Chapter 3: Taelon-Sitting

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Liam's thoughts were distracted as he approached Da'an's chamber. He couldn't help imagining what kind of havoc the Volunteer might be wreaking. Then again, he could quite possibly be sitting in his quarters staring at the wall. Whichever didn't matter, they had to find him and figure out how to get the compound out of his system.

With these thoughts, Liam came to Da'an's chamber door. He entered the room and was immediately assaulted by the lyrics of "Tiptoe Through the Tulips". The music seemed to be coming from everywhere at once. Liam covered his ears and grimaced. He saw Da'an sitting cross-legged on the floor and smiling serenely.

"Da'an, what's going on?" Liam had to practically shout to be heard.

Da'an looked up at him and his smile grew. He gestured Taelon greetings. "Liam, you have come. I am studying what humans refer to as 'popular' music."

Liam stared at the Taelon. Something was clearly wrong. First the odd summons, and now this. He looked around, trying to figure out what was happening. His eyes widened.

A half-empty bag of Gummi Bears lay next to Da'an.

Liam snatched up the bag. His mouth hang open and he stated, disbelieving, "Da'an...you didn't...you couldn't...Taelons don't eat!"

Da'an merely continued to smile and sway to the loud music.

"How?" Liam asked, when he realized that somehow that was what had happened.

Da'an stood and, without a word, reached out and took a Gummi Bear from the bag. He held the candy in his hand. Before Liam could act, the Gummi Bear began to sparkle and glow, then dissolved completely. Da'an blushed a brilliant blue.

"Oh man...," Liam muttered. He stuffed what was left of the candy into his pocket. "Listen, Da'an...remember the compound that was stolen from the Mothership?"

Da'an frowned for a moment, as if he honestly couldn't remember. Then his expression cleared and he nodded vigorously. "Of course..."

"These Gummi Bears were tainted with it," Liam explained. "I need to know if there is any kind of counter-agent. A Volunteer on the Mothership might have been affected too."

Da'an nodded again. He waved a hand and was about to speak, when the movements of his own fingers suddenly entranced him. He watched them carefully, curiously. He even giggled once.

Liam moaned. He took a deep breath and tried again, "Da'an, I need to know if the Taelons developed a counter-agent to the compound."

When Da'an still didn't answer, Liam felt his already frayed control slipping. "Da'an!"

Da'an looked up at him. He frowned, and said peevishly, "Is that how you make a request? And to your superior? Didn't anyone teach you the 'magic' word?"

"What?!" Liam wasn't sure he had heard right, the song "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" seemed to be on some kind of looped playback. The high voiced singer forever filling the chamber with his loud music.

"Please," said Da'an, continuing to frown.

Liam rubbed his forehead and sighed. "All right...Please, Da'an can you tell me if the Taelon scientists on the Mothership developed a counter-agent?"

"No," Da'an said. He grinned at his Protector. "You see, that was not so difficult."

Liam just stared at the Taelon. "You mean the Taelons never developed anything to counteract that compound?!"

"Not the Taelons on the Mothership," Da'an said. He giggled again, then continued in a sing-song voice, "But the scientists on the Moonbase did."

"Oh great..." Liam hung his head a moment, then returned his attention to Da'an. "Ok, I need to know how to get into that Moonbase.....please."

Da'an smiled hugely. "You may use my portal to travel there."

"Thank you," Liam said. He headed to the portal, hoping the coordinates would be in the memory files. He stopped a few feet away when he heard footsteps behind him. He turned to find Da'an following him.

Liam took another deep breath. He knew he'd have to handle this just right. "Da'an, I think it would be...better if you stayed here. There's a lot of 'popular' music to study. I'm sure you'll find it a pleasant use of your time."

Da'an pouted, his bottom lip sticking out. He placed his hands on his hips. "You think I will be a bother."

"It's just routine stuff," Liam said. He tried to make it sound as boring as possible. "Nothing interesting."

"I do not believe you," Da'an asserted. "I will go."

Liam gave up. It would take more time to convince the Taelon otherwise than he was sure could be spared. I'll have to keep an eye on him. Heaven knows what he'll do, thought Liam. He shrugged and stepped toward the portal. "Ok, but stick close to me."

Da'an clapped his hands together in joy. He said, "Yes, you will need me to navigate the Moonbase...but I think there is something I forgot to tell you."

"What?" Liam swallowed. Did he really want to know?

"I am not certain...," Da'an said. He seemed puzzled for a moment, then he smiled again. "Ah yes, I remember. I enjoyed those Gummi Bears so much, I contacted the manufacturer earlier. They were kind enough to send several boxes to the Mothership."

Liam could only stand silently in shock.

---

Liam's mind whirled with frantic thoughts. Oh my God, oh my God, ohmyGod.... He braced himself against the portal control panel. "What am I going to do?" he groaned. "The pilots of the Mothership could be under the influence of those damn Gummi Bears!"

Da'an shot Liam a confused look. "I do not understand," he said. "Those 'damn Gummi Bears', as you call them, are wondrous things. They lift you spiritually and give peace to your soul."

Liam scowled, glad Da'an was too full of 'peace' to understand the look he was getting. He pushed away from the panel and started pacing. He ran a hand through his hair. "I have to get to the Moonbase, that's top priority. I have to find out if there's a counter-agent. Hopefully, the Mothership won't fall out of the sky or jump through ID to Jaridian territory in the meantime."

Da'an placed a hand on Liam's shoulder and smiled. "If you wish, I shall go to the Mothership and oversee it's operations. I am sure Zo'or will not mind."

"Oh yeah," Liam scoffed. "That's a great idea! I don't think the Mothership needs another high Taelon. What it needs is someone tough who can take control, someone who is cool under pressure, someone..." Liam stopped his tirade. His face went white.

Da'an gazed at Liam in concern. "Are you well, Liam? What is it?"

Liam bowed his head and cupped his face in his hands. "ooohhh....no no no no....I can't believe I forgot!" He raised his head, a pained expression on his face. "I sent Renee to the Mothership!"

Liam whipped out his global and punched in the connection to Renee. The global beeped for two minutes straight but there was no answer. He cut the line. He shook his head, then called Augur.

"Liam, what's up?" Augur asked anxiously when he appeared on the screen.

Liam almost laughed out loud when the reply 'the Mothership, so far,' sprang into his mind. Instead, he said, "Augur, I found that missing bag of Gummi Bears. Don't get happy yet, turns out it was in Da'an's chamber."

"That's bad because...?" Augur said, obviously not certain he wanted the answer.

"It appears the compound has an affect on Taelons," Liam explained. "Similar to narcotics on humans. Somehow they can absorb it. Da'an's been exposed pretty thoroughly."

"Let's hope you can find a counter-agent," commented Augur.

"That's not the worst of it," stated Liam. He smiled ruefully at Augur's expression, the hacker apparently didn't think it could get much worse. "Da'an managed to have several boxes of the Gummi Bears sent to the Mothership before the factory closed down."

"Holy...Liam, Renee is on the Mothership!" Augur exclaimed.

Liam nodded wearily. "I thought so. I tried contacting her, but she didn't answer..."

"Liam, what are we going to do?!" asked Augur in frustration.

Liam sighed. He glanced at Da'an, still smiling and once again swaying to the grating music. He returned his attention to Augur. "I was going to the Moonbase...but I think I have to visit the Mothership first. Renee could be vulnerable under the influence of that compound. Hopefully, if she says anything whoever she tells will be too drugged to remember later."

"What are you going to do about him?" Augur tilted his head in Da'an's direction.

"Unfortunately, I don't think I can leave him behind," Liam said. "He's already argued about going to the Moonbase. I'll have to take him."

"Good luck, Liam," said Augur. He looked as though he wasn't sure all the luck in the universe could help. "I'll continue searching for that info you wanted. I'll also monitor the transmissions from the Mothership. I'll let you know if anything strange happens."

Liam lifted an eyebrow. "Thanks, Augur." He snapped the global shut and turned to Da'an. He motioned with his hand. "Okay, change in plans. We're going to the Mothership."

Da'an grinned happily and nodded. He followed Liam obediently to the portal. They stepped into the opening in silence. Da'an wore a giddy expression, like a child going to his favorite toy store. Liam's expression said 'Why me?'

---

The disorienting effect of the portal only lasted a few seconds, but those few seconds were enough to be thrust into chaos. A great glob of something came flying through the air and struck Liam's chest dead-center.

Liam looked down in bewilderment to find melted chocolate dripping from the front of his shirt. "What the...?"

"Sorry," a voice giggled.

Liam looked up to see two female Volunteers holding bowls and wooden spoons and laughing. Chocolate fell from the spoons onto the floor in puddles. The two Volunteers were covered in it, the walls liberally coated. Liam shook his head. He turned away and started to say, "Ok, Da'an now stay close....."

Liam stopped in mid-sentence. He quickly glanced all around but there was no sign of the Companion. He had disappeared.

Liam turned back to the Volunteers. He decided they wouldn't be much help, since they were now on the floor laughing hysterically and pointing to his unusually decorated shirt. He grunted and set off down the corridor hoping to catch the Taelon.