The Lesser of Two Evils - Finale
An Earth - Final Conflict story by Tina Price
(TinaP@prodigy.net)
Preview: Boone and Lili find themselves at the center of some dangerous politicking.
Disclaimer: Earth - Final Conflict and all characters therein are the property of the Tribune Entertainment Company.
Authors note: This story is based upon my own idea of what is actually going on in the EFC universe. I am in no way receiving 'privileged information'. As always, advice, criticism and kudos are always welcomed. Please contact me at the above e-mail address.
The Lesser of Two Evils
Finale
Lili struggled to rise from
the hot pavement. There had been a blinding flash of white light and then...
"Ughh!" She found her
cheek pressed against the pavement again as a leaden weight came down on her
neck. It was someone's foot!
"Move and you're
dead," a rough voice ground out. "How is he?" The voice went on
to ask his buddy, who was moving around somewhere behind Lili.
"He's out cold. Doesn't
look too good either."
"You idiot! You threw the
concussion charge too close to him! You know we need these two alive!" The
foot was lifted from Lili's neck. "Roll over...slowly. I may need you
alive, but that doesn't mean I can't shoot you in the leg."
Lili did as she was told.
"Get up...slowly."
"What is it that you
want?" Lili tried to get a look at Boone, but the second terrorist was
bent over him, presumably trying to revive him.
"Just shut up and get in
the shuttle, Marquette." He poked her with the end of his rifle.
"We're going for a ride - before the real cops show up."
Taelon
Embassy
Honolulu, Hawaii
16:17 hrs.
Da'an stared out the virtual
glass of Eh'har's audience chamber as Sandoval worked at directing the massive
search for the missing shuttle via his global. The pale alien seemed oblivious
to the frantic efforts of Eh'har's staff to keep his aide informed. He merely
continued to stare out at the tranquil ocean, visible from the embassy and
remained motionless until some unseen, unheard cue caused him to turn.
The Synod leader, Quo'on
appeared in the chamber via data stream technology.
"It grieves me to hear of
your losses," he offered both companions.
"We are not yet convinced
that William Boone has joined the void," Da'an said, his head tilted
downward in an attitude of sorrow.
"Has Agent Sandoval made
any progress in tracking the missing shuttle?" Quo'on chose to overlook
Da'an's unseemly behavior.
"It emerged over India
before disappearing from our scanners," Sandoval spoke up. "I believe
that whoever these people are, they know enough about the shuttles to direct
Lili into turning off the links."
"It is our opinion that
the Resistance is behind this incident," Quo'on related. "It is
perhaps in retaliation for our failure to stop the approaching cataclysm, in
which case..."
"...William Boone, like my
own implants, will be executed," Eh'har continued. His eyes turned toward
Da'an, as he empathized with his fellow companion's loss.
Quo'on nodded. "Those
responsible for this outrage must be caught. They must be made an example
of."
"We will inform you of any
new developments," Eh'har said. Quo'on nodded and disappeared from view.
"Agent Sandoval."
Da'an finally spoke. "Ready a shuttle. We shall return to
Washington." He bowed slightly to Eh'har. "It would be best for us to
carry on our part of the search from our own Embassy. It grieves me that our
annual conference has come to so violent an end."
"As it grieves me."
Eh'har paused and then descended from his chair. "I have decided not to
leave my protectorate," he said softly as he approached his fellow.
"I anticipated that you
might follow such a course." Da'an looked him straight in the eyes.
"You...do not
disapprove?"
"I would do the
same," Da'an looked downward. "but it adds to my sorrow to know that
you shall soon be lost to me."
Each Taelon placed a hand on
the other's chest for a few seconds before Da'an broke contact. Wheeling about,
he left the chamber as quickly as he had ever before been seen to move.
William Boone awoke to find
himself in a shuttle seat, the restraints being the only thing keeping him from
slipping out. He felt BAD.
"What..." he began as
he started to lift his right hand to his head...and froze as pain knifed up his
arm and down his side. He quickly relaxed his arm.
"Your arm is broken,"
came a voice from his left. It was one of the phony cops, now dressed in a
military uniform. Boone noted that he had a slight accent - probably Finnish.
"Thanks, I already
noticed," he gasped. For some reason, he was having trouble breathing. Looking
down to where his sleeve had been torn away, he could see that a pressure
bandage had been applied to his upper arm. He realized with another shock that
the tail end of his skrill was badly damaged. The symbiote was an unhealthy
gray color and he knew, reaching out to it mentally with his CVI, that it was
dying.
"Boone, are you OK?"
It was Lili's voice.
"I've been better,"
he answered before turning his attention to the man in the chair in front of
him, who was covering her with his rifle. "What exactly is it that you
want?"
"Mr. Boone, we want what
you want...to stop that comet," thug number one spoke over his shoulder.
He too had an accent.
"Then why not put the
rifle down? You already know that my skrill is disabled."
"I'm afraid that you're
not calling the shots here, implant!" the thug snarled. "Your job is
to help us relieve the Taelons of one of their weapons, after which you and
your pilot will be released."
"Jonathan Doors..."
Lili began.
"...is not calling the
shots here," the thug interrupted. "We are a different branch of the
Resistance. You didn't think that only you Americans were intelligent enough to
start one, did you?"
At the confused looks which covered
his hostages' faces, the thug continued. "Mr. Doors has been attempting to
tie all the world-wide resistance branches together for some time now. When
this little...emergency arose, it was decided that it would be in everyone's
best interest if your plan was tied to someone other than the American faction
of the group. My group volunteered, on the condition that we be allowed to do
it our way."
"And your way includes
killing innocent by-standers and trying to take out two Companions?" Boone
was livid.
"It would have been a
bonus to have killed Eh'har and Da'an, but we were satisfied with simply making
the attempt. As to the by-standers ...they were both implants. They're better
off as they now are."
Boone met Lili's eyes over the
thug's head. He had little doubt that they would kill him when his part in the
plan was over.
"We've reached our
destination." Lili's arms flew before her face as she directed the
shuttle's re-emergence into the time stream.
"We're about to pick up
some passengers," the thug explained to Boone. "You and your
assistant managed to kill five of our people."
Boone had to bite his lip to
keep from retorting.
Taelon
Embassy,
Washington DC
18:08 hrs.
As Ronald Sandoval moved
through the alien structure located in the Country's Capitol, he worked hard to
keep the frustration he felt from showing on his face.
His admiration for Boone had
reached its height that very afternoon as Da'an's other implant had risked his
life for his companion.
Risked his life? Boone had
probably given his life and here he stood, unable to even pinpoint those
responsible! He hoped that Boone was dead...he and Lili both. Better that than
to have them tortured into betraying Taelon secrets to the enemy!
Sandoval stopped on the
Embassy's central ramp and balled up his fist. He had just left Da'an, unable
even to give the companion any new information which might lead to the missing
implant and pilot. He knew he had disappointed his companion, an event which he
found nearly unbearable.
With an effort, he unballed his
fist and began moving toward the embassy exit. Maybe he could call in some
favors...
Up in his audience chamber,
Da'an sat stiffly within his chair and contemplated the loss he felt. Surely
this situation had nothing to do with Boone's covert operation to destroy the
comet - the human would never intentionally allow innocent lives to be harmed,
nor would he endanger a companion's life...
"You are broadcasting your
feeling in this matter quite clearly," Quo'on stated as his image appeared
within the chamber. He tilted his head at an inclination which telegraphed
puzzlement. "Why do you grieve for your implant? His life was dedicated to
serving you - and so he has."
"Boone is no mere
implant," Da'an replied softly as he looked down toward his knees. "I
believe him to be of paramount importance in our efforts to join with the
humans. His passage would be a grave loss to our cause."
Quo'on nodded. "Boone
is...uncommon. I believe that your feelings in this matter may be correct,
however, there are those of us who did not approve of your close association
with your implant."
"Zo'or," Da'an stated
with some certainty.
"It matters not."
Quo'on gestured with both hands. "Continue your search. The world shall
know of Boone's sacrifice. He shall not pass without tribute."
Da'an gestured his
understanding as Quo'on's image disappeared. He then lifted his head, revealing
a look of pure determination.
"Boone has not yet
passed," he whispered as though reassuring himself.
Somewhere in the Vicinity of Europe
18:39 hrs.
Lili looked over at Boone,
frightened by the way he looked. He was pale and breathing shallowly. Worse
yet, his forehead was beaded with perspiration. He was showing all the symptoms
of shock.
She had been moved to the chair
next to his, both of them now covered by thug number two's rifle.
The shuttle had taken on four
passengers in Germany, one of whom was a pilot. It was he who now controlled
the shuttle. The extra passengers were standing behind those who were seated,
gripping the seat backs to keep from being flung about as the shuttle swerved and
banked.
From what she could see from
her position, they were headed north, in the general direction of Newfoundland.
"Boone," she hissed,
trying to get his attention.
He looked up at her, but seemed
unfocused.
"No talking!" The man
behind her chair boxed her ear.
"Ow! Hey!" She
rounded on him. "Boone's hurt - badly! If you want your little outing to
be a success, I suggest that you get him some decent medical help!"
Two of the men actually paused
to give Boone a once-over.
"Nothing we can do for him
right now," the ear-boxer sighed. "If I were you, I'd cooperate
so that we can complete our task and get him some help."
Lili glanced back over at
Boone. Although his head was down, she could see him watching her from the
corners of his eyes. Was he perhaps pretending to be worse off than he actually
was? With Boone, one was never quite sure...
A change in the engine's sound
brought her attention around to the pilot, who was obviously beginning a
landing.
"We're here," he
stated simply.
A short while later, Boone
found himself crouched in the woods with five of the grunts. Lili had been left
behind with the shuttle pilot.
They were looking up a small
slope at a perimeter fence. Directly behind it was a small metallic building.
Obviously, as he had informed Doors, this was one of the military bases which
housed a Taelon weapon.
"How are we getting
in?" Boone whispered to the man next to him.
"Watch." was his only
reply.
He didn't have to wait long.
Within five minutes, the perimeter guard began his pass at this section of
fence. The guard advanced until he was between the fence and the building,
which shielded him from the watchtower. Once he reached this building's
shadowed side, he stopped...and waved them in!
"We control this
facility," the grunt next to Boone boasted. "Except for the two
implanted guards, of course."
"Of
course," Boone echoed.
The group quickly approached
the fence, where the guard had already cut a hole in the chain link using a
rubber insulated wire cutter.
"Can you keep it
down?" thug number one asked Boone.
"Not if you want me to be
conscious when we get inside," he wheezed. His breathing was growing
more labored and the brief climb up the slope had left him dizzy. Boone was
relatively sure that his lung was collapsing - a pneumothorax - his CVI
informed.
The next few moments passed by
in a haze, and it was with a shock that Boone discovered that the grunts had
completed cutting a hole in the building's side. The perimeter guard had long
since gone on with his patrol.
"Go on, implant," the
thug shoved him forward. "Are you waiting for an invitation?"
Boone tried to take a deep
breath and suddenly felt something give in his chest. It had been an
instinctive but stupid move on his part, he realized belatedly as sudden
dizziness overcame him. The last thing he recalled was a crushing pain
spreading through his chest.
The soldiers stared at the
American implant in shock as he collapsed at their feet.
"Quick, drag him
inside!" thug one ground out.
Once everyone was in, the last
grunt through the wall pulled the cut portion of metal siding back up into
place, helping to camouflage the entrance.
The inside of the building had
a dirt floor and was deserted save for a small concrete stairwell at its
center. A large sign over the entrance door to the stairs read,
"Authorized Personnel Only".
Boone was dragged closer to the
stairs.
"I was afraid of
this," thug number two said as he knelt down next to Boone. "His
lung's collapsed. Hand me that O2 tank!"
The grunt who had been carrying
the small emergency tank handed it over. Thug two wasted no time in putting the
mask over Boone's face.
"Tell me that he's gonna
be able to do his part in this, Peter!" thug one looked panicked.
The one called Peter nodded.
"He's in a bad way, but he'll most likely come around. I suggest that we
get him down inside the bunker before then."
The leader nodded and gestured
for two of the men to lift the unconscious implant. He swung open the stairwell
door and waved them to go first.
Leaving one man behind as a
lookout, the rest of them moved down the stairs and gathered in the small
chamber below. In front of them was a large door covered with Taelon symbols. A
small console and screen were set into the wall next to it.
"Boone!" Peter gently
patted the implant's cheeks.
With a groan, William Boone
regained consciousness to find himself staring up at the large door.
"What does it say?"
Thug one asked.
Boone was barely able to gasp
out the translation. "It says, 'Grave Danger Within, Proceed with Utmost
Care'." His eyes shifted to the side and came to rest on the console.
"Help me up," he whispered.
Two of the men hoisted him to
his feet and provided support by gripping him under the shoulders.
Boone activated the console and
quickly read the instructions which flashed across the screen. Everything was
exactly as Da'an had shown him it would be.
"Here goes nothing,"
he wheezed as he typed in the code.
There was a momentary silence
and then the door slowly swung open, revealing another small chamber within.
Boone moved forward with the aide of the two men supporting him as thug one
followed.
The only thing within the room
was a small rectangular, flat slab, roughly three feet by one foot by four
inches in dimension. There were Taelon symbols at the center of its top
surface.
"This is it?" the
leader asked.
"Yup." Boone ran a
hand over the slab's surface, causing the Taelon symbols to begin glowing.
"Once we've got this back on the shuttle and you've taken me and Lili to a
drop-off point, I'll program it for you," Boone whispered.
The leader stared him in the
eye, but finally nodded his agreement. "What are you people waiting
for?" He yelled, turning to look behind him. "Let's get going!"
Peter and the remaining grunt
moved into the room, wrapped the weapon in an old army blanket and gently
carried it out.
Fifteen minutes later, the
weapon, Boone and the two original thugs were back on board the shuttle with
Lili and the other shuttle pilot.
"Where are they
going?" Lili asked as she watched the other three soldiers head back
toward the base.
"They have a few things
they need to do before they can leave," the leader said.
Peter had helped get Boone into
the restraints of his seat and was now seated behind the two abductees along
with the leader. They still had their guns out and Lili didn't doubt that they
would use them if she or Boone tried anything.
She glanced over at Boone and
sincerely doubted that he would be up to an escape attempt anyway. He wore an
oxygen mask and seemed to be fighting to remain conscious.
The pilot adeptly put the
shuttle into motion, taking them a goodly distance away from the base before
leaving the current dimension.
"Next stop, the drop-off
point," the leader announced.
The
Taelon Embassy,
Washington DC
20:15 hrs.
Da'an leaned back in his
chair as an energy stream enveloped him. It was his time to rest and absorb the
energy which was to his species as food was to the humans.
As he lay there, he opened his
mind, allowing it to wander...to search for a specific consciousness. He shied
away from those of his fellow Taelons. Every so often he felt one of them reaching
out to him, curious about his seemingly random wandering.
When he had touched his
implant's thoughts a month ago, he had sought to impart knowledge to the human,
but he had also been attempting to forge a bond... a mental link with him. It
had not been meant to impinge upon the human's privacy - a concept which was
becoming far less foreign to the Taelon - but rather, to provide some
protection to the implant, should he be rendered incapable of conventional
communication, as he now was.
Such a thing had never before
been attempted with a human, but Boone had been able to receive knowledge
during the link, which gave Da'an some hope that the bond had taken.
He continued his mental
search...
With barely a bump, the Taelon
Shuttle set down in the middle of a barren landscape.
"Where are we?" Lili
asked the pilot.
He grinned. "The drop-off
point."
"This is a desert!"
Lili was outraged. "If you leave us here, we'll die!"
"That will be up to the
Taelons, not us," the leader responded as he stood up. "If Mr.
Boone here completes his task, we promise to bargain with his companion for his
life."
"He'll never be allowed to
bargain," Boone sighed. "It will be up to the Synod and you know what
they'll say."
"For your sake I hope
you're wrong." The leader frowned. "It's the best I can do. My
superior wanted me to kill you as soon as this was over, but I talked him
into this."
"Great." Boone
grimaced. "I hope that you'll at least give us some provisions."
"We are not barbarians,
Mr. Boone." The leader looked offended.
"No, of course not. You're
the resistance," Boone's words were slurred. He was running out of time.
"Better let me see that device..."
He completed the device's
programming, with the help of his CVI, which calculated the comet's current
position based upon the Taelon projections Da'an had showed him a month ago.
"It's set," he gasped.
"All you need to do is make sure that this shuttle hits these
coordinates." He pointed at the Taelon script which now appeared on the
top of the weapon. "The shuttle's translation program will show them to
you in our own numbering system. Once the shuttle arrives, the weapon will go
off, vaporizing the comet."
The leader nodded. "It's
nearly twilight," he said, indicating the landscape outside the shuttle.
"The temperature is dropping rapidly. You should be fine until the sun
comes up tomorrow."
At a gesture from him, the
pilot and Peter grasped Boone and hoisted him from the shuttle. Lili followed
at gun point.
"Take my
advice," Peter said after helping to lay Boone down next to some
brush. "After tomorrow, try to walk out. You might make it."
Lili's mouth gaped open in amazement
at the man's stupidity. "I don't think he'll be going anywhere, do
you?" She indicated Boone.
"I wasn't talking about
him," Peter said as he began tossing bags of provisions and supplies out
of the shuttle.
Two minutes later, the shuttle
disappeared from view.
Lili checked Boone's oxygen. It was
nearly empty. He had one more, larger canister which had been part of the
shuttle's emergency supplies, but after that...
She stood and began scrounging
the area for wood and anything else that might be useful. It was still
incredibly hot out, but she knew that it would soon be uncomfortably cold. They
could use some firewood. Once the sun rose they'd need a shelter. She planned
on getting it built before she lost the daylight.
Boone watched her from where he
lay on the ground. Lili knew what she was doing, which was just as well - he
had no breath left with which to lend advice. He intentionally tried to relax
and soon drifted off...
Da'an suddenly became aware of
his implant. The very faintly felt, but familiar ego which was Boone's beckoned
to him...
Boone wandered the desert
landscape. It seemed that he had been walking for days...he was so tired.
Catching his breath was nearly impossible.
He knew that he was dying and
he certainly regretted it, but it was Lili he was concerned for. To die alone
in the desert...it was not a pleasant way to end.
Boone continued his trek,
searching the landscape for something, though he knew not what.
"I am here," came a
familiar voice from his left.
Without pausing, Boone turned
toward the voice and found Da'an walking alongside him. The Taelon was having
no trouble keeping up with his grueling pace and the human stared at him in
surprise. Da'an looked different - more human-like. His skin was a darker tone,
his forehead smaller. He had eyebrows and long, black hair, although he still
did not appear to be either male or female.
Boone shook his head and looked
again. This time Da'an was himself.
"Am I already
dead?" the implant asked.
"You still cling to this
plane." Da'an grasped Boone's arm and stopped walking, making Boone stop
as well. The human sighed, suddenly able to breath a little bit easier. Da'an
gestured toward the land around them. "What is this place?" he
asked.
Boone seemed to come wide awake
- although he knew he still dreamed, he realized that Da'an was really with
him. "Lili and I are in a desert," he said as he turned and gripped
the Taelon's hands. They actually felt warm, rather than like cool plastic.
"It's nearly sun-down," he continued. "Our abductors said that
they would contact you, but Lili won't last more than one day in the desert. If
she isn't found soon, she'll probably die."
"Whereas you expect to
greet the void before then," Da'an stated with some certainty.
"You can't save me,
Da'an," Boone stared into the Taelon's eyes. "but you can save Lili.
Please, try...for me."
Da'an looked down at the ground
and for a moment as his facade fell completely, revealing the blue being of
energy he truly was. When he looked up again, he was once more humanoid.
"You must try to help me
to locate you," he began. "Is this the way your surroundings appear
right now?"
"I think so... it may be a
little later now, darker..." he began...and nearly cried out in
frustration as the dream faded away.
Lili was shaking him.
"Boone!" she shouted
and then sat back as he groaned. "Thank goodness! I just changed your
oxygen tank. The other one ran out sooner than I thought it would. I was afraid
that you were thinking of leaving me for a second there..."
Boone cracked his eyes open to
find that it was dark. Lili had covered him with a blanket and had wood all
ready to light for a fire. It was as silent as death in their little camp.
He reached for her hand and
squeezed it. "Da'an was just here," he gasped. "He's trying to
find us."
"Riigghhtt..." Lili
patted Boone's hand, content to humor him, then she turned her head away and
bit her lip. She had to face it - he wouldn't be with her at sunrise.
Da'an's
Audience Chamber
21:10 hrs
Sandoval stood beside the
companion and watched as the data stream displayed a three dimensional representation
of the Earth. Da'an gestured and the globe stopped revolving with North America
clearly displayed before them.
"Boone is in a desert
environment," the Taelon stated. "Moreover, he is located somewhere
within this time zone. He is most likely within what you call the Mojave
Desert."
"Da'an...this is a very
big area to search. I cannot guarantee that we'll find him before
sunrise..." Sandoval was overcome with the enormity of his task, and yet,
to fail his companion...
"I have faith that you
shall do your best, Agent Sandoval. I can ask no more than that." The
North American Companion waved his arm, dispersing the data stream.
"Please take one of our larger shuttles. Make certain that you have
medical personnel with you."
Sandoval bowed slightly and
moved quickly for the door. Time was of the essence if he was to have any
chance of saving Boone...and winning his Companion's gratitude.
Two minutes later, Da'an
received the call he had been waiting for. Boone's abductors were willing to
make a deal. They would guide Da'an to Boone and Lili on the condition that the
Taelons reversed their previous decision and destroyed the comet.
"I will require time to
discuss this matter with the Synod," he responded.
"You've got thirty
minutes." The soldier cut off his transmission.
Da'an wasted no time in
communicating the incident to Quo'on.
"It concerns me greatly
that you still believe that we shall reverse our decision," he admonished
the companion. "If we are unwilling to risk the threat of discovery for
millions of human lives, why would we do so for one implant?"
Zo'or, the Taelon liaison to
the United Nations, broke into the conversation. "Many of us believe that
Da'an has forged a bond with the human, William Boone. We have sensed him
searching for his missing implant." Zo'or curled his lip in
disapproval. "Our fellow companion may no longer be capable of fulfilling
his duties in North America."
Quo'on turned to regard Da'an,
his form glowing a brighter, white color with his agitation. Before he could
speak, the North American Companion explained himself.
"The bond I formed with my
implant is recent and I was not certain that it had actually taken until this
night." Da'an looked directly at Quo'on, an attitude of defiance among his
kind. "The bond I share with my implant does not alter my desire to help
my own species. It does however enable me to see things in an entirely new
perspective."
Da'an rose from his chair and
moved closer to the data stream fields which projected Quo'on's and Zo'or's
images. "I am now convinced that we are about to make a very grave error -
one which may doom our species and the humans as surely as if we were to
attract our ancient enemy's attention."
"The humans are even now
hearing of the resistance's ultimatum via their communications networks. In
failing to destroy the comet, we shall have demonstrated to them a complete
lack of regard for human life. There will be 'blood' between our two races...to
quote a human euphemism. Any trust which we have so far earned will be gone.
Moreover...it will be far more difficult for us to regain it, if we recover it
at all."
Da'an moved even closer to
Quo'on's projection. "As you know, Boone has never yet proven wrong in his
advice to us. I strongly suggest that we listen to his plea now."
Quo'on's coloration faded back
to its usual blue tones as the Synod leader conferred with the rest of the
Taelon ruling party. When he spoke, regret was clearly evident in his voice.
"Your insight into the
situation moves me," he began. "However, there are those among us who
remain unconvinced. I fear that the Synod's decision must stand."
Quo'on faded from sight, followed
by Zo'or, who had remained long enough to look down his nose at Da'an.
The Taelon Companion to North
America walked slowly and heavily back to his chair. There was little he could
do but wait for Boone's abductors to call him back.
Somewhere
over Nevada
21:33 hrs.
Sandoval's
global bleeped at him, signaling an incoming call. He flipped it open and with
both surprise and relief noted that the caller was Boone's techno-hacker
friend, Augur.
"You took your time
getting back to me," the implant sneered.
"You can't blame me for
being cautious. I had no idea why you might be calling until I saw the latest
news update," Augur sneered back.
"Let's get something
straight," Sandoval retorted. "I don't like you. I don't like what
you do... but I need your talents if we are to have any chance of finding Boone
in time."
"And let me get something
straight," Augur countered. "I'm not doing this for you! I'm doing it
for Boone, so let's cut to the chase. What is it that I can do to help?"
"My hands are tied as far
as any Taelon-controlled agency goes. I cannot go to NASA and ask them to scan
the Mojave desert for signs of habitation...for example, a fire. You on the
other hand..."
"...Can go in through the
back door," Augur finished. "I'll be in touch," he said as
he quickly cut the link.
Sandoval leaned back in his
seat and rubbed his forehead. Unless Boone's unethical friend came through,
finding the missing implant and his assistant would be all but impossible in
the dark.
Lili wrapped her blanket more
tightly about herself and stroked Boone's hair. He had been slipping in and out
of consciousness for the past hour and she wanted him to know that he wasn't
alone.
"It doesn't look like your
Taelon friend is going to come through this time..." she whispered.
Boone never stirred.
The Taelon Shuttle Captain lay
down next to her dying friend and looked up at the night sky. The stars were
incredibly bright, the comet a brilliant harbinger of death. She blinked and
stared at it.
"Incredible that something
so beautiful could cause such calamity," she breathed.
There was a sudden, blindingly
white flare in the comet's vicinity, brilliant enough to momentarily light up
the surrounding landscape! Lili threw an arm over her eyes and turned her head
away.
When she looked back, the
unearthly glow was fading away and all trace of the comet was gone...
"Boone!" She shook
the implant. "Boone!"
His only response was a groan.
"They've done it! They've
destroyed the comet!"
Boone smiled briefly without
opening his eyes. "But...who?" he wheezed before succumbing once more
to the darkness.
Sandoval's global beeped. He
answered it immediately.
"The latest infrared scans
of the Great Basin show a faint pinpoint of light at the following
coordinates," Augur stated as he sent the information to Sandoval's
global.
"Excellent!" Da'an's
attaché breathed. "Have you ever thought of joining the
companions? Your abilities..." He winced as Augur cut the
transmission with a rude electronic squauk.
Sandoval quickly relayed the
information to his pilot.
Da'an's Audience Chamber
21:50 hrs.
Da'an slowly paced before the
data stream which projected a human news program's coverage of the comet's
demise. He was considering his every possible course of action with regard to
containing the damage this event would cause his people's agenda.
He was also surprised that he
had not yet heard back from the Synod. Perhaps they believed that he would
contact them...
Agent Sandoval suddenly
appeared within the stream, over-riding the news telecast. Da'an gave him his
complete attention.
"We have him, Da'an!"
Sandoval looked both pleased and disappointed. "However, I must
regretfully inform you that he may not make it to the clinic..."
"Transport him immediately
to the nearest trauma center. Contact me once you've arrived."
Sandoval nodded and broke the
link.
Da'an hung his head, his eyes
closing momentarily. He projected both relief at Boone's rescue and fear that
his implant might yet journey to the void.
He was about to wave the data
stream off, when Quo'on's image made an appearance.
The North American Companion
remained silent, determined that Quo'on would be the one to speak first.
"You know that we did not
destroy the comet..." Quo'on began.
"So I have learned from
the miriad of human news programs which now broadcast our shame."
Quo'on nodded. "The Synod
agrees that our decision was most...unfortunate." The Synod leader
regarded Da'an as though uncomfortable with the conversation. After several
seconds during which neither spoke, Quo'on continued. "We are willing to
help retrieve your implant. William Boone may prove crucial to our recovery
from this unfortunate set-back. He must not be lost to us."
"I thank you, however, our
implant, Sandoval, has already retrieved Boone." Da'an glared at his
superior from the corners of his eyes. "He may yet succumb to the
void."
"Do whatever you must to
preserve him," Quo'on's color brightened. "Rest assured that your
bond with the human shall not be challenged. His observations, should he
survive, will be taken very seriously by the Synod."
Quo'on broke the transmission,
leaving Da'an to contemplate the strange series of events which had led to this
crossroad in Boone's life. The Taelon race had, as the Japanese said, 'Lost
Face', however, Hawaii had been spared and his implant, William Boone had been
elevated in status.
Despite his species, Boone was
now bonded to Da'an and in the Taelon consciousness that made him an extension
of Da'an. Quo'on had just informed him that the Synod would uphold that bond.
Boone had just become an honorary Taelon...
Da'an mentally shook himself
and moved toward his chair. There was much for him to do, beginning with the
human's news broadcasts. He was about to call his attaché, when Sandoval
contacted him.
"Boone has been delivered
to Valley Hospital Medical Center, Nevada," the aide reported.
"I shall arrive
shortly," Da'an stated. "You must return here. There is much I need
for you to do. The information shall be transmitted to your global."
"But...Da'an, who will
protect you here if I return now?" Sandoval looked uncomfortable.
"Captain Marquette is with
Boone, is she not?"
"Yes, but..."
"You have your orders,
Agent Sandoval. Inform the Captain of my imminent arrival." As Sandoval
made to cut the transmission, Da'an spoke. "Agent Sandoval...I am most
pleased with your performance this evening."
Sandoval smiled before logging
off.
Valley Hospital Medical Center,
Nevada
22:11 hrs.
Lili escorted Da'an from the
Life Flight Landing Pad, amazed that the Taelon had shown up so soon after her
own arrival. As soon as he disembarked, she briskly led the way back toward the
Hospital's main building. The shuttle pilot was impressed by the Taelon's
determination to keep up with her and slowed once they entered the building,
suddenly determined to cut the alien some slack.
"How is he?" Da'an
asked as they found themselves alone in an elevator.
"Extremely critical,"
she replied. "Apparently the blast we took back in Hawaii shattered his
upper arm, sending part of the bone into the right side of his chest. Air
slowly entered the wound, leading to a collapsed lung. Boone has been slowly
suffocating ever since. He's also been bleeding internally from some blood
vessels which were severed by the bone fragments."
Da'an projected an air of such
sincere concern, that Lili could no longer meet his eyes. She looked down at
her feet instead and continued.
"The Emergency Room
Physicians put him on a respirator and pushed a chest tube into his side.
They've managed to partially re-inflate the lung, but he needs to go to the
operating room if they're to have a chance at saving him."
"Where is he now?"
Da'an asked as the elevator doors opened.
Lili led the way out.
"He's in the O.R. staging area. They need to get him a little more
stabilized before they take him in." She stopped in front of a door and
looked through the window before pushing it open and motioning Da'an to enter.
Boone lay on a gurney in the
center of the small room as two nurses and a physician hovered over him. The
three of them showed little surprise at the Taelon's entrance - they had
already been told of his arrival.
Da'an moved to the left side of
gurney and stared down at his implant. Boone was covered by a sheet from the
waist down. It seemed as though every bit of his exposed flesh was hooked to a
machine. An IV ran into his hand, another into his arm and a third into his
neck. He was on a respirator and had a gastric tube in his nose. A nasty,
blood-filled tube ran from his right side to a vacuum container. EKG leads were
attached to his chest and legs.
Da'an visibly shuddered. Flesh was
so delicate...so easily damaged, and so very difficult to repair...
Boone lay deathly pale and
motionless. The implant was in a deep coma.
He started to reach out for the
human's hand when alarms sounded on the monitor above the gurney.
"His blood pressure's
dropping!" The physician yelled. "Get me the crash cart."
One of the RN's moved toward
the large red metal cart and wheeled it closer. As she did so, the second nurse
began pulling bottles and syringes from its drawers.
"You need to leave
now," the physician shouted as he drew epinephrine into a syringe.
"Please...wait,"
Da'an held up a hand and then turned to face his implant. He grasped Boone's
hand with his own and placed his other hand upon the human's chest.
Boone saw the tunnel open up in
front of him and felt its calming light soothe his form. All the pain and worry
began to drift away as he felt himself drawn toward it. He paused for a moment,
uncertain. Wasn't there something he needed to do? He looked again and thought
he saw Kate holding her arms out to him.
He made up his mind and began
moving toward her.
Somebody suddenly blocked his
way... A strange presence which gripped his hands and swung him away from the light
- away from Kate...
"NO!" he cried out.
"Boone!" The familiar
voice responded.
He looked at the presence, and
no long blinded by the tunnel's light, beheld the blue, luminescent form of
Da'an. Startled, he looked down to find that he too was a luminescent blue.
It didn't matter...Kate was
here - she was calling to him! He started to look back over his shoulder and
felt Da'an jerk him away.
"Let me go!" he
yelled, struggling to free himself from the Taelon's suddenly strong grip.
"Your work on this plane
is not yet finished," Da'an said. "You are forgetting all those lives
which depend upon you." The Taelon tugged at him again. "Come away
from here. Come to this life as you once entreated me to. You will see your
mate again one day, but for now...stay. Stay with me..."
Like a jolt of electricity, he
realized what was happening to him. Kate disappeared, as did the tunnel. When
he looked down, he found himself once again human.
Da'an dropped his arms and
stood before him, still a brilliant blue being. "I have done what I
can," he said. "The rest is up to you."
The Taelon faded away, but even
before he did, Boone knew that he would follow.
Lili moved quickly forward as
Da'an broke contact with Boone and began to crumple. She managed to hook the
Taelon under the arms and steady him. She was about to ask him if he was all
right, when the alarms suddenly became silent. Expecting the worse, she looked
up and found that Boone's monitor showed a steady heartbeat.
The doctor, who was still
holding the unused syringe, gaped at the displays and turned to stare at the
Companion.
"He's stable..." he
said in a daze.
Da'an regained his footing and
gently freed himself from the shuttle pilot's grasp.
"You WERE with Boone in
the desert..." Lili began.
Da'an merely stared at her and
then turned to face the physician. "I suggest that you complete his
surgery before he decides to leave us again," the companion said in a calm
voice. He then reached for Boone's hand and smiled gently at the contact before
withdrawing from the gurney. He indicated the door and followed Lili from the
room.
ICU Room 8
Valley Hospital Med. Ctr.
Two Days Later
Boone's personal nurse removed
one of the IV's from his arm. He was now down to one. The chest tube had
thankfully been removed that morning and he was finally able to relax in some
comfort.
"There you go," the
nurse said as she finished applying a pressure bandage to the IV wound.
"Thanks Regina," he
said with a smile. She had been his primary care-giver since his transfer to
the unit, and unlike many he had met through the years, she had come across as
a truly caring individual. He was almost sorry that he was being transferred
out, but Da'an had insisted that he be moved to Belman's clinic once he was out
of danger.
"You just behave yourself
at that fancy clinic," Regina replied. "No more whining all night
long, OK?"
"He had to stifle a laugh.
They both knew he never whined. "OK," he answered as she left the
room. He then looked down at his skrill. The little guy was still hanging on -
in fact, it looked like it was healing. He hoped that Dr. Belman would give him
good news where it was concerned...he really had grown fond of the symbiote.
Reaching for the TV remote with
his left hand, he turned to CNN, eager to see what had come of the Resistance's
efforts. Funny that he hadn't thought to tune in earlier...the medication he
had been receiving must have really knocked him for a loop.
"And repeating the hour's
top story," the anchorman said. "Several worldwide space agencies,
including NASA, have just confirmed the Taelon's earlier announcement that the
comet would have splashed down in the Pacific ocean with a minimum of damage
and little environmental impact. We repeat, NASA has just confirmed..."
He had just turned the TV off
in disgust when Lili showed up.
"What's wrong?" she
asked as she saw the sour look on his face.
He indicated the television.
"Doors must be having a cow. After everything that happened... people
dead, the shuttle pilot dead...after everything they went through to destroy
that comet and show people that the Taelons refused to do so
themselves..."
"I know." Lili's face
hardened. "And you're right - Doors is having a cow. You should have seen
him yesterday when the Taelons first announced that there had been no need to
destroy the comet! The worst thing of all is that people are believing this -
without question!"
"Doors himself once said
that the Taelons were masters of spin control." He paused for a moment
before continuing. "Still, you have to wonder...why do you suppose that
none of those space agencies ever released the projected impact site to begin
with?"
"I assumed that they kept
it quiet to help prevent last-minute panic. There was no way that everyone on
those islands could have been evacuated in time..."
"That's what I thought as
well, but now that I really think about it, I realize that many of them would
have gotten away and survived," Boone said in a low tone. "The
Taelon's must have been controlling those agencies right from the beginning.
Someone saw the potential for a relations disaster..."
"Da'an!" They both
said in unison.
Less than two hours later,
Boone was settled into a comfortable room in Belman's institute as she and
Companion scientist Ne'eg examined his arm and the skrill.
"Your skrill will need to
be replaced," Ne'eg said. The Taelon medic rarely talked, and when he
did, he was unusually soft-spoken.
Boone wondered if Taelons were
subject to shyness...
"Can we give this one a
chance?" the Taelon's security chief asked. "We've been through a lot
together and it's fought for it's life even as I have...I'd like to at least
give it a chance."
Ne'eg looked at him oddly.
"Your skrill is not a sentient being."
"According to you. The
skrill might feel differently about it." Seeing Ne'eg turn blue, Boone
realized that he was pushing the Taelon over the edge. Ne'eg was not used to
dealing with peculiar humans. "Look, Ne'eg," he began again.
"Let's just say that I consider the skrill to be a pet of sorts. Why don't
we wait and see if it recovers before deciding anything?"
"It may never be able to
function properly again," the scientist commented as he regained
control of his form. "However, we can afford to give it at least as long
as your arm requires to heal."
"Thank-you." Boone
nodded to the Taelon, who quickly took his leave.
"You really have a way
with them," Belman laughed.
"It's a gift," he
shrugged. "So, what about the arm?"
"You've got enough
hardware holding it together to set off airport alarms." She held his
x-ray up to the light so he could see. "It should be stable enough for you
to return to light duty in a month."
"A month?" Boone
frowned. "Why can't I at least return to my office when my chest heals
up?"
"I hate to tell you this,
but a large percentage of collapsed lungs have the unfortunate tendencey to
spontaneously re-collapse. Until the inside of your chest cavity has completely
healed, you face that risk. It's not your arm that's keeping you out of the
office, it's your lung." Seeing that Boone was about to protest, she
continued. "Would you rather stay out of the office for a month or have a
relapse and be out for two?"
"I believe that Boone sees
the wisdom of your words, Doctor." Da'an himself entered the room, and
approached the bed. "Ne'eg tells me that you wish to keep your
skrill?" he addressed his implant.
Boone nodded.
"And if it cannot serve
it's purpose after it is healed?"
"I will agree to a
replacement."
"Very well." Da'an
turned toward Belman. "Some time alone with him, please."
She immediately left the room,
closing the door behind her.
"So, how is big blue
taking this?" Boone said as Da'an took the a seat beside his bed.
"Big blue?"
"Quo'on."
Da'an actually smiled. "He
is most displeased with those in the Synod who refused to reverse their
decisions."
"I'll bet that Zo'or stays
away from Washington for a while."
The small smile remained on
Da'an's face as he nodded his agreement.
"Has Quo'on told you how
the resistance acquired the weapon?" Boone had been living in fear that
the Synod leader had surmised his role in the programming of the device. It was
time to know his fate.
"The weapon was taken from
our facility in Newfoundland," Da'an related. "One of the implanted
officers charged with guarding the device has been implicated in its
theft."
"They actually believe
that an implant was responsible?" Boone put on a shocked expression.
Da'an gave him an annoyed look.
"The implant was found in the bunker...dead. Dr. Belman's autopsy confirms
that he had been lobotomized before his death."
Boone suddenly became queasy as
he absorbed the information. His CVI flashed back to the three men who had
returned to the base.
"They have a few things
they need to do before they can leave," the leader had said.
"Am I right in my
assumption that you did not know this implant's fate?" Da'an asked as he
noted his implant's change of expression.
Boone gulped and shook his
head. "Why a lobotomy?" he managed to ask.
"Dr. Belman believes that
severing the CVI's right and left hemisphere connections may have destroyed the
motivational imperative as well as rendered the implant extremely subject to
the suggestions of his assailants. He did have the assess codes to the
bunker."
"But surely he didn't have
the ability to actually program the device?"
"We both know that he did
not, however the Synod is not entirely certain of what an implant may or may
not be capable of learning with the aid of their CVI. You have learned the
Taelon language - something which was previously thought to be impossible.
James Pike, learned of our ancient myths somehow, also through use of a
CVI."
"So for right now, the
Synod is convinced that the lobotomized implant programmed the device,"
Boone whispered.
Da'an nodded.
"Da'an..." Boone
began. "You really were with me in the desert, weren't you? And you
brought me back when I was about to die..."
"I was with you."
With a graceful hand gesture, the Companion indicated himself and then Boone.
"We have been bonded together and now share a weak, but strengthening
telepathic attachment."
"...That night back in
DC..."
Da'an inclined his head.
"It is well that I attempted it, or I never would have located you in
time."
"Are the others aware of
this?" Boone asked with growing concern.
"They are. In light of the
accuracy of your past advice to the Synod, Quo'on has sanctioned our bond. You
now hold status in Taelon society."
"I'm a member by
association?" Boone shook his head. Once again he was being forced to keep
secrets... "Da'an," he began as he leaned closer to the companion.
"No other human being must know of this, unless they are implanted. Not
even Captain Marquette."
"I do not
understand..." Da'an tilted his head, conveying his puzzlement.
"Surely you wish others to know the honor you have received?"
"Remember all my contacts?
A great many of them do not trust your people. If they were to find out about
this, they'd kill me."
Da'an blinked several times in
rapid succession. "And what of Captain Marquette?"
Boone thought quickly.
"She has many of the same contacts. For her own protection, it's best that
she not know."
The North American Companion
nodded and arose from his chair. "It shall be as you wish. I will visit
with you again as time permits."
Before he could leave, Boone
spoke. "It was you who ordered the space agencies to remain silent, wasn't
it?"
Da'an turned to face him.
"It was," he said simply.
"Da'an, if that comet had
come down, you would have been responsible for all those deaths!"
"I trusted that you would
carry through with your plan to destroy the comet," the companion
explained. "The Synod, my race's ruling council, had already decreed that
humans were not to know of the impact location. They suggested that those
agencies be made to release false information of the comet's projected impact
site from the beginning, however, I persuaded Quo'on to simply remain
silent."
Boone stared at Da'an, willing
him to continue.
"I realized that it was
highly likely that the resistance might use the situation to their
advantage."
"You intentionally allowed
the resistance a chance to try to humiliate the Synod, knowing full well that
you would be turning the tables on them." Boone was both impressed and terrified.
"You took an awfully big risk, gambled two million lives a well as your
own people's credibility..."
"Those lives would have
been my responsibility either way," the Taelon replied, bowing his head in
shame. "This was the only way in which to preserve our two people's
fragile alliance. It was," he said raising his head to regard his implant,
"the lesser of two evils."
"Evil may not be done that
good may come of it." Boone quoted.
Da'an nodded gravely before
departing, leaving Boone to reflect upon the moral dilemmas yet to come.
Fin
Alright, this is the last post I'll be doing today, so I hope those of you who are reading this have enjoyed the wonderful work of Miss Tina Price. As before, I'm not Tina Price, and never will be (short of legally changing my name, but I'm not THAT big a fan). :) I'll be posting the rest of her work sporadically for the next two weeks until I get to her 17th story, The Stranger which I hope to have posted before the 25th.
