Disclaimer: I don't own Earth: Final Conflict or any of its characters. Just my poor widdle plot.

A/N: I'm so sorry this took so long. The next part won't take nearly as long.

At the Fair

Liam didn't know how long he just stood there looking in the mirror. Yes, he resented his loss of any type of childhood, but with the possibility literally staring him in the face, he was terrified.

He didn't how to be a child!

Da'an and Zo'or were expecting him later in the afternoon to return them to the mothership. Heck, he was supposed to meet Door and Lili within the hour for a security update on several Taelon facilities the Liberation had put under surveillance. Now was not the time to irritate Jonathan Doors by missing a meeting.

Ever since he'd turned down the presidential candidacy announced on television by his son, Doors had lost whatever patience he'd had for Liam. He expected another attempt on his life by Doors any day now. As it was, Liam tried to stay out of Doors sight and just give his reports to Lili or even Augur. Today though, Doors wanted info directly from Liam or as he would always sarcastically put it, Major Kincaid. He never called Liam by his first name, the one part of his identity that was really his.

The facilities were strictly under Zo'or and Sandoval, black projects, which with the Taelons was saying something. Liam was out of the loop for the most part and had barely gotten acknowledgement that the buildings existed! All he knew about the system they were under was that-

What did he know? It was on the edge of his mind, tip-of-the-tongue syndrome. Liam tried to remember any detail about his report for Doors but it wouldn't come to him. It was similar to how some of his parents' memories were there, but out of reach, but it couldn't be. These were his memories! Considering how much in his head originally came from others, those thoughts and experiences that were his alone were sacred to the hybrid.

If he was missing such recent knowledge, what else could be gone that he didn't even realize? Something was wrong, his new stature told him that but did it go so beyond the physical that he was losing his mind?

Okay, time to stop panicking. This was another thing. He never panicked; he wouldn't survive if he did. Any such reaction would have gotten him a reserved spot in the interrogation rooms on the mother ship, with Zo'or in a front row seat. Da'an and Lili wouldn't be able to help him and his own father would –

First things first, clothes, he thought as he pants started toward his ankles, stopping the nightmare flashing through his mind. What had once fit now wouldn't stay in place. His shirt refused to stay on both shoulders, baring his collar bone and his pants wanted to head south. With one hand holding them up, Liam made for the door, staggering a bit on his shorter legs. He'd get used to them soon. He was adaptable. He'd adapt and hopefully be back to normal in no time. Yes, positive thoughts were good.

Opening the door, Liam poked his head out to see if it was safe to come out. It was. Quickly, Liam stepped out the door, wanting to find cover quickly., but unfortunately tripping as his pants fell over his feet instead. Hiking them way up, he made his way down the hall looking for a stairwell. If he remembered correctly, the children's rooms were upstairs. There, on the left. Liam zeroed in on the door. Hearing voices coming around the corner behind him, Liam broke into a run. Slamming into the door, he stepped back, tore it open and quickly stepped in. Liam then pulled it shut, keeping the door from making any noise. Holding his breath, Liam waited for any sign that he'd been noticed.

The voices grew louder but still not understandable. Soon, they grew distant and then it was quiet again. They must have headed outside. Shakily letting out stale air, Liam relaxed. He made his way up the stairs. It was time for a little theft.

Liam pushed back feelings of guilt as he tied his recently acquired tennis shoes. These kids didn't have much and here he was taking from them. I'll make a personal donation later… or I'll have someone do it for me.

Who knows when he'd next be able to access Major Kincaid's bank account, much less be Major Kincaid.

He made his way down the stairs and back to the hallway. Changing into something closer to him in size had given him back some confidence and control.

What he needed to do was get in contact with Lili. He'd tried his global upstairs but it'd been fried by the energy surge in his body. His clothes had had a faint burnt smell to them as well. He figured he could filch a global off an entertainer outside and activate a preprogrammed Liberation message for help. It was a simple SOS code that luckily he still knew how to do. He would have no guilt for stealing from the nearby adults. While it seemed that he couldn't remember intricate Taelon system codes, he could remember his mother's sticky fingers. Siobhan Beckett had occasionally lifted a few wallets to help her family make ends meet.

Lili would locate the signal's origin and make her way to the orphanage. She would be annoyed that he'd managed to find trouble at the fair for the orphans, of all places, but nevertheless she'd be here soon.

With a quick look behind him, Liam pushed open the door leading outside. Not a cloud in the sky, the sun blinded him as he took a step forward and stumbled, not expecting a step. So it might take a little longer to get used to my size then I thought, Liam grumpily admitted as he fell, skinning his knees.

"Child, are you okay?"

Liam had heard the lyrical voice many times before, been addressed in much the same manner, but never had it caused him such fear since becoming a Companion Protector.

Slowly, Liam looked up into the concerned face of his mentor, his Companion.

Da'an.

edited June 20, 2005