Double Helix: Twin Destinies
by Andrea and Persephone
Chapter 3/4

Aliya, currently as far off duty as a young Askani ever really got, was rather happily lying in ambush for the Askani'Son, well shielded and well concealed. He should be done with guard duty quite soon, and it was enjoyable to waylay him occasionally. Besides, it kept him on his toes.

On this occasion, however, something seemed to be slightly off. She peered from cover down the path. That was disturbing. Stryfe appeared to have acquired a twin.

Strange. Very strange. She would ask him about it -- shortly.

This wasn't one of the days Stryfe caught her lurking before she chose to stop. Too distracted, perhaps....

Aliya stepped into the path just ahead of them. The stranger-twin started, very slightly, before controlling himself. #Inattentive today, love?# She'd usually have asked out loud, but usually Stryfe wasn't bringing someone new along with him. "Good afternoon, Askani'Son," she greeted him formally, and reached along the link worriedly when he flinched.

Nathan's first personal impression of the brown-haired woman was a lethality that he nevertheless found curiously appealing. He decided the latter part was probably a preconceived notion from Stryfe. Definitely lethal, though.

"Hello, Aliya," Stryfe replied, trying to conceal the pang her words had caused while sending a brief caress across the link. "We, ah, have a visitor." As if that wasn't obvious.

"I see that," she said neutrally, examining the other man covertly but with interest.

"This is...Nathan Dayspring."

"Ah." #Any relation to the rebel leader you were so fascinated with?# "Can't he talk?"

#His foster son.#

"I was trying to be polite," Nathan said with a smile that was startlingly like Stryfe's. "Stryfe will be the first to tell you that my...unusual upbringing has led to an atrophy of social skills." Nathan's grin widened when Stryfe snorted. "I'm happy to meet you. I've heard a lot about you."

Aliya sniffed. "And Stryfe complains about being discussed with other women. Darling, when did he hear a lot about me? This afternoon?" #And what are you upset about?# She leaned against their psi-link, not applying too much pressure but reminding him she loved him and cared when he was upset. As opposed to their initial relationship, where in all honesty she'd been thoroughly disgusted to be assigned to him, no matter how illustrious he was supposed to be.

Nathan looked over at Stryfe, not sure how he wanted to handle this and deciding to let the other man take the lead. #I still won't tell them if you don't want,# he reminded Stryfe softly.

Stryfe took a breath. Might as well get this over with, after all, and see what Aliya thought once she knew. "Nathan came to ask the Sisterhood for...aid in a quest. He thought we would help because he is...the baby Apocalypse infected with the techno-organic virus in the 20th century, who was rescued by an Askani sister." The Chosen One. Stryfe didn't need to add that aloud.

Aliya turned this over in her mind for a moment, blinking at them both a few times while she did so. It appeared that Stryfe had evaluated the claim and believed it; the metal on the other man's body did make it... plausible, and she was inclined to trust Stryfe's judgment on the matter. That would presumably be why he was upset. And why she'd flinched when she gave him his title.

This made things... potentially very complicated. Sanctity had said Stryfe was the child they had lost and the man they needed. It seemed rather late to discover she was mistaken, all things considered. And that was leaving aside the question of what Nate's "quest" was supposed to be.

Besides, replacing Stryfe would probably break his heart... but if they had to have someone else, that was what would be done.

She stepped close and, since he didn't move, lifted herself telekinetically to kiss him and then planted her feet back on the ground and tucked herself under his arm. "He will have to speak to Madame Sanctity, then."

"I...know he will," Stryfe said slowly, holding Aliya against him. "He's been preparing himself for that." He brushed against her mind tentatively. #I...never knew. I would never have lied to you, love.#

#I know. Besides, we told you, not the other way around. It would appear at this point that someone is or has been mistaken. We'll find out.#

#I wanted to believe it was him, but...# Stryfe kissed the top of her head gently, as it was closest and easiest to reach at the moment. Her calm acceptance was a balm to his still confused heart. #Thank you.#

#For what? I'm in love with you, not how, where, or when you were born.#

#I know. I love you too. This has just been...confusing. Bright Lady bless your pragmatism.#

Aliya shrugged mentally. #What is, is.#

#I know.#

#I suppose Sanctity should be informed promptly. I was rather hoping to get you alone for a little while, though. Want me to tell her?#

#I have a feeling that Nathan will be stuck re-telling his story as many times as Madame Sanctity can bear,# Stryfe said with a bit of a smile. #I think we'll have plenty of time. I would like to be alone with you as well.#

#Good.# She squeezed him slightly and disengaged, with a nod to Nate. Where had he spent the last decade, a library? "I will inform Madame Sanctity of your arrival." Not that she actually had to do this in person, but it was considered more formal.

"Thank you." She seemed to be taking this very calmly and without, Nathan noted with relief, suddenly starting to call him "Askani'Son" or something equally ridiculous. He supposed he'd have to prove his story again. He could feel that Stryfe's emotions were a little calmer now; apparently Aliya was soothing for him. Good.

#Anything I should be warned about?# he asked Stryfe, half-joking and half-serious, as Aliya moved off to speak with her superiors.

#Probably, but I'm not sure what, exactly. You've seen some of my memories of her. Madame Sanctity was the first Askani recruited by the Mother, so she's very old, a little erratic, but very formidable. Though she doesn't really look her age.#

Erratic? That probably didn't bode well. Not like he had much choice now. #Will you be there when I'm...presented, or whatever it is?#

#If she says I should be.# Stryfe considered a moment. #She probably will. I brought you here, so I'm somewhat responsible for you.#

One familiar face, at least. Although why that should concern him now, when he'd never been planning on spotting a familiar face here.... #Should be fun.#

#You haven't actually looked at my memories of her, have you.#

#That sounds ominous....#

#Perhaps more so than it should. I was partly joking.#

#But only partly? I'm thinking I should look at these.... # Nathan dug around in his memory for one of the still-confusing, slightly out of place memories he'd gotten from his almost-merge with Stryfe. There she was.... #Yikes.#

Stryfe laughed a little. #Keep that quiet....# He was surprised he could still feel like laughing, under the circumstances, but Nate had provoked it a few times now....

#I grew up in a library, remember? I know how to be quiet!#

#Mentally too. She IS a psi.#

#Luckily, I happen to have just picked up some shielding tips today.#

Stryfe wondered how much trouble he was likely to be in if Sanctity discovered the Askani'Son was using shielding tips he'd gotten from Stryfe to hide things from her. This was interrupted by Aliya's return. "We're all to go see Madame Sanctity in ninety minutes. She recommends we eat first."

"Oh. Good." Nate looked at Aliya a bit nervously. "How much did you tell her to start with? And how did she take it?" He should probably be more subtle, but thanks to Stryfe's memories he felt like she was already a friend. That could be dangerous.

"I informed her that Stryfe had brought back from sentry duty a stranger named Nathan Dayspring who looked much like him and has some proposal to make to the Askani." She shrugged. "She responded as I already told you."

"Ah. Thank you. I appreciate your hospitality."

Aliya smiled suddenly. "Well, if Stryfe's judged you should actually be let in, we might as well at least feed you." She supposed they would have to keep an eye on him the entire time. Ah well.

Nathan had a feeling that Aliya's plans for this "ambush" of Stryfe had not included babysitting a new arrival. "Thank you, I appreciate it." #Sorry to ruin your plans for the afternoon, Stryfe,# he added, carefully keeping his expression neutral.

They started off to follow the directive regarding food while Stryfe forced himself not to blush. Nathan just couldn't have been oblivious to that sort of subtext after ten years alone, now could he? #I suppose I could still technically authorize leaving you on your own, or delegate you to someone else, but I'm not sure it would be a good idea.#

#Don't trust me? Or them?#

#I think I do trust you,# Stryfe said after a moment, #but another part of that is that I also believe your story -- which means I don't really have that authority. And you haven't been officially recognized yet, nor are you exactly familiar with the area or our customs, so it would be irresponsible to leave you on your own.#

#...Oh.# Nathan still didn't comprehend how so MUCH of what Stryfe had taken for granted a day ago--even this morning -- was now being turned around, all because of Nate. #I'm glad that you trust me.# He couldn't think of anything else to say.

#So am I,# Stryfe sent back heavily. #I don't really want to think about how this would go if I couldn't.#

Aliya studied them as they walked, and as they arrived and settled down for food. Cold food, as it was both a warm day and a time generally between meals. Still very good.

It was obvious that they were carrying on a conversation she wasn't privy to. Very well, they could do that. On the other hand, this Nathan might be the real Askani'Son, but he hadn't been confirmed as such by Madame Sanctity and she quite doubted he had her training in shielding techniques -- or how to slip past them.

She was right, too.

She didn't pry too much, and made sure to keep her behavior natural, but she tested his shields lightly and then slid sideways through them to see if she could do it, and what would be inside. A well-ordered mind for one relatively untrained, though that wasn't unheard of. No hostility just below the shields; that was... at least somewhat encouraging.

His psi-signature was almost identical to Stryfe's. That was how she almost -- and would have, were she less familiar with Stryfe's mind -- missed the link.

Link? Stryfe had a link with this -- this -- stranger he'd met only today, Askani'Son or not?

But... could this Nathan be using a link to convince Stryfe that he was the real Askani'Son? Aliya's protective instincts flared. #What's this all about?#

Stryfe jumped. Aliya had extricated herself smoothly from Nathan's mind and reached through her own link to Stryfe, keeping the conversation very private and going deep enough to indicate the link to Nathan.

#What do you mean?#

She laid a soothing mental hand on his mind. He was nearly always tense about any form of deep communication. #You're psi-linked to this Nathan. Why?#

Stryfe drew a deep breath. #We found that -- to our mutual confusion -- we had at some point been linked before, but the link had been broken. Badly. We repaired it to give it a chance to heal so that we could get... untangled. I had invaded his mind shortly after challenging him, and between the broken link and the similarity of our psionic signatures, we had some trouble getting separated.#

Aliya nodded, frowning a bit. It seemed to be an accurate account... how would two telepaths become linked without noticing, though? It reminded her more than anything of the twin-links she'd seen before... and it must have formed and broken young, or when they were both incapacitated, or at least one would remember.

Nate eyed them. #Stryfe? Is something wrong?#

#Aliya wants to know about our link.#

#...So tell her?#

Stryfe smiled slightly. #I am. Patience is a virtue you might wish to cultivate. ...And now I'm apparently beginning to sound like my teachers.#

#Halea, right? I think I've got that memory,# Nate replied with a cross between a grin and a wince. #I imagine she'd be very pleased to hear that.#

#You'll... you'll like Halea, I think. It's a virtue she practices, as well, and she never assumes you know anything you don't have a logical reason to.#

#Oh good.#

Nathan suddenly found himself the target of a very fierce stare from Aliya, and found himself reminded of his initial impression of lethality. #I don't know much about this link of yours yet, and Stryfe seems to trust you. But I warn you, Nathan -- Askani'Son or no, if you hurt him, I will make you regret it.#

Nathan met her eyes levelly, denying the fleeting impulse to smile. #I'm glad to hear that, strange as it may sound. I'm afraid that I have hurt him already without wanting to, but I swear to you that I don't want to do him harm.#

#Then we understand each other.# Aliya held his gaze levelly for another moment, then returned her attention to her food.

#What the flonq was that all about?# Stryfe thought a bit plaintively at them both.

#Just laying out some ground rules. Like she'll force-feed me my teeth if I try to hurt you,# Nathan replied with a little grin.

Stryfe nearly inhaled a mouthful of chewed fruit pulp, barely managed to swallow it, and spent the next several seconds coughing violently and trying not to laugh in between. "Stab your eyes," he finally gasped in protest. "Aliya, did you say that?"

"No, I left it to his imagination," she replied demurely.

"I have a good imagination," Nathan added.

Stryfe spent several moments blinking between the two of them, trying very hard not to laugh. "Oath, I never should have introduced you two."

"I'd have had to ask him who he was, if you hadn't answered," Aliya pointed out sensibly. "He might even have spoken at some point."

"I was just trying to be polite," Nathan told her, "since you obviously weren't planning on me being there when you came."

"Well, no, but I knew you were there by the time I greeted you both."

"I spent much of the past several years in a library. By myself. I got used to not talking."

Aliya blinked at him. "That was my guess, actually, but I thought I was joking at the time."

"Well, you were still joking. It just happened to be true." Nathan shrugged. "That's mostly where I learned about the Askani, what little I knew." He eyed Stryfe sideways. He knew a lot more about them now.

She raised an eyebrow. "Interesting library."

"Well, my unit was technically Askani, but latecomers before the massacre. And it was not something they publicized. The library had what I suppose were the official records."

So the rebel leader Dayspring Stryfe so admired had actually been Askani? That bore investigating. "So you and your unit lived in this library? How did you end up there? There aren't very many still in existence."

"Ah, no." Nathan took a deep breath. "You'll hear this again soon, I suppose, but... we were there when Apocalypse tried to take over Stryfe." He kept his voice pitched low, so it wouldn't carry far past their small group. "Afterwards... well, we weren't the only rebels who tried to get in, and maybe the rest of the palace sensed it wasn't a very stable time, but there was fighting in the building -- some people tried to get to where we were, I don't know exactly who, and Ch'vayre told me to take Stryfe and get out through an old teleporter whose presets hadn't been used in a long time."

He shrugged. "But we didn't go at the same time, and I guess it got changed because we wound up different places. You Askani found Stryfe; I landed in a library."

Aliya blinked several times to process this new information, absently sending soothing thoughts down her link to Stryfe. "That could explain the... confusion, between you, if you both were supposed to come here and you were lost instead...."

He hadn't mentioned his unit, either.

"I don't know about supposed to. Ch'vayre put in the first settings. I wouldn't think he knew there were Askani on the other end of it!"

Aliya was silent for a long moment, then sent to them both, #This is little known: Ch'vayre was Askani once. Apocalypse caught him in another century and... turned him.#

#Ch'vayre was Askani and you've never mentioned this before?# Stryfe asked incredulously.

#It never seemed relevant before.#

#It would have seemed relevant to me,# Stryfe pointed out.

#Why? It was another lifetime, and you have had no contact with him since. It wasn't relevant to the Askani'Son's mission.#

Nathan winced. Stryfe paused, then replied tightly, #I suppose it can still be relevant to me, then.#

Aliya sighed and reached to put her hand on his. #Stryfe, I didn't think about telling you and decide to keep it secret. It is, as I said, little known, and it rarely comes to mind. It was something I knew about him -- although not until after you first told me about him, actually -- but more background than anything else. I was told it should not be brought up unless it had direct and important bearing on a matter at hand. He had mostly forgotten those days while he was Apocalypse's, or so I assumed.#

#Until he apparently remembered enough to send us there....# Nathan added quietly. Well, that was something to think about.

#Apparently,# Stryfe said brusquely, returning his attention to his food.

Aliya shrugged. #And then again he may not have known what was at the site he chose. The site where I found Stryfe was not too near the new Cloisters, and we had not been there for a very long time. Ch'vayre may or may not have been aware at some point that we could be found in that vicinity.#

#What else is near there?# Nathan asked suddenly. #That might have been of interest to Apocalypse. I saw there was ore-mining at one point, some kilometers off, but only a small lode, and something else about the nearby flora, but that wasn't very specific.#

Aliya shrugged. #As far as I know, that's about it. There are some fairly hardy edible plants in the area, but I can't imagine him having a great interest in cooking. Did he even have to eat anymore?#

#No, but he enjoyed it on occasion. Well, as much as he enjoyed anything,# Stryfe answered. #I don't know why he would've found it interesting, but as you said, Aliya, it's hardly relevant. Apocalypse is dead, and if Ch'vayre was going to come after it or either of us, he would have done so long ago.#

There was nothing really to do regarding that comment but agree, and it seemed to take both far too long and too short a time before they had to go before Madame Sanctity. Nathan, a little reluctantly, reverted at Stryfe's insistence to the explanation he'd originally planned, with only slight modifications, mostly relating to not associating his plan too strongly with Apocalypse. After a lengthy questioning of all three of them -- which struck Nathan as a bit unfair to Aliya, as she'd come into the situation a bit late, but she didn't complain -- Stryfe and Aliya were dismissed and several of the elder Askani summoned for discussion. This required Nathan to start all over. He predicted that if he should be found sufficiently interesting, an even larger or at least different group would require an explanation of him, and so on until everyone had heard it enough times to be bored.

Stryfe, meanwhile, was spending his time alternately relieved that he had escaped Madame Sanctity after such little questioning and extremely tense at the thought of what Nathan was even now revealing to the Sisters. ~My life will be decided as a result of this conference,~ he thought morosely, ~but I cannot even be there because that is only incidental to the real issue!~

At least Aliya was still with him. She had traded with a friend to get out of chores for the evening, and her warm weight leaning against his chest and side was about as comforting as anything could be at the moment. She was keeping the link almost entirely open on her side, too, and her mind was just as warm. Stryfe wasn't sure why he was so cold. Fear and inaction, he supposed. He sighed and leaned his head down to rest against hers. "I don't think it's going well," he murmured softly.

"What makes you say that?"

"He's getting so exasperated.... I think this is his third time to repeat it all."

"Hmm. Well, I've been informed I'm supposed to attend a session later and probably at least one more after that -- and bring you to that one -- so he'd better hold his patience a little longer."

"Wait a minute. Why are you going and I'm not?"

"I'm not sure." Aliya's mouth quirked wryly as she looked up at him. "I imagine several of the other Sisters will be saying 'teacher's pet,' though, and I'm not sure they're wrong." She was one of Sanctity's favorites, perhaps the favorite. Aside from Stryfe, that is.

Or perhaps that should be aside from the Askani'Son. Aliya wasn't entirely sure where Stryfe was going to end up if Nathan's story was accepted, and wasn't sure how she felt about any of the possibilities. She knew it would break his heart to be cast aside in Nathan's favor, and her heart would break for him, yet how could they ignore the prophesies that had led them to giving Stryfe a place of honor to begin with. She sighed and leaned her head back down. It was all so confusing.

"You deserve to be honored," Stryfe said simply, wrapping a strand of her hair around his fingers. "You are wiser and stronger than many. And lovelier, though I doubt that is a consideration," he added with a small smile, kissing her gently.

Aliya laughed. "And you are gold-tongued. Silver's too cold," she added mischievously. "I think it's partly that I started young, though I'm hardly the only Sister practically born to it." She sighed and kissed his cheek this time, then smiled wryly. "You could eavesdrop, of course. You'll be linked to two people there; I don't think it would be difficult."

"I'm getting enough of a brainful from Nathan already, thank you."

"You could shield the link to him."

"I am. There's only so much I can shield with it still healing. And Nathan's not as good at shielding."

"Hmp. He'll have to learn." Stryfe hadn't been that skilled at it when he arrived, but he'd been an enthusiastic student. She'd been assigned to work with him on it; she'd been disgusted, and she was still surprised he'd forgiven her for as many times as she'd forced her way through his shields in the course of their practice sessions, given how he tended to react. She wasn't sure he knew she still could. Her training at getting through shields was still being kept deliberately just ahead of his ability -- although it was getting much harder; he could store enough energy for it to be nearly impossible to get through unnoticed or without injury. Oath. Was Madame Sanctity going to make her teach Nathan too?

"His foster mother was a telepath, she taught him some. And I can't believe I completely missed that she was a mutant too." Thinking about the Daysprings as Nathan's parents was much easier than thinking of his other parents. "...Do you know he actually has memories of the First Ones? Fuzzy ones, but... there."

Aliya sat up to stare at him. "Bright Lady." She'd taken her battle-name from them, and been teased about egotism and how much she had to live up to.

"Those weren't any of the ones I shared, but he said he had them and I had no reason to disbelieve. He doesn't even realize..." ~He doesn't even like them that much.~

She settled back down against him. "I suppose he wouldn't." She hesitated. "Aside from the spillover exasperation at having to repeat himself, does having the link open to him... bother you much?"

"It's like something was broken and I never knew it, but now it's fixed and I...can't imagine losing it again. Even shielding it off too much feels...wrong."

~But keeping your link to me closed almost all the time feels right?~ Aliya partitioned the hurt in her mind away from the link. "I suppose that's just as well while it finishes healing, anyway."

"Yes, just as well... I still don't know how we could've formed and broken the link like it was without either of us knowing anything about it."

"You would have to have both been either incapacitated or extremely young."

"Yes... Aliya, is something wrong? You're... closing up on me."

Caught. Blast it all. She hadn't closed the link, but he'd caught the boundary anyway.... "It was... surprising to have you say that shielding your link to Nathan tightly feels wrong," she said neutrally.

"...While I still shield ours," he finished for her. "I thought you understood why I have to..."

Aliya sighed. "I understand why you aren't comfortable with leaving it open much of the time. You've told me... and I know that you didn't like to." She kept her head down on his chest, not looking up to meet his eyes. "At least... I thought I understood. If you're more comfortable leaving a link open with him, as I said it's probably just as well for now, but perhaps I don't understand as well as I thought."

"I -- that's not -- It's... not the same," he finished lamely, knowing that he'd hurt her and totally at a loss to explain WHAT the difference was. "It may just be because of the way it was broken, and is still healing. It might be a... survival instinct, not to close it off entirely until it's fully healed."

That was a pathetic excuse, and he knew it.

"I'm not saying you should close it; you're quite right not to. It's only...." She sighed. "You were troubled, when you said I was 'closing off' on you. You do that all the time."

"But you don't," Stryfe said very softly. "I've come to depend on that. I -- I never meant to hurt you."

That wasn't perfectly accurate; she shielded from her end as well, when he wanted. She was nearly always ready to open the link more, though. "I know you didn't."

"Aliya, my love... I didn't want this link with Nathan in the first place. I don't know why it's there, or how, or even when. I would never have chosen to share my mind with him like this. You... I wanted in my mind, with me, even with the limits I had to put on it."

"I know. I understand. It still feels as though... you trust him more."

"I've seen his mind. I've been inside it, part of it, to an extent I didn't even think was possible. Not and still be able to separate into two minds again. I could never have done that kind of merge with anyone voluntarily, and yet...it leaves a mark. It's not a matter of trusting him more, love. It's more... not having anything left to bother trusting about."

"I didn't say I was reacting logically, either," Aliya murmured, then sighed. Again. "I wonder if it also has anything to do with the role he described in kicking Apocalypse out of your mind...."

"I still don't remember that. I can see it from his side now, but... still not mine." That still bothered him. Why should he be able to remember the encounter with Apocalypse in such vivid detail, and not even a fuzzy glimpse of Nathan, or any of the Daysprings?

"I think your mind shut down at some point," Aliya murmured. "You were unconscious when I found you, after all, and Nathan does not seem to have been under the impression you were fully lucid at any point when he saw you."

"That shouldn't matter. I should still remember it... I know, I know -- what is, is. Still... I apparently met Slym Dayspring once, at least."

"Most people do not remember what happens when they're unconscious, even telepaths. And semiconsciousness is a gray area." She braced her hand on his shoulder and sat up again to kiss him. It was still... disappointing that he would continue to shut her out, but it was something she'd made up her mind to live with.

"Yes, but I'm not most telepaths," he teased, kissing her back and repeating their old joke. "I'm the -- Never mind. When's this Council session you get to go to that I have to miss?"

Aliya put her arms around him tightly. ~I'm the Askani'Son,~ he'd almost said, but apparently he wasn't. "An hour from now."

Stryfe held her against him tightly for a moment before managing a chuckle that almost sounded amused. "I'm not sure if Nathan's going to make it that long."

"Well, if the Council sessions do him in, he certainly can't take your place."

"Given what little I know of him, I doubt the Council sessions will do him in. I'm just not sure if the Council could handle it." Stryfe paused a moment before adding, "And he doesn't want to take my place. He doesn't want to be the Askani'Son."

Aliya paused for a moment. "He's going to make this as complicated as humanly possible, isn't he?"

"Without a doubt."

*****

"Let me get this straight. I have explained who I am, who I think I am, and what I'm trying to do half a dozen times today if I don't count the partial explanation to Aliya because Stryfe helped." Nathan appeared to be addressing the wall regarding this topic, then turned to the two individuals mentioned. "And we're going to do it all over again tomorrow?"

An actual giggle escaped Aliya. "Not quite the same thing. I think everyone's questioned you enough times to be satisfied nothing crucial is being left out for the moment. There will be debates."

Nathan sighed. "That, at least, makes sense."

"You say that now; wait until you have to listen to them," Stryfe muttered darkly.

"As a concept it makes sense. That reminds me, don't you ever argue with them? They seem to find it very strange that I'm not inclined to cooperate automatically with everything they say."

"Why would I argue with them?"

Nathan gave him a startled look. "Ah... don't they ever suggest anything you disagree with?"

"Well...yes, on occasion."

"Then... don't you argue?"

"No."

Nathan looked at Aliya, who seemed an unlikely source of help. "Well, why not?"

"I let wiser heads prevail. I'll present my opinions, of course, but the Askani'Son follows the wishes of the Council." #And when living with women, Nathan,# Stryfe added on a very tight band, #it is generally better to let them think they are getting their way instead of wasting all your time arguing about it.#

"I," Nathan informed him, "am not a pet."

"No, you're apparently the Askani'Son," Aliya informed him tartly. "And the Council leads the Askani."

"By the nose?"

"By wisdom and authority."

"Some of their so-called wisdom and authority is flonqing idiotic," Nathan said bluntly. "I'm not staying."

"You have to."

"I do not."

"You're the Askani'Son."

"You have one."

"Yes. You," Stryfe said, gritting his teeth.

"I don't want to be any flonqing Chosen One! You seem to be doing a great job, so keep at it and let me get on with MY mission."

"YOU don't get a choice about it!"

"Did I mention idiotic?"

"Several times. Just don't mention that to the Council," Aliya replied. "You're the one who came to us, you know."

"Yes. What disturbs me is the impression that you not only expect me to stay and cooperate, but are fully prepared to claim me as your anointed one by force," he replied dryly. "I was under the impression that if the workings of fate didn't bring someone to his destiny without it being forced by the people depending on it, he wasn't really the one destined."

"We ARE the workings of fate," Aliya snapped.

"You're people, the same as anyone else, and I've yet to see any evidence to the contrary! Which means that if you have to force me to take up this so-called destiny, it's not really mine. You've already GOT your Chosen One, so stop trying to drag me into it."

"Stop it. Both of you." Stryfe was startled at himself the next second for saying it, but being psi-linked to both sides of the argument had been giving him the uneasy feeling that his mind was going to hum itself apart. For a wonder, they both stopped.

"Are you okay?" Nathan asked, frowning in concern and trying to shield the link as much as he could. He hadn't been trying to give Stryfe a headache...Of course, Aliya hadn't done much better, apparently.

"I'm fine," Stryfe replied, a shade too quickly. "You two were just becoming... a little too intense." He sighed and let himself rub his temples. "It's becoming obvious you were the one born for this, Nathan."

"We can't force you into it, though," Aliya admitted quietly. "Strike that. We could. But if you were broken for a mind-controlled puppet, I fail to see what the point would be of its having to be you."

"I don't know what I was born for, and right now I don't really care. I have a purpose that I care about. I'm not going to give that up just to give you a little puppet. I don't want the flonqing job."

"And according to you they already have a puppet, is that it?" Stryfe snapped.

Nathan eyed him coolly. "Well, I'm not the one who said it...."

"You might as well have. Just because I don't argue with every word the Council says out of sheer contrariness doesn't make me a puppet, Nathan! Give me some credit for having learned the best ways to accomplish things around here; I've been here a bit longer than you have."

"I'm not arguing out of sheer contrariness; I'm trying to explain that I have other things to do than devote my life to them, which frankly would defeat the purpose I came here for anyway."

Aliya stood up suddenly. "I've been called. Don't kill each other while I'm gone."

"I wouldn't be that lucky," Nathan and Stryfe growled in chorus as she walked out.

Her voice floated back to them. "And don't just wait until I get back, either!"

"Hmph." Stryfe rubbed his temple, trying not to be glad that she'd left, but at least his head wasn't trying to pull itself in two anymore. He sat down on a comfortable chair and looked at Nathan earnestly. "Nathan, I realize you don't agree with the Council's method right now. But surely you realize that the goals are important. And you are the Askani'Son - if you don't fulfill the prophecy, no one will."

"The Council has been far too busy asking me questions to answer any of mine, such as why the Mother Askani could speak with authority on the proper course of time. There is no logical reason I could do anything about their goals that you couldn't."

"Because she's the Mother Askani!" Stryfe snapped. "Don't you think I would love to believe that my entire purpose in life for the last ten years hasn't been a mistake? That I could still do what I've been training to? But the only reason anyone thought I could do it in the first place was because they thought I was you! Now you're here and it's your flonqing responsibility."

"That," Nathan pointed out with what he considered remarkable restraint, "is not a logical reason!" He flopped down in another seat, catching himself just in time in case it might break upon having metal flung carelessly down on it. "In defense of the Council, however, I will note that while they seem to find my identity fairly convincing, they aren't jumping to conclusions as rapidly as you."

"They'll get there eventually."

"As of the last session, I got the impression they believed I had been the relevant kid. At least after the demonstration with the virus." He wasn't sure he had ever voluntarily embarrassed himself that much in his life. "I could be wrong, of course; as you keep pointing out, you know them much better. It seemed to me, however, that they were preparing to discuss what to do about it."

The exact method and manner they would get rid of him, in other words. "Details, only. I have been publicly acknowledged as the Askani'Son for ten years. They can't just admit that they made a mistake like this. They'll have to discuss how to best reveal it."

Nate sighed. "I still think they should just keep you." He reconsidered that after he said it. Something about the way they talked about their Askani'Son... he wasn't sure he'd wish the job even on someone who wanted it.

Stryfe shrugged and tried to appear casual. "My only claim to the title was by bloodright. If I'm not who we thought I was..."

"At first. Now you're the one who's lived it." Nate walked over and, a bit hesitantly, put a hand on Stryfe's shoulder. "I know, I know. It's the prophecy. But I'm only so impressed with the Mother Askani, and less with some of her followers. Maybe it's a worthy goal, but... it's not mine, and if they're going to try to drag me into it they could at least try presenting some evidence. Although they haven't actually said anything about that yet."

Stryfe looked away from him. "You realize if you go back in time this timeline will still be here; you won't do it any good. Are we that far beyond hope?" He almost wished he had just sent Nathan on his way after all....

"I doubt it. But there are such possibilities back then... I'd like to try. Maybe not immediately, but I'd like to try."

Maybe not immediately. That was good; he didn't really want Nathan to leave... or at least most of the time he didn't. He wanted a chance to get to know this almost-brother of his -- the normal way, not by mixing up memories. "I hope you'll succeed, if it means that much to you. But... this present will still be here, regardless of what you do in the past. It still needs the Askani'Son."

"Maybe. I'm still not sure why -- as I said, the Council hasn't been interested in explaining anything to me, which is fair enough since at the moment I'm the one asking for something. Still, I've yet to see why you wouldn't be as good a choice or better."

"Nathan..." Stryfe put his hand over Nathan's and squeezed slightly. "Thank you, but I... am trying very hard to resign myself to the inevitable." ~So I don't do anything embarrassing when the final announcement comes.~ "Just accept it, please."

"Yes, well, I didn't hear anybody argue when I got to the part about disappearing to the twentieth century if I got what I wanted and to look elsewhere if I didn't." Then again, maybe they just wouldn't say anything yet.

"The Council does not argue. It orders."

"I still don't acknowledge being under their jurisdiction." Nate grimaced, then made a slight chopping motion with the other hand. "Never mind. There's not that much point arguing about it with you right now, anyway."

"Not really. What is, is, and what the Council decides will come regardless of our opinions." He looked up at Nathan and smiled wryly. "This time yesterday I actually thought my life was simple, you know."

~If somebody tells you every move to make... not the kind of simplicity I care for, myself.~ "Things change."

Stryfe sighed and moved his hand, standing up. "Nathan, you are aware that physical contact makes telepathy considerably stronger, aren't you? Particularly between persons with a somewhat raw and open link?"

Nathan's mouth quirked. "I wasn't thinking about it. On the other hand, I wasn't sure I shouldn't say that aloud, either."

"I'm aware of your feelings about the Askani. I could hardly be otherwise. I don't share them." Most of them.

"I know. I wouldn't really expect you to."

"So perhaps we should avoid that topic of conversation for the moment?"

"Fine. Any other topic in mind, or do you want me to shut up?" Having been talking what felt like the entire day as it was, Nate wouldn't meet the last with very intense objections.

"Well, I wouldn't have phrased it quite like that, but you have been talking for most of the day. I'm practically hoarse from it. I was thinking you might want something to drink and a place to sleep?"

"Intensely. I can do without either if I have to, though; I keep getting the odd feeling I'm going to be called before session again, either in about two minutes or three hours." Nate grinned. "Obviously I'd make a lousy clairvoyant."

"Hmmm... well, if you prefer, we can wait two minutes before finding you a place to sleep, just to make sure. A three hour nap would still be useful."

"Well, I've had the feeling ever since I last left, so I don't think the two minute part is significant."

"You're right, you WOULD make a lousy clairvoyant."

"See, I told you."

A grin tugged at Stryfe's mouth. "So... am I finding you a place to sleep or not? Because if you want to stand here arguing all night, I can do that as well."

"I suspect then you'd have at least one Askani mad at you," Nate remarked. "I'd appreciate a place to sleep, yes."

"Well, you see, I was counting on Aliya sneaking up behind you while I had you distracted and clubbing you over the head to let me have some peace and quiet."

"Surely you don't want her to leave you in peace...."

"Knocking you unconscious would give me peace and quiet. Aliya would disturb it, but she's very creative about it, so I don't mind." Stryfe grinned, then turned and added, "Follow me."

*****