Franton sighed and rubbed tired eyes. She felt old - far older than her years. The last 20 years had taken a huge toll on her and Payter. Raising one teenage is usually hard enough but raising 500! No wonder she had more grey hairs than not!
Their new home was adequate. Nothing compared to what Auron had been, but pleasant, fairly hospitable and the crew of the Liberator had helped them set up their original base. The gene stocks had survived their perilous journey, for which she was extremely thankful. If they hadn't it would have all been a waste of time. But still it hadn't been an easy life. With limited technical help the first batch of gene stock grew slowly. But they were healthy, so as soon as they were certain that no problems were apparent they began the rest.
Franton was relieved that there were no problems, then or now. Her decision to mix the gene stock with human genes had been a difficult one. She and Payter had argued long about it but she had finally convinced him. But before that she had had to argue with herself. It was a fear that mixing the human genes would diminish the telepathic abilities of the Auronar and they would no longer be 'pure'. But her argument was that they weren't Auronar at all. Auron was dead, gone, never to be resurrected. These next generations belonged to their new world and would be a new civilisation.
And as for the human genes diminishing their telepathic abilities, that was only a theory, it was not guaranteed, nor was there any proof. In theory, the Code of Isolation should have protected them. Instead it had spelt their doom. Franton had no wish to repeat that mistake if it could be helped.
She looked back to the small computer screen attempting to study the data showing there, but her mind wandered again. Actually the mixing of the human genes proved more beneficial. It did nothing to diminish the telepathic ability. In fact it had helped increase it. Not astoundingly so, but noticeably enough for Payter to also comment on it. The human genes seemed sturdier than the standard Auron ones and so helped boost the Auronar's natural abilities. It was a pity that there was such a limited stock - all of it coming from the crew of the Liberator. But then again, that stock was quite varied and there was more than one dark skinned child to be seen, a legacy from Dayna Mellanby. Franton smiled a little. Yes, she could look at many of those around her and see parts of the crew of the Liberator in them. That stock will well and truly be intermingled with the coming generations.
Another difference that Franton felt would be an improvement over old Auron was that of natural conception and childbirth. She had been able to rebuild the gene labs to a simple level, the Liberator crew had provided them with enough funds that they could covertly contact freighters and get black-market supplies. But she didn't want to rely on the lab as they had done before. She wanted to see the establishment of families again and the intermingling of the genes further. There were no children for the next generation - yet. But with this many 15-20 year olds it would only be a matter of time, but she hoped that they would check the database carefully first before beginning physical intimacy to be certain they were not from the same original clone batch. She sighed again. Soon there will be more crying children. Oh, well, it was a sign that they still lived. Despite Servalan's best efforts to destroy them - they still lived on. And were growing, were better and stronger than they had been before.
Her brow furrowed slightly. Could it be that the Federation actually did them a favour in a macabre sense? It would appear, in hindsight, that they had been slowly decaying as it was, without realising it. Would they have slowly died out as a race anyway? Ironic, if they had the Federation to thank for becoming a stronger race than they were before! And doubly ironic if they ever had the chance to revenge the death of Auron! Oh, yes, the Federation would find that most amusing. Hopefully they would die laughing.
She mentally shook herself. It did no good dwelling on negative thoughts of revenge. If it came, it was a long time to come in the future. And she had much better work to be concentrating on. There came a knock at the door, bringing her out of her reverie.
"Yes?" she called, looking up. The door opened and a tall, young man entered.
You're tired. You're working too hard again.
"Out loud, please, Calan. You know what I've told you." He rolled his eyes but did as she requested.
"It's not as efficient." he said.
"I agree." replied Franton. "But just remember that we are the only ones to have telepathic ability and so to communicate with others we must vocalise our thoughts. Never rely too much on one ability to the detriment of all others."
"Something you've learnt from the past?" he enquired, hooking over another chair and sitting.
"Yes. We rarely left our planet and those that did suffered greatly from not being around other telepathic beings. I don't want any of you to feel like that if you go. Think of your telepathy as merely an extra tool, convenient when there is a use for it but not a necessity of life."
"Leave?" he said, tilting his head to one side and regarding her with deep, dark eyes.
She opened her mouth to reply and paused. Why did the conversation come round to leaving, to travelling? She swallowed against a lump in her throat. She knew why. Calan was going to leave, was thinking of it, wanted to. And his subconscious thoughts had leaked through to her. Being a surrogate mother to them all had attuned her to their needs and wants. She took a deep calming breath.
"So," she began "It has begun. How many of you?" She saw the look flash across his face. Surprise that she knew, and then relief.
"Only myself."
She raised an eyebrow at that. She had expected that they would go in groups. Calan continued. "I've been thinking about it for a while now. I need to see what's out there. I need to know what's happening first hand. I want to help if I can."
Oh dear, Franton thought, I didn't check his clone batch. Could it have been contaminated? She dismissed the foolish thought. Freedom fighting was not a genetic code! Yet it still seemed such an unlikely coincidence, that it made her feel uneasy. Perhaps she should have expected it. Calan resembled his genetic 'mother's' batch far more than any others. The large eyes, the high cheekbones and wide mouth, the lean face and physical frame, even down to the softly waving hair and passion. It was slightly unnerving in a way.
Franton could not help but think of the many myths of Auron - stories of lost souls who roamed the universe being reborn again and again until they succeeded in their task and could finally rest. Was Cally's spirit a lost soul? Was that why she had forsaken Auron in the pursuit of freedom? Has her soul been reborn again? Is that why her 'son' is now going? Would that soul continue on into the next generation, and the next, always taking the best from them?
For Franton had to admit that Calan was the best they had so far. The best telepath, the most ablest student, the quickest mind. He would do well off planet. She didn't want to lose him, but nor could she keep him chained here. Franton pushed all mystical thoughts from her mind. He was going, that's all there was to it.
"When?" she asked
"As soon as we can contact a ship to take me off."
"What are you going to do?" she wanted to know.
"Find out what really happened to them." No need to ask who 'them' were.
"And then?"
He shrugged. "I'll see."
She suppressed the irrational fear that she was letting him go to his death. It was his choice and she could not change that.
"Very well. I'll put a call out, probably the supply vessel coming in three days time will be willing to take you on as a passenger. In fact, why not go as crew? That would give you a good opportunity to learn some space travel."
His brow furrowed slightly as he thought that through and then he nodded. "Yes. That would be good. It'll give me something practical with which I can trade in the outside worlds. I'll do that then." He stood to leave as Franton turned back to her console and began to tap out the message.
"I'll leave word with you once I get confirmation." she said before he left.
"Franton?"
"Yes?" she answered absently as she continued working.
"Would she have been proud of me?"
Franton turned in surprise and knew instinctively who he meant. And what could she say to him. How to answer. That 'she' had left, gone into exile, seen friends, family, loved ones die and finally died herself. Alone and apart from those she loved. And this was the life he was now going to actively seek. Franton finally answered him, slowly, honestly.
"Yes, Calan. Cally would have been proud."
And his blinding smile answered her as he left.