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 sometime following the episode "Moonscape," and directly after my story "Bundle of Joy." You should read all of my previous stories up through "Bundle of Joy," and also "The Arrival - Parts 1 and 2," before reading Part 3 of "The Arrival."
Summary: After being resurrected by Heelra, Dr. Park struggles to make sense of her foreign physical alteration. Gahha makes some unfriendly waves with both humans and Taelons, while Lili discovers a shocking secret about Angie. Fu'sha also makes a startling discovery relating to the Kneeloi, as the Kneeloi themselves re-evaluate their purpose on Earth.
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 Le'er will each be referred to as "she."
This story is the part 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.
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.
* * *
Dr. Park gaped breathlessly as her palms shined brighter and
brighter, an increasing nova of blinding magnitude. Positioned on each
of Park's palms was a lustrous shakarava, similar to Liam's.
"Where did these come from?!" she demanded, staring down at her
hands.
"Why, from Da'an, of course," smiled Heelra.
Now it was Da'an's turn to be confused. "I did not give the shakarava
to Dr. Park," he argued. "A shakarava may only be genetically inherited
through procreation."
"Ah, but she did not 'inherit' your shakarava," Ffuga insisted.
"Park's shakaravas are replications of your very own, Da'an."
Da'an blinked, failing to comprehend Ffuga's reasoning.
"When Heelra . . . resurrected Dr. Park," Ffuga explained, "I simultaneously
duplicated the shakaravas of your hands by touch, and transmitted their
energy particles to Heelra through telekinesis."
"Then, I integrated the duplicates of Da'an's shakaravas into Park's
resurrected being," added Heelra.
"But why would you do such a thing?" Da'an could not make any sense
of it.
"We see much potential for Dr. Park," Heelra reasoned, vaguely.
A distinct sound abruptly protruded upon their conversation. With
a quick flash of light, Park's shakaravas had ejected a nimble streak of
radiant energy that shot across the room in a split second. Park quivered
helplessly. She had not been able to control the spontaneous energy released
from her shakaravas.
"Why did you do this to me?!" Park screamed at Ffuga and Heelra.
Angie Truman shot knowing "see-what-I-meant" looks at Lili, Liam,
and Boone.
"It is a gift," Heelra stated. "Accept it and embrace its possibilities."
"I don't like this 'gift'! Get rid of it!" Park stomped her foot
in frustration.
"No," Heelra simply answered.
"Take your stupid shakarava back! I don't want it!!" The doctor
began wildly flailing her wrists around in vain as though she was attempting
to shake the shakaravas loose from her skin.
Liam looked straight at Park's eyes. "It was meant to be this way,"
he told the doctor who'd overseen his birth and delivery.
"How do you know?" Dr. Park appeared almost in tears, apparently
frightened by her newly-attained physical development.
"Everything happens for a reason," he answered.
"Come on, let's get you back down to the mainland," Lili gently
persuaded Park, lightly touching the doctor on the shoulder.
"I never know when these things - - these shakaravas - - will shoot
out rays of deadly energy!" Park shakily quavered, slightly exaggerating.
"It's going to be okay." Boone patted Dr. Park's arm and helped
Lili to guide the disillusioned doctor toward the exit.
"Where did you come from?" inquired Park, in a hushed whisper as
she marveled at all of a sudden seeing Boone alive and well once again.
"It's a long story," sighed Boone. "We'll tell you the entire saga
. . ."
* * *
William Boone marched down the multi-colored corridor that
led to Ffuga's private chambers. He could no longer remain silent about
the issue of the Kneelois' impact on Earth.
Truman was guarding the door. "You cannot enter, Commander Boone,"
she informed him. "Ffuga wishes to be alone right now."
"I need to talk to Ffuga," Boone told Colonel Truman. "It's important!"
"Tough. I have my orders." Angie folded her arms and refused to
move out of Commander Boone's way.
In a low whisper, Boone attempted to appeal to the militant colonel.
"Angie, you know that you are just as suspicious of the Kneeloi as I am
. . . if not moreso."
"Even though they gave you back your life?" she challenged.
"You don't have to put on an act for me, Truman. We're both Liberation."
Boone dropped his voice even lower. "Dr. Park is an emotional wreck right
now. Why do you think the Kneeloi suddenly made a copy of Da'an's shakarava
and transplanted it into Park? Or better yet, HOW did they do it?"
Angie frowned. "I don't know, but it sure as hell wasn't out of
benevolence!"
"Well, this is what we're trying to get to the bottom of. The only
way that we'll get any answers is if we gain Ffuga's trust. And in order
for me to do that, I have to be able to talk with him. As a Resistance
member, I would think you'd realize the importance of this."
Truman took a deep breath and sighed. "I want a full report on
anything he divulges to you, Boone!" she insisted icily.
The colonel stepped aside and Boone made his way into the chamber.
"Ah, Commander Boone," Ffuga beamed, catching sight of his friend's
entrance. "Please, come and sit." The green alien gestured to an empty
chair.
Boone sat and began leisurely conversing with the American Kneeloi
diplomat. After a few minutes of meaningless small talk, Boone digressed
to the heavier stuff.
"Let me be blunt, Ffuga," Boone stated. "A lot has changed since
my previous life here on this planet. One of the most significant changes
which I missed the introduction to was the arrival of your species."
Ffuga tilted his head.
Boone continued, "Naturally, humans want to know why you have come
to our planet. Of course, we are grateful for the many innovations which
you have so far bestowed upon us, and presumably there are more of them
in the works?"
"You are correct," replied Ffuga.
"But I have not yet heard one solid reason given by any of your
leaders as to why your race is here."
Ffuga sighed. "We felt it best not to be so forward."
"I would call it honesty," Boone admitted. "Humans respond well
to honesty."
"That is provocative food-for-thought," Ffuga responded. "Shall
I explain to you some of our race's historical heritage?"
"I would be most honored to listen and learn," answered Boone.
Smiling, Ffuga gestured to a monitor on his chamber wall. An image
of a thickly-clouded, green, blue, and purple textured, spherical planet
appeared on the monitor's screen. This sphere was orbiting in place by
computerized screen animation.
"This is our home planet, Kneeloia," narrated Ffuga, pointing at
the Sphere. "It is the place where our species originated billions of years
ago. Kneeloia is located several million light years away from Earth, in
a far-away galaxy."
"Intriguing," breathed out Boone, absorbing the magnificent view
of the planet Kneeloia.
"The Kneeloi species is a progressive one," elucidated Ffuga. "We
travel throughout the universe, exploring countless other civilizations
and alien cultures. On some planets, we settle and integrate ourselves
into their society. We've aided many species in altering and improving
their lifestyles. But we always keep moving and expanding our influence."
"So what made you choose Earth?"
"Your planet is fascinating. We see your sphere as having the potential
to become one of the greatest in the entire universe. And we wish to share
in that with you."
"I take it that there are many more species out there whom we on
Earth do not know about?"
"Nor do they know about you. Earth is only one tiny speck on the
face of the entire universe. Millions of vastly dissimilar species exist
on other planets."
"Wow." Boone thought for a moment. "So since you have encountered
a lot of these other civilizations, have the Kneeloi ever previously met
the Taelons any place other than on Earth?"
"No," said Ffuga. "Incredibly, our race had never crossed paths
with the Taelons before we came to Earth. They are much more foreign to
us than they are even to you."
Boone looked back at Ffuga. He knew that the Kneeloi was being
sincere to him, yet, he couldn't help but sense that Ffuga might be holding
something back. He believed that the Kneeloi were unfamiliar with the Taelons;
but couldn't fully grasp the concept that the Kneeloi had come to Earth
entirely for the sole purpose of fulfilling their curiosity or serving
as Samaritans.
"We shall speak again, William Boone," decided Ffuga, pleasantly.
"But now, I must rest."
With that, Ffuga activated a button next to his Curved Chair. A
ray of solar heat beamed down upon Ffuga as he absorbed its light and intensity.
Commander Boone rose from his seat and began walking out of the
room. On his way out, Boone glanced over his shoulder to take one last
look at the image of Kneeloia grandly revolving and spinning in place on
the digitally-enhanced screen.
* * *
"What a splendid atmosphere!" exclaimed Tu'um, gleefully squeezing
the hand of her Taelon friend, Co'al. The Indian Companion was quite excited
to be where she was at that moment, along with Co'al, who was the Venezuelan
Companion and one of Tu'um's closest confidants.
They were inside a large conference hall, a newly-built wing of
the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. Hundreds of individuals
were in attendance that afternoon at the Fourth Annual Worldwide Convention
of Psychics, Mediums, and Spiritual Leaders. This gathering was an opportunity
for select VIPs to meet and converse with a variety of renowned spiritual
philosophers, healers, and advisors from around the globe. The spiritually-themed
convention had been initially established shortly following the Taelon
arrival on Earth four years ago.
The day was kicked off with a series of group meditation exercises,
led by Si'ib, the Taelon organizer of the event. After that, a time for
prayer or personal reflection was designated, requiring complete silence
from all who were in attendance. Next, the speakers were given the chance
to lecture to the audience, each speaker in turn. The speakers consisted
of psychics, mediums, astrologists, and religious leaders. Finally, the
afternoon would serve as a time for spiritual guests of the convention
to talk one-on-one with the VIPs and media in attendance. Such a cycle
would repeat accordingly day after day, for a total of six sequential days.
This year marked the first of these spiritual conferences which
would be attended by Kneeloi, in addition to Taelons and humans. Consequently,
several green, blue, or purple Kneeloi bodies dotted the crowded meeting
hall, along with the pale-skinned Taelon faces and "fleshier" human faces.
Madame Natasha Sverilla, the acclaimed Romanian psychic, sat at
a long table as she autographed copies of her recently-published book,
a best-seller titled Nostradammis was a bullfrog!. Tu'um patiently
waited in line so she could ask Sverilla to sign her copy of the book.
Soon, it was the Companion's turn.
"Madame Sverilla, I read your book and it was wonderful!" gushed
Tu'um, with a big smile on her face.
"Thank you! You good Taelon, Tu'um! Nice girl!" declared Madame
Sverilla with a twinkle in her eyes as she signed the inside cover of Tu'um's
copy of Nostradammis was a bullfrog!.
Meanwhile, Co'al was chatting with Madam Marie, a wise old psychic
who was one of Augur's friends. Marie had leg problems and rode around
in a wheelchair. Augur was present with her, accompanying Marie that day.
"I am most disturbed by the sudden Kneeloi arrival on Earth," expressed
Co'al, honestly. "It seems questionable whether or not there exists any
validity to their motives."
"Oh, definitely, dear," Marie replied, nodded her head in agreement.
"Although there are usually good apples in every basket, I certainly do
not trust ALL of the Kneelois!"
Marie and Co'al both made sure to speak in low tones, out of earshot
of any nearby Kneelois.
"What do you feel needs to be done about their presence on Earth?"
Co'al asked Marie.
"There's not much we can do right now," responded Marie. "We'll
just have to wait the Kneeloi out."
"I hope they don't begin experimenting on us," chimed in Augur.
"From firsthand experience, I know how yucky that feels."
"You are a courageous young man, Augur dear," Marie praised her
younger friend.
At that moment, Gahha approached them, adorned in the standard
homogenous black Kneeloi bodysuit that all Kneelois wore, as it solidly
complimented Gahha's dark blue skin.
"Are you enjoying yourselves?" Gahha gruffly mumbled to them.
Marie just frowned suspiciously at the Kneeloi Ambassador to the
United Nations. Gahha returned her frown. Slowly, Madam Marie reached out
and touched Gahha's palms. She closed her eyes and absorbed the information.
"Your plan for Earth simply will not do," she criticized him. "Humanity
is stronger than you perceive. We will not allow you to control us."
Furiously, Gahha shook free of Marie's grasp. He stared at the
psychic's eyes, penetrating his gaze into her psyche. Marie released a
sharp wail of anguish.
"I don't think so, blueboy!" she cried. "Stay out of my mind!"
"What did you do to her?!" Augur demanded.
People were now staring in their direction.
Co'al swiveled his head toward Gahha abruptly, expressing a glare
of disdain at the Kneeloi.
"That enough!" reverberated Madame Sverilla's voice. The Romanian
psychic marched over to them, with Tu'um only steps behind her. "Gahha,
you go away! Shoo! We no like you! Scat!"
Angrily, Gahha departed.
"Thank you, Natasha," Marie expressed to her colleague.
"Don't let Gahha scare you, Marie. He naughty boy! Bad boy! Bad!"
Sverilla folded her arms and puckered her lips together in a grimace.
"I do not believe that I care for that Kneeloi being," pouted Tu'um,
staring annoyed in Gahha's direction.
"No one should," insisted Marie. "That Gahha is nothing but trouble!
He is a vindictive tyrant!"
* * *
"I don't care! The plan was carried out without us being exposed,
so let's at least be thankful for that much!"
Lili Marquette had her ear pressed up against Angie Truman's office
door in the Resistance headquarters. Colonel Truman was barking words into
her telephone receiver.
"How was I supposed to know what would happen?! We hardly know
anything about them!" Lili heard from Angie's end of the phone conversation,
as she continued to eavesdrop on the colonel.
"What is Truman up to?" Lili murmured suspiciously under her breath.
"It isn't my fault!" Angie snapped instantly at the person who
she was talking to. "Don't yell at me!!"
A few more words were exchanged, and then . . . click! Angie had
abruptly hung up the phone. Hastily, Lili backed away from the office door
and cleared the area.
Meanwhile, Dr. Park was in the main section of headquarters, having
another panic attack. The vulnerable doctor, still unable to control her
newly-acquired shakaravas, was surrounded by Jonathan Doors, William Boone,
and Dr. Julianne Belman.
"Get a grip, Park," grumbled Doors, as Melissa Park perspired with
quivers and squeals of fear.
"I don't like this one bit," Belman lamented, gesturing as she
indicated Park's possession of shakaravas. "This is just a disaster waiting
to happen."
"The disaster has already happened," Boone pointed out. "Now, the
only thing we can do is to help Dr. Park cope with it."
"Please, help me," Dr. Park meekly pleaded to Belman, clutching
her colleague's hands.
"Melissa," sighed Dr. Belman, "I don't know what we can do for
you. I have never seen this happen to a human before, and frankly, I'm
at a loss for answers."
"Didn't Kincaid go through this too?" Doors asked, raising his
eyebrows.
"That was different," explained Belman. "Liam inherited his shakarava
from Ha'gel. But in this situation, Melissa has received two shakaravas,
one on each palm, from a Kneeloi alien who we know absolutely nothing about,
by a process that is foreign not only to our species, but to the Taelon
species as well."
Boone thought back for a moment. His CVI enhanced his memory, causing
the commander to recall the occurrence of Park's resurrection in a precise
and vivid flashback.
"When Heelra resurrected Dr. Park," Boone remembered, "Ffuga told
us that he replicated Da'an's shakaravas into Park's energy matrix. Heelra
called the replicated shakaravas a 'gift', and she refused to remove them
from Dr. Park's palms."
"Why would Ffuga do that to Park?" Doors wanted to know.
"It seemed almost as though Ffuga and Heelra were acting and thinking
in collaboration," Boone concluded. "They could have even been telepathically
connected."
"That makes sense," agreed Belman, "if Ffuga and Heelra jointly
performed the resurrection without verbally speaking to each other."
"So the Kneeloi are all linked by their own 'commonality'?" Doors
probed.
"I don't know," admitted Boone. "Maybe?"
Dr. Park screamed again, as another burst of light shot from her
palms, creating a strong, colorfully glowing energy barrier that hovered
in the room.
"Yikes!" Belman exclaimed, gritting her teeth together.
"I guess Park is going to need some guidance from Liam in 'shakarava-control',"
Commander Boone quipped.
* * *
Beep! Meep! Liam pulled out his global and opened the link.
"Go!" Major Kincaid spoke into the handheld device.
"Major." Liam found himself staring back at Fu'sha, the Companion
to Brazil. "Please come to my coordinates at once. There is something that
I desire for you to see."
"What is it? Why me?" Liam asked.
"I have no time to answer questions. Just come here immediately.
That is an order." Fu'sha downloaded the coordinates to Liam, and then
cut the link.
Liam was mystified. Why did the Brazilian Companion specifically
want him to see whatever it was that had happened? But an order was an
order, so Liam boarded one of Da'an's shuttles and took off, heading for
Fu'sha's coordinates.
As Major Kincaid landed the shuttle, he observed that it was descending
down into the Brazilian rainforest. Lush, fertile palm trees and exotic
wildlife stretched across the Amazon basin below. Breathtaken by the beauty
and intrigue of Brazil, Liam landed the shuttle. Fu'sha and his attaché,
Agent Paco Ramirez, were waiting there for him.
"Present," Liam confirmed, hopping out of the shuttle onto the
grassy clearing.
Fu'sha, who was a very close friend to Co'al, had spearheaded the
Taelon effort that successfully restored and rejuvenated the rainforests
of Brazil over the course of two years. Because of Fu'sha's tireless efforts,
Brazil was now a better place commercially and economically, as well as
biologically and environmentally. Thousands of organisms had a renewed
habitat to retreat to - - the sensual, prosperous Amazon region.
"Thank you for coming, Major Kincaid. I will be prompt. There is
a disturbing entity that has landed within this vicinity. It has me quite
concerned." Fu'sha wore a strained look of anxiety upon his face.
"You want me to take a look at it?" Liam questioned.
Fu'sha nodded. "Co'al recommended that I request your presence
for this . . . matter. He claimed that you have experienced some . . .
unique situations during your lifetime."
"Well, that definitely is true," agreed Liam, as the three of them
made their way through the rainforest.
After only another minute or so, Fu'sha and Agent Ramirez had led
Liam to the site that had aroused their attention. Covered and entangled
in vines and tree limbs, a circular Kneeloi pod sat dormant and immobile,
having crashed into the ground seemingly with great impact. Inspectors
wearing protective astronaut-like immunity suits were swarming around the
abandoned pod like bumblebees, examining it. Liam sniffed a queer, potent
odor wafting through the air.
"What's that?" he inquired.
"That is precisely what our scientists are attempting to determine,"
explained Fu'sha.
"We suspect it is some type of craft containing poisonous gas sent
to Earth by the Kneeloi," Ramirez spoke up.
"Why would they send a pod containing a toxic gaseous substance
into our atmosphere?" a baffled Liam wondered.
"I wish I had an answer," lamented Fu'sha, regrettably.
Liam sighed heavily. Was this suspicious act of malice an intentional
capability of the same species that benevolent Ffuga belonged to?
* * *
Le'er paced back and forth impatiently across the mothership
floor.
"This situation is unbearable!" she yelled. "I cannot carry the
burden of contending with the impudent Kneeloi race any longer!"
"Attempt to calm yourself, Le'er," advised Zo'or soothingly to
his friend.
"I am infuriated beyond words!" Le'er ranted on. "How dare Chaaka
intrude upon MY territory!"
Chaaka, a blue-skinned Kneeloi diplomat, had been appointed as
the Kneeloi Ambassador to Sweden. Since Le'er's main embassy was in Stockholm,
the Scandinavian Companion had naturally been pushed into situations where
she was forced to work with Chaaka. Le'er loved to be in control of things,
but much to the Taelon's dismay, so did Chaaka. Unfortunately, Le'er and
Chaaka clashed immensely. Their respective personalities were both too
assertive and domineering for the Taelon and Kneeloi to get along with
each other or avoid conflict. Le'er was now wallowing in Zo'or's private
quarters, griping about her plight.
"Le'er, we must be patient," Zo'or gently attempted to soothe his
comrade. "We are the most superior species in the entire universe. If the
Kneeloi try to get in our way, we will eliminate them."
"Chaaka had better not challenge my intelligence or authority any
further!" fumed Le'er, irately. "Or I shall be forced to do something drastic!"
"Le'er, would you care for me to be of assistance?" Agent Sandoval
inquired coyly, as he stood at Zo'or's side.
"No, Sandoval!" interjected Zo'or sharply. The Synod speaker turned
back to Le'er. "Please do not let Chaaka intimidate you," he persuaded
her. "If you allow her to, then she will have gotten the best of you."
"That is true . . ." Le'er thought silently for a moment. "Very
well, Zo'or. I will attempt to make amends with Chaaka and humor her into
thinking that I am her ally. But only on one condition."
"And what is that?"
"Zo'or, you must speak to Crroba about this on my behalf. I want
him to be aware of what is going on. Perhaps he can address Chaaka's impudence
toward me on his own formal and more effective terms - - Kneeloi terms?"
"Agreed. You are dismissed, Le'er."
The Scandinavian Companion gave a Taelon salute to Zo'or, her cohort
and superior. Zo'or nodded back in acknowledgment.
"What will our plan of action be, Zo'or?" asked Sandoval, after
Le'er had left the room.
"For now, all we can do is wait." Zo'or slyly folded his hands
together, interlocking his fingers. "We have much to learn yet about this
new and foreign race. They may even prove to be . . . useful in advancing
our mission on Earth . . ."
* * *
Ever so inconspicuously, Lili tiptoed over to Angie's office
door. Truman should be out to lunch by now; Captain Marquette had seen
her leave headquarters only minutes earlier.
Lili turned the knob of Angie's office door. What luck! It was
unlocked! She briskly shuffled into the room and closed the door behind
her.
Colonel Truman's desk was organized neatly, with papers, documents,
and folders stacked pragmatically at one side of the desktop. Truman's
laptop computer and her global were still lying on the top surface of her
desk.
Curiously, Lili began flipping through Truman's folders, skimming
them for any clue as to what Angie might be hiding from everyone. Nothing
special was there; just some memos from Doors and other paperwork.
Then Lili noticed that one of Angie's file cabinets was slightly
ajar. The colonel must have been sifting through it a few minutes earlier
and forgotten to lock up her file cabinet. Lili Marquette yanked open the
drawer and proceeded to browse through its contents. Suddenly, one of the
files caught her attention.
At the top of the cover page was a heading that said in bold letters:
KNEELOI ASSASSINATION PROCEDURES.
As she read the document, Lili's eyes grew wide. In the literature
were carefully described details of a conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism
on the Kneeloi embassies and against the Kneeloi race. Its content and
narration, the way the literature was written, indicated that Angie had
written it and that she had orchestrated many of these elaborate plots.
Lili found herself holding her breath as she continued to read on.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, Marquette?!" snarled
an angry voice in the doorway.
There stood Angie, her eyes blazing in fury. She slammed the door
shut behind her.
But Lili was upset now. She marched over to Angie and shoved the
document in her face.
"So you've been plotting against the Kneeloi all along?!" Captain
Marquette realized.
"Where did you get that?!" Angie reached for the folder, but Lili
held it out of her reach.
"You really should keep your file cabinet locked, Truman!"
"That's Colonel Truman to you! And how dare you snoop through MY
personal files, you busybody!"
"What is this all about?"
"None of your business. You shouldn't even be in my office! I had
to come back because I forgot my damn global, and here you are peeping
through my file cabinets!"
"Quit dodging the subject!" Lili was really mad now. "I overheard
you on the phone - - you were discussing the assassination attempt on Ffuga!
You were behind it all along, weren't you?!"
"So now you're eavesdropping on me, too?!"
In a split second, Angie had shoved Lili backwards and pinned the
shuttle pilot up against a wall. The colonel was seething hard.
"You organized the terrorist raid on Ffuga's embassy, and then
took their lives to throw suspicion off of yourself!" Lili deducted.
"Yes I did!" she whispered gruffly. "The Kneeloi must be destroyed!
I am leading a fight for humanity against these nasty aliens, and as a
Resistance member I would've expected to have your support!"
Lili gritted her teeth. "Let go of me!" she demanded, pushing Colonel
Truman away harshly. "I'm going to tell Doors!"
"You're not going anywhere!" snapped Colonel Truman, grabbing Lili's
wrists. Captain Marquette flinched as Truman squeezed her wrists tighter.
"Let go! You're hurting me!" Lili shouted. "I really will tell
Doors!"
"Doors already knows!" Angie loosened her grip on Lili's wrists.
"He WHAT?!" Lili could hardly believe this. "Doors went along with
this without even telling the rest of us?!"
"It was his idea," Angie divulged. "Of course, I planned most of
it myself."
She seemed quite proud of herself.
In a rage, Lili stormed past Angie out of the colonel's office.
Captain Marquette barged into Doors's office, slamming the door shut behind
her. The billionaire looked up, annoyed, from where he was sitting at his
desk.
"What do you want, Marquette?" Jonathan Doors grumbled.
"How dare you!!" Lili hollered. "I can't believe you conspired
with Truman to assassinate Ffuga, and you didn't even tell the rest of
us! No, wait - - I CAN believe it! You know why? Because this is so typical
of you, Doors! This is exactly the type of thing you would do! You don't
even trust any of the rest of us enough to tell us the truth! You'd rather
put this operation in the hands of a virtual stranger!"
"Are you done?" Doors impatiently scowled.
"WHY, Jonathan? Why did you give so much power and responsibility
to Truman so quickly? You sure didn't give it to Liam when he first arrived
here."
"That was different," rationalized Doors. "Kincaid is half-Taelon."
"Kimera," Lili corrected him. "One-third."
"Whatever," growled Doors. "I don't trust Kincaid. He didn't come
here by anyone's choice, not even his own. I trust Truman. I hand-picked
her to be an additional leader for the Liberation. Truman's past credentials
and military accomplishments impress me, and her record speaks for itself.
Plus she's anti-Kneeloi."
"So that automatically makes her our heroine?" Lili pressed.
"All I'm saying is that Truman is a valuable asset to the Resistance.
You don't have to like her, just work with her." Doors folded his arms
and frowned. "I don't have to explain myself to you anymore, Marquette.
Get out. I have nothing left to say to you."
Lili was steaming. "This is NOT over!" she declared.
With that, the irate captain stomped out of the office, slamming
the doors abruptly behind her.
* * *
Several dozen Kneeloi beings stood in a colorfully-textured
chamber aboard the Kneeloi mothership. Soft Kneeloi music was playing harmoniously.
Crroba was at the front of the group, his perfectly erect posture making
him distinguishable from all of the other diplomats in the room. The Kneeloi
ambassadors from all of Earth's major countries were gathered on the mothership
to evaluate their first two months on Earth.
"We have spent a number of weeks on Earth," Crroba began the discussion.
"What is our conclusion thus far? Shall we carry out our mission here on
Earth, or move on into another galaxy?"
Murmurs reverberated through the crowd. Most of the Kneelois, although
for varying reasons, agreed that it would be best to remain on Earth.
"Ffuga, you are the ambassador to one of Earth's most powerful
nations, the United States of America," Crroba pointed out. "Additionally,
you were the first of our species to perform a resurrection of a previously-deceased
human. What is your opinion?"
Sighing, Ffuga bashfully returned Crroba's gaze. "I have seen humanity
firsthand and experienced their essence," he conveyed. "If we remain on
Earth, we must alter our agenda."
"Nonsense!" blurted out Gahha. "Humans are futile creatures. They
can be easily manipulated and controlled."
"You underestimate humanity, Gahha," said Ffuga. "They . . . are
different."
"That is absolutely preposterous!" Gahha scoffed. "They are no
different than any of the other species which we have conquered."
"You are wrong," Ffuga contended.
"We will make a decision diplomatically," interrupted Crroba.
They took a vote. The option to leave Earth forever was defeated
by a landslide. However, the decision for the Kneeloi to continue with
the agenda that they had originally planed was passed by a very thin margin.
As the meeting adjourned, Gahha triumphantly sauntered up to Ffuga.
"You will see," stated Gahha, smirking at his nemesis. "Our course
of action is for the best. You will thank me later, Ffuga."
"I am afraid not," Ffuga whispered back. "Our mission is misguided,
Gahha. The elders know not what Earth is actually like. You all assume
that you know what is best for their planet, but you are mistaken. Earth
must be nurtured, rather than oppressed. Earth must be nurtured, rather
than oppressed. Unfortunately, Gahha, your plans will have a negative impact
on the planet Earth. And I vow to do everything in my power to ensure that
humanity is safe from your totalitarian influence. Do not presume that
I will keep silent, Gahha. I refuse to allow your ignorance to prevail
this time. Gahha, the battle has only begun."
* * *
FIN
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 hijack the Kneeloi mothership.
