Hostage - Part 4

Posting to archives in encouraged, as long as my title and name stay with the story.

Author's Note: Beware of spoilers. This story is set somewhere between the episodes "Live Free or Die" and "Infection." You should read my stories "Hostage - Parts 1, 2, and 3" before reading Part 4 of "Hostage."

Please feel free to use any of my characters for your own work, but keep their personalities and status quo as is in the "Hostage" series. For the purposes of this story, the characters of Tu'um, Le'er, Ne'eg, and Pu'ur will each be referred to as "she."

Summary: Juanita scrambles in desperation to find a way off of the mothership, while Boone recovers from his injuries. Meanwhile, Lili finds out just what exactly is wrong with Doors.

You should be warned before reading this story that it is not easy reading.

I would like to give credit to Sherry Cegent for inspiring one of the scenes from this. She posts down at the Philosophy Sphere and one of her posts at Tina Price's thread "Poetic Justice" served as inspiration for me. Thank you, Sherry!

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 wohse characters I sometimes use in my own fanfiction, or of the actual series.
 
 

    * * *

    "I've gotta get outta here!" shrieked Juanita as she wrestled against her restraints.
    "I think not," came a familiar voice in a superior tone.
    Juanita watched in horror as Zo'or, and also Le'er, both stepped into the room. They approached their prisoner and hovered over her.
    "Oh for heaven's sake! This is like watching an 'Alien Nation' freak show!" Juanita squinched her eyes shut, praying that she was having a nightmare.
    "So," Zo'or addressed the techno-queen, "what exactly is your objection to the Companions?"
    "I don't know, why don't you tell me? After all, you seem to think you know everything."
    Le'er reached out and brushed Juanita's neck, slowly moving her fingers along side of Juanita's face. She then ran her fingers through the roots of Juanita's hair.
    "Your reluctance to accept the Taelon race is valid," stated Le'er. "I would expect nothing more from an average sample of a human specimen such as yourself."
    "Specimen?!" Juanita looked insulted. "Hey, I'm not your project! You act like I'm your test tube baby or something."
    "Not quite," Zo'or grinned diabolically.
    "What are you going to do with me?"
    Le'er wore a reticent expression. "That is not important."
    "The hell it isn't!" Juanita seethed at them. "You have me strapped to this operating table like I'm some savage beast in a lab experiment! It deserve to know what's going to happen to me!"
    "You seem ill-at-ease with your present conditions," observed Zo'or devilishly.
    "Ya think?!"
    "Let us simply say that you will act as a...resource for Taelon science," Le'er disclosed to her.
    "Oh, so you're not gonna just blow me up, like you did to Inga Olesen?" Juanita confronted Le'er.
    The Swedish Companion frowned. "I orchestrated the demise of Inga Olesen as an agile and justifiable method of eliminating her ill-mannered conduct against the Companions. Ms. Oleson was a threat to our existence - - much the way you are."
    Juanita shifted her gaze to Zo'or. "So you've told her?"
    Zo'or smiled wickedly. "Of course."
    "Any human who can invade the Taelon commonality must be terminated," commented Le'er. "As was the situation with Katya Petrenko."
    "Oh, yes. Who could forget Katya?" Juanita stared into Zo'or's eyes. "Especially not you, Zo'or."
    Zo'or reared back unexpectedly.
    "The only difference," continued Juanita, "is that Katya was psychic and I'm not. I merely possess ESP, and therefore, I've been able to read your mind whenever I feel like it, Zo'or."
    "Do you know what I am thinking right now?"
    "Not at the moment. Want me to find out?"
    "Do not let her in, Zo'or," persuaded Le'er.
    "How does it feel, Zo'or, every time I look into your eyes? How does it feel to have your mind
intruded
upon by an outsider? A human, like myself. Or are you upset that we received this gift from another
Taelon? - - Ma'el."
    "Ma'el was not a true Taelon," argued Zo'or. "Besides, you will not exist long enough for you to share
your findings with any others of your own kind."
    "So I AM going to die?"
    Le'er ferociously clutched ahold of Juanita's arm. "Do you think we would actually set you free, with
you bearing the knowledge that you know regarding our mission on Earth and our plans for humanity? I
would  kill every single human on Earth if it meant the salvation of the Taelon species, so do not anticipate that I  will spare your meager life!"
    "And do not attempt to once again trespass upon my psyche," added Zo'or. "What we have planned
for  you is most...unique."
    Juanita gulped and tried to appear courageous. "Eventually you will pay for your sins. All of you!"
    Le'er cocked her head. "Sins? A Taelon cannot sin."
    "Oh, why can't you two be more like Da'an?!"
    "Da'an is a nuisance," Zo'or said. "He knows not what is best for our collective species."
    "Oh, and you do? You should all listen to Da'an, you could learn a lot from him!"
    "He is evil," Le'er debated. "I guarantee, Da'an will be eliminated. Zo'or and I shall see to that. Da'an
will  soon embrace the void."
    Juanita groaned and gave up. It was useless!
    It was like talking to two Taelon-shaped brick walls!
 
 

    Boone awoke to find himself adorned in a sterile gown, reclined in a bed in a hospital room. His head
ached and was wrapped in a gauzy adhesive. A nurse entered with a tray of gelatin.
    "What happened to me?" Boone squeezed his eyes shut, painfully.
    The nurse answered him sympathetically. "You suffered a pretty bad blow to your head. You were
diagnosed with a moderate concussion, but fortunately, you'll recover in no time."
    "Where's Juanita?" Boone spoke up.
    "Who?" The nurse looked blank. "Sorry, that name doesn't ring a bell."
    "Juanita. She was with me..."
    Dr. Park appeared in the doorway. "How's our patient today?"
    "Sore," Boone replied.
    The doctor smiled and walked over to Commander Boone. "Hey, you're one tough soldier. Don't
worry,  we'll have you out of here before you know it."
    Boone glanced down at his skrill.
    "Your CVI wasn't harmed," Park assured him.
    "Dr. Park, when I was attacked there was this woman with me, Juanita. Was she brought in to the
hospital too?"
    "Well, I can check the hospital records," offered Dr. Park. "What's her last name? Juanita - - what?"
    William Boone thought for a moment. "I really don't know." He then realized that he didn't even know
Augur's last name!
    "Um, Mr. Boone, you have a visitor," the nurse reported.
    Da'an delicately stepped into the room, as smoothly as a ballet dancer. Sandoval remained on-guard in the hallway.
    "Boone, are you feeling well?" Da'an asked, concerned.
    "Well, better than I was a couple of hours ago."
    The Companion finished his venture over to Boone's bed and sat down by the bed-side. He gripped Boone's hand and held it firmly and compassionately.
    "Captain Marquette has been returned safely," Da'an informed him.
    William breathed a sigh of relief. But he still couldn't get Juanita out of his head.
    "Would it be of any trouble for Commander Boone and I to have a moment alone?" the alien politely solicited.
    "Certainly," said Park. "Try to make it short though. He needs his rest." She and the nurse left.
    "There is something troubling you," observed Da'an.
    "Yeah, there is."
    "Please tell."
    "Well, you know Juanita, the woman from Doors International who installed your Internet?"
    "I recall her, yes. She seemed quite pleasant."
    "Well, Juanita was with me when we got ambushed by those lugs. Now there's no trace of her."
    Da'an gave Boone's hand a little squeeze. "I wish there was more that I could do."
    Boone sighed and rested his eyes. It had been a long day.
    The Companion looked at his implant. "Boone? There is something I wish to discuss with you."
    "Yes, Da'an?"
    The alien directed his eyes downward. "Succeeding my...retrieval from captivity, do you recollect the...embrace that you allocated upon me?"
    "You mean when I hugged you?"
    "Yes."
    "Of course I remember. I was glad that you were safe."
    "As was I. But I must tell you, it was an experience unlike any I have ever felt during my existence."
    Boone was surprised. "Really?"
    "I have...hugged many children of your planet before," explained Da'an. "But when you did so to me, Boone, it elevated me to an entirely new state of perception."
    "It was a new experience for you," rationalized Boone. "Did it make you feel good?"
    Da'an paused. "Yes. Very much so. The sensation I felt...I cannot fathom its meaning. But it was unlike any entity I have ever confronted during my being. It reaches beyond words or thought."
    They exchanged smiles.
    Then the nurse popped back in and began preparing a syringe.
    "What is that?" Boone wanted to know.
    "Time for your injection," the nurse said. "Painkillers."
    "Do you wish for me to stay?" Da'an asked.
    "Yes, please," said Boone.
    His Companion continued to hold Boone's hand. William held out his arm to the nurse.
    "Oh, no. I can't inject that arm. I don't want to upset your skrill."
    "Okay, the other arm then."
    "No. It's already hooked up." She pointed to some tubes which projected into Boone's "skrill-less" arm.
    "Fine. Then come back later."
    "Roll over!" the nurse instructed.
    "Oh, no...," he protested.
    "Commander, I don't have time to argue!"
    With that, the nurse stood next to Da'an, rolled Boone's body over away from them, lifted up the back of his hospital gown, swabbed the alcohol on, and injected the needle into Boone's rear end.
    "Auuuugggghhhhhh!!!!!!!"
    * * *

    Augur's sister had taken a snooze. When she emerged from her sleep, Juanita saw Le'er and Zo'or still standing above her, staring inquisitively.
    "You both really have too much free time on your hands," Juanita commented.
    "It is time," announced Le'er.
    "Time for what?" Juanita wanted to know.
    Zo'or grinned deviously. "To begin the procedure. Ne'eg will supervise."
    The reserved Taelon scientist Ne'eg timorously entered the room. Juanita had seen the low-key Companion's picture on the evening news before and heard her voice once when Ne'eg co-hosted a prime-time TV special on modern medicine. The manner in which Ne'eg acted had constantly swayed Juanita to regard the surgeon as a "she."
    Ne'eg stood next to Juanita looking very restless. She glanced down at Zo'or and Le'er's captive.
    Juanita had to find some way to stall them. "So you two cooked up this scheme together, I assume?"
    "Quite clever, don't you agree?" Le'er smirked.
    "Yeah. How did you time everything so perfectly? Like at the children's hospital...I'm guessing you were behind that little set-up?"
    "Yes." Le'er glimmered with pride. "We persuaded Ne'eg to invite Da'an and his entourage to visit with the Earth children. Our implants planted ether in the hospital's air ventilation system to tranquilize all the humans. Then they apprehended Da'an."
    "Were you really going to kill Da'an?"
    Le'er smiled. "In a roundabout way. We intended to force Da'an into a situation where he would will himself to die."
    Juanita sulked at Ne'eg. "You seem like you've got your head on straight, girl. How could you let these scoundrels do that to Da'an? How can you live with yourself knowing that the 'invitation' that you gave Da'an could've killed him?!"
    Ne'eg's eyes dropped to the floor poignantly. "I had no idea," she confessed, "that their intent was to kill Da'an. Had I known, I would never have participated in such a dishonorable act."
    By reading the Taelon surgeon's mind, Juanita knew that Ne'eg was being sincere.
    "And I suppose you were behind kidnapping Lili Marquette?" Juanita accused them through gritted teeth.
    "That we were," Zo'or successfully boasted.
    "Why?"
    "I never liked Captain Marquette. She insulted me. The captain stuck her impudent nose where it doesn't belong. When Quo'on ordered her to shuttle Tu'um to Washington D.C., we saw it as the perfect opportunity to get rid of Lili Marquette. We knew of her whereabouts once Quo'on spoke about it to Tu'um via the commonality. My implants simply followed them and hijacked the aircraft."
    Juanita stared at Zo'or appalled. "So just because Lili tarnished your damn ego, you had her stalked, and killed her and Tu'um?"
    "Tu'um escaped before we could apprehend her," grumbled'er. "Then she sent hers and Da'an's attaches to retrieve Captain Marquette."
    "Well, they all deserve a woopen!" Juanita sarcastically shot at them.
    "Indeed," remarked Zo'or.
    "But there's one thing I don't understand," said Juanita. "Of all the people in the world who you two obviously hate so much, why'd you pick me to bring up here on the mothership?"
    Zo'or moved his head from one side to the other. "As I said, you now know our purpose on your planet. We cannot permit any humans to possess that knowledge. You must be silenced."
    "And you are expendable," added Le'er.
    Juanita gulped. She didn't like the sound of that.
    * * *

    After weeks of procrastination, Fu'sha had finally gotten around to some personal projects of his. Although he was a diplomat, Fu'sha periodically dabbled in working and experimenting with Taelon science.
    He was in his Sao Paulo laboratory, about to begin some testing on DNA belonging to various cryogenic organisms of the Taelon galaxy. Fu'sha was being assisted by his attache, Agent Paco Ramirez.
    "Agent Ramirez, will you please fetch the lung samples from the freezer?" Fu'sha requested.
    "Right away," nodded Ramirez. He went over to the laboratory's large walk-in freezer and opened it. A cryogenically stone-frozen Jonathan Doors fell from inside the freezer and hit the ground.
    Ramirez was in a state of shock. "Fu'sha, we have a problem..."
    * * *

    Lili's global beeped. She was gathered around the computers with Augur and Doors in the Liberation lair.
    "Go!" Lili instructed into her global. She saw Co'al's face staring back at her. "Co'al! How may I help you?"
    "Captain Marquette, we have a...situation. I need you to come to Fu'sha's office at once."
    "Uh, sure," responded Lili. "I'll be there as soon as possible." She cut the link. "Sorry, I have to go."
    "Got a date with Co'al?" Augur snickered.
    Lili gave him a half-slap on the head.
    Doors looked suspicious. "Since when do you take orders from the Companion to Venezuela?"
    "Since now," Lili called over her shoulder, as she got into the elevator.
    The captain flew to Sao Paulo and passed through security into Fu'sha's laboratory. Co'al, Fu'sha, Tu'um, and Ramirez were all gathered around Jonathan Doors, a virtual brick of ice lying on the floor.
    "What the...?" Lili stopped short when she saw Doors.
    "Lili." Tu'um came over and lightly touched the pilot's arm. "Yes, it is the real Jonathan Doors. The one who you presently know from the Resistance Headquarters is a fraud."
    "But..." Lili's eyes got wide. "How did you know...? But how could...?" She was babbling, dumbstruck.
    "We have tested his DNA through an advanced cat scan," explained Fu'sha. "It matches that of the real Jonathan Doors."
    Lili couldn't take her eyes off of Tu'um. "How did you know I'm in the Resistance? What are you going to do to me?"
    "Nothing." Tu'um answered Lili's second question first. "As for how I know, you are a part of me now, Lili. We are a part of each other. That is how I know."
    On some unexplainable level, Lili understood.
    "Tu'um, why take this risk for me? Do you realize what could happen to both of us if the Synod finds out?"
    "I am not afraid of the Synod," Tu'um replied. "I will not let them harm you."
    "But you could lose your ambassadorship to India!"
    "Even if the Synod asked me to step down as Companion to India, I would refuse."
    Lili was in awe. "Can you actually do that?"
    "I would be the first Taelon to do so. But yes, I will remain as the Companion to India. India has become a part of me, as well. I cannot give it up. I will not."
    "You would defy the Synod?" piped up Ramirez.
    "Yes," Tu'um simply answered.
    "What about them?" Lili suddenly remembered that there were other Taelons in the room.
    "The three of us have temporarily cut ourselves off from the Commonality," Co'al told her. "Your secret is safe with us."
    "You must take Mr. Doors with you," Fu'sha stressed to Captain Marquette.
    "Okay, but you'll have to defrost him for me first."
    "Certainly."
    "You will not speak of this to anyone," Co'al instructed to Ramirez, who was a joint attache to both Co'al and Fu'sha.
    "Pardon me for a moment," Lili excused herself. "I need to contact one of our Resistance leaders." She stood in the corner of the lab and dialed up Augur's coordinates.
    "Go!" Augur's face appeared as he opened the link.
    "Augur, I'm here at Fu'sha's lab. The Taelons found Doors in their laboratory freezer, frozen solid."
    "WHAT?! That's impossible! Doors is right here."
    "That's not the real Doors who's at our headquarters right."
    "So hold on. You're saying that we've been working with a clone for who-knows-how-long now?!"
    "I don't know. It's hard to explain. Yeah, we probably have."
    Augur snorted. "What is he, Doors's evil twin?" He paused. "Wait, is it even possible for DOORS to have an evil twin? I would suspect HIM as being the evil bro..."
    Lili sighed. "I'm bringing Doors home. Just stay quiet until we get there to straighten everything out."
    "Okay." Augur then had a wild thought. "A Doors popsicle...!"
    Lili could still hear Augur laughing as she cut the link.
    * * *

    Juanita arose from another deep sleep. Ne'eg had given her aearlier. The computer programmer was now dressed in a simple gown, still bound to the operating table.
    "Just one more thing." Juanita tried to stall Zo'or and Le'er, out of desperate hope.
    "What?!" barked Le'er.
    "You and Zo'or take credit for kidnapping Da'an," recalled Juanita, "yet, I've been working with the Liberation recently and they found out that Jonathan Doors was the one who planned Da'an's kidnapping."
    "Ignorant human," muttered Zo'or. "You fail to look beneath the apparent outer surface. So you are allied with the Liberation, are you? All the more reason for you to be disposed of."
    "I will explain, so you may grasp the full capacity of the Taelon intellect," Le'er scoffed. "Ne'eg engineered the project, perhaps she could explain the routine better than I?" Le'er glimpsed expectantly at Ne'eg.
    "Well...," Ne'eg quivered, "...back when we were on friendly terms with Jonathan Doors during our alliance at Doors International, we asked Mr. Doors for a sample of his DNA, as we did from all the company employees. He gladly. Subsequently, I was asked by Zo'or to use the DNA sample to create an identical carbony copy of Jonathan Doors. I isolated select enzymes from the DNA and placed the sample in a tank during the cloning process, to ensure rapid maturation. Within about one month, the duplicate of Doors had reached the same age as the real Jonathan Doors." Ne'eg breathed out from slight exhaustion. She wasn't used to speaking such elongated sentences.
    "We then implanted our Doors-clone with a CVI," Le'er picked up. "Another of our scientists, Pu'ur, engineered it to have a specific motivational imperative."
    "And what was that imperative?" Juanita chided.
    "To track down and subdue the real Jonathan Doors, and then to take his place."
    "How?"
    "Pu'ur programmed the CVI to trace the source of the DNA," Ne'eg spoke up shakily. "It magnetically attracted the clone to the real Doors by radar incorporated into the clone's body cells. Since its DNA matched that of Mr. Doors exactly, the clone was able to be electronically led to Doors automatically."
    "The CVI's imperative was partially to arrest the real Jonathan Doors," gloated Zo'or. "The clone brought Jonathan Doors back from the Resistance headquarters to one of our laboratories. Doors had been sedated by his clone, and then Pu'ur cryogenically froze the real Jonathan Doors. I believe he is presently still in Fu'sha's laboratory, without the knowledge of Fu'sha I might add. Fu'sha has the most discreet laboratory of all the Taelon embassies, so we 'borrowed' it from him. Our clone then assumed all of Jonathan Doors's arrogant human personality traits. It served its purpose by deceiving all of you foolish Resistance members."
    "So basically you have a carbon copy of Jonathan Doors running the Liberation headquarters while the real Doors is just a human popsicle in some's freezer?" Juanita was flabbergasted.
    "That would be the sum of it," smiled Zo'or in a cocky manner.
    "What about the scary Taelon dreams he was having?" asked Juanita. "He told me about those nightmares."
    "Pu'ur implanted a dream virus in the carbon copy's 'brain.' What 'he' told you was a result of that dream code," Ne'eg conveyed to Juanita bashfully.
    "So he's basically a robot?!" asserted Juanita.
    "Basically."
    "Enough discussion," Le'er cut in. "We must begin. Ne'eg, prepare the subject for surgery."
    The Companion scientist had a defiant sulk on her face. "No!" Ne'eg flat out refused.
    Zo'or glared at Ne'eg. "You are supposed to follow orders!" Zo'or yelled, letting down his human face.
    "I won't!" protested Ne'eg. "It is unjust to treat a living entity in this barbaric manner which you propose, Zo'or! I have questioned our surgical procedures before, but this human will most likely die from this operation...and she does not deserve to!"
    "Yes! You go, girl!" piped up Juanita. "Listen to her! She knows what she's talking about! Good girl, Ne'eg!"
    Frustrated, Zo'or ignored Juanita and put his face inches away from Ne'eg's, trying to intimidate the Taelon surgeon.
    "You are betraying the Taelon race!" Zo'or shouted at Ne'eg.
    "No, YOU are!" Ne'eg spat back at him in an angry whisper.
    Le'er marched up to the Companion. "Ne'eg, you will not dissuade us from accomplishing our initiative!" The Swedish Companion gave the Taelon a brisk shove toward Juanita. Ne'eg clunked against the operating table.
    "You cannot force me to!" Ne'eg sounded as near to sobbing as a Taelon could sound. "I hate you! I hate you both!"
    Zo'or fiercely grabbed ahold of Ne'eg's wrists. "If you interfere with my project, I will kill you!!"
    Ne'eg pulled away from Zo'or. "Stay away from me!!!" she screeched into his ear.
    "This is a waste of time!" Le'er complained. She was turning blue, while both Zo'or and Ne'eg were glimmering as their true transparent Taelon selves.
    "I have summoned Pu'ur," Zo'or informed Le'er, as he shot an annoyed glare at Ne'eg.
    Instantaneously, a wiry, feminine-looking Companion in a Taelon medical uniform entered the room. It was obviously Pu'ur. Pu'ur resembled Le'er very much. Right, Juanita pegged Pu'ur as another "she"-Taelon.
    Pu'ur nodded cordially at Ne'eg, and gave Le'er and Zo'or an odd Taelon half-curtsey.
    "This is the subject?" Pu'ur indicated Juanita.
    "Yes," said Le'er.
    "It will not take long," Pu'ur stated. She walked over to a tank holding a pair of sizable tweezer-like tongs, and gingerly removed a large, looking, crustecean-like creature from the aquarium with the tweezers.
    "What the hell is that??!!" Juanita gaped at the organism.
    "It is a symbiote," Pu'ur answered.
    "It looks like a mutant lobster!" exclaimed Juanita in horror.
    "This is the creature which you shall serve as host to," Pu'ur smiled frivolously.
    "Oh, I don't think so!!" Juanita declared, wide-eyed.
    "You are going to become a mother," cackled Le'er.
    "No!" Fear suddenly appeared in Juanita's eyes. "No! Please don't!"
    Pu'ur then performed the surgery. The implant was allowed to breed its eggs, with Juanita as the "surrogate mother."
    Ne'eg stood at Juanita's bedside, watching helplessly. Pu'ur supervised the procedure with aloof indifference. Le'er and Zo'or grinned deviously as they viewed the scene.
   As Ne'eg charitably clutched on to Juanita's hand, the ill-fated victim blacked out from excruciating misery.
    * * *

    Ramirez and some of the other security guards hoisted the frozen Doors up and then down into a decapacitation tank. A fourth Taelon who Lili didn't know, who wasn't fleshed out, set the tank at a mild temperature and progressively thawed Doors from the chunk of ice.
    "Wh-what happened?" Jonathan Doors blinked in confusion. Then he noticed Co'al, Fu'sha, Tu'um, and the unidentified translucent fourth Taelon gathered above him. "Taelons?! Damn you! You did this to me!"
    Doors shot out of the tank like a bullet.
    "Stop!" Ramirez and the other Companion agents aimed their skrills at Doors.
    "Do not harm him," Co'al told the implants.
    Lili stepped forward. "Jonathan, it's me."
    "Marquette?! Don't trust them, don't tell them anything!"
    "I believe Lili can make up her own mind," Tu'um stated.
    "I don't believe I asked for your opinion," sneered Doors.
    "Shut up!!" Lili hollered at her boss.
    "Quiet, Marquette!"
    "No!" Lili looked very upset. She gritted her teeth at Doors. "Tu'um saved my life! She and Co'al and Fu'sha are keeping our secret!"
    "A Taelon can't be trusted," Doors said plainly.
    "Yes, some of them can. These three can." Lili appealed to Doors's eyes. "Come on, let's go."
    "What makes you so sure they can be trusted?"
    "Because they're the ones who saved you from spending the rest of eternity as an eskimo pie!"
    Doors grimaced, repulsed by the thought that a handful of Taelons had saved his life.
    "Jonathan, listen to me." Lili Marquette grabbed both of his wrists. "We've got to get back to headquarters. You have a clone running around giving orders in your place."
    "What do you mean?!" Doors demanded.
    "I know it sounds strange but you have to trust me."
    Co'al, Fu'sha, Tu'um, and the fourth Taelon kept quiet. They knew that Doors wouldn't give any credence to anything they said.
    "Fine, Marquette! We'll head back. If that's okay with you freaks," he directed that phrase at the four Taelons there in the lab. "But mark my words captain, if this backfires, I'll have your hide!"
    Lili rolled her eyes. She knew that Doors's bark was bigger than his bite. He was making an empty threat. Jonathan directed one final suspicious glance at the Companions before boarding the shuttle with Lili.
    When they arrived back at headquarters, Augur met them. Doors and Lili used the secret tunnels so they wouldn't have to go through the main security entrance. After snaking their way through the underground labyrinth, the captain and the billionaire reached the interrogation chamber.
    Augur extended his arm and touched Doors's face. "Is it really you?" he gasped.
    "Ow!!" growled Doors as Augur tweaked his nose. "No, I'm Pia Zidora wearing a Jonathan Doors mask!"
    Lili and Augur exchanged glances. "He's Doors," confirmed Augur, with no hint of uncertainty.
    "Where's this supposed carbon copy of me?" inquired Jonathan, with a homicidal twinkle in his eye. He headed for the main area of Liberation hideout.
    "Uh, Jonathan..." Augur started after him.
    But it was too late. The carbon copy had bumped right into the real Doors as he approached the interrogation wing.
    Augur and Lili became speechless. The two Jonathans stared each other up and down. Then, abruptly, the real-Doors slammed the phony-Doors up against the wall.
    "Get your hands off of me!" phony-Doors clammored, attempting to take a swing at real-Doors.
    Real-Doors clasped phony-Doors's neck with both of his stocky, muscular hands, and squeezed with all his might. "No one impersonates me and gets away it," real-Doors stated with eerie calmness.
    Phony-Doors was gagging, gasping for air as real-Doors continued to strangle his neck.
    "Doors, knock it off! I think he gets the point!" shouted Lili.
    "Die!" real-Doors lilted in a hauntingly hushed whisper.
    He had choked his clone to death.
    Augur took phony-Doors's pulse. There was no pulse anymore.
    "He's toast," the hacker reported.
    Jonathan Doors didn't look the least bit perturbed.
    "Good," he said, and sashayed to his office with a satisfied gleam in his eyes.
    * * *

    Juanita had tears in her eyes, and blurred vision. She could feel a baby - - or at least some living organism - - kicking around inside of her, incubating at an alarming velocity.
    Pu'ur was monitoring the baby's development. "The time is near," she said.
    "Good." Zo'or had on a pleased expression.
    Ne'eg continued to hold Juanita's hand. She knew that there was nothing she could do.
    As the baby - - or whatever it was - - pushed against Juanita's abdomen, she cried out in anguish.
    "How can you monsters do this to me!" Juanita bellowed, tears streaming down her eyes.
    "You are an experiment," Zo'or informed her, "in my project."
    "The Synod has given us creative leeway for purposes of experimentation," Le'er put in.
    Pu'ur was tracking the baby's pattern of growth with an odd-shaped scanner, obviously a Taelon invention.
    "The infant is ready to undergo birth," determined Pu'ur. She grabbed ahold of her gigantic tweezer-tongs and positioned them.
    A being came into view as it ascended from Juanita's body. The newborn squirmed around, taking in its surroundings and experiencing newfound freedom, only to be snatched up by Pu'ur's tweezer-tongs.
    Juanita bugged out her eyes as the creature emerged from her. It resembled the mother symbiote with its crustecean-like features and antennae, but also had long strands of frizzy black hair hanging from its anterior. Its eyes were brown, they looked like human eyes. Each of its claws had five sharp but rounded pinchers. The baby's lips also appeared human, pink and plush. Juanita had given birth to what seemed to be a mutant with her hair, her eyes, her lips, and human/crustecean hybrid fingers.
    "Pu'ur, place the alien in the tank," requested Le'er.
    The scientist dropped Juanita's "baby" into a second aquarium.
    "We will quarantine it for study," said Zo'or.
    "What about the human?" Pu'ur pointed to Juanita. "She has lost an enormous quanitity of blood."
    Juanita squeezed Ne'eg's hand softly. "Please tell Da'an and Tu'um that the world depends on them," Juanita whispered hoarsely. "They are our only hope."
    With one last bit of strength, Juanita stuck her tongue out offensively at Zo'or and Le'er. Slowly, she closed her eyes.
    Le'er and Zo'or took the aquarium and exited the lab with it.
    Ne'eg turned a stressful shade of blue. She maternally held Juanita as Augur's sister died tenderly in Ne'eg's arms.
    * * *

    Quo'on sat atop his Big Chair in his private chamber on the Taelon. A Taelon bureaucrat, Je'hab, was standing before Quo'on giving him a status report from Planet Taelon.
    Ne'eg conscientiously slipped into Quo'on's chamber trying not to make any noise. Nevertheless, both Quo'on and Je'hab heard her and turned their attention toward the surgeon as she stood quietly in the room.
    "Why Ne'eg," voiced Quo'on, "what brings you to my chamber?"
    Je'hab, who was quite elderly, glanced at Ne'eg stiffly. The senior Taelon was somewhat self-centered and appeared annoyed at Ne'eg's interruption.
    "A terrible misfortune has befallen within our mothership," Ne'eg conveyed.
    The Companion scientist communed to Quo'on, and only Quo'on. Je'hab was a bit peeved at not being included in their exchange of thoughts.
    "What matter was so urgent that it had to disrupt my report?" the Taelon bureaucrat demanded.
    "I see." Quo'on's focus was now entirely on Ne'eg. "I regret to hear of that, Ne'eg."
    "I feel at fault," confessed Ne'eg. "I should have done something. I should have summoned you at once, Quo'on."
    Je'hab didn't look the least bit sympathetic.
    "We will return the body to Earth," determined Quo'on. "You are not held responsible for this, Ne'eg. Zo'or and Le'er are the ones at fault. The Synod will decide an appropriate punishment for them."
    When Ne'eg and Je'hab had both left, Quo'on instinctively paged Lili on her global.
    "Captain Marquette, concerning the human female who installed the Internet system in Da'an's embassy," Quo'on told her. "I have some rather mournful news..."
    Lili listened disgustedly as Quo'on spoke to her about Juanita's impregnation and death. Still cringing in disbelief, Lili cut the link and went to look for Augur.
    She found the hacker sitting at a computer at headquarters.
    "What's up?" Augur asked her with a smile.
    That smile disappeared once Lili sat down next to Augur and told him of his sister's decease.
    It was the first time Lili had ever seen Augur in tears.
    * * *

    Boone sat up reading in his hospital bed. Later that afternoon he would be released. Lili came into the room to visit him.
    "How are you feeling?" she asked.
    "Better. Park told me the news about Juanita. How's Augur taking it?"
    "How do you think?! The Taelons killed his sister! We had to put him in restraints just to keep him from hacking into the computer to blow up all the worldwide Taelon embassies!"
    "So what's going to happen to him?"
    Lili closed her eyes. "He's at headquarters right now. Dr. Belman is giving him a long-term tranquilizer."
    Boone went blank. "What will that do?"
    "It's an experimental device of hers. The tranquilizer will cause Augur's mood to be less irrational. He'll still know what happened to Juanita, and no doubt he'll still want revenge. But this way at least Augur will be able to think...for now."
    "How long does the tranquilizer last?"
    "We don't know. It could last months...or only a week. But at least it's better than nothing."
    "So what do we do when Augur finally comes out of his 'trance' and goes ballistic?"
    Lili looked grim. "I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
    * * *

    Dr. Park unzipped the bodybag that had been refrigerated in the morgue of the Trinity Research Center in D.C. Augur was present at the hospital to identify his sister's body. Boone and Lili had come with for moral support. Da'an also had requested to be there.
    Augur choked up as he viewed Juanita's face lying there, her eyes shut, lifeless.
    "Yeah. That's her," the hacker gulped. He frailly touched his sister's face. A tear escaped from Augur's eyeball, but he brushed it away.
    Da'an reached out to caress the computer-genius's arm. "You will always have memories of her," the alien reassured him.
    "Augur, we'll all miss Juanita...," Boone began.
    Lili shook her head at Boone and the commander piped down.
    "Please," Augur grasped Dr. Park's hand, "tell me how she died. I need to know."
    Park looked at Da'an. "Augur, I don't know if you're ready to hear this yet...," the doctor cautioned.
    "Tell me!"
    "Your sister was an experiment," came Ne'eg's voice. She entered the morgue wearing medical attire. "An experiment of Zo'or's."
    "Zo'or?!" Boone spat out, taken aback. "I should've known he was behind this."
    "Le'er, as well," added Ne'eg solemnly.
    Dr. Park took in Augur's shocked expression. "Ne'eg, I'm not sure this is the appropriate time...," she said.
    "No, I need to know!" interrupted Augur. He walked right up to Ne'eg. "Were you there? Tell me everything you can."
    Ne'eg sighed. "I was powerless. Zo'or and Le'er wanted me to perform the procedure on your sister, but I refused. They threatened me, as well. Pu'ur, another Taelon scientist, performed the experiment. She impregnated your sister with an alien egg from an extraterrestrial symbiont foreign even to the Companions."
    Park suddenly looked intrigued. "Did she give birth?"
    "Yes." Ne'eg slowly moved her head toward the doctor.
    "You mean...I have a little nephew?" Augur questioned.
    "In a sense," Ne'eg answered. "Your sister gave birth to an infant creature, but the offspring is a cross between a human and the species of the mother symbiont."
    "Where is the...infant now?" Da'an queried.
    "In the care of Zo'or," responded Ne'eg.
    "Oh great!" shouted Augur. "Zo'or is baby-sitting my new nephew?!"
    "No doubt Zo'or has some 'fascinating' plans for his genetic hybrid," grumbled Lili.
    Boone frowned. "I don't like the sound of that."
    "Well Zo'or can't get away with this!" Augur was furious.
    "I agree," stated Da'an. "He must be punished."
    "That will be dealt with accordingly," came another Taelon.
    They all turned to see Quo'on standing in the doorway.
    "Quo'on, what are you doing here?" asked Boone.
    "I felt it necessary to convey my condolences," said Quo'on. "After all, she died on our mothership."
    "Why the hell was Juanita on the Taelon mothership in the first place?!" demanded Augur.
    The Synod speaker only looked repentant and said nothing. He approached the morgue shelf in which Juanita was stored.
    Dr. Park stepped forward. "Quo'on, is there any way that our human scientists could have the opportunity to study Juanita's...child?"
    Quo'on stared at Park. "I am afraid that will not be a possibility."
    "Why not?" she pleaded. "Do you realize how beneficial it could be for science if we could get our hands on that hybrid creature?"
    "It is our possession," argued Quo'on. "The infant is on the Taelon mothership and that is where it shall remain."
    Park folded her arms resentfully. "We are entitled to study the creature, too," she shot back at Quo'on. "It is half-human, after all."
    "Pardon me. Sorry to disrupt your catfight," Augur cut in, "but would it be too much trouble for me to have a few minutes alone with my dead sister?"
    "Sure, take all the time you need." Lili gave Augur a half-smile and patted him on the shoulder. She then turned militant and addressed everyone else. "Okay people, clear out! Come on, let's give Augur some time to himself!"
    The captain had pushed the mixed group of both Taelons and humans out of the room. On her way out, she shut the door behind her.
    Augur bowed his head and stood in silence. For a long time he just stood and held Juanita's pale, sluggish inactive hand. Sometimes he'd whisper to her, sometimes he'd just cry.
    "Someday, Zo'or," whispered Augur bitterly through tears. "Someday..."
    * * *

    Lili, Boone, Sahjit, and Park were gathered at their regular booth in the Flat Planet Cafe. They were waiting for their guest-of-honor, Augur.
    "I still can't believe Augur is having Juanita cremated," commented Lili.
    "He said that's how she would have wanted it," Boone reminded her.
    A curvy figure had approached the table.
    "Da'an!" Lili exclaimed, giving the Companion a shocked stare. "What are you doing here?"
    "I invited him," explained Boone, moving over to make room for Da'an at the booth. Sandoval stood nearby, keeping a close eye on his protectorate.
    "Thank you." Da'an graciously sat down. "I am honored to have the privilege of joining you tonight."
    "Mainly our purpose is to cheer up Augur," commented Sahjit.
    "These last few days have been rough on him," put in Park. "I think we all could use a night of relaxation."
    Then they spotted the hacker approaching the group's booth.
    "Hey, here's the man of the hour now!" called out Boone.
    "Vortex Vodkas all around!" offered Dr. Park. "My treat!"
    "I'll drink to that," smiled Augur. It was evident that he was beginning to perk up a little.
    At that moment, the voluptuous Kwai Ling Hong, who managed the Flat Planet for Augur, came to their table.
    "Good evening, party animals!" Kwai Ling tossed her head back and yelled. "I'll be your personal server tonight. What'll it be?"
    "Five Vortex Vodkas," said Sahjit.
    "What, the alien doesn't drink?" proclaimed Kwai Ling.
    "My apologies, I am only here to absorb the unique atmosphere," Da'an replied.
    "Well then, you've come to the right place. But," Kwai Ling continued, "if you change your mind, gimme a holler. As for the rest of you, come on, don't tell me you've all given up solid foods!"
    "I'd like a basket of Lili's sushi rolls," grinned Lili.
    "Of course you do," Kwai Ling taunted. She slapped the pilot on the shoulder. "Aw, I'm just kidding, Lili. You eat all the sushi rolls you want. They're prepared just the way you like them."
    "I'll have an Eggplant Blanket," requested Park.
    "Make that two," Sahjit added. "And some Rabbit Food on the side."
    "Caesar or chef?"
    "Caesar. And some of your special avocado dressing, please."
    "Boone, what shall you be dining on tonight?" Da'an probed. The alien seemed truly fascinated by the Flat Planet's distinctive menu.
    "Yeah, Boone. Come on, I'll bet Condor is starving," urged the exotic Asian restaurant owner.
    "Well...Okay! Bring me a Grease Monkey!" Boone laughed with an incredibly craving gleam in his eyes. "And a side of chili fries."
    "Oh, someone break out the Pepto Bismol," joked Augur.
    Just then, a snappy song, "Don't Steal My Thunder," by a musical group The Extra Terrestrials began playing.
    Augur grabbed Lili's arm and swooped her away from the booth. "Come on, captain, let's go cut a rug."
    Before Lili could even think of objecting, she felt herself being led to the dance floor.
    "It's so good to see Augur happy again," noted Boone.
    "Belman's tranquilizer has worked wonders on him," observed Sahjit. "It's like he's a totally different person."
    "Let's just remember, try to keep him in his present upbeat mood," Dr. Park advised. "The last thing he needs is to be reminded of the great loss he's suffered."
    "Unusual," commemorated Da'an. "The Taelon race does not fear death, we welcome it. Humans appear to be traumatized by it."
    "It's the attachment, the emotional affection," Sahjit sighed. "I still have fond memories of my dear Rayna. When she was taken away from me, I was devastated. I still am."
    Park patted Sahjit on the back comfortingly.
    In the next moment, Tu'um strolled into the Flat Planet with Jagdamba bringing up the rear.
    "Salutations," Tu'um called out, heading toward their booth.
    "Tu'um? What brings you to our hangout?" Boone asked.
    "I am here for the same reason as Da'an." Tu'um nodded at her Companion.
    "She desires to spend time with the one who she shares a bond," translated Da'an.
    "Lili?" Sahjit almost choked on the dinner roll he'd been munching on.
    Tu'um glowed happily.
    "That's so intriguing," remarked Dr. Park to Tu'um. "You have such an intense cohesion with Lili and she doesn't even have a CVI serving as a potential link between the two of you."
    The Companion to India stared prudently at Park. "Lili and I share a connection that extends beyond the vigor of a CVI."
    A sharp whistle reverberated toward their sect. Kwai Ling came bounding out of the kitchen holding an enormous tray with their orders.
    "Dinner is served," she announced, distributing the food to her regulars. Da'an watched in wonder as they dug into their meals.
    Kwai Ling then turned to Jagdamba. "We do have a dress code in here, you know," she lectured the implant, fingering his bland one-piece suit. "A man as handsome as you shouldn't be adorned in such an eyesore. You'd look great in a little tie-dyed number."
    Jagdamba blushed, and Kwai Ling circulated over to Tu'um.
    "Now this girl knows how to dress!" Kwai Ling emphasized, fingering Tu'um's sari and earrings. "She's forced to wear this dull Taelon jumpsuit, yet she still manages to make it look stylish and sophisticated."
    "Why thank you," Tu'um shined with a cheerful girder. The Companion stared back at Kwai Ling and marvelled at the cafe owner's own snazzy attire.
    "Hey, babe." A punky male in his twenties with a brightly dyed mohawk, "grunge"-style clothing, and a dog collar clasped around his neck tapped Tu'um on the shoulder. Jagdamba was instantly alert.
    "Yes, young man?" The Taelon faced the ruffian with joyful relish.
    "Wanna dance?" the punk asked her.
    "I would love to," replied Tu'um. "Jagdamba, save a booth for me."
    With that, Tu'um frolicked onto the dance floor. She and the punk began shaking their bodies to the music.
    Lili and Augur, who were nearby, took notice.
    "Wow, I never knew Tu'um had so much rhythm," observed Lili.
    Tu'um was holding her own on the dance floor among the crowd of hipsters. The Taelon grooved to the beat with jolly satisfaction, as if she'd been doing it her entire life.
    Then the "Macarena" began to play.
    "Oh, no," groaned Dr. Park.
    The crowd of dancers, including Tu'um and the punk, all simultaneously doing the "Macarena."
    "Damn, I thought that song went out over a decade ago," remarked Augur.
    "It did," Lili sighed.
    Over at the booth, they sat listening and watching as the Latin American tune continued to play and the dancers kept on dancing to it.
    A muffled snicker came from Boone.
    "What is it?" asked Sahjit.
    Commander Boone nearly choked on his Grease Monkey, bacon and cheese sticking out of his mouth.
    "I just envisioned Zo'or trying to do the 'Macarena'!" Boone told them, still laughing.
    Park rolled her eyes and Sahjit practically gagged while trying to digest his Rabbit Food.
    "Boone," Da'an inquired, "is this...'Macarena' some type of human mating ritual?"
    Now it was Park's turn to almost choke on her food.
    Kwai Ling nudged Jagdamba. "So what do you say, you and " Jagdamba blushed a deep red, "...no thank you."
    "I think Kwai Ling has a thing for an Agent Haji Jagdamba," teased Park.
    "I do not!" Kwai Ling hurled a wadded-up washcloth at Dr. Park, but nevertheless, couldn't help but blush a little herself.
    When the song ended, Augur and Lili sat down to take a break. Tu'um came over to join them.
    "Lili," Tu'um clutched the captain's hand, "I invite you to come take a leisurely ride with me. In my shuttle."
    Captain Marquette was taken aback. "For what purpose?"
    "For fun!" exclaimed Tu'um. "To spend time."
    "While I'm driving?"
    "Mata will drive us. Please accept."
    "Well..." Lili looked at Augur. He gave her a look that said, "Go ahead."
    "Don't worry, I'll eat your sushi rolls," Augur offered.
    "...Okay!" Lili decided. "I'll go grab my jacket."
    "Hey, maybe Kwai Ling will let you take a doggie-bag," Augur called after the departing captain.
    Tu'um was still standing there.
    "Your sister, Juanita, has a message for you," she relayed. "She says that she loves you and wishes for you to keep performing your outstanding work for the Liberation."
    Augur was taken aback. "You're pulling my leg!"
    "Not at all." Tu'um smiled and held his hand. "I have spoken to her. She has passed on, but will always be with you, in your heart."
    After a minute, Tu'um headed out of the cafe to join Lili and Jagdamba. On her way out, she stopped at the booth and leaned in close to Da'an.
    "Ju'gan sends his regards," Tu'um reported to Da'an. "He tells you to 'Live long in peace'."
    Da'an looked pleasantly thoughtful.
    "So Da'an," said Sahjit, "whatever happened to Zo'or and Le'er?"
    "Have they been removed from the Synod?" guessed Boone.
    "No," responded Da'an. "We could not sway the Synod to that extreme. As an alternative, Tu'um and myself have conceived a more...entertaining punishment for them..."
    * * *

    Da'an and Boone stood on the sidewalk of a residential neighborhood in suburban Washington D.C.
    "Are they coming soon?" Boone asked?
    The Taelon circled his head toward his implant. "Soon. Very soon," replied the alien.
    Da'an watched a bunch of lively children playing nearby. They scurried around the street, shouting and laughing as the Companion looked on in anticipation.
    In the distance, a faint jingling sound could be heard, coming closer,. Boone realized it was the sound of an ice cream truck playing "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands."
    As the vehicle passed by Boone and Da'an, they saw Zo'or sitting in the driver's seat of the truck. He was wearing a baseball cap and an apron, each with the words "Happy Taelon Ice Cream." Le'er was seated in the passenger seat next to Zo'or, wearing a "uniform" identical to his. They both shot vengeful glares at Da'an and Boone.
    Sluggishly, Zo'or and Le'er drove through the neighborhood. The kids ran and hid as the truck turned down the street.
    "I bet they're loving this," William Boone scandalized.
    Da'an just wore a small, subtle grin.
    After a few minutes, the ice cream truck came rolling by again. Boonea had a naughty thought.
    "Go ahead," nodded his Companion, reading Commander Boone's mind.
    William pointed his skrill and fired, blowing out the truck's tires. It stopped dead in the street.
    Le'er and Zo'or, still being serenaded by "If You're Happy and You Know It," desperately tried opening the doors to get out, but they couldn't. They shot murderous glances at Da'an, who continued to smile.
    "You locked the doors by remote control, didn't you?" Boone grinned at Da'an.
    "Let us out!" they heard Zo'or yell. "Turn that wretched melody off!"
    "I programmed their truck to continuously play the music," Da'an mildly gloated. "It shall not stop. No matter what."
    Zo'or and Le'er kept screaming to be let out, but Boone and Da'an just stood there snickering in amusement. "If You're Happy and You Know It" was still gaily blasting from the ice cream truck's stereo.
    "It looks like Happy Taelon Ice Cream will be going out of business." Boone observed the empty street. "So how long are we going to keep them trapped in there?"
    "As long as we desire," emphasized Da'an. "As long as we desire."
    * * *

   FIN
 
 

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