Post to archives is encouraged as long as my name and title stay with the story.
Author's Note: This story is the first of my "alternate universe" EFC series. My alternate universe EFC series begins immediately following my story "Bundle of Joy," and contains numerous aspects not found on the actual show.
Please feel free to use any of my characters for your own fanfictions, but keep their name and status quo as is in "The Arrival," and please tell me so I can read your story. For the purposes of this story, the characters of Tu'um and Wi'meh will each be referred to as "she."
Beware of spoilers. This story is set sometime following the episode "Moonscape," and directly after my story "Bundle of Joy." You should read my previous stories, "Hostage - Parts 1 through 4," "Ma'el: Thinker, Dreamer, Achiever," "If You Think You Know The Taelons . . . ," "Oh, Baby!," "Adventures in Taelon-Sitting," "Last Dance," "Girls' Night Out," "Say No More, Zo'or," "Tell It Like It Is," and "More Adventures in Taelon-Sitting," and "Bundle of Joy" before reading Part 1 of "The Arrival."
Summary: A new alien species arrives on Earth. They are called The Kneeloi - - smooth-skinned aliens who are either green, blue, or purple in color - - and they immediately make themselves right at home on Earth. But are they really humanity's friends - - or are the Kneeloi here because of a darker agenda? Jonathan Doors believes so, and he promptly adds an anti-Kneeloi component to his anti-Taelon Liberation movement. Meanwhile, Liam and Lili uncover a secret about the Kneeloi that will prove to change the course of Earth's future forever.
Special thanks goes to the following authors for allowing me to use their characters in this story: Tina Price for her character of Kha'rha, and Cal Heighton for his characters of Mu'an and Agent Christian Moneo. These characters can be found in more of Tina's and Cal's stories. 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.
* * *
"They be here soon!" Madame Sverilla confided in a low whisper.
"They will arrive in spaceships, descend upon Earth!"
The Romanian psychic was seated in the Taelon embassy in Bucharest,
Romania. She was with her Taelon friend, Si'ib, the Romanian Companion.
"I do not doubt it," consented Si'ib, his eyes wide with anticipation.
"They no be any good for Taelon race," Sverilla continued, "nor
for human race."
"Why are they venturing to this planet?" Si'ib didn't quite understand.
"These creatures want to be here," voiced Madame Sverilla, vaguely.
She whispered some more to Si'ib.
* * *
The Kneeloi mothership sluggishly made its way through outer
space, past billions of stars and planets, approaching closer and closer
to earth.
A green-textured alien being stood at a window on the ship, looking
out upon the universe. This creature was named Ffuga.
Another Kneeloi walked over to Ffuga and stood next to him. This
one, named Gahha, and a body that was blue in color. Both of them were
slender, each with smooth, homogenous-colored skin, and beady eyes which
would periodically glimmer bright orange like fire.
"I am unsure whether or not I support our course of action," Ffuga
sighed, speaking to his associate.
"There is nothing wrong with what we are doing," Gahha assured
his fellow Kneeloi. "Our ancestors have explored the universe for millions
of years and influenced infinite galaxies. We are simply following the
tradition, keeping it alive."
Gahha and Ffuga were practicing their English, despite their fondness
toward their native tongue. The Kneeloi had previously intercepted satellite
signals from the Milky Way galaxy. They had already learned to speak and
interpret several of Earth's major languages, without yet even having set
foot on the planet.
A third Kneeloi joined them. He was Crroba, the High Commander
of the Kneeloi mission to Earth. This alien's body was colored purple.
He looked down at Ffuga and Gahha with fatherly compassion.
"My fellow Kneeloi," Crroba addressed his subordinates, "we are
about to embark upon an intriguing journey, an expedition to a planet that
obviously holds much fascination and wonder in store for us."
"We will do our best to fulfill the prophecy of our elders," promised
Gahha.
Ffuga looked more and more apprehensive, as their mothership crawled
toward Earth. The blue planet came into view, in the far-off distance.
* * *
Wi'meh sat atop her Big Chair, at the Taelon embassy in Singapore.
The Companion to Singapore stared out of her virtual glass window, seated
next to her indoor garden where exotic Asian flowers grew.
As Wi'meh stared at the clear blue afternoon sky, she noticed an
object sailing across the horizon. It came closer into view, and Wi'meh
craned her neck to get a better look.
The object appeared to be some type of aircraft. It was large and
shiny, shaped like a bloated half-crescent, almost resembling a giant banana.
"It must be some new human aerodynamic innovation," theorized Wi'meh,
out loud.
She continued to observe the spaceship from her audience chamber.
It was a glittery green color and remained on a path through the sky above
Earth. The "giant banana" craft disappeared from Wi'meh's view as it flew
above and past the Taelon embassy.
Suddenly, Wi'meh tingled painfully with an almost seizure-like
sensation. She moaned and glimmered blue. Wi'meh was having a premonition.
A very bad one.
* * *
Tu'um, the Companion to India, was strolling by the reflecting
pool in front of the Tahj Mahal. Her virtual glass embassy "grew" on a
part of the Tahj Mahal in Agra, India. Tu'um looked up and caught sight
of the "giant banana" hovering through the sky. She had known it would
be coming since Wi'meh had commenced its presence to Tu'um.
"It has come," Tu'um whispered.
* * *
Mu'an was at his embassy in Cape Town, South Africa. The African
Companion, who was the chief African Companion supervising all of the other
Taelons who were assigned to protectorates in Africa, frowned as he studied
the Kneeloi mothership gliding across the late-afternoon sky.
"What is it?" inquired Mu'an's African attaché, Agent Christian
Moneo.
The African Companion gave Moneo a cold stare. "I am not certain,"
proclaimed Mu'an, with hostility in his voice, directed toward the aircraft.
"But I do not like it."
* * *
In the early hours of the evening, Kha'rha sat alone by a
window of his London embassy. The Companion to the British Isles had recently
endured a tragic loss, the unexpected death of his Irish attaché,
Agent Siobhan Beckett. Siobhan's CVI had malfunctioned during a Companion
dinner banquet with world diplomats. Needless to say, her death had put
a damper on the previous night's festivities.
Out of the corner of his eye, Kha'rha could see a crescent-shaped
ship arching its way over the London skyline.
The chime of Big Ben was heard across the city on that still night.
People watched as the ship drifted thousands of feet above them. Kha'rha
gazed at the Kneeloi mothership thoughtfully. He was picking up a mental
message from Wi'meh.
* * *
Co'al pointed at the South American night sky. He gestured
at the "flying banana."
The Venezuelan Companion stood in front of his Caracas embassy.
Co'al was with his attaché, Agent Paco Ramirez, the attaché
whom Co'al shared with his very close compatriot, Fu'sha, the Brazilian
Companion.
"I see it," Agent Ramirez muttered. "It is amazing."
"Yes," agreed Co'al. "That is one word that could be used . . ."
* * *
"Agent Sandoval, put me through to Da'an right now!"
President Thompson's urgent voice was accompanied by his anxious
face on Sandoval's global monitor.
"Affirmative," responded Sandoval. The Asian implant activated
Da'an's data stream monitor so the alien could communicate with President
Thompson too.
"Our scientists at Cape Canaveral have made contact with the .
. . mysterious craft rumored to have been gracing the sky above Earth."
The president's voice shook. "They claim they are our friends."
Then, President Thompson's facade looked suddenly taken aback as
he received news from Cape Canaveral through an earphone. Da'an stared
back at him on the screen.
"President Thompson," Da'an's voice quavered, "what is the matter?"
"They have landed," the president informed Da'an.
* * *
Hours earlier, citizens in Bucharest, Romania, as well as
in other areas of the world, had reported seeing a "giant, flying green
banana" in the sky. Now, the whole world was learning exactly who the visitors
inside that mothership were. Si'ib and Madame Sverilla were watching Romanian
news, finding out whatever they could about events surrounding the arrival
of the Kneeloi mothership in Washington D.C.
"They're he-ere!" chanted Sverilla, somewhat cryptically and over-dramatically.
* * *
Several weeks had passed since the arrival of the Kneeloi.
Within days of their landing in Washington D.C., these beings had revealed
much about themselves to the people of Earth.
First, President Thompson and Zo'or met with Kneeloi High Commander
Crroba. Crroba had made it clear that the Kneeloi race was intent on helping
with the betterment of Earth. He claimed that his species could rid the
planet of problems which still plagued its atmosphere, including crime,
drugs, physical exhaustion, and pollution. President Thompson was immediately
won over by Crroba's charisma. Zo'or, on the other hand, still remained
skeptical.
As it turned out, the "flying banana" that people had seen traveling
the sky was only one of many mini-pods which were launched from the main
Kneeloi mothership. The "real" Kneeloi mothership, an immense and colossal
craft, was still in orbit outside the Earth in outer space.
Within days of their arrival, Kneeloi representatives stationed
themselves in every single country on Earth, with the assistance of Earth's
geographers. One Kneeloi ambassador would be assigned to each nation on
Earth, which would become his or her protectorate. Kneeloi linguists worked
fervently to familiarize themselves with all of Earth's infinite languages
and dialects, much the same way that the Taelons had when they'd first
come to Earth.
Also, the Kneeloi told people of Earth that, similar to the human
species, Kneeloi beings were either male or female in gender. Male Kneeloi
could be identified by a double consonant someplace in their name; while
female Kneeloi could be differentiated because their names would always
contain a double vowel. Regardless of gender, Kneeloi beings could each
be one of three colors: green, blue, or purple.
The majority of Earth had greeted the Kneeloi with open arms, this
being like the "second coming" of extraterrestrials to Earth, the Taelons
having been the "first coming." Already, military forces from around the
globe were dispatched to aid and protect the world's Kneeloi ambassadors.
Meanwhile, the Synod viewed this new species with caution and doubts, as
they knew absolutely nothing prior about the Kneeloi species. However,
Taelons publicly remained vocally supportive of the Kneeloi, that is, until
they could find something - - if anything - - suspicious.
Jonathan Doors was quite bothered by the Kneeloi arrival. He promptly
called an emergency meeting of the Resistance.
Liam Kincaid trudged down the steps leading to the downstairs basement
of St. Michael's and boarded the elevator shaft that would take him to
the secret underground labyrinth. He felt an empty void in the pit of his
stomach. For several weeks now, Major Kincaid had been mourning the loss
of his mother, Agent Siobhan Beckett, the Irish implant who had given birth
to him. She was the mother whom Liam had never truly known.
When he emerged into headquarters, the Liberation members were
already assembled. At the head of the crowd was Jonathan Doors, the renegade
billionaire who ran the Resistance. Next to Doors was a thin woman with
longish light-brown hair who was wearing military attire. A stranger to
the Resistance. This new visitor wore a staunch, serious, no-nonsense expression
upon her face and stood with flawlessly erect posture.
"Kincaid, how lovely of you to finally join us," Doors sarcastically
greeted him.
Liam ignored Doors and took a seat in the front row next to Lili
Marquette.
Doors cleared his throat. "As you all know," he addressed the Resistance
members, "Earth has recently seen the arrival of a foreign alien species,
creatures who call themselves 'the Kneeloi.' These beings claim they are
here for benevolent purposes; but then, look at the Taelons and the trouble
which they have caused."
The crowd nodded and murmured in agreement.
"I don't trust these Kneeloi people," Doors bluntly continued.
"Our workload has just doubled. We now must keep our eyes fixated on both
the Taelons and the Kneeloi. For all we know, they could be working together!"
Jonathan gestured to the woman positioned adjacent to himself. "I'd like
to introduce you all to a very important person. This is Colonel Angie
Truman, who will be working undercover to help us infiltrate the Kneeloi.
She has been assigned to preside over the Special Task Force appointed
by the U.S. military for the purpose of serving the Kneeloi."
"Listen up!" Colonel Truman spoke loudly and clearly to her new
allies. "The Kneeloi are an extremely dangerous species. I look at them
as wolves in sheep's clothing. From firsthand experience, I can tell you
that these aliens have an ulterior agenda for our planet, and it's not
pretty!"
"How do you know that?" challenged Lili.
Angie Truman glared down at Captain Marquette. "My husband came
very close to uncovering the truth about them," Angie explained. "He was
able to hack into their computer database while he worked for them during
their first week here on Earth.
"Sounds like my kind of man," grinned Augur, with a twinkle in
his eye.
"But they killed him!" spat out Colonel Truman. "One night, he
was about to transmit the information he found to a classified government
agency. But before he could send it off, he was shot by a Kneeloi operative!"
"What do you mean by 'a Kneeloi operative'?" asked Liam.
"One of the human 'robots' who works for the Kneeloi!" Angie answered,
with resentment in her voice. "He was court marshaled and given the death
sentence. But he won't explain WHY he killed my husband. I'm positive that
the Kneeloi are behind it!"
"But you don't know that for sure?" Lili pressed.
"Are you questioning my judgment?!" Angie roared militantly at
Lili.
Lili frowned. She really disliked this woman. "No, but I always
say to keep an open mind. Your husband may have been killed for any number
of reasons, Colonel Truman."
"I don't think so!" blared Truman. She stared murderously at Captain
Marquette.
"Back to business," coughed Jonathan Doors. "Truman will be stationed
around the Kneeloi on a regular basis; Marquette, you'll still be working
for Sandoval and the Companions." He turned to look at Dr. Park. "Melissa,"
he said to her, "you and Julianne will take turns continuing to work with
both Taelon and Kneeloi scientists. You two are especially going to need
to grow familiar with Kneeloi medicine and anatomy. We have to find out
as much about them as we can."
"What do I get to do?" Augur spoke in an exaggerated squeal.
"Augur, I need you to hack into the Kneeloi computer database,
and piece together as much information as you can to discover what exactly
Truman's husband never was able to tell the government about the Kneeloi."
"Can do!" Augur saluted.
"Where is Julianne right now?" Park inquired, looking around for
Dr. Belman.
"Belman is absent for today," Doors established. "She and her daughter
Joyce are heading some new research team for Da'an. Julianne has decided
to come out of early retirement."
"Oh, joy," groaned Park, upon hearing that her medical nemesis
would be re-joining the Resistance on a permanent basis.
"Kincaid," Doors spoke, "I am giving you what may be the most important
job of all."
"What is it?" Liam wondered out loud, a little shocked.
"I'm sure Da'an will give you his approval on this," explained
Doors, "but I need you to serve as a right-hand to Ffuga, the American
Kneeloi representative."
"How am I supposed to serve both Da'an and Ffuga simultaneously?"
Liam cocked his head.
"Find a way!" Doors instructed him harshly. "You'll ask Da'an's
permission and then go to the Kneeloi embassy this afternoon."
"But I . . ."
"Dismissed!" Doors called to all of them. "Meeting adjourned!"
* * *
Da'an had graciously granted Liam his consent to allow Major
Kincaid to visit Ffuga. Angie, who worked at the Kneeloi embassy in D.C.,
made all the arrangements.
Each Kneeloi embassy throughout Earth was like a sphere that would
orbit around the capital city of its respective country. Since Kneeloi
embassies controlled their patterns of aerial flight by generating their
own gravitational pull of energy, entrance of an embassy was only accessible
by shuttle. The spherical Kneeloi embassies were constantly in motion,
rotating around the largest city of its appointed nation 24 hours a day.
Lili chauffeured Liam to Ffuga's embassy in her shuttle. Descending
upon the landing pad of the spherical orbiting structure, Lili let Major
Kincaid out of the shuttle. He was met by Colonel Truman and two human
security guards.
"This way, Major Kincaid," commanded Truman, leading Liam inside.
As they strode down a long, multi-colored hallway, Liam gazed at
the archaic statues and the three-dimensional Kneeloi artwork inside of
the embassy walls. At the very end of the glittery, colorful corridor was
a large chamber. Truman opened the chamber door, and they went in.
There, sitting on a rounded-upward but flat-surfaced chair, was
a green-skinned, beady-eyed, smiling alien.
"Ffuga," Colonel Truman addressed him, giving Ffuga a courteous
military salute. Liam could tell that underneath her seemingly patriotic
exterior, Angie loathed having to act civil to a Kneeloi.
"Thank you, Colonel Truman," Ffuga nodded at her. He shifted his
eyes upon Liam. "Major Kincaid, I presume?"
"You must be Ffuga, the American Kneeloi," Liam stated, awkwardly.
"That I am," confirmed Ffuga. "Major Kincaid, please do not be
nervous." The alien looked at Angie. "Please leave," he told her. "I desire
to be alone with Major Kincaid."
Without question, Truman exited the chamber along with the other
guards. Actually, she was glad to leave.
"You seem to be a most intriguing entity, Major Kincaid," Ffuga
hypothesized.
"Please, call me Liam."
"Liam, then. Tell me, what is your story?"
"Are you sure you want me to ramble on about myself?"
"By all means."
Taking a deep breath, Liam launched into the account of how he
was born, Ha'gel acquiring Sandoval's body and impregnating Beckett, and
his work for the Liberation. He stopped short of revealing that Angie was
now also a part of the Resistance.
Ffuga listened intently.
"So you do not trust this already-established Taelon species who
has settled on your planet?" Ffuga made sure he understood.
"No, I don't trust them," Liam sighed. "The Taelons plan to speed
up the evolution of humanity so they can serve as warriors when the Jaridians
invade."
"Jaridians?" A confused look spread over Ffuga's face.
"An ancient alien race who is an enemy of the Companions. Zo'or
is the leading advocate of enslaving humanity to fight the Jaridians. As
Synod speaker, Zo'or uses his power to influence, and often intimidate,
other Taelons into his way of thinking."
"Zo'or sounds similar to another Kneeloi who I know named Gahha,"
murmured Ffuga, with a far-away gaze in his eyes. After a few moments,
the Kneeloi snapped out of his mini-trance and focused his attention back
to Liam. "You intrigue me very much, Liam Kincaid. I would be pleased to
have you serve as one of my personal aides."
Liam thought for a moment. There was something about Ffuga that
made Major Kincaid quite fond of this Kneeloi creature. He just couldn't
put his finger on it. Perhaps - - perhaps to an extent Ffuga reminded Liam
of Da'an?
"I would be honored to serve as your assistant, Ffuga," expressed
Liam. "Of course, I'll have to attain permission from Da'an first."
"Absolutely," Ffuga approved. "I myself look forward to meeting
Da'an someday."
"I cannot explain it," Liam voiced, "but somehow I strongly feel
a kindred connection to you, Ffuga."
The American Kneeloi beamed back at Major Kincaid. "Do not feel
as though you are out-of-touch with reality, Liam," he said, "For I can
sense the exact same feeling of which you speak. You and I share a bond,
Liam Kincaid. Neither of us can explain it, but it exists."
Liam felt warm and hopeful inside. He was now positive that Ffuga
was indeed a benevolent being.
* * *
Kneeling by his mother's tombstone, Liam placed a fresh, flowery
carnation there at the cemetery gravesite in honor of Siobhan. A tear ran
down the Kimera/human's cheek as he shut his eyes and envisioned what he
remembered of the mother whom he hardly even knew.
Liam was having a difficult time comprehending why he couldn't
seem to accept Beckett's death. He'd spent very little time with his biological
mother after she'd given birth to him. Siobhan Beckett may not have even
realized that Liam was her son, since Park had been forced to re-engineer
Beckett's CVI to erase all her memories of Liberation activities. In a
flash, Major Kincaid thought back to the fateful night of his mother's
demise.
Kha'rha had held a lavish banquet at his Dublin embassy, an international
conference on global warming. Like many Taelons, Kha'rha cared deeply for
the future of Earth and was concerned about the deterioration of Earth's
ozone layer.
That evening's dinner had at first been quite uneventful. However,
midway through the second course of the meal, Beckett suddenly began experiencing
heavy seizures. As she screamed out in pain, the entire banquet hall -
- including Liam - - took notice.
"Siobhan, what is wrong?" Kha'rha had gently whispered to his attaché.
Beckett could not talk. She'd only been able to answer Kha'rha
with more sharp yelps of agony.
An ambulance had been dispatched immediately, but when they arrived
it was too late. Beckett had already perished. Presumably, she had begun
to remember the activities she'd witnessed within the Liberation headquarters,
and consequently, her CVI broke down as Dr. Park had programmed it to.
Beckett was dead.
Liam remembered having run to his mother's side as she died on
the floor of Kha'rha's embassy banquet hall. He could only kneel there
helplessly, as the paramedics attempted to revive Beckett to no avail.
At the time it had all seemed so surreal. Now, Liam found himself in the
middle of a dismal Irish cemetery on a cloudy day, mourning the loss of
the mother whom he'd hardly even known. Reminiscing, scrounging up any
little morsel of memory he could recall of her. But ultimately, Liam would
have to accept the truth.
His mother was dead.
* * *
Lili swept her hand briskly across the screen of her shuttle,
steering it onto the launchpad of the spherical, orbiting Kneeloi embassy
on the outskirts of Washington D.C.
"You are going to love Ffuga!" Liam exclaimed to Lili and Park,
who he was riding in the shuttle with.
"Yeah, well it better be worth the trip!" grinned Lili. "I had
to practically twist Sandoval's arm to convince him to give me the afternoon
off."
"I'm actually very interested in meeting him," Park decided. "I've
never really talked with a Kneeloi before. I mean, sure, Belman and I have
communicated with Kneeloi scientists during these past few weeks, but they
aren't particularly talkative."
"Well, here's your chance!" laughed Liam, as they got out of the
shuttle.
Before long, Park, Liam, and Lili found themselves sitting in Ffuga's
private chamber. Ffuga sat facing them all, his silky green skin shining
from the reflection of the embassy skylights. The amiable Kneeloi talked
openly with both Lili and Park, asking them questions about themselves
and how they felt about various things happening throughout the world.
"So tell me more about William Boone," Ffuga requested from his
visitors.
"How do you know about Boone?" Lili demanded.
"Liam told me a small amount of information about Boone. But I'm
sure you can tell me much more, Captain Marquette. After all," Ffuga said
with a twinkle in his eye, "you did work with Commander Boone for quite
some time in the Resistance."
"Liam!" shouted Lili, her eyes gaping wide open in fear. "You told
Ffuga?!"
"Relax, Lili," smiled Liam. "We can trust Ffuga. He won't tell
anyone."
Lili sighed. "Boone was a great person," she recalled, in retrospect.
"He was always willing to look at both sides of an issue, and cared foremost
about finding the truth of why the Taelons came to our planet."
"His death shocked all of us," added Park, grimly. "It was an unfortunate
occurrence. Boone died very heroically, while fighting Hag'el."
"Yes, Liam told me much about his father," confirmed Ffuga.
"Boone and my father may have made great allies," Liam hypothesized.
"Regrettably, now we'll never know. And all they wanted to do was to ensure
that the Taelon agenda would not cause harm to the human race."
"Speaking of which," Captain Marquette brought up, "why exactly
did the Kneeloi come to Earth?"
Ffuga looked uncomfortable for a moment. Then he regained his composure.
"It is a complicated issue," he responded, vaguely. "We do see
much potential for your planet, though."
"That doesn't answer my question," Lili contradicted.
All of a sudden, the door to Ffuga's chamber burst open. Several
masked men rushed into the room, toting machine guns.
"Die, Kneeloi!" came a gruff, masculine shout.
Liam grabbed Lili and pushed her into a safe spot where she took
cover. The machine guns fired off. Bullets penetrated through Ffuga's skin,
but the Kneeloi simply sat there calmly, not looking the least bit hurt.
The bullets had no effect on Ffuga anatomically; they simply flew through
his soft skin, not even leaving a mark or puncture wound. Ffuga remained
unharmed.
Dr. Park, however, was not so fortunate. She had been killed instantly
by the firing of the machine guns. Melissa Park laid lifeless on the embassy
floor.
More shots rang out. Colonel Truman and additional Kneeloi security
personnel appeared behind the gunmen. They were swiftly able to eliminate
Ffuga's attempted assassins, with some quick gunshots to their heads. During
the course of one fatal minute, Dr. Park, along with the gunmen who'd attempted
to murder Ffuga, were all sprawled across the floor, lying dead in pools
of their own blood.
* * *
Park's funeral had been a somber one. It was held in private,
with the attendance of only her family and close friends and associates.
Angie was now more determined than ever to ultimately nix the Kneelois'
increasing popularity and support on Earth, and drive their race right
off the planet. She insisted that Liam and Lili both spend more time at
Ffuga's embassy. Ffuga had confided to Angie how he'd grown quite fond
of Major Kincaid and Captain Marquette. Therefore, Colonel Truman figured
that it would be easier to infiltrate the Kneeloi by having two of her
acquaintances - - Liam and Lili - - as "insiders" to gradually gain Ffuga's
trust, and in effect, the trust of other Kneeloi ambassadors.
One evening, Ffuga was hosting Liam and Lili in his private quarters.
He was discussing the issue of Kneeloi reproduction with them.
"Procreation is the key to the survival of any species," proclaimed
Ffuga. "As a species, both males and females are included in our societal
structure."
"I think that is one of the problems which the Taelons face," Lili
commented. "We suspect that the Companions are genderless, having reached
a point in their evolution where they are no longer able to reproduce."
Ffuga nodded understandingly.
"So what types of 'gifts' do your race plan to bestow upon humanity?"
Liam asked Ffuga.
"Many wonderful things," the alien replied. "We have spiritual
healers among our race who can rid your society of crime and abuse. Our
scientists have also devised sleep substitutes - - compounds which your
human race will be able to orally consume, allowing you to stay awake for
full consecutive days at a time."
"Wow!" Liam Kincaid, who'd seen quite a bit already during his
short life on Earth, was pretty impressed.
"Additionally," continued Ffuga, "we can aid humanity in light
of your rapidly increasing planetary population. We can help you expand
into colonies throughout the galaxy, to ensure that Earth's population
may continue to grow and flourish."
Both Liam's and Lili's jaws had practically dropped to the floor.
"Because of the innovations in population maintenance which we
shall guide you in," Ffuga explained, "humans will numerically increase
not only by sexual reproduction, but also by resurrection."
"You mean - - ?" Lili was afraid that it was almost too good to
be true.
"Kneelois can bring people back from the dead!" Liam realized excitedly,
putting two and two together.
"That is correct," answered Ffuga, smiling warmly. "Would you care
for me to demonstrate?"
Without needing an answer, Ffuga rose from his chair and walked
over to Lili. Placing his slender palms on both sides of Lili's anterior,
the green Kneeloi creature released soft vibrations from his hands. They
rhythmically penetrated into Lili's mind, probing her thoughts, memories,
and emotions.
Ffuga closed his eyes, directing his inner surge of energy toward
the center of the room. Vivid droplets of sparkling beams of light formed
an upward, circular pattern, swirling around like a funnel or a twister.
This vibrant spectacle made countless clockwise rotations while positioned
at the same spot. After completing several revolutions, the energized particles
began re-combusting to formulate the shape of a human body.
Once the body was fully combusted, Lili looked at it and gasped,
nearly suffering from a heart attack. Standing there in the middle of Ffuga's
embassy was Commander William Boone!
"Where am I?" blinked William Boone, looking around, a bit confused
and disillusioned.
"Boone! Is it really you?" Lili Marquette cautiously approached
her friend. She reached out to touch him, discovering that Boone's body
was definitely living matter.
Lili stood back and examined her resurrected partner and friend.
Boone was dressed in the same clothes which he'd been wearing from the
day when he'd been injured by Ha'gel. His skrill, named Condor, was still
permanently attached to his arm. The commander looked and sounded like
the exact same person whom the Resistance had lost only months earlier.
"Lili?" Boone was happy to recognize a familiar face. Instantly,
Lili knew that he was the same Boone who had died three months ago.
"Yes, it's me!" Lili laughed with joy and relief. She felt as though
the last three months had all been one big bad dream.
Boone and Lili gave each other a hug, reunited in this unique location.
William Bone looked around. "Where are we?" he asked Lili. "Are
we still on Earth?" He then noticed Liam and Ffuga, standing there, watching
him. "Who are they?"
Lili giggled, still hardly comprehending that this was all really
happening. "Trust me, Boone, it's a long story. And you'll want to hear
every bit of it."
* * *
After being introduced to Liam and Ffuga by Lili, Boone decided
that he wanted to see Da'an immediately. Lili and Liam promised to take
Boone to the Taelon embassy in Washington D.C. so he could be reunited
with his Companion right away.
Once they had left the Kneeloi embassy, Ffuga took some time to
reflect in solitude about what he had just done. On the one hand, he felt
good about having brought so much happiness to Captain Marquette by resurrecting
her compatriot. On the other hand, Ffuga feared that the Kneeloi elders
might become upset about him having used his powers so soon, after having
lived on Earth for barely a month.
Before long, Gahha came to the embassy to "check up" on his acquaintance.
"What do you want, Gahha?" asked Ffuga, preoccupied.
"Why Ffuga, you seem somewhat apprehensive," Gahha sneered. Reading
the nervous gaze in his fellow Kneeloi's eyes, Gahha frowned. "What have
you done, Ffuga?"
"I had to." Ffuga couldn't explain it. "Captain Marquette holds
a special place in her heart for Commander William Boone. I could not bear
to see her suffer. Yes Gahha, I was compelled to resurrect Commander Boone,
and I did so. And I do not regret it."
Gahha crossed his eyes. The blue Kneeloi fixated a pompous scowl
on his fellow diplomat.
"That was not wise, Ffuga. The elders never gave us permission
to re-combust the bodies of deceased humans. What would they do to you
if they found out?"
"You are not going to tell them, are you, Gahha?"
"We shall see."
"What does that mean?"
"It means that I will be keeping my eye on you, Ffuga. I will be
watching to make sure that you do not distract our race from accomplishing
our mission on Earth. After all, you do have a history of displaying ignorant
affection for other inferior species whom we have encountered in the past."
"I do no such thing."
Gahha smirked. "You most certainly do. And you know it." He flared
at his nemesis. "You can be a foolish being at times, Ffuga. Do not replicate
the mistakes which you have previously made. I do not want to be forced
to report you to Crroba."
"Please do not do that," Ffuga pleaded. "I will be good, I promise."
"You had better." With a frivolous snort, Gahha flounced away,
exiting the embassy.
Ffuga looked out the window of his private chambers. He stared
out at Washington D.C., taking in the city below him as the embassy continued
to rotate around it.
This Kneeloi knew that humanity was different. Humans were not
meek, and they would resist assimilation. The human species was cursed
with determination, boldness, emotion, and strength, as well as flaws.
Ironically, humans' flaws would prove to be their greatest strengths, when
encountering and challenging Gahha or like-minded Kneeloi.
Ffuga knew. Humanity was strong. He awaited the upcoming days in
anticipation and hope.
* * *
End of Part 1
Copyright 1999 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 send Colonel Truman after you...watch out!!!
