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TITLE: Whispers In My Dreams
AUTHOR: Gray
TYPE: Story
RATING: PG
DISCLAIMERS: All Earth: Final Conflict characters are the property of Tribune Entertainment and all related affiliations (Kirshner-Roddenberry, Atlantis,etc.)  No copyright infringement is intended.
SPOILERS: "The Joining"
NOTES: This story is set during the very end of "The Joining." Possible minor spoilers involved! You've been warned! :)  This is just a quick piece that woke me up at 3 am just begging to be written. It's purposefully ambiguous in some areas and I made some assumptions in others when writing this. As all ways, comments and criticisms are welcome. Enjoy. :)
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Whispers In My Dreams
by Karolyn Gray <kmgray3@aol.com>

"Where am I?"

   Da'an spun around, stunned and not a little afraid to see him here, where no 
humans were supposed to be able to venture.

   William Boone stood staring, not at Da'an, but the 'landscape' about them
that made up the Taelon Commonality, with awe on his face. Da'an could not
help but wish to flinch away at the site of the deep scars that Ha'gel's wrath
had inflicted upon Boone before the ancient alien had been killed. The
scarring was a stark contrast to Boone's demeanor. The human almost seemed
oddly euphoric.

   "Where am I?" He asked again, this time looking at Da'an as if was
surprised to see the American Companion.

   "This is the Commonality, Boone." Da'an finally answered.

   The implant seemed to look around again in confusion. "I don't understand.
How...how did I get here?"

   "An intriguing question that I have no answer for, Commander." Da'an
replied. The Taelon suddenly smiled. "I am pleased to see you again."

   Boone slowly returned the smile, a hint of confusion tingeing the curl of
his lips. "And I you, Da'an."

   "The Commonality is most...inspirational. Is it not?" Da'an asked the
human, who gazed around them in wonder.

   "And humbling." Wil replied so softly that Da'an wasn't entirely sure he
even spoke the words.

   "That is also true." Da'an nodded in agreement.

   "You really are so different from us. Unknowable and yet...."

   "And yet you are drawn here to us." Da'an finished.

   "How?" Wil asked the Companion.

   Da'an looked away for a moment, sensing the shock of some in the
Commonality who realized there was another human incursion taking place. Da'an
did his best to shield Boone's presence from the others, satisfied that the
they would not disturb them. When he returned his gaze to the human implant he
saw a sad knowledge lurking in the others eyes.

   "What is the last thing you remember happening to you?" Da'an asked.

   "I was in a church, trying to stop Ha'gel." Wil concentrated for a moment,
surprised at how hard it seemed to remember what exactly had occurred. "I
think...I think I was trying to convince Ha'gel to surrender. Something went
wrong, others interrupted us. I remember firing my skrill and a flash of pain.
Nothing else."

   "You were seriously injured in your encounter with Ha'gel." Da'an spoke
quietly.

   "You mean I'm dying." Wil said.

    "Your world's healers have done all that they could. My people are now
trying to save your life." Da'an said.

   "You don't think I'll make it, do you?" Wil asked.

    Da'an completely lost his 'human' facade at the rush of emotion he felt.
As much as it burdened him to say so, Da'an could not, would not, lie to this
human. He looked the implant unwaveringly in the eyes. "I do not anticipate
success."

    Wil held the gaze for a steady moment, but Da'an could see the implant
swallow hard as he reigned control over his emotions. After a moment Wil
looked down. "Thank you," He whispered.

    "Why do you thank me?" Da'an asked, truly puzzled.

    "For not deceiving me." Wil answered, raising his head to look at the
Taelon again. "I guess I knew it the instant I found myself here."  Da'an was
surprised to see calm acceptance in Wil's eyes. Even more startling was the
sadness there. 

    Da'an suddenly felt ashamed at his own self centered pity over the
possibility of Boone's death that had led him to wander the Commonality in
search of peace and understanding. Here was this human standing before him in
calm acceptance of his impending death, waiting for it with a bravery that he
had seen few amongst his own race muster in such adversity.

   "Please forgive me." Da'an said turning away in shame from the human.

   "Forgive you? Why?" Wil asked. His next action stunned Da'an. Wil actually
grabbed the Taelon and turned him around to face him.

    "It was my actions and the actions of the Synod that caused this tragedy
to befall you." Da'an said, unable to look the human in the eyes.

    "It was my own actions that caused this, Da'an. It was my own arrogance. I
thought I could handle Ha'gel alone. I was wrong." Wil squeezed the Taelons
shoulder gently. "It wasn't you or anyone else's fault, Da'an." The human
chuckled sadly, remembering something Da'an did not comprehend. "It's just
life, man." He spoke, more to himself than to the Taelon. A hint of irony
lingered in those cryptic words.

   "But so much is now lost." Da'an stated sadly.

   Wil looked down. "I don't want to die Da'an. There was so many things I
wanted to do. Now, now others will have to finish what I started, I guess."

   Da'an grasped Wil's hand as he started to drift away from the Taelon.
"There may be others who could take up your duties, but I do not foresee any
that would be able to replace your understanding of us."

   Wil swallowed hard as he closed his eyes. "I'm so tired." He mumbled.

   "I know." Da'an said, trying to reassure the human with his presence, if
not his words. The two silently consoled each other. Words were not needed.
Da'an felt Boone slipping away from the Commonality and tried as best he could
to keep the contact between them.

   "I don't want to go." Boone said, sadness clearly in his voice.

   "Do not fear the next step, William Boone." Da'an said.

   "I'm not afraid, Da'an." Wil replied. "It's just....so much,  so many
things that were left undone, words unsaid."

   "There is no need for words. Put your mind at ease, William. All will be
well." Da'an said, feeling Boone was almost completely gone now.

   "Da'an....I never had a chance to say this before to you." Wil seemed to
fade out entirely and reappeared by obvious sheer will power. "I just wanted
to say thank you, my friend. For everything you've done."

   Da'an found himself alone with those words echoing in his mind. He opened
his eyes to find himself back in the embassy and the startled, haggered face
of Ronald Sandoval staring at him. The implant looked deeply troubled despite
his valiant attempt to remain poised.

   Da'an nodded to the agent. "It is done."

   "Yes." Ron replied, uncertain if Da'an had asked him a question or had told
him the answer to his own troubled thoughts.

   "Please go and rest, Agent Sandoval." Da'an dismissed the implant and
wandered over to the window to stare out across the darkened city, his
thoughts in turmoil at what had happened in the Commonality.

   'Was it a dream?' Da'an wondered. 'Or perhaps my own thoughts?'

   'Maybe they're both?' A third, faintly familiar voice whispered in Da'an's
mind. The Taelon smiled suddenly to himself, a knowing smile that no one else
alive would ever see on his face again.

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Copyright 1998 Karolyn Gray and Skrillwerks