More Adventures in Taelon-Sitting

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 "Dimensions" and "Moonscape." You should read my previous stories, "Hostage - Parts 1 to 4," "Ma'el, Thinker, Dreamer, Achiever," "If You Think You Know The Taelons...," "Oh, Baby!," "Adventures in Taelon-Sitting," "Last Dance," "Girls' Night Out," "Say No More, Zo'or," and "Tell It Like It Is," before reading "More Adventures in Taelon-Sitting."

Please feel free to use any of my characters for your own fanfictions, but keep their name and status quo as is in "More Adventures in Taelon-Sitting," and please tell me so I can read your story. For the purposes of this story, the characters of Tu’um, Nu’um, Clu’um, and La’an will each be referred to as “she.”

 Summary: Zo’or enlists the aid of his young grandchild, Tra’or, to help him eliminate the grandchildren of Da’an and Tu’um. However, this task proves to be easier said than done.

 Special thanks goes to Brown Unicorn (aka Browny) for allowing me to use her characters of Ja’an, Julie, Agent Mike Stansfield, En’ley, and Mah’rie in this story. I’d also like to thank Tabakat for creating the character of La’an, who is mentioned in this story. These characters can be found in more of Browny’s and Tabakat’s stories. Please ask permission from these authors before using their characters in your stories. Another thank you goes to Tina Price, for creating the “Poetic Justice” thread at the Philosophy Sphere where one of her quips inspired a bit from this story.

 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.
 
 

    * * *

    Zo’or sat staunchly in his Big Chair in his private chambers aboard the Taelon mothership. The Synod speaker held his neck up stiffly. Standing before Zo’or was his grandchild, Tra’or.
    “Yes, grandparent?” Tra’or asked, giving his relative a Taelon greeting. Tra’or always sought to please his grandparent and attain his approval.
    “I need your assistance, Tra’or?” Zo’or stated, with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
    “Please elaborate.”
    “You are aware of several Taelons who pose a threat to our survival? Da’an, Tu’um, La’an, and others?”
    Tra’or nodded.
    “My objective,” continued Zo’or, “is to eliminate their impending threat to us, if they so proceed to resist the agenda of our race.”
    “How may I help, grandparent?” wondered Tra’or, eagerly.
    Zo’or smiled diabolically. “Both Da’an and Tu’um are quite emotionally attached to their respective grandchildren. Their grandchildren, Ja’an, Nu’um, and Clu’um, are still young enough to be susceptible to joining the void very easily at this point in their existence.”
    Tra’or understood his grandparent’s underlying motive.
    “You wish for me to . . . motivate them to join the void?” verified Tra’or.
    “Yes. I have the utmost confidence in you, my grandchild. You are closer to their age than I am, and therefore, you are better suited to act as a . . . catalyst for their demise.”
    “If it is what you wish, I will make every effort to turn it into a reality.”
    Tilting his head, Zo’or studied his grandchild’s facial features. “You realize why we must do this?”
    “Yes, grandparent,” confirmed Tra’or. “This strategic action will cause Da’an and Tu’um much pain.”
    “As for La’an,” Zo’or added, mentioning the Second speaker of the Synod and the Companion to Earth’s youth and artists, “we shall deal with her in good time.”
    “When will I receive the opportunity to infiltrate the grandchildren of Da’an and Tu’um?”
    “Very soon, Tra’or. I will be summoning Da’an and Tu’um to our mothership as a diversion. Meanwhile, I will assign Major Kincaid and Captain Marquette to entertain you and the other young Taelons. That is when you must make your move. You need not worry about Kincaid and Marquette. They will be unfamiliar with the . . . methodology that you will be using.”
    Zo’or and Tra’or exchanged shared glances of anticipation and excitement.

    * * *

    “It does not make any sense,” reasoned Tu’um. The exotic Indian Companion sat with Da’an in his embassy.
    “Zo’or is a young Taelon,” replied Da’an. The benevolent North American Companion closed his eyes and then opened them again. “He does not realize the potential consequences of his actions.”
    “I have discussed this with Co’al. We both feel,” lamented Tu’um, “that Zo’or must somehow be ousted from power.”
    “That will not happen in the near future,” Da’an grimly predicted, looking downward sadly. “Zo’or holds great influence with much of the Synod.”
    “Earth is not safe under his leadership,” sighed Tu’um. “You have seen what Zo’or has done to human children, the horrible experiments he has subjected them to. Along with human adults, this mistreatment and disregard does not bode well for humanity.”
    Ironically, Zo’or’s antagonistic face appeared on Da’an’s data stream monitor at that moment.
    “Speak of the devil,” mumbled Tu’um, bitterly.
    “I am holding a special conference on the mothership,” Zo’or informed them matter-of-factly. “It is exclusively for the chief Companions on each continent. There will be six Taelons present, excluding myself. Da’an, you are the primary Companion stationed in North America, and Tu’um, you are the Companion whom I have selected as representative from Asia. You both will attend the meeting.”
    “Very well, Zo’or,” sighed Da’an.
    Tu’um glared at the Synod speaker. She hated taking orders from Zo’or.
    “Tu’um, you appear ill-at-ease,” smirked Zo’or, observantly. “What troubles you?”
    “Zo’or, I have granddaughters who are currently on Earth for an extended visit,” Tu’um responded. “How do you expect me to look after them if I am at some meeting? I will NOT send Nu’um and Clu’um back to our Planet Taelon this early. They are not ready to leave yet, nor am I ready for them to leave.”
    “Calm down,” Zo’or instructed. “I have thought ahead. You underestimate me, Tu’um. I will be ordering Major Kincaid and Captain Marquette to . . . care for your grandchildren, as well as Da’an’s, while you both are away. Tra’or will also be in their care.”
    Da’an and Tu’um both grimaced. They remembered the chaos that had ensued during the last outing that Tra’or was present at with their grandchildren.
    “What if I desire Major Kincaid to accompany me on the mothership?” Da’an requested.
    “That is not an option,” stated Zo’or, obstinately. “Each of you will bring along two of your implants. I demand that security will be flawless. Da’an, you will bring along Agent Sandoval and another implant of your choice. Tu’um, you will bring along Agent Jagdamba and another implant of your choice. Both of you, choose the additional implant whom you will take with . . . now!”
    Zo’or folded his arms and waited for their replies.
    “Well,” sighed Da’an, “I suppose I must choose Agent Mike Stansfield as my second implant.” There really was no other choice. Mike was Da’an’s only other protector, aside from Liam and Sandoval.
    “If I must select someone,” Tu’um thought for a moment, “then I will bring Agent Hazrat Pandarasannadhi with. He is a most capable implant.” Tu’um had more supplementary Indian implants to choose from than Da’an did, and Agent Pandarasannadhi was one of her finest.
    “Zo’or, I still do not see why this meeting is necessary,” insisted Da’an.
    “Nor is it for you to question!” Zo’or rebutted sharply. “I have made my decision. We shall leave tomorrow.”
    The Synod speaker cut the link, and the monitor’s screen faded out.
    “As I was saying,” grumbled Tu’um, “Zo’or is unqualified as Synod speaker. Quo’on had the experience pertinent to making such significant decisions. Zo’or is hardly diplomatic, and it is obvious that he is pursuing his own questionable agenda.”
    “Tu’um,” Da’an addressed his friend, “I very much fear that your reasoning is correct.”

    * * *

    “The shuttle is waiting,” Agent Sandoval reported sourly.
    “I’d like to say good-bye to my wife and daughter first, thank you very much,” shot back Mike Stansfield.
    Da’an’s implant embraced his wife, En’ley, and kissed her tenderly. Then he picked up their daughter, Mah’rie, in her arms and hugged her.
    “The shuttle is not going to wait forever,” Sandoval grunted.
    “Aw, keep your pants on, Sandy,” Liam Kincaid called out crudely. “Let the man say good-bye to his family.”
    Sandoval gave Liam a childish glare.
    “Agent Sandoval is correct,” Da’an brought up, “in his assumption that Zo’or expects us to be prompt.”
    “Well, we mustn’t keep Zo’or waiting,” mumbled Mike, sarcastically.
    Da’an’s grandchild, Ja’an, came running out. Ja’an was almost like a miniature version of his grandparent.
    “Liam!” Ja’an shouted excitedly, when he saw his grandparent’s new protector. Liam and Ja’an had met before, and the Kimera/human hybrid had come across as very easygoing, friendly, and fun to the young Taelon.
    “Hey, Ja’an!” Liam picked up Ja’an and swung him around in a playful circle. Ja’an laughed happily.
    “Major Kincaid, you are going to make Ja’an dizzy,” Da’an cautioned Liam.
    “It’s okay, grandparent,” laughed Ja’an, as Liam gave him a piggy-back ride. “Liam is fun!”
    “Ja’an, please go to Julie’s quarters so she can prepare for this afternoon,” requested Da’an.
    “Come on, Ja’an,” grinned Liam, with a twinkle in his eye. “I’ll race you!”
    Liam and Ja’an scampered off to go get Julie, running all the way. As Lili emerged from the corridor and they passed by her, she laughed and shook her head.
    “So now we’ve got four kids at this embassy?” quipped Captain Marquette, rolling her eyes.
    Then three Taelon figures in their true forms appeared via data stream energy in Da’an’s audience chamber. One figure, that of a full-sized Taelon adult, belonged to Tu’um. Standing next to Tu’um was a smaller shaped Taelon, her granddaughter, Nu’um. In Tu’um’s arms, the Indian Companion cradled a tiny little Taelon in its true form. This infant Taelon was named Clu’um, Tu’um’s other granddaughter and Nu’um’s little sister. Tu’um, Nu’um, and Clu’um all fleshed themselves out so they each wore their human faces.
    “Lili!” Nu’um’s eyes lit up when she saw her friend. Lili smiled and gave Nu’um a big hug. “I’ve missed you so much!” exclaimed Tu’um’s granddaughter. Lili and Nu’um had not seen each other in awhile.
    Tu’um stepped forward. “Lili, I would like you to meet Clu’um,” she introduced her other granddaughter to Lili.
    “Hi, Clu’um,” Lili leaned over and whispered softly to the tiny Companion.
    “Hello!” blurted out Clu’um with an ecstatic giggle. Clu’um threw her arms around Lili joyously, and hugged Captain Marquette closely around the neck.
    “I believe she likes you,” smiled Tu’um.
    As Lili held Clu’um in her own arms, she noticed that this Taelon felt very light and didn’t have a great bodily mass. Clu’um was still extremely young for a Taelon.
    Agent Jagdamba and Agent Pandarasannadhi had each emerged from the teleportation system, as well. Jagdamba, Tu’um’s attaché, stood by his Companion’s side.
    En’ley turned to Lili. “Where are we taking the children today?”
    “We’re going to a carnival,” answered Lili. “I used to go there at times when I was a kid.”
    “A carnival?” Julie overhead Lili.
    “Yes, haven’t you ever been to a carnival, Julie?” Lili asked.
    Julie, who was blind, nodded in Lili’s approximate direction. “It was quite pleasant, from what I remember of it.”
    “What is a carnival?” Ja’an inquired, blankly.
    “You’ll see,” grinned Liam mysteriously, as he patted Ja’an on the shoulder.
    At that moment, Zo’or entered the embassy via his data stream. Tra’or was with him.
    “Uh, oh,” lamented Julie, tensely feeling Zo’or’s presence in the room. Julie had learned to detect whenever Zo’or made an entrance, since the room usually grew pretty quiet when he did.
    Zo’or glared at everyone in the room. “It is time to depart!” he snapped. “Da’an, Tu’um, bring your implants and we shall leave for the mothership!”
    “I will say good-bye to my granddaughters first,” Tu’um firmly insisted.
    “Yes,” Zo’or confirmed, in a sinister tone. “You will want to do that.” He looked at Tra’or and thought of his plan that would soon go into effect.
    Tu’um whispered to her granddaughters in Eunoia and gave them hugs. A tear trickled down En’ley’s cheek, as she watched Tu’um interact with Nu’um and Clu’um. En’ley held Mah’rie close, and linked her own hand lovingly with Mike’s.
    “That is enough!” ordered Zo’or.
    The Companion to India shot an angry scowl at Zo’or. “These are my relatives, I will take as much time with them as I desire!”
    Zo’or intrusively put his face inches away from Tu’um’s. Everyone watched as the two of them faced off.
    “I am your superior!” growled Zo’or. “You WILL show me the proper respect that I deserve!”
    Suddenly, Clu’um let out a frivolous, high-pitched giggle.
    “What are you laughing at?!” Zo’or demanded, facing Clu’um and shooting her a murderous glare.
    Clu’um simply pointed at Zo’or and laughed. “Funny man! Funny man!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands together like an orangutan and giggling.
    Zo’or fluctuated angry shades of blue, which only provoked more laughter from Clu’um. Tu’um smiled affectionately at her little granddaughter.
    All of a sudden, Clu’um reached out and tweaked Zo’or’s nose. “Silly nose!” she exclaimed.
    “Ow!” roared Zo’or, as his nose throbbed much to his annoyance.
    That did it. Everyone in Da’an’s office - - including the implants - - began laughing at Zo’or.
    “This is ridiculous!” The Synod speaker was outraged. “We will leave . . . NOW!” As he turned toward the exit leading to their shuttle, Zo’or stopped to face Liam. “I will hold you personally responsible if you let anything happen to Tra’or!”
    Liam wasn’t intimidated. “If Tra’or deserves a spanking, I’m gonna spank him!” he responded assertively.
    Zo’or briskly marched away, steaming. Da’an, Tu’um, and their implants followed.
    “Well, are you ready to have some fun?” Lili asked the children enthusiastically. “Oh, and Tra’or, this time no funny business, okay?”
    As Liam, Lili, and En’ley led Ja’an, Nu’um, Clu’um, Julie, and Mah’rie headed toward the shuttle they were going to take, Tra’or tagged along behind all of them.
    “You have no idea what I have in store for you,” he thought to himself, menacingly.

    * * *

    Lili landed the shuttle in suburban Washington D.C. They were right outside the LingRing Brothers’ Traveling Carnival, one of the most popular in the nation.
    “I grew up with the LingRing Brothers,” sighed Lili, happily.
    “Come on, let’s buy tickets,” suggested En’ley. She turned to Liam. “I wonder how much they charge for Taelon children?” she joked.
    “I wonder how much they charge for Kimera/human hybrids, like myself?” Liam queried, scratching his head.
    Suddenly, they heard a loud scream. Liam swiveled around and spotted Maiya, the newest member of the Liberation. Maiya had come from a parallel dimension. Augur and Liam had accidentally slid onto her world, and she insistently decided to return to their Earth with them, after losing her husband, Jason, during a battle against the Companions on her Earth. Maiya had screamed because she had been walking across the street and was almost hit by a car. Since they didn’t have cars on Maiya’s homeworld, she wasn’t fully accustomed to automobiles.
    “Lili! It’s Maiya!” Liam whispered loudly to Captain Marquette.
    Lili quickly handed En’ley some money. “Here, En’ley, you purchase the tickets for us. Give my ticket to Liam. I’ll be back in a minute.”
    Liam went off with En’ley and the kids, while Lili rushed across into the middle of the street and grabbed Maiya’s wrist. “Come on!” she urged the newcomer.
    “I’m sorry!” apologized Maiya, as she and Lili stepped onto the sidewalk. “I am still getting familiar with this strange world of yours.”
    “It’s your strange world now, too,” Lili reminded Maiya. “You need to become comfortable with our culture, or you’re never going to survive here.”
    “I will try,” Maiya promised.
    “Maiya, you can join our group,” offered Lili. “Liam and I are spending the day with a bunch of Taelon children.”
    “Taelons have children?!” Maiya spat out in disbelief.
    “Yes,” chuckled Lili. “Remember, on this world some of the Taelons are good.”
    “I guess I have not completely accepted that notion,” Maiya admitted.
    “Don’t worry, you will.” Lili smiled at Maiya. “Come on, you’ll have some fun at the carnival.”
    “Carnival?” Maiya spoke in confusion as Lili led her toward it. “What is carnival?”
    “A carnival,” Lili enunciated, “is a really fun and amazing place. You’ll see in a minute.”
    Lili purchased a ticket for Maiya, and the freedom fighter integrated herself into their group. As they approached the loud, lively, bustling carnival, Maiya raised her eyebrows. The aroma of hot dogs, fried chicken, popcorn, and frybread hit Maiya’s nostrils like a hurricane.
    “What an exotic locale,” Maiya proclaimed.
    “My thoughts exactly,” agreed Liam.

    * * *

    Ja’an was looking around excitedly, absorbing the carefree atmosphere of the LingRing Brothers carnival.
    “Hey, Ja’an! Wanna ride the Ferris wheel?” suggested Major Kincaid, pointing.
    Da’an’s grandchild followed Liam’s gaze and stared upward at the colossal Ferris wheel.
    “Let’s all ride it!” exclaimed Nu’um, clapping her hands together.
    “I think I’ll sit this one out,” En’ley laughed, giving her strawberry snow-cone a lick. Mah’rie was holding a grape-flavored snow-cone of her own. The juice from Mah’rie’s treat stained the young child’s lips a deep purple color as she ate it.
    “Well, Liam and I will take Ja’an and Nu’um on the Ferris wheel,” decided Lili. “En’ley, you and Maiya can watch over Julie, Clu’um, Mah’rie, and Tra’or.”
    Liam and Ja’an rode together in one seat on the Ferris wheel, while Lili and Nu’um rode together in another one.
    Meanwhile, Tra’or decided to make his first move. He chose Clu’um as his introductory target. Tra’or walked up to Clu’um and knocked her to the ground. He stood over Clu’um and began throttling her.
    “Die, Clu’um!” he hissed at her, telepathically. “Die!”
    However, as little as Clu’um was, she proved to be too strong for Tra’or to take advantage of. Clu’um held her ground, fearlessly staring Tra’or right back in the eyes.
    “You have silly face!” Clu’um telepathically shouted back to Tra’or.
    “Worthless Taelon!” Tra’or fired at her. “Embrace the void!”
    “Why you having trouble with your funny face?” Clu’um retorted.
    En’ley, being a part of the Commonality, overheard the two of them engaging in their telepathic exchange.
    “Tra’or!” En’ley reprimanded the naughty Taelon.
    Tra’or glared at En’ley.
    “Halt!” Maiya suddenly blurted out. She had seen the whole incident where Tra’or had pushed down Clu’um and tried to kill her, although neither Maiya nor En’ley had any idea that murder was truly Tra’or’s ultimate goal. They each assumed that Tra’or was just being a bully and exaggerating.
    “What?!” Tra’or snapped angrily at Maiya.
    Maiya picked up Tra’or and lifted him upward in one big swoop. To Maiya’s surprise, Tra’or weighed very little. Zo’or’s grandchild struggled against Maiya’s grasp, but Maiya was holding him so that he could not hit nor kick her.
    Julie was confused by what was happening. She leaned close to En’ley, and En’ley maternally clutched Julie and Mah’rie firmly yet gently.
    “Let go of me!” shrieked Tra’or, trying to break free of Maiya’s grip.
    “Sorry, child,” lilted Maiya in her accent. “I’m waiting until Liam gets back. He and Lili can give you your comeuppance.”
    Clu’um giggled uncontrollably as she pointed and laughed at Tra’or, who was trapped in Maiya’s strong arms.
    Tra’or blushed blue.

    * * *

    Liam munched on handfuls of fluffy, golden, buttery popcorn.
    “Want some?” he offered Maiya, holding out the bag to her.
    Maiya squinted at the popcorn-filled bag. “What is it?” she asked.
    “It’s popcorn,” laughed Liam. “Try some, it tastes great!”
    Lili squeezed on some mustard and added some relish to her plump, juicy, foot-long hot-dog.
    “And what is that?” Maiya sniffed the hot dog cautiously.
    “A hot dog.” Lili took a big bite out of it.
    “Does it taste good, Lili?” inquired an awestruck Nu’um.
    “Oh yeah!” grinned Lili, chomping another bite.
    En’ley was buying some corn dogs, one for herself and one for Julie; and she bought a hamburger for Mah’rie. While En’ley made the purchases, Mah’rie and Clu’um were playing a game of “patty-cake” with each other. They had become fast friends.
    “Who wants cotton candy?!” called out Liam, taking a big stick of fluffy pink and blue cotton candy from the concession stand.
    “I do!” piped up Julie. Liam gave her a big handful of it.
    Clu’um also grabbed two handfuls of cotton candy. She wasn’t able to eat any of it, but that didn’t matter to her. Clu’um liked the way how the cotton candy felt in her tiny hands.
    “May I . . . try some?” Maiya requested, almost frightened.
    “Of course,” replied Liam, holding out the stick of cotton candy.
    Maiya took a small pinch of it, and placed it on her tongue. Her mouth absorbed its sugary goodness.
    “Mmmm,” said Maiya. “This tastes . . . wonderful.”
    “Have some more.” Liam generously contributed more of his treat to Maiya.
    At the same time, Clu’um was sticking her cotton candy all over Tra’or. There was now pink cotton candy hanging from Tra’or’s ears and chin.
    “Blahhhh!” snorted Tra’or.
    Clu’um chortled in giddy delight. “Funny Tra’or!” she pointed at him and shouted.
    By now, Maiya was gobbling the cotton candy up. “Give me some more!” she demanded, when it was gone.
    “I think she’s addicted,” quipped Lili. “We got her hooked.”

    * * *

    “What are those, Lili?” Nu’um pointed at the bumper cars. “They look like such fun!”
    “Wanna ride them?” winked Lili.
    “Yes, I believe I would,” declared Tra’or.
    “Okay . . .” agreed Lili Marquette, hesitantly. She wasn’t sure if she felt comfortable with the idea of Tra’or driving a bumper car.
    “Well, let’s go!” Liam suggested, pumping his fist into the air.
    “It’s okay,” agreed En’ley. “Maiya and I will watch Julie and the younger ones while the rest of you ride your cars.”
    Lili handed Clu’um over to Maiya, while En’ley held Mah’rie. She, along with Nu’um, Tra’or, Ja’an, and Liam, got into the carnival car rides. Liam and Lili had to give the Taelon children a bit of instruction as to how to operate the bumper cars, but before long they got the hang of it.
    Tra’or got the hang of it a little too well.
    CLUNK!
    Zo’or’s grandchild purposely slammed his bumper car into Nu’um’s with all his might.
    “Hey!” shouted Nu’um, angrily.
    CLU-UNK!
    Tra’or had steered his car backward and rammed it right back into Nu’um’s car even harder the second time.
    CLU-U-UNK!
    Ja’an looked miffed as Tra’or’s bumper car collided into his.
    “Tra’or, leave us alone!” Nu’um scolded her peer.
    In response, Zo’or’s grandchild gave Nu’um a homicidal stare that made her tingle uneasily. Tu’um’s granddaughter tried to look away, but every time she turned back to Tra’or, their eyes met, Tra’or’s locked firmly on hers. It was as though she could not escape Tra’or’s evil gaze.
    “Hey, Tra’or!” a voice called out.
    CLUNK!!
    Liam had steered his bumper car right into the side of Tra’or’s, catching the young Companion off-guard. Major Kincaid snickered a jolly guffaw, and Tra’or fumed in annoyance.
    “That was fun! I think I’ll do it again!” Liam laughed.
    CLU-UNK!!!
    He’d bumped Tra’or again. Liam was laughing hysterically like a big kid, having the time of his life.
    CLU-U-UNK!!
    Tra’or felt his car being thudded into from the other side. Nu’um had reared back her car and crashed it into Tra’or’s. She was angrily glaring at him.
    CLU-U-U-UNK!!
    This time, Lili had ferociously rammed her bumper car into Tra’or’s.
    “That’s for pulling my hair during the last outing we went on!” the captain yelled at the Taelon child.
    Tra’or’s face was turning a very dark blue hue. It looked like nothing any of them had ever seen on a Taelon before.
    “Hi, ugly Taelon!” came the voice of a small girl child.
    A little girl was driving a bumper car, approaching Tra’or at what seemed like the speed of light. She collided her car against Tra’or’s with such great impact that it actually caused Tra’or to fly right out of his bumper car and land with a hard thud several feet away on the ground.
    “Mandy, what did you do?!” the girl’s mother called to her.
    Painfully, lying flat on the ground, Tra’or lifted his head up. He had landed by Maiya’s feet. As Tra’or looked up, he saw Maiya standing above him holding Clu’um in her arms. Clu’um was pointing at Tra’or and giggling inanely. Tra’or moaned out loud groggily.
    “All right!” whooped Liam. Major Kincaid exchanged high-five’s with Nu’um and Mandy.
    En’ley put one hand on her hip and shook her head, mildly amused. She made a “tsk-tsk” noise with her tongue.
    “Now am I going to have to call La’an on all of you?” En’ley smiled.
    “I could go for another round of that!” grinned Lili, gleaming wickedly at Tra’or.
    “Hey, I really will go get La’an!” threatened En’ley.

    * * *

    “Wait until you kids see the fun house!” gushed Liam, flashing his million-dollar smile.
    “It sounds like fun,” quipped Nu’um.
    They walked toward the brightly-colored giant fun house.
    “What is this place?” Maiya asked.
    “You’ll see,” replied Lili, mysteriously.
    As their group went in, they were greeted by a wall of mirrors on all sides of the rooms, walls, and corridors.
    “Oh, my!” exclaimed Ja’an.
    Liam snickered and went up to one of the mirrors. Major Kincaid made a funny face and stuck his tongue out at the mirror. Dozens of weird-shaped “Liams,” which were really just his reflection, appeared in many of the mirrors. Ja’an laughed, amused.
    Maiya looked at her reflection and shrieked out loud when she saw dozens of disfigured images of herself in the mirrors. The other “Maiyas” all shrieked back at their originator.
    Lili laughed. “Calm down, Maiya. It’s just your reflection, see?” Lili’s face appeared next to Maiya’s in each of the reflections.
    “Look at the mirrors, Clu’um,” Nu’um persuaded gently, as she held her little sister in her arms. Nu’um gazed into the mirrors and her face became distorted in many of them.
    Clu’um squealed. “Nu’um look funny!” she pointed at her big sister’s reflections and repeatedly clapped her hands together, laughing. Then Clu’um pointed at herself in the mirrors and released a hyena-like laugh. Clu’um liked her own reflection.
    “Ackkkk!” screamed Maiya.
    Someone dressed in a gaudy clown costume had suddenly jumped out at Maiya and scared her. Maiya gave the clown a swift judo-chop in the stomach, causing him to fall over.
    “Maiya!” Lili scolded. “It’s just someone in a costume!”
    “Oh. I’m terribly sorry, sir.” Maiya helped the clown up off the ground. “You simply frightened me to death.”
    “I need a vacation!” groaned the man in the clown costume, as he hobbled away clutching his stomach.
    En’ley was carrying Mah’rie and holding Julie’s hand, guiding the blind child. They had already wandered off to explore more of the fun house.
    The rest of them proceeded forward, with Liam and Ja’an excitedly leading the way.
    “Ja’an seems to have found himself a new friend,” observed Maiya.
    “Yeah, well Liam is more like a playmate for Ja’an,” Lili pointed out skeptically. “Boone was someone who Ja’an could actually look up to and learn from.”
    There were plenty of nooks and crannies in the fun house for them to explore. Twists and turns among the various corridors were even more common. Eventually, Ja’an found himself alone in a dark room.
    “Liam? Lili?” the young Taelon called out with uncertainty.
    “They are not here,” a hostile voice reverberated into the room.
    There was Tra’or, standing in the doorway. He adamantly marched up to Ja’an and stared at the young Companion’s eyes.
    “Tra’or? What are you doing?” Ja’an questioned his nemesis shakily.
    All of a sudden, Tra’or pushed Ja’an to the floor. He stood above Da’an’s grandchild and telepathically pounded negative vibes into Ja’an’s very being. Tra’or was sending Ja’an a message, a mandate persuading him to embrace the void.
    “No!” squeaked Ja’an, closing his eyes. “Grandparent! Will! Lili! Liam!” He called to all the people in his life. “Help!”
    But Tra’or would not let up. He was sending nasty thoughts of hostility and anger and jealousy to Ja’an, through their psychic link.
    “I envy you!” Tra’or admitted icily. “You with your ‘perfect’ human friends and your ‘perfect’ grandparent who expects nothing from you!” Zo’or’s grandchild flared in self-pity. “I would kill to have what you have!”
    “That is not true!” Ja’an cried out. “It is not like that at all! Please, Tra’or! . . .”
    It was no use. Tra’or was beyond reasoning with. He directed all of his hatred and animosity and guilt at Ja’an, all in one massive surge of energy. Ja’an was overwhelmed by it, and could not overtake the force.
    Tra’or walked away, hastily exiting the room. He assumed that his mission was one-fourth accomplished and that because of him, Ja’an was no more. That was Tra’or’s assumption.
    Ja’an lay lifeless on the floor in the dark room. Still glowing lightly.

    * * *

    Liam looked around, noticing that one of their charges was missing.
    “Where’s Ja’an?” Major Kincaid asked.
    “He was here just a moment ago . . . wasn’t he?” recalled Lili.
    “Tra’or . . .” Liam stared sternly at the troublesome Taelon child. “Do you by any chance know where Ja’an is?”
    Tra’or couldn’t make eye contact with Liam. “I have no idea,” he mumbled.
    “Ja’an is in trouble!” Julie suddenly piped up, looking grim. “I can feel it! He is still inside the fun house!”
    “Can you lead us to him?” Liam probed Julie.
    “Oh, for pity’s sake, Liam! She isn’t Lassie!” Lili rolled her eyes.
    “Who?” Liam looked blank.
    “Oh, never mind!”
    “No, I think I can find him.” Julie couldn’t explain it, but her bond with Ja’an seemed to be tied stronger than ever now.
    “Liam and I will go with Julie,” announced Maiya, taking charge. “The rest of you stay here.”
    Maiya handed Clu’um over to Lili and took Julie’s hand. The freedom fighter acted as Julie’s “eyes” as the young girl directed Maiya and Liam back into the fun house.
    “He’s here! I know he is!” Julie could hear Ja’an calling out to her. The permanent connection between them was pulling the human closer and closer to her Companion friend.
    Finally, they came across Ja’an’s body, lying immobile on the floor.
    “Ja’an!” Liam rushed over and kneeled down next to his Companion’s grandchild. Ja’an shifted his head slightly.
    Maiya guided Julie over to Ja’an. Julie touched Ja’an’s hand and the young Taelon regained consciousness.
    “Julie?” he asked, drowsily.
    “Yes! Oh, Ja’an! You’re okay! Aren’t you?”
    “I believe so.”
    Julie put her arms around Ja’an and embraced him. Ja’an’s bright glow returned to his skin.
    “Tell us, child. Who did this to you?” Maiya solicited.
    “Tra’or. He tried to force me to embrace the void.”
    “That naughty Taelon!” Liam smiled at Ja’an with compassion. “I’ll show Tra’or a thing or two for trying to mess with you, Ja’an.”
    Soon, Liam, Maiya, and Julie emerged from the fun house with Ja’an, whom Liam carried in his arms.
    “Ja’an!” Lili ran over, picked up Ja’an, and gave her young friend a big hug. “We were so worried about you!” She turned to the rest of them. “I think we’ve had enough excitement for one day, what do you say, gang?”
    “Yeah,” nodded En’ley. “Mah’rie is getting a little tired.”
    “Let’s go, then,” concluded Maiya.
    “Not quite yet,” Liam decided. “There’s still one thing I have left to do . . .”
    WHAP!
    “Auuggh!” wailed Tra’or, in pain.
    WHAP!
    “Auugghh!!!”
    “I said I was gonna spank you, Tra’or,” smirked the Kimera/human hybrid, “and Liam Kincaid always keeps his word.”

    * * *

    “Did you enjoy the carnival?” Tu’um asked her granddaughters, glimmering happily.
    “It fun! It fun!” cheered Clu’um, bouncing up and down. “We go again, please?!”
    “Yes, I had fun too,” Nu’um agreed with her little sister, pleasantly.
    Everyone was once again assembled in Da’an’s audience chamber. Much to Zo’or’s dismay, he had returned from his bogus conference to find Ja’an, Nu’um, Clu’um, and Mah’rie still alive and well.
    “Major Kincaid struck me!” Tra’or tattled to Zo’or, flashing a smirk at Liam.
    “Aw, shut up, you big baby!” Liam spat at Tra’or.
    “Grandparent, did you hear the way he spoke to me?!” growled Tra’or.
    “Silence!” Zo’or snapped at Tra’or. Infuriated beyond words, the Synod speaker grabbed his grandchild’s arm and pulled him away, departing from the embassy via a data stream.
    Lili, En’ley, and Da’an all stood there in confusion over what had just taken place.
    “I knew that kid was trouble from the very beginning,” Liam gloated.
    “Liam,” said Lili, releasing an exasperated sigh, “stuff it!”

    * * *

    “I gave you a task to complete!” Zo’or stormed angrily at Tra’or. “Why did you not complete it?!”
    Zo’or’s grandchild couldn’t bear to look at his disappointed grandparent. “I tried,” he admitted. “But Clu’um was too strong. She resisted . . .”
    “Clu’um?! That tiny little granddaughter of Tu’um’s?! You don’t mean to tell me that you were no match for her?!!” Zo’or flared.
    Tra’or looked down, ashamed. “She would not allow herself to embrace the void,” he mumbled.
    “And what about Nu’um?! You should have been able to eliminate her!! She is only a mere child!”
    Tra’or kept his eyes focused downward. He didn’t even want to begin to explain the situation to Zo’or where Mandy had knocked him flying right out of his bumper car.
    “I see.” Zo’or glared at Tra’or. “And Ja’an?! He is the weakest one of them all! You should certainly have been able to oversee Ja’an’s demise! I expected to see him die!”
    “He almost did!” Tra’or cried. “But that blind human girl knew where to find him. She saved his life!”
    Zo’or looked terribly disgusted, and seemed embarrassed to even be in the presence of his grandchild.
    “You have failed me, Tra’or,” Zo’or lamented. “You are no longer my grandchild.”
    Tra’or bowed his head in shame.
    “You know what you must do,” stated Zo’or.
    Reluctantly, Tra’or nodded. He went over to an operating table and sprawled himself out on top of it.
    “I regret this,” remarked Zo’or. “I had much hope for you, Tra’or. You have disappointed me beyond my comprehension. I have no more use for you.”
    Gradually, Tra’or began displacing his bodily energy particles. One by one, they slipped away from Tra’or’s decreasing body mass, floating off the mothership and into outer space. They were minuscule, glowing blue fireflies, cascading across the galaxy. Tra’or’s de-configured energy particles swept through the universe like graceful tidal waves journeying the sea, as they slipped into the void.
    And so Tra’or ceased to exist.

    * * *

    FIN
 
 

Copyright 1999 by Earthboy
Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final Conflict is property of Tribune Entertainment Company and is produced by Roddenberry/Kirshner Productions. No monetary profit is being made from this work. No infringement is intended. If you sue me, I will make you baby-sit Tra'or.