"Liam, will Ariel be coming with you to the gardens again?"
"Oh. I don't know, Zo'or. I mean, you know how mothers are...Lili is a little protective, and she wants Ariel to stay on the moonbase where she can keep an eye on her."
Zo'or looked up from his pot of violets. The Terran gardens were a new addition to the Mothership, and Zo'or was very pleased with the new plants Liam had brought him this evening. The African violets had done very well in the garden, but so far the little wild violets were the Taelon's favorites. Zo'or was transplanting some small plants into pots, which he liked to use Earth fashion, to line the paths and sitting areas; while his friend, Liam Kincaid, kept him company.
"Perhaps Captain Marquette would join her?" Zo'or asked.
"Well, you know, she's under some restrictions. I guess that would become a matter for the Synod."
Zo'or tilted his head to one side in a quizzical manner that reminded Liam more of Da'an than the former Synod Leader. "Perhaps you could convince Captain Marquette. You were her friend, weren't you?"
"Yes, Zo'or, but things have changed, and I don't think I would have a great deal of influence right now."
Zo'or stopped digging in the soft brown terran earth, and fixed his friend with a pointed look. "She does not want Ariel to see me, does she?"
Liam sighed. Every once in a while their conversations would skirt around the edge of the immediate past. Zo'or talked a lot about his childhood and youth, his early service as a diplomat, and his life on Taelon, but he never talked directly about his position in the Synod, the Earth mission, or any of the recent past. Liam was never sure how much the Taelon remembered, or maybe chose to forget.
"I don't know, Zo'or. Maybe not."
Zo'or stopped, and putting the potting tools on the bench, calmly rested his hands in his lap. "I understand. She does not like me. I do not think you have always liked me, Major Kincaid."
"It wasn't a matter of like or dislike, Zo'or. We were fighting on different sides of an issue: you for the good of the Taelons, me for Humanity."
"And yet, they are one and the same."
"Well, we know that now. We didn't then."
The Taelon's eye glittered in amusement. Leaning in to Kincaid, he smiled as he spoke in a conspiratorial whisper, "We were two naughty siblings who should have been listening to their Da'rhu'shee. But we will not tell Da'rhu'shee that!"
Liam laughed out loud, and his friend smiled at his response. "You may be right; and no, we won't tell Da'rhu'shee," Liam replied.
Zo'or returned to his plants, a thoughtful look in his eyes. He gently moved a frail little violet into the pot, and after dusting soil around it, began to firm up earth that would provide the nourishment and support that would enable the little purple flower to thrive.
"I believe this little one will do well after all. It just needs the proper support and care."
Zo'or took a towel from the bench, and carefully wiping the dirt from the sides of the pot presented it to Major Kincaid.
"Perhaps Ariel would be allowed to accept this. As a gift from the gardens."
Liam took the plant from the Taelon's hands, and with a slight catch in his voice, replied, "She'll get your gift, Zo'or. I promise."
*****
Da'an stirred against his protector's chest. Slowly he began to separate their minds, their essences; gradually moving through many levels of contact until that which was one, would once again become two. He stopped the process at a point where their minds were in close communion, but not merged; and sensing an irritation in his mate's mood, placed a slender hand on his protector's arm to give him a reassuring touch.
It appears we have upset Captain Marquette, my Companion.
It is possible. She was obviously very uncomfortable in our presence.
*anger* She might consider our relationship....odd; but a human who has borne a child to a Jaridian, is not in a position to judge us.
Judge? *confusion* I was not aware of judgment. Confusion perhaps, and pain. I believe you and Captain Marquette were close friends?
At one time.
Perhaps she feels the loss of your friendship.
Maybe, but I am not sure I can trust her, Da'an.
Yes. I too, wonder. And yet, 'Good nature and good sense must ever join; To err is human, to forgive divine.' This is an encouragement to us; as we fail, we may also strive to demonstrate the divine.
*warmth, affection* And you, my Companion, are always a joy to me; my very own touch of the divine.
Am I, William Boone? And yet you seem disturbed by something.
Da'an slowly withdrew his mind's touch and sitting up, opened his eyes to look fully at his Protector. William Boone's soft brown eyes gazed lovingly into his mate's, and yet Da'an was disquieted. Was Boone concerned that their relationship was too....alien? Slowly the Taelon raised a soft hand to his mate's cheek in a tender caress.
"Perhaps, William Boone, our gardens need tending."
*****
"This space can be reconfigured to suit your needs, if indeed you find it a suitable spot to set up your facility," Da'an offered, his gesture inviting examination of a rather large room.
Boone couldn't help but think that Da'an might have made a good realtor, if Taelons ever owned property.The Taelon had been touring Lili and Tazog around various sections of the moonbase pretty much all morning. The Jaridian's decision to assist the Taelons in establishing contact with the peace movement and anti-war factions would require some base of operations accessible to them and to Lili. With many of the moonbase research programs discontinued, there were quite a few empty spaces to choose from, and the group still had a few to examine. As a matter of fact, the Synod was conducting their own fact-finding tour of the moonbase to determine what future projects they would like to develop here, so practically the entire Taelon governing body was walking around inspecting rooms.
Boone was on hand, as was a Volunteer assigned to guard Lili and Tazog; but Liam Kincaid was supervising Kuzak, who had stayed behind to discuss communications needs with some Taelon engineers. This was Lili's first meeting with Boone and Da'an since the incident in the gardens, and Boone could tell that she was anxiously hoping the long tour would soon end. Ariel was with Volunteer Tanya, having a physical examination done on the Mothership, and that's really where Lili wanted to be.
"Of course, you understand, that all work in such a facility will be under tight security and there will be Volunteers assigned to the program," Da'an emphasized, as he stepped in front of Boone and Lili to follow Tazog and her guard into the room.
Boone tensed. How many times had he told his Companion to never to allow himself to be cut off from his Protector? Boone pushed Lili aside as he attempted to maneuver himself into a better position.
"Of course, Da'an. We understand completely." Tazog's words, while seemingly conciliatory, held a noticeably menacing undertone.
At the moment Boone arrived in the doorway, Tazog whirled around, and using massive force, managed to knock the smaller Volunteer off her feet. Boone made a dive as the Volunteer's weapon fell to the floor; but Tazog was closer and quicker. In a flash she was up, weapon in hand; and had taken a Taelon hostage.
"Drop your weapon, and out in the corridor, Commander...and I mean now!" Tazog ordered. Boone and the Volunteer obliged, as Tazog held her weapon to Da'an's head. Dragging Da'an with her, Tazog followed into the corridor.
"Now, Da'an and I are going to take a walk to the portal...", Tazog smirkingly announced.
"Tazog, what in the hell are you doing?" Lili hissed.
"What I came here to do, Captain Marquette."
"But ... the Peace Movement.."
"The Peace Movement will be annihilated, Captain. The High Command has no intentions of allowing a group of traitors to undermine our greatest accomplishment: the total destruction of the Taelon race....and their friends."
The color ran out of Lili's face as she realized the truth. She had been deceived again, used again; and despite her best efforts, Earth was still in danger. Lili looked at Boone. Every muscle in the man's body was tensed; his eyes, watching for the slightest opportunity, never strayed from Tazog and Da'an. Da'an stood perfectly still, eyes wide at the imminent danger; fingers tracing agitated patterns in the air. If Tazog wanted to make it to the portal, she wouldn't dare use that weapon yet. Alarms would go off, and every Volunteer in the base would be on top of her in an instant. She was going to have to travel some, with Da'an in tow. A good soldier patiently watches for opportunities.
"Tazog, please. There is no need for this, perhaps we can discuss...", Da'an began. Tazog interrupted with a harsh, uncompromising laugh that left no doubt as to her intentions.
At that moment. Liam Kincaid, accompanied by Kuzak, rounded a corner of the corridor. Instantly taking in the situation before him, Liam froze, careful not to make a move that would endanger the Taelon.
"Tazog, what is going on here?" Kincaid demanded.
"The Taelon and I are going for a walk, Kincaid. That's all. And if anyone gets in the way, he will die."
"Tazog, don't do this," Lili tried.
"It's no use, Marquette. Tazog belongs to the High Command. We have suspected for quite some time that the Peace Movement had a traitor", Kuzak explained.
"I am not the traitor, Kuzak. You and those who would cooperate with Taelon scum are the traitors....and you will be dealt with. But enough talk...move, Taelon!" Tazog gestured, pressing the weapon firmly against Da'an's head. The others watched helplessly, as Tazog disappeared around a corridor with the Taelon at gun point.
Boone turned to the Volunteer. "Get reinforcements to the portal room, but make it quiet... we don't want to endanger Da'an. And see to it that the Mothership is locked down!"
After recovering his weapon, he moved to the wall of the corridor, and began hurriedly feeling along the bioslurry.
"What are you looking for?" Kincaid asked.
"An access panel. If we can get inside, the two of us can get to the portal at about the same time Tazog does."
"You mean 'three' ", Lili offered.
Boone quickly looked up at the Captain, and seeing the anguish in her eyes, gave her a weakly reassuring smile.
"Okay, 'three'".
"Four", yet another voice proclaimed. Commander Boone fixed the Jaridian with a penetrating look. Boone remembered Kuzak's attempted warning in the negotiations, but he certainly wasn't prepared to trust him. However, at present there was no better way to keep and eye on him than to bring him along, so he nodded as he went back to his search. "Okay, four."
Locating the panel, Boone pressed his hand on the activation point. A section of the bioslurry wall seemed to melt away, and the four climbed through, into the structure's interior pathways. With as much haste as they could manage in the tight quarters, they made their way to the portal room.
*****
The four arrived at the portal room slightly ahead of Tazog and Da'an. The Volunteers were maintaining a discreet distance down the corridor, ready to move on Commander Boone's orders, not showing themselves for fear of endangering the Companion.
Staying in the interior corridors, Boone gestured for the team to fan out so they could cover the room.
"Will", Lili whispered. "Kuzak and I are unarmed. We'd be more use to you if you gave us some firepower."
Boone's jaw tightened and his eyes hardened as he looked at Lili and the Jaridian.
"Please, Will. Trust me."
"I can't Lili. Not yet. You're a soldier....improvise."
The team moved out around the perimeter of the room, stationed themselves at access panels in the bioslurry walls, and waited.
They didn't have to wait long before Tazog came into the room, practically dragging Da'an behind, The Jaridian was irritated that the slow pace of the Taelon had slowed her down so much.
Shoving Da'an in the direction of the portal controls she waved her weapon at him.
"Enter the coordinates for the Mothership, now!"
Da'an drew himself up in his most dignified and defiant pose, and looking Tazog straight in the eye, quietly intoned, "I will not!"
Tazog grabbed the Taelon by the throat, and shoving her weapon into his chest, growled into his ear, "Then you will die, Taelon!"
"Then that is how it must be."
Angered that her threats were having no impact, the Jaridian threw Da'an against a far wall, and turned to the control panel.
"Now!" Boone ordered to the team, and they all crashed through the access panels to surround Tazog, weapons at the ready. Without missing a beat, Tazog whirled around and once again aimed her weapon straight at the defenseless Taelon.
"You're not getting off this moonbase, Tazog, so give it up!", Liam Kincaid ordered.
"You may be right, Kincaid. But if I die, I will at least have the honor of taking the legendary Da'an with me."
Without even turning to look, Tazog waved her arm in a right arc, and fired her weapon. Lili was standing to the right of Tazog and was closest to Da'an. Following the Commander's orders to improvise, she picked up a metal transport crate and hurled it at Tazog, throwing the Jaridian off balance. The violent burst of energy from the Tazog's weapon missed hitting the Taelon in full, but it's force nevertheless sent Da'an hurdling into the far wall. The Companion sank to the floor as waves of blue and white energy cascaded across his form. Captain Marquette ran to his side and crouched down, blocking any further fire with her own body.
In that same split second, Boone and Kincaid raised their weapons, only to be horrified at the sight of the portal glowing behind Tazog. Holding their fire in fear of injuring the occupants of the portal, they were dismayed when one of the researchers emerged. Seizing an opportunity, Tazog shoved the startled scientist aside, reversed the coordinates and disappeared.
"I'm on it!" Liam Kincaid called out, running to the portal.
He paused at the sound of Kuzak's voice, "Let me come with you, Kincaid! I know her better than you do. Perhaps I can convince her stop this madness." Liam looked at the Jaridian, and deciding in his favor, nodded as they followed Tazog into the portal, to the Mothership.
Boone rushed over to Da'an, who was shivering and writhing with the surges of energy that ran through his body. "Get a med team to the portal room, ASAP", Boone barked into his communicator. Kneeling down, he took the hand of his still convulsing Companion, then glanced over at the portal, a look of conflict crossing his features.
Seeing his dilemma, Lili put a hand on the Commander's arm. "I'll stay with him, Boone. I'll make sure he's safe, I promise. Unarmed, I'm not much use to you up there."
Boone's eyes narrowed, as he looked at his former friend. Lili's expression was begging her onetime collegue to once again trust her with the being he cherished the most.
"They need your help.You can't help Da'an, so let me stay with him. You can trust me, Will. And Will...check on Ariel for me?"
Boone realized that in placing her child in his hands, Lili was returning the trust she hoped he would place in her. Giving her a nod, and giving Da'an's hand a quick squeeze, the Commander stood up and followed Liam Kincaid and Kuzak into the portal.
******
Arriving on the other side of the portal, Commander Boone immediately
sent out a page.
"Kincaid. Go."
"Update."
"She's trying to make her way to Deck D, Commander. The computer's got the Mothership on lock down, but we have another problem."
"What's that?"
"She's got Ariel."