Hostage - Part 1

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

Author's Note: This tale is a conception of my "twisted" mind. It is the first installment of a four-part series. It's a little bizarre, a little unorthodox. It is set between the episodes "Live Free or Die" and "Infection." Please read it at your leisure.
 
 

Please feel free to use any of my characters for your own fanfictions, but keep their name and status quo as is in the "Hostage" series, and please tell me so I can read your story. For the purposes of this story, the character of Tu'um will be referred to as "she."

Summary: Jonathan Doors makes some diabolical plans for Da'an. Meanwhile, Augur's younger sister comes for a visit.

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 sotry 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.
 
 

    Jonathan Doors dashed down the endless metallic corridor, his lungs pulsating from the repetitious inhalation and exhalation of air. This tunnel seemed to go on for infinity. Visions of those wretched, two-faced creatures known as Taelons danced upon the tunnel walls, holographically shifting from blue to white and back again. His eyes ached tremendously, his throat was living the proverbial life of a gas pump. The Companion imagery mocked Doors as he raced forward endlessly, with increasing momentum. Their innocent yet deceptive eyes bore holes into his very being.
    Abruptly, Doors came to a screeching halt, thrusting him backward onto the cold, unfriendly floor. A serene shadow cast itself over the temperamental Resistance leader. This majestic figure belonged to Da'an, the North American Companion. Doors attempted to move, but remained frozen, immobile. Da'an gazed curiously at his human foil, wide-eyed with intrigue.
    "S-s-stay away!" Doors stuttered, shaking in spite of himself.
    The Companion did not speak. He merely kept his focus on the unwilling human.
    "Companion to the United States my foot!" Doors shouted, as tears welled up in his eyes. "I will not let you destroy my country!"
    With that, Doors gathered as much strength as he could and took off running, stumbling slightly upon his take-off.
    "Gotta get to the church!...gotta get to the church!" Doors chanted to himself.
    His extraordinary velocity was cut short by another Taelon-shaped figure in the distance. Doors recognized it as Quo'on, the Synod speaker. Quo'on changed to a light shade of blue as his eyes met with Doors's. Then, Quo'on put on his human face and effortlessly floated closer to him. Doors hollered forcefully, and his voice echoed down the corridor. Quo'on seemed to take no notice.
    "Mr. Doors, how lovely of you to join us," Quo'on said. "We have some unfinished matters to resolve."
    Taelon faces dotted the walls, appearing on and off, on and off, their eyes all pointed straight at Jonathan Doors. The frivolous altering of colors from blue to gray to white of the Taelons blinded Doors. He squeezed his eyes shut, unable to run, as the different textures sparkled antagonistically.
    "Mr. Doors!" Quo'on authoritatively addressed him. "Doors! Doors!!..."
    "...Doors! Doors! Do-oors! Wake up, man!" Jonathan heard Augur's suave vocals calling to him.
    Doors snapped open his eyes to catch sight of Augur waving a doughnut back and forth in front of his nose.
    "It's jell-ly," Augur smiled teasingly.
    "I only eat glazed," Doors answered gruffly. "Besides, I'm not hungry."
    "Fine, more for me," Augur concluded. He chomped into the jelly-filled pastry, rhythmically humming to himself as he walked away.
    The fresh, bakery aroma reached Jonathan's nostrils. He breathed in the sweet scent, almost reconsidering his decline of breakfast. Then he remembered his dream and thought of Da'an, and Doors's appetite disappeared immediately. Anger eroded Doors, his face turned red, his heart pounded fiercely. Doors snatched up his electronic picture phone and dialed the coordinates of a close colleague. A man appeared on the gadget's screen, and he began a very serious conversation with his comrade.
    "Well Jonathan, I think something can be arranged," the man slyly spoke after ten minutes of heavy discussion between them.
    "I want results!" Doors insisted. "We can't let them control us! The Taelons need to know that we mean business!"
    "Are you sure this is what you want to do?" his friend wondered.
    "Yes," Doors responded flatly.
    "Are you positive this is who you want to go after?" the man restated.
    "Absolutely. We can't go after Quo'on, although I'd sure like to!"
    "But are you positive?" his contact stressed.
    "I'm positive," repeated Jonathan Doors. "If this makes the Companions mad, so be it. Frankly, I don't care anymore."
    "Fine Jonathan, I'll take your word for it. Just don't hold me responsible if this explodes back in your face. I'm doing you the favor here. You're calling the shots."
    "You bet I am," Doors agreed. "And I know this is the right thing to do. The rest of the world looks to the United States for leadership. We need to gain some leverage."
    Doors, being the careless fool he sometimes was, had left his door halfway ajar. Augur's ear was now pressed up against the office door's opening, initially drawn by having heard the words "Taelons" and "termination" during his passings-by. An eavesdropping Augur took in Jonathan's final statement with a blatantly shocked yet speechless reaction.
    "I've made my decision," Augur heard Doors say. "Da'an must die."

    * * *

    Commander William Boone entered the shiny office of his Companion, Da'an. Ronald Sandoval, Da'an's attache, was already present, positioned obediently before Da'an. Boone strolled over to join them and stood next to Sandoval.
    "Commander Boone, I am pleased by your promptness," Da'an remarked with gratitude. "The situation at hand is of the utmost importance."
    "Does it have anything to do with your upcoming visit to the children's hospital?" Boone asked his Companion.
    "It does," the Taelon replied.
    A hospice center with Taelon medical technology had opened in Washington D.C. a few months earlier. The hospital treated children diagnosed with AIDS and cancer, using technological healing innovations of Taelon science. Ne'eg, a Companion scientist, had invited Da'an to tour the center and visit with the children. Once Da'an received Ne'eg's invitation, he had eagerly accepted.
    "The children will be very happy to see you, Da'an," Boone predicted.
    "And I, them," said Da'an with a smile. Da'an loved kids. His large, bald head glowed in anticipation; his skin glimmered, a creamy shade of its regular white color. He continued to speak.
    "I have found during my time here on Earth," Da'an explained, "a tendency of humans to show positive responses when nurtured by the goodwill of others. I believe this outing will be no exception. It pleases me greatly to possess this opportunity to reach out to the younger generation of humanity."
    "Da'an, shouldn't we address the matter of your security?" Sandoval asked his Companion.
    "By all means," Da'an replied to the implant. "I wish no harm to come to anyone, especially in a situation as virtuous as this one."
    "I've taken the liberty of arranging for some extra implants to be stationed throughout the hospital," Boone spoke up. "In addition, Agent Sandoval, Captain Marquette, and myself will accompany you to the center on Saturday."
    "Well accomplished, Commander," complimented Da'an as he slowly shifted his intent blue eyes toward his favored implant. Boone smirked unintentionally.
Agent Sandoval frowned. Da'an was always praising Boone. Boone! Boone! Boone! Why did Da'an think less often to recognize Sandoval when he did good? After all, Sandoval WAS Da'an's attache.
    Their Companion remained oblivious to his attache's pouting.
    "So all is well," concluded Da'an, returning his attention to both the implants.
    "Hold on," interjected Boone. "Why did you call us here?"
    "Ah, yes," Da'an remembered instantly. His expression suddenly became serious. He had been temporarily preoccupied by his and Boone's verbal exchange. Now, the Taelon's thoughts were back on track.
    "I am saddened to report that one of my fellow Taelons, Hi'eh, the Companion to France, has passed on to another state of being."
    "You mean...he's dead?" gasped Boone.
    Da'an bowed his head in sorrow. "I am afraid so."
    "But...what happened?" asked Sandoval, upset whenever hearing about the death of a Taelon. He frequently feared that something similar would happen to his own Companion.
    "The Synod has ruled that Hi'eh was the target of a faction of the Resistance," Da'an informed them.
    "What did they do to him?" inquired Boone.
    Da'an hesitated. "We felt Hi'eh's existence as having released itself. The Taelon Commonality is able to sense when one has vacated its bodily capacity. We received word of Hi'eh's abduction from the French embassy. He was taken hostage at gunpoint, according to our informants in France."
    Boone knew that Da'an was holding something back.
    "Why didn't you tell us of this earlier?" Boone challenged him.
    "I felt it not necessary to worry you," Da'an responded, a little defensively. "While I regret the loss of Hi'eh, it was the responsibility of the Synod to negotiate his safe return. Sadly, they failed. Hi'eh now resides in a better place."
    "How do you know for sure if it was the Resistance?" pressed Boone. He thought of Jonathan Doors, his boss. Could Doors have been behind the killing of Hi'eh?
    "It is our educated hypothesis," explained Da'an.
    "But HOW exactly did Hi'eh die?" Boone demanded.
    Da'an's face was turning blue. "You are dismissed, Commander Boone," he stated sharply.
    "Da'an..." Boone tried to say.
    The mysterious Companion simply shifted his head away from Boone and closed his eyes.
    Boone realized he would get nothing further out of Da'an. He began trudging out of the office. As the commander glanced back, he spotted Sandoval who'd been silent all this time. Sandoval shot Boone a triumphant glare. Boone bristled and walked out. He had always known that Da'an was a secretive creature but Boone still felt frustrated. Perhaps he could apologize to Da'an on Saturday before they left for the children's hospital?
    Beep! Meep! Beep! Boone felt a vibration in his pocket. It was his electronic picture-screen pager, similar to the one Doors used. Boone pulled out the handheld apparatus and flipped on the switch. Augur's face popped onto the screen.
    "Boone, we've got big trouble," Augur said.
    "Oh great!" groaned Boone. "What now?"
    "Calm down, dude. You're going to have to be sitting down for this one."
    "Augur, I don't have time to play games with you. Just tell me," Boone pleaded.
    "Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you," Augur cautioned him. "Doors is planning to kill Da'an."
    "WHAT??!!" shouted Boone.
    "Ssssh." Augur put his finger to his lips. "Chill, Commander. You're still at your Companion-friend's office, I assume? You may want to lower your voice."
    "Sorry," Boone apologized briskly. Then he turned indignant. "Is Doors crazy?"
    "I think that's a rhetorical question," Augur said.
    "He can't kill Da'an," Boone declared. "One Companion was already killed by some assailants. There's no telling what the Synod will do if another one of their species turns up dead. How do you know if he meant it for sure? Maybe Doors was just joking?"
    "Oh, it was no joke," insisted Augur. "I should know. I was eavesdropping on his phone conversation. Doors is dead-serious about this. No pun intended."
    "Well we can't let him do it," Boone stated firmly.
    "It's too bad. I really liked Da'an, even though I've never met him."
    "Augur, shut up!" Boone ordered. "Da'an's not dead yet. There's still time to save him."
    "What are we going to do? You know how bull-headed Doors can be when he puts his mind to something," Augur pointed out.
    "Well, we've got to think of a plan. I'll talk to Lili. In the meantime, you try to distract him."
    "I tried doughnuts. It doesn't work," Augur said.
    "This is serious, Augur." Boone's earlier frustration with Da'an disappeared. He had to save his friend! He just had to! "Da'an is the link between us and the Synod. We need him," Boone told Augur. "Da'an must live."
    * * *

    Augur stared out the window of the airport terminal at Washington National. He watched as the plane descended to the ground. One by one, the passengers exited the plane and entered the terminal.
    "Augur-boy!" called the familiar voice he'd been waiting to hear.
    "Baby sister!" Augur laughed, hugging his kin ecstatically. Then he stood back and took in the sight of her. "Girl, you are looking great!"
    Augur's sister Juanita was just as gifted as her brother. She was skilled in computer programming and proved to be a wiz at HTML and creating websites. Her physical appearance was slender, her hair in abundant African braids, and she dressed for success in conservative yet glamorous power suits. Juanita hadn't seen her brother in a long time, as their respective careers made travel difficult. They corresponded mostly through e-mail.
    Augur took half of Juanita's suitcases to carry and then they got into his car. As they rode downtown, Augur filled Juanita in about the supposed assassination plans for Da'an. She listened carefully.
    "So I'll kind of be busy for the next couple of days," Augur said. "If you'd prefer, you can just hang around the apartment."
    "No way," Juanita exclaimed. "I didn't travel all this way to bore myself to death. I'll come down to headquarters and hang out. I can stay out of everyone's way. Besides, I'd like to see ole Jonathan again."
    Juanita knew all about the Resistance. She'd actually worked at Doors International as a computer technician for awhile. Doors was quite fond of Juanita; he definitely got along better with her than with Augur. Maybe Juanita and her talents could be of some use to the Resistance?
    So it was settled. Augur brought Juanita with him down below the church into the chaotic headquarters of the Liberation. As they entered, the alarm went off. Everyone stopped, grabbed their weapons, and aimed toward the "outsider."
    "Simmer down, folks," Augur announced. "This is my kid sister Juanita."
    Doors emerged from his office. "Well, well," he observed. "If it isn't Augur's baby sister. Come here and give me a hug, you!"
    Juanita gave Jonathan a warm embrace. "Jonny-boy, how've you been?"
    "Well, I'd be better if the Taelons would scram," Doors laughed.
    "Okay," Augur cut in. "Jonathan, I'm sure you're busy. I'm just going to introduce Juanita to everyone."
    "Yeah, you're right, I do have other matters to attend to," Doors remembered.
    Juanita raised her eyebrows at her brother. The inventor wanted to kick himself. He had just carelessly reminded Doors of his half-baked goal to murder Da'an.
Doors disappeared into his office. Augur began to escort his sister around the Resistance headquarters. He introduced her to the numerous scientists, doctors, and technicians who worked within the Liberation. Finally, Juanita got to meet Boone and Lili.
    "Pleased to meet you," she said, shaking their hands, in turn.
    "Augur, you never told us you had a sister," Lili scolded in mock anger.
    "Boy!...you!" Juanita exclaimed, giving her older brother a playful slap.
    "Hey, what can I say?" Augur explained. "I'm a man of mystery."
    "So are you a cyber-genius like your brother?" Boone inquired.
    "Actually...," said Juanita, "...yes."
    They all burst out laughing.
    Augur pulled Lili aside, leaving Boone and Juanita to chat computer-talk. "Did Boone fill you in on Doors's 'ingenious' assassination plot?"
    "Yeah, he did," Lili sighed. "I don't know what Doors is thinking. He's lost his marbles."
    "Any ideas on what to do about it?"
    Lili grimly shook her head apologetically.
    "If only there was some way we could warn Da'an," she pondered. "But Boone and I can't without blowing our cover..."
    Suddenly, Augur hissed and gestured toward Doors's office. The Resistance leader appeared to be communicating to someone through his picture phone. Quietly, the twosome snuck over to Jonathan's once-again slightly ajar office door. Augur motioned for them to remain silent and listen.
    "It's all set," a husky voice was saying to Doors through his pager-screen.
    "Excellent," Doors cackled, rubbing his hands together. "Da'an will regret the day he ever set his foot on this planet."
    Lili and Augur exchanged glances in simultaneous horror.
    There was nothing they could do.
    * * *

     Saturday had arrived. Boone awoke in the morning with a queasy stomach. He could feel that something bad was going to happen that day.
By mid-morning, Boone, Sandoval, and Lili were gathered in Da'an's office. Sandoval was reviewing Da'an's itinerary with the Companion. Commander Boone and Captain Marquette morbidly said nothing.
    "I am quite satisfied with your organizational skills," Da'an told his attache. Sandoval wore a contentful grin. Then Da'an turned to Lili and Boone. "We shall leave."
    They boarded the shuttle and Lili sat in the driver's seat. The shuttle ascended. All the while, Agent Sandoval was rambling on about how excited the children were for Da'an's visit.
    "Da'an, permission to speak?" Boone ventured.
    Da'an turned his head in the direction of his implant. "Granted."
    "I'm sorry about how I acted the other day," Boone apologized. "I didn't mean to be so nosey. I promise it won't happen again. Can you forgive me?"
    "Think nothing of it," Da'an told him simply. "Furthermore, Commander Boone, I truly admire your display of dedication in serving the Taelons."
    Boone smiled, relieved. Sandoval looked slightly annoyed.
    "We're here," Lili announced. Captain Marquette landed the shuttle and they got out. Other agents working for the Taelons were there to accompany the quartet through the hospital.
    Once inside, the group boarded an elevator with posse of the gun-toting agents. The elevator took them to the third floor. Orderlies and nurses in the hallway stared in awe at Da'an as he and his aides inched their way down the corridor. They entered a room, a wing for juvenile patients with leukemia. Tender faces and tiny eyes looked at Da'an as he entered. The exotic Taelon was as bald as the youthful patients; they instantly felt a special connection with him. Da'an circulated from bed to bed, giving hugs to all the children and asking each how he or she felt.
    Soon they moved on. They visited a wing reserved for victims of serious accidents, most of whom had been disjointed in one way or another. Another room housed children born with HIV. Other patients whom Da'an met with were waiting for organ transplants. Ne'eg was in the process of perfecting a method of growing spare organs through bio-engineering, to be transplanted into people in need.
    In one room, Da'an kneeled beside a little boy who had horrible stomach pains. The doctors were clueless as to what was wrong with him. The boy moaned in anguish, even as he peered into the kind, concerned face of Da'an. Gently, Da'an placed his hand on the boy's stomach. A bright, mystical light illuminated from the Taelon's shakarava, causing warm energy to release from his hand. The boy stopped his groaning and an expression of tranquility adorned his face. The friendly impulses continued to flow from Da'an's hand into the boy's body. Then Da'an lifted his hand and the light evaporated. Applause arose from the doctors, nurses, and other spectators standing around them in the room.
    Da'an didn't seem aware of the cheering and clapping from his fans. "Live long in peace," the Companion whispered to the boy.
As the afternoon wore on, the paparazzi arrived at the hospital, along with legions of Taelon-loyalists, ordinary citizens who'd heard of Da'an's presence at the center and has dropped everything to some in hope of catching a glimpse of the benevolent creature.
    "I think it's time to leave," Lili declared, as she scanned the restlessly growing crowd.
    "I believe that idea would be in Da'an's best interest," Sandoval expressed.
    "Very well," Da'an consented. "Let us depart."
    The guards began ushering photographers and spectators out of the way, as the visitors tried to push a pathway through the mob. People were reaching their arms out, attempting to touch Da'an. Reporters were in a frenzy, firing questions left and right to the group, mostly at Da'an. In the midst of all this, Boone sniffed a peculiar scent. He recognized it immediately.
    "Ether!" Boone gasped.
    "People in the crowded conference room began to cough and gag. Boone and Sandoval grabbed Da'an's wrists in an attempt to rush him out of the room, but the crowd was too thick.
    "The...air vents!" Lili spat out between coughs. "It's...coming in through...the air vents!"
    As the crammed space continued to fill with ether, people gradually dropped to the floor, unconscious. Sandoval had already collapsed, along with the agents assigned to escort the visiting quartet. Lili was becoming dizzy and couldn't even stand on her two feet any longer. Boone could feel himself losing consciousness. He had lost the strength to operate his CVI. Only Da'an didn't appear to be affected by the ether. The alien's eyes were jumping around as he fearfully watched everyone in the room fall unconscious.
    All of a sudden, half a dozen masked figures burst into the conference room. Gunshots and screams rang out. Boone aimed his CVI at the first intruder he saw, but then excruciating fatigue eroded him. He blacked out.
    Da'an stayed calm as the masked men surrounded him.
    "Come with us, Taelon," one of the abductors demanded, pointing a machine gun at Da'an's head.
    Da'an looked mournful. This had happened to him before.
    "Why do you choose these actions?" Da'an asked them.
    "Shut up and start moving, Taelon!" was his response.
    "Please do not cause any harm to my friends," the Companion bargained.
    "They'll be out for a couple of hours but we won't hurt them," another gunman replied, "if you cooperate with us."
    Da'an had no choice. He allowed himself to be led blindfolded from the hospital.
    * * *

     Boone was the first one to awake. His face was still a little pale, but he was able to stand up on both his feet. The commander surveyed the conference room. He saw Lili, Sandoval, and the dozens of other humans who'd been in the room, but no Da'an.
    "Where's Da'an?!" Boone shouted, although he was the only one who heard himself.
    "Lili! Lili! Wake up!" Boone shook the captain who was sprawled out on the floor.
    "What...what?...," Lili murmured groggily.
    "Lili! Da'an is gone!" Boone yelled.
    "Huh?!" Lili's eyes popped open and her abdomen shot upward from its laid down position, as if she was doing a rapid sit-up. "Where is he?"
    "That's what I'd like to know," growled Boone. Then he remembered the masked henchmen. "Damn that Doors!"
    "So he actually went through with it," Lili grumbled. "Jonathan never ceases to amaze me."
    "Doors KNEW we'd be here," realized Boone, "and he knew we wouldn't let Da'an get hurt."
    "And he knew that Taelons are immune to ether," Captain Marquette finished.
    "Doors probably presumed that we'd assume that Da'an's kidnappers were terrorists hoping to bargain with the Synod," Boone concluded. "Doors has no idea that we know about his assassination plans for Da'an."
    "So what do we do now?" asked Lili.
    "Well, the authorities already know," Boone reasoned. As if on cue, an ambulance siren could be heard faintly approaching in the distance. "First, we'll wake this guy up." Boone gestured to Sandoval. "Then we'll head back to Da'an's office. My guess is that some Synod members have already gathered there."
    Sure enough, when the trio returned to Da'an's office there was Zo'or, proudly sitting on Da'an's throne-like chair. Zo'or was the Companion to the United Nations. He envied and disliked Da'an, and was constantly trying to oust Da'an from power.
    Sandoval respectfully bowed before Zo'or, but Boone just glared at the Companion.
    "Commander Boone, Captain Marquette, how lovely of you to come," Zo'or sneered with feigned sincerity. "I am positive you will try to do everything in your power to ensure the safe return of your beloved Companion, Da'an."
    Zo'or seemed almost pleased that Da'an had been abducted.
    Boone was about to vent his anger at Zo'or, when two more Taelons appeared in the room, via data stream energy. One was Quo'on, the Synod speaker. The other was Tu'um, the Companion to India. Both Quo'on and Tu'um fleshed out their human faces to make the three humans more comfortable.
    "We will discuss our present dilemma," Quo'on announced. He gave Zo'or a look of warning, as if to say "Don't try anything sneaky." Zo'or put on an expression of exaggerated innocence.
    Sandoval kept his eyes glued to Quo'on, but Boone took a minute to marvel at Tu'um.
    Tu'um was definitely the most exotic of all Taelons on Earth. Although the Taelons are commonly referred to as "he," most people spoke of Tu'um as a "she," because Tu'um bore so many feminine characteristics. Tu'um had a high, ladylike voice, and moved with as much grace and poise as Da'an, if not more. She showed a very nurturing, maternal attitude toward the people of India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, the countries which were under her jurisdiction. With the permission of Quo'on, Tu'um was allowed to wear a traditional sari and Sri Lankan earrings, along with her standard, obligatory uniform that Taelons are required to wear. Tu'um loved humans, especially the people of India, and had grown so close to them that she couldn't resist from saturating herself with their culture.
    "Implants, please withdraw from the room momentarily," Quo'on instructed. "The Synod must commune."
    Boone and Lili exchanged glances. They mutually made a silent agreement to concoct a plan of action with Augur and the rest of the Resistance. Along with Sandoval, they left the office.
    "The individuals who abducted Da'an want something from the Companions," Zo'or evaluated. "We must not give it to them."
    "I disagree," stated Tu'um. "It is imperative that we rescue Da'an from his imprisonment. He is a vital link between us and our better understanding of the human species."
    "As are you, Tu'um," replied Quo'on. Tu'um smiled and Zo'or turned blue, but Quo'on ignored him.
    "Zo'or, would you not desire us to come to your aid, if it were you in Da'an's current situation?" Tu'um cheerfully challenged the antagonistic Companion.
    He was temporarily speechless. "I would not place myself in such a situation," Zo'or argued, shooting a murderous look at Tu'um. Tu'um just smiled again and cocked her head, making Zo'or even angrier.
    "Enough," interrupted Quo'on. "We shall make a decision with the remainder of the Synod."
    Quo'on, Zo'or, and Tu'um turned back into their translucent selves, via data stream energy. They exchanged thoughts and commentary with the rest of the Commonality.
    "We have communed," Quo'on said. "Da'an has requested we not make sacrifices for his individual well-being. However, the Synod agrees with Tu'um. It is ruled that we will seek out Da'an. Tu'um, you are appointed as head of the independent investigation body to search for Da'an."
    Tu'um beamed her gratitude to the Synod by matching the palm of her hand up with Quo'on's, and as they touched, a warm light brightened around their allied palms, reaching every member of the Synod.
    Zo'or broke off from the Commonality, in defiance. He had plans of his own.
    * * *

     "Keep walking!" The gunman pushed his weapon forcefully into Da'an's back.
    The helpless Taelon remained in stride. He could not see, all was dark due to his blindfold. But Da'an could feel coldness maliciously surrounding him, physically and mentally.
    "Stop!" another of his abductors ordered.
    Da'an halted in his tracks as someone removed the blindfold. The Taelon viewed his surroundings. He was in a greyish chamber, probably deep below the Earth's surface, closely guarded by five or six of his armed abductors.
    "There's someone here who wants to speak with you," one of the kidnappers informed him.
    Da'an looked puzzled, and them, a dark silhouette walked toward him. The darkness became light, and Da'an was utterly jolted by what he saw.
    He was staring face-to-face at the resentful exterior of Jonathan Doors.
    * * *

    End of Part 1
 
 

Copyright 1998 by Earthboy
Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final Conflict is property of Trbune 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 stop watching the show FOREVER.