taelons had had a long time for recall the line. He got up and tried to run toward his computer for erase all the files. But he was hit in the chest before arriving there. He fell on the ground. The last thing he saw were the Volunteers that fired at his collection and his material with their skrills.

¤

The next part of this will come after the next part of Sardonic fate, A child in a crystal bottle and two differents universes. So, it'll be long a bit. But.....BUT....I said but, it's my favorite part I'll write!!! The Boone/Da'an part! You know THE Boone/Da'an part....!

Okay, avis aux amateurs donc.

It's over. I need to go to school now so...Ciao!

Just post more! I'll read it. But I'll be three weeks absent, from Saturday on. So don't be suprised if I do not post any thing before the new year. But I'll be back for sure.