Hostage - Part 3

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 between the episodes "Live Free or Die" and "Infection." You should read my stories "Hostage - Part 1" and "Hostage - Part 2" before reading part 3 of "Hostage."
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 characters of Tu'um, Le'er and Pu'ur will each be referred to as "she."Summary: Efforts get underway for Lili's safe return from captivity, with mixed support from the Synod and other Taelons. In the meantime, Juanita gets a new job with the Companions.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.

    * * *
    William Boone and Ronald Sandoval went flying through the air. Thud! Thump! They each hit the ground in turn, and went rolling down a grassy ravine. Boone clutched on to a nearby boulder. Sandoval reached out and hung on to Boone's leg.
    "Commander, I have a head-ache!" groaned Sandoval, as he dangled there on the side of the ravine.
    "What are we, Lucy and Ethel?!" Boone spat out in exasperation.
    Steadily, the commander began to gradually crawl uphill toward level ground. Sandoval followed his lead.
    Meanwhile, the explosion had propelled Lili and her captors in the opposite direction. The captain was lying on a flat meadow, her abductors only feet away from her. Half-conscious, she could feel herself being flung over the shoulder of the strongest kidnapper.
    "You realize we're going to have to kill you," one of them stated, as the group began making tracks away from the site of the explosion.
    Lili moaned. "Mom?" she called out, pretending to be unaware of what was happening.
    "She's delirious." Several of the men rolled their eyes under their masks.
    But Lili knew exactly what was going on. She just didn't want to get herself in any deeper than she already was.
    Attempting to look dumbstruck, Lili viewed her kidnappers who were bringing up the rear of their "caravan." They had used their skrills to fight off Boone Sandoval...yes, Boone and Sandoval! So she hadn't been dreaming! And the skrills...where did the henchmen get the skrills from? And WHY had they taken her? It all didn't seem to add up. There was still something missing from the scenario, but Lili couldn't figure out what it was.
    The group was now approaching a small clearing smack in the middle of the forest. One of the men brushed aside some weeds and branches and lifted the opening to an underground cellar. The henchmen descended into the deep blackness of the cellar tunnel. As the rear henchman closed the cellar opening, Lili felt the darkness eating them up. Someone lit a match as they made their way through the underground corridor.
    After about 15 minutes, their leader commanded, "Stop!"
    They stopped.
    The one who was carrying Lili carelessly dropped her onto the hard floor. Lili grunted.
    "Okay, waste her!"
    The one holding the match positioned it in front of Lili, so her apparent assassin would be able to get an adequate view of his intended target. Captain Marquette heard the sinister click of a revolver and could barely make out a sketchy silhouette of one of them aiming the weapon at her. The solitary lit match flickered as its light displayed a shadow of the captain.
    Swiftly, without thinking, Lili blew out the match in front of her. The small room became completely black.
    "Hey! What the...?!"
    On her hands and knees, Lili scrambled away through the blackness, bumping into many of the thugs.
    "Quick, light another match!"
    "Uh, that was my last one..."
    "Oh, you'd damn well better be joking!"
    "No joke."
    "So what do we do now?"
    None of them spoke.
    "Hey, Marquette! You might as well surrender now! We're gonna catch you sooner or later."
    But Lili wasn't about to make a sound. Her voice would quite possibly lead them to her proximity in that undefined, blacked-out space.
    "I think she's over by me," one of them said.
    The click of a revolver could be heard.
    BANG!
    "OW!!!" One of the kidnappers began rolling around on the floor, howling in pain. "That's my leg you shot, you peabrain!!
    "Sorry, I thought you were the brood."
    "Well I'm not! And now you've lodged a bullet in my leg!"
    "Look on the bright side. Now you'll be able to use the handicap parking space."
    A furious growl could be heard in response.
    "Hey, I think I've got her. I can feel the lady's derriere. I'm grabbing onto it. It's soft and cushy."
    "That's MY derriere that you're fondling, nimrod! And I'm not Marquette! So get your hand off my derriere!"
    "Sorry."
    Lili had huddled in an isolated corner of the underground dwelling. She listened in amusement as her abductors fumbled around in the dark, tripping over and yelling at each other. But then it occurred to her: she had lost her global. It had blown up in the explosion. Boone wouldn't be able to trace her coordinates.
    Oh, would she ever get out alive?    * * *    Tu'um sat in her chair, Jagdamba standing to the left of her. The glorious Taelon affectionately stroked her pet mongoose as it contentfully curled up in Tu'um's lap.
    "My friends shall arrive here soon," she stated.
    Jagdamba nodded cooperatively.
    Tu'um turned her head to gaze at her implant. "Agent Jagdamba, I do wish you would exhibit a more extravagant willingness to socialize with me. I am your Companion, and therefore, I am also your friend."
    She smiled at him.
    "My foremost imperative is to serve the Companions," Jagdamba responded, rather monotonously.
    Tu'um looked disappointed and slightly hurt.
    "Very well," she sighed. "However, I encourage you to ponder my words at your convenience."
    "As you wish, Tu'um."
    Jagdamba sounded very much like Sandoval.
    At that moment, Co'al and Fu'sha entered the Bombay embassy. They were together, as usual. Fu'sha and Co'al had visibly formed a very close friendship, perhaps because they were the two most prominent South American Companions.
    "Welcome, be seated," Tu'um offered.
    "We are pleased to be here," said Co'al.
    "Indeed," agreed Fu'sha.
    "How many more may we expect?" Co'al inquired.
    "The Synod has decided to add five additional Taelons to our counsel," Tu'um informed them. "Our standing counsel members will remain."
    "Including Zo'or?" Fu'sha asked hesitantly.
    Tu'um rolled her eyes at the notion. "Unfortunately so. Although I suppose it is only fair that all sides are heard?"
    "But is it in our best interest?" Co'al challenged.
    Before Tu'um could respond, a data stream filled the room, and two Taelon figures appeared. They were Zo'or, and Le'er, the Companion to Sweden.
    Although Le'er presided over most of Scandinavia, including Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland, Le'er's headquarters were stationed in Stockholm and for that reason the Taelon was commonly known as the "Companion to Sweden." Like Tu'um and some of the other select Taelons, Le'er was referred to as a "she." The Companion was tall, slender, and had a high, squeaky voice, although Le'er's vocals were nowhere near as lovely as Tu'um's.
    Zo'or stood negligently in the middle of the embassy. "I see no need to maintain this ridiculous counsel," he complained.
    "Zo'or is correct," Le'er backed him up. "It is an unnecessary excrement of our time and resources."
    "The two of you are free to leave whenever you desire," Tu'um commented merrily. "I am not forcing you to stay."
    "But the Synod is," grumbled Le'er with a hint of bitterness.
    Co'al and Fu'sha each glanced warily at the Swedish Companion. Le'er had somewhat of a notorious reputation. She had recently been the subject of an investigation of the death of Inga Oleson, a Swedish website proprietor who had been killed when her computer mysteriously blew up in her face. Le'er had publicly denounced the anti-Companion website creations which Inga Oleson had so vigorously formulated in cyberspace. Although Le'er denied allegations of any involvement with Inga Oleson's death, her credibility was still controversial in the public eye, even among Taelons in the Synod. Nevertheless, enough members of the Synod supported Le'er so that she was able to keep her position of diplomacy.
    A second data stream popped into the room. This time, the final five figures revealed themselves. Da'an and Quo'on fleshed themselves out, as did Ih'mal, the Companion to Indonesia, Si'ib, the Companion to Eastern Europe, and Pha'ra, the Companion to Zaire and Western Equatorial Africa.
    "Come, let us sit in a circle," Tu'um said.
    Once all the Taelons were seated, Quo'on made his announcement.
    "Yesterday, Captain Lili Marquette, the shuttle pilot of our Companion Da'an, was taken prisoner by an unknown party, presumably terroristic. Tu'um was present and was almost abducted, as well. These terrorists additionally caused damage to Da'an's shuttle."
    "Pity," mumbled Zo'or, under his breath.
    Quo'on pretended not to hear. He continued.
    "Both Tu'um and Da'an feel it is necessary to apprehend these thieves immediately."
    "Absolutely. I believe I would feel exactly likewise if it had been my shuttle under siege," spoke Fu'sha. "But is it realistically beneficial for us to undertake his...mission?"
    Da'an, who was seated between Tu'um and Quo'on, gracefully turned his head toward Fu'sha. "I anticipate this matter as being of great priority."
    "Why is that?" questioned Pha'ra. "My intent is not to appear antagonistic, Da'an, but we must examine whether or not this would be a waste of our resources."
    "Of course." Da'an understood. "I suppose I have somewhat of a personal attachment to this situation. After all, it was my shuttle and my chauffer who were targeted."
    "Do not let that cloud your judgement," Pha'ra advised.
    Da'an sighed. "I shall try not to."
    "I know Captain Marquette personally," Tu'um chimed in. "She is a very proficient and reliable pilot. Losing her would be quite a devastation."
    "To us, or to you?" Zo'or pressed, in a hostile tone.
    "What exactly is your implication, Zo'or?" Tu'um looked straight at him.
    Zo'or smirked. "Might we assume, Tu'um, that you have taken a more...personal interest in Captain Marquette?"
    "Why, I have no conception as to what you speak of." Tu'um batted her eyelids innocently.
    Zo'or just smirked again.
    "I tend to agree. Acts of violence against the Taelons should not go unpunished," said Le'er. "However, in this particular instance, I see no need to forfeit the lives of our operatives - - our full implants - - simply to save one meer human. If it will spare more of our forces, Captain Marquette's...termination may be valid."
    "And we certainly know how the termination of human life is your prowess, don't we Le'er?" Co'al fired at her.
    Le'er became an angry shade of blue.
    "That was uncalled for, Co'al," Quo'on reprimanded.
    Co'al just pouted and bristled.
    "We must examine the circumstances," Ih'mal pointed out. "Captain Marquette is a Companion operative. Her hijackers burglarized and damaged Taelon property. These individuals may very well be associated with those who caused the terrorization of Da'an and Hi'eh. Lili Marquette is now at their mercy."
    "And she can be easily replaced," interjected Zo'or. "As for your comments concerning Captain Marquette's captors, those are simply petty inferences."
    "Not necessarily," contradicted Tu'um. "The recent events which we speak of may be tragically linked."
    "Nonsense!" declared Zo'or. "Humans are of a belligerent race. Their actions confirm their stupidity and inferiority to us."
    "Zo'or, you are a young Taelon and still have much to learn," Ih'mal preached. "We must reach decisions objectively and do what is best for both species."
    "We are doing what is best!" snapped Le'er. "Furthermore, it is pointless for us to debate such a futile matter." She turned to face Quo'on. "Who requested to make Lili Marquette the topic of this particular discussion?"
    Quo'on looked a little hesitant to answer.
    "I did," Tu'um admitted.
    "I should have known," scoffed Le'er. "We have been augmenting all of this time uselessly due to your disgusting fondness for a meager shuttle pilot!!" She pointed her finger accusingly at Tu'um.
    "You are a disgrace to Taelons everywhere!" Zo'or added, walking over to Tu'um and standing over her in self-superiority.
    Da'an soothingly placed his hand on Tu'um's arm. She looked as though she was about to cry.
    "Sit down, Zo'or!" ordered Quo'on. "That will be quite enough." He angrily glanced at Le'er as well. "From both of you!"
    "Zo'or and Le'er, you each owe Tu'um an apology," Pha'ra insisted.
    Le'er and Zo'or didn't say a word.
    Si'ib, who'd been silent the entire time, suddenly spoke up.
    "We must do it," he stated.
    "Do what, Si'ib?" asked Fu'sha gently.
    "We must save Captain Marquette. The enemy is near."
    "Tell us why. Why must we retrieve her?" encouraged Ih'mal.
    "The enemy is near," Si'ib repeated.
    Quo'on intervened. He gently clutched Si'ib's hand. "How do you know this?" he urged softly.
    "Madame Sverilla," Si'ib explained. That said it all.
    Madame Natasha Sverilla was a Romanian gypsy with an unexplainable power to speak with the dead. Sverilla remained a close, personal friend to Si'ib and visited the Companion regularly at his embassy in Bucharest. In addition, it was believed that Si'ib and Sverilla maintained a permanent telepathic connection.
    "By what means did Madame Sverilla reach this conclusion?" Co'al inquired.
    "Ma'el." In a hushed whisper, that was all Si'ib needed to utter. They knew what he meant.
    The nine Taelons communed with the Synod. Quo'on took the leadership position of summarizing the counsel's dialogue for the Synod elders. The Synod told the commonality that their decision would be announced within the next day.
    "We have communed," said Quo'on. "Our course of action rests in the hands of the Synod."    * * *    "You've got a hell of a lot of nerve!!"
    Boone slammed open the doors of Jonathan's office and stormed in.
    "What did I do now? Kill a fly?" Doors bluntly patronized Boone.
    Commander Boone's face was turning a hot, furious crimson color.
    "Fist you kidnap Da'an!...now you've done it to Lili!...Have you lost your mind, old man??!!"
    Doors held up a finger. "Now just hold on a damn minute here..."
    "Next I suppose you're probably gonna blow my brains out?!"
    "Don't tempt me," snarled Doors through gritted teeth.
    "You don't rule the world, Jonathan. You can't decide when everyone lives and when everyone dies!"
    "Oh, but the Taelons can?"
    "Of course not. But you're only going to make things worse by continuing with these psycho antics!"
    Doors glared. "Ironic. This coming from a pushover implant who's having a love affair with the Companion to North America!"
    The commander fiercely grabbed Jonathan Doors by the collar. "You leave Da'an out of this, you geriatric imbecile!"
    "What's the matter, Boone? Kate wasn't good enough for you? Now you've lowered yourself to getting it from aliens?"
    In a blind fury, Boone fired his skrill at Doors. The discharge blasted past Doors as the Resistance leader abruptly leapt out of the way. It left a gigantic burnt indentation in the wall.
    "There's more where that came from!" warned Boone.
    At that point, Commander Boone heard a few low whispers and a tactless "ssssh!" coming from behind him. He whirled around to see about two-dozen Resistance members quietly gathered around the open doorway on their knees meddlesomely listening in on Doors and Boone's heated fight. Augur was kneeling at the front of the group. The ostentatious "ssssh!" had obviously come from him.
    The computer hacker looked up at Boone, nervously. "Uh...hiya Boone!" he sputtered, angelically giving a timid little wave of his hand at the commander. The large audience assembled behind Augur looked extremely embarrassed.
    "What is...this!?" Boone spat out in disbelief, indicating the sizable mass of eavesdroppers before him.
    "Beautiful day, isn't it?" Augur pretended not to hear and began whistling.
    "Augur...!"
    "Boone, come this way for a sec." Augur indifferently pulled Boone from Doors's office. "You've got to get a grip. Go to the embassy. Juanita is there installing the goodies. Da'an should be expecting you."
    "It's just that Doors makes me so mad..."
    "Go!" Augur persuasively steered Boone toward the exit. "Don't worry," he called after the commander. "I'll keep my eye on the geriatric imbecile for ya'."
    Soon William arrived at the D.C. embassy. Juanita was at the computer feeding some disks into the hard drive. Da'an sat in his chair attentively, observing Juanita in wonder.
    "Why, Boone." Da'an's eyes wandered over to view his implant. "How wonderful for you to join us. As you can see, the technological installation has been instituted."
    Juanita gave Boone a mirthful little wave.
    "Zo'or will be joining us shortly," the Companion notified Boone and Sandoval.
    Neither of them looked too thrilled.
    "Why?" Boone wanted to know.
    Da'an sighed. "The Synod will be announcing their decision concerning Captain Marquette."
    "Can't he hear it from his own office?" Boone complained.
    "But that would be too complex for your comprehension," an arrogant voice called out. They all looked over to see Zo'or swaggering into the room.
    "Please do not quarrel," Da'an pleaded.
    "Of course not," Zo'or responded snidely.
    At that moment, Quo'on's face appeared on the monitor. They all listened intently.
    "The Synod has reached its decision," Quo'on reported. "By a very slight majority, it is decided that we will not be sending our forces after Captain Marquette."
    Da'an closed his eyes while Zo'or smiled victoriously.
    "Why not?!" Boone demanded.
    "The Synod feels it would be a waste to apply our manpower to regain one non-essential human life," Quo'on explained.
    "Non-essential?!"
    "It is decided." With that, Quo'on's facade vanished from the screen.
    Da'an stared at his implant. "I am sorry, Commander Boone. I grieve for her."
    "No! I can't accept this!"
    "You must."
    "Da'an, Lili is my partner..."
    Zo'or cut off Boone's sentence. "The Synod has spoken," he teased, mockingly.
    Boone aimed his skrill at Zo'or.
    "Commander Boone, stop!!" Da'an interjected sharply. As Boone lowered his arm, Da'an turned to Zo'or. "Not another word from you!!"
    "Respect the life force within your skrill," Zo'or blurted to Boone sarcastically. He then faced his fellow Companion. "What are you going to do, Da'an? Kill me?"
    Innately, Juanita waltzed over to Zo'or and once again stared him straight in the face. She had an ice-cold expression in her eyes. Zo'or turned blue. He twitched and shifted in place uncomfortably. Zo'or couldn't seem to regain his human outer covering. Nervously, the Taelon scampered away, out the embassy door, still glimmering his true Taelon self.
    "Yeah, you better walk that way!" Juanita yelled after him.    * * *    The underground cellar, drenched with blackness, had become silent. Lili and the hijackers had reached a stand-off. Neither would speak. They were each waiting for the other party to crack. Lili was especially vulnerable. If she spoke too loudly her captors might be able to follow her voice and figure out where approximately in the darkness she was.
    Lili closed her eyes and eventually drifted off. She plummeted into her sub-conscious. Soon, Lili found herself resting in a fertile, flowery, freshly-blooming garden.     She inhaled the sweet aroma of tulips, roses, and lilacs. The captain was laying by the edge of an impressive marble fountain with water sprouting from the mouths of archaic Hindu statues.
    A Taelon-shaped image sat next to Lili, clutching her hand. Lili took a second look at the figure. Then she realized its identity. It was Tu'um!
    Tu'um fleshed herself out and gave Lili's hand a little squeeze. "Do not be afraid, Lili. I shall not leave your side. I will be with you always, even when you awaken."
    Tears began to flow from Lili's eyes. She cried and embraced Tu'um, who in turn, simply held Lili and let warm energy flow from her shakarava onto Lili's shoulders.
    "What did I do to earn this punishment?!" the pilot continued to weep. This behavior was totally out of character for her, but somehow she felt she could lament openly when alone there with Tu'um.
    "I have come to you in your dream for a purpose," Tu'um replied. "You will not die. I will not allow it. Da'an has told me how he feels that Boone and himself are the bridge between our races, as I am sure Boone has explained to you. But a river can have many bridges. You and I are also a bridge between Taelons and humans. We shall overcome."
    "Overcome? Overcome what?" Lili sniffled.
    She looked at her Companion. Tu'um had changed to a multi-colored rainbow pattern. The vivid spectrum of hues on her skin was sparkling and reflecting the sunlight.
    "When you emerge from your sleep," Tu'um advised her, "do not draw any attention to yourself. And remember, I am here with you."
    Tu'um placed her hand over Lili's chest, where the human's heart would be.
    Lili then awoke in the darkness.
    "Why didn't you tell me you had a flashlight, idiot?!"
    "Um...well, uh,...I just remembered."
    She could hear her kidnappers arguing. The brightness of a flashlight lit up and the henchmen could be heard rising from the floor.
    Tu'um's words echoed in her mind. "You will not die."
    "Okay, Marquette, have it your way. We're leaving!"
    "I thought we were supposed to waste her?"
    "You baboon, we don't have time to look for her! Anyway, it don't matter, she'll die down here after a few days."
    Their footsteps click-clacked away as they followed the glow of the flashlight back the way they had come. After what seemed like an eternity, the door of the cellar opening slammed shut.
    Stillness prevailed, leaving Lili trapped alone in the dark.    * * *    Sandoval appeared in Tu'um's office via one of the interdimensional portals which connect all the Taelon embassies in the world with each other. Every Companion diplomat had one. The attache had been summoned by Tu'um, and with the approval of Da'an, was obligated to come to the Indian embassy.
    "I am at your disposal," Ronald Sandoval bowed before the Indian Companion.
    Tu'um smiled. "With Da'an's permission, I have a thoroughly substantial assignment for you to assist Agent Jagdamba with."
    Jagdamba stood there expressionless.
    Suddenly, Zo'or pranced into the room. He looked very upset.
    "Why Zo'or, fancy meeting you here. Especially being as this is MY office." Tu'um had a hint of hostility in her voice.
    Zo'or frowned at the Companion. "Why have you cut yourself off from the commonality?"
    "Odd that you should ask that, since," she glared straight into Zo'or's eyes, "you do likewise on a regular basis."
    Zo'or flinched.
    "I have caught on to your little escapades, Tu'um," he stated, "as has the Synod and we are not pleased."
    Tu'um ignored Zo'or and addressed the implants.
    "I have given my shuttle pilot, Mata, the coordinates of Lili Marquette's location. Please go there at once to rescue her. A unit of my foot soldiers will accompany you."
    "That would be a violation of the Synod's orders," Zo'or protested. "You cannot send them."
    Tu'um smirked at her nemesis. "Watch me." She turned to Sandoval and Jagdamba. "Go. At once."
    Zo'or stepped in their path. "Stop!" he ordered. "You will not do this."
    "Oh yes they will," contradicted Tu'um. "Sandoval, Jagdamba, leave. Into the shuttle."
    "Do not do it," Zo'or warned them. He held Sandoval back.
    "Do it," Tu'um insisted.
    "The Synod will be displeased," Zo'or told them.
    Jagdamba was already headed for the door, heeding Tu'um's command. But Sandoval was anxiously caught between the two Taelons, unsure what he should do.
    "I apologize, Tu'um," said Sandoval, "but I'm afraid I cannot carry out your request. It would be disobeying the Synod."
    Zo'or nodded approvingly.
    "Go there right now," Tu'um firmly instructed to Sandoval.
    "I can't..."
    "That is an order, Agent Sandoval!" snapped Tu'um. "You must do as I say! Immediately!"
    Jagdamba quickly backtracked over to them and grabbed Sandoval's arm. "Come on," he encouraged in a hushed voice. Before Sandoval knew what was happening, the Asian implant was being pulled from the embassy and practically dragged into Tu'um's newly-repaired shuttle.
    Back in the embassy, Zo'or gave Tu'um a homicidal, threatening scowl. "Do you realize what you have done?"
    "Yes," spoke Tu'um, who had regained her composure. "The right thing."    * * *    "All done." Juanita gestured to a mini-center of computers, printers, and scanners that she'd hooked up in one corner of Da'an's office. "I've programmed it all to also transmit to your data stream monitors, for direct-Taelon viewing."
    "Thank you," Da'an graciously praised Juanita. "Your work is most exquisite."
    "Aw, think nothing of it," replied Juanita with a wave of her hand.
    "Boone," the alien re-positioned his posture toward his implant, "I will retire to my quarters for...seclusion." The alien's eyes were half-closed.
    "As you wish," Boone nodded his head.
    Da'an stood up from his chair and fluidly retreated to his private chamber.
    "I'll walk you out," Boone offered to Juanita.
    "Ooooh, so was this our first date?" Juanita joked, linking her arm with Boone's.
    Once they were in the hallway connected to the D.C. embassy, Boone stopped them.
    "Juanita, I just want to say that the Resistance is grateful - - to both you and Augur for designing the virus for the Taelon computer system. The last thing we need is a repeat of the ugly Inga Oleson incident."
    "Hey, Augur designed it, I installed it. Easy as pie. And no prob, Booney. Me and my bro are the king and queen of computer viruses." She thought for a moment. "Wait a minute, that sounds icky. Ok, he's their father and I'm their aunt."
    Boone smiled. "I'm just glad..."
    WHAP! A person wearing an astronaut-like suit had slammed a machine gun against the back of Boone's head. Commander Boone collapsed head-first to the floor.
    Several more of the "astronaut" men emerged from virtually nowhere. One of them put Juanita in a headlock.
    "Don't scream," he cautioned her in a thick whisper.
    Juanita screamed.
    Another of the "astronaut" gunmen pulled out a syringe and injected it into the side of Juanita's neck. The computer programmer weakly closed her eyes and fainted. Two of the gunmen caught her as she fell back, and dragged Juanita away.    * * *    Sandoval and Jagdamba had pinpointed the coordinates given to the pilot by Tu'um. Now, they found themselves in the forest clearing, above the underground cellar.
    "This is the spot," said Jagdamba.
    Agent Sandoval peered at his fellow attache. "Jagdamba, why did you push me from the Bombay embassy so quickly?"
    Jagdamba simply answered, "Tu'um's orders."
    "But the Synod obviously doesn't want us to be here."
    "Tu'um knows best," Jagdamba stated matter-of-factly.
    The Indian attache began brushing away grass and weeds as if he knew exactly where the cellar door was. Sandoval looked dumbstruck.
    "Let's go get her out," suggested Jagdamba rhetorically.
    Everyone was armed with flashlights. The two implants led the group of the Taelons' foot soldiers down into the underground cove. They all moved their flashlights swiftly, left to right and back again, calling out Lili's name.
    Eventually they heard an, "Over here!"
    Lili was huddled in a corner, resembling a half-female, half-zombie.
    "You okay?" Sandoval asked briskly.
    "Yeah." Jagdamba helped Lili to her feet. She was glad to be in the presence of the good side again - - even if it had to be Sandoval!    * * *    Juanita opened her eyes and tried to collect her strength. She felt herself strapped down, unable to move her arms or legs. The air had a strange scent to it.
    Her vision was still blurry. Juanita could tell that she was bound to the top of what seemed to be some type of operating table. She knew at once that she was in a laboratory.
    "Oh, for crying out loud. They're going to eat me for lunch," she grumbled.
    The technician struggled against her restraints. She had to get out of there. Anything other than being at the mercy some mad scientist...or worse!
    "Lord, please don't let this be Futurity Farms," Juanita begged.
    She viewed her enclosure. The walls were a dull gray. They looked like steel or some kind of metal. Oh, if she could just reach out and touch the walls! If she could just get up and move around!
    "I wonder if I can get some food around this joint?" she thought. Juanita's stomach growled. She suddenly was very hungary.
    And Boone. What had they done with Boone? Where was he?
    "Obviously not in here," Juanita answered her own question.
    She began humming nervously. "So are you bums gonna dissect me or what?" she asked aloud to no one in particular. "For pity's sake, they could've at least left me a pillow mint to suck on."
    As Juanita observed the walls, her eyes scanned straight in front of her. She was facing a large picture window. The sky was black outside.
    "Must be nighttime," she murmured.
    But no, dotting the black sky were stars, endless, vast colonies of big and little, twinkling stars. And gradually, the stars on the very edges of the picture window drifted out of sight as new stars came into view in the center of the window.
    "What is this, some planetarium?" she pouted.
    She heard zaps, echoes, and other odd background noises. Her eyes wouldn't budge from the picture window. Circular objects resembling tiny planets popped into view. The whole scene looked like something from "Star Wars."
    "Oh no," Juanita gasped, finally realizing where she was.
    She was aboard the Taelon mothership!   
 

* * *

End of Part Three
 

Copyright 1998 by Earthboy
Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final Conflict is property of Tribune Entertainment Company and is produced by Roddenberry/Kirshner Productions. No monetary profit is being made from this work. No infringement is intended. If you sue me, I will stop watching the show FOREVER (or at least until they bring Dee Dee Sandoval back).