(for Disclaimer, Notes and Warnings See chapter one)
Hybrids 2: Unions
Chapter Two: So Much for Normal
Joyce stood waiting on the bridge of the mothership as the Taelon Synod was deep in conversation about accepting the offer or not. "I only have one thing to say as I told the Jaridians if you choose War I will throw the Taelon Mothership into Jaridia." She paused. "It would probably kill me to use so much of my energy in such a fashion but I will not see earth Destroyed." She was amused at the trace of fear that shot threw the commonality. "I will return when you have made your decision for the time being I have other things to do." She smiled slightly. "If you make the proper decision we will contact the governments of earth and inform them and let them make their choice."
"Hold dr. Belman." Da'an spoke up. "This is not a decision for us to make on our own instead it should be carried to the humans so both races may decide our fate." He said calmly. "This affects Us and the humans equally and it will show them that we were serious when we swore to form a new partnership." The synod was quickly in agreement with Da'an so Zo'or quickly made it official and ordered that the appropriate human representatives be contacted.
Joyce had frozen pleasantly surprised in most of the possible futures she'd seen it taken days for Da'an to speak up with his idea. "I'll be on earth until it is time for me to make the appropriate appearance since it will take time for you to get everyone up here." With that she disappeared in a swirl of gold sparks to appear in her mothers lab where her mother was finishing up the days paper work. "Hello Mother."
Her mother was out from behind her desk and hugging her fiercely seconds after she appeared. "Joyce I'm so glad to see you sit down you have to tell me everything you've been doing." She noticed the smile on her daughters face. "I take it you have good news?"
"Yeah mom the Jaridians want peace the war may finally be ending and with it the danger to earth." She saw her mother's eyes light up. "The Taelons are contacting the appropriate government officials so instead of staying on the ship glaring at the Taelons I decided to come see you until it's time for me to inform earth's leaders."
On the Taelon mothership Steve Hartley set alone in one of the many rooms. 'I miss you Belle.' He thought sadly ever since his sister had been consumed by Va'on there had been a cold void inside of him. 'I feel like I've been ripped in half.' He thought darkly. 'Da'an and some of the other taelons try but they can't understand Belle was the only one who understood what it was like to be so lonely.' He looked over at the picture of her. 'I wish I could join you Belle.' He thought sadly. 'Maybe I can.' He thought and then went to prepare a note for Da'an after all he still cared about the Taelon and he needed to know the reasons.
Renee smiled across the Table at Jeff. "I've been looking forward to this Dinner all week." She said with a smile they had both been busy doing work for the ANA so they hadn't had much time to be together. "Let's hurry and eat I can't wait to get you in bed." She smiled at him wickedly and saw his answering smile when her global rang. "If it's anything less than an emergency I'll kill whoever called." She saw Jeff shaking his head and laughing.
"Renee the Taelons have asked representatives from every nation on earth and the ANA to come to the mothership to discuss a Jaridian Peace offer." Urik said with a scowl. "Meet me at the shuttle platform on Doors international now." With that the line went dead. Renee scowled at it.
Jeff leaned over and kissed her hand. "Don't worry Renee I'll be keeping the bed warm for you when you get back." She looked up at him anger and annoyance still visible in her eyes. "I promise you'll get to your apartment to find me wearing nothing but a smile." She smiled at that weakly then leaned over and kissed him. "Go on don't want to keep Urik waiting."
Renee frowned. "You better keep your promise." With that she was on her way out of the restaurant after kissing Jeff goodbye. On the way she began to think about what Urik had said. 'Finally Peace with the Jaridian's why do I feel it's too good to be true?' She thought darkly as she flagged down a cab.
Joshua had just finished removing Liam's shirt and was well on the way to giving the other man a hickey on his shoulder when Liam's global went off. "Ignore the damn thing." he said annoyed and saw Liam flash him an apologetic look as he pulled away and went to pick it up off the desk. "Let me guess Urik reminding you of that damn function." He then felt Liam's surprised recognition.
"Dad what is it what's wrong?" Liam asked as Joshua came to stand next to him taking in Sandoval's grim appearance on the global screen. /I hope it's nothing serious./ He sent telepathically to Joshua who placed on arm on his shoulder.
Sandoval merle frowned. "Joyce Belman arrived a while ago and announced the Jaridians want peace." He saw Liam's stunned expression. "Government officials are being brought up from all over the world You and Joshua's presence has been requested by Da'an at this meeting." He waited until Liam confirmed they'd be on their way up and then shut down the connection.
"Do you think it's a serious offer?" Joshua has to ask now that things had sort of settled down with the Taelons the Jaridians were the only major threat that could blow up in their faces. "I mean do you think it's really possible for them to have peace?" He still didn't fully trust the Taelons were being serious this time about cooperation he didn't know what to think of a third race in the equation.
Liam shrugged. "Joyce has to believe it if she delivered the message." He glanced at Joshua and saw the other man nod as he pulled on a sweater. "We should hurry and get to the mothership I have a feeling we need to be up there soon." Joshua nodded he could feel it too thought it came more form Liam than himself. /You know one of these days we have to figure out what abilities we share and what ones are unique to one of us./
Liam smiled. "Well I'm the only one unlucky enough to occasionally see the future any visions you've had have come threw me." He paused and glanced at Joshua. "But you can link allot easier than I can." He saw Joshua smile. "I have to know the person first but you can link with total strangers people or animal." Liam said conversation as they were heading out to the landing pad originally designed for helicopters but now sporting Liam's personal shuttle since he tended to fly as much as he could. "Hang on next stop the mothership."
They arrived unsurprised to see Sandoval waiting for them. He smiled slightly at Liam as a form of welcoming then he saw Liam freeze. "Liam what is it?" He looked over at Joshua expecting him to explain only to find a look of horror on the other mans face. "What's wrong?"
Liam didn't answer he could still see the vision Steve Hartley his head blown off by his own shaqarava laying dead. "Where's Steve Hartley?" He said asked snapping out of the vision to see his fathers concerned face. He saw that Joshua had shared in the vision threw their bond. "Please Dad hurry he's going to kill himself."
Sandoval swore under his breath he had noticed how depressed the kid was but anytime anyone tried broaching the subject he refused. "Follow me he's down this way." He said leading them toward the quaters Da'an had assigned the young hybrid to stay in. "Should I call the medic?"
"He hasn't done it yet I don't think?" Joshua said glancing over at Liam to see him nod. "But we need to hurry if he goes threw with it no medic will help." Sandoval noticed the grim set of Liam's face and figured he didn't want to know how the kid planed to off himself.
Steve Hartley set down the note for Da'an and then placed his shaqarava against his head. "I'll see you soon Belle." He said out loud into the room and began to focus preparing the energy he knew would send him to his sister when the door opened and he stared in shock at the man formerly known as Liam Kincaide and and his lover Joshua Doors. "Stay back I have to go to her." He said darkly. He was suddenly grabbed from behind by Liam who forced his arms down. He hadn't even seen the other man move. "Let me go let me go please let me go." He began to thrash around and scream for them to let him go to her.
Liam winced the kid was tougher than a human. /Joshua link with him try to calm him down./ He felt Joshua's affirmative then watched amazed as Joshua easily linked with him on an empathic level and sent soothing thoughts. Neither of them expected Steve Hartley to just break down and cry uncontrollably. Liam joined Joshua in trying to the soothe the young man using Joshua's link as a guide to forming his own. "Easy Steve just calm down." He said letting the boy go and then sunk to his knees beside the sobbing form. He began to rub Steve's back in a circular patter as Joshua sunk down with him.
/What's wrong with him?/ Joshua asked as he felt the boy's turmoil threw the link and the shadow of something missing. /I think there's something wrong it's like his missing something that kept him stable?/
/He had to have a link with his sister empathic like our first one remember?/ He felt the recognition in Joshua. /They had it for years but never blocked it they just accepted it as normal no wonder he's so depressed./ Liam sighed. /I'm surprised he lasted this long?/
/Is there anyway to help him?/ Joshua asked having read the file on what the Hartley twins had done he wasn't exactly fond of the boy but he didn't want him to die. /I mean is there any way to get rid of his dependence on his now non existent link with his sister./
/Maybe though you aren't going to like it./ Liam said with a shrug. /It's possible we could substitute for the link and gradually wean him off of it./ He glanced over at Joshua. /But one of us would have to be around him constantly at first so he'd have to well come live with us./
Joshua sighed. /Isn't there anything else we can do?/ Then suddenly before Liam could answer a thought hit him. /What about Joyce maybe she can help him?/ He saw Liam's eyes widen. /What would you do without me?/
"What are the two of you talking about?" They turned to see Steve Hartley looking at them threw red rimmed eyes. "I can feel your emotions all over the place." He seemed unwilling to talk about his on loss of control.
"We think your so depressed because you and your sister were linked for so long." Liam said. "We were trying to find a solution we are going to ask Joyce if she can help you." he saw Steve's eyes widen. "And if that doesn't work we can find another way you sister wouldn't want you to kill yourself."
"She most certainly would not." A voice said and they turned Joyce had appeared in a swirl of light. "I felt what was happening but decided not to interfear too soon." She glanced at him. "I may can help you but even if I do this you shouldn't remain on the mothership the Taelon commonality is having negative effects on your physical body." She saw the three hybrids eyes widen. "It took more effort to activate your Shaqarava than normal when you were trying to kill yourself did it not?"
Steve winced at her casual use of the term kill himself. "Yeah it did." He said calmly. "Why are you saying my being around the Taelons is draining my energy?" He saw her shake her head. "What then?"
"Being around the Commonality has begun to render your Shaqarava useless as the Taelon Shaqarava are." She paused. "Which is placing further strain on your mind yes the absence of the link caused it but the constant touch of the commonality aggravated it." She glanced at Liam and Joshua. "For the time being you need to learn to shield your mind better they will have to teach you?"
Steve Hartley glanced over at Liam and Joshua who appeared to be having a silent conversation while Sandoval who so far had remained extremely quiet threw the whole situation watched with the typical look of anyone watching a conversation between the two when someone wasn't speaking. "Okay he can stay but only until he learns how to shield his mind." Joshua said trying not to sound annoyed.
"Good." Joyce said stepping forward. "Now lets take care of you condition." With that she touched him and his world went dark. "He'll awaken in a few hours at peace but it won't last if he's on the mothership I'll place him in one of the spare bedrooms in your home." With that he disappeared. "Let us be off the meeting is beginning."
Street set at her console with Augur sitting at another as they watched the meeting threw a hacked feed from the mothership. "You know Augur isn't it amazing what that copy of Zo'or's energy signature Sandoval gave me lets us do." She saw him smiling at her. "So if peace happens what are you most looking forward too?"
"A chance to talk to Lilly again." Augur said with a sad smile. "I know there isn't any chance to be with her now but I'd like to see her and get to know her daughter who I'm sure is as beautiful as her mother." Street reached over and patted his arm. They then set back to watch as the delegates argued over the proper response to the Jaridian Peace talks offer.
Liam sighed as the shuttle landed back on the Heliport. "I can't believe they want us there by ten am it's five am now." Liam said annoyed as he stood shakily. "I know they want to continue the.." He trailed off searching for an appropriate word before settling on saying. "debate but couldn't they wait till late afternoon at least."
Joshua just yawned. "Well lets go see to our guest if he's awake yet and then get some sleep." He started toward the house with Liam who had nearly completely forgotten that Joyce had sent Steve Hartley there to get him away from the harmful Influence of the Taelon Commonality.
Steve Hartley was sitting there very confused when they finally found him in one of the guest rooms. "Where am I?" he asked s they entered. He had been reluctant to leave the room when he first awoke since he had no clue where on earth he was. "I mean last thing I remember is on the mothership that woman touching me and then here I was."
"Your in our house on earth." Liam said calmly and Joshua nodded. "Joyce said the Taelon Commonality was having negative effects on you so you'll be staying with us for a while." He saw the shocked look in the young man's face. "Relax Da'an and the Taelons know where you are."
"Did you tell him what I nearly did?" Steve Hartley asked fear in his voice that Da'an would be disappointed in him. He saw the two of them exchange glanced and feared the worst.
"No we didn't." Joshua said finally speaking up. "Joyce hopes we can teach you to block out the commonality so you can go home to the mothership." He glanced over at Liam. "We don't know if we'll be able to but we'll certainly try."
Steve Hartley wanted to ask why there were doing this when he saw them yawn. 'I'll ask them later.' He thought before telling them. "I guess we'll start after you guys have some sleep?"
"No it'll have to wait until after the deliberations tomorrow on the peace talks proposal." Liam said sleepily. "Several Taelons are adamantly refusing to negotiate with the Jaridians and several humans want to negotiate without the Taelons." He shook his head. "Odds are it'll take several days before a decision is reached."
Liam relaxed as he and Joshua finally go to their room and rubbing Spyke's head in a quick greeting they settled down to sleep. "I love you, you know." Liam said sleepily his head on Joshua's chest.
Joshua smiled sleepily. "Of course I know I love you too." He smiled again as he noticed Liam had fallen completely asleep. He closed his eyes and slipped easily into sleep. Only to awaken in the morning to the incessant beeping of the alarm clock. "Lets get this nightmare meeting over with." He saw Liam laugh slightly at that.
On Jaridia Lili sat with her husband watching Ariel play with the Jaridian equivalent of blocks. "I hope these peace talks work." Lili said thinking how it had been quite a few days since the message had been delivered. She paused seeing Vorjak look over at her with a question in his eyes. "I want Ariel to grow up in a peaceful world." Vorjak placed an arm over her shoulders and pulled her close stroking her hair while they watched their Daughter play.
They were startled as a swirl of light appeared and Joyce Belman stood there. "I have good news The Taelons and Humanity have accepted on one condition." She smiled. "The Peace Talks are also to be a scientific meeting with scientist from all three worlds to show everyone is serious about peace." She had suggested it not that she told anyone that. "Apparently it was decided while the terms of the peace are being worked out cooperation can begin on finding a cure for both races problems." She smiled at them. "I decided you deserved to know before I told the Jaridian high council." With that she vanished. Ariel looked at where she had been and then went back to playing blocks.
Lili glanced at her. "Have you ever seen that woman before Ariel?" She asked a suspicious forming in response to Joyce's comment about keeping tabs on the other hybrids. She saw Ariel shake her head no and go back to playing with her toys. "Well tell us if you ever see her when Mommy and daddy aren't here okay?"
"Okay." Ariel said with all the innocence of a child and then got up to hug her parents who she could tell were worried before going back to her toys. Lili and Vorjak shared a smile and settled back down to watch their daughter play some more before they would have to deal with all that would happen at the peace talks.
To Be continued...
Again sorry for the huge delay in getting these chapters out. But I figure it's better late than never. I managed to complete most of this chapter last night after finishing up Chapter Three of Last Days of the Human Race. I just finished up the last of it today so it'd be ready to upload.
Next time the story finally gets to Jaridia and Lili gets to finally find out about Joshua and Liam's involvement.