Ma'el: Thinker, Dreamer, Achiever

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 between the episodes "Through the Looking Glass" and "Infection," and also following my "Hostage" series. You should read my previous stories, "Hostage - Parts 1 through 4" before reading "Ma'el: Thinker, Dreamer, Achiever."

 Please feel free to use any of my characters for your own fanfictions, but keep their names and status quo as is in "Ma'el: Thinker, Dreamer, Achiever," and please tell me so I can read your story. For the purposes of this story, the characters of Tu’um, Ne’eg, and Ma’el will each be referred to as “she.” I want to differentiate between Da’an and Ma’el by assigning separate gender references to each of them. Also, Ma’el and Ne’eg seem like female Taelons to me. If you have a problem with that, then I’ll tell Kittykat to sick her Sephy on you!

 Summary: A Taelon physicist, Ve'ep, invents a time machine that transports several involuntary parties back to the Fourth Century B.C. where they meet Ma'el, the first known Taelon to live on Earth. A literal race against time ensues to rescue them from this potentially fatal time warp.

 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.
 

    * * *

    “May I inquire as to the function of this . . . contraption?” Da’an rhythmically gestured with his hands as he spoke atop the Big Chair.
    William Boone, Head of Interspecies Relations, and Ronald Sandoval, Da’an’s attaché, were assembled in Da’an’s audience chamber next to their Companion. Positioned in the center of the Taelon embassy was Ve’ep, an ambitious Taelon physicist. Ve’ep was taking the opportunity to show off his latest gizmo to his good friend Da’an.
    “I am quite pleased that I was able to design this apparatus,” said Ve’ep, holding up an odd-looking remote controlled device in his hand.
    Adjacent to Ve’ep was a generator made of virtual glass. It was tinted green and shaped like a mushroom.
    “Will you please explain its purpose?” Da’an repeated again. But it was obvious that the alien’s interest had been sparked.
    Ve’ep explained, “I have not yet tested it. However, I am optimistic that my machine will make journeys to periods past via quantum energy as reality.”
    “Time travel?” a stunned Boone blurted out.
    Sandoval elbowed his acquaintance.
    “Precisely.” Ve’ep directed his gaze at Commander Boone.
    William looked back at the inventor. Ve’ep was of medium height, had a thin head and an oval-shaped face. He was adorned in a deep forest green bodysuit, the standard uniform color of the Taelon physicist caste.
    “Might I give a demonstration?” Ve’ep offered to the group.
    Da’an seemed a bit cautious. “Proceed,” he instructed, somewhat hesitantly.
    Punching in numbers at random, Ve’ep pressed a button on his “remote control.” Instantly, the generator lit up brightly and then as if out of nowhere, a large, multi-colored portal appeared before them.
    As though in a trance, Sandoval walked toward the portal, in a mixture of awe and curiosity.
    “Agent Sandoval! Come back here at once!” Da’an commanded, more out of concern than anger.
    Sandoval turned to face Da’an and gave him an obedient bow before returning to his Companion’s side. But before any of them knew what had happened, the Asian implant was pulled into the portal by a mysterious gust of wind and energy.
    “Sandoval!” Boone yelled after his associate.
    The wind continued to whirl madly through the audience chamber. Its force was tugging at the rest of them. Da’an closed his eyes and gripped onto the arms of his chair, straining to resist the impending vacuum. But Boone felt himself being picked up and pulled into the portal as well. Ve’ep, clutching the remote control, was also sucked into the colorful abyss.
    Abruptly, the portal closed, and Da’an was left alone in the room.
    The wormhole opened again, and spat Boone, Sandoval, and Ve’ep out onto a grassy field. Both implants were lying facedown in the muddy grass, as Ve’ep stood and examined their surroundings. Then, the trio heard gunshots and bugle music in the distance.
    “Where is that coming from?” Ve’ep wanted to know.
    “Well, we’ll soon find out,” grimaced Boone.
    He pointed off in the distance where a huge mass of gray-uniformed cavalrymen were charging toward them on horseback. Sandoval aimed his skrill at the soldiers.
    “Don’t!” Boone tackled the attaché and they rolled across the field and scurried behind a large bush. Ve’ep hurried after them, and kneeled down next to the implants.
    Sandoval looked more than annoyed. “Boone, they could have killed us!”
    Commander Boone grabbed ahold of Ve’ep’s timer. He pointed to a four-digit number on the timer’s window: 1863. Boone shoved it in Sandoval’s face.
    “Don’t you see?! We’ve gone back in time!”
    Agent Sandoval did a double take.
    Ve’ep peered out from behind the bushes. The Companion gazed at a new group of blue-coated cavalrymen charging from the opposite direction.
    The inventor tilted his head. “Boone, who are the approaching warriors, the warriors adorned in human blue?” he queried.
    “Well…”
    “And for that matter, who are those of the same caste who are adorned in human gray?”
    Boone held up his hand and explained to Ve’ep. “Your time machine seems to have put us smack in the middle of the American Civil War.”
    “Please continue.”
    “The U.S. soldiers wearing blue are fighting for the North. The ones in gray are defending the South. We’ve arrived her in the year 1863, according to your time machine. During the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries, people from Africa were enslaved to work on American cotton plantations and to serve the masters who’d ‘purchased’ them. The Northerners are trying to emancipate the slaves through battle. However, the South has united against the North to resist granting slaves their freedom.”
    Already, the battle had begun on the field before them. Cannons blasted and gunshots rang out through the air, echoing along with the sounds of men shouting, men dying.
    “I apologize, as I have sporadic knowledge of Earth’s history,” Ve’ep elucidated. “But I assume from conditions on present-day Earth that the South was defeated and the emancipation of African natives was successful?”
    “It was.”
    Ve’ep looked thoughtful.
    “Pardon me, I hate to interrupt your little history lesson, Boone,” Sandoval chastised icily, “but we’d better get back to the present. Who is protecting Da’an?”
    “As much as I hate to say it, you’re right, Sandoval,” admitted Boone. “Ve’ep, how do we return to where we came from?”
    “I believe that by entering the desired digits of our present time and pushing this button,” instructed Ve’ep, pointing as he spoke, “we will be transported back to our year of origin.”
    Boone punched the numbers into the timer, and within a split second, the trio was sucked back in through the vortex, and landed with a thud in Da’an’s audience chamber.
    “Whoa! That’s one for the history books!” Boone exclaimed.
    Sandoval gulped. “I have a terrible suspicion that we’re in trouble.”
    Ve’ep, Boone, and Sandoval were still on the floor, sprawled out in front of two pairs of platform shoes. The two implants stared upward to take in two Taelon figures standing above them. One was Da’an, looking worried, upset, and relieved, all at the same time. The other was Quo’on, glaring at them angrily with his arms folded.
    * * *    “I don’t believe you,” pouted Jonathan Doors.
    “It’s true!” Commander Boone flashed an insistent expression across the table at Doors.
    “Boone,” Lili Marquette softly touched her partner’s shoulder, “you have to admit, it sounds a bit far-fetched.”
    “Lili, it did happen! Sandoval was there too!”
    “The Taelons are probably up to their old tricks again,” Jonathan Doors grumbled. “They must’ve made you think that you traveled back in time, Boone. I don’t give much credence to what you’re saying.”
    “Oh, I do,” spoke up Dr. Julianne Belman, who strolled into the room. She had been standing in the doorway, listening.
    “Julianne,” Doors began, “surely you can’t possibly believe . . . .”
    “Jonathan, for once, shut up,” Belman cut him off. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
    Doors was pouting even more, but complied. “Please explain yourself, Julianne.”
    “Ve’ep is a prominent pioneer in Taelon science,” Dr. Belman told them. “His inventions have aided the Companions in modifying and improving their current technology.”
    Doors still looked skeptical. “How do you know this?”
    “I’ve worked with Ve’ep personally,” the doctor answered. “He’s sharp, resourceful, and very driven. I wouldn’t put it past him to create a method of time travel.”
    “So is Ve’ep a good Taelon?” Lili inquired.
    “If you mean is he on the same wavelength as Da’an, then yes,” Belman replied. “However, although his intentions are good, my concern is that this new quantum portal of his may fall into the wrong hands.”
    “Such as Zo’or’s,” Boone finished.
    “Exactly.”
    Jonathan Doors now had a face that was excitedly lit up like a lightbulb. “This could work to our advantage.”
    Lili lifted her eyebrows suspiciously. “What do you mean, Doors?”
    “Don’t you see?” The billionaire raised his voice in jubilance. “If we can get our hands on this time machine, we could alter history and expose the Taelons for who they really are!”
    “Hold on, Jonathan,” Belman warned him. “Do you realize the repercussions which may occur as a result of what you’re proposing? You are suggesting that we disturb the very fabric of time.”
    “Belman’s right,” agreed Boone. “We can’t just jump back three years and cry bloody murder against the Companions. No one will believe us.”
    Doors looked Boone square in the face. “You could prevent Kate’s murder from ever happening.”
    Boone closed his eyes and pondered the idea. On the one hand, if he traveled back and stopped Kate’s murder, the entire course of history - - including his implantation - - would be changed. Nevertheless, he would give anything to be with Kate again . . .
    “And you,” Doors addressed Lili, “could save your brother from being hurt.”
    Lili closed her eyes and began having thoughts similar to Boone’s.
    “I have a bad feeling about this,” Belman sighed.
    Boone glanced at Lili and she nodded. “Do it,” he told Belman.
    Against her better judgment, Dr. Belman planted her specially-engineered “macrochip” trackers on the side of Boone’s and Lili’s heads, under their respective ears. She then spoke with Augur, who manipulated a radar code to trace Boone’s and Lili’s locations for wherever they went.
    Augur pointed to a computer screen, with a historical timeline on it. “This should indicate how far backward or forward through quantum energy you have traveled,” he said. “All we need to do is scroll left or scroll right, depending on the extent that you journey either into the past or into the future.”
    “How do we even know if the Taelons will let you two use Ve’ep’s machine?” Belman questioned Boone and Lili.
    “Well, the Synod will undoubtedly want to test it out,” Lili reasoned. “They’ll need human volunteers, so Boone and I will volunteer.”
    “Quo’on will likely assign us to explore a specific time period,” added Boone. “So we’ll go where he sends us. Once there, Lili and I will choose a year of our preference to shift over to.
    “Are you sure this is a good idea?” Augur pressed.
    “No, but I guess we’re doing it anyway,” Belman grumbled.
    “Augur, think of how this could benefit you,” brought up Doors. “You could travel back and stop the Taelons from bringing Juanita up to their mothership.”
    The hacker thought about that. Not long ago, his sister had been the victim of a cruel Taelon experiment, resulting in her untimely death. That reality had hit Augur so hard that Belman had been forced to give him and experimental tranquilizer to postpone any possible destructive behavior from him.
    “Well, it looks like we’re going back in time,” said Boone.
    Yet, all the while he was asking himself if time travel would actually lead to discovering the truth behind the Taelon agenda - - or simply cover it up?
    * * *    “I am extremely concerned as to the sensibility of this prospect,” Da’an conveyed. The alien was sitting atop the Big Chair in his audience chamber, speaking to Quo’on through a data stream monitor.
    “As am I,” emphasized Quo’on grimly. “However, we must pursue it. If Ve’ep’s quantum energy transportation device is successful, we may possess the ability to utilize it if and when our enemies arrive, if not before.”
    Da’an nodded in agreement. “I fear it may be our only alternative, if we wish to avoid sacrificing humanity as a whole.”
    In the next moment, Tu’um entered the Taelon embassy accompanied by her attaché, Agent Haji Jagdamba. The feminine Taelon, the Companion to India, was there to observe the second test of Ve’ep’s latest project.
    “Welcome, Tu’um,” Quo’on greeted the Taelon. The Synod speaker suddenly fleshed out his face now wearing his human facade, out of courtesy to Jagdamba.
    Agent Jagdamba bowed to Quo’on and Da’an, while Tu’um smiled at both of her fellow Companions.
    “It is my esteemed pleasure to witness this fascinating event,” Tu’um told them graciously. “Especially since it may provide a solution to the dilemma that our species faces.”
    “Most certainly,” said Quo’on. “Assuming this endeavor proves to be prosperous, if and when they arrive we will have two basic options. First, we might journey back in time with our operatives from Earth, and use select humans to defeat our antagonists.”
    “Or,” Da’an finished off, “we may journey back to an earlier period on our Planet Taelon, and apply human DNA to create a warrior caste within our race. By doing this, we would cause no harm to humanity and give our ancestors the gift to defend themselves and consequently, ourselves.”
    “As well as instilling in them the clarity and restrictions not to use their newfound power to hurt humans or any other species for frivolous reasons,” added Tu’um.
    Sandoval then entered, escorting Ve’ep into Da’an’s office. Boone and Lili followed behind them.
    “Thank you all for being here,” Ve’ep emphasized. He walked over to his generator, still centered dormant in the middle of Da’an’s audience chamber.
    “My, that is a marvelous object!” exclaimed Tu’um. She clutched both of her hands around one of Da’an’s palms and gave it a little squeeze. “Come, Da’an. Let us take a closer look.”
    Da’an felt hesitant after having seen the magnitude of Ve’ep’s creation. Nevertheless, he reluctantly let Tu’um guide him over to it.
    Boone stood next to Da’an. “I hope you understand why I have volunteered for this,” he spoke, looking deeply into his Companion’s eyes.
    The Taelon returned his friend’s gaze. “I do,” murmured Da’an, in a low voice. “Sadly, I fear that our bond may fade from our recollection if all goes well. It would be quite a bittersweet irony.”
    William was holding back tears. Da’an understood him, as he did Da’an. Everything the alien said had the utmost truth to it.
    Meanwhile, Tu’um was holding Lili’s hand tightly, glowing at her friend.
    “Lili, I anticipate that we shall gain a high magnitude of enrichment and further closeness from our upcoming venture,” Tu’um indicated.
    Lili Marquette blinked several times at her Companion. “What do you mean?” asked the captain, comprehending only some of what Tu’um was saying.
    “You shall see,” was her answer.
    Quo’on then spoke. “Ve’ep, I certainly hope we will not experience a repetition of the prior incident involving your transporter.”
    “Do not fear,” Ve’ep assured the Taelon leader. “I have increased the strength, velocity, and intellect of my invention.”
    Ve’ep suddenly realized his mistake in saying that. He remembered having been reprimanded by Quo’on, following the initial testing of his time machine. To make matters worse, Quo’on had lectured Ve’ep in front of the entire Synod.
    “You will temporarily yield your plans for this second test,” Quo’on commanded. “We had no knowledge of these modifications which you claim you have made.”
    In a stubborn act of defiance, Ve’ep stood up to Quo’on. “No,” the Taelon physicist refused. “I will perform my experiment.”
    Before Quo’on could say another word, Ve’ep had randomly punched in some digits on his timer, and activated it.
    Once again, a multi-colored portal appeared, as a large mass of wind and energy began swirling around the generator, growing and occupying more space with each second. This unstoppable force abruptly embraced Boone, Lili, Da’an, Tu’um, and Ve’ep, pulling them into the vortex.
    Sandoval and Jagdamba had backed up away from the force.
    “Da’an!” Sandoval cried out, as he watched his Companion disappear into thin air with the others.
    “What has happened?!” Quo’on’s voice thundered from the data stream.
    “Quo’on, help!” Sandoval pleaded meekly.
    With resigned frustration, Quo’on shut his eyes and glimmered a shade of anxious Taelon blue.
    “Where are they?!” demanded Jagdamba. “Where is Tu’um?!”
    “Where is Da’an?!” Sandoval shouted.
    None of them knew. The quintet had seemed to completely vanish.
    * * *    Plunk! Plunk! Plink! Plink! Plink!
    Boone, Lili, Da’an, Tu’um, and Ve’ep, each in turn, tumbled to the ground. The three Taelons’ bodily masses weighed less than the humans’, so therefore, Boone’s and Lili’s impacts were greater.
    Lili moaned from the painful fall. “Where are we?”
    Boone grabbed the timer from Ve’ep’s grasp. “According to the numbers, we’re in the year 355 BC”
    Irately, Da’an fluctuated shades of his facade. Firmly yet composed, the Taelon clutched Ve’ep’s arm. “Do you realize that you have just defied a direct order from Quo’on?” Da’an’s voice shook.
    Ve’ep closed his eyes and said nothing.
    Lili examined their surroundings. The group stood in what appeared to be a valley, with endless fields, forests in the distance, and grassy moors before them.
    “This place feels familiar,” observed the captain.
    Meanwhile, Boone was desperately clicking the switch back and forth on the remote control, to no avail. “The timer’s dead!” he shouted.
    Captain Marquette pulled out her global and tried dialing some coordinates. Nothing happened. “It looks like our globals are fried as well.” Boone tried his, but it didn’t work either.
    William looked over at Da’an, who seemed as though he was in a trance.
    “Da’an?” Boone called to his friend.
    No reply.
    “Da’an!” he yelled again.
    The North American Companion swiftly walked over to Tu’um and faced her. Tu’um had a serene glow, as if she and Da’an were communing.
    “I can feel it too,” whispered Tu’um.
    Ve’ep, also seemingly “hypnotized” as Da’an was, joined Da’an and Tu’um and the three of them joined hands.
    “What are they doing?” Lili wondered out loud.
    “Communing.” Boone knew. “Da’an! Talk to us, tell us what’s going on!”
    “Tu’um!” Lili called out. She ran over to the Indian Companion and touched Tu’um’s shoulder.
    Tu’um suddenly broke away from their circle and faced Lili. Da’an did the same to Boone.
    “We are at Strandhill,” Tu’um told Lili.
    “Strandhill?” Lili looked mesmerized. “How do you know?”
    As an answer, Tu’um matched her palm up to Lili’s and they touched. Warm light and energy flowed from Tu’um’s shakarava into Lili’s body. The pilot felt the warmth overtaking her being. She wailed loudly, as if in a perfect state of ecstasy, serenity, and knowledge. Da’an placed his palm against Boone’s, and a similar connection occurred between them.
    “Look!” piped up Ve’ep. The physicist pointed downward from the hill they were atop of. In the distance, about fifty feet away next to a sparkling pond, was a reddish Taelon figure in its true form. Then the Taelon shifted to a bluish tint. It was looking right at them.
    “Ma’el!” Da’an gasped in a hushed whisper.
    The three Taelon and two human visitors all hurried down the hill and approached Ma’el, who was now “fleshed out.”
    Right away, all five of them identified the obvious similarities which Ma’el shared with Da’an. Ma’el’s “human face” was exactly like Da’an’s, and the ancient Companion was dressed in simple Celtic clothing, beaded necklaces, and comfortable-looking deerskin sandals.
    “Nice shoes,” Lili complimented Ma’el, not really knowing what to say.
    “Thank you,” Ma’el replied in perfect English.
    Although the Companion sounded like Da’an, there was something about Ma’el’s demeanor that made Ma’el seem like a “she” to the two humans.
    Da’an glanced quickly at Lili and Boone. “Grand-parent,” Da’an smiled at Ma’el.
    “Da’an,” Ma’el responded. She extended both of her hands to Da’an, and he took them. “You have come from the future. By accident, albeit. Still, you have come.”
    The two of them began speaking in heavy Euonia.
    “What are they saying?” Lili asked Boone.
    Boone listened carefully, translating. “It’s a more complicated dialect than I’m used to,” he repeated. “They sound like they’re sharing their lives with each other.”
    Ma’el stopped short from talking with her relative, and looked at Boone. “You understand us.”
    It was more of an observation than a question.
    “Some of it,” Boone confirmed. “Da’an has taught me to read and speak Taelon.”
    “We have much to discuss,” said Ma’el. “Please, come forth.”
    Ma’el joined one of her hands with Da’an, and the other hand with Tu’um. The three of them lightly stepped across the valley, with Boone, Lili, and Ve’ep trailing behind. Ve’ep seemed a little sad that Ma’el hadn’t extended her hand to him as well. Da’an and Tu’um, each of them next to Ma’el walking by either side of her, were peacefully leading the group forward, as though they were being telepathically guided by their Taelon matriarch.
    After a figuratively timeless journey over the many moors of Strandhill, their venture ended. A sizable audience of Celtic natives in archaic dress gathered around Ma’el curiously, so their beloved Companion could introduce them to her new friends.
    The kind, wise alien spoke to her admirers in a soft Celtic lilt. A few of them nodded, and the gallery of awestruck Celts temporarily adjourned. Ma’el invited the travelers into a small cave embedded in a hillside.
    “I am pleased to meet all of you,” Ma’el cordially expressed. “It makes me happy to be able to exchange thoughts with my fellow Taelons, and be in the presence of all of you wonderful beings.”    They were all sitting around a pit bordered with stones, inside of the cave. Da’an, Ma’el, and Tu’um went into a short meditation, the three of them seated together, surrounded by breathtaking swirls of cloudy, sparkling energy. Ve’ep watched them silently, along with Boone and Lili.
    Boone turned to Ve’ep. “What are they doing?” he asked.
    “Communing. They have formed a commonality all of their own.”
    Lili had a confused look on her face. “I thought the entire Taelon species is linked by one collective commonality?” she asked Ve’ep.
    “We are. Regretfully, the immense time barrier that we have crossed prevents Da’an, Tu’um, or myself from having any contact with our own race back in the present.”
    “Why don’t you participate in this newly-formed commonality?” Boone questioned.
    Ve’ep sighed. “I feel I am not worthy of their company. It was I who put us into this difficult situation. Furthermore, I am not the same as Da’an and Tu’um.”
    Lili felt deeply sad for Ve’ep. How lonely he must be! She traded glances with Boone. They were both wondering what Ve’ep meant by saying he was “not the same” as Da’an and Tu’um.
    “I’ll tell you one thing,” Lili said to Boone. “When I thought of time travel, I was imagining Roman gladiators and Egyptian pyramids. I definitely never expected this!”
    * * *    Augur sat wide-eyed, his face glued to the computer screen.
    “What is it?!” Doors demanded abruptly, standing behind the inventor.
    “Whoa, I didn’t anticipate for them to go back this far!”
    “What? What?!” Jonathan Doors was getting impatient.
    “I’ve tracked Boone and Lili’s time period.”
    “So my macrochips worked?” Belman joined them, and began to study the computer monitor.
    “Yes Belman, they worked. Too well.” Augur swiveled around to stare the doctor straight in the face. “And what’s with you taking all the credit, Julianne? I helped you create, engineer, and program the tracking devices. They’re my macrochips too, you know! Or did you forget that?”
    “Who cares?!” Doors cut in briskly, through gritted teeth. “Spill the beans, Augur! Where are Boone and Marquette?”
    “In the Fourth Century BC, according to my calculations Which,” Augur smirked, swiveling back to face the computer screen, “are obviously correct, of course.”
    “You’re kidding!” gasped Belman.
    “That’s impossible!” Doors pounded his fist on the table. “They were only supposed to go back a few years . . . toward the beginning of the century!”
    “Looks like they took a detour,” Augur stated wryly.
    * * *    “Have you figured it out yet?”
    Boone was leaning over Ve’ep’s shoulder, as the Companion physicist attempted to fix his misconfigured timer.
    “Not yet. Soon, I hope.”
    Ve’ep was using his shakarava to redirect neuron and electron particles through his atomically-structured timer.
    “It was built internally with atoms, as opposed to human-manufactured materials,” Ve’ep had explained earlier. “I must use my mind to re-align them in the correct positions.”
    “Boone.” Ma’el touched the commander’s elbow. “Please join us. We are soon to commence with the ‘gift ceremony.’ I believe you will find it most . . . intriguing.”
    Curiosity got the better of him. William Boone followed Ma’el into her cave, where the entirety of the native community was assembled.
    Speaking in what sounded like a mix of Gaelic and Welsh, Ma’el proceeded to fluently address her loyalists. They had formed a thick semi-circle, and Ma’el moved from person to person, sometimes touching them gently on their arm or over their heart, but sometimes placing her shakarava over their forehead. She seemed to know instantly who to touch on the forehead with her shakarava. When Ma’el did this, her shakarava would shine brightly and the chosen person would moan in delight. All the while, Ma’el kept smiling warmly.
    “She’s giving them psychic powers,” inferred Lili, still quite stunned at the notion herself. “I still can’t believe we got psychic abilities from the Taelons.”
    Tu’um looked as though she was having the time of her life. The Companion to India was turning every color of the rainbow, horizontally across Tu’um’s body. Once the ceremony was over, Tu’um put on her human face again and walked over to Ma’el.
    “You are using your gift well, Tu’um,” Ma’el conveyed to her, proudly. “Your benevolence will do humanity go much good if you continue on this path.”
    “I feel at one with Earth,” voiced Tu’um honestly. “Ma’el, our planet of Taelon will always be my home and it will eternally have a place in my heart. But our race could learn invaluable entities from humanity. They are a beautiful species. I feel so…linked to them.”
    Ma’el touched Tu’um’s face maternally. “I was present when you were created. From the moment you were conceived, I knew you were a special being.”
    Tu’um beamed happily.
    “Let me introduce you to Lili,” Tu’um offered. The Taelon summoned Lili toward them with a hand gesture. “She is my Earth companion.”
    Lili blushed shyly, and Ma’el took Lili’s hands and held them. Captain Marquette closed her eyes - - again - - as though it was all merely an extraordinary dream.
    Soon, Da’an came over to join them.
    “And Da’an, my child,” uttered Ma’el joyfully, as she glanced swiftly at the humans. “It is beyond words for me to once again be in the presence of you, the Taelon created by those who I helped to conceive.”
    “I am most repetant,” Da’an confessed, “because I cannot recall your guidance or even your presence from during my earliest years as a child on Taelon.”
    “I departed for Earth shortly following your birth,” explained Ma’el. “But your accomplishments have far extended any wealth or prosperity I could have ever wished for you. Stay on your current path, Da’an. Work with Tu’um, together you can lead our race to revitalize ourselves as well as humanity.”
    “I will,” Da’an assured Ma’el. “So you then know that the Synod did not heed your warning?”
    “Unfortunately, nothing you or I or any other Taelon can say will change the leadership of the Synod. You must strive to become the true leader of our future - - and of Earth’s,” Ma’el elucidated to Da’an. “It is destined to be this way. You and Boone are destined to be together - - even if only in spirit.”
    “I know,” agreed Da’an. “I know.”
    * * *    Quo’on’s face appeared in a data stream at Zo’or’s office.
    “What is the matter, Quo’on?” Zo’or sounded slightly annoyed.
    “You have cut yourself off from us,” observed Quo’on. “Why?”
    “I need to be in solitude,” Zo’or said defensively. “Does that present a problem for you?”
    Quo’on shifted his eyes downward. “I have released a message into the commonality,” he told Zo’or, “but could sense your isolation from us. I felt it was only fair to inform you of this matter?”
    Zo’or reclined back on his throne-like chair. “What is it?” he asked, in somewhat of a non-committal tone.
    “Da’an, Tu’um, and Ve’ep have disappeared into Ve’ep’s quantum energy vortex, along with Commander Boone and Captain Marquette. We have reached out in an attempt to speak with Da’an, Ve’ep, or Tu’um, sadly to no avail.”
    “Oh. What a shame,” remarked Zo’or, not sounding the least bit sympathetic.
    “My inference is that our misplaced Companions and operatives have journeyed back into the past.”
    “That is absurd!” scoffed the Companion to the U.N. “They were most likely disintegrated or perhaps reconfigured.”
    “I have spoken to Dr. Belman,” Quo’on continued, ignoring Zo’or’s hypothesis. “She has engineered a macrochip planted on the bodies of Boone and Marquette. According to Belman, her macrochip can trace their location. I will be contacting Ne’eg to consult with her on the scientific logistics of this phenomenon. As the Taelon geographically closest to Da’an, I am assigning you to summon Belman to the embassy in Washington D.C. The four of us shall rendezvous there with Da’an’s and Tu’um’s attaches.”
    Before Zo’or could protest, Quo’on’s face had vanished from the screen.
    * * *    “Hey, slow down!” Lili rushed to keep up with Boone, who was energetically trudging across the scenic hillsides of Strandhill not far from Ma’el’s cave.
    “I can’t help it. There’s just so much beauty to take in.” Boone inhaled a refreshing gulp of air as he viewed the magnificent countryside.
    “Yeah, it’s amazing. But what’s even more amazing is that we’re actually here,” Lili spoke dreamily, “with Ma’el.”
    “And Da’an,” added Boone.
    “And Tu’um,” added Lili.
    “Paradise.” Boone had a far-away gaze in his eyes.
    They both enjoyed a moment of silence.
    Suddenly, Lili let out a blood-curdling scream.
    William saw a large spear sticking out of the captain’s arm. He then spotted the culprit: a Celtic native, armed with a load of spears, half-hidden and rustling around in the brush.
    Boone aimed his skrill, but the Celt had marksmanship faster than the blink of an eye. With one nimble release of his bow, another of the native’s spears flew right into Boone’s shoulder. Commander Boone yelled in pain, launched a couple of swear words at the Celt, and collapsed to the ground. Simultaneously, Boone’s skrill ejected its forced upward into the air, and blew the tops off a couple of trees. The skrill blast echoed through the valley, along with Boone’s and Lili’s shouting, as the native fled.
    Consequently, Ma’el’s native friends discovered the two humans’ whereabouts and carried them back to their community.
    The commander and captain groaned in excruciation. Da’an held Boone’s hand while Tu’um held Lili’s. Their Companions could only be there for their human counterparts, letting their touch slowly heal and ease the pain until a plan of action could be worked out. Still, the blood continued to run. Ma’el looked deeply concerned.”
    “I fear they may bleed to death,” Ma’el somberly stated. “We do not have the proper medical necessities which they require.”
    In the next instant, Ve’ep came over to join them, glowing excitedly.
    “I have made the repairs,” he smiled. “The device should work.”
    Ma’el grinned proudly and touched Ve’ep’s arm. “You have done well,” she said.
    Ve’ep couldn’t have been happier than for him to hear that from Ma’el.
    Da’an looked at Ve’ep. “Return to the present, at once,” he commanded. “If Quo’on summons Dr. Belman, she can bring medical supplies and return with you to tend to Boone and Captain Marquette.”
    Nodding agreeably, Ve’ep clicked on the remote control and the portal appeared.
    “I shall return,” he called to them, and jumped through. Within seconds, the portal had closed back up.
    “He will return,” Tu’um assured them.
    “Ma’el,” Da’an addressed his kin, “will our . . . visit here alter the historical sequence leading your eventual passing?”
    “No,” Ma’el touched Da’an soothingly. “I will still will myself to die, and will still leave the time capsule for you to find. Obviously, you have uncovered it?”
    Da’an nodded. He also understood Ma’el’s need to embrace the void, and her reluctance to change the course of history to will herself to live.
    “Do not be afraid,” Tu’um whispered to Lili. “All will be well.”
    Lili was positive that she could take Tu’um’s word for it.
    * * *    “Uh, oh. This can’t be good.” Augur glared at his computer monitor.
    Belman stood next to him and sighed anxiously. “It’s what I feared.”
    “What?!” demanded the computer-illiterate Doors.
    “Boone and Lili,” explained Augur. “They are dying. At least, some of their skin cells are.”
    “How do you know that?!”
    “The macrochip measures body cells, heart rate, blood pressure, all kinds of goodies,” Belman lectured. “See the decreased visual spectrum of color?” She pointed to the screen. “That indicates that both Boone’s and Lili’s bodies are winding down. They must have gotten hurt somehow.”
    “So what do we do?” Doors wanted to know.
    Belman’s global beeped all of a sudden. The doctor opened the link and was dismayed to be staring at Zo’or’s face on the screen.
    “Dr. Belman, report to the D.C. Embassy,” Zo’or spat out. “Da’an’s office. Immediately.”
    “Thanks for saying ‘please,’ Zo’or,” Dr. Belman responded bitterly. She cut the link before he could say anything else. “Looks like you’re on your own, Augur. I’m wanted by the Great Taelon Twit.”
    “Which one?” sneered Doors.
    “Baby steps, Jonathan,” advised Belman as she headed for the exit. “Baby steps.”
    * * *    “There is hope,” Quo’on attempted to smile at Ne’eg through the monitor that his face appeared on.
    The Taelon surgeon was in Da’an’s office standing before the monitor that contained Quo’on’s face. Ne’eg couldn’t help but revert back to her true form in a state of trepidation for the safety of her fellow Companions. She was a brilliant scientific prodigy in the Taelon medical community, yet, could be fragile at times, both physically and emotionally. For that reason, Quo’on acted as sort of a fatherly figure for Ne’eg.
    Standing next to Ne’eg was Ve’ep, who’d just returned from the Fourth Century BC.
    “Am I to accompany you when you travel back again?” Ne’eg inquired to the physicist.
    “Yes,” replied Ve’ep. “Boone and Marquette are both wounded severely. We will require both yourself and Dr. Belman to care for them.”
    Sandoval cut in. “What is Da’an’s condition?” the implant interrogated Ve’ep.
    “Da’an is well,” Ve’ep answered, “as is Tu’um,” he added turning to Agent Jagdamba.
    Jagdamba breathed a sigh of relief.
    Then Zo’or abruptly strode into the embassy with Dr. Belman trailing behind him, rolling her eyes.
    Zo’or indignantly scanned the room. His eyes met with Ne’eg’s and Ne’eg quickly turned her head away from him. She had been harassed by Zo’or before and had a very cold attitude toward him. He had tried to push Ne’eg into performing an inhuman surgery on Augur’s sister, Juanita, and had even threatened Ne’eg’s life when she refused his order.
    “So what’s our plan?” Belman asked the room in general, with her emphasis on Quo’on.
    “Do you possess your medical equipment?” Quo’on surveyed Belman.
    The doctor held up her medical bag containing enough high-tech equipment for both her and Ne’eg to use.
    “Very well,” said Quo’on. “Proceed to the portal.”
    Ve’ep clicked the timer and the colorful vortex appeared once again. He gestured for Belman and Ne’eg to jump through.
    “Well, it sure looks safer than any carnival ride,” Belman commented.
    Ne’eg took Belman’s free hand. “Come.”
    Together, they hopped in.
    “Sandoval, go forth as well,” urged Quo’on.
    Agent Sandoval leaped into the swirling vortex. Ve’ep followed him through it.
    Mischievously, Zo’or flashed a devious stare at Quo’on, and without permission, jumped into the portal after Ve’ep. In the next split second, the portal was gone.
    “Zo’or!” Quo’on sharply called after him.
    But Zo’or was gone with the rest of them.
    “Aw, I always have to stay behind while everyone else has all the fun,” Jagdamba muttered, pouting.
    * * *    Belman, Sandoval, Zo’or, Ne’eg, and Ve’ep whooshed to the ground. Plunk! Plunk! Plink! Plink! Plink! Ve’ep and the two humans immediately noticed Zo’or’s presence.
    “Zo’or!” Belman sounded angry. “You were supposed to stay behind!”
    “Oh, pity,” Zo’or sardonically mumbled, “and here I am.”
    Dr. Belman looked upward at the sky. “Oh lord, help us all!” she exclaimed.
    Sandoval helped Zo’or to his feet, and then did the same for Ve’ep and Ne’eg.
    “So you don’t help the old woman up, eh Sandy?” Belman hinted sourly.
    “Sorry.” Sandoval offered his hand to her.
    “I’ll remember this come Christmas time, you know,” she teased the implant.
    “Look.” Ne’eg slowly raised her arm and pointed.
    There was Ma’el, standing before them all.
    “Da’an?” Sandoval spoke, mistaking the Taelon matriarch’s identity.
    “Not quite,” smiled Ma’el, with a hint of laughter in her voice.
    “You nitwit, that’s not Da’an, it’s Ma’el!” Belman gave Sandoval a playful slap on the back of his head.
    “Come, I will take you to your friends.” Ma’el escorted the group to her cave.
    Right away, Belman and Ne’eg got to work. Ne’eg removed the arrow from Lili’s arm, and applied pressure to the bleeding. Dr. Belman did likewise for Boone’s wounded shoulder. Then Belman and Ne’eg began to confer and evaluate which medical tools to use on the victims.
    Meanwhile, Zo’or was sizing Ma’el up and down.
    “You are disgraceful,” he sneered, grimacing at the earthy Taelon.
    She grabbed Zo’or’s hands. “As Katya Petrenko has likely told you by now, you must change your way of thinking, Zo’or,” Ma’el advised him.
    But Zo’or abruptly pulled away from Ma’el. “Be ashamed of yourself,” he told her.
    Ma’el looked down at Zo’or’s feet. “Nice shoes,” she smiled sarcastically, examining Zo’or’s platform shoes.
    Da’an came to Ma’el’s side. “Ma’el has been on this planet much longer than you have,” Da’an informed Zo’or. “Perhaps you could give credibility to her experience.”
    “I doubt it,” Zo’or said coldly.
    “Then you leave us no choice,” Tu’um addressed Zo’or, as she joined them. “We will unify against you and those who think similarly to you.”
    “The Synod does not trust any of you,” growled Zo’or. “Especially not you,” he added looking straight at Da’an.
    “Since when do you speak for the entire Synod?” Da’an tilted his head.
    “I believe that is Quo’on’s occupation,” Tu’um put in, with mock realization.
    Ma’el smiled at her friends, Da’an and Tu’um. Zo’or began turning blue.
    “Control your temper, Zo’or,” giggled Tu’um, saying that to Zo’or as she always did.
    Ma’el suddenly let out an amused giggle, as well.
    “Do not laugh at me!” Zo’or stared around, and then spotted Ve’ep. “Get me out of here!” he demanded to the Companion inventor.
    “We shall all leave together,” Ve’ep answered neutrally.
    Meanwhile, Boone and Lili were both gradually but encouragingly gaining back bits of strength.
    “Thank you,” Lili whispered to Ne’eg, smiling.
    “You must rest now,” Ne’eg told Lili soothingly. She began softly caressing Lili’s head.
    Ne’eg felt a hand brush against her arm as lightly as a soft feather. It was Ma’el.
    “Take pride in your work,” Ma’el told her. “You are an integral contributor to our Taelon race.”
    “Thank you,” whispered Ne’eg, blushing in spite of herself.
    “It is time,” announced Ve’ep. “Let us depart.”
    He clicked the switch on his timer and the portal opened.
    “There is no force of wind to insist upon enveloping us,” Da’an observed.
    Ve’ep explained, “A simple change in the physics of my apparatus.”
    Belman gently picked up Lili with her arms. “Sandoval, carry Commander Boone through the vortex,” she instructed.
    Sandoval reluctantly took hold of Boone, following Belman’s orders.
    “Continue to have faith,” Ma’el called after Belman, who had already hopped through the portal carrying a groggy, sleepy-eyed Lili. Boone mustered a tiny smile at Ma’el as Sandoval transported himself and the commander into the vortex after Belman and Lili.
    Ne’eg gave Ma’el a cordial Taelon hand gesture and disappeared into the wormhole. Zo’or leaped into the vortex as well, not even looking back.
    Tu’um and Ma’el held each other’s hands. “I wish you could return with us,” Tu’um lamented.
    “So do I. Unfortunately, it would complicate the fabric of time.”
    Tu’um nodded knowingly. “I understand. Be loyal to your people, Ma’el.” She indicated the fleet of Celtic natives who had gathered to marvel at the spectacular portal and see Ma’el’s visitors off. “You are one of them now. You will receive rewards from them beyond your deepest dreams.”
    “I already have,” smiled Ma’el.
    The two of them vibrated ecstatically, glowing in the very essence of the moment. Regretfully, Tu’um ascended through the vortex.
    Ve’ep stood, waiting for Da’an.
    Da’an and Ma’el joined hands. For countless moments they could not find the words to describe the hesitance of their parting. But they knew that somehow they must .
    “You are the key to our future, Da’an,” breathed Ma’el profoundly. “The void is not ready for your presence. You have much to do yet on this planet.”
    “I know,” sighed Da’an. “But I am slightly perturbed by the many obstacles which I meet along the way.”
    “You shall overcome them.”
    “Thank you, Ma’el.”
    “I love you, my Da’an.”
    “I love you as well, Ma’el.”
    Ma’el matched up her palm with Da’an’s. Their energy flowed from Da’an to Ma’el and vice versa.
    With one last look at his Taelon family member, Da’an sparkled with joy. He took Ve’ep’s hand and they entered the portal just as it closed up and faded.
    Ma’el bowed her head, in a combination of joy and sorrow.
    * * *    Whoosh! Once again, Boone, Lili, Sandoval, Da’an, Belman, Da’an, Zo’or, Ne’eg, Tu’um, and Ve’ep came flying out of the portal and landed one by one on the floor of Da’an’s audience chamber. Plunk! Plunk! Plunk! Plunk! Plink! Plink! Plink! Plink! Plink!
    Quo’on was standing there with his human facade on, waiting for them. He looked extremely upset. Assembled behind Quo’on were members of the Synod, all seated while in their true forms.
    “We’ve got two wounded!” Belman informed them. “Lili and Boone need to get to the hospital immediately!”
    Sandoval was already dialing up the ambulance.
    “I regret that we received an unwelcome visitor while on our journey in the Fourth Century BC,” lamented Da’an, fixing a quick glare on Zo’or.
    “The Synod is aware of that,” Quo’on told them, “and we are most displeased. However,” he frowned at Zo’or, “we shall address your violation of orders momentarily.” Quo’on then nodded at Ne’eg, “You have done well,” he told the Taelon scientist.
    Ne’eg smiled. “Thank you,” she responded, giving Quo’on a Taelon salute.
    Da’an touched Ne’eg gently on her shoulder, and the two of them stepped aside.
    Quo’on faced Ve’ep, who avoided direct eye contact with the Synod speaker. “You have allowed your experiment to get out of hand,” he told the Taelon physicist. “The Synod is hereby suspending your assignments until further notice. Additionally, we will confiscate your quantum energy apparatus and isolate it from further testing . . . for now.”
    Tu’um placed her hand on Ve’ep’s wrist lightly. “You did not know what would happen. Do not blame yourself.” She turned to Quo’on. “Aren’t you acting a little melodramatic in regard to the matter at hand? The situation is not entirely the fault of Ve’ep.”
    “It is not my decision,” Quo’on answered flatly. He circulated over to Zo’or. “As for you,” he addressed the U.N. Companion, “your actions shall not go unpunished.”
    “Why, what transgression have I ever committed?” chastised Zo’or, as he stuck his nose up in the air.
    “Are you kidding us?!” Belman stomped up to Zo’or. “Ha! You know exactly what you did, Zo’or. We were trying to aid and tend to Lili and Boone, but you came along for the ride just to see if you could make any trouble!”
    “Very well, Dr. Belman. You have made your point,” said Quo’on. “Now if you will be seated . . . .”
    “No, I’m not finished, Quo’on.” Without letting Quo’on intervene, Belman rushed right ahead angrily. “Zo’or, you were dead weight to us. Not to mention you rudeness toward our host, Ma’el. What was the purpose of that, anyway?!”
    “It should be obvious,” piped up Tu’um. She walked over and stood next to Belman. Jagdamba hurried to Tu’um’s side. “We have seen the way Zo’or treats others. He did no differently with Ma’el. Zo’or attempted to intimidate her, hoping to consequently alter the course of time.”
    “One moment,” interjected Quo’on. “You befriended Ma’el during your journey?” Quo’on sounded amazed, and somewhat excited.
    “Yes,” Ne’eg offered. “Ma’el is truly a benevolent being. She . . . complimented me regarding my work. No one had ever complimented me before.”
    “That is because you are ordinary,” Zo’or scoffed. “Ne’eg, you are no different than any other Taelon of your caste. You are expected to work and carry out orders, and if you hope to be praised for it then you are a selfish being!”
    Ne’eg turned blue. “Ma’el would not tell a lie!” she insisted to Zo’or.
    “Of course she would not.” Tu’um gave Ne’eg’s hand a friendly little squeeze. “You ARE a special Taelon, Ne’eg. We all are.” Tu’um glanced at Zo’or. “Even you,” she said spitefully, out of the side of her mouth.
    That’s when Belman, who was on her way out to the hospital to oversee Lili and Boone’s care, removed a handful of the macrochips from her lab coat pocket, and handed them to Da’an. “These are specially engineered tracking devices,” she told Da’an. “I planted these on the nape of Lili’s and Boone’s necks in order to track how far back in time they traveled. I’m sure you can put them to good use.”
    “Thank you,” said Da’an. He accepted the macrochips from Belman, who gave him a sly little wink in return.
    “In any event, you must be punished,” Quo’on said to Zo’or. “You intruded upon a mission that did not directly involve you. I never permitted you to enter the portal.”
    “You never said I couldn’t,” Zo’or contradicted saucily.
    “The Synod will decide an appropriate sentence for you.”
    “Um, I think I have an idea,” Dr. Belman spoke up. “Let’s just say we can kill two birds with one stone here. Zo’or will be punished, and we’ll also have ourselves a new community service mandatory volunteer.”
    * * *    Da’an, Tu’um, Quo’on, and Dr. Belman stood outside of a hospital room window, peering in as they watched Zo’or work.
    “Are you positive that this will teach him a lesson?” Quo’on inquired.
    “Really, it’s not that hard of a task,” Belman commented. “It’s so minor that we make our hospital orderlies do it.”
    “I believe it suits Zo’or well,” Tu’um observed.
    “As do I,” agreed Da’an. “At the very least, Zo’or will remember it as a very . . . enlightening experience in interacting with humans.”
    “This is repulsive!!!” they heard Zo’or shout from inside the hospital room.
    Dr. Belman laughed. “It looks like Zo’or has finally discovered the joy of changing bedpans.”

    * * *

    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 tell Kittykat to sick one of her numerous evil Sephy clones on you!