A/N: I wrestled with several ideas on this chapter, but, in the end, decided to cut about half off of it to make chapter 25. It looks like this story is just about to its climax, then there will be a short unwinding and… it will be finished.

Legacy: chapter 24

Ka'len glanced back over her shoulder to insure that the pack of curious humans had indeed gone back, as she had instructed them in the first place. Such stubborn creatures they can sometimes be!

But… for all their shortcomings, Ka'len wished with all her heart that she could be one of them. Lead a simple life… it was the same draw that turned many Xe toward the ancient beliefs, and Zx'al. The driving urge to simply exist, to be just another nameless body in the service of some imaginary force. It would be liberating, a massive weight lifted. But Ka'len knew it was just an excuse, a way to get out of making the most of what you are. And she had decided that that was the last thing she wanted to do: give up.

Giving up is never an option for an intelligent creature. There is always a way to accomplish what you need to do. All you have to do is find it.

Right now, Ka'len knew what she needed to accomplish, and she was determined to find her path, he means to help Allie. No trick of "fate" or "luck" could help her friend; Ka'len knew the futility of these notions.

Notions that made the summons to this spot ever more confusing.

The meeting beacon, sent by a Xean craft… How was it possible? No ships were supposed to pass anywhere near this galaxy for three solar years. Yet a Xean craft had arrived, and was en route to this very spot where she stood: a small clearing in the otherwise thick forest.

The humans would see it, they would see the flashy subterfuge put on by the crafts detection avoidance system, the "lights", as they call them. They would know what it was when they saw it, but how would they react?

Most of the military personnel already knew the whole truth, about Allie and herself, and the Xean civilization, but that is no accurate predictor of behavior. Irrational fear can cause irreparable damage when mixed with powerful weapons.

For now, Ka'len was more concerned with the nature of this visit. The reaction of the humans was a secondary concern, a thought to be kept in the back of her mind as everything else plays out. Who could have come, and for what reason?

There were a million possible scenarios, but all questions would be answered sooner then Ka'len could think of them all. The craft was close now, even thought she could not see anything through the trees, she could feel it strongly.

A branch broke behind her followed by the sound of feet crunching along in the debris of the forest floor. Ka'len turned to see Tyler standing, staring at her. The fact that he was alone was stranger then hem being there in the first place, Ka'len had expected them all to still be sneaking around to watch her.

"What are you doing?" Ka'len demanded, "go back, you should not be here!"

"No," Tyler stood straight to make his stand, "the others went back, I came to bring you back."

"Why? I told you all to go back."

"Its not safe out here,"

Ka'len caught the first glimpse of the lights from behind Tyler, he continued without noticing: "and I don't know why, but I think you're important. We need you to find Allie."

What is the purpose of continuing? Ka'len thought, as the lights grew closer, this human will see the craft in a matter of seconds, if he goes back or not. It is time for truth.

"Yes, I can find Allie," Ka'len said, "I can sense her energy patterns, and guide the search from that crude machine."

Tyler was taken off guard by her sudden openness, "oh…" was all he could say at first, then: "what do you mean 'energy patterns'? Are you saying that you're some kind of psychic?"

"No." Ka'len said flatly, then lifted her head to look at the lights that were now very low, and very close. Tyler turned to see what she was looking at.

His jaw dropped, Tyler spun back toward Ka'len with a terrified look on his face, "wha… what the hell is that?"

"It is an atmospheric entry vehicle."

Tyler turned back to look at the lights again, then back to Ka'len with the same look of confusion and fear, "what?"

"Come, stand here," Ka'len pointed to a spot right beside her.

"No!" Tyler ducked behind a tree as the lights settled overhead, "what's going on?"

Ka'len did not hear his question though, as the lights settled, her cranial communications implant activated, sending a message from John into her thoughts.

Allie's mission has changed. Where is she?

Ka'len processed his words and a single, horrible thought entered her mind: If the ships sensors could not find her… then all could already be lost.

Ka'len composed her thoughts, responded: She has gone with an agent of this nations government, we cannot find her.

All the while, Tyler darted his attention from the thing hovering overhead, and Ka'len. Fear gripped him, and urged him to run. But something else was there, a soothing feeling, almost a voice in his head telling him that it would all be all right.

I see, John responded, then asked: the humans with Lisa are friend or enemy?

Friend, Ka'len answered quickly, they are assisting with the search.

There was a short moment of uneasiness, a feeling transmitted over the link, then John 'spoke': I will offer this craft in assistance as well.

I do not understand… we are not to involve ourselves in human affairs…

Again, Ka'len felt John's uneasiness transfer over the link, you were intentionally misled, John communicated, the true purpose of this mission was known only to Allie, myself, and the High Council.

Ka'len waited for his explanation to continue, which it did after a short pause that Ka'len knew was for gauging her reaction.

We have come to this world to create an alliance between our races. That was Allie's mission, to prepare for our arrival. A mission that is no longer necessary.

I understand, Ka'len lied, even thought her true emotions would surely transfer into John's mind in the ship above.

The boy, John said, offer him transport… but it must be his choice to come with us.

With that, John shut the link off, along with the lights, leaving a still brilliantly lit, yet recognizably saucer shaped craft hovering just above the tree tops with little more then a low pitched rumble to announce it's presence.

Ka'len turned toward Tyler as a beam of blue-white energy burst downward from the center of the craft, shaking the ground as it surrounded her. She held out her hand as an invitation, "do not be afraid, we are your friends." she told him in a calming tone. "Come, we will return you to the others."

Cold… too cold. Allie held her arms tightly to her body, but it was not helping. The rain was slowing, but it was being replaced by an unusually cold wind that blew through her soaked clothing, making the unbearable cold just that much worse.

She glanced back over her shoulder at Keith… he was still right behind her. What did I expect? Allie thought as she stumbled over a root in the path. A new sensation was building within her: pure hate. Never before had Allie hated another being so completely. True, there had been moments of anger. But never such a complete lack of caring, lack of any form of compassion of even an attempt to understand what he might be thinking. Allie just wanted him to go away. If he dropped dead that very moment, she would simply step over his body and head back to the car.

But that energy… that damn energy! It was the only thing that concerned her, the only thing she even remotely cared about. Keith could not die yet… how else would she be able to learn just what he was if he was not around to answer questions?

The piercing, throbbing headache that signified her impending state of extreme exhaustion had not let up in the least. Even though Allie ignored the pain, it was still getting worse. The pressure! It felt as if it could push her eyes right out of her head. With each passing minute the pounding grew more intense. Allie could feel her consciousness slipping, but she held it together.

She still had to try one last thing, an appeal to Keith's caring side. No matter how deeply his emotions were buried, how cold and hard his heart was, Allie knew that no man could resist the awesome, controlling power of… a little girls tears.

Allie spotted another root several feet ahead. A few skillfully placed foot falls later and down she went, a little harder then she would have liked, but it was a fully believable fall. Allie smiled a tiny bit as she listened to Keith come to a stop behind her and let out an annoyed groan.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"I fell…" Allie replied coldly, "what does it look like I'm doing?"

"Get up." Keith demanded.

Show time! Allie thought as a forcefully produced tear rolled down her cheek. "Why…" her voice cracked, Keith remained silent, "why can't we stop?" Allie allowed a sob to shake her body.

"Now what are you doing?" Keith seemed unimpressed, But thought: I don't remember anything about her crying being in any of the reports… in fact, it was specifically mentioned that she never cried at any time while in military custody…

"Shut up!" Allie cried out as she turned the water works up a notch, "You… you…"

"Bastard? Son of a bitch?" Keith prompted.

Allie turned to see him smiling… actually smiling. What is wrong with him? The thought only served to fuel her emotions with the apparent hopelessness of her situation, until she no longer had to fake the tears.

"I'm cold," Allie could taste the salty flavor of real tears on her lips, "and I'm tired, and I'm hungry, and I'm scared. But you don't care!"

"What was your first clue?" Keith quipped.

"You don't care about who you hurt, who you use to get what? stupid little answers! You don't even know the questions!"

"Sometimes the answer comes before the question."

"You don't get it, do you?" Allie stood, still crying, but now totally beyond her own control, "you don't even know what your doing! My purpose of return… my mission… you haven't the slightest clue of what kind of powers you are dealing with… what kind of enemies you are making!"

"My goal is to learn what it is that you're doing here to help protect this country…"

"Your goal is to make money! You self-righteous bastard!"

Keith felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up after Allie's last outburst. Fear?

"What you are doing right now" Allie continued, "is endangering your precious country… the entire human race! You have no right to be called a man, you are less then human, less then ape… I don't even know what you are!"

"You have some nerve to say that I am less then human. I'm not the one who has the blood of some animal from another planet in their family."

The tears stopped. If Keith could see the look on Allie's down turned face, he would know just how deeply his remark had cut, and how much stored up anger was prepared to burst forth without warning.

But something else intervened in place of anger. An epiphany. Allie knew… she knew all about him now. It was clear. John's words from almost five years ago, right after leaving earth, had held no real meaning until this moment.

"After the accidental meeting with your great grandmother, I was assigned to other human women when the science council realized the potential results. As far as the records go, it seems that I was the only one to mate with the human females."

John had gone on to explain how each of the non-productive family lines had been sterilized to prevent contamination of the human stock.

But…Allie thought, Keith… he is…this means that he's…

Yes, it all made disgusting sense. The energy pattern, the inexplicable and disturbing sense of familiarity… there was no other explanation…

He's part of my family! Allie's mind went utterly blank for several minutes. Her stomach twisted, she could taste the bile rising to the back of her throat. When she forced herself to look at the man she knew she would be sick.

"This changes things…" Allie mumbled, as the surging pain of her exhaustion headache demanded her total attention at last. Lightheadedness accompanied the pain and Allie's vision narrowed into black.

Keith watched her getting tipsy but realized what was happening too late. She fell hard onto the path they had been walking along.

"Stop playing games." Keith said with a sigh, nudged Allie's foot with his own only to find her completely limp. She was out cold.

"Wonderful! Just wonderful…" Keith said, then thought: I guess it time for a break then.

Stupid kid… Keith found a spot against a tree right next to Allie. He was not taking his eyes off her for a second! One so full of tricks… so strange…so… cold, he could see her shivering.

I guess it is cold out here…

The next action Keith took defies explanation. Even he was not sure what moved him to do this thing, but, without a word, Keith took the coat off his back and gently placed it over her.