Stepping Stones

by Joan Powers

Sequel to Grieving Time As Eden Advance continues their trek to New Pacifica, without Devon, they are plagued with nightmares. They also stumble across a discovery which may provide answers about the mysteries of Planet G889 and possibly lead to a cure

11. Resurection Part 1

Stepping Stones

by Joan Powers

Chapters 11 Resurrection Part 1

Author's Notes:

(1) In Stepping Stones: Ethical Considerations, after the Eden crew attempted to treat the sick Terrians, a healed member of the tribe appeared to Dr. Heller to enable her to discover the cause of Devon's illness. At the opening of the final section of this story, members of the Eden Advance are discussing their plans to retrieve Devon.

(2) Special thanks to Vicki, Paula, Rosa and Lynne for their advice and continued support.

(3) This is the final installment of Stepping Stones. The series continues with Boundaries, followed by The Road Not Chosen.

(Dr. Julia Heller )

Lately I'm reminded of a quote that faith is belief in things not seen. For after the Terrain had given me the ability to diagnose Devon's illness, I discovered that the situation was more complicated than I had imagined. The facts were undeniable, on our own we couldn't save her - it simply wasn't possible.

Yet before the enormity of that revelation could sink in, the Terrians communicated with Uly and Alonzo about how they could help us. Their message consisted of specific instructions and required blind faith on our part. For they informed us that in order for Devon to live, she must first die.

XXXXXX

John Danziger took another sip from his coffee mug as Alonzo and Uly continued to share the details of their joint adventure on the Dream Plane with members of the Eden crew. Many were only half awake, gathered about in a haphazard fashion, sitting on crates or logs, listening as they went through the motions of consuming breakfast.

The mechanic felt strangely ambivalent about the Terrians' offer. The evening before when Julia had grimly informed them that it would be impossible for her to cure Devon, he had not felt anger or even sorrow, only emptiness - almost as if he were hollow inside. He had lain on his back and stared at the ceiling of his tent most of the night, dozing off occasionally but never truly resting.

Trusting the Terrians in any type of joint venture was difficult for him, regardless of the bizarre aspects of their currently proposed plan. Letting Uly enter those caves by himself a few days ago to visit the hostile Terrians had pushed the limits of his comfort zone. And now the creatures wanted to shove him even further - he wasn't sure he was up to it.

However, if there were absolutely no other options for curing Devon, then he realized with some surprise that he was desperate enough to consider their ideas, no matter how crazy they seemed.

Making sure he was understanding the situation and that his lack of sleep hadn't clouded his thinking, he inquired, "Is this really necessary? This plan seems extreme."

Julia reiterated, "John, it's our only option. The compound in her body is bound irreversibly. The only agents I could introduce into her body to break up that linkage would have toxic side effects. She wouldn't survive the treatment." She spoke firmly, trying to impress upon the mechanic that despite the unorthodox nature of the Terrians' suggestions, it was all they had.

As she caught Uly's gaze, she hoped that she hadn't been too negative. All this talk about his mother's condition had to be stressful. Yet Uly's presence was required. Since Alonzo was only beginning to understand this tribe of Terrians, Uly was their interpreter. And this was his mother's life which was being discussed. He should have a say in how to treat her.

For the most part, Uly seemed exhilarated by the Terrian's proposal. Last night he had been sullen and withdrawn, but now his face was flushed from excitement and his eyes sparkled with hope.

Julia checked, "Uly, are you okay?"

The boy gave an enthusiastic nod and Bess rested a hand lightly on his shoulder. She was sandwiched between the two children.

Julia probed a little further, "What do you think we should do?"

Uly answered her with confidence, "I think we should follow the Terrian's plan." He had no doubts about these new Terrian brothers and was anxious for his mother's return.

However, Danziger was suspicious of their motives, "Hold on. I'm confused. They wouldn't help us before, why are they offering now? What's going on here?"

Alonzo rushed to explain, "You're right. The other groups of Terrians wouldn't help us." Anger darkened Danziger's eyes and the pilot quickly continued, "I don't think they meant to be mean. It just isn't their way. Terrians don't believe in interfering with nature since they are an integral part of it. Perhaps they felt they shouldn't interfere with what they saw as the natural process of dying."

Uly wanted to convey to the group other things that the Terrians had shared with him alone over the Dream Plane. Parts of it hadn't made sense to him, but overall he had a warm, confident feeling about it, "This group of Terrians is different. Since we helped them, they say they must help us."

He couldn't describe the images that he had been shown. Flashes of the Eden Advance crew, his new friend Paul, what might have been New Pacifica colony and the Terrians had swirled about him. The only coherent thought connecting the pictures had been that this tribe owed its life to the Eden crew and the Eden crew owed/would owe its survival to this tribe. A bond had been forged between the two groups - symbolized by the emblem of a circle which repeatedly appeared in his vision.

Bess commented, "Let's do it. What other chance will we get? The arrival of the colony ship won't make a difference in this situation, right Julia?"

The doctor agreed.

Bess turned to Uly, "I am curious, why don't they plan to cure your Mom the same way they treated you? Why do we need the other steps?"

Alonzo attempted to give an explanation, "It's not the same situation. Uly is a child, while Devon is an adult. They also claim that they cannot deal with 'that which is not of their world' - what ever that means. The bottom line is that we have to do this together to be successful."

Though he had difficulty understanding this group of Terrians, he had the vague impression that they were being tested by them, determining their worthiness for continuing the relationship between the two species. He wisely kept these thoughts to himself, feeling it wouldn't be prudent to share this with the group at the current moment.

Danziger was edgy enough, he looked as if he hadn't slept well. His blonde curls were more tousled than usual and his gaze seemed unfocused. The mechanic might easily lose his temper if he felt the Terrians were playing games with him.

So Alonzo proceeded to organize the group, "Julia, do we have the drug that we need?"

She answered, "I can synthesize one within a day. That shouldn't be a problem."

With a hint of sarcasm, Morgan mentioned, "You'll have more time than that, it will take us over a month to reach the space ship."

Alonzo interrupted with some discomfort, "Um...that's not true Morgan." The politician stared at the pilot as if he were some kind of idiot, but Alonzo motioned for him to hold back his comments until he had finished talking, "That's another part of the plan. The Terrians want us to select a team of four people to return to the space ship."

Danziger leaned forward - loudly objecting, "Break up the group? That's crazy. Why can't we just travel back together?"

"We have to follow their entire plan - to the letter, for it to work," Alonzo emphasized while directing his gaze towards the other man.

In response, Danziger shook his head and half muttered to himself, "I don't like this. We should never separate the group. It's too dangerous." He remembered his promise to Devon, which he sincerely meant to keep - to keep everybody together.

Trying to reassure the man, Alonzo added, "John, according to the Terrians, the trip will take the team only four days."

The mechanic was taken aback. "You've gotta be kidding. Almost five hundred miles in four days. It isn't possible."

Uly grinned broadly, "They're going to show us how to use the spider tunnels."

A sinking sensation filled John Danziger's stomach as he closed his eyes and thought, When will it end? Out loud he asked, "Who's supposed to go on this trip anyway?"

Uly replied, "We get to chose."

Getting caught up in the enthusiasm beginning to radiate from Alonzo and Uly, Julia logically reasoned, "Alonzo and Uly will have to go to communicate with the Terrians. And I'll need to be there too."

She turned to Danziger and Yale, expecting one of the two to immediately volunteer but both were silent. In fact, each man appeared to be absorbed in his own thoughts. Julia prompted, "John? Who should the fourth person be?"

He was preoccupied and dismissed her question, "Let's decide that later."

XXXXXX

Later that morning, Dr. Heller crept into the Med tent to lie down for a minute or two. She had spent a large portion of the previous evening searching her computer data banks for information about the compound in Devon's system, driven to identify the source of the molecule.

As she stretched out on her cot, she thought about the plan the Terrians had proposed. Its radical nature bothered her just as much as it did Danziger, but...what else could they do? Wasn't it Devon herself who once said, We don't have much of a choice, do we?

Julia chuckled remembering that moment which seemed so long ago. Almost another lifetime. Aboard the Advance ship, just before preparing Uly for cold sleep, Devon had questioned her capability as a physician, making her feel inept and horribly under qualified. She had felt like crawling into bed and pulling the covers over her head - after she had smacked Devon Adair soundly in the face.

Things have changed, she thought with a wry grin on her face. Her life had taken so many turns upon arriving at this planet. As she took a deep cleansing breathe, she reminded herself that most of those changes had been for the best. Following what she believed in, rather than the Council's dictates. Leading her own life. Developing lasting relationships with others.

Thoughts about Alonzo began to take over and the young doctor smiled dreamily. Before she could embark on a little harmless day dreaming, Yale poked his head into her tent,

"Julia" he spoke softly, "Are you alone?"

She rose to sit up on her cot, "Come in Yale" Immediately noticing the urgency in his voice, she asked, "More doubts about the Terrians' plan?"

He answered abruptly, "Yes, but there's something else we must discuss - privately. Perhaps we should go for a walk?" He glanced over his shoulder as if making sure that no one had overheard him.

Julia was intrigued, wondering what he was being so secretive about. She agreed and followed him outside of the camp perimeter.

After hiking silently up a rocky hill, the two paused to catch their breath.

"This good enough?" Julia turned to Yale.

He surveyed the area, "Guess it's as good as any."

Julia was growing more concerned. Yale was pale and visibly agitated. She hoped he wasn't having more problems with his mind wash, though she hadn't noticed him exhibiting any such symptoms.

The teacher began to speak, "Julia,... do you know the source of the compound in Devon's system?"

She shook her head, "No, it doesn't appear to be native to any plant life catalogued in my data banks. Although on this planet, I'm starting a new one. I'm very concerned that the rest of the group might be susceptible to this. We're going to have to locate the source as soon as possible. It will have to be our top priority after we rescue Devon."

Yale rapidly dismissed her ideas, forcefully stating, "No. Julia, this molecule is not natural, it's synthetic."

A little frightened by his harsh tone, she accepted Yale's explanation. His organic chemistry resources were certainly prodigious and far beyond her own.

With a gasp he explained, "Julia, this is a poison synthesized by the Council."

The doctor's jaw became slack and she almost whispered, "What?"

"I found some derivatives of it on the Independence computer banks. The colonists brought their research files from the Stations, even though most of them did not pursue those projects. Peter Anderson, Marietta's husband, was a synthetic chemist whose position for the Council was designing compounds similar to this - neurotoxins. Agents to be used as biological weapons."

Julia felt as if she had been punched in the stomach. She covered her face with her hand as she digested his statement.

The Council.

Would she ever escape? Would she ever truly be free? Reilly's words, You will die running returned to haunt her. Maybe she had been fooling herself thinking that she could simply denounce them and live her own life.

"Are you all right Julia?"

Most of the color had drained out of her face. She nodded then squeaked, "Are you sure?"

"Yes Julia, from the structure you gave me I was able to determine that, baring some minor modifications, it was practically identical to the ones Peter Anderson synthesized. It's the same family."

She was about to ask if there were any information about reversing the effects of the toxin, then realized that Yale would have shared this at their meeting. Besides, antidotes had never been the primary focus of biological warfare research.

Bile began to rise in her throat as she pondered the implications of this discovery. Swallowing hard, she asked, "How did it get into her system Yale?"

"I'm not sure. None of the possibilities are pleasant. It could have been administered directly or perhaps indirectly via some sort of timed release mechanism. I had toyed with the idea that her bio-stat implant could have been utilized to trigger the release of this material in her system, but your data contradict that."

Feeling faint, Julia sank to sit on a nearby rock, stunned by this revelation, "Why would the Council want to kill Devon?"

Yale responded quickly, he had obviously been playing around with these thoughts over half of the night, "Many of the government officials were hostile towards her just before we left. They didn't want others to know that there might be an option other than living on the Stations. But what purpose would killing her now serve?"

Remembering how the Council worked, Julia thought she had the answer, "She's the leader. Without a leader, the people would become scared and want the safety and security that the Council proposes. Devon gets us here. After we get the colony established, they murder her, and then the group is vulnerable and might accept Council intervention more readily."

Maybe they had expected her to step in or some other agent who was arriving on the Colony ship?

The teacher was willing to accept that explanation but other aspects of the situation bothered him immensely, "That still doesn't answer how it got into her system. I have read about microscopic slow release capsules which can be implanted in the body to deliver drugs or hormones. Originally such devices were developed to deliver insulin to diabetics. Or a special lining for the capsule could have been constructed which was gradually degraded by stomach acid over an extended period of time - eventually delivering the poison."

"It could have been planted in her at the Stations, even before we even left. That type of delivery mechanism would not have been affected while we were in cold sleep, the low temperature would have impeded the action of the acids in her stomach on the capsule shell."

The other possibility sickened Julia, but she had to say it, "Unless it was administered by one of us."

The two exchanged fearful glances.

Yale responded with trembling, "Who would do such a thing? And why?"

After all they had been through, they thought they'd gotten to know their fellow crew members. Maybe they weren't aware of all of the details of each other's lives and were relative strangers to some extent, but the common struggle for survival had certainly united them.

Hadn't it?

Was there another traitor within their midst? It didn't seem possible. Every member of the Eden Advance had seemed genuinely horror stricken when Devon had collapsed.

With tears welling in her eyes, Julia responded. "I don't know."

XXXXXX

Bess stepped towards the woodpile to lay down her stack of kindling when she noticed True sitting by herself beneath a tree, several feet away from camp. Her gaze was fixed on the ground. Curious, the older woman approached the small girl, after she had deposited her bundle of sticks, "May I join you?"

Startled, True quickly glanced towards her then returned to her apparent fascination with the rocks and dirt.

Searching for a smooth area, Bess moved a few rocks then gingerly sat down on the ground beside her, "What's going on? Something bothering you?"

The girl shook her head, but it was clear to Bess that wasn't the case. Uncertain how to get the girl talking, the older woman remembered that True had seemed distant while the group was discussing their plans to retrieve Devon. "Are you worried about Devon?"

True remained inattentive.

Bess sought to reassure her, "Well, if the Terrians could heal Uly, I don't see why they wouldn't be able to heal Devon."

Still no response.

Bending closer to the girl, Bess commented, "Okay True, I give up. Want to fill me in?"

The young girl finally looked up and replied in a small voice, "I don't understand."

The melancholy tone of the child's voice tugged at Bess's heart. She was quick to respond with sympathy while resisting her impulse to reach out and comfort the girl, remembering that True didn't respond well to hugs from anyone other than her Dad. "What don't you understand?"

"Why isn't my father planning on going?"

Bess's mouth fell shut. She wasn't sure about that herself.

True continued, "I thought he'd want to be there for her." She didn't know how to put into words that she had seen a light go out within her father when Devon had collapsed, but she was convinced that he missed Devon and somehow needed her.

Bess took a guess, "Perhaps your Dad feels a responsibility to the group. He doesn't want to leave us all - especially not you."

True responded with some force, "I'm not a baby. He shouldn't have to worry about leaving me."

The emotion behind her reply suggested that they had encountered the root of her problem. Bess advised, "Maybe you should talk with your Dad. Let him know that you understand. That it's okay for him to go. Tell him you're a big girl and you'll be okay without him - for a short time, anyway."

Relief extended through out the girl's facial features. As the corners of her mouth began to turn up and she jumped up to run off to locate her father. After she had jogged several steps, she looked over her shoulder and shouted, "Thanks."

XXXXXX

A spirit of cautious optimism prevailed as the majority of the Eden crew huddled about the Dune Rail while the team prepared to leave, loading the vehicle with supplies and saying their good-byes. Julia was sternly advising Bess about first aid supplies while True good naturedly teased Uly that she wouldn't miss him while he was gone.

Only Yale and Danziger were removed from the bustle of the crowd, involved in an intense discussion, occasionally referring to several maps which were unraveled on a make shift table.

"We'll probably lose gear contact after two days. About here." Danziger pointed to the coordinates on the map. "Give us two, maybe three weeks at most, Yale. If you don't hear from us by then, you have to get the group moving. Somebody's gotta be at New Pacifica for those colonists. Can I count on you?"

Without hesitation the older man nodded, "Of course. If, God forbid, we are separated, each group will continue to travel west to presumably reunite at the colony site. We'll leave some supplies for you to pick up here."

Worry lines crinkled across John Danziger's forehead. He prayed it wouldn't come to that. But they had to make contingency plans. One lesson G889 had taught him was that things never went exactly as planned.

He had felt torn about staying with the majority of the group or going with the team to rescue Devon. He hated the idea of breaking up the Eden Advance group and was very distressed at the prospect at being separated from his little girl.

Yet, when True had tugged on his shoulder yesterday afternoon, practically insisting that he go, some of his indecision had dissipated. If their mission were unsuccessful, if they were unable to revive Devon, he felt compelled to be there - he didn't think he could live with himself otherwise.

However, the memory of Paul remained in his heart, threatening to undermine his usual pessimism. Despite himself, a growing sense of anticipation was creeping into him. He was anxious to see Devon again.

Yale interrupted Danziger's musings, "I think we've covered everything. Good luck." He reached to shake the man's hand.

As the two men's eyes met, Danziger added, "Are you sure you're okay with this?" After all, Yale had known Devon longer than any of them and was practically her surrogate father.

The teacher admonished, "We're not going to go through all that again, are we? Go. I'll see her when you get back."

XXXXXX

TBC