Chapter 1: As Plans Go
Da'an spent most of the trip home sleeping. She never fully realized just how exhausted the ritual had made her until she slept soundly for three straight days. It was a peaceful sleep, but a dreamless one too. She did not know whether or not that was a good thing.
The ritual had also taken a lot out of Liam and Renee. He had no clue how, but Liam's limbs were all sore and stiff. After the third day of their voyage home, he had trouble walking. Renee was feeling nauseous for a while. For a whole day she was confined to her bed because the pain was so awful. When she finally did feel well enough to walk, she had trouble eating anything. The doctors kept telling her that nothing was physically wrong with her. It could only have been stress. It was coming back to haunt them all now.
When Da'an finally awoke, they were nearly home. Liam was there beside her when she opened her eyes. She found him staring off into nothing. She startled him when she touched his back.
"I'm sorry," she said quickly.
"It's okay," Liam sighed humorously. "I've been doing that a lot these days. How are you feeling?"
"Tired."
"Even after sleeping for three days straight?"
"Has it really been that long?"
"How could I not be sure about that? Renee's been reminding me all the time. I think the stress is messing with her system."
"I should speak to her. It may ease her worries." Da'an glided her hand across Liam's cheek where a tiny mark just a tad lighter than the rest of his skin was the only remnant of where Da'an had scratched him. "I can barely see the scar."
"That's good," Liam said.
"I am sorry for bringing you into all of this," Da'an said.
"Are you kidding me? If I could do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. I'd have been more worried about you on Earth than I ever did there."
"You are sweet for saying that."
Liam blushed. Da'an did too.
"This is a nice look for you," Liam said, trying to switch the subject. "If I didn't know any better I'd think you were a real human…a human who apparently never gets pillow head."
Da'an chuckled. "The hair is not the same as yours, Liam. It's not hair at all. It is just strands of energy and dead organic compounds. Touch it. Does it feel like hair?"
Liam took a couple of locks. She was right. It did not feel like hair at all. In fact, it reminded Liam of that fuzzy feeling brought on by static electricity. "Does it have to be red?"
"You don't like it?"
"No, it's not that. I'm just wondering."
"It is part of a façade just like my skin," Da'an said, as curious as Liam to determine that answer. She closed her eyes and thought of a color. As quick as the thought that made it, her hair turned jet black and curly.
"Whoa! That is…awesome," Liam exclaimed. "And no product involved whatsoever. You will never have to worry about split ends."
"And how would you know about any of that?"
"I…hang around a lot of girls. So what?" Liam said defensively.
"I was joking," Da'an said.
"I know," Liam nodded.
Da'an's strands returned to their original form and color.
"Liam…there is something that I need to tell you and Renee now," Da'an said seriously. "However, a part of me fears the response."
"What is it?"
"I really think that Renee should be here too."
"I'll go get her," Liam said darting out of the room.
Da'an reached under the thin covers and found the charm Trey had given her before he left.
"How are you feeling, Miss Palmer?" Da'an asked her outright.
"Better than I felt yesterday," Renee said. "The nausea's gone, but there's still this dull pain in my abdomen."
Da'an carefully glided her hand across Renee's torso. The hand turned light green and a low hum could be heard emanating from Da'an's fingertips. Renee could feel the pain slowly leaving her body as a new sense of calm took its place.
"You really should not worry so much about me," Da'an said. "I held up my end of the bargain, did I not?"
"That's true," Renee chuckled. "What do I have to worry about now?"
Da'an fell silent and regretted having brought up the whole topic.
"What's wrong?" Renee asked.
"I…cannot return to Earth with you. Not just yet," Da'an said slowly.
"What are you talking about?" Liam asked softly. "Of course you can. We can protect you, and Dr. Curzon will find a way to help you adapt to our atmosphere."
"That is not what I mean," Da'an said. "There are still some affairs I must organize before I return."
"What affairs?" Renee asked.
"Family…affairs," Da'an replied hesitantly.
"Family?" Liam asked. "I don't get it."
"I have family out here in the universe, and Nye has informed me of some Taelons hidden in the Ma'hatu Galaxy. I believe that my family may be out there somewhere. We have been separated for so long. I owe it to him to at least try to find him."
"Who?" Renee asked.
"I'm not quite sure."
"Well, can't it wait?" Renee asked impatiently. "I mean, you've just gotten over the ritual and all of those drugs—it could damage your system."
"Can we go with you?" Liam asked interrupting Renee.
"I am sorry, Liam," Da'an said, "but it is too dangerous. Very few out there know of your species, and I would like to keep it that way."
"You can't do this to us," Renee protested. "You can't just keep risking your life for worthless reasons without letting us protect you."
"You think my family is worthless?" Da'an asked in a hurt voice.
"No…I didn't mean it that way. I just—To put yourself through all that hell in the ritual only to risk your life again."
"I am not without my resourcefulness, Ms. Palmer," Da'an said. "Time and time again I have proven that to you."
"She's right, Renee. She's a lot stronger than she looks. You said so yourself," Liam defended.
"I worry. I can't help it," Renee said. "You two make me worry a lot."
"You are a good friend to worry so much," Da'an said, "but it is not healthy to continue."
"But you want to do this alone without either of us with you," Renee said. "You'll have no protection."
"That is not true. There are people besides humans that would willingly protect me."
"Like who?" Renee asked.
"What does it matter?" Da'an asked back. "My point, Ms. Palmer, is that you cannot possibly protect me where I am going. It is far too dangerous even for you. If you two come with me, you will attract all kinds of attention seeing as you are unfamiliar. I stand a better chance of survival going alone than I do with you, and…I worry about your welfare. Many things can happen to a human."
"I get what she's saying Renee," Liam said. "She doesn't want us to get hurt, and with us going, we might just be invading more than we would be aiding. We should wait it out on Earth. And besides, we have our own affairs to organize back home. We really can't afford to be away from Earth any longer than we already have."
"But you could go. I'd cover for you. At least take Liam, Da'an."
"I am sorry, Ms. Palmer, but I can't. Please try to understand."
"But you could get killed!" Renee stopped herself from getting hysterical. This was exactly what Liam and Da'an had been referring to. "Yeah, Da'an, I understand."
"You two have done more for me than any Taelon could possibly have," Da'an said. "You are the best friends I have ever had. I will return as quickly as I can, hopefully with others to aid in your cause."
"It's our cause, Da'an," Liam corrected.
"Just try to stay out of trouble, okay?" Renee said shaking her head. "Why is it that when you two gang up on me, I always feel like the mother hen?"
"Because you worry about us too much," Liam replied humorously.
"My God," Renee sighed. "I don't even want to know what it's gonna be like when I have kids."
They all laughed.