Taelon Mothership
Tuesday, 06:02 EST

Were my instructions not clear, Agent Sandoval?

They were, Zo'or.

Then why have they not been carried out?

It's not that simple, Sandoval started. We can track down Boone's brainwave patterns, but setting up the equipment necessary for the process is not easy. To say nothing about our uncertainty that it will even be effective against a biosurrogute. This will take time, Zo'or.

I do not care what your excuses are, or what measures you must take. You are to find William Boone and destroy him, is that clear?

Yes, Zo'or. Da'an had known Sandoval for three years, yet the man's reaction to Zo'or's command was still unreadable to him. But then, he had known Zo'or for nearly a thousand years, and the Taelon's attitude was just as confusing.

Of course, his own emotional reaction might be serving to interfere with his perception.

Might I inquire, he began, as to the reasons for your celerity in this matter?

It should be clear to you that we cannot allow this...renegade to proceed in his course of destruction, Zo'or snapped back.

I feel obliged to remind you, Da'an said calmly, that were it not for your actions, this renegade would not exist.

For a moment, the two Taelons merely stared at each other. Not for the first time, Da'an wished that he could sense what his child was feeling, as most Taelons could. Then you believe that this occurrence is my infirmity?

Were you not the cause of Commander Boone's death? Da'an demanded. Were you not the one who deigned to implant his consciousness in another host body? Did you not repeat the process, even after he nearly destroyed the Mothership? He looked searchingly at the other Taelon. For I have a clear recollection of each of these occurrences.

He might not be able to sense the Zo'or's emotions, but it was clear from the Taelon's body language that his air of indignation was forced. If I had foreseen this outcome, I certainly would not have chosen this course of action.

Then what outcome did you see? Da'an only half-realized how strongly his emotions had been affecting him. You never have fully explained your reasons for terminating my Protector. If you had doubts of his loyalty, then surely you would not have restored his consciousness. He paused. Or was it something simpler, Zo'or? Perhaps you simply wished to decline me one of my protectors, as you did Agent Sandoval? Could it be that Boone was in truth nothing more than a pawn in your misguided quest for power?

For a moment, Zo'or simply stared at him. I find it odd that you are still opposed to my decision, he said finally. It seems to have proven beneficial to you as well.

Da'an paused. And how might that be?

Zo'or smiled. When had he picked up that human expression? Were it not for Commander Boone's death, you would not have been caused to meet Major Kincaid.

That stopped Da'an cold. What did he mean by that? Did he know the truth regarding Liam? No, if Zo'or was aware of Liam's Kimera heritage, then he would not still be walking free. Zo'or was, however, aware of the bond the two shared, however, even if he did not quite understand it. Perhaps this was all he meant.

That provides no excuse for your heresy, Zo'or, he said, choosing to ignore the remark. What you have done to Commander Boone is a violation of our oldest moral codes.

Boone was a member of an inferior species, Zo'or shot back. One that we may do with as we please. You demonstrated this yourself when you ordered the death of his wife.

Da'an closed his eyes, allowing his facade to slip for a moment as he searched himself for a response to give Zo'or. When the Synod had learned that Sandoval had arranged the death of Boone's wife, they had not believed that any human motivated by a CVI could take such an action on his own, and Da'an had been held responsible. He had agreed, because at the time, he had believed it himself. As he realized how easily the humans could overcome their CVIs, it became clear to him that they were not as easily controlled as had been thought.

Which brought forth another question. A question Da'an had been struggling with, to some degree, for the last four years.

You are young, he began. You cannot recall a time before we were struggling to survive. In this struggle, we have adopted many policies which challenge our long-standing beliefs, but we must recall that we do so only when we must. We cannot allow our struggle to survive to consume us, for then we shall have already lost that which we wish to preserve.

Ridiculous. Once the survival of our race is ensured, we may restore your prized Taelon values. He turned away, to stare out the viewport at the distant Earth. But first, we must survive.

Da'an remembered making a similar remark to Ni'ram just three days earlier. Our values are what define our existence, Zo'or, he said, recalling Ni'ram's response. If we sacrifice these values, then what is the purpose of existence?

Foolish sentiment. Zo'or looked at Da'an. You were once one of the strongest proponents of this policy.

One might then deduce from my change of opinion that such a course is not as wise as we may have believed.

One might. But I deduce that you have become too involved with this lesser species. Your judgment is no longer reliable. I shall do as I please.

As Zo'or stared at him, Da'an truly realized for the first time just how powerless he was against his child's will. Disgraced within the Synod, ignored by Zo'or, with no allies remaining, he could do nothing to dissuade the other Taelon from his self-destructive path, and he could do nothing to prevent him from carrying out his plan. He was completely helpless. And Zo'or knew it.

Then I can only hope that that which you please is also what is best for our species, he said, and strode off the bridge.


Dela Reya Apartment Complex, Los Angeles, California
07:24 Local (11:24 EST)

It was a fairly average apartment building; not expensive, but not shabby. It looked very new, as well, with large windows affording an impressive view of the Pacific Ocean, even from the stairwell. The halls were covered with a pattern of light greys of varying shades, making it look like a set of shadows created by an uneven surface. It had a certain soothing, peaceful quality about it.

Checking the door number from his Global, Liam searched around for a bell. After a moment, he chose simply to use the knocker hanging from the door. Doing so caused a bell to chime inside, and he quickly stopped knocking. Interesting touch, he thought.

After a moment, the door opened to reveal a woman in her late thirties with shoulder-length blonde hair and a brown work suit. She had a cup of coffee in her hand, and looked like she needed it.

Sarah Boone? Liam asked. She nodded, and he reached for his ID. I'm Major Liam Kincaid, Da'an's protector —

Yes, yes, I recognize you. She stepped away from the door. Come in.

Stepping through the doorway, Liam took a brief look around the apartment. It was not large, but the sparse furniture — which looked to have been selected without any real concern for how it would match the room — created at least the illusion of space. One side was almost entirely glass, looking out over the city of Los Angeles and the ocean beyond. On the far wall rested a flat TV, just beside the door to the kitchen. A couch lay halfway between the TV and the near wall, behind which was a large table, presumably for meals, but the smaller glass table in front of the couch seemed to be getting more use in that area. A bookshelf covered the near wall, on either side of another doorway, which Liam assumed led to the bedroom. A small, old hardwood desk rested against the wall containing the entrance, on which rested a computer and several photographs. Liam noticed one of her, another man whom he recognized as William Boone, and another woman. A single orchid rested in a small vase beside that picture.

Have a seat. Sarah motioned to the dinner table, taking a seat herself and another drink of coffee.

I'm sorry about coming so early, Liam said, settling into the chair opposite her. But this is fairly urgent.

It's all right. She set down the coffee mug. So what's this about, Major?

I need to ask you a few questions about your brother.

She frowned. I don't think I understand.

Liam could guess what she was thinking. For him to be showing up nearly a year after Boone's death indicated a very slow investigation. Please, if you'll just bear with me?

Taking another sip of her coffee, Sarah nodded. All right.

First of all, could you tell me a little bit about him? What was he like?

She sighed. Well, he was...a good man. Kind. He had a nasty temper sometimes — She smiled, looking down at the coffee mug. But you'd almost never know it. He always seemed to have a smile on his face. That changed after Kate died, though.

Liam remembered the bio he had read back at Augur's place. Oh. His wife. Probably the other woman in the picture, he thought.

Sarah nodded. She died right before he took that job with the Taelons. He was a different man after that. Can't say I blame him.

How did he feel about his job with the Taelons? Liam asked.

I really could never tell. He never really seemed happy about it, but then, he really wasn't that happy about anything at that point. I can tell you that he didn't regret the choice, but there were plenty of other things he'd rather be doing.

Like what?

She sighed again. Will and Kate wanted to start a family. They already had a house picked out in Lincoln, Nebraska when she died.

His wife's death had quite an effect on him, didn't it?

Of course it did. Sarah was now talking entirely to the coffee mug. It reminded me of...when he came back from the SI War. He had this...look about him. He went through the motions, but you always got the feeling that he wasn't really there. Like he was sleepwalking or something. It wasn't so bad when Kate died, but...I could see it.

Liam nodded. One more thing. Do you blame the Taelons at all for your brother's death?

She smiled wanly. Will was the perfect detective. He had to get to the bottom of everything. I remember this story about how once on Christmas Eve, when we were kids, he stayed up all night with a flashlight to see how Santa Claus could fit down the chimney.

Liam smiled.

He got that from our father, I think. But I guess I missed it. She looked directly at Liam. I don't know who's responsible for Will's death, and I really don't care. Knowing that won't bring him back.

Now it was Liam's turn to look down at the table. Thank you for your time, Miss Boone, he said, standing after a moment.

Sarah asked. Why are you here? Now, I mean. Why are you asking all this now?

Liam paused. Part of him wanted to tell her, but another part knew better. Tell her that her brother's mind was downloaded into a Taelon machine, and that he caused the bombing that nearly killed Ni'ram? What good would that do? Just a little mixed-up paperwork back in Washington, he said, offering a small smile. I'm sorry to have put you through all this, ma'am.

She nodded, but she seemed to be thinking about something else. Kincaid. I think Will knew a Captain Kincaid. They served together in the SI War. Was that you?

For a moment, Liam considered saying no. But he was using that alias, so he should probably stick to it. Yeah. That was me.

So you knew him too, didn't you?

Now Liam sighed. In reality, his only memory of Boone was the flash he had had of Zo'or killing him. He had researched enough to pretend to know him for the purposes of his interview for the job of Da'an's protector. Sandoval probably wouldn't have known better. But this was Boone's sister. Besides, he didn't want to fake the man's acquaintance. To do so, he felt, would dishonor Boone's memory even more than it already had been.

Not very well, he said simply.