Antar – Capitol City

Thanks to Kivar's obsession with creating a perfect replica of himself, Amaratha's scientists were able to begin work on the replication process immediately. Cell samples were taken from everyone and the scientists retreated to their lab to work. Liz, ever the scientist, wanted to join them, and argued her point strongly. Amaratha however was adamant. Earth was in no way ready for any of the knowledge that Liz may glean from her observations. Liz agreed reluctantly that Amaratha was right.

After several days of processing, the clones were ready. In a special ceremony in the Great Hall, the Earth contingent lined up across from their Antarian counterparts. At a signal from his mother, Max and his clone, moved to the center of the hallway. Max took one hand and placed it on his own forehead, and extended his other hand and placed it on the head of his duplicate. A golden beam of energy emanated from Max and enveloped both him and his clone. The light slowly faded, and Max lowered his arms. The two stepped away from each other.

"Thank you," said the clone. "I will do my best to live up to the responsibility you have entrusted in me."

Liz stepped forward and met her clone in the middle of the room. She duplicated Max's arm placement, and she and her clone were enveloped in an aura of shimmering pale blue light. When the light faded away, and the connection between the two was broken, Liz stepped away. She and her clone looked at each other and smiled.

"Thank you," said the clone. "We shall do you justice."

Michael and his duplicate stepped to the center of the room. Michael placed one hand on his forehead, and the other on that of his clone. Soon they both were encircled by a vibrant green light that swirled around them. After several minutes, the connection ended, and the two stepped quickly away from each other.

"I will protect them with my life," said the Michael clone.

Isabelle stepped forward and met her duplicate in the center of the room. She duplicated the hand placements of the others, and soon a soft pink light surrounded her and her clone. The light swirled around them, turning from light pink, to dusty rose, and back to light pink again before the connection ended. As they stepped away from each other, Isabelle's clone looked at her with a sad sweet smile.

"I'm sorry for all the losses you have suffered," she said. "But rejoice in knowing that you were loved. You are loved," she said, looking at Jereon.

As Isabelle stepped back into her original place, Kyle and his clone stepped forward. He placed one hand on his own head, and the other on his clone. A vibrant metallic blue aura surrounded the two, covering them as the ocean covers a swimmer. The vibrant blue slowly faded away, Kyle broke the connection and stepped back. He looked at his clone and said, "Watch over them, protect them all."

"You sacrificed much for your friends, Kyle Valenti," said his clone. "I will do no less."

Max nodded to Jereon who slipped forward and met his clone in the center of the room. He reached out and his clone and placed his hand his forehead and a rich red light encircled them, pulsing with energy. After the connection ended, the two stepped away from each other and Saranara and her clone stepped into the center of the room. Saranara made the connection, and the two were immersed in an aura of lavender light. The light slowly faded and the two stepped back to their original positions. Everyone turned to look at Maria.

"I so can't do this," she said, nervously. "I don't have any powers. I need one of you to help me."

"Will you not try Maria?" asked Amaratha. "I think you may surprise yourself."

Maria shrugged and stepped into the circle and placed one hand on her forehead, and the other on the head of her clone.

"Now focus Maria. Feel the power from deep inside you," said Amaratha.

Maria closed her eyes and concentrated. She opened her eyes and was surprised to see that a deep magenta light surrounded her, swirling around her and her clone. The light faded, and she stepped back and looked around at the stunned faces of her clone and her friends.

"Here," she said, reaching into her pocket and removing a vial of cedar oil, and handing it to her clone. "I think you are going to need this."

Everyone laughed, and Amaratha quickly ushered the duplicates out of the Great Hall. When she returned, she hugged her son tightly.

"You are a brave and wise man, much like your father. I love you my son. Isabelle," she said, pulling her daughter close. "I regret that I wasn't there as you grew up, but judging from the woman you are now, you have parents on Earth who love you and care for you deeply. I am only willing to let you leave me, because I know that they love you so much." Isabelle wiped a tear from her eye and returned her mother's hug.

"I love you too, Mother," she whispered.

"Liz," said Amaratha. "You above all others know the sacrifice I am making by letting my children leave. You put the safety of your children, and mine, above yourself. Thank you for giving up so much for them. Now it is your time to enjoy your life."

"Kyle, you have been a true friend to me and to my children, you deserve all the happiness in this world as well as in your own. I hope you will find it. In fact, I am sure you will," said Amaratha, looking at Saranara. "Michael, you are so much like your father was," she continued. "Strong, brave, loyal, and impetuous," Amaratha added with a grin. "Fortunately for you, you have a wife who is strong enough to stand up to you. Maria, I wish you luck, in dealing with this wonderful, stubborn man."

"Wait," said Maria. "How did you know I had powers now. Max only healed me a few days ago. It took Kyle and Liz years to develop their powers."

"Not only strong, but wise," said Amaratha. "I'm not positive Maria, but I think being on Antar, coupled with the fact that you just carried a child that was part Antarian accelerated the process."

"Cool," said Maria. "Nice to know I can blow him up if he pisses me off too much."

"Saranara and Jereon, I have watched the two of you grow, and your father was one of my dearest friend. He wanted nothing but happiness for you, as do I. I hope that when you set out on this great adventure, you find the happiness you deserve, the happiness your father so desperately wanted for you. The time has come for all of you to leave this planet, but know that you will be in my hearts, as I hope I will be in yours." She nodded to Max, and he fitted the two orbs together and they began to glow. When their power reached its apex, the group held hands and stepped into the circle of light.

"Farewell," whispered Amaratha, as they disappeared from site.