Author's note

I've been sitting on this story for a while (over a year actually) because I was stuck on Chapter 2 and I don't like to release my stories for people to read unless I know I'm going somewhere with them. I decided to post this one anyway because I really like it and hopefully I can publish more as I write it and I won't get seriously blocked. Also I'm calling the story Another Lifetime for now, but I'm not quite satisfied with that title. I may change it.

Disclaimer: I do not own the main character from the show or the main plot. However, all other names and terms are mine and mine alone.

Chapter One - A New World

The sun beat down its heavy rays on the desert which stretched on and on in a wide, unbroken panorama. The landscape was dotted here by a few scrub trees and there by a few rocks and boulders. In the largest of these clumps of boulders, safely hidden from inquiring eyes, a silver craft lay. This ship, for a ship it was, was completely circular in shape, about 80 feet in diameter. The rounded top and sleek surface closely resembled a mushroom cap. Overall it had an incredibly advanced appearance, that did not in any way match its primitive surroundings.

Would anyone by chance happen upon the craft, they would be hard put to find a means of entrance. The seamless sides gave no indication of a hatch, a door, or even a peephole. The massive hull worked as a complete silence barrier so any sound from the inside could not reach someone standing just outside and vice versa. This added to the barren and desolate view.

Inside the ship, however, life was happening. In the core of the ship, busy figures were nursing a pair of strange-looking engines. Above them was a large room, a gathering room for the travelers. Six travelers to be exact. They were there now, standing together talking anxiously.

"But did you see Captain Jarial's face?" came a sweet, feminine voice. "Something must be wrong, he is always so attentive. But now he does not even seem to notice us. He's never acted like that."

"Orasse," her friend sighed. "You never see anything bad in anybody. I'm surprised you're saying this now."

"But, Krinelde," Orasse replied plaintively, "it's true. He's such a good man, this behavior is out of character for him. Am I not right, Sanet?" She turned inquiringly to her husband.

"Hush. Here he comes."

Captain Jarial entered the room. Something was obviously wrong. He seemed weighted down and his usually purposeful stride was rather limp. "I have bad news," he said quietly.

Silence fell over the room. Everyone waited for him to continue, but he did not. He seemed loathe to divulge this negative information, a loathing especially obvious in his expression.

Finally one, Toran, voiced what they all were thinking inwardly.

"What is this news, Jarial?" His voice seemed to rouse the Captain.

"As the first three colony families, you have a right to know, since it affects you. Our recent discoveries about the Terranians have not rendered the results we expected." His voice was heavy with regret. "They are not ready or open to accepting a colony of refugees. We will have to abort the mission."

"You are the Captain and it is your decision, but we have already started to make preparations and they are not reversible."

"You refer to the Shankra- the go-betweens."

"Yes."

"Do not worry, Toran. They will be taken care of. Perhaps when we return home-"

"When we return home! We will return as a failed mission. We can't even be sure that we will be accepted back."

"Hush, Krinelde. This is not true."

"No, Toran, no. I love our world, but they have high standards and harsh consequences for failing to meet them."

They fell silent again. They all knew she was right. Finally Jarial spoke again. "Worek, Sanet, what about you and your wives?"

Worek was the one to answer. "We don't want to abort the mission unless it's absolutely necessary. Are you sure? It seems to me that you are taking a high hand in this matter. We are the ones who are going to be living here. You only transport us, we have to make a success of this colony so more Antarians may come live here. As soon as you finish dropping us off you may go back to Antar in safety. If we show up, we may be facing imprisonment or even death."

"Are you quite done?" Jarial asked icily. "Good. Let me get this straight. Your success depends on me also. You get to settle in on Terra- pardon me, it's called Earth by its native inhabitants. The Antarian government is relying on me and my education and knowledge of primitive life forms to make sure it's safe for you in the first place." His voice rose to a thunder. "So as long as you are still on my ship, I am in charge. I decide when you come and when you go. I decide when it's safe for you to settle in. After I'm gone, you may do as you please.

"Now to answer the question: All their histories have shown that they are very suspicious of everything different. They have always shown signs of extreme prejudism against even their own species. They have divided up their species into races and no one race will accept any other."

"I thought that was what the Shankra was for. I mean, we always knew that they wouldn't accept us outright. The Shankra was to help with that."

"Yes, Andell. That was the original plan. The prejudism is worse than we anticipated. There is no real chance that they will ever accept us. They might not even accept the Shankra. They also will be different. Sanet, we still haven't heard from you."

"Do we have to return home? Could we try another planet instead?"

Jarial shook his head slowly. "We need a planet whose elements fit our needs. These planets are few and far between. In fact, we haven't found another. Even if we could, our preparations for this planet have made it impossible. The Shankra we have created will only be useful on this planet and the process to develop the Shankra cannot be repeated. We have no other choice. We will have to return home."

"There's no way we can stop the development process?"

"No. For the Shankra to develop, we must take the cells from each of you and mix them with blank human cells to form an Antarian-Terranian life form. As you know this is so they have Antarian DNA and genetically they will be your children but with human cells that will give them a Terranian appearance. For them to work as go-betweens, as Shankras, they must be formed with cells from the inhabitants of the plane they were designed for. This is why the Shankra we have developed will only be useful here."

"How many of them have we made?" Toran asked.

"Four. Since you and Krinelde are the leaders, we have taken your combined cells and made two, one male and one female, to share the leadership responsibilities. From Worek and Andell, one, and from Sanet and Orasse, one. Now that the cells have already been combined and the development process has started, the Shankra are now living beings. To stop the process would mean taking four innocent lives and that would be morally wrong. We may be desperate, but not evil. Even though the Shankra are not fully developed, they are living beings and they have their rights."

Silence reigned over the group.

Toran was the first to speak. "We understand. Krinelde and I agree to abort."

"Sanet?"

Sanet knodded. "Orasse and I also agree."

"Worek?"

"Yes," he replied sullenly, still smarting from the Captain's severe reprimand. "Andell and I will make it unanimous."

Jarial turned to his log. "I will make is official." He made the entry. "We will return to our home planet, take the Shankra with us and try again."

"Have the Shankra's names been recorded yet?" Krinelde asked.

"See for yourself. It's written in the book."

They each silently read the names: Zan, Vilandra, Rath, Ava.

A/N: So there it is. I hope you like it. Feedback, even criticism is greatly appreciated.