Adventures in Taelon-Sitting

Post to archives is encouraged as long as my name and title stay with the story.

Author's Note: Beware of spoilers. This story is set somewhere between the episodes "Destruction" and "The Joining." You should read my previous stories, "Hostage - Parts 1 through 4," "Ma'el: Thinker, Dreamer, Achiever," "If You Think You Know The Taelons...," and "Oh, Baby!" before reading "Adventures in Taelon-Sitting." Please feel free to use any of my characters for your own fanfictions, but keep their name and status quo as is in "Adventures in Taelon-Sitting." For the purposes of this story, the characters of Tu'um, Nu'um, and La'an will each be referred to as "she."

Summary: Da'an and Tu'um assign Boone and Lili to watch over Da'an's granchild, Ja'an, and Tu'um's granddaughter, Nu'um. Unfortunately, trouble comes lurking when Zo'or's mischievious grandchild, Tra'or, joins the group on their outing.

I'd like to thank Brown Unicorn for letting me use her character of Ja'an in this story, and for inspiring much of this fanfiction. I’d like to thank Tina Price for creating the idea of Taelon glow-pops from at the Philosophy Sphere postings. I would also like to give credit to Tabakat for creating the character of La’an who is mentioned in this story. Please ask permission from these authors before using their characters in your stories.

All of my stories take place in an EFC universe that is basically similar to that of the actual series, but with a lot of my own characters and ideas blended into it. For this reason, please remember that my story arcs and plots will not always be completely accurate with those of the other fanfiction authors whose characters I sometimes use in my own fanfiction, or of the actual series.
 
 

    * * *

    The scent of roses, tulips, marigolds, lilacs, and a variety of every other imaginable flower wafted through the dexterous garden. It was Tu’um’s garden. The garden had been planted on the outskirts of the Taelon embassy in Agra, India. A Taelon virtual glass building had structurally wrapped itself around a portion of the Tahj Mahal, serving as Tu’um’s embassy in that area of the country. The Indian Companion had several embassies located strategically around the country, and in Sri Lanka.
    Captain Lili Marquette was leisurely strolling through the beautiful garden with Tu’um by her side. Ever since the culmination of their relationship, Lili felt both enchanted and safe while in the presence of her Companion. For Tu’um, the feeling was mutual.
    Lurking nearby was Agent Haji Jagdamba, Tu’um’s skrill-bearing implant. As her attaché and main protector, Jagdamba had begun to feel a little envious of the increasing closeness between his Companion and Captain Marquette. Previously, his programmed devotion to the Taelons caused Jagdamba to unemotionally obey Tu’um’s every command, the intended purpose of his CVI. However, Jagdamba had lately grown more and more possessive of Tu’um - - and felt threatened by Lili’s frequent presence at the New Delhi embassy. The only thing preventing Jagdamba from lashing out at Lili was his having been raised to respect women in society, and his robotic loyalty to Tu’um.
    As the implant eyed the alien and human critically, Tu’um held Lili’s hand and gave it a little squeeze.
    “Lili, I cherish our time together,” emphasized Tu’um, giving her friend a big smile.
    “So do I.” Lili couldn’t take her eyes off of Tu’um’s sari. It looked so elegant draped around the Taelon’s shoulders.
    “I would like to ask a favor of you,” Tu’um spoke up.
    “Yes, Tu’um?” Lili waited for her Companion to speak.
    “You are familiar with Da’an’s . . . grandchild, Ja’an? Correct?” Tu’um tilted her head.
    “Yeah, Ja’an is really sweet.”
    “Well, like Da’an, I, too, have a grandchild. More than one, actually. One of my grandchildren is coming to Earth this afternoon. For ease of reference I will call her my ‘granddaughter.’ I’ve decided that she should spend some time on Earth.”
    “Okay,” smiled Lili. The captain was somewhat excited at the notion of a “little Tu’um.”
    “Her name is Nu’um. Da’an felt that Nu’um might make a nice playmate for Ja’an, and I agree with him,” expressed Tu’um.
    “I think that’s great!” Lili realized the importance of Ja’an having some other Taelon children to interact with.
    “Da’an and I must attend a Taelon conference on the mothership tomorrow,” Tu’um continued. “It will last all day. I would like for you and Boone to . . . look after Nu’um and Ja’an while Da’an and I are away.”
    Lili’s face lit up. “That would be awesome!” She then realized that she sounded like a teenager, and blushed red.
    “You and Commander Boone are both very responsible individuals. I have the utmost confidence in you,” conveyed Tu’um, honestly. “Nu’um will be very happy to meet you, Lili. I know that she’s excited and looking quite forward to it.”
    “If she’s anything like you, Tu’um,” said Lili, “then I’m sure we’ll get along fantastically.”
    “I have tried to instill in her the values which I believe in,” Tu’um confirmed, “as likewise Da’an has done with Ja’an. Da’an is inside talking to Boone about this as we speak.”
    Indeed, Da’an and Boone were sitting inside the New Delhi embassy at that very moment. Boone was sipping tea from one of the dainty ceramic glasses owned by Tu’um. Da’an was gazing warmly at his implant.
    “Boone,” Da’an stated, after explaining the situation, “I would like for you and Captain Marquette to care for Ja’an, as well as Nu’um, tomorrow while Tu’um and I attend our conference.”
    “Sure!” Boone was happy to oblige, especially if it meant getting to spend time with Ja’an. “Will Sandoval be coming with us?”
    “No,” answered Da’an. “Sandoval and Jagdamba will accompany Tu’um and myself aboard the Taelon mothership.”
    At that moment, Tu’um, Lili, and Jagdamba entered the embassy from the outside gardens. Sandoval also came into the room with Ja’an. He had been watching the Taelon child while Da’an spoke with Boone.
    “I am glad we are all here!” exclaimed Tu’um, clapping her hands together. “Now you can all meet Nu’um. I have summoned her and she will be arriving from Planet Taelon at any moment.”
    No sooner had Tu’um finished her sentence then a miniature Taelon in its true form suddenly appeared in the room, arriving through one of the inter-dimensional portal transporters.
    The Taelon child fleshed itself out and walked across Tu’um’s audience chamber toward the group of staring humans.
    It was Nu’um.
    Lili studied the Companion closely. Nu’um was about the same height as Ja’an, and resembled a mini-version of her grandparent, Tu’um. She wore a red Taelon bodysuit and small earrings in her earlobes. And of course, Nu’um possessed Tu’um’s cheerful smile and graceful demeanor.
    “Hello,” Nu’um greeted them, giving the group a Taelon salute.
    “Nu’um, please meet Lili,” Tu’um introduced her friend to her granddaughter. “Lili, this is my granddaughter, Nu’um.”
    Captain Marquette kneeled down next to Nu’um. “Your grandparent has told me all about you.”
    “All good, I hope,” giggled Nu’um. The child’s giggle even sounded like her grandparent’s.
    “Hello, Nu’um,” greeted Ja’an shyly, stepping forward.
    “Greetings, Ja’an,” Nu’um replied. The two of them had known each other only vaguely from the Planet Taelon, however, knowing what a great Taelon that Da’an was, Nu’um had taken special care to remember Ja’an even though they weren’t close acquaintances.
    Boone kneeled down next to Lili, facing Ja’an and Nu’um. “We’re going to have lots of fun tomorrow,” he told them.
    “I can hardly wait,” smiled Nu’um.
    “Me neither,” added Ja’an.
    Da’an and Tu’um exchanged glances. They both felt positive that their grandchildren would be in good company.

    * * *

    “We have a bit of a dilemma,” spoke Quo’on through the data stream monitor.
    “What is it?” asked Da’an, who was sitting atop his chair in the D.C. embassy.
    “It seems as though Zo’or’s grandchild has also been staying with his grandparent for quite some time now,” the Synod speaker explained. Quo’on knew about Ja’an and Nu’um, and that the two children would be spending the next day with Lili and Boone. He continued, “As you know, Da’an, Zo’or has the right to attend our conference as well. He needs someone to look after his grandchild, Tra’or.”
    “And you wish for me to ask Commander Boone and Captain Marquette to do so?” concluded Da’an.
    “It is not a ‘wish.’ It is an order,” Quo’on remarked, sharply.
    Da’an sighed. “Very well.”
    “Zo’or will bring Tra’or to your office in Washington D.C.,” Quo’on informed him. “I am holding you responsible for the safety of Tra’or.”
    “I understand,” replied the North American Companion.
    Quo’on’s facade disappeared from the screen.
    Da’an summoned Agent Sandoval and Commander Boone on their globals. The implants reached the embassy just as Zo’or and a smaller Taelon resembling the U.N. Companion were arriving in Da’an’s audience chamber.
    “This is Tra’or,” stated Zo’or to everyone in the room, indicating a younger, littler version of himself.
    Tra’or and Zo’or looked almost exactly alike. They even wore the same colored Taelon uniform, had the same oval-shaped head, and displayed identical frowns on their faces.
    Tra’or looked at Boone and Sandoval in disgust. “Are these the lowly humans who shall entertain me tomorrow?” Tra’or scoffed.
    “Unfortunately,” lamented Zo’or.
    “They are ugly and putrid!” spat out Tra’or.
    “Yeah, well you’re not so hot yourself,” shot back Boone.
    “Boone!” Da’an reprimanded.
    “Grandparent, must I waste my time in the presence of these disgusting beasts?” whined Tra’or.
    “Do not worry. They will do as you tell them,” Zo’or assured his grandchild.
    Tra’or marched past Sandoval and Boone, not even acknowledging them. The Taelon child stood in front of Da’an intrusively.
    “Get out of your chair!” Tra’or commanded to his elder, Da’an. “I want to sit in it.”
    “I don’t think so!” growled Boone.
    Sandoval clutched the commander’s arm. “Boone, he’s just a child, he doesn’t know any better.”
    Da’an pouted and stared back at Tra’or.
    “I told you to vacate your chair!” repeated Tra’or. “Do it!”
    “Let him!” Zo’or snapped at Da’an.
    Reluctantly, Da’an stood up from his chair, letting out a resigned sigh. The Companion moved aside. Tra’or arrogantly bounced up to the throne-like chair, and plopped down atop of it.
    Da’an looked extremely embarrassed, having given up his chair to a Taelon child, a relative of Zo’or’s no less.
    “He can’t get away with this,” grumbled Boone, looking to Sandoval for help.
    “Silence, implant!” Tra’or shouted at Boone.
    Zo’or had a proud smirk on his face.
    Boone couldn’t take it any longer. He stomped up to Tra’or and yanked the child out of Da’an’s chair.
    “Let go of me, implant!” demanded Tra’or.
    With that, Tra’or gave Boone a hard kick in the shin. Boone let go of Tra’or, grabbed his own knee and howled in pain.
    Tra’or ran back over to his grandparent.
    “Well done, grandchild,” complimented Zo’or, patting Tra’or on the shoulder.
    Boone glared at Zo’or and Tra’or. Just what he needed! TWO of them! Two Zo’ors!

    * * *

    Zo’or, Tu’um, and Da’an were ready to board Tu’um’s shuttle and head to the mothership. They stood in Tu’um’s audience chamber.
    Da’an kneeled down next to Ja’an. “Be good for William Boone,” he whispered to his grandchild. Ja’an nodded.
    Nu’um gave Tu’um a hug. “I’ll miss you,” she told her grandparent. Tu’um smiled back at her granddaughter.
    Zo’or eyed Commander Boone. “You had better not let anything happen to Tra’or,” the Companion warned Boone.
    Before Boone could retaliate, Tu’um’s shuttle pilot, Mata, entered the room. She had strikingly gorgeous straight black hair and a slim figure.
    “Ready, everyone?” Mata asked the group.
    “Yes, Mata,” replied Tu’um, warmly. “We are ready.”
    Mata led the three Taelons, accompanied by Sandoval and Jagdamba, outside toward Tu’um’s shuttle.
    Boone and Lili exchanged glances. They were in charge of three young Taelon children. Companion baby-sitters.
    Then they heard Ja’an moan in agony.
    Tra’or had just given Ja’an a mean shove backwards. Da’an’s grandchild had fallen on the floor.
    “Commander Boone, Tra’or pushed me!” Ja’an cried out.
    “Tra’or!” William looked furious. “That wasn’t very nice!”
    Tra’or stuck his nose up in the air, not looking the least bit sorry.
    As Boone helped Ja’an up off the floor, Lili tried to diffuse the situation.
    “Guess what?” she addressed the Taelon children. “We’re going to a Renaissance festival!”
    Nu’um’s eyes lit up. “That sounds fun, Lili!”
    Lili perked up. “Well come on, kids. Let’s go!”
    They all boarded Lili’s shuttle. As Captain Marquette sat in the driver’s seat, Tra’or sneaked up behind her and began to pull Lili’s hair.
    Lili shrieked.
    “Stop it, Tra’or!” Nu’um rushed over and swatted Tra’or’s hands away from Lili. Tra’or struck Nu’um across her face. Nu’um bristled, and then slapped Tra’or right back . . . HARD! Tra’or flinched, flabbergasted.
    “Okay, time out you two!” Boone stood between Tra’or and Nu’um. Tra’or began hitting Boone. “That’s it for you, young man!” Boone picked up Tra’or, who was now flailing around, hot-tempered.
    “Unhand me!” demanded Tra’or, squirming around in Boone’s grip, as Boone carried Tra’or to the back of the shuttle.
    “You will behave yourself!” shouted Boone. He now had Tra’or in an armlock, as the shuttle flew through the air.
    Ja’an and Nu’um were huddled together in the corner, watching as Boone forcefully held Tra’or in place.
    “Let go of me, implant!” yelled Tra’or at Boone. “Or I will tell my grandparent that you have mistreated me!”
    “Oooooh, I’m SO scared!” Boone taunted back at him, sarcastically. “Sorry Tra’or, but your little threats won’t work on me.”
    After a relatively short flight, the shuttle landed in Boston. Boone and Lili escorted the three Taelon children through downtown Boston. An annual Renaissance festival was taking place.
    Festival-goers dressed as knights, maidens, royalty, wizards, jesters, and serfs crowded the streets. Vendors were selling medieval food, and art was being sold - - and created - - right there on the sidewalks.
    Ja’an looked around, wide-eyed with intrigue. “It is as though we have stepped back in time,” the young Taelon remarked.
    Their group had stopped to watch a jousting match, taking place in a roped-off area in the center of the street. Two armed men bearing swords were simulating a dual.
    “I hope they kill each other!” blurted out Tra’or.
    “Tra’or!” Lili scolded Zo’or’s grandchild.
    “Never mind him, Lili,” smiled Nu’um. “I am having a wonderful time.”
    Lili smiled back at Nu’um. Somehow she thought she liked this Taelon child very much.
    SPLAT!
    “Hey!” shouted an artist, who had been painting at an easel on the sidewalk.
    Tra’or had just knocked over the artist’s portrait. Her work-in-progress was now splattered face-down all over the sidewalk.
    The artist irately crossed her eyes at Tra’or. “Look what you did, you little mongrel! My painting is ruined because of you!”
    Not the least bit sorry, Tra’or simply snickered at her.
    “Apologize to her right now, Tra’or!” ordered Boone.
    “No,” Tra’or refused. “You cannot boss me around, implant!”
    “Don’t talk to Commander Boone like that!” Ja’an angrily shot at Tra’or.
    “What are you going to do about it?” Tra’or gave Ja’an an intimidating shove.
    “Knock it off!” Boone grabbed Tra’or’s wrist, but the Taelon child just shook the commander off.
    “What about my painting?!” piped up the disgruntled artist. “All my hard work is completely ruined!” She glared at Tra’or. “I oughtta skin you alive, you stupid Taelon!”
    “Do not speak to me that way, human!” Tra’or barked at the artist.
    The artist suddenly grabbed ahold of Tra’or and began giving him a few good whaps on the behind.
    Tra’or wailed out loud. “Let me go!” he commanded.
    Lili stood next to Boone. “Shouldn’t we do something?” she asked him.
    “Naw,” declared Boone. “I think that she is giving Tra’or exactly what he’s had coming to him.”

    * * *

    “Kids, want to go look at the stores in the mall?” Lili offered to their charges.
    “No,” Tra’or pouted, still a bit punchy from his spanking.
    “Oh, I love to window-shop!” gushed Nu’um.
    “Really?” Captain Marquette couldn’t believe that she was hearing this from a Taelon. Shopping was one of Lili’s favorite hobbies.
    “Yes,” answered Nu’um. “Grandparent and I have gone shopping together in India. We adore the outlet malls.”
    “Malls?” Ja’an was confused.
    “Probably some useless human contraption,” sneered Tra’or.
    “Useless?” Boone laughed. “Not quite. Just wait and see. A mall is like nothing you’ve ever seen before.”
    Lili and Nu’um chose a huge indoor mall for their group to visit. As they entered the mall, Ja’an’s eyes grew so wide that they practically popped right out of their sockets. Even Tra’or looked as though he was in awe and maybe even slightly impressed.
    Nu’um skipped on ahead, excitedly pulling Lili with her. Tu’um’s granddaughter was gleefully admiring the various merchandise inside of the stores through their windows, including human clothes and human toys.
    Meanwhile, Ja’an was standing with Boone, surveying the food court and all the shoppers who were leisurely eating lunch. Tra’or just looked bored, and yawned.
    A little girl of about four-years-old and her mother walked by. The little girl saw Nu’um with Lili and pointed.
    “What is that, mommy?” the girl loudly asked her mother, pointing at Nu’um.
    “Ssssh. Don’t point, Mandy,” the girl’s mother whispered. “That’s a Taelon. They are the friendly alien visitors to Earth, remember?”
    “I want one!” the girl blurted out. “Mommy, can I have that Taelon? Can I take her home with me?”
    The mother laughed nervously. “No, dear. Now come on . . .”
    But her daughter had fallen to the ground and was pounding on the floor. “I want a Taelon, mommy! I want a Taelon of my very own!”
    “Mandy . . .”
    “I want a Taelon!!!”
    The mother blushed, furiously embarrassed. She gave Lili an awkward, anxiously contrived smile. Mandy was rolling around on the floor, kicking her legs and bellowing.
    Mandy’s mother picked her daughter up and began to carry her away.
    “I want one!” Mandy shouted again. “They are so cute! I want one for Christmas!”
    Mandy was making a scene, and people were staring. The mother’s face was turning pink. As she carried Mandy past Boone, Ja’an, and Tra’or, her daughter grabbed ahold of Ja’an’s arm.
    “Hello,” Ja’an smiled at the girl.
    “He sounds so friendly!” screamed Mandy. “He is so nice and so cute! I want that one, mommy!” She pointed right at Ja’an.
    Ja’an blushed bashfully.
    As the mother toted her daughter away from them, Mandy stared at Tra’or. “Ew! See that one with the scary face, mommy? He’s ugly!”
    Tra’or scowled angrily.
    “That’s not nice, honey,” the mother lectured as she continued to walk away carrying Mandy. Mandy’s mother then took a moment to gaze back at the sullen Tra’or. “Hey, you’re right, he IS ugly!”
    Now Tra’or just looked like he wanted to cry. And die. Being humiliated in front of all those people.
    “Let’s ride the escalator!” suggested Nu’um.
    “I’ve never been on one of those,” Ja’an observed, taking in the sight of the upward moving escalator with his wide eyes.
    “Well come on, then.” Boone took Ja’an’s hand and led him over to the escalator. Lili and Nu’um were already ascending ahead upward on the moving steps.
    Suddenly, Boone noticed that someone was missing.
    “Where’s Tra’or?” the commander wondered.
    “I don’t see him,” put in Ja’an, looking around.
    “Lili!” Boone shouted. “Is Tra’or with you?”
    “No, he isn’t!” Lili called back, as more and more people crowded onto the escalator.
    Boone felt the pressure of other shoppers closing in around him. The escalator was now jammed full of people. Then, Boone noticed that he’d lost sight of Ja’an, as well.
    “Ja’an, where are you?!” called out Boone.
    There was no reply.
    “Lili, Ja’an has disappeared too!” Boone yelled. He couldn’t believe it. Da’an’s grandchild had been right there next to him a moment ago, and now he was gone!
    When Boone reached the top of the escalator, he saw Lili standing alone.
    “Wasn’t Nu’um with you?” Boone asked her.
    “I don’t know!” Lili was in a huge panic. “I mean, she was, and then she wasn’t. There were just so many people on that escalator, we got separated!”
    Boone smacked his head! He felt so careless! Da’an had entrusted him with his grandchild, but he’d let his Companion down!
    Lili was perspiring, practically in tears. “Tu’um is going to be so mad at me!” Lili stammered. “I LOST her granddaughter, Boone! We LOST their grandchildren!”
    “Don’t worry, Lili,” Boone comforted her. “We’ll find them.”
    But William Boone sounded more sure than he actually was.

    * * *

    “Where are William and Lili?” Nu’um inquired.
    “I do not know,” mumbled Tra’or, “and frankly, I do not care.”
    Ja’an looked scared. “What are we going to do?” he quivered.
    Nu’um gave Ja’an a little hug.
    “You coward,” sniffed Tra’or. “It is not as though any of these humans can hurt us. We are Taelons. We are superior to them.”
    “That is a matter of opinion,” stated Nu’um.
    The three young Taelons examined their surroundings. They had wandered in front of a trendy clothing store, among a crowd of bustling shoppers and mall go-ers.
    “Where are we?” Ja’an looked around worriedly. “Which way should we go?”
    “I think it would be best to simply wait here,” decided Nu’um, “for our hosts. Lili will find us. I know she will.”
    Nu’um obviously possessed the same fearless courage and hope as her grandparent, Tu’um.
    “Not I,” Tra’or declared. “I am not waiting around for our incompetent ‘baby-sitters’!”
    With that, Tra’or began to march off on his own. But as he was leaving, Tra’or accidentally bumped into a tall, gorgeous woman.
    Ja’an studied the human. “You appear to be familiar,” the young Taelon remarked to her. “Haven’t I seen you with my grandparent before?”
    “Probably,” winked the woman. She tossed her silky brunette hair that slid down past her shoulders. “Perhaps you’ve heard of me? I’m Anita LaQuicksilver, chief marketing representative for the advertising firm of Flores, Hemblen, & Parker. We’ve recently branched out into the Boston area, and I’m here scouting and doing PR research.”
    Ja’an had on a confused expression, but nodded politely.
    “Didn’t you patent a beanie-baby modeled after my grandparent?” Nu’um inquired.
    “Well, we’ve done a lot of Taelon beanie-babies,” Anita replied. “Which one is your grandparent?”
    “Her name is Tu’um.”
    “Ah, yes, the Companion to India. She is one of our top-selling beanie-babies.” Anita squinted at Ja’an. “And you must be Da’an’s grandchild?”
    Ja’an gave a timid nod of consent to this stranger.
    “Yeah. Da’an is probably our most popular Taelon beanie-baby character. Say, how would you kids like to have beanie-babies modeled after yourselves?”
    Tra’or’s, Nu’um’s, and Ja’an’s faces lit up excitedly.
    “Me first!” demanded Tra’or. “Do my beanie-baby first! I am more important than them!” He crossed his eyes at Ja’an and Nu’um.
    “You must be Zo’or’s grandchild,” guessed Anita. “I’ll tell you something, Zo’or is one of my personal favorites. His face just feels so familiar to me. I feel so connected to him. You know, everyone tells me that I look exactly like Zo’or - - minus the bald head, of course.”
    Tra’or blinked several times.
    “Anyway,” continued Ms. LaQuicksilver, “I’m anxious to make money off of - - er, for - - you kids and your elders. So let’s go!”
    She took Ja’an and Nu’um each by the hand. Tra’or followed along willingly.
    “Where are we going?” Nu’um asked.
    “Oh, just to do a quick promotional gig,” Anita vaguely explained.
    She led the little Taelons up onto a stage, where an audience had already assembled below. Anita grabbed a microphone and spoke into it.
    “Is your mouth watering for a refreshing, fruitily delicious treat?!”
    Cheers arose from the crowd.
    “Well then, you’ve come to the right place!” Anita motioned to Ja’an, Nu’um, and Tra’or. “Come here, kids.” She put her arms around them and hugged them. “How would you like to taste the trendiest popsicle on the face of this Earth?”
    Without waiting for an answer, Anita pulled out some sparkly blue popsicles from a nearby cooler and handed them to the young Taelons.
    “And now, introducing . . . Taelon glow-pops!”
    “Ooooohs” and “ahhhhhs” reverberated through the mob of spectators.
    “What are we supposed to do with these?” asked Nu’um blankly, indicating the Taelon glow-pop that she was holding.
    Anita LaQuicksilver let out a high-pitched, nervously contrived laugh that sounded like a hyena.
    “Aw, isn’t she a kidder, folks?” Anita shot a desperate, pleading look at Nu’um. “Please give the glow-pops a lick,” she whispered to them.
    “Sorry, but we do not possess human digestive tracts,” grunted Tra’or.
    “That’s right!” Anita improvised in a loud, forced voice. “Tell all the nice people how good the glow-pops are! Tell them how much you love them!”
    “They’re not eating the glow-pops!” an observational spectator from the audience shouted out.
    “Let’s get out of here,” trembled Ja’an, intimidated by the situation.
    The three Taelon children scampered off of the stage.
    “Come back!” Anita yelled after them. “You’re running away with the profits!”

    * * *

    “Boone, we’re never going to find them!”
    “Yes we are” William Boone put a steady hand on the shoulder of the panicking Lili Marquette.
    “How could I be so stupid?” Lili denounced herself. “Tu’um entrusted me with Nu’um, and now I’ve lost her! I’ve LOST a Taelon child!”
    “What about poor Ja’an?” Boone added. “Da’an will be furious with me if he finds out what happened. Quo’on too. The whole Synod will lose any faith that they might have had in me as serving as a link between them and humans.”
    “You’re right. When Zo’or figures out what happened, he’ll have news of our mistake flowing throughout the entire Commonality.” Lili had on a pained expression. “I can’t even begin to imagine what La’an will think of me when she finds out about this!”
    La’an was another Taelon diplomat, the Companion to Earth’s youth and artists. She was also the Second speaker of the Synod, the second-in-command to Quo’on. Recently, La’an and Lili had formed a bond and had become good friends. La’an loved kids and she interacted very informally and sweetly with them. That’s why Lili was afraid that her relationship with La’an would be jeopardized if they didn’t find Ja’an, Nu’um, and Tra’or.
    “What if something really bad happened to them?” Lili feared out loud.
    “We can’t think like that,” Boone told her. “We’ve got to keep looking.”
    Boone and Lili searched on.

    * * *

    Nu’um, Tra’or, and Ja’an stood in the middle of the parking lot. They had exited the mall following their incident with Anita LaQuicksilver.
    “Hey, kids!”
    Two punks in their late-twenties were leaning against a red sports car. They wore “grunge”-style clothing.
    “Come with us.”
    “My grandparent told me never to accept rides from strangers,” Ja’an said.
    “Technically, we aren’t even supposed to be talking with you gentlemen,” added Nu’um.
    “Get in the car!” ordered one of the punks. “Now!”
    His friend pulled out a knife and showed it to the young Taelons.
    “What are you going to do with that? Cut our eyeballs out?!” sneered Tra’or.
    “Hey! Good idea!” The knife-toting punk advanced toward them.
    Ja’an cried out a loud, shrieky Taelon wail of fear. He huddled next to Nu’um.
    Tra’or made an insulting face at the street punks. “Catch me if you can!” he dared them, and took off running.
    “I never thought I’d be saying this,” admitted Nu’um, “but Tra’or actually has a good idea. Let’s go, Ja’an!”
    Tra’or, Ja’an, and Nu’um sprinted down the street toward uptown Boston, as the punks chased after them.
    The Companion trio dashed past someone on the sidewalk who was dressed as a giant Oreo cookie.
    “Wanna buy some cookies?” the giant Oreo called out to them. He was peddling an array of Oreo cookies.
    “No thank you!” Nu’um shouted back.
    Seconds later, the two punks ran by, carelessly ramming into the giant Oreo cookie costumed person and knocking over his cookie display.
    “Sorry, dude,” one of them apologized as he and his cohort grabbed up handfuls of Oreos and took off after the little Companions again.
    “Hey” hollered the giant Oreo, shaking his fist at the punks. “You forgot to pay!”

    * * *

    “Yeah, I seen them.”
    Lili and Boone were interrogating a pedestrian in the mall.
    “Where did you see them last?” demanded Boone.
    The lady thought for a moment. “They ran out the mall exit toward the parking lot. I saw them talking to some young men who looked very dangerous . . . like lowlife riffraff. Then they headed toward the uptown area. These kids were so darling, too. I’d like to think they just went to go ride the swan boats . . .”
    Lili and Boone were gone before she even finished her sentence. The commander and the captain ran fiercely up the street.
    “We’ve got to find them!” Lili cried out. “We’re so close!”
    At that moment, they just happened to be passing by the mad giant Oreo cookie who’d been trampled over by the Taelon kids and the punks.
    Noticing Boone’s skrill, the giant Oreo guessed, “You’re looking for those cute little alien kiddies, aren’t you?”
    “Yes!” Boone grabbed the costumed Oreo person. “Where are they?! Did you see them?!”
    “Oh, yeah. Two punks ran by here a minute or so her ago, in hot pursuit of your kids.” The Oreo stomped his foot. “They practically ran me over and then stole my cookie samples. No one takes my Oreos and gets away with it! I’m gonna track down and double stuff those hooligans!”
    The humungous costumed Oreo dashed off in the direction that the kids and the punks had departed in.
    “Do you think it was them?” Lili asked Boone.
    “It had to have been!” Boone inferred. “What are we waiting for?! Follow that cookie!”
    Before long, Boone and Lili caught sight of Ja’an, Nu’um, and Tra’or running from their pursuers, with the Oreo cookie right on their tails.
    Boone extended his arm and ejected a skrill blast. The energy from his skrill pulverized the two punks, knocking them over like bowling pins. The Taelon children turned around and stopped running.
    “Boone!” Ja’an called out, relieved.
    “Lili!” echoed Nu’um, happily.
    Ja’an and Nu’um each ran to Boone and Lili, respectively, and embraced their friends. Tra’or just looked annoyed and bored.
    “Thank god you’re safe!” cried Lili, hugging Nu’um tight. “We were so worried about you!”
    “I’m never going to let you out of my sight again!” Boone promised Ja’an. “It’s just too easy for you to get lost in this big world.”
    Nu’um and Ja’an didn’t say anything. They just hugged their companions right back.
    “Yeeeeeeoooowwwwwwwww!!!” came a sound from someone.
    It was the person dressed as an Oreo cookie. Tra’or had kicked him and knocked him over, and, in his heavy cookie costume, the Oreo impersonator began to roll sideways down the street, since the sidewalk was sloping downward as a hill.
    Lili exchanged glances with Boone and shrugged. “Some things never change,” she sighed.

    * * *

    “You lost them?!” shouted Zo’or, shooting a murderous glare at Boone and Lili.
    Tra’or looked quite proud of himself, having just tattled on his baby-sitters to his grandparent.
    “Well, the important thing is that we found them before anything bad happened,” Boone defended himself and Lili.
    They were all assembled in Tu’um’s audience chamber. Da’an, Zo’or, and Tu’um had returned from their meeting aboard the mothership, upon when Tra’or promptly told his grandparent the details of their excursion. Quo’on was standing in the room with them, not looking the least bit pleased.
    “Tra’or is exaggerating,” said Ja’an. “That is not how it happened at all.”
    “Shut up!” Tra’or snapped at Ja’an.
    “Ja’an, please elaborate,” Da’an requested to his grandchild.
    “Tra’or was unkind to Nu’um, Commander Boone, Captain Marquette, and myself throughout the entire outing,” Ja’an explained. “He also destroyed the masterpiece of a human artist.”
    Zo’or snorted when he heard Ja’an refer to the artist’s work as a “masterpiece.”
    Quo’on glared at Zo’or’s grandchild. “Is this true, Tra’or?”
    Tra’or looked at the Synod speaker as though he was a wild animal. “No!” Tra’or lied.
    “It is so!” piped up Nu’um. “And it is not the fault of Lili and William that we got separated. The escalator was tremendously crowded! Anyone could have gotten lost on it.”
    “Escalator?” Da’an repeated with uncertainty. Quo’on and Zo’or also had on blank looks.
    But Tu’um knew what her granddaughter meant. The Indian Companion spoke in Eunoia and conveyed to Da’an and Quo’on what an escalator was.
    “Still,” Quo’on pointed out, “I contend that Boone and Marquette should have been more responsible. Some type of punishment is in order.” He spoke of the two humans as though they weren’t even in the room.
    “We’re sorry!” Boone stressed. “What else do you want us to do?”
    “We’ll be more careful next time,” added Lili.
    “What makes you think there will be a ‘next time,’ Captain Marquette?” Zo’or sneered.
    “Because,” Tu’um reasoned, “Lili and Boone are more than capable. They would never let any harm come to our grandchildren.”
    “I am not fully convinced,” stated Quo’on. “Some kind of penalty or demotion must be given to Commander Boone and Captain Marquette.”
    Fuming, Nu’um marched up to Quo’on. The small Taelon child appeared minuscule standing in front of the towering Synod speaker.
    “How dare you even think of punishing Lili and William! They did an adequate job of caring for us! If anything, they should be rewarded for having to put up with him!” Nu’um pointed her finger accusingly at Tra’or.
    “I am your elder!” Quo’on boomed at Nu’um. “You will show me respect!”
    “Then you must do the same yourself!” blared Nu’um. “But you fail to see these humans as equals. You view them as lowly subordinates. How dare you call yourself Synod speaker, Quo’on! My grandparent would make a better Synod speaker than you! Da’an would make a better Synod speaker than you! La’an would make a better Synod speaker than you! Even I would make a better Synod speaker than you!”
    Quo’on looked as though he’d been slapped in the face.
    “You are out of order, young child!” Zo’or growled at Nu’um.
    “Control your temper, Zo’or,” giggled Tu’um, cocking her head.
    Zo’or flushed blue.
    Tra’or poked Quo’on in the flank. “Are you going to let her speak to you in that way?” he challenged the Synod speaker, indicating Nu’um.
    Quo’on glared back at Tra’or. “I am beginning to suspect that you are guilty, as well.”
    Putting his hands on his hips, Tra’or began fluctuating blue and stomped his foot.
    “Control your temper, Tra’or,” giggled Nu’um. Her grandparent smiled at her proudly.
    “Well it does not matter,” Tu’um concluded. “What’s done is done.” She turned to Quo’on. “I will not let you punish Lili or Commander Boone. They did no wrong.”
    Quo’on suddenly felt very tired. He could not scrounge up a feasible argument for Tu’um. Besides, he knew she was right.
    “Do not let it happen again,” Quo’on warned Boone and Lili. With that, the Taelon reverted back into his true form and exited the audience chamber via one of the Taelon inter-dimensional portals.
    “Come on,” Zo’or briskly commanded, pulling Tra’or away. The two of them walked right out of Tu’um’s embassy to board Zo’or’s shuttle that was stationed outside.
    “Hey everyone!” Mata sauntered into the room, a big grin on her face.
    Jagdamba also entered the room from a different chamber. He was carrying a tray of herbal tea and fig cookies.
    “I do feel rather famished,” remarked Sandoval.
    “Well then, by all means,” invited Tu’um, “Agent Sandoval, do not be shy. All of you, for that matter. Be my guests and dine on some refreshments.
    Tu’um gestured to a semi-circle of exotically-patterned cushions which were assembled around an Indian coffee table. Boone, Lili, Sandoval, Mata, and Jagdamba all sat and helped themselves to some tea and fig cookies. Ja’an and Nu’um played together nearby on the floor, piecing together a human jigsaw puzzle with intrigue. Boone and Sandoval actually smiled at each other as they consumed the goodies. Lili and Mata laughed with each other as they passed the teapot and cookie tray back and forth around the table. Jagdamba simply sipped his tea contentfully.
    Da’an and Tu’um stood back and surveyed their human friends.
    “We are so fortunate to be in the presence of these remarkable beings,” Da’an commented, smiling.
    “Yes,” agreed Tu’um. “They are a beautiful species.”

    * * *

    FIN
 

Copyright 1998 by Earthboy
Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final Conflict is property of Tribune Entertainment Company and is produced by Roddenberry/Kirshner Productions. No monetary profit is being made from this work. No infringement is intended. If you sue me, I will hold my breath until I turn blue like a Taelon.