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Chapter XVI

Echo counted the metal stairs as they walked up towards the briefing room, not really paying attention. That is, until she looked up. There was Hammond, O'Neill Carter....and Klorel. She panicked, tripping over her own feet and accidentally shoving over a sergeant as she darted out the door. He wasn't tied up or anything! After all that she was surprised he hadn't tried to kill her yet or something...She whirled around as someone grabbed her arm -- but it was only Daniel, dragging her back in. He spoke, "Remember what we told you? This isn't Klorel...this is Skaara." Oh. She remembered now. What was this? Why were they doing this? What was she supposed to do? How was she supposed to feel? She just stared.

Skaara looked up. She was still staring at him. Why was she still staring at him!!!???!!! He couldn't make anything any better, it wasn't his fault! But...but why did he feel so guilty? So guilty...her face was a constant reminder of that guilt. But why was she staring? What was he supposed to do? To say to her? How was he supposed to feel? He didn't know if anything he felt towards this person, affection, guilt, grief, hatred, love...he didn't know if they were his own feelings or remnants of Klorel's. He didn't know how much of this person he knew, and how much of it was a mask she had put on to ensure her survival and escape.

The others in the room could sense every molecule in the area charge with anxiety. Well, they didn't look like they were going to kill each other so it was worth a try, "I'm hungry," declares O'Neill, "let's eat." They others all appear to be hungry as well, as they all scamper off after him, leaving Skaara and Echo alone in the briefing room.

Skaara had to do something, anything, to get her to stop staring at him. "I..." he began, "I'm sorry." Echo looked up, startled. She so wanted to be mad at him, to have someone to blame, every time she saw his face she saw....no. No that wasn't true. His voice was...different, softer, gentler, with an accent. His clothes, his hair, "Don't be," she tells him, "You were just as much a slave as I was. Maybe more. It can't be helped." She turned away. What was left now? What could she do with her life now? She had no goals anymore, no desires. For so long she was focusing on escape, what now? How could her life have any significance to it now that she knew the bigger picture of life and existence itself? There were bigger fights to be fought than any job she had considered before had to offer. What could she do that would have any meaning to her?

Skaara thought for a long while after this. He thought he might detest this girl, this loathsome, manipulative creature. But this girl, this girl who was no echo, but strong stubborn, this girl who brought down an emperor, this girl who he loved and hated, this girl he didn't know at all. Not really. He didn't know what he would do with his life now, now that he knew how big the universe was, now that he had learned of the bigger causes in the galaxy that he wanted to be a part of. He wanted to help, to be a part of the fight for freedom. But how? Everything seemed so big, and he so insignificant. He looked at the girl again. He would start his future with his past. He would make things right with her. "My name is Skaara," he said, extending his arm. The girl was surprised. She hadn't really been honest with anyone here, not really. She hadn't told them her real name, she hadn't even mentioned that she was from earth. It was better to have secrets, better not to let them know too much about her...but sometimes she longed for a friend...No! she ordered herself, no, she would continue to live in her lies, her bitterness that she was now so comfortable with. No point in taking chances with trust...Right?....Yes-No, no, I don't know, she shook her head and changed her mind, no more secrets, no more lies, she interrupted her own thoughts with new determination, "Hello, Skaara," she took his hand and began with the truth, with the part of herself that she had tried to hide for so long, "My name is Amity."

THE END