Now...
The incredible sharing ended and Da'an felt how her presence faded from his mind. He gently released her hand, but he did not rise, he knew she would soon return... from the Void. He kept staring at her in shock. He still could not believe what he had just learned. He could not wait to talk to her. He wanted to ask her so many questions. He wanted to--
"Da'an... Da'an?" someone suddenly called him. "Da'an?" the same voice insisted. "Are you all right?"
The North American Companion recovered his façade and raised his head, to meet his protector's worried gaze.
"Are you all right?" Liam repeated. "What happened?"
"I am fine," Da'an said, gesturing with a hand, but he did not answer the other question.
Liam gave him a puzzled look and then returned his attention to the fallen woman. He checked her pulse and sighed. "She is dead," he informed the alien.
"I know," Da'an said softly, bowing his head again and gently removing strands of hair form her face.
"Do you know who she is?" Liam asked, seeing the Taelon's kindness toward the woman.
"Now I do," he said enigmatically. "Her name is Amalthea."
Liam blinked and then shook his head. "Anyway, I will take her to the ship..."
"No," Da'an ordered. "We must wait."
"Wait for what?" Liam asked, staring at the Taelon and the dead woman.
They didn't have to wait long. Suddenly, to Liam's utter shock and Da'an's awe, she opened her eyes and sat bolt upright. Oblivious to her surroundings -and Liam- she just had eyes for Da'an, she looked at him in wonder, love clearly visible in her green gaze.
Deeply touched by her sweet stare and knowing why she was looking at him like that, the North American Companion was unable to keep his human appearance.
She smiled tenderly and opened her mouth to speak, but the words never came. Her grin faded and the love disappeared from her eyes, to be replaced by an overwhelming disappointment. Shocked, she realized her mistake. "You... are not... him," she managed to say. She tried to rise, but she was still too weak. She fell again.
"You need to rest," the Taelon urged her, recovering his disguise.
"You are not him," she repeated sadly.
"I am Da'an," he said, taking a hand to his chest.
"Of course you are," she whispered in a barely audible voice, tiredly bowing her head. "What are you going to do with me, now?" she asked in a defeated tone.
Da'an blushed blue. "Your secret is safe with me, Amalthea," he said softly.
Startled to hear her name, she raised her head and looked suspiciously at him.
"Please, believe me," he insisted, meeting her eyes.
Amalthea silently stared at him for a moment. Finally, she rose. "I believe you," she said, offering him her hand to help him stand.
Pleased by her acceptance, he smiled and took it.
"Can anybody tell me what's going on?" Liam suddenly asked. He had been watching them the whole time with an open mouth and finally he had found his voice. After all, one didn't see a dead person returning from the dead every day...
"Everything is all right, Major," Da'an said, tilting his head and turning to Amalthea. "This is my protector, Major Liam Kincaid," the Taelon introduced him.
Amalthea nodded and could not help but smile at the young man's expression. "You can ask," she said.
The protector shook himself. "What... who are you?" he asked, his eyes opened wide.
She smiled sadly and sighed. "You could say I was the first protector," she answered enigmatically.
"I..." Liam began to say, but stopped as he saw a tear sliding down her cheek.
Amalthea quickly dried her eyes and cleared her throat. She looked at Da'an and bit her lip. "I must go now," she said, turning to walk away.
"Please wait!" the Taelon exclaimed, holding her arm. "I need to talk with you. I want to know."
Amalthea placed her hand over his and shook her head. "There is nothing that I can tell you. You already know everything," she said, lowering her gaze to their joined hands.
He lost his appearance for a second. "It was not my intention to invade your privacy," he apologized, slowly withdrawing his hand.
"I know," she said with a small grin. "It's just that I can't stay here. I..."
"My appearance disturbs you," Da'an gently interrupted her.
"Yes," she admitted, slightly flushing and then her grin widened. "But is not only your physical appearance. Even in my semi-unconscious state, I was able to feel your kindness during our sharing. That's why I confused you with him."
Da'an blushed in a deep blue. "I am not the Taelon I used to be," he said, raising his hand. "I have changed. It took me thousands of your years to understand his lessons, but finally I did."
"Ma'el would have been proud," she stated softly.
"Ma'el!" Liam interrupted them, unable to stop himself. "What are you talking about?"
Amalthea chuckled. "I told you I was the first protector," she said with a wink. She turned serious. "I am an Immortal..." she began to say and told Liam about her kind. Even though Da'an knew everything, he listened too.
When she finished, she showed them her sword. "Ma'el made it for me," she said and gave the blade to Da'an.
He examined it with interest. "It is beautiful... and lethal," he said, offering the weapon to a curious Liam.
"Yes. It is a good weapon, but it was useless when... I needed it most," she replied sadly. "If only I..."
Da'an eyes glowed tenderly. "It was not your fault," he said. "Ma'el was right. You surely would have been killed too."
"I know," she whispered.
"Yes," Liam agreed, returning the sword to its owner. "Sometimes we just... can't save our loved ones... and we just can't stop feeling guilty for surviving them," he added softly, his mother's death still fresh in his mind. "But we must go on and live for them and for us."
She looked intently at him and smiled, he had spoken just like Sheri. "Your words are wise, thank you, Major."
"Please, call me Liam," he said blushing at her sweet stare. "And you are welcome."
She nodded and turned to Da'an. "I really must go, now," she said, though this time she was smiling.
Da'an tilted his head and, in spite of her relaxed demeanor, he realized she was still nervous by their meeting. "Then let us take you to your home," he offered, indicating his shuttle.
"You will enjoy the ride," Liam added with a grin.
Unable to refuse their kindness, and a little bit curious, she accepted and soon the craft departed with its three occupants. While Amalthea contently watched the beautiful sight, Da'an furtively watched her. She seemed so young and frail that it was impossible to believe that she was thousands of years old, but he had seen it... He had witnessed her life through their sharing and he had been overwhelmed by what he had learned. The existence of beings that cannot die; how Ma'el's life on Earth had been and his ultimate fate at Jaridian's hands... but nothing had touched him so deeply as to know that she had been -and was- Ma'el's Al'thelan.
Now, seeing her peacefully seated by his side, he could not help but think that somehow Ma'el was there too.
He wished he could take her to the Embassy with him and talk more, but he knew it was impossible. If his fellow Taelons learned about her kind, they would hunt them and enslave them.
Da'an shook his head, and just as Ma'el had done thousands of years ago, he vowed to keep her secret from his own kind.
As if she had heard his thoughts, Amalthea turned and looked at him. She was about to say something, but instead, she just smiled. The North American Companion smiled back.
Unexpectedly, the Taelon lost his façade and, shaking, he braced himself.
"Da'an!" Liam and Amalthea exclaimed.
"I am fine," Da'an managed to say, recovering his Human appearance. "However something terrible occurred. There was--"
He was abruptly interrupted by Zo'or's image in the data stream. The Synod Leader looked suspiciously at Amalthea and then focused his attention on the North American Companion. "There was an unexpected side effect during the test of Forge," he said seriously. "A wormhole was accidentally created... and a Jaridian war ship has been detected."
Amalthea opened her eyes wide, but did not say a word, Liam went white and Da'an blushed in a deep, annoyed blue. "What have you done!" the older Taelon demanded in a cold, dangerous voice, balling his hands into fists.
Zo'or lost his façade at Da'an's cold stare, but soon recovered himself. "It was fault of those incompetent -human- scientists," he snapped in a defensive tone, a forced smirk on his face. "However, it does not matter. We will leave the planet immediately. I have already ordered a complete evacuation of the planet. All Taelons have returned to the Mothership, only you are missing."
Da'an did not answer, but sparkled brighter in disgust.
"What will happen with humanity?" Liam asked, desperate.
Zo'or's smirk widened. "That is not of our concern."
"At least warn the Earth's Governments!" the Major exclaimed.
"Peace, Liam," Da'an ordered and met his child's eyes. "I will not abandon them. Forge is my responsibility. You may leave without me," he said, gesturing with both hands.
Zo'or's eyes widened in shock. "But you will join the Void!"
"Then your fondest wish will be fulfilled," Da'an replied angrily and without waiting for his Leader's answer, he closed the communication. "Please, Liam. Land the shuttle so that you and Amalthea can leave."
"What are you planning to do?" Amalthea asked, alarmed.
He looked at her and smiled sadly. "As I said before, I will not abandon you," he answered. "I will take ship to the wormhole and try to shut this end. It does not matter what happens to me."
"I will go with you," Liam said. "I took an oath to protect you."
Deeply moved, the alien nodded. "Thank you, Liam."
"I want... I must go too," Amalthea suddenly said.
"No!" Da'an exclaimed. "I cannot allow anything bad to happen to you... for Ma'el and for me."
She shook her head and held his hand. "I must go, Da'an. Didn't you feel my despair during the sharing. Can you feel it now? Can you feel my loneliness?"
"Yes," Da'an softly admitted.
Amalthea sighed and continued. "I was not there when Ma'el needed me most, but I am here now. Let me help you, please."
Da'an looked intently at her and, feeling her determination and conviction, he finally nodded.
"Thank you," she whispered, leaning back on her seat again.
"Entering interdimensional mode," Liam informed them, waving his hands over the controls.
Ten minutes later, they entered the wormhole.
"There is the Jaridian ship," Liam unnecessarily said. They all could see the big, threatening vessel coming toward them through the interdimensional tunnel.
"It is a Sokara Cruiser," Da'an noted darkly. "One of the Jaridian's most lethal warships.
"Great!" Liam exclaimed.
"The size doesn't matter," Amalthea said, "We only need to close the tunnel, right?"
Da'an smiled slightly. "That is correct."
"And how will we do that?" she asked, eyeing the huge ship thoughtfully.
"With a big explosion," Liam answered. "A direct shot to their engines."
"I sounds simple," she said, shrugging.
"Yeah, right," Liam muttered and, taking a deep breath, he fired.
The Jaridians fired back.
"Be careful, Liam!" Da'an exclaimed.
"I am trying," he replied, franticly moving his arms over the controls to stabilize the shuttle. Suddenly, the craft rocked violently and the three of them had to struggle to remain in their seats.
"What's happening!" Amalthea exclaimed.
"It seems we have been trapped by some kind of beam," Liam explained without turning.
"Can you free us, Major?" Da'an asked, leaning forward, his hands tightly holding the edge of his chair.
As an answer, the protector stopped moving his arms and sighed. "They are pulling us toward them," he said, angrily slamming his seat's restraints.
The Taelon blushed in a deep blue. "We are their prisoners now," he said, defeated.
Amalthea did not say a word. She calmly took the hilt out from her pocket and her eyes had a strange, determined look. Everything was clear to her now. She knew exactly what to do. *Soon, Al'thelan*, she thought.
Slowly, the tractor beam pulled them closer until the small shuttle was virtually swallowed by the Jaridian warship. The vessel helplessly landed in a huge bay.
Immediately, Jaridian soldiers surrounded the Taelon ship.
"We must descend," Da'an said resigned. "I have failed. I am sorry, Amalthea, Liam."
"This is not over, yet," she said reassuringly. "There is a way."
The North American Companion tilted his head, puzzled, but Amalthea just smiled.
A second later, at Da'an's order, Liam deactivated the virtual shield and they stepped out from the craft. They calmly stood before the Jaridians, waiting. The soldiers' eyes and palms glowed dangerously, with sinister smiles on their faces, but they did not move.
"What are they waiting for?" Liam nervously whispered to Da'an.
"Their leader's arrival," Amalthea answered.
"Yes," Da'an agreed. "I am... a worthy prize."
As if confirming his words, the soldiers abruptly stiffened and kept quiet. A tall Jaridian... with five parallel scars on his face, entered the room. He looked at the prisoners with disdain, but suddenly stared in shock at Da'an and Amalthea. Da'an blushed in a deep blue and Amalthea bit her lip until blood appeared. Unconsciously the Jaridian leader took his hand to his face... and yelled. "I killed you"! he angrily exclaimed to Da'an.
The Taelon looked coldly at him. "It was my parent who died at your hands," he said dryly.
The Commander laughed and then turned to Amalthea. "And you! How can you still be alive?" he asked and then smiled evilly. "Do you remember me... Al'thelan?" he asked mockingly.
Amalthea stiffened and felt all her anger boiling up inside of her... until she couldn't hold it any longer. "YOU!" she screamed, beyond anger. Before the Taelon or the protector could stop her, she blindly attacked... Ma'el's murderer.
However, she didn't get too far. To Da'an's and Liam's horror, one of the soldiers rudelly hit her on her stomach. The leader approached her and grabbed her hair. "I will ask again. How can you be here!" he demanded loudly.
"You... killed him," was all that Amalthea said.
"ANSWER ME!" he shouted and, at her silence and wicked grin, he kicked her so hard that he sent her flying where her companions were.
"That was not necessary," Liam yelled angrily, kneeling too.
Shocked, the Taelon knelt and carefully cradled her. He gently placed a hand on her stomach. "You have three broken ribs," he said worriedly. "Do not move."
She smiled weakly. "They will... heal. I am sorry I lost my... head," she whispered apologetically.
"Are you all right?" Liam asked.
She slightly nodded and then held Da'an's hand. "Please, listen to me. When I am healed completely, you must return to the ship. I think I know how to stop them," she said, showing them the hilt.
Da'an and Liam exchanged worried glances.
"What are you going to do?" Liam asked.
Her eyes shone dangerously. "I will give you your explosion, Major."
Finally comprehending what she was planning to do, Da'an held her hand tightly and shook his head. "I cannot allow it!" he exclaimed. "We cannot leave you here!"
Her gaze softened. "Not too long ago, you offered to take me home... but I had not had a home since... he died. Please let me do this. You know it is the only way to save my world and yourselves."
Da'an did not say a word, but shared with her for the last time. Then, he looked at Liam. "We must do as she says."
Liam was about to protest, but he finally nodded.
"I wish I had known you better," The Taelon added sincerely, stroking her forehead.
"But you already do," she said and then, she gasped. "I am ready."
"Enough!" the Jaridian leader suddenly said and barked an order to his soldiers. Two-lower ranked Jaridians nodded and, with a cruel smile on their faces, they approached them... but Amalthea was ready.
"NOW!" she yelled, activating her sword and rising. After a quick movement of her blade, the soldiers fell dead at her feet.
"MOVE!" She shouted to a frozen Liam and to a sparkling Da'an.
The young hybrid recovered, but instead of going to the ship, he fired his shaquaravah, killing two more enemies. Amalthea stared at him in disbelief, but then shook her head. "GO NOW! Take Da'an away from here!" she exclaimed.
After a little hesitation, Liam nodded and grabbed the Taelon. Da'an gave her a last sad stare and stepped inside the shuttle.
Once Amalthea saw the small vehicle softly departing, she smiled, turned to the Jaridians... and dropped her sparkling sword. She had decided to surrender.
The soldiers stared, puzzled, at her, but recovered quickly. Two of them rudely grabbed her and took her to their now angry leader. Without a word, he hit her again, throwing her to the floor. "That was so stupid! Do you think your friends will get too far?" he asked, almost yelling. Then, he calmed a bit. "However, I could consider to... spare you your life if you tell me your secret. How could it be that you are still alive?" he asked, yelling again, threatening her with her own sword.
Amalthea smiled. "You will have to kill me then," she answered in an annoying, mocking tone.
The Jaridian growled furiously and raised the sword. If he had been in a peaceful state of mind, he would have tortured until getting all the answers, but he was truly mad. "THEN DIE!" he shouted.
Amalthea knew it would not take long, just a few seconds. As she saw the sword descending to her neck, she closed her eyes. *Just a few seconds* she thought and to her overwhelming joy, she suddenly felt a familiar, soothing presence surrounding her. (Do not be afraid, Al'thelan) a soft, loved voice echoed in her entire being.
"I am not a..." she began to whisper, answering that voice, but never finished, as the Jaridian struck her. Her lifeless -and headless- body silently fell back.
The soldiers laughed and congratulated their Captain, but suddenly their laughter faded. Strange blue strings of energy began to emanate from the dead woman's body. An Immortal not being near to inherit that amazing power, the energy wandered freely through the ship, wrapping it in a deadly embrace. As the Sokara Cruise rocked violently and the alarms went off, the Jaridian leader laughed bitterly. They had been so close...
Then everything went black...
******
Onboard the small shuttle, at the same time Amalthea fell dead, Da'an lost his façade and collapsed on his seat.
"Da'an!" Liam exclaimed, knowing what had caused the Taelon's distress.
The North American Companion recovered his disguise and took a hand to his chest. "It is done," he whispered, still shaken.
Major Kincaid bowed his head. "I am sorry," he said. Then he checked the screen. "The Jaridian warship is surrounded by some kind of energy," he added.
"You must take us out of here, or the shock wave will destroy us," Da'an said in a steadier, louder voice.
The protector nodded and waved his hands over the controls. "We are not fast enough. Hold on!"
He had barely finished, when the ship exploded. The shuttle shook dangerously, but they safely reached the end of the wormhole.
"It is over," Da'an said, relieved.
Liam sighed and turned to face the Taelon. "Amalthea did it. She sacrificed herself for us," he said sadly.
Da'an blushed in a deep blue. As strange as it was, his sadness started to vanish. Seconds before Amalthea's passing, he had felt a tender presence comforting her. Now he knew Amalthea had fulfilled her fondest dream... she had returned home.
"Do not be sad, Liam," he said with a reassuring smile. "Amalthea is home now."
Liam gave him a puzzled glance and was about to reply, when the data stream was displayed before them. "Zo'or!" both passengers exclaimed in surprise. The Synod Leader lost his façade for a second and to their amazement, there was an unusually sincere, kind grin on his face. "I am glad you are safe," he said softly to Da'an and, without another word, his image disappeared.
The Companion and his protector exchanged puzzled glances. Shrugging, Liam turned to the controls again. "Let's go home," he said.
"Good idea," Da'an agreed, leaning back on his seat. He tilted his head and took a hand to his chin in a thoughtful manner. This was a day he would never forget. He had met an incredible and wonderful being in Amalthea; he had recovered a part of Ma'el... and maybe Zo'or was not completely lost to him. "Yes, Liam, take us home," he whispered.
*************************************************************************
Epilogue...
"Amalthy! Amalthy!" a sweet voice called her softly first and then louder. "Amalthy!"
She slowly opened her green eyes and sat. She blinked and looked around. Her eyes widened. To her deep surprise, she was not in the ship... she was... in her once beloved lake... located near Shareb!
She stiffened. That was impossible! The village and the lake disappeared centuries ago and--
She abruptly stopped and suddenly remembered what had happened onboard the Jaridian ship. Biting her lip, she took both hands to her neck... there was no wound!
"I shouldn't be here... I am dead!" she whispered, confused and rose from the grass.
"But you belong here now, Amalthy," the same sweet voice she had heard in her dream spoke. Startled, she turned... and could not say a word. Nell was standing there. Not the old friend that had died in her arms, but the mischievous child that always followed her everywhere. "Finally you are here, Amalthy!" Nell exclaimed happily, going to her and embracing the redhead.
Amalthea just returned the hug and could not prevent the tears falling from her eyes.
"Don't cry, sister, this is a place for happiness," another voice suddenly said, joining their embrace.
"Sheri," Amalthea whispered in awe, raising her head and drying her eyes. "It's really you!" she exclaimed, looking at her sister. She was just as she remembered her, a little smaller than her, her blond hair falling over her slender shoulders and she was wearing her beautiful wedding dress. "It's you," Amalthea repeated and looked at Nell. "And you, little one... you are so beautiful..."
"Just as you are, Amalthy," Nell said giggling.
Amalthea blinked, looked down and only then she realized she was wearing a pale-green dress... She recognized it immediately. This was the dress Kala had lent her when she had first kissed Ma'el and--
*Ma'el* she thought, a hopeless wonder rising within her. Could it be that he...
"Yes," Sheri answered her unspoken question. "He is here, waiting for you. We are all here, Amalthea."
"He is beyond those trees," Nell added with a tender twinkle in her eyes.
"Thank... you," Amalthea managed to say and after a last hug, she followed Nell's directions.
Amalthea ran to the trees and then... she stopped. He was there, standing with his back to her, sparkling in the sunset. She could not move nor speak. Completely overwhelmed by the strong emotion of seeing him again, she just remained frozen and speechless... She wished to cry out his name, but she could not produce a sound. Frustrated beyond words, tears fell from her eyes again. It was then when he turned. He sparkled furiously and, in a second, he was embracing her, trembling against her.
"So... alone," she finally whispered, burying her face on his sparkling chest and crying uncontrollably.
"The long separation is finally over," he tenderly soothed her. "We are complete again, Al'thelan," he added, running a hand through her red hair and, once she had calmed down, he gently pulled her back and, holding her chin, he kissed her... for the first time in thousands of years. As their kiss deepened, all those years of pain and loneliness vanished from Amalthea's mind, to be replaced by a promise of endless happiness.
Then, his soft, loving voice echoed in her head and in her heart...
(Forever, Al'thelan)...
Fin