Disclaimer: I don't own Liam, Sandoval, Da'an, Zo'or or any other characters that belong to whoever owns the rights to Earth:Final Conflict. All I have is a mortgage on the plot, which I hope will pan out.
Summary: Liam connects with his younger side.
At the Fair
"Sandoval, security is now being covered by Volunteer Unit 17 until 1500 hours. I'm off duty." Liam watched his father's sneer as he reported in. He'd been at the orphanage and surrounding area since 6 a.m. this morning preparing for today's appearance by Da'an and Zo'or. Intelligence had indicated that today's event was a possible target by an extremist Resistance cell. Liam had been able to stop the attack through his own channels but of course could not tell anyone. Security had been doubled, with no complaints from anyone about the overtime. No one liked it when kids were put in danger, especially not these kids. They'd all been orphaned by the portal blackouts and Da'an had taken personal interest in their wellbeing.
"Yes, yes Major be back on schedule to return Da'an and Zo'or to the mothership." Liam just grinned cheerfully, knowing how much that annoyed Sandoval. He always acted like he took offense to the fact that Liam didn't work 24/7 like most Companion Protectors seemed to do. Of course, since I don't have a CVI to steer all my thoughts to the Taelons, I only put in the overtime I can't get away from. My 'other' job takes up the rest of the time. I wonder what Doors face would look like if I pointed out that he's in violation of child labor laws. Liam smirked to himself. Probably the same expression Zo'or would have. It's quite scary how alike they can be. Suddenly depressed at the thought, Liam decided to take the long way out of the area.
Liam walked the empty halls of the orphanage. The children were outside along with the set up rides and entertainers Da'an had wanted. He'd told Liam the day before that however traumatic events in their lives might be, they were still children and needed fun as their species knew it. To Da'an that meant clowns and merry-go-rounds. Who knows where he had learned such things.
He had tried hard to ignore the compassion in the Companion's eyes as he talked. It had been obvious that Da'an realized he was the first one to speak of such things to the hybrid. While Lili and Augur acted as foster parents to him, they didn't quite know how to handle a five month old alien foster son that looked to be in his early thirties. It was hard for them to look past his 'public' persona as a deadly companion protector working for the Liberation.
Liam didn't know how to ask for the things he needed that didn't fit his public image. He didn't know how to ask for desperately needed reassurance when his mother died that he wouldn't lose them too. He didn't know how to handle his own tears in the middle of the night when he woke from nightmares.
He knew Augur believed that he hated and was afraid of his kimera abilities. In many conversations with the man, Augur always spoke of his unique heritage as just a personal distinction, something that made him special but not bad. It was true he was afraid of hurting someone by losing control, but he wasn't afraid of his kimera side in and of itself. It was a part of him. He also didn't hate being a hybrid, just the fact that being one had robbed him of his childhood. Sometimes he dreamed that he was a normal human kid but most times, he dreamed he was a kimeran hybrid that looked and acted like a child, and treated as one as well. In his heart, it was all he wanted.
A twinge in his palms, no his shaquarava, made him stop, jerking him out of his thoughts. Absently he scratched as he looked around, not recognizing where he was in the orphanage. He'd lost all awareness of his surroundings, something he'd had to guard against lately.
The twinge suddenly grew to a sting. As Liam flexed his hands trying to relieve the pressure, the feeling continued to increase in intensity. Examining his hands, Liam couldn't see anything visibly wrong. Still, he'd never experienced anything like this before. It felt like an energy buildup, which he had happened before such as when he revived Augur, but that time he could tell the healing energy was going to release externally. He could think of no better explanation but that the current buildup felt directed inward. Looking around Liam rushed into the restroom a couple meters ahead to get out of public sight. Whatever was about to happen, he didn't want anyone to see.