================================================================================
TITLE: That Which We Hold Dear
AUTHOR: Gray
TYPE: Story
RATING: PG-13 (violence warning!)
DISCLAIMERS: All Earth: Final Conflict characters is the property of Tribune Entertainment and all related affiliations (Kirshner-Roddenberry, Atlantis, etc.)
SPOILERS: This story is set sometime in Season 1 before The Joining but after Infection.
NOTES: Dedicated to all the cast and crew of Earth: Final Conflict, especially Kevin Kilner for bringing the Boone character to life.
================================================================================ That Which We Hold Dear by Karolyn Gray <kmgray3@aol.com>

Captain Lili Marquette glanced back over her shoulder worriedly. The site behind her made her frown slightly, but she quickly returned her gaze before gaining the unwanted attention of her three passengers, engrossed in a discussion. Normally, she would have listened intently to the conversation in the hopes of gaining any information of value for the Liberation but today she shut their voices out.

Something was wrong. She could feel it. She wasn't sure why she had been feeling edgy all day but her past experience in the Marine Corps had taught her to trust her instincts. It didn't help her any to know Boone had seemed fatigued and irritable all morning, enough so for the American Companion to make an oblique comment as to the behavior.

Lili forced herself not to sigh. 'At least Will's gotten good at explaining away his behavior to Da'an.' She shook her head slightly and returned to the shuttles controls, carefully scanning over the systems for the fourth time that day. She had no intention of unwittingly causing the trouble she felt on the horizon.

Commander William Boone, Head of Companion Security and Inter species Relations, caught Lili's quick glance but did nothing to draw any attention to her, keeping his attention focused on Da'an. He was more tired than he wanted to admit and knew he had snapped unnecessarily at Lili earlier.

'I'll make it up to her later.' He thought to himself as he listened to Da'an communicate with the advanced team with Sandoval.

Today was just another one of Da'an's publicity functions. While Wil did not trust the Taelon Synod's motives on Earth, he had to admit that they had done quite a bit to improve the quality of life for all humanity. Unfortunately for him, it meant hours of organizing the necessary security personnel to assure Da'an would be properly protected by those who would possibly try to harm the American Companion.

Despite his CVI's enhanced brain it still took many precious hours of his time and had left him exhausted. CVI's were great for obtaining information and processing data, but he still had to perform all the sundry details via Global. Smoothing out the ruffled feathers of overly territorial police and security agencies always took time, though he had to admit that doing so for Companion related events were far more easy than he had experience in pre-Companion America.

Wil remained silent the entire time, simply listening and waiting for any orders Da'an may give, just as any normal implant would do. He was being much more careful since his momentary slip up this morning. While minor in nature and easily explained he knew he could not afford even that small of an incident. In the game he played right now such a slip up would see him dead.

Da'an closed communications and turned to the red haired implant. "Boone, I have been informed that the security procedures you initiated are in place."

The implant nodded his head once in approval. "Good." He replied.

"The arrangements seem quite stringent for such a worthwhile and peaceful cause." The Taelon noted gently.

"Which is why they are needed. There have been several threats that we have not been able to determine as valid or not. I would feel better knowing that we wasted the extra security on nothing than to risk the chance of an attack on you or anyone related to the Taelons." Wil explained.

"Even before Doors announced his so call 'Liberation' movement there have been some individuals that have posed a threat to the Taelons. Since Door's announcement there have been an unprecedented number of threats against the Companions world wide." Sandoval added with an understanding nod to Boone. While he had only been with the Bureau a few years before deciding to join with the Companions, he had experienced many of the same situations in regards to terrorists threats and hostage situations. "In the past, many terrorists would make such events their targets to maximize the number of injured."

The Taelon looked down momentarily, as if distressed at the information his implants imparted. He gestured lightly with his right hand. "It is unfortunate that there are such individuals still exist amongst your people. I had hope that by now we had shown humanity that we only want what is best for them."

"I'm afraid that there will always be some one that will be against the Taelons actions." Wil replied, tiredly.

"A pessimistic view, William Boone." The Taelon noted wryly, earning an ever so slight smile from the implant.

"I prefer to think of it as a realistic view." He replied, trying to lighten the mood.

Da'an nodded once in agreement to the statement. "I thank you both for your insight in this matter. Perhaps together we shall be able to change such misconceptions between our peoples."

"Thirty seconds until we leave inter-dimensional." Lili reported.

Da'an accepted the report with an elegant nod and sat back in his seat with his usual serene expression. While Wil found this to be relaxing much of the time, right now it only annoyed him for some reason. He quickly turned his eyes forward and tried to not let his fatigue show in his posture.

Wil mentally sighed to himself, wishing for a moment that he had followed his first instincts and refused both the Companions and the Liberation's entreaties. He was not looking forward to this particular function, since he would be one of the guests instead of the security.

'What ever possessed Da'an to have me speak today?' Wil wondered to himself and the shuttle started its transition out of inter-dimensional.

-------------------------------------

At the thunderous sound indicating the Taelon shuttle's arrival, the man looked skyward and smiled coldly. He quickly opened his global and contacted his agent. "They're here." He said simply.

"We are ready." Came the cold, almost emotionless reply.

"Good. I expect things to go as planned." The man said.

"What about Boone and Marquette?" Cane the surprising question.

A small sad smile flitted across the man's face. He hated to waste assets, but this time it was necessary. "Proceed as directed."

"Understood." Came the reply before the connection was cut from the other end.

The man sighed unhappily. He coldly looked out over the gathered crowd, now all eagerly watching the Taelon made shuttle descending. They were all traitors or fools. He had no love for either and felt nothing for them. Seeing the smiling children saddened him a bit. They would pay for their foolish parent's decisions, but at least he knew that their sacrifices would save other children elsewhere.

His only true regret was for William Boone. He had known Wil during the War. Wil was a hero, a comrade in arms, and a friend. He took comfort in the fact that he would not be killing his friend today. Doors and the Companions had killed his friend the instant the CVI had been implanted.

He had worried from the start that the imperative would somehow take control of Wil. His worst fear had finally been confirmed a few short weeks before when a deadly virus had killed hundreds of humans, as well as a few Taelons. Instead of allowing the virus to run its course, Wil had actually helped them find a cure! A proven weapon against the Taelon gone forever!

He shook his head sadly as he composed his face into the smiling facade so many expected. No, he would be freeing his soul to join with his wife. It would only be a matter of hours now.

------------------------------------------

A few hours later Lili found herself watching in amusement as she observed Boone and Sandoval answering questions from those gathered around them while Da'an looked on in apparent approval. The press conference had started out formal enough but quickly relaxed into a more festive attitude when the children the clinic had been made for starting asking the two implants questions.

Lili had to admit Wil Boone was a whiz at public relations when he wanted to be. In this case it was not all that hard to just adore the children. Even Sandoval had seemed to be 'human' for once and cracked a few jokes now and then. Mainly he answered the adult's questions, leaving Boone to deal with the children.

She should have been happy. The sun was shining, no protesters. Just people enjoying a rare personal meeting with the North American Companion. Even Wil's dark mood had evaporated as the day passed. Despite all this something still felt wrong.

"It seems all has gone well." Da'an spoke softly to Lili, who had not even realized the Taelon had moved beside her.

Lili nodded. "Yes. It has."

"And yet, something troubles you." Da'an inquired politely.

"No, not really." Lili shook her head. "I've just had a feeling something terrible would happen all day. Guess my intuition was wrong this time."

Da'an nodded his head elegantly in apparent agreement. He gestured to the pair of implants. "Perhaps you can explain Boone's behavior earlier today. He seemed quite...withdrawn."

Lili shrugged. "I don't know. He has been very busy the past few days. He may not have gotten enough sleep."

"His demeanor seems much improved now." Da'an noted, an apparent smile curling the edge of his lips as they observed Boone allowing one of the children to touch his skrill.

"It's hard to feel burdened with our own problems when you see these kids and know what they are going through. It makes you realize that the problems you thought were impossible to fix are really only trivialities." Lili replied.

"It is as you say." Da'an nodded. "Perhaps we may speak of this later?"

Lili blinked in surprise at Da'an's question. The Taelon rarely spoke at any length with her outside of her duties. The only human she knew Da'an seemed to talk to regularly was Wil. She also knew Wil well enough to know he never told her everything the Companion spoke with him about. "Uh. Yes, that would be fine."

A sudden, and surprisingly loud, laugh from Boone caught the pair's attention. Lili was both relieved and worried to see Da'an focus his attention of the red headed implant now headed towards them with a few of the older children following.

When the group had reached them Wil gave Da'an the Taelon gesture of welcome and nodded with a smile. Lili was a little surprised to see none of the worry or seriousness that had clouded Wil's face much of the day as she nodded silently in return.

"Commander Boone." Da'an said by way of greeting, a curious smile flitting across his face as he looked the implant in askance.

"Da'an, I have a request from some of the children." He said simply, obviously uncertain about relaying the children's request to the Taelon despite his relaxed state.

"Please, what is this request." Da'an asked with a slight gesture.

"They were wondering if it would be possible that they may be allowed a short ride in one of the shuttles?" Wil quickly asked.

Lili raised an eyebrow at this as Da'an blushed blue for an instant. She could see by Wil's expression, and those of the kids, that he had already told them the chances of getting the shuttle ride were not good. Da'an tilted his head slightly and then nodded.

"If the doctors and Captain Marquette are in agreement as to the safety of such a venture, then the request is granted." Da'an replied, surprising both Wil and Lili. "Captain, please attend to this."

"Of course, Da'an." Lili answered, hiding the apprehension that she felt.

"Does that mean we're gonna fly in the shuttle?" One of the children piped up, tugging on Boone's sleeve.

Wil looked down at him and smiled. "Yes. Please follow Lili here so w...."

Before he had even finished the children had started to run off towards the doctors. Wil shrugged apologetically at Lili as she passed by, earning him a mock stern look from her. "Sorry." He muttered under his breath to her.

Wil nodded his head to Da'an and started to leave when Da'an stopped him. "Boone, please stay a moment. I wish to speak to you of something."

"Of course." Wil said and joined the Companion, suddenly feeling himself tense up again. Despite feeling much more relaxed than earlier in the day, something had been bothering him all day that even his CVI seemed unable to fathom. All he knew was he hadn't felt this edgy since the S.I. War.

-----------------------------------------

"There has been a change in plans." Came the calm voice over the global.

"What is it?" Was the icily asked question.

"The Companion has decided to allow some of the children shuttle flights for the next hour. Will this disrupt your plans?" The man asked quietly, careful to be sure others nearby did not overhear the conversation.

"No. It will make it easier for us. Do you wish the shuttle taken down as well?"

After a moment the man shook his head. "No. They are simply children and the pilot is part of the Liberation."

"It would further our cause to have such an attack blamed on Doors."

"Yes. It would." The man glanced over to the shuttle for a moment then looked back at the global. "No. Stick to our original plan."

"Yes, sir."

"When will you start?" He asked.

"Fifteen minutes."

"Good." The man closed the Global and looked over to the main podium. He could see Wil Boone and Da'an deep in conversation. He was surprised to see Wil and Da'an actually seemed to enjoy one another's company. The scene instantly sparked a rage in him. He knew now that Wil Boone was dead. And the thing that had taken over his body and mind would soon be dead as well.

---------------------------------

"I have noticed that you mood seems much improved from this morning." The American Companion spoke quietly as he glanced at the red haired implant watching the shuttle flights with a grin.

Wil glanced back the Taelon out of the corner of his eye and shrugged slightly. "I guess I just haven't been getting enough sleep lately." Was his only response.

"You have not been sleeping well? Perhaps you should see Doctor Belman to see if there is anything wrong." The Companion suggested, surprising Boone with the concern he thought he heard in Da'an's voice.

"Actually I have discussed this with her. She's been researching this problem since I told her about it two weeks ago." Wil informed Da'an.

"Then her actions do not proceed as you has hoped?" Da'an asked.

"No." Wil replied with a sigh. "I've all ways been a light sleeper since the War. The CVI simply seems to have enhanced that tendency. If the Doctor can not do anything for me, I'll just adapt."

Da'an smiled an nodded. "A trait that is strong amongst humanity. It can be....most inspiring....at times."

Wil shrugged in reply, uncertain how to respond. The sudden return of the shuttle provided a needed distraction to the silence the rose between them. "Looks like the kids are enjoying the ride."

"Yes. You're suggestion has proven most useful." Da'an agreed.

"And beneficial." Wil added.

"It is as you say, Commander." Da'an replied.

The pair watched as Lili and Sandoval herded small groups of children back and forth to the shuttle. Wil was surprised to see Sandoval handle the kids well, even tolerating one of the older children imitating his every action. Despite the peaceful scene before them Wil suddenly felt that something was wrong. He just couldn't place what was bothering him.

He stepped away from Da'an, causing the Companion to frown in disapproval at him, as he was in the middle of asking the implant a question. Using his CVI he slowly analyzed the crowd, momentarily ignoring Da'an's question.

"Something's not right." He murmured.

Having heard his implant's words, Da'an looked at Boone sharply. "Explain."

Wil watched Lili's shuttle launch and carefully scanned the large crowd gathered at the shuttle's launch site. All he saw was face after face of smiling, happy children and amused adults. Nothing out of the ordinary for such a festive occasion.

His stopped his gaze on a television crew taking pictures of the crowd from the top of a van. Something seemed wrong, but he couldn't place what as the camera swung in the direction of the stage Da'an and he stood on. He suddenly saw the unattached power cable dangling from the camera.

"Get down!" He screamed as the 'cameraman' pulled the trigger, launching the missile hidden within. Boone fired his skrill virtually annihilating the missile a few meters short of Da'an and himself. Small shrapnel pieces rained down upon him and the few attendees seated nearby.

Boone staggered back and gasped as a larger piece sliced into his right shoulder. Instantly Da'an was next to him. "Are you injured, Commander?"

"I'll be fine. We must get you out..." Gun fire and more explosions erupted near them, cutting of his reply.

"Move!" He shoved the Companion towards the awaiting security guards and turned to locate both Sandoval and their assailants.

"Boone."

Wil ignored the Companion's call as he saw Sandoval fire his skrill taking out a man with another missile launcher aimed towards Da'an's location. Seeing another pair of gunmen armed with machine guns appear near the now crying children, Wil fired his skrill.

His sudden anger at the gunmen prompted his skrill to fire a powerful discharge that not only obliterated the two gunmen but also half of a news truck behind them. Sandoval glanced his way and gave a short wave of thanks before returning to exchanging fire with another two gunmen.

Boone instantly realized something was wrong. All the gunmen were concentrating on Sandoval's position instead of that of their apparent target, Da'an. "Oh, hell!" He muttered and instantly took off to follow the planned primary escape route intended for just such an occurrence as this attack.

As he rounded the corner the sight of one of the guards assigned to Da'an laying sprawled on the ground, bloodied and riddled with bullets made his guts sink. He quickly continued on jumping over the body. Turning the next corner he saw the body of another guard in much the same condition as the first.

'Someone knew our procedures.' Wil thought angrily. He hoped the security detail had not panicked and used one of the three alternate routes they'd established. The problem for him was which one they took. 'Where are they?'

As if in answer to his thoughts he heard a sudden eruption of gunfire to his left, along the secondary route that would lead to the main police precinct. The cries of wounded men spurred him into a full out run. A minute later he rounded the corner in time to see one of Sandoval's security men push Da'an behind a nearby vehicle an instant before taking a burst of weapons fire in the chest from an advancing gunman.

Boone fired, taking the assailant down and seemingly surprising the rest of the attackers. Boone took their indecisive moment for the blessing it was and ran to Da'an firing his skrill to cover himself as he went. The rest of the surviving security detail joined their fire with his.

Boone slid to a halt as he hunched behind the car next to the American Companion. "Are you all right?" He panted out between breaths, trying to calm his adrenaline increased heart and breathing.

"I am unhurt, but I fear that is not the case for the guards." Da'an replied gesturing to the two security officers near them. Boone could tell they were dead, but said nothing to the Taelon, certain he knew this fact as well.

"We have to get you out of here." Boone said as he pulled out his global and contacted Sandoval.

"We have secured this area, but unfortunately our attackers seemed to have escaped. Where is Da'an?" Sandoval demanded without preamble.

"We are at the secondary route to the main police precinct but we're cut off. Get a shuttle here ASAP! We must get Da'an out of here." Boone ordered.

"On our way." The other implant replied and was gone.

Wil looked over the Taelon and nodded. "Sandoval should arrive in moments to get us out of here."

A burst of gunfire made Wil wince and duck down farther, glad that this particular vehicle was well armored enough to handle the gunfire. Despite his aching shoulder he peered over the vehicle and fired three quick successions from his skrill and ducked down again, paling slightly at the drain he felt from the combined use of the skrill and the effects of his wounded shoulder.

"Commander, it would be prudent to reserve your strength for Agent Sandoval's imminent arrival." Da'an cautioned the implant having noticed the human's suddenly pale features.

Wil simply nodded and glanced over the car again quickly. He slid back down and sighed resignedly, allowing his CVI to analyze and confirm what he had seen. he quickly pulled out his global and activated it.

"What is wrong?" Da'an asked.

"One of the gunman has a missile launcher." Boone replied as he tried to signal Sandoval. The shuttle came swooping around the corner the same instant Sandoval answered the global.

"They've got a missile launcher. Get Da'an out of here why we cover your landing." Boone snapped at the other implant before handing the global to Da'an.

He signaled the three remaining security personnel and left the safety the car had provided, firing his skrill furiously at everything followed by the covering fire of the other three officers. He sprinted for a nearby car when the unknown attackers finally returned fire on them. Boone heard one of the security men covering him cry out, but kept running until he was close enough to dive for the cover of the vehicle. He kept himself sprawled face down as he heard the gunfire riddle the car.

A sudden hot stinging sensation in his right arm followed by the sudden unhappy hiss of his skrill made him look up too see that Condor had been grazed by a bullet along one of the main tentacles the skrill used to nourish itself from his forearm. A sickly mix of his own blood and a whitish fluid he assumed belonged to the skrill flowed freely from the wound. He quickly assessed Condor's condition with his CVI. The news did not make him happy.

"Boone!"

Wil looked back to see Sandoval waving to him. Beyond the other implant he could see Lili and Da'an in the shuttle and the other guards providing cover fire. Wil quickly got up and coaxed his skrill into firing another blast and started to run back to the shuttle.

Midway to the shuttle he felt something tug at his left leg, spinning him around and off his feet. It took him a moment to realize he had been hit in the leg despite the wave of pain that hit him an instant later. He flipped himself over and got back on his feet as quickly as possible. Seeing Sandoval looking at him worriedly he waved him on. "Go! Go! Get him outta here!"

Sandoval nodded and sprinted back to the shuttle under the covering fire. One of the two guards staggered back as he was struck but kept firing until another short burst knocked him off his feet. The guard did not move as blood quickly pooled around his now lifeless body.

Wil limped his way slowly to the shuttle wondering why the previously heavy fire from the attackers suddenly seemed to dissipate.

"Jesus Christ!"

Wil looked sharply at Lili hearing her words even as far away as he was. He saw her quickly activate the virtual glass and gunned the shuttles engines, making it lurch dangerously as it lifted off the ground. Wil spun around in time to see a lone man firing a missile launcher at the area the shuttle had been moments before.

Without even really thinking about it Wil fired the skrill at the incoming missile. The resulting explosion engulfed him in heat and pain as he felt himself lifted off his feet by the shock wave. It seemed as if he remained that way for an eternity as his CVI allowed a part of him to watch what was happening calmly. At this moment he wished he didn't have the CVI as he closed his eyes in anticipation of his fall back to earth.

The force of the explosion slammed him into the armored limousine that had minutes before protected him. The pain was excruciating but thankfully ended when his head struck the ground releasing him into blessed oblivion.

------------------------------------------------------

"Boone!" Lili yelled.

"Captain, get us safely away from here. The police reinforcements will secure the area in moments." Sandoval stated coldly, refusing to allow the former Marine Captain to see his own concern for his fellow implants safety. He may not have liked Boone at times, but he respected him.

"Yes, sir." Lili muttered, feeling an emptiness in the pit of her stomach, as she quickly spirited the shuttle to relative safety.

"It would appear, Captain Marquette, that you're premonition was correct." Came the subdued words from the Taelon who had remained silent until that moment. Lili glanced over her shoulder to see the Taelon looking down at the global he still carried in his hand with an expression that was decidedly angry and upset.

Uncertain what to say, Lili turned back to her controls as she landed the shuttle. "He'll be ok. He has to be."

"I hope you statement is proven correct." The Taelon replied, an odd edge slipping into the words that sent a chill down both Lili and Sandoval's spines.

'If I'm not, someone is going to pay. Big time.' Lili thought to herself, allowing only a slight narrowing of her eyes to reveal the homicidal thought.

Part 2

   'Two days.' Lili thought angrily. 'Two days and still nothing.' She
critically eyed the cityscape from Boone's office, knowing full well there was
really nothing for her to do here. And nothing for her to due at the Companion
Headquarters in D.C. since Da'an had gone into apparent seclusion.

   There was simply nothing she could do. Despite this she had come here
yesterday and today. Why? She wasn't sure. She could have tried to contact
Doors and see if what the news reports claimed were true. That someone in the
Liberation claimed responsibility for the attack. She doubted it. Doors wasn't
foolish enough to sanction such an action.

    And yet despite her concern she had not gone to them. She knew why,
though. She suspected the Liberation was as mystified by the identity of the
attackers as the Companions were. There was little evidence and the names of
the bodies that had been identified had not been released by the Companions.
Not even Sandoval had been given the information despite his close
associations with Da'an and Zo'or.

   Lili sighed in frustration. She knew the other reason she stayed away from
the rest of the Liberation right now though she did not wish to admit it to
herself. With her foul mood she was certain she would say or do something
regrettable to who ever crossed her, however unwittingly the poor soul may have
done so.

   'Where is he?' She wondered to herself, as she tried to remain calm and
patient.

   "Captain, do you grieve for the loss of Commander Boone?" Came a soft voice
from behind her. Lili schooled her features carefully before facing the
Taelon, surprised she had not even realized a shuttle had landed outside.

    "He's not dead." She replied evenly, internally wincing at the hard edge
to her voice.

    Da'an seem to nod once in agreement but the look the alien gave Lili
clearly stated some concern. "May I ask why you choose to remain here?"

   Lili shrugged. "I don't know. I guess being here makes me feel like
everything will be ok. That he'll be back with us soon."

   "Another premonition?" Da'an asked, causing Lili to shoot the Taelon a
decidedly nasty look. Da'an either apparently did not comprehend or chose to 
ignore the expression as he waited for her response with a serene tilt of the 
head.

   "No. Common sense." Lili answered cryptically, turning her back to the
North American Companion. After a moments silence she turned herself to face
Da'an again. "Has the Synod made a decision?"

    Da'an blinked slowly, as if greatly burdened by his answer. "Yes. Since
there has been no demands made for William Boone, he is to be considered lost
to us."

   "So the search is being called off?" Lili asked, surprised that she was
able to keep the bitterness out of her voice.

  "I am afraid that is so." Da'an confirmed.

  "Why did you come here, if we are to consider him gone?" Lili asked. "You
could have simply told me via global."

   "What you speak of is quite correct, Captain." Da'an nodded slowly. "But
unlike the Synod, I am not readily willing to end our endeavors in this
matter."

   "You want us to keep searching for him against the orders of the Synod?"
Lili asked, unable to hide the surprise she felt at the Taelon's words as she
turned to face Da'an again.

   "No." Da'an replied with a hint of what was definitely a smile. "The Synod
stated that no more of our resources would be diverted to this task while
there were other, more immediate concerns to attend to."

   Lili felt a small smile creep onto her face in a moment of perfect
understanding between the human and the Taelon. Lili quickly ran a plan
through her mind and nodded once to herself before looking back to Da'an.

   "Da'an, if it would not be an inconvenience I would like to take some time
off to...arrange...a few affairs on Boone's behalf." Lili requested.

   Da'an turned his head sideways slightly as if in consideration before
gesturing slightly with both hands. "I do not foresee the need of you services
for at least a week, Captain. I anticipate that this shall be sufficient
enough time?"

   "Yes. Thank you." With that Lili briskly left the office, not even
responding to a greeting from an irritated looking Sandoval waiting outside
the glass doors of Boone's office.

   Ronald Sandoval watched her for a moment before shrugging to himself and
awaiting Da'an. What ever the Companion had said to Marquette had seemed to
reinvigorate the normally strong willed Marine out of the slump she had been
in since Boone's disappearance and presumed death. 

   "Agent Sandoval?"

  Ron turned back to Da'an, keeping his face expressionless to hide the
embarrassment he felt at having been distracted. "Yes, Da'an."

   "Captain Marquette has requested a short period away from her duties."
Da'an informed the implant. "Her request has been granted. Please see that her
duties are transferred to others until she returns."

   "Of course, Da'an." Ron replied as he escorted Da'an to the lift to take
them to the awaiting shuttle of the roof. "May I ask how long she will be
gone?"

   "A week. No more." The Taelon replied simply.

    Ron considered asking Da'an why Lili was taking  a week of but then
decided against it. He was certain Da'an would inform him of her reasons if
he felt it were necessary.

   "Agent Sandoval, may I ask you a question?"

   "Of course, Da'an." Ron replied, a little surprised. The only time Da'an
seemed to ask such a question was when it was a question that was more
personal in nature. Ronald Sandoval found that such occurrences were often
quite illuminating in his understanding of Taelons, in general, and Da'an, in
particular.

   "What are your feelings towards the disappearance of Commander Boone?"

   "It is a loss to the Companions." Was his quick reply.

   Da'an nodded. "But what of your own interactions with him?"

   "Boone and I tend...tended  to....disagree on many things in our work
together. But he is a fellow implant and served well." Ron replied more
slowly. He gave a small smile "I guess I did not really like him, but I
respected him. I like to think that our differences complemented each other
when we worked together."

   "Your words carry much more meaning behind them than you may realize."
Da'an gestured gently. "I thank you for your reflection on this matter."

   "Da'an, may I ask why you wished to know my feelings about Boone?" Ron
asked suddenly.

   "I have noted many of your fellow humans react differently to this
situation. You and a few others seem to have accepted his loss while others,
such as Captain Marquette, adamantly cling to the hope that he lives and shall
rejoin us soon." Da'an noted as they reached their destination and exited the
lift. "It is a curious exchange to observe and yet exemplifies the diversity
of your people."

   "We each have our own way of retaining hope." Ron said, surprising himself
by saying this to Da'an.

   Da'an considered  the implant out the corner of his eye before continuing
to the awaiting shuttle without comment.

-------------------------

    Fire. Pain. Darkness.

   Where one ended the other began. Blending and merging into a symphony of
agony. He just wanted to it to go away, leave him to the wondrous nothingness
that was called oblivion.

   "Welcome to a new world, Boone."

   "You will judge them."

   "The Sleeper comes. Embrace the void."

   "You really think you're beginning to understand these creatures. Don't
you?"

   "The Sleeper dreams of oblivion."

   He jerked at the hissed phrase. More pain, the darkness turning to a hazy
grey. He knew that last voice. But who? Where?

   It was getting brighter, colors now appearing but the pain increased.
Sights, sounds, images passing in a jumbled, nauseating blur. He could make
out some of the words, but they meant nothing to him. He only wanted oblivion.
Seeing the darkness behind him he turned away from the pain, the noise, and
the colorful lights. It would be waiting there for him soon enough. He knew
that. He wasn't sure how he knew that, but he did.

   Another called to him to rejoin it. Join Them, to rejoin a simpler time, a
simpler existence. He turned and joined the Other. He returned to the oblivion
and dreamed of the Hunt again. Dreamed of  a time before the Others from the
Sky had changed It's world forever.

-------------------------

   "He was almost awake wasn't he?" James Littleton asked the nearby doctor,
as he observed the bandaged man jerk as if struck by something and then go
still.

   "Yes. It's amazing!" Doctor Hohiro Takage replied enthusiastically reading
the outputs off the dozen monitors in the room. "Did you see how fast he
entered REM sleep?"  Takage shook his head. "It was really amazing."

   "I'm sure." James replied, his tone indicating he could care less about the
doctor's concern. "Is he going to make it?"

   "Yes, he will in spite of you and Peddington's interference." Takage snapped
back, having little patience for Littleton's condescending attitude. Here was
a chance to really study both a CVI and a skrill, but Littleton had refused
his requests to do so.

   "You know we had to do it." James shot back.

    "I know." Takage nodded resignedly. "But we should have waited longer. The
therapy along with the brain injury could have killed him and gotten us
nothing."

    "You would have gotten the CVI and skrill you want to study so badly."
James noted.

   "A dead CVI is of no use to me, though the skrill may have proven useful."
Takage smiled rather coldly at this thought.

   "We'll gain much more than that if our little plan works. Inform me the
minute he awakes." James smiled to himself as he exited the small room.

   Waiting outside the door stood two women and a man. James nodded to them as
he turned to walk down the hall, the trio quietly pacing him.

   "Is he going to make it?" Alicia asked.

   "He's progressing according to schedule." James replied as he turned and
entered a small room crammed with computers and monitors of all sorts. Another
man sat silently in the room staring at a screen that monitored their 'guest'.

   "How are things going, Mack?" James asked.

   "Like you predicted. The Taelons are milking the incident for all it's
worth. People sending their well wishes, mass candlelight vigils, and so on.
Even the President is calling for a massive crackdown on the Liberation." Mack
replied with a smile.

    "Good. This is just the beginning." James replied, showing no satisfaction
in his reply.

    "This could backfire if we aren't careful." Alicia spoke up again. "The
Taelons aren't..."

   "What the Taelons do or don't do helps us no matter what." James
interrupted. "If they get their crack down we get more followers. If they let
this attack slide it bolsters the Liberation even more."

    "As well as shows the world wide Liberation forces that Doors is not fit
to run the American Liberation movement. So we win again." Mack added.

   "It is still risky." Alicia protested. "We're using one of  *them*!" She
thrust her hand to the screen Mack had been closely watching when they
entered.

   "He's one of us!" James snapped angrily. "Don't you forget that William
Boone is a hero to all humanity."

   Alicia stepped back suddenly in the face of James' furious statement. She
raised her hand placatingly. "James, I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything by
that. It's just...that...he's..." Her words trailed off uncertainly.

   James sighed heavily, his shoulders sagging in resignation. "I know,
Alicia. I know." James glanced at the screen, sadness and anger freely
mingling on his features. "He is....was....my friend."

   "And now Wil will have the chance to avenge himself on them. That *thing*
in there isn't Wil any more." Mack stated confidently.

   "I know." James turned away from the screen. "And you are correct, Mack.
Wil died the instant that CVI was implanted. We're just allowing Wil to free
himself and his soul from those alien monsters."

   "And maybe take a few of them in the process." Alicia added with an
appreciative smile.

   James nodded in agreement. He flicked a gaze to the other woman, who had
remained silent the entire time. "You're quiet." He commented.

   Shauna shrugged in reply.

   "You are not having doubts are you?" He asked.

   "No." She shook her head. "Just make sure he's ready. I don't want him
switching sides before we can get everything setup." Shauna stated icily.

   "Don't worry. Peddington has assured me every thing will work out. The
amnesia turned out to be a great advantage." James responded, sounding more
confident than he really felt.

   "Let's just hope he doesn't figure out what's happening before we can get
everything in place." Shauna shot over her shoulder as she exited the room.

   Mack and Alicia looked at her retreating form with some mistrust. "We
should get rid of her. I think her loyalty is still to Doors." Alicia
commented.

   "Yeah. Something's not right with her. She's too....eager to kill the
Taelons." Mack agreed.

   "No. Shauna is one of us." James stated. "She risked a lot by getting us the
information for the hospital job."

   "So what? We failed to kill Da'an." Mack grumbled.

   "And lost twelve of our team." Alicia added, anger tingeing her voice.

   James stared down the two Liberation fanatics. "The mission proceeds as
planned. Nothing changes. Understood?"

   "Yes, sir." The two replied in a subdued tone.

   James started to leave but stopped at the door. "Don't worry. One way or
the other Jonathan Doors and the Companions will pay for what they have done."
With that he exited the room.

   "They better." Alicia muttered to herself.

-------------------------

   Lili burst into Liberation headquarters heading straight to Jonathan Doors,
who stood hunched over a computer next to Augur.

   "What are you doing here? The Companion's will notice your absence." Door
practically bellowed at her.

   Lili could see the frustration and anger in the former billionaire
industrialist's eyes but felt no pity for him at the moment. "I've been
allowed a leave of absence to attend to some...'affairs'...for Wil." Lili
explained shortly.

   Her comment seemed to surprise Doors as he suddenly cut off an apparent
reply he had waiting.  He nodded slowly. "I see."

   "Do we have any idea yet who is making the claim that we did the attack?"
Lili asked Augur.

   The computer hacker grinned up at her smugly. An expression she knew very
well. "I have been running the voice sample from the original broadcast
through a voice analyzer. If whoever did this attack was from the North
American branch of the Liberation then we've got their voice print."

   "You having any problems?" She asked.

    "Oh, they tried to modulate their voices and resample it several times
over, but they were lazy about it." Augur drawled with a slightly disapproving
tone in his voice. "We'll have a match in an hour at most."

   "Then what?" Lili asked, looking to Doors.

   "We can't allow these idiots to damage our credibility any more than they
have." Doors replied. He cast a glance across the room to the weapons lockers.

   "We take them down, one way or another." Lili finished Doors unsaid words.

   "Exactly." Doors started to leave but stopped at a thought. "What about the
Taelons? What do they plan?"

   Lili smiled as she replied. "The Synod has refused to continue the search
for Wil. They consider him dead."

   "So why are you smiling?" Augur asked.

   "Da'an disagrees with the Synod's decision but can not act against their
wishes. He allowed me personal time to deal with this situation" Lili said.

   "You told him you were going to get Boone back?" Doors looked about ready
to have a heart attack as he asked the question.

   "No, but I'm sure Da'an caught my inference. He seemed quite pleased at the
idea." Lili stated.

   "Very well." Doors muttered as he walked off shaking his head in surprised
bewilderment.

   "Augur, what if these people turn out not to be Liberation?" Lili asked.

   "Then we're in big trouble." Came the casual reply, as the computer hacker
returned his attention to the screen in front of him.

   "Gee, you sure know how to reassure a girl." Lili muttered as she headed
toward a nearby computer terminal. She had a few things to put into place
before she had her target. A few old debts were about to be called in.

-------------------------

    Wil groggily opened his eyes, wincing at the brightness of the lights. He
squinted against the light and looked around in a daze. 'Where am I?' He
wondered as he slowly took in the stark, utilitarian room filled with medical
monitors. None of it seemed familiar and he could not recall how he came to be
in such a place.

   "Ah, good. You're awake." A middle aged man at the door said with a smile
on his face. "You had us worried, Willy."

   Wil just looked at the man, trying to place who he was. After a  moments
thought Wil tried to speak but only succeeded in coughing from his dried out
throat. The man quickly poured a cup of water and silently offered it to him.
Wil took it and sipped, grateful for the cool liquid.

   "Feel better, Wil?" The man asked.

   Wil nodded and looked at the man more closely. 'Who is this...' Before he
could even finish the thought a flood of images, sounds, words  flashed in his
mind. Wil dropped the still half filled cup and grabbed his head in pain and
confusion.

   "Wil! Wil, it's all right." The man tried to calm him and hold him still.
After a moment the images stopped and with it the confusion. The man smiled in
relief. "See. It's all right."

   "Your names James Littleton." Boone stated in an oddly mechanical tone, as
if uncertain of how he knew this.

   "That's right, Wil. We served in the S.I. War together." James said with a
strained smile. "But I doubt you actually recalled that. Your CVI probably
gave you the information."

    Wil closed his eyes for a moment trying to reign in his confusion. "What
do you mean? What happened to me? Where am I? Where's Kate?"

    James patted Wil on the shoulder gently. "It's ok, Wil. You're safe now."

   "Safe? Where am I?" Wil asked, looking around distrustfully.

   Seeing the look Wil gave him, James sighed and sat in a nearby chair. "You
don't remember much about the past year, do you?"

   Wil looked down in thought. He winced as another flash of images, sights
and sounds flew through his mind in a terrifying montage he did not understand.
He gripped his head again, fearing for his sanity. "What the hell is wrong
with me?"

   "Wil, the images you're seeing in your mind are due to your CVI." James
explained.

   "My what?"

   "It's a device the Companion's implant into their servitors. It increases
your mental capabilities." James answered. "It also makes you a slave to the
Taelon's will."

   "How did this...thing...get in my head?" Wil asked, fear rising in his
eyes.

   "You don't remember do you? Being recruited by the Companions? Joining the
Liberation?" James asked. He looked down as he whispered his next words.
"Kate's death?"

   "No." Wil replied, too stunned at James' words to give more than a single
syllable response.

    "Wil, I know this is difficult." James said gently. "We didn't realize what
had happened until it was too late. We only just got the chance to rescue you
a couple of days ago."

   "Rescue me?" He asked. "I...don't...understand."

   "This may take a while, Wil. I'm not sure you'll want to hear what I have
to say." James said.

   "The images in my mind don't make any sense to me. Please, tell me." Wil
asked.

   James nodded and leaned back in his chair as he began to tell Wil what he
wanted the implant to hear.

-------------------------
  She watched the two men talk for several hours, studying closely the
injured man on the bed. She was surprised at how emotional he seemed. Every
other implant she had ever seen or had been in contact with had been cold and
emotionless. Barely human, even.

   But this one was different. She had been told his CVI was altered somehow
so the Taelon's did not control him. It was obvious to her that this was, in
fact, true. While this did relieve her somewhat on a personal level, she
started to have doubts about signing on with Littleton's faction. She saw none
of the signs Littleton had assured her indicated this William Boone was a full
implant, but was willing to concede that the change was subtle. No one exactly
knew what the altered CVI had done to Boone.

   She had watched with clinical detachment as James told Boone the 'truth'.
She smirked to herself at the idea that James Littleton told anyone the
'truth', but continued to watch. She watched as the red haired implant went
from suspicious to trusting. Now there was a burning anger and hate in his
eyes. She didn't need to hear their conversation to know that Wil Boone now
desired vengeance.

   "All is going exactly according to the program." Tom Peddington said with
some satisfaction beside her.

   Shauna cast a cool glance at him, erasing the smile from his face. "Is
everything else in place?" She asked.

   "Yeah, I sent the signal an hour ago. Our agent will start the program in a
couple of hours." Tom replied.

   "You seem pretty sure that your 'program' will work." Shauna commented,
fixing her eyes again on Boone.

   "I have never failed." Tom replied arrogantly.

   "There's all ways a first time for everything." Was her icy reply, earning
her a glare from the man beside her. She ignored him for several minutes
before finally sighing. She stretched her back and shoulders to loosen them
up. The next phase of the operation was the part she did not like. But, like
any true member of the Liberation, she was willing to suffer as much pain as
it took to destroy the Companions.

   "Well, let's get the next phase over with." She turned to Tom resignedly.
She angled her head to indicate the two men in the other room. "Is he going to
tell him?"

   "Yeah, he will." Tom said, a small sadistic grin flitted across his face.
"Your cover will be unbreakable, trust me."

   Shauna nodded again and looked Tom directly in the eyes. She wasn't
surprised to see not an ounce of humanity there. She wondered briefly just who
exactly were the real aliens, humanity or the Taelons. "Just get it over
with."

   Tom's face quirked into a open grin. "My pleasure."

-------------------------

   Lili rubbed her forehead tiredly, trying desperately to ignore the headache
that seemed to be pounding in her skull. Despite this she had great
satisfaction at what she had been able to do. She wasn't any Augur, nor had
the connections of Doors, but she had already assembled a strike team of
former War buddies and others loosely associated with the Liberation. They
now only needed a target.

   They had found out who had made the claim for the attack an hour ago. A
member of the Liberation named James Littleton who was an old employee from
Doors International. Lili could tell by Jonathan's expression that he was
livid at hearing who had caused the attack. After Augur filled her in on this
James Littleton, she could see why the Liberation movement's leader was so
upset.

   Littleton was a multimillionaire in his own right having joined Doors
International after the S.I. War as a weapons researcher. Littleton had been
one of the first to throw in with Doors and the Liberation, but broke away
several months ago after he decided the Liberation wasn't aggressive enough for
his taste. Lili shivered slightly at the thought that this man had helped
develop some of the orbital weapons platforms that still circled the Earth
from the hectic and dangerous times before the Companion's arrival.

   Worse though had been learning that William Boone and James Littleton had
served together in the Army Rangers during some of the worst encounters during
the S.I. War. By all accounts they had become fast friends, still sending one
another cards and letters on holidays and special occasions until Wil had
become the Head of Interspecies Relations for the Companions.

   Lili jerked as her Global went off, barely suppressing the urge to yelp.
That alone told her she needed to go home and rest. She sighed, knowing she
wouldn't be able to sleep anyway. She quickly opened the Global as those
nearby silenced themselves.

"Da'an?" She asked in surprise, seeing Augur raise an eyebrow in curiosity at
her words.

   The Companion seemed quite pleased by something. "Captain Marquette, please
return to Washington immediately. There has been further development about
Boone."

   "Of course, Da'an." Lili replied, a little surprised at the abrupt behavior
of the Taelon as the link was cut.

   "I've got to get back." Lili told Augur as she dashed for the exit. Augur
merely nodded in reply and wandered over to the terminal she had been working
on out of curiosity. His eyed widened appreciatively at what he saw there.

   'What's she planning on doing? Take over a country?' He wondered as he
scanned through the list quickly and started to chuckled to himself. He almost
felt sorry for who ever had tried to kill Da'an and discredit the Liberation.
If Lili could put a group like this together on such short notice, who ever
they would be used against would be experiencing profound new meanings to the
word trouble. He chuckled as he powered down the terminal and walked off.

-------------------------

   A few minutes later Lili quickly strode through the Taelon embassy
repressing an urge to actually break out into a run just to simply get to
Da'an's meeting chamber. Just outside the chamber, Agent Morovsky joined her
and nodded a silent greeting.  It was obvious by his slightly wrinkled clothes
that he had just come from his home nearby.

   The two entered the chamber to find Da'an and Zo'or in deep discussion with
the energy stream image of Zo'or. Waiting patiently nearby stood Ronald
Sandoval and one of his shock troops in full body armor. Lili approached the
implant and nodded a greeting to him.

   "Captain Marquette." Ron replied by way of greeting, his voice sounding
oddly pleased.

   "Why were we called here?" Lili whispered to him.

   "I don't know. Da'an called me and ordered that I ready a security detail
and four shuttles." Ron replied.

   Lili raised her eyebrows at this information and the fact that Sandoval was
actually being so forth right with her. Normally he liked keeping information
as his own, only revealing what he knew when necessary. "It might be about
Boone. Da'an told me there was a development concerning him."

   Ron seemed to consider this for a moment before smiling. "Good. Perhaps the
assassins have been located."

   "I just hope Boone is ok. We can all ways get the assassin another time."
Lili commented, catching an agreeing nod from Agent Morovsky behind her.

   "As do I, Captain." Ron replied but stopped any further comment as Da'an
and Zo'or turned to the three waiting humans.

   "Good. You are all here." Da'an gestured to Zo'or. "Please give is your
thoughts on this transmission."

   Zo'or pushed a button on the small divice he held and watched in a
strangely quiet way, none of usual bravado and superior attitude evident in
his features.

   The three listened to the recorded voice in surprise. The re-synthization
of the voice erased any trace of gender or tone. To Lili it sounded almost
Taelon in nature but knew that could not be the case.  When the message ended
the three humans glanced at one another for a silent moment.

   "I can tell by your expression that you seem as mystified as we in this
matter." Da'an noted. "Please, what is your opinion? Is this an elaborate
hoax?"

   "It is possible, Da'an, but we should have the recording analyzed to be
certain." Ron answered quickly.

   "I'm afraid there is not time for that if what this unexpected messenger
has spoken of is true." Da'an responded.

   "We should search the location specified in the mean time." Lili suggested,
with enough a questioning tone to make the phrase a request.

   "Go. Investigate the veracity of this information." Da'an ordered.

   The three humans gave the Taelon gesture and started to depart.

   "We  await your return with great anticipation. Success is essential."
Zo'or spoke suddenly, the arrogant tone in his voice matching the sneer on his
face. Da'an shot the other Taelon a warning look.

    The three humans glanced at in him and continued on without any comment.
The meaning behind Zo'or's words were as clear to them as the silent exchange
between the Taelons had been to Zo'or.

-------------------------
 

  Wil Boone was unable to hide his shock as the woman entered the room. An
angry glare from her unswollen eye was enough to bring his facial expressions
back under control but did not lessen the anger, concern and horror at what he
saw. Who ever had worked her over had been an expert who obviously took too
much enjoyment in the application of such brutal force.

  Shauna glared at James Littleton. "I thought you said you would brief him on
what would happen."

    James waved her angry statement away as if it were inconsequential. "He
was told."

   "I didn't expect...this." Wil gestured at Shauna as he shot James a look
that made the man actually step away from Boone.

   "I'm sorry, Wil." James apologized, flicking his gaze between Shauna's
angry brutalized face and Wil's upset gaze. After a moment Shauna relaxed
slightly and turned to face Wil Boone. James sighed in relief as he turned to
see Wil watching Shauna intently.

   "Are you sure you're ok?" Wil asked, genuinely concerned for her.

   Shauna cocked her head slightly to the side as if surprised by Wil's
question. No one else had ever inquired as to her health or personal feelings
before. She found the novelty very refreshing. "Yeah. I'm ok. The question is
are you ok with this?"

    Wil frowned at her question. He hated seeing anyone in pain. And the
amount of bruising on her face  could have only occurred in a particularly
painful manner. That she had been willing to allow anyone to do this much
damage to her left too many questions in his mind as to why she did it. "I
guess I'll have to be." He replied as he leaned back against the pillow
propping him up.

   "Good." James smiled, obviously pleased by Wil's response.

   "You understand everything we're going to be doing?" Shauna asked, ignoring
the angry, offended look James gave her. Any trust she had of James' abilities
to get the job done had been erased upon her entrance into this room. If he
couldn't even tell the man who would play a key role in the operation what
would be done to her, then she doubted very much that James would tell Wil
Boone everything he needed to know to accomplish their mission.

    "I already briefed him." James interrupted.

   Shauna ignored him and was rather surprised to see this William Boone do so
as well. That earned Wil a higher mark in her book. 'Too bad they plan to kill
you, Wil. We could use more like you, I think.'

   "The Companion's agents will find you and I here after a small encounter
with "Liberation fanatics"," He cracked a small smile at that comment. For
some reason he found the term ludicrous but he didn't know why. ".. we go back
to Companion Head Quarters and go through the usual checks, I try to get you
more access to the embassy as my new 'interest', we sabotage the security
system, plant the bombs, and then signal the rest of our forces nearby and
take over the embassy."

   "And after that?" She asked.

   "That's up to James." Wil replied. After a moments silence a small, cold
smile creeped across his face. "Of course, no Taelon is leaving that facility
alive."

    Shauna did not return the smile. For some odd reason hearing her darkest,
most cherished thoughts being expressed by this man unsettled her. For the
first time since her brother committed suicide after the Companion's arrival
she doubted her course of action. She had let her sorrow and anger of her
brothers death dictate her life since the Taelons came to Earth. Every day of
her life since the funeral she had done anything and everything to strike back
at the creatures that had taken him from her.

   And now....now she doubted. Staring into the eyes of a man who had served
the Companion's interest as well as the Liberations and seeing a fanatical
hatred there that should not have been. She turned away from his penetrating
gaze and looked at James expectantly.

   "So when do they get here." She asked.

   Wil watched her intently. Though he was fairly certain her had never met
this woman before, inspite of his amnesia, he could feel uncertainty from her.
She was no longer as confident as she had been when she had first made her
startling appearance before him. He wondered what had changed.

   A thunderous boom seemed to echo through the room. James grinned. "Now." He
replied to Shauna's question.

   "Make it look good." Wil told James with a nod.

   "When you give the signal, we'll be there. Don't hesitate." James warned
just before he dashed from the room.

   Wil and Shauna looked at one another in silence before she went over to the
nearby corner and cowered there. Wil was surprised to see her become a
stereotypical terrified and hysterical woman, screaming and crying at the top
of her lungs as the gunshots and small explosions became louder.

   Despite feeling slightly light headed Wil started to get out of bed. No
sooner had his feet touched the ground the the door burst open to reveal three
figures in body armor brandishing weapons. Shauna screamed louder, making Wil
wince at the sound. Without even thinking Wil raised his bandaged right arm.

   Two of the shock troops instantly dived into the hall while the third
backed up quickly while making a warding gesture. "Don't shoot, sir!"

   For an instant the the tip of the skrill not covered by bandages glowed a
menacing blue. Wil could feel it want to fire at  such an obvious threat but
it awaited his command patiently.  After an instant he relaxed and the glow
faded from the skrill, which seemed rather unhappy not to be allowed to
protect him. He had no desire to kill these men.

   He slowly lowered his arm and glanced over at Shauna. She had stopped
screaming the instant she had seen the skrill's glow. She was now staring at
with a mixture of horror and awe. Flicking his eyes back to the Companion
Security troops he saw that none had moved an inch, apparently fearing what he
might do to them.

   "What is going on here?" Came a voice from the hall. Wil didn't recognize
it, but had the distinct impression that he should.

   "Sir, we...found him." The guard replied as he quickly moved out of the
door's entrance to allow a shorter, hispanic man to stride into the room. "And
another prisoner we knew nothing about."

   Ron Sandoval looked curiously at Wil Boone's pale features, noting the
light, already healing burn scars on his face and shoulder as well as the
bandaged arm, shoulder and leg. Without comment he flicked his gaze over to
the woman curled up in the corner and gasped at her injuries despite his
intention to remain cool and aloof. Ron couldn't help but empathize for her
condition.  "Get the medic here now to tend to her." He ordered.

   The guards acknowledged and turned to their task as Ron returned his gaze
to find Wil Boone looking at him with a strange expression on his face. 'He
looks almost...confused.' Ron thought himself. "Well, Commander, it seems
reports of your death were greatly exaggerated."

    Wil narrowed his eyes at this stranger studying him. An instant later his
CVI gave him a name: Ronald Sandoval. "You are Sandoval." Was all he said.

   Ron looked Boone more closely. "Who else would I be?" He asked, confused.

   "I...I don't know." Wil replied uncertainly and glanced at Shauna. He
gestured over to her. "That's Shauna McKinnon and I'm William Boone."

   "I know who you are, Boone." Ron replied. He heard a noise behind him and
turned to see Captain Marquette and Agent Morovsky come into the room.

   "Wil!" Morovsky called in pleasant surprise. Lili grinned in relief and
started towards Wil. Seeing his body suddenly tense up, both of them stopped
and looked at Ron Sandoval questioningly.

   "There seems to be a problem with Boone's memory." Ron commented quietly.

    "What do you mean?" Lili asked, lowering her voice to a whisper when she
noticed Wil watching the trio suspiciously. She could practically see his
entire body vibrating with tension.

   "I'm not certain but it is obvious we had better proceed carefully from
here on." Ron warned.

   Lili nodded but said nothing. 'Great! Just what we needed!' She thought to
herself in exasperation. While glad that Wil was, in fact, alive the poor
condition he and this Shauna McKinnon were in were testament to the brutality
of who ever had kidnapped them in the first place. She vowed to redouble her
efforts in finding who had done this and threatened the Liberation's very
existence.

Part 3

  Da'an contemplated the sun's early morning rays as they brought forth the
warmth of a new day in Washington, D.C. Behind him he heard a soft clicking
sound, the cadence of which indicated the person he had been waiting for had
finally arrived.  As much as he desired to savor this peaceful moment, there
were pressing matters that needed his attention. Da'an turned and gracefully
walked over to his throne like chair and seated himself before the three
humans awaiting him.

   "I bid you good morning." Da'an said with a slight bow of his head. "I also
offer my apologies for calling you here in such an early fashion."

   "No apologies are necessary, Da'an." Ron Sandoval replied with a smile. "We
serve the will of the Companions."

     Da'an caught Lili Marquette out of his peripheral vision valiantly stifle
a yawn and place her best attentive look on her face. He knew Captain
Marquette had worked long and hard these past few weeks. Out of respect for
her actions, Da'an chose to allow this to go unnoticed by the others by
inquiring as to her state of health.  He turned his head the other woman in
the room.

   "Doctor Belman, you have asked that this meeting take place here. May I ask
why you felt this was needed?" Da'an asked.

   Julianna Belman nodded. "It concerns Boone."

   "Commander Boone is returning to duties today, is he not?" Da'an asked,
looking to Sandoval and Marquette for confirmation.

   "Yes." Lili replied while Sandoval merely nodded.

   "Is there a problem with Boone, Doctor Belman?" Da'an asked, truly puzzled
at the human's apparent wariness.

   "No." Belman replied, but raised her hand as if in a cautioning gesture.
"But I must warn you all. He is not the William Boone you knew."

   "What do you mean, Doctor?" Ron Sandoval asked, his brow furrowed  in
genuine concern.

   "You indicated that William Boone was able to return to his duties with us.
Has this situation changed?" Da'an asked.

   "William Boone is physically able to return to work, but I must caution you
all that his behavior has not been typical for him." Belman answered.

   "You indicated that he seems to be recovering his memories surprisingly
fast." Da'an noted.

   "Yes, but all of you must have noticed his behavior this past week in the
hospital." Belman asked, looking at Ron and Lili directly.

    Ron shrugged slightly. "He appears only to have been restless to me. I
wouldn't think that would be so unusual after the condition we found him and
Ms. McKinnon."

   Lili nodded slowly generally agreeing with Sandoval's assessment, unsure as
to whether to voice her own concerns. As if sensing her apprehension, Da'an
stared directly at her. "I sense...hesitation...on your part, Captain
Marquette. May I know the reason for this?"

   Lili considered her reply for a moment before making her decision. She
sighed softly. "It's probably nothing but Wil seemed almost...I don't
know...angry last night when I took him to his place. He even snapped at me
when I asked if he wanted me to pick him up for work this morning."

   "Angry?" Da'an asked, sitting up taller in his chair. This bit of news
obviously startled not only the Companion, but Sandoval and Belman as well by
the questioning looks they cast at her.

   Lili waved her hands as if to dismiss her own words. "It's probably
nothing. Maybe it was just his frustration over being unable to remember."

   "And that is why I wished to talk to you all before he arrived this
morning." Julianna stepped towards Da'an. "William Boone may have  a CVI, but
he will still have the same frustrations as any other person would in his
situation. Normally, I would ask that he be allowed time to remember things
away from work, but in his case I believe it may be better that he return to
his normal routine. You will have to be patient and not rush him into undue
stressful activities."

    "I see." Da'an sat back and contemplated the Doctor's words carefully for
several silent minutes, barely even registering Belman's advice to the two
humans.

    "Doctor Belman, is there anything more that we should know?" Da'an asked,
after several minutes of contemplation.

   The doctor  seemed to consider this carefully before replying. "Boone has
suffered a great deal of physical and mental stress these past two weeks. His
injuries in the assassination attempt as well as the obvious use of mind
altering drugs on him by his captors has made him wary of all around him. His
inability to remember much about us may make him cautious in you presence."
She turned to include Lili and Ron in her warnings. "Treat him as if nothing
has changed, but watch him and make sure he is not working himself to hard."

   "It shall be as you dictate, Doctor Belman. I thank you for you
observations and cautions." Da'an gestured to the exit.  "Please go now. Boone
shall be here soon and there are a few things I wish to discuss with Agent
Sandoval and Captain Marquette before he arrives."

    "Of course, Da'an." Belman gave the Taelon greeting gesture and left
quickly.

-------------------------

   Several days had passed since he had been whisked away from a rather non-
descript warehouse in the central United States back to Doctor Belman's
clinic. There, he and Shauna, had been put through what seemed to be every
conceivable test known on Earth and then some more including some using
equipment that was obvious Taelon in origin. He had finally been released
yesterday much to his relief.

   It had been both interesting and frustrating to start piecing back together
the gaps in his memories. Doctor Belman had been quite concerned that all the
memory gaps were from the point shortly before he had received his CVI to the
moment he had awoken in the hands of Liberation fanatics. He did remember
Belman was Liberation, as was the pilot who had brought him here, one Lili
Marquette. James had warned him about all the possible traitors in the
Liberation he would meet.

   Now he found himself walking through corridors both familiar, yet obviously
alien in nature. The fact that this was a living building was startlingly
clear  to his eyes. Everyone else seemed to be oblivious to the 'feel' of this
place. The other humans that passed him by didn't even seem to bat an eye at
his presence. Even a security guard simply glanced his way, nodded  an apparent
greeting, and continued onward to his destination. Wil found it all rather
unnerving.

   He was frowning as he turned a corner to see Shauna McKinnon standing
outside the entrance to Da'an's Chamber, looking ill at ease in her navy blue,
conservatively cut dress. Wil was relieved to see her and smiled. Shauna
smiled in equal relief when she spotted Wil.

   "I was wondering when you'd get here." She said quietly.

   "I decided to drive myself." Wil said, equally as quiet.

   "Why? Won't Marquette suspect something's wrong?" Shauna asked, feeling a
bit of her usual paranoia creeping forth into her conscious thoughts.

   "Not likely." Wil dismissed. "Marquette seems to trust me."

   "Good. That could work to our advantage." Shauna said, glancing around at
the walls and involuntarily shivering. She didn't like this place. It
wasn't...right.

   "I know. It's weird for me too." Wil said, reassuringly patting her arm.

    Shauna grinned up at him, for the first time really believing that William
Boone was there and not the monster implanted by the Taelons. 'Maybe
Peddington can figure out how to keep him..." She crushed the thought from
finishing. She knew Wil was dead. The body just hadn't followed the spirit,
yet. Wil's own smile faltered at the strange look on her face.

   "What's wrong?" He asked.

   Shauna looked down. "Nothing, Wil." She shrugged and returned the grin to
her face, as if nothing had happened. "I guess I'm nervous. I've never been
this close to a Taelon before."

   "Well, it'll kind of be a first for me. I don't really remember meeting
Da'an." Wil said.

   "Do you think you can convince him about the tour?" She asked.

   Wil considered this carefully, dredging up what few memories he had of the
American Companion. After a moment he nodded his head slowly. "I think so.
Especially since you've told them you'd like to apply your  computer expertise
to their cause."

   "It was too good of an opportunity to pass up." Shauna commented.

   "What was too good of an opportunity to pass up, Ms. McKinnon?" Agent
Ronald Sandoval asked, as he came into the hall.

   "I was just telling Wil how happy I am that the Companion's have considered
my request to work for them." Shauna said, showing the proper amount of
enthusiasm to intrigue the implant. "I mean, they've done so much for
everyone. I guess I feel like I owe them something in return."

   Ron smiled at the woman. "Da'an will be most pleased to hear this I am
sure." He gestured to the slanting, inclined hall behind him. "Please go in,
Da'an is looking forward to meeting you." He glanced at the red haired implant
that stood silently by watching the exchange with an oddly cold expression
fixed on him.. "Both of you."

   Shauna glanced at Wil, who inclined his head to indicate she should proceed
him. He quickly fell in step behind her, ignoring the other implant, feeling a
sudden surge of rage he did not expect. All he knew was his CVI kept flashing
on images of Kate and a brief flash of Sandoval in  darkened warehouse
speaking, but he couldn't hear the words.

   Da'an stood quickly as the trio came into the room, a pleased smile clearly
upon the Taelon's features. He gestured a Taelon greeting to the new arrivals,
while Ron went to stand by Lili. "Ms. McKinnon, it pleases me to finally be
able to meet you. Please accept my most humble apologies for the tragic
situation that befell you because of our presence."

   Shauna attempted to mimic the salute but realizing she didn't have a clue
what she was doing, ceased. "I'm pleased to finally meet you, as well." She
smiled uncertainly at the Taelon. "It wasn't your fault that some crazy people
thought I saw what they were doing and decided to kidnap me. If anything, I
want to thank you and you people. I don't really want to think about what may
have happened if Companion security hadn't found us so quickly. I am very
grateful for them."

   She glanced over at Wil with an almost embarrassed smile. "And for
Commander Boone's reassurances."

   Da'an smiled in seeming pride for his implant's actions. "Your words bring
honor to us all. I thank you."

   The Taelon turned his gaze to the red haired implant.

   "Sinaüi euhura." Wil said softly, surprising himself and the others present
with his use of the Taelon words, as he returned the Taelon salute to Da'an.

   <"Commander, words are inadequate as to the feelings of gratification that
you have returned to us."> Da'an spoke in Taelon, blushing blue in apparent
confirmation at this unusual rush of emotion

   <"And I am grateful to be able to serve again."> Wil replied, not knowing
how he could speak the Taelon's language but not willing to dwell too deeply
on it at the moment. He was surprised to find that he really was glad to be
here. Somehow speaking to this Taelon seemed....right. Seeing the surprised
stares of the other three humans, he shifted slightly, clasping his hands in
front of him.

   Da'an recognized this all too familiar gesture as one Boone used to
silently indicate he was awaiting instruction and turned his head to include
the others in the rooms.

   "Ms. McKinnon, I have been informed that you wish to work for the
Companions. Is this an accurate assessment?" Da'an asked the woman.

   Shauna nodded her head enthusiastically. "Yes, Da'an. I feel I owe the
Companions a great deal and would like to help if I can."

   Da'an studied her for a moment in contemplation, before gesturing slightly.
"It has been brought to my attention that you have suffered before by the
presence of my people."

   "I don't understand." Shauna said, glancing to Wil in confusion. Wil looked
back at and gave only the barest of shrugs in response indicating his own
ignorance in the matter Da'an spoke of.

   Da'an looked down sadly. "I wish to offer my condolences to your for the
death of your brother three years ago. Our arrival to your world brought
unanticipated results to our presence." Da'an glanced back at Shauna. "I am
sorry for his loss. And yours as well."

   Shauna swallowed hard, surprised at the emotions that flooded through her.
Had she really seen compassion and sadness in those electric blue alien eyes?
She looked down, unable to meet the Companion's gaze for several long minutes.
She didn't even realize Wil had moved to her side until he touched her
shoulder gently.

   "Are you all right?" He asked, his voice surprisingly gentle and
compassionate.

   She looked up at Wil's concerned face with a sad smile and patted his had
with her own. She nodded slowly to answer his question before turning her gaze
back to Da'an. "Thank you." She whispered, surprised she sounded far more
calmer than she felt.

   Da'an's facade faltered for a moment. After a momentary pause to consider
the woman standing next to Commander Boone and the fact that Boone kept close
as if protecting her Dan spoke. 'He acquits his caste well.' Da'an thought,
not without some pride in having such a person as his implant. "Perhaps you
would like a tour of the facility,  Ms. McKinnon?"

   Shauna looked surprised by this question but nodded after a moment's
consideration. "I would liked that. Thank you."

   Ronald Sandoval started to move forward to escort Ms. McKinnon from the
room, but stopped as Da'an raised a hand to stop him. "Agent Sandoval, I
believe Commander Boone should escort Ms McKinnon on her tour. I will need you
to continue your search for their abductors."

   Ron mentally shrugged to himself and nodded. "Of course, Da'an."

   Wil frowned slightly at Da'an's words. "I would like to help in the search
as well, Da'an. I..."

   "You will escort Ms. McKinnon on her tour." Da'an instructed, cutting off
the implants words. He noted Boone's pause and thought he saw a glimpse of
anger in the human's eyes he had never seen before. If it had been there, it
was gone with in an instant.

   "Yes, Da'an." Wil replied and gestured for Shauna to follow him. "Ms.
McKinnon."

   When the pair had finally left the room, Lili finally spoke. "Da'an, why
did you have Boone take her on a tour? I could have easily done so freeing him
up to continue the search."

   "Did not Doctor Belman indicate that Boone should be kept from undue
stress?" The Taelon replied, a bit harsher than Lili had expected.

   "Yes, but..." Lili shrugged uncomfortably under Da'an's gaze, wondering if
she had pushed too far this time with the Companion. She had hoped to get
Boone back to his office so she could could discuss 'business' with him about
his abductors.

   Da'an eased his cold gaze and nodded in a surprisingly human sign of
resignation. "I understand, Captain Marquette. Your concern for Commander
Boone is highly commendable."

   Lili glanced over to Ron, seeing him look at her with apparent
understanding and sympathy on his face. But for what, Lili could not be sure.

   "Agent Sandoval, Captain Marquette shall assist you today in your search."
Da'an instructed the humans.

   "Very well, Da'an." Ron replied, exchanging uneasy looks with Lili. Neither
of them was looking forward to the rest of the day.
 
 

   Outside of Da'an's chamber Wil and Shauna exchanged puzzled glances.

   "That went well." Wil noted, uneasily. "Maybe too well."

   "Maybe." Shauna agreed, unable to keep from staring at the oddness of the
building around her, inspite of herself. She forced herself to ignore the
walls and concentrated on their mission. "Why did you volunteer to remain and
work in there anyway?"

   "It's what an implant would do." Wil stated a little too quickly as he
started down the hall to begin the tour. He hoped Shauna didn't pick up on his
sudden uncertainty. He wasn't sure why but something wasn't right about the
situation. Like he was missing something important that should have been
obvious.

   "It still seems strange that they would have you escort me around. You
hardly even remember this place." Shauna commented, deciding to ignore the odd
catch she had heard in Wil's throat.

   "Maybe that it what Da'an is hoping will happen." Wil noted. "I know the
layout of the place simply by the raw data I can access from my CVI, but it
doesn't really mean anything to me. It's just old photos and cold hard facts.
No emotions, no....humanity in it all."

   "I guess it makes sense that a Companion would be concerned about an
implants well being." She said quietly, earning a nod of agreement from Wil.
"Da'an isn't....quite what I expected." Shauna admitted.

    "Me neither." Wil admitted after a moments pause. He was starting to feel
uncomfortable with the mission. What he had experienced with Da'an didn't seem
to match what James Littleton had told him. In fact a lot of things seemed
off. He shrugged to himself, assuming it was only the result of his amnesia.

   "Come on. This tour gives us a good enough reason to recon the facility."
Wil said, hurrying his pace up.

   "Yeah. I guess so." Shauna agreed, surprised at the lack of enthusiasm she
felt for the mission now. 'Damn! That Taelon's got me unsettled." She pushed
the thought away and tried to return to her cool and professional demeanor
that had kept her on this path for the past three years. Now was not the time
to go soft after so much work had been done.
 

-------------------------

   Lili walked into the Liberation headquarters and went straight to the
waiting Jonathan Doors. "Nothing." She muttered without preamble, as she
allowed herself to angrily flop into a nearby chair in frustration and fatigue
from her days activities.

   "Nothing? What do you mean nothing?" Doors demanded.

  Lili gave the Liberation leader a icy stare. "I mean nothing. Every chance I
had to speak with him, he 'found' something else to do with Shauna McKinnon.
If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was avoiding me."

   "Hmm..sounds like someone's jealous." Augur chimed in hoping to lighten the
mood a little. Instead of the intended smiles all he got was two icy stares in
return. He sighed to himself and turned back to his work without further
comment.

   "We've already checked out Ms. McKinnon. She was Liberation." Doors
informed the former Marine Captain.

   "She's one of us?" Lili sat up in surprise at the news.

   "She *was* Liberation. She dropped out of sight about three months ago. It
was assumed she returned to her more mercenary behavior. " Doors replied, not
a little disgust showing on his face. Seeing the look Lili decided she did not
want to know the particulars of Jonathan's statement but knew the Liberation's
self styled leader would be very interested in her next statement.

    "She says she wants to work for the Taelons." Lili informed Doors.

   The billionaire considered this for a moment before shaking his head,
surprising Lili with his lack of reaction to the information. "You say Boone's
been acting strangely? Do you think his implant is taking control?"

   Lili wondered at Door's sudden interest in Boone over that of McKinnon, but
let it drop. "No. He may be acting like Sandoval a bit too much for my taste
but I watched him closely around Shauna McKinnon. He's not a full blown
implant."

   "Hmm. Perhaps it's simply what Doctor Belman reported to us earlier. He's
frustrated and not sure who to trust." Doors mused. "Keep a close eye on him,
Lili. We can't afford him going over to their side."

   "Easy enough." Lili replied. "Da'an's holding a press conference tomorrow
evening to welcome Wil back to duty. You know the Taelons are going to make a
big deal out of it." She shook her head, unable to help but feel a small bit
of admiration for the Taelons ability to manipulate the media.

   "Yeah." Doors sighed resignedly. "We've already got that angle covered.
Anne Pourtnoy has already released a statement for us."

   "Good. Though I doubt anyone's going to really care much." Lili muttered.
"I better get going. Long day tomorrow." With that Lili quickly left, not
looking forward to the following days preparations.

-------------------------

   "We're all set."

   "Be there tomorrow at four p.m. sharp." Wil said quietly, glancing over to
see Shauna McKinnon smiling back him.

   "Understood. Everything else is in place?" The voice asked.

   "Yes. Don't worry, we'll have everything ready well before hand." Wil
reassured.

   "It better be." The voice threatened back before cutting the link.

    Wil snorted in derision and closed the Global.

   "Well..." Shauna sighed. "I guess we make history tomorrow."

   "Yeah." Wil agreed, noncommittally. Somehow the plan didn't seem proper to
him any longer. Certainly he wanted to strike back at the Companions but
something had been nagging him all day.

   "You don't sound particularly happy about it." She noted.

    "Neither do you." He shot back.

   Shauna shrugged slightly. " I don't know. Da'an seems....likeable for a
Taelon."

   "That he does." Wil readily agreed.

   "Now that other one....the one to the U.N... ..what was his name?
Zero...Zorro..." Shauna frowned in concentration. As much as she did not like
admitting it she had some trouble telling some of the Taelons apart from one
another. She had met three separate Taelons in the course of her tour of
Companion facilities that day.

   "Zo'or." Wil provided, unable to repress a snicker at her
mispronunciations. She shrugged with a sheepish smile.

   "Yeah, him. That Zo'or is one I wouldn't mind taking out." She finished.

   "He'll be there tomorrow as I understand it." Wil commented with a knowing
smile.

   Shauna smiled in return at this information. "Well, now. Maybe wishes and
dreams really do come true."

-------------------------

The following afternoon.

   "I do not understand Commander Boone's absence." Da'an stated, coming as close to being irritated that Lili or Ron had ever seen the Companion  get.

   "It simply shows more of  humanity's imperfections, Da'an. Even one who is an implant" Zo'or said, dismissively. He had no desire to be present and only remained at the order of  Qo'on and the Synod.

   "I'm sure it's only a temporary situation." Lili tried to reassure the Taelons, choosing to ignore Zo'or's comments. "He told me he would pick up Ms. McKinnon before coming here. It's probably nothing more than a traffic delay."

   "I can call him if you desire, Da'an." Ron offered.

   Da'an sat back in his chair. "No, Agent Sandoval. I am certain it as Captain Marquette has said. Perhaps it is my own anticipation of his arrival that makes me so restless."

   "It has been a trying time for us all." Ron agreed in an attempt to cover his own surprise at Da'an's admission. He certainly knew Taelons were capable of impatience that rivaled humanity, but he had never witnessed such from the American Companion in his time of service.

   Da'an smiled, approvingly at Agent Sandoval. The smile earned the implant an equally baleful glare from Zo'or that Ron surprisingly felt happy to ignore. "It is as you say. How are the arrangements for the news media?"

  "Everything is as you requested, Da'an. There is great anticipation to your appearance. You shall have world wide coverage on all communications, including intercast." Ron said with some pride.

    "Excellent." Da'an sat back with a pleased nod to the human implant. "This shall be a most auspicious occasion."

   "Security is already in place in the garden, Da'an." Lili informed the Companion.

   "Thank you, Captain." Da'an replied. "I believe...

   A sudden commotion at the entrance to the chambers startled the Taelon to silence. Before any could move to see what had caused the disturbance, one of Sandoval's security guards came rushing in. After only a few steps, a blast of energy caught the man in the lower back with enough force to slam him into the far wall. A small streak of blood streaked the wall as he slid to the floor.

   "What is the meaning of this?" Zo'or demanded as William Boone burst into the room with five others heavily armed people and wearing paramilitary style clothes.

   Lili reached for her gun only to yelp in surprise as a skrill blast struck her sending her staggering a few feet backwards as numbness took hold. She looked at Wil in stunned surprise. Ron started to raise his arm, when he was surprised to feel Da'an's hand restrain him. Seeing the look the Taelon gave him Ron relaxed.

   "Don't move." Was Wil's only words, cold and promising swift reprisal to anyone who refused his command.

   "Secure the room." The woman next to Wil ordered, barely recognizable as Shauna McKinnon under all the camouflage makeup.

   With a minute the room was secure, the virtual glass remodulated to become opaque, Lili disarmed, Sandoval's arms tied behind his back, and the unconscious security guard bound.

   "Clear?" Boone asked.

   After receiving the all clear he activated his throat mike. "Objective secured." He nodded to the unheard voice and shot Shauna a small grin. "Understood, sir."

   Da'an watched all this with morbid, albeit silent, curiosity. He exchanged a glance with Zo'or who seemed utterly flabbergasted at what these humans dared to do. A part of Da'an was relieved to see that Zo'or did not allow his normally superior attitude to incur the wrath of their assailants. Seeing Wil Boone approach him, flanked by Shauna McKinnon he tilted his head slightly to observe the human implant.

   "Your behavior puzzles me, Commander." Da'an said after a moments study, deciding these simple words were the safest in the presence of the great anger he saw in the human's eyes. Seeing no response from the implant, Da'an cast a glance to Shauna. "Why do you bring violence to we who have embraced you?"

    "Embraced us?" Wil spat angrily, the venom in his voice actually causing both Taelons to flinch. The equally loud hiss from Condor caused Ron to scramble in front of the two Companions fearing what Wil Boone might do. "You made me a slave!"

   "You are not a slave!" Ron Sandoval shot back indignantly. "The gave you a great gift!"

   "Shut up!" Wil lashed out at the former FBI agent, sending him sprawling backwards. Lili rushed over to help Ron back to his feet and staunch the flow of blood from his now swollen and bleeding lower lip.

   "Why are you doing this?" Da'an asked gently, earning another hate filled look from the implant in front of him. Da'an could not think of this human as William Boone. The man he saw in the other's eyes was not the human he had come to know and trust, perhaps even consider a friend. This was a stranger, full of dark rage and undreamt of anger.

   "That will be explained all in good time, Da'an." Another voice replied.

   All but two pairs of eyes turned to look at the man who had spoken. Da'an merely continue to stare into the icy depths of the eyes of the human before him searching for any spark of recognition, of understanding in the terrible anger he witnessed.

   "That's enough, Wil." James Littleton ordered upon seeing the implant and Taelon staring each other down, one angry, the other serene.

   Da'an was surprised to see William Boone lower his arm and turn away. For in that instant Da'an saw a flash of the human he knew lurking in those eyes.  A human confused and in pain. The eyes of a  trapped animal. 'What could have caused this?' He wondered.

   James grinned at Wil. "We did it."

   "Yes." Wil replied, somewhat mechanically. He was unwilling to allow the others see how much Da'an had rattled him. A part of him seemed to screaming at him that what was happening was just plain wrong. Staring into the Taelon's alien blue eyes had only seemed to reinforce his doubts despite the great anger that seemed to consume him at the mere thought of being near the Taelon.

   "Why don't you check and see if the others have the building completely secured." James ordered.

   "Yes, sir." With that Wil quickly left the room.

   James walked over to the two Companions, casting only a cursory glance at Lili, Ron, and the still unconscious security guard. He smiled slightly as the two Companions exchanged a curious glance to one another. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is James Littleton and you now are hostages of the Front for the Liberation of Earth."

   "I seriously doubt that you are a  part of Jonathan Door's Liberation movement. Even he is not this foolish." Zo'or sneered.

   "I didn't say I was with Door's wanna-be's did I?" James smiled coldly back.  This seemed to take the Companions by surprise as much as it did Lili and Ron.

   "Surely you know you can not succeed in what you plan." Ron stated, causing James Littleton to laugh mockingly at the implant.

   "I all ready have accomplished everything I planned. Everything except one small thing." James replied.

   "And what is that?" Zo'or demanded.

    James smiled mischievously. "I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise now, would I?"

   "How is that William Boone follows your orders over that of mine or any other Companion?" Da'an asked, deciding to be forthwith with this human.

   "Ah, you're worried about your precious motivational imperative failing?" James chuckled, mocking the American Companion. "Wil isn't your little lapdog anymore. He's ours now and we're going to unleash him soon enough upon you."

    "Impossible." Zo'or countered. "No implant will harm a Taelon! The imperative is clear. No mere humans could possibly have broken it."

   "Well, I don't exactly consider myself a 'mere' human." Thomas Peddington drawled as he wandered closer.

    Lili's eyes widened suddenly as she recognized the monster walking towards her. Over come by rage she struck out at Peddington splitting his lip before being pistol whipped by another of the Liberation fanatics. Lili sank to her knees and fought to remain conscious from the blow.

   Thomas Peddington grasped her short hair and  yanked her head back  painfully with a smile. "Well, well. Lieutenant..or should I say, Captain Marquette. It's been a while."

   "Murdering bastard!" She hissed back at him. Thomas laughed and released her with a jerk that sent her falling backwards to the floor. Lili scrambled to get back to her feet and launch and another attack only to find herself restrained by Da'an.

   "Remain still, Captain." The Taelon ordered firmly.

   For an instant Lili contemplated ignoring the Taelon and going after Thomas Peddington anyway. Seeing the guns pointed at her by two other terrorists she realized Da'an had probably just saved her life. When she had relaxed, Da'an released his viselike grip, making Lili appreciate the hidden strength of the Taelons even more.

   "You know this individual, Captain?" Da'an asked, gesturing to a now smirking Thomas Peddington.

   "Anyone who fought in the S.I. war on our side knows who that....thing is. His name is Thomas Peddington." Lili scowled. "I can't even call him human. He's a monster, Da'an."

    "Thomas Peddington is a notorious criminal from the S.I. War responsible for the torture and murder of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people. He was...is... also the best 'personality reprogrammer' of that time, able to break anyone and turn them into assassins for who ever he chose to work for. His betrayal during the S.I. war and his subsequent action killed hundreds of people, mostly civilians." Ron informed the Companion quickly. He cast a disgusted glance to the man before them. "It was assumed he was killed when joint Canadian and American special forces raided his compound in 02 to face the war crimes tribunal in Geneva."

    Thomas Peddington grinned unabashedly. "Assume nothing, Agent Sandoval. Obviously, I live."

   "You are a foul creature that should have been destroyed at the first opportunity." Zo'or gave the human a disgusted look he reserved for only those things which he truly felt where abhorrent. "You are a prime example of why humanity will never be our equals."

   Tom tilted his head arrogantly, mimicking the Taelons. "Maybe. But this 'creature' broke your precious motivational imperative." He gave a short laugh. "Guess we ain't so inferior, eh?"

   "Why Commander Boone?"   Da'an asked.

   "Why not?" James replied for Thomas. "His capture was certainly not planned. We lost a lot of good people when he cost us our chance to kill you. It seems only fair that we use him to complete what we started."

   "So you intend to kill us?" Da'an asked with a serenity that visibly annoyed James.

   "Oh, *I* won't be killing you." James reassured the Companion. "I've decided to let Wil have a shot at you. A little pay back for everything you've done to him."

    "He will not kill us." Da'an stated firmly. The conviction he saw in the Taelon for the barest of moments frightened all the human terrorists in the room.

    "We'll see." James replied, coldly. He glanced over at Shauna and jerked his head towards the captives. "Watch them carefully until Wil gets back."

   Shauna nodded slowly, trying to ignore the Taelons as best she could without having to actually look away from them. She suddenly did not feel comfortable around them. Something about Da'an's cool aloofness and certainty made her doubt this action even more than before.

   "Be seein' ya, Marquette." Thomas tossed off a jaunty salute.

   "And then I'll send you to hell. Count on it." Lili replied, evenly.

   "Captain." Da'an cautioned gently, ending any further comment the woman would have made.

   "Come on Thomas. We've got a press conference to attend." James looked pointedly at Da'an as he said this, hoping for a reaction. All he received back was a steady unblinking azure stare.

-------------------------
Resistance HQ

   "Did you see the broadcast?" Jonathan Doors asked the others.

   "Yes, here's the vid analysis." Augur handed over a disk with a rather smug expression on his face. "We've identified all the 'Liberation terrorists' that were filmed."

   "Good." Door smiled in real pleasure. This whole incident had already gotten out of hand with millions demanding a crackdown on the Liberation. Some had even attacked Anne Pourtnoy and other known Liberation spokesman. Fortunately no one had been harmed.

   "Maybe not, Jonathan." Dr. Belman cautioned, casting a nervous glance to Augur and Dr. Park.

   "What do you mean?" Doors asked. "Now that we know who they are, we can deal with the situation and show that they aren't Liberation."

   "Jonathan, all of them *are* Liberation." Belman stated.

   "Or were." Augur appended.   "But it gets worse. Go to time index zero-four point one three and freeze the picture. You'll see what I mean."

   The billionaire did as the computer genius said and found himself staring at an image of William Boone. He glanced at Augur in irritation. "Ok, I see Boone but obviously I'm missing why you think this is so important."

   "Jonathan, he's dressed like the other terrorists and his hands are untied." Park noted.

   The industrialist stared back at the image with a rapidly darkening expression. "He sold us out." He grumbled.

   "Not necessarily." Dr. Park cautioned. "Advance the video to time index zero-five point zero-three."

    This time an image of a vaguely familiar man could be seen, but Doors could not place where he had seen him before.

    "That is Thomas Peddington." Augur stated with disgust.

    "Peddington? You mean 'the' Thomas Peddington? The war criminal?" Doors asked in surprise.

    "One and the same." Dr. Belman nodded.

    "What the hell is Boone doing with Littleton, Peddington and McKinnon?" Doors demanded.

   "I gather information, Jonathan. Despite my talents and name even I do not know what they could possibly planning." Augur stated haughtily.

    "Maybe you aren't trying hard enough." Door countered, earning a scathing look from many of the gathered Liberation members and a particularly cold stare from Augur.

    "Give me some time." The hacker stated leaving the others to contemplate their next actions.

-------------------------

Several hours later.

    Lili quietly watched as Wil Boone twitched slightly, the movement marring the otherwise serene expression on his face as he slept on the far wall from them. The intermittent twitches and occasional mumbling of whispered unintelligible words kept her attention. The addition of a soft hiss from his skrill only added to her interest. She wondered what he was dreaming or if it wasn't his dreams but that of the skrill itself.

   A passing guard caused her to look away as if she were nothing more than a tired and bored prisoner. Looking around she finally noticed Da'an watching her curiously out of the corner of his eye. Lili seripticiously scooted closer to the Taelon, noting Ron watching cautiously from his reclined form, feigning sleep.

   "You have seen it as well, have you not, Captain?" Da'an asked tilting his head in Boone's direction.

   Lili could not help but notice the decidedly human nature of the gesture but made no comment. "Yes, he's dreaming but I can't tell what he's dreaming about."

   "I recognized a few of his words he spoke. They were Eunoia." Da'an informed the shuttle pilot with a knowing look.

  "He's dreaming of you?" She asked.

   "Not just myself, but others as well." Da'an replied. "It would seem that Mr. Peddington's procedure on the Commander may not be as successful as he claims."

   "We should assume that Boone is a threat for now, Da'an." Ron cautioned quietly earning him a graceful nod from the American Companion.

    "It is as you say." Da'an agreed.

    "When Boone's implant regains control he shall deal with these...creatures." Zo'or stated suddenly, surprising the other prisoners with his words.

    "Have you suddenly changed your opinion of humanity, Zo'or?" Da'an asked.

   Lili was certain she heard a tone that sounded very much like sarcasm to her ears. The subtle type of sarcasm she had come to associate with one other.  Glancing at Ron she could see by his surprised expression that she had heard correctly. 'Guess Wil is teaching Da'an something after all.' She thought as she shrugged to herself.

   "Of course not." Zo'or retorted in disgust. "Humans are best suited for....peacekeeping....duties. They excel in such primitive barbarism."

   Da'an merely stared at Zo'or until the other Taelon actually looked away from the group. A silence settled over the hostages, each lost in their own thoughts and concerns.

-------------------------

Wil woke with a gasping jerk to find the captives staring at him in surprise. He was sweating heavily and his heart racing, pumping him full of adrenaline. But he couldn't remember what had caused his state. The dream? He couldn't even remember it! Anger filled him as the captives continued to stare at him, particularly the the electric blue of Da'an's gaze.

    He rose shakily to his feet and approached them. Ignoring the others he stared at the American Companion uncertain what to say as a flurry of contradictory emotions, thoughts and images passed through him. He stared into those eyes, hoping. For what? He wasn't sure. Perhaps answers to questions only half formed in his mind. Perhaps salvation from the insanity that seemed to be slowly building within him since he had reacquainted with the alien.

   "How may I help you, Commander?" Da'an asked after allowing several minutes of intense scrutiny from the man before him.

   "What..." Wil coughed lightly to clear the gravelliness from his throat and to cover the surprising shakiness of his voice. "What am I to you?" He asked, his tone barely even indicating he had asked a question.

   "You are William Boone, Commander of Companion Security and Head of Interspecies Relations." Da'an replied neutrally.

    "I'm an implant?" The human asked.

    "Yes." Da'an replied slowly, sensing for the first time a desperateness in the man before him.

   "You put one of those *things* inside my head!" He stated, his voice loud enough to catch the attention of the other terrorists nearby.

    "You willingly joined our service in the hope of..."

    "In the hope of creating a better understanding between humans and Taelons." He spat back, angrily. Da'an actually backed up as he saw Wil wince in pain and grasp the side of his head. Seeing the Companion trying to distance the space between them he roughly grabbed him, jerking Da'an close to him.

    "Make it stop!" He demanded, the phrase sounding more like a desperate plea for mercy.

    The pain Da'an saw in the mans eyes unsettled him. Such confusion, despair and anger as Da'an had never seen. He blushed blue and blinked slowly as if greatly burdened by the implants obvious misery. "I can not do as you ask." He stated softly, trying to convey the depth of his sympathy to the human.

   "Sinaüi euhura, Umrath'ma." Wil screamed throwing the Taelon backwards and bringing his right arm forward, the skrill glowing brightly in the dimmed lighting of the chamber. Zo'or lost his facade in apparent surprise at Boone's words.

   Da'an merely lay still and stared back at the enraged implant serenely. "You can not do this. You and your skrill know that I will not harm you."

   Wil was breathing hard, rage building the longer he looked at the Companion in front of him. In the back of his mind he could feel the skrill eager to fire, to protect, primal images of the hunt accompanying the alien symbionts thoughts.

   "Wil!" James Littleton called, quickly crossing the room and jerking the implants arm down. "Not now. You'll get your chance soon enough."

   Wil swallowed and looked down trying to cover the sudden rush of relief that flooded through him. He didn't want to kill Da'an. He knew that now. The images, the memories were starting to make more sense. He still didn't trust the alien, but he wasn't so sure about James anymore, either. If only the pain would stop in his head he was sure he could figure out what to do.

   "Well, Da'an. It seems your fellow Taelons refused my demands." James little said coldly, earning the attention of everyone in the room.

   "I told you they would not do as you asked." Wil stated, surprising himself that he chose to speak. He noted Da'an looked at him oddly.

    "So you did." James conceded, irritated that Wil had interrupted him. He returned his gaze to the American Companion. "And now, you shall pay for their mistake. Get up."

   Da'an gracefully rose against Ron's futile protests to remain still. "What would you have me do? I can not change the will of the Synod. Nor do I have the capacity to countermand any such decisions."

   "That doesn't matter." James gestured to Shauna who escorted Da'an over to the main data stream. The Companion looked questioningly to the human before it as if trying to fathom James' actions.

   "We've tied control of the U.S. global strategic weapons platforms in orbit into your systems here. This." James gestured to a global device in his hand..."controls when and were it will fire."

    "Why do you tell me this?" Da'an asked, loathing obvious on the Companion's features at James i