Liam
As I woke the familiar sounds of medical equipment filled my ears. Not surprising really since my last memory was a hallucination. I thought I saw Commander William Boone talking to Augur by the docks. As I shook the last of bit of unconsciousness from my mind I probed the memory. It was too real too solid to be an image I conjured up. Boone must really have been there. 'Ah, what is that saying? 'Reports of my demise have been seriously exaggerated.' Guess Boone's not as dead as everyone believed. Damn, I even attended his funeral too what a waste.' Groaning I pushed myself up out of the examination bed. I was a little surprised at first that Augur wasn't in his usual chair waiting for me to wake up but then again usually we didn't get visitors and such interesting ones at that. Dead men walking and all that. I was enjoying poking fun at Boone's liveliness way too much but it was nice to know a fellow presumed dead man. I could still remember Dr. Park telling Doors I was dead. Doors was so shocked when I started talking I thought at the time I might have given him a heart attack, too bad I didn't.
As I was getting to my feet one of the bio-med readings caught my eye. Looking closer I felt my heart drop to my stomach. Clear as day on my scan was the image of my DNA. There were three strands. 'Oh, damn.' I had wanted for so long to be wholly human. I had wanted to fit in, to not have to worry about my secret being revealed by my own blood, to not fear myself and what I could do. Maybe I was just denying who I was, like a little kid hiding what frightened him refusing that whatever it is exists. When my shaquarava disappeared I was relieved and when Ha'gel took away my Kimera genes I was doubly so. I had gotten what I wanted, to be fully human. Now... I was back in the same boat as before. Looking down at my hands I found the obvious marks of my shaquarava that some how I had missed. Rage filled me and quicker than humanly possible I struck down at the screen that held the knowledge I had been so desperately repressing. The glass shattered, leaving a deep web of cracks obscuring the readout. But it was too late to shut the door. The horse had already escaped. I was part Kimera again. I sank down leaning on the wall for support.
I had wondered exactly how I had survived the Atavas pit when everything inside me said that this was it I was going to die. After I woke up alive I didn't examine the feeling too closely. I guess I knew deep down the reason why, I just didn't want to acknowledge it. Ignorance is bliss they say.
The image of disgust when Renee found out I was an alien flashed through my mind. She and so many others had judged me only on that 1/3 of my DNA that made me Kimera how could I not? Then I remembered Lili and Augur. They were never disgusted by me. Shocked, yes. Out right amazed of course. Who the hell wouldn't be?! But they never backed away from me in fear or were unable to look me in the eyes because of their repulsion. Oh, Renee got over it eventually but she never fully trusted me, not that she really had before. That was one woman with some serious trust problems but I guess that was a given after all Doors was her idol and he never trusted anyone.
I had to face facts, I was Kimera again. Though I suppose I never wasn't. No human has the memories of their parents and even when my Kimera genes were gone those stayed. I never would have been normal. I never would have been human anyway. If my father hadn't given me back my Kimera physiology I would have died. I've been dead before, twice, and I can say it's no picnic. Any type of life is preferable to death. Even if it is as an alien with millions of races inside of me with absolutely no clue as to what I can really do. I guess nobody really knows himself or herself I'm no exception. My case is just a bit more literal than other peoples.
Life shattering revelations aside I still had to deal with Boone's sudden appearance. In my life I have faced many betrayals and I guess they have made me a bit paranoid because I found myself considering the implications of him being here, alive. I didn't particularly care how he was alive, after all death is rarely permanent in my experience. No, I was more worried about what he was doing here. He wasn't looking for me that's for sure, his shocked expression at my appearance told me that, so that left only one other person on this island, Augur. That brought up the question of why Boone would want to see Augur all of a sudden. The situation contained too many unknowns. Like where has Boone been the last four years? Who has he been working for?
So I decided to work with what I knew. I knew that Boone and Augur had been friends, I knew that Augur had thought Boone dead, and I knew that the world thought Boone's former employers were dead as well. One might assume that scant amount of information that Boone having been in hiding came out to find his friend and let him know he wasn't dead now that the reason he was hiding was dead. One could assume that, but I learned as the Leader of the Resistance assumptions get people killed. I couldn't try to guess the hows or the whys and I really didn't have to. Boone was after all in the next room. All I had to do was get up and ask him. He wasn't dead after all. If he were dead than none of this would be happening. Dead men tell no tales. 'Stop making bad jokes Liam. You've been hanging around Augur too long. Get off your ass and get to it.'
Grunting I lifted myself off the floor, smashing that screen took more energy than I thought. Ignoring the pain I got to my feet. 'Thank God the world isn't spinning this time.' Taking a few shaky steps I still considered my condition better than earlier. I could actually walk.
If I know Augur, and I do, he's in the kitchen. I don't know why but whenever trouble strikes he's always in the kitchen. He's practically been living the kitchen the last few months. I made my way slowly too drained to move fast and pretty sure it would be a bad idea to try. I blacked out the last time I did. My hunch was proved correct when I heard voices upon my approach. I paused outside the door. 'Well, once more into the breach.'
I pushed open the door and two heads shot up. From there their reactions differed. Boone made an abortive gesture towards his cat where I assume he keeps his gun. Augur started fussing. Before this whole thing Augur never was this obvious with his worry over me. I could always tell when he thought I was going too far. I remember the look on his face when I accepted the position as Leader of the Resistance. It was like he was telling me no. No, don't put yourself in that position. He never voiced his worries before my "accident" but I knew even if no one else did. Now it was clear as day. He got up and helped me over to the table, pulled out my chair, and poured me a cup of coffee while Boone watched bemused. It's times like these I really feel my age. When Augur was finally seated again no one said anything. But I am an expert at breaking long silences, I had to be I encountered them often enough. Every time I walked onto the bride of the Mothership when Zo'or and my father were planning something, every time I had to break up inter-relations problems in the Resistance, when some one would bring up my heritage. "Don't let me interrupt gentleman. Go on."
Boone gave me a strange look, but then again he didn't know me. He turned back to Augur. "We need your help Augur. The Atavus are-"
I felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me. Of all the things I had thought they'd be talking about the Atavus was the one thing I hadn't even considered. "How the hell did the Atavus get out!" Boone gave me an even stranger look.
"How do you know about the Atavus?"
"I was there when they were created."
Augur smiled, "He's got you there Boone." I glared at Augur half-heartedly.
"The Atavus were trapped in a lava hollow 60, 000 feet under the ocean. How the hell did they get out? I thought they'd starve to death and that would be the end of them."
"Renee lead a rescue mission to save, um, you" Augur and I shared a look. We couldn't believe she'd do that. I knew Renee had been warming up to me ever since that time I was dying but I never expected her to try and rescue me. "Only when she tried to save you she let Sandoval know where and what was in that chamber. He then brought them aboard the Mothership."
I felt like someone had kicked me in the stomach. "Damn." Some how I found the strength to get out of my chair. I needed to get out. It was happening again damn it! I could see it in my head. Another battle was being waged and my father was once again in the enemy camp. I made it to the porch before I couldn't take another step. Gripping onto the porch rail I looked out unseeing at the setting sun. 'How can this be happening again?' I heard footsteps behind me but I was too exhausted to turn to see who had followed me.
"Are you alright?" Boone asked as he came up beside me. He took a similar position to mine only looking at me.
"No. My father once again is working against the interests of humanity."
"Your father?" Shock colored Boone's voice.
'Guess Renee didn't tell him everything. Doesn't really surprise me.' "Yes my father, Sandoval." I sighed. "Renee didn't tell you did she?" I took the look on his face for a yes. I snorted. "She was always doing things like that. Not telling me what she didn't like." I looked at him. "Guess she's still doing that. She really hated Sandoval and in her eyes he wasn't really my father anyway. Ha'gel used his body so in her eyes all he was just a surrogate. How could he be just a surrogate to me? He's part of me, part of my memories. He's more my father than Ha'gel. Truth to tell all Renee really cared about was Ha'gel. She was so concerned with my alien half she never wanted to know anything else. She never even asked who my mother was." I shook my head and immediately regretted it. Nausea made it hard to stand. I gripped harder to the railing and gritted my teeth.
"I came here for Augur..." Boone started. "But," He looked out at the setting sun. "The problem is no one wants to believe. The Taelons are gone. Humanity's been rid of one alien threat and even the former Resistance people don't want to believe there's a new threat. The Resistance people want to settle back into the lives they left behind. They don't want to fight anymore. They'd rather believe Renee and I are crazy than think of fighting again. We need you. You could convince them that the Atavus are real and not the ravings of madmen."
'I can't blame them.' "What about you? You're a rather respected person yourself." 'I don't want to go back to the fighting either.'
Boone sighed, "These people don't know me. They know of me. To them I'm a legend. A dead one at that. I might have been able to convince the Liberation but this is a new world. They don't trust me." I noticed he didn't look too happy about it either. Then he looked me squarely in the eyes. "They trust you."
"Damn you." I pounded my fist against the railing and turned away from him. "I've been fighting my whole life. I have not spent one day of my life without a gun at my side. Boone you don't know what its like. I'm only three years old. When you were three what were you doing? I know damn well you weren't being asked to go up against your father and possibly kill him your only living parent. You were probably sucking on your thumb! You didn't even know what a gun was let alone being forced to shoot and kill people with it. No, Boone I've had enough. You want to fight these Atavus. Well you can win this one without me." Using my anger as fuel I marched back to my room not looking back.
Boone
I watched as the Major stormed off and as the sun finally set. It felt doubly dramatic as if the sun was setting on the human race. What was the world coming to if such a hero would turn his back to the suffering of innocent. I never expected him to react like that. Though I guess I should have know better. Even heroes burn out. I had a similar reaction when Renee tried to get me to help her.
"He's so young." I spun towards the dark doorway. Augur stepped out of the shadows. "He told me once that the Kimera aren't considered adults until they reach at least a 100 years. That was back when he still talked about himself." Augur sighed. This was the most unlike himself I'd seen yet. He had his arms crossed over his chest and sad, resigned expression on his face. He wasn't looking at me but through me. "He had to grow up so fast Boone and I don't mean appearance wise. He was just a child in a war torn world. An orphan trying to find a way to fit in. Fighting to save the world from its self. He's been betrayed so many times. When your heart's been trampled on so many times Boone you don't care if the world goes to hell because you're so tired." Augur looked at the ground then back up. His eyes were full of pain and knowing. "He's all I've got left and I'm all he has. He's mad, but he's a good boy." Slowly turning Augur walked away leaving me to ponder both their words in the dark.
As I woke the familiar sounds of medical equipment filled my ears. Not surprising really since my last memory was a hallucination. I thought I saw Commander William Boone talking to Augur by the docks. As I shook the last of bit of unconsciousness from my mind I probed the memory. It was too real too solid to be an image I conjured up. Boone must really have been there. 'Ah, what is that saying? 'Reports of my demise have been seriously exaggerated.' Guess Boone's not as dead as everyone believed. Damn, I even attended his funeral too what a waste.' Groaning I pushed myself up out of the examination bed. I was a little surprised at first that Augur wasn't in his usual chair waiting for me to wake up but then again usually we didn't get visitors and such interesting ones at that. Dead men walking and all that. I was enjoying poking fun at Boone's liveliness way too much but it was nice to know a fellow presumed dead man. I could still remember Dr. Park telling Doors I was dead. Doors was so shocked when I started talking I thought at the time I might have given him a heart attack, too bad I didn't.
As I was getting to my feet one of the bio-med readings caught my eye. Looking closer I felt my heart drop to my stomach. Clear as day on my scan was the image of my DNA. There were three strands. 'Oh, damn.' I had wanted for so long to be wholly human. I had wanted to fit in, to not have to worry about my secret being revealed by my own blood, to not fear myself and what I could do. Maybe I was just denying who I was, like a little kid hiding what frightened him refusing that whatever it is exists. When my shaquarava disappeared I was relieved and when Ha'gel took away my Kimera genes I was doubly so. I had gotten what I wanted, to be fully human. Now... I was back in the same boat as before. Looking down at my hands I found the obvious marks of my shaquarava that some how I had missed. Rage filled me and quicker than humanly possible I struck down at the screen that held the knowledge I had been so desperately repressing. The glass shattered, leaving a deep web of cracks obscuring the readout. But it was too late to shut the door. The horse had already escaped. I was part Kimera again. I sank down leaning on the wall for support.
I had wondered exactly how I had survived the Atavas pit when everything inside me said that this was it I was going to die. After I woke up alive I didn't examine the feeling too closely. I guess I knew deep down the reason why, I just didn't want to acknowledge it. Ignorance is bliss they say.
The image of disgust when Renee found out I was an alien flashed through my mind. She and so many others had judged me only on that 1/3 of my DNA that made me Kimera how could I not? Then I remembered Lili and Augur. They were never disgusted by me. Shocked, yes. Out right amazed of course. Who the hell wouldn't be?! But they never backed away from me in fear or were unable to look me in the eyes because of their repulsion. Oh, Renee got over it eventually but she never fully trusted me, not that she really had before. That was one woman with some serious trust problems but I guess that was a given after all Doors was her idol and he never trusted anyone.
I had to face facts, I was Kimera again. Though I suppose I never wasn't. No human has the memories of their parents and even when my Kimera genes were gone those stayed. I never would have been normal. I never would have been human anyway. If my father hadn't given me back my Kimera physiology I would have died. I've been dead before, twice, and I can say it's no picnic. Any type of life is preferable to death. Even if it is as an alien with millions of races inside of me with absolutely no clue as to what I can really do. I guess nobody really knows himself or herself I'm no exception. My case is just a bit more literal than other peoples.
Life shattering revelations aside I still had to deal with Boone's sudden appearance. In my life I have faced many betrayals and I guess they have made me a bit paranoid because I found myself considering the implications of him being here, alive. I didn't particularly care how he was alive, after all death is rarely permanent in my experience. No, I was more worried about what he was doing here. He wasn't looking for me that's for sure, his shocked expression at my appearance told me that, so that left only one other person on this island, Augur. That brought up the question of why Boone would want to see Augur all of a sudden. The situation contained too many unknowns. Like where has Boone been the last four years? Who has he been working for?
So I decided to work with what I knew. I knew that Boone and Augur had been friends, I knew that Augur had thought Boone dead, and I knew that the world thought Boone's former employers were dead as well. One might assume that scant amount of information that Boone having been in hiding came out to find his friend and let him know he wasn't dead now that the reason he was hiding was dead. One could assume that, but I learned as the Leader of the Resistance assumptions get people killed. I couldn't try to guess the hows or the whys and I really didn't have to. Boone was after all in the next room. All I had to do was get up and ask him. He wasn't dead after all. If he were dead than none of this would be happening. Dead men tell no tales. 'Stop making bad jokes Liam. You've been hanging around Augur too long. Get off your ass and get to it.'
Grunting I lifted myself off the floor, smashing that screen took more energy than I thought. Ignoring the pain I got to my feet. 'Thank God the world isn't spinning this time.' Taking a few shaky steps I still considered my condition better than earlier. I could actually walk.
If I know Augur, and I do, he's in the kitchen. I don't know why but whenever trouble strikes he's always in the kitchen. He's practically been living the kitchen the last few months. I made my way slowly too drained to move fast and pretty sure it would be a bad idea to try. I blacked out the last time I did. My hunch was proved correct when I heard voices upon my approach. I paused outside the door. 'Well, once more into the breach.'
I pushed open the door and two heads shot up. From there their reactions differed. Boone made an abortive gesture towards his cat where I assume he keeps his gun. Augur started fussing. Before this whole thing Augur never was this obvious with his worry over me. I could always tell when he thought I was going too far. I remember the look on his face when I accepted the position as Leader of the Resistance. It was like he was telling me no. No, don't put yourself in that position. He never voiced his worries before my "accident" but I knew even if no one else did. Now it was clear as day. He got up and helped me over to the table, pulled out my chair, and poured me a cup of coffee while Boone watched bemused. It's times like these I really feel my age. When Augur was finally seated again no one said anything. But I am an expert at breaking long silences, I had to be I encountered them often enough. Every time I walked onto the bride of the Mothership when Zo'or and my father were planning something, every time I had to break up inter-relations problems in the Resistance, when some one would bring up my heritage. "Don't let me interrupt gentleman. Go on."
Boone gave me a strange look, but then again he didn't know me. He turned back to Augur. "We need your help Augur. The Atavus are-"
I felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me. Of all the things I had thought they'd be talking about the Atavus was the one thing I hadn't even considered. "How the hell did the Atavus get out!" Boone gave me an even stranger look.
"How do you know about the Atavus?"
"I was there when they were created."
Augur smiled, "He's got you there Boone." I glared at Augur half-heartedly.
"The Atavus were trapped in a lava hollow 60, 000 feet under the ocean. How the hell did they get out? I thought they'd starve to death and that would be the end of them."
"Renee lead a rescue mission to save, um, you" Augur and I shared a look. We couldn't believe she'd do that. I knew Renee had been warming up to me ever since that time I was dying but I never expected her to try and rescue me. "Only when she tried to save you she let Sandoval know where and what was in that chamber. He then brought them aboard the Mothership."
I felt like someone had kicked me in the stomach. "Damn." Some how I found the strength to get out of my chair. I needed to get out. It was happening again damn it! I could see it in my head. Another battle was being waged and my father was once again in the enemy camp. I made it to the porch before I couldn't take another step. Gripping onto the porch rail I looked out unseeing at the setting sun. 'How can this be happening again?' I heard footsteps behind me but I was too exhausted to turn to see who had followed me.
"Are you alright?" Boone asked as he came up beside me. He took a similar position to mine only looking at me.
"No. My father once again is working against the interests of humanity."
"Your father?" Shock colored Boone's voice.
'Guess Renee didn't tell him everything. Doesn't really surprise me.' "Yes my father, Sandoval." I sighed. "Renee didn't tell you did she?" I took the look on his face for a yes. I snorted. "She was always doing things like that. Not telling me what she didn't like." I looked at him. "Guess she's still doing that. She really hated Sandoval and in her eyes he wasn't really my father anyway. Ha'gel used his body so in her eyes all he was just a surrogate. How could he be just a surrogate to me? He's part of me, part of my memories. He's more my father than Ha'gel. Truth to tell all Renee really cared about was Ha'gel. She was so concerned with my alien half she never wanted to know anything else. She never even asked who my mother was." I shook my head and immediately regretted it. Nausea made it hard to stand. I gripped harder to the railing and gritted my teeth.
"I came here for Augur..." Boone started. "But," He looked out at the setting sun. "The problem is no one wants to believe. The Taelons are gone. Humanity's been rid of one alien threat and even the former Resistance people don't want to believe there's a new threat. The Resistance people want to settle back into the lives they left behind. They don't want to fight anymore. They'd rather believe Renee and I are crazy than think of fighting again. We need you. You could convince them that the Atavus are real and not the ravings of madmen."
'I can't blame them.' "What about you? You're a rather respected person yourself." 'I don't want to go back to the fighting either.'
Boone sighed, "These people don't know me. They know of me. To them I'm a legend. A dead one at that. I might have been able to convince the Liberation but this is a new world. They don't trust me." I noticed he didn't look too happy about it either. Then he looked me squarely in the eyes. "They trust you."
"Damn you." I pounded my fist against the railing and turned away from him. "I've been fighting my whole life. I have not spent one day of my life without a gun at my side. Boone you don't know what its like. I'm only three years old. When you were three what were you doing? I know damn well you weren't being asked to go up against your father and possibly kill him your only living parent. You were probably sucking on your thumb! You didn't even know what a gun was let alone being forced to shoot and kill people with it. No, Boone I've had enough. You want to fight these Atavus. Well you can win this one without me." Using my anger as fuel I marched back to my room not looking back.
Boone
I watched as the Major stormed off and as the sun finally set. It felt doubly dramatic as if the sun was setting on the human race. What was the world coming to if such a hero would turn his back to the suffering of innocent. I never expected him to react like that. Though I guess I should have know better. Even heroes burn out. I had a similar reaction when Renee tried to get me to help her.
"He's so young." I spun towards the dark doorway. Augur stepped out of the shadows. "He told me once that the Kimera aren't considered adults until they reach at least a 100 years. That was back when he still talked about himself." Augur sighed. This was the most unlike himself I'd seen yet. He had his arms crossed over his chest and sad, resigned expression on his face. He wasn't looking at me but through me. "He had to grow up so fast Boone and I don't mean appearance wise. He was just a child in a war torn world. An orphan trying to find a way to fit in. Fighting to save the world from its self. He's been betrayed so many times. When your heart's been trampled on so many times Boone you don't care if the world goes to hell because you're so tired." Augur looked at the ground then back up. His eyes were full of pain and knowing. "He's all I've got left and I'm all he has. He's mad, but he's a good boy." Slowly turning Augur walked away leaving me to ponder both their words in the dark.