Zo'or's Adventure: Strange Companions

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TITLE: Zo'or's Adventure: Strange Companions
AUTHOR: Mithril
TYPE: Crossover Story (EFC-Star Trek Universe)
RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMERS: Earth: Final Conflict characters are from Gene Roddenberry.
"Q" is from Star Trek: The Next Generation.
No copyright infringement is intended. The idea is mine
SUMMARY: Zo'or is visited by a powerful and mischievous alien, that wants to teach him something about humans.
SPOILERS: The story is set after the second season's episode of Earth: final conflict, "Between Heaven and Hell".
NOTES: Thank you very much to Ja’el and Cache for editing the story
================================================================================

Zo'or's Adventure: Strange Companions
by Mithril <perretta@entelchile.net>

Prologue

In a Universe full of wonders and possibilities, two new friends were talking -a man and a woman. She was wearing a long
floral pattern dress and he was wearing a black-red jumpsuit. They were seated face to face, separated by a well served table,
covered with tea, orange juice, cake, fruits and other delicious things.
There was nothing strange with that scene, except that it was taking place in deep space.

"...And that is the whole story," she said, while taking another piece of cake, "Mmm, chocolate, I love it," she added with a smile.

"I see... interesting tale. Humans have always intrigued me and now, with the Taelon arrival to your planet..."

His companion sighed. "What is it?" he asked.

She looked at him a little shyly. "Nothing... it's just... home sickness. I know it sounds ridiculous... but I miss my mom."

"I can bring her here to you right now, if you so wish."

She smiled a sad smile and declined with a shake of her head. "No. I can do that by myself, but I will not, ever. It is not right."

He raised a bemused eyebrow. "After all you are still human..." he said more to himself and then continued, "Tell me more about that
Taelon."

"Who... Da'an? He is the most kind being I have ever met. If it were not for him, I would have never met you."

His eyes lit up, but he shook his head. "No, the other one. I sensed something like hate in your voice when you were talking about him."

She wrinkled her nose. "Uh, that must be Zo'or. I don't hate him, is just that he is so..."

"What? Cruel, arrogant..."

"Yes. He treats humans like rats...” Suddenly she looked directly into his eyes. "I feel some similarities with you!" she said while raising
her hand in a threatening mode.

He raised his hands in a peaceful manner. "Hey, do not look at me like that. I must admit that I was not... how can I say it... very respectful
when I first met humans, but I have changed. My own kind and some friends did a good job there."

She sighed again and put her hands on her lap. "If only Zo'or could learn that lesson too..."

At her words, his eyes lit up and his smile turned sinister. He held her hands. "Wonderful idea, " he said and at the puzzled look she gave him,
he continued, "I will fulfill your wish, my dear."

"What do you mean?" she asked suspicious.

He smiled evilly. "Wait here Joyce and you will see, however I can promise that you will like it."

"Q, please, behave yourself! Earth is still my homeworld..."

"Do not worry about that; the Continuum is always looking over me. Please, just give me a chance... I ask you to trust me."

"I do," she said with conviction.

He looked surprised and smiled kindly.

"By the way, what are you wearing?" she asked curious.

"Oh... this is a Starfleet uniform." At the puzzled look she gave him, he added. "Ah, you should learn to span barriers of time, space and parallel universes."

"Then someone should teach me", she said in a low voice, looking straight into his eyes.

"Of course," he said seductively, "...I must leave now, my dear... wait for me."
He bowed and disappeared in a flash of light, leaving Joyce behind.

Good luck, she thought, then she smiled mischievously... and disappeared too.

***************************************************************************

Zo'or was aboard the Mothership. He was seated on his chair and with a wave of his hand, he had activated the data stream. He was searching
for information, information that in the right hands, his hands, could lead Da'an to ruin. Zo'or had found the way to ask the removal of Da'an from the
seat of North American Companion... and from the Synod.

The strike will be quick and lethal, he thought. He tilted his head. On the other hand, the problem called Joshua Doors will be soon solved.
Sandoval's paid killer, Judson Corr, will deal with it. This evening meeting will be the last time I will have to see that annoying human.

Something on the stream caught his attention. Finally what I was looking for! He smiled evilly and called agent Sandoval.

"Yes Zo'or."

"I need your presence here in twenty minutes," he said and then continued, "with a complete security team. There is something I need you to
attend to."

Sandoval was surprised, but nodded and then contacted Captain Marquette.

Zo'or closed the data stream, with the smile still on his face... but unfortunately for him, that didn't last long. Suddenly, in a blinding flash of light, a human
male, dressed in a strange sort of uniform, appeared before him. At least he seemed to be human, but he realized that it was not the case.

The 'fake' human was staring at him with disdain and arrogance. Zo'or matched that look and asked, hoping that the fear he was feeling was not revealed
to the stranger. "Who are you and what do you want?"

"I am Q... and I want you," Q answered in a mocking tone, pointing at him.

Zo'or waved his hand to activate the stream and call Sandoval, but nothing happened.

Q yawned, looking really bored.

Zo'or felt panic and tried to contact other Taelons, but he could not... he was alone.

"Do not bother yourself with that," Q said, "I have severed your link with the Commonality. It was an easy thing to do, you know... and don't worry, you
will not turn into an Atavus, not this time, anyway."

"What do you want?" Zo'or asked again, this time with anger.

"I have already told you. I want you," he said, walking toward him, "I am here to please a friend by teaching you a lesson."

Zo'or stiffened on his chair. "How dare you?" he asked with an incredulous voice, "A lesson?"

"Oh yes!" Q smiled evilly and snapped his fingers. A coin appeared in his hand. "Heads or tails?" he asked a now terrified and confused Zo'or.

"What?!"

"Heads or tails," he repeated annoyed, "Are you deaf? I am in a good mood today, so I will leave the decision to you. Choose quickly, though, or I
will lose my patience... and we do not want that to happen, do we? You don't want to appear suddenly in a room full of Jaridians to play cards with
them, do you?"

Zo'or was trapped, so he did the only thing he could, he chose. "Heads," he said and closed his eyes.

"Oh! This will be interesting," said Q with amusement and snapped his fingers again, "Come on, you coward, open your eyes and see."

Zo'or was standing next to Q now and opened his eyes. He felt that nothing was out of place with him, except... "What..." He stopped suddenly.
His voice...

"Turn around," Q said, while trying to suppress a laugh.

Zo'or did as he was told... and almost fainted.

He was staring a human woman. She was young, in her late twenties, slender, shorter than Q. Her long brown hair was strapped in a ponytail.
Her eyes were deep brown and now were wide opened with a shocked expression. No make up. She was wearing old blue jeans, sneakers and a T-shirt
printed with the slogan "I HATE TAELONS, ‘SPECIALLY ZO'OR" in bright red letters.

He... She realized that it was her own reflection in a mirror.

Q laughed aloud at her astonishment.

"Change me immediately," Zo'or ordered in a female voice, but in full Zo'or's mode, smirk and evil glare included.

"Why? This is only the beginning. You should thank me though. In humans terms, I can say that you are... presentable and frail, may I warn you."

"I order you!" she shouted.

"Oh, no, no, no. Stop that. If I were you, I would leave right now. Of all Taelons you should know how dangerous this ship is for humans."

"But I am a Taelon, I am Zo'or, the Synod Leader."

"Oh, correction, my friend, you were a Taelon and you were Zo'or. Do you think that your precious Agent Sandoval will believe you? What will
you tell him, that a Godlike being changed you?" He made a mocking smile and continued, "Oh, and do not even think of sharing with another
Taelon. That will be, how can I say it, definitively dangerous," Q then spoke in her ear, "because you see, you are a resistance member now..."
Q said with a laugh.

Zo'or looked at him, petrified.

"You must face the truth, my friend. You are just a human woman that escaped from a Taelon laboratory. You are just a living tool to be used
against the Jaridians, nothing more." Then he seemed thoughtful, "In what kind of experiments do you think Or'el or any other scientist will use you?"
Q asked with an amused expression on his face.

Zo'or felt something strange in his... her chest. It was like a drum... her heart. Yes, her heart was beating fast, very fast. In fact, she was scared to
death. She knew too well the kind of experiments Q was talking about.

Q shook his head and smiled coldly. "Oh, don't look at me like a sacrificial lamb, this situation is too funny to just get you killed." Q snapped his
fingers for a third time and an interdimensional portal appeared. "There you have it... damn, I am really generous today."

"Where does the portal lead?" she asked with a voice full of resignation; not that the answer made a great difference, she knew that she had no choice.

Q chuckled. "I am afraid I can't tell you that. I don't want to spoil the surprise... and what is life, but a box full of surprises, one after another, especially
to poor-short-life-humans?" said Q and with a last sinister laugh, he disappeared.

Zo'or hesitated in front of the portal, perhaps Agent Sandoval would believe... Suddenly she heard voices coming from the corridor.

"Quickly, Or'el informed me that a female subject has escaped from the Lab," Agent Sandoval said.

"There is nowhere to run, she is trapped," other Agent said.

"Yes. Go and search for her, I will inform Zo'or."

That was enough to make Zo'or enter the portal... and so she did.

A few seconds later, Sandoval entered to Zo'or's 'command chamber', but he was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly the data stream activated
and Da'an's image appeared. He looked deeply troubled. "Agent Sandoval," he addressed him, "I am afraid Zo'or's linkage to the Commonality
has been severed."

Sandoval was startled to hear that, but he didn't show it. "Do you mean that he will turn into an Atavus?" he asked worried.

Da'an lowered his gaze. "I hope not," he said, "but be prepared. Use a search team to find him," then he met Sandoval's eyes, "You must not
harm him under any circumstance. He is a Taelon and the Synod Leader... after all"

"Of course Da'an," nodded Sandoval and made the 'Taelon Salute'.
Da'an closed the stream.

How different is one of another, the Agent thought.

******

She appeared in the middle of a...swamp?! Vegetation and mud surrounded her. In fact, she was standing on it.
"Hey, Miss." a voice called to her.

She looked around, an officer was speaking to her.
"Didn't you see that inscription? No pedestrians are allowed there, you must stay in the path," he said while gesturing with his hand.

How dare you, human, Zo'or thought and then realized that it was a good idea to step out from the mud. With an icy look to the officer
she walked away.

"Women," the officer muttered with a sigh.

Zo'or looked ahead. I must be in a kind of park, she thought.

With a sigh she went to the nearest bench and sat down. Then the truth of her situation sank in. She (SHE!), Zo'or, the Synod Leader, was
completely alone, trapped in a human body and the only things she had, were the clothes she was wearing... not to mention that she did not
even know were she was.

She sighed again and then she did something very common for a human being, but impossible for a Taelon. She cried. Tears started to fall
from her eyes and she simply couldn't stop them. She raised her hand to her eyes to sweep them away and after a while she gave up. It was
useless. She felt miserable and completely humiliated... just as Q had wanted.

******

Joshua Doors was in his office, seated behind a desk full of unfinished work. He was really in a bad mood, with his head full of troubles.
The meetings with Zo'or were not going anywhere. The Taelons were here to stay. True, they had cured lethal diseases and stopped famine,
but at what price? Not to mention that Zo'or himself was definitively the worst of his kind. The idea of spending the whole evening with him, just
made Joshua shudder.

On the other hand, things with President Thompson were not good at all. His only objective was to please the aliens so to obtain their support for
the coming elections. That itself was pathetic.

Then, there was his father, the so called Resistance Leader. Jonathan Doors was just a name to him. Damn, he really didn't know him. They
had not talk in ages and maybe they never would. He was the most wanted man on Earth and the Taelons would not rest until they get him.

Finally it was his personal life, or the lack of it. Sure, he was a successful lawyer and after Ro'ha's trial he was famous, but that had not helped
him with women. He sighed. He had been dating Lili, but, oh surprise, things had not gone well. For only once I would like to meet someone...
He shook his head bitterly, Who am I kidding?...

His thoughts were interrupted by Susan, his forever secretary-friend-nanny, who had just entered the office. "Mr. Doors..."

"What?!" he barked and immediately regretted it, "Please, forgive me Susan, I didn't mean it. Just a bad morning, you know, not to mention the
next meeting with Zo'or..."

Susan smiled kindly. Since the Taelon's trial, she was getting used to her boss's new temper, not that she liked it. "Don't worry Mr. Doors and that
is precisely the reason why I am here. Agent Sandoval has just called to cancel the appointment. He said Zo'or extend his apologies to you, but
there are important matters that need his attention. He will let you know when the meeting will be taking place..." then she stopped and looked at him
with concern, "...and I suggest you to use this little and unexpected free time to relax."

Joshua smiled a tired smile. "I look that bad, do I?"

"Not at all Joshua... just worse," she teased him and then she left him alone.

After a while Joshua rose from his desk and looked out through the window. The view of a beautiful park greeted him. He opened the window and took
a deep breath.

Maybe I could take a little walk after all, he thought; and after telling Susan to cancel his other appointments and where he was going, he left his
office.

******

Zo'or suddenly stopped crying. She had felt something strange on her left foot and ankle... something wet. Wet?! She looked down and saw a
small dog with its leg raised beside her own one. Her jaw fell when she realized what the dog had been doing. Zo'or was beyond anger now. "You...
how dare you... stupid animal!" she managed to say.

"Guaw! Guaw!" barked the dog in a mocking way -she thought-, like answering her. Then he waved its tail and walked away with its head up.

Zo'or considered going after the dog and teaching it how the Synod Leader must be treated, but something distracted her. A strange noise had caught
her attention, it was like a low roar. She looked around and, after a few minutes, she realized that the source of that mysterious noise, was her own
stomach.

What now, she thought and soon she understood.

A human child was passing through, with a hotdog in her hand. She was hungry! Though Zo'or did not know the exact name, she knew it was some
kind of food humans use to eat when they are in a hurry.

"Wait!" she ordered.

The little girl stopped and looked at her with innocent eyes. With her free hand she held her purse tightly. "Why?" she asked and only then she
seemed to notice Zo'or's wet eyes. "You are too old to be crying," she said. She was about to add something, but she wrinkled her nose instead.
"What is that smell?" she asked and then looked suspicious at Zo'or and the pool beside her foot. "Aren't you too old for that too?"

Zo'or looked at her, puzzled, and suddenly she realized what the girl was saying. She blushed red and was about to put that child in her place, when
her stomach roared again.

The girl smiled. "Here, take mine," she said, offering Zo'or her meal.

Zo'or eyed the child with a mixture of surprise and suspicious. "Why are you giving me your food?" she asked.

"Because you are hungry," she said with a grin, "I have to go now, mom is waiting for me. Bye."

Zo'or did not have time to react. The girl just put the hotdog on her lap and left running. She blinked in surprise and followed the little human with a
confused gaze. Her stomach roared. She took the hot-dog with her right hand and looked curious at it. Then she placed it before her mouth and for the
second time that day, she did something impossible for a Taelon. First Zo'or took a small bite and carefully swallowed it. She wrinkled her face in disgust,
she had not liked it at all.

How humans can eat this?, she thought, but she was hungry and the roar of her stomach was really bothering her, so she ate it. At least that
annoying noise has gone, she said to herself.

Then she began to think about her options and soon realized that there was only one. Only one being in this primitive planet could help her in her
current situation: Da'an. Zo'or sighed. This was really ironic. Less than a couple of hours ago, she had been planning Da'an's ruin; and now, she was
planning to seek his help. Maybe his compassion for mankind will proof useful after all, she thought, though the idea was definitely humiliating.

Zo'or sighed again. That would be her course of action, then. She would go to Da'an immediately... that was if she could find the way. Having made her
decision, she rose from the bench and started to walk. Unfortunately, she was so concentrated on her thoughts, that she did not notice the group of
bicyclists that was coming in direct collision course with her.

******

Joshua was enjoying his walk through the park, it was a particular warm day. Autumn had always been his favorite season of the year. The
beauty of the red sweet gums and yellow Ginkgoes was greeting him at every step. He smiled happily to himself.

A moment later, with no reason at all, he looked ahead... and saw a distracted girl walking with her head bowed, directly into a group of crazy cyclists.

"Hey!..." he shouted, but she didn't listen. He realized that there was nothing else to do. Without thinking of it, he ran toward her.

******

Da'an was in his office, seated on his chair. His thoughts and the thoughts of the Commonalty were focussed on Zo'or, but it had been useless.
It seemed that the Synod Leader had simply vanished from the Mothership and from the planet. He was waiting for Agent Sandoval's report. He,
Captain Marquette and Major Kincaid were searching for Zo'or. In that moment, the data stream was activated. The image of Agent Sandoval
appeared. "Any improvement on the investigation?" Da'an asked, even though he knew the coming answer.

"No Da'an. I personally have checked all the security monitors aboard the ship, but they showed nothing," Sandoval said concerned, "and no shuttle
is missing, but..." he suddenly stopped, uncomfortable.

Da'an tilted his head. "Is there anything else?"

Agent Sandoval cleared his throat. "A human 'volunteer', a woman, disappeared from the research area approximately at the same time Zo'or vanished."

Da'an blushed blue, another human suffering at Taelon's hands was always a sad event. When will Zo'or learn?, he thought. "Do you think that both
disappearances are related?"

"It is improbable, but that situation is being investigated too."

"Go ahead and contact me if anything new arise," Da'an said finally and after Sandoval's nod, he closed the stream. Seconds later, he called Agent
Lassiter.

"Yes Da'an."

"Please arrange a meeting for me with Joshua Doors."

"Immediately," Lassiter said.

Da'an nodded and closed the stream. Suddenly the images of the Synod Members appeared around him.

"There is no good news."

"We know that," a kind Taelon called De'lan said, "We are curious though, why did you ask for the meeting with the human Joshua Doors?"

Da'an smiled slightly. "We must not forget our difficult relationship with some humans. We should approach them through different angles.
As you know, Zo'or has not been as diplomatic as he should be with Joshua Doors. Now, during his absence, maybe some improvement can be
achieved."

"We understand," they said and after the salute was made, one by one disappeared.

******

All had happened too fast. At one moment, Zo'or had been walking, thinking about her situation and suddenly, in a second, she felt how
someone had pushed her rudely to a side. She was now on the ground... and a human male was over her! She stared at him with wide terrified
eyes and recognized him immediately: Joshua Doors. For a terrible instant she thought that he had recognized her too... and that he was trying
to kill her.

"Are you alright?" he asked her.

Zo'or blinked, confused, and after realizing that he really did not know who she was, her terror was replaced by anger. She blushed red. If she
had been a Taelon, she would have been sparkling in a deep blue. "Get away from me now!" she ordered in a deadly tone.

Joshua was taken aback by her violent reaction. Maybe she is the shy type, he thought.

"Calm down," he said in a kind voice. "This is not the way to treat someone who has just saved your life, besides, there was not another way
to do it," he added while standing up and offering her his hand.

She refused with her head. "I do not need your help," she said, still angry, but not so much as before. "What do you mean by saving my
life?" she asked then, curious spite herself.

He smiled, amused. He realized he had confused anger with shyness. Sure she is not a damsel in distress, the girl has spirit... not to
mention her good looks. I like her, he thought. Suddenly he remembered his morning wish and flushed. Can it be... her?

Then he indicated her the danger she had been exposed to. "Look over there," he said.

She did so and saw a group of cyclist passing through at high speed. She blushed red again. "You were wrong in your assumption. I
certainly would have not been killed by those frail vehicles," she said with a smirk.

His smile didn't fade away, even after hearing her cold voice. "Of course not, but you must admit it would have been pretty painful," he said
teasingly.

Zo'or looked at him directly into his eyes... and bowed her head. She knew he was right. She now owed her life to a human and not to a
mere human -to Joshua Doors- and that humiliated her to no end.

"I must go now," she said in a very low voice and quickly turned away. She did not want to be in his presence any more.

This time, Joshua Doors's smile started to fade when he saw that she was leaving.

Great, why am I not surprised?, he thought and he ran after her. He would not be so easily dismissed. "Please, wait," he said while
grabbing her arm, but he quickly withdrew his hand at the annoyed look she gave him. Where have I seen that gaze before, he thought, oh,
never mind. "I know it sounds crazy, but have we ever met before?" he asked, hoping not to appear too stupid.

At this point, Zo'or was trying hard to keep her control. Maybe the violence in human race is caused by annoying individuals like Joshua
Doors, she reasoned. "I assure that we have not!" she answered in a deadly serious tone, that would have scared even a Taelon, and
turned to leave again.

Joshua just smiled to himself. He had already made up his mind about her.

In an odd way, she was not surprised when she saw him walking by her side, though she did not understand the reason of his insistence.
Clearly he had not identified me as Zo'or, so why his interest? She did not have a clue about a motive.

After ten minutes of a silent walk, Joshua decided to try again. He stopped in front of her and offered his hand to greet her. "Hello, Joshua
Doors," he said with his best charming smile.

She tilted her head and gave him a puzzled and tired look, as if saying SO WHAT?

"You are now supposed to tell me your name," he said after a while with his hand still raised.

"Why should I do that?" Zo'or asked confused, looking both his hand and his smile.

Joshua blinked in surprise, but he did not quit. He was a lawyer and was used to deal with people. He could handle this. "It is a sort of tradition,
you know. A young man like me," he said with a hand on his chest, "meets a beautiful girl like you and immediately wants to know her name, her
phone and if she is or is not married," he finished with a look of hope in his eyes.

Zo'or's face blushed red and she felt strangely embarrassed. She did not know why. Can it be something this stubborn human said?, she thought
and then tilted her head. The situation was getting weird.

"So... Do you have a name?" he insisted.

Maybe if I give him a name, he will stop bothering, she reasoned. "Actually I do," she answered with a smirk that Joshua didn't notice, "It is Sophie."

His smile broadened. "I like it" he said.

Zo'or looked at him, tilted her head and continued walking. Clearly giving him a name had not helped. Humans, she thought.

She had not realized that his company had made her momentarily forget her trouble.

She kept walking through the park... with Joshua by her side. Twenty minutes later, at Zo'or's annoyance, he began to talk... again. "This way, Sophie,"
he said indicating her a way out of the park.

Zo'or looked at him in disbelief. A human, Joshua Doors, indicating her, Zo'or, the Synod Leader, where to go? "What makes you think that I will go with
you?" she asked coldly while stepping away from him.

He smiled. He had expected something like this. "Tradition," he said serious and then smiled. "After knowing the beautiful girl's name," he said pointing
at her, "the young man, like me, invites her... an ice-cream."

"...an ice-cream?" she asked puzzled, knowing that her face was red.

"Yes. Come with me if you want to taste the best ice cream on Earth," he added and without giving her time to think about it, he grabbed her hand and
guided her to the ice-cream store.

Half an hour later, they were seated behind the bar of a nice place with an old-style decoration. As her previous experience with the hotdog had not
been good, Zo'or was staring suspiciously at her huge dessert. It was made of three flavor ice-cream, chocolate, vanilla and strawberry, covered with
cream and melted bitter chocolate.

Joshua looked at her, amused by her hesitation. "Come on, give it a try. I promise that it won't bite you," he encouraged her, while offering her a
spoon.

Zo'or looked at him with narrowed eyes and grabbed the spoon. She took a small portion of ice-cream and closed her eyes.

"Well?" he asked expectantly.

Zo'or opened her eyes. "I must admit it is not bad," she said. In fact, she had liked it a lot, but as proud as she was, she would not give Joshua
Doors the satisfaction of being right... never.

"Not bad!" he said with a mocking horror expression on his face, "Hey girl, you really are difficult to please."

You just do not know how much, Zo'or thought.

Joshua kept talking for a while, about his childhood, his life in Washington, his job, even about the weather.

How can this human breathe and talk at the same time?, she thought annoyed.

Suddenly he became serious... and quiet. "I used to come here very often, that was before the Taelon arrival to our planet. Now I hardly have time for
myself," he said after a while and then he sighed.

"Most humans think of their arrival as a blessing," she said with a superior tone that Joshua didn't notice.

"You don't seem to be one of them," he said with a grin, indicating her T-shirt.

For a moment Zo'or did not understand what he was talking about, then she remembered her image in the mirror. She blushed red. "I assure you that it
was not my choice. Actually I do consider the Taelons as a blessing... to us," she said with a defying look.

He blinked in surprise and then smiled sadly at her. "Maybe in the beginning, but now..."

"Now...?"

"Now all is different, everything is clear, at least for me," he sighed.

"I do not see any difference," said Zo'or with a smirk, that amazingly, Joshua didn't notice... again. "Humans have always been inferior to the Taelons,"
she finished proudly.

Joshua looked at her and smiled. "You are talking like Zo'or. Beware with that, you would not want to be like him," he said half joking, half serious, "and
you are wrong, Sophie, we are not inferior, we are just younger."

"That is ridiculous!" Zo'or spat, but still interested in a further explanation.

"No, it is perfect logic. As a far older race, it is obvious for them to be more advanced than we are."

"But you do not know if humans will be able to reach our... the Taelon level," she said.

"No and I am afraid that we will never know that. I believe that the only Taelon who shares my opinion is Da'an. It is a pity that he does not have the
support of the Synod", he sighed.

"How do you know that?" Zo'or asked alarmed. How did Joshua Doors gained that knowledge?, she thought. She did not notice that she was beginning
to think of him as Joshua, not as Human.

"I just figured it out. If Da'an were heard by the Synod, Zo'or would have never been elected as their leader."

That was too much. Zo'or gave him an evil glare, that Joshua didn't seem to notice or choose to ignore. "He is their rightful leader!" she almost shouted.
Then she continued in a lower voice, "You do not know what you are talking about, he does the best for his kind... and for humans." When it is
appropriate for us," she finished in her head.

Joshua smiled conciliatory. "You said that because you don't know Zo'or. I don't doubt that he is a good leader to his people, but for us..." he stopped
for a moment, as if searching for the rights words, then he continued, "I am sure that you know about my recent meetings with Zo'or..."

Of course I do, she thought, but just nodded.

After seeing her nod, he continued. "The Taelons have done wonderful things for us, I can't deny it, but every time I look Zo'or's eyes, I see such
disdain and hate, that all their gifts just seem false." He shook his head and looked at Zo'or, as if to see her reaction. "Do you know what I think?
I think that they need desperately our help, but they are too proud to simply ask for it," he finished.

At his words, Zo'or almost fell from her seat. She looked at him with wide eyes and a deadly pale face. "...But would humans fight for us... freely?"
she asked with surprise and only after seeing the puzzled look Joshua gave her, she realized her mistake. "For the Taelons, I mean," she rectified
with a small grin.

He smiled back, enchanted by her grin. "Fight?" he repeated interested, "I have never thought about that. To answer your question I really don't know,
but... if the reason for their arrival, as you suggest, is that someone fight for them, Zo'or should understand that free people fight for their families, friends
or... their loved ones..." he said, looking straight into her eyes, but quickly lowered his gaze. He had seen something oddly familiar and powerful. He
cleared his throat and continued, "...and slaves just fight until their chains are broken."

"Maybe the Taelons cannot afford the 'I don't know' part," Zo'or said agitated. And maybe we do not have time, she added to herself.

Joshua considered her words for a moment. "Perhaps, but Zo'or will never let us know..."

He stopped because she was staring at him with a mixture of confusion and... How odd, for a second he could have sworn that her brown eyes had
changed into a deep blue. Maybe it is the light, he thought.

She started to tremble and to her astonishment, Joshua held her hand. Her eyes opened wide, he was touching her! Why was her heart beating so
fast? She was not scared, she was...

"Hey, are you alright?" he asked worried. "God! You are cold as ice. It is my fault. I guess that ice-cream is not a good idea in autumn, even if you
are in a warm place like this." He stood up and took of his jacket. "Here, take my jacket," he said, while placing it over her shoulders. She was so
startled by his action, that she just managed to nod. He smiled gently. Maybe she is the shy type after all, he thought. He was about to add something,
when a noise like a beep interrupted him. Not now, he thought and then explained to Zo'or. "It is my Global Link. Since I am the President's
Representative with the Taelons, I have one of those things. Can you give it to me, please? It is in the right pocket of my jacket."

Zo'or did as she was told.

"Thank you," he said and opened the link. His face went serious. "Susan."

"Mr. Doors..." she began to say.

"Can it wait?"

"I am afraid not."

He sighed and turned to Zo'or. "Please, Sophie, would you mind excusing me for a minute? I will be right back," he said with a smile and then left his seat.

Zo'or, who was still trembling, with her head beyond confusion, barely noticed Joshua's departure. He does not know what he is talking about. I have done
everything in behalf of my kind, she mentally said, trying to convince herself, though deep inside, she knew that there had been truth in his words. I must
go to the embassy, she thought, but what she really wanted was to get away from Joshua Doors and his upsetting conversation and from his smile...
Smile?! She stared at her hand, the one that Joshua had held. She blushed red and quickly stood up to leave, but she made a such violent movement,
that the jacket fell from her shoulders. She looked at it and after a little hesitation, she picked it up, but in doing so, something fell from a pocket. A wallet.
She left the jacket on a chair and then picked up the wallet. Curious, despite herself, she opened it. Two pictures caught her attention. In one of them,
Joshua Doors was alone, smiling. In the other one, he was... with Captain Marquette!

Why had her heart started to beat again? She shook her head and continued searching until she found money. This will help, she thought.

She had never understood how humans were able to exchange essential items, such as food or clothes, for a piece of paper... well, they were humans
after all. She was about to take it when something strange and without importance occurred to her. What if Joshua Doors thinks of her as a thief? She
smiled slightly. Maybe that would be his best opinion of her, after all, she was Zo'or, the cause of all his troubles...

She blinked in surprise. Why did she have those stupid and irrelevant thoughts? Who cared about Joshua Doors's opinion? Of course not Zo'or, the
Synod Leader... not her.

I must regain my Taelon form immediately, she thought worried. She did not want to be trapped in a human body anymore, it was... annoying. A
second later she left the place with the money... and a picture in her pocket.

******

Once outside, she saw what she was looking for, a taxi. She made it stop and stepped inside. "To the Taelon Embassy," she said to the driver and
then added, "Do you know its location?"

"Of course I do, lady, everyone in Washington knows where that damned building is," he said with a laugh, without noticing Zo'or's icy glare. Then he
looked at her and smiled. "Nice T-shirt," he added, though he didn't mention that her owner was nice too.

Zo'or just rolled her eyes and decided that this human did not worth the effort. Instead, she would use the time to think in the reunion with Da'an.

******

Out of her sight, Joshua opened the global link again. "You can't be serious, Susan, Da'an wants a meeting with me? Today?"

Susan looked at him puzzled. "Yes sir... Joshua, this is the opportunity you were waiting for. Why do you react like this?" she asked curious, though she
had a vague idea of the reason.

He flushed at her question. "I... I have met someone incredible," he said, knowing that he was sounding really stupid.

"Again?" asked Susan with a raised eyebrow.

"No. This time is different," he sighed, knowing exactly what she was thinking.

"Again?" she repeated.

"Never mind. I guess it is my luck. Did you confirm my attendance to the meeting?

"Of course," she said with an amused smile.

"Well, I suppose Sophie will understand..."

"Sophie? Nice name."

"Yes, yes," he said a little annoyed by now, "Bye Susan, I will be there in an hour."

He closed the link and went to the bar. There his face fell when he realized that she was gone.

******

After an endless trip; where the driver had told her the complete story of his life (for about three times) and his opinions concerning the Taelons,
especially Zo'or, she arrived to the embassy. The man had given the word annoyance a new meaning.

She shook her head. She was now at the other side of the street, staring at the building.

******

Inside the embassy, where an important meeting was taking place, the North American Companion suddenly stiffened in his chair. Da'an had felt
something strange... no, it was someone... someone who was asking for his help, though the call was just a faint whisper... and oddly familiar.

"Is everything alright?" Joshua Doors asked.

"Yes, of course. Please continue." Da'an answered, though he felt that the call for help had turned into despair.

******

Zo'or remained there for a few minutes, closed her eyes... and turned around. What madness had made her come? It was useless. What she could
tell Da'an? How could she face him like this? So... human. I cannot, she thought and without looking back, she walked away with no hope left in her eyes.

******

In that moment, Da'an blushed blue, losing his façade.

******

She had been walking for a while, when a cold wind blew. Instinctively she put her hands in her pockets. She blinked in surprise, the right one was
not empty. A second later she remembered its content. A little money left from the taxi bill... and a picture... of Joshua Doors. Her face blushed red. She
took the picture and wondered what had made her kept it. Maybe his smile or his kind eyes... How strange that I had not noticed before, she thought.

Then she quickly returned the photo to her pocket when she remembered who Joshua Doors was.. and who she was. She shook her head and smile slightly.
This kind of thoughts were embarrassing and annoying, not to mention confusing... and the worst part was that they were getting stronger.

She sighed and kept walking without a clear direction. Suddenly her thoughts were interrupted by a scream coming from a nearby alley. Curious,
she went to see what was happening. Two big and strangely dressed humans were threatening a little girl. She was trapped at the end of the alley
and she was holding her purse tightly with her hands.

"Get away from me, you idiots!" she shouted while kicking one of them on his ankle.

"Ouch! You little beast..."

"Just give us your purse," the other one said in a scary way, showing her a knife.

Zo'or's eyes widened. She had recognized the girl. She was the one who had given her that bad food before.

Something burned inside of her. "LEAVE HER ALONE!" she commanded in her full Zo'or's mode.

There had been such power in her voice, that the thieves were startled and frozen. The little girl took the opportunity and walked toward Zo'or.

"Come on, hurry," the child said, while grabbing her hand, "we must escape now!"
She pulled Zo'or with her and they began to run.

The two men blinked and woke up. "Hey, stupid, go after them," a thief said to his partner while kicking him again. They began to chase Zo'or and
the girl.

******

Why did she have to go away. I can't believe that she was with me to just rob... no, to take the money, Joshua thought. Someone interrupted him.

"Mr. Doors?" Da'an asked.

Now it had been the human’s turn to be distracted. He blinked.

"Please forgive me Da'an. What were you saying?"

Da'an tilted his head. "I was asking if you agree with my proposal."

Joshua nodded. "Of course I do. A selected group of scientists working in your project will bring benefits for both of us, Taelons and humans. However
something bothers me."

"And what would that be?" Da'an asked interested.

"What will Zo'or think about it?"

Da'an blushed blue. "If the benefits are according with the requests of the Synod , as I think they are, Zo'or will have to accept."

Joshua Smiled. "I am glad to hear that." Suddenly his face took a troubled expression. He still remembered Sophie's words.

Da'an, as perceptive as he was, noticed it. "Is something else bothering you?"

"No... well, actually yes."

Da'an looked at him through the corners of his eyes. Joshua hesitated for a moment and then continued. He cleared his throat. "Do the Taelons... need
our help in any way? Do you need us... to fight for you?"

At his words Da'an blushed blue, losing his human guise. He was startled. How could Joshua Doors possibly know? Even their most trusted operatives
ignored that knowledge. Moments later, Da'an regained his façade and looked at him through the corners of his eyes. Perhaps this was the chance he
had been looking for... He lowered his gaze. No. This was not a decision to make alone, even if it were the right one.

Joshua looked intensely at Da'an. His reaction had been the answer to his question.

"Mr. Doors," Da'an began to say after a while, "those are strange questions. It is known by everyone in this planet... that the Companions are here to help."
He tilted his head and looked at him. "However, I believe it would be interesting to continue this conversation in the near future... with me," he emphasized.

Joshua caught the hint and smiled. "Of course. I would have expected no less from you."

Da'an returned a slight smile. "Of course," he replied.

Suddenly he closed his eyes. He had felt the same presence again, but this time it was anger, a powerful order, it was like... Zo'or. Zo'or?! Da'an blushed
blue and tried to feel more. He did... confusion and fear.

"Da'an?" asked Joshua.

"I am afraid we will have to end this meeting," he said to Joshua's surprise and with a wave of his hand, he activated the data stream.

Liam Kincaid appeared. "Yes, Da'an?"

"Please, come here immediately."

Liam was about to reply something, when he saw a puzzled Joshua Doors looking at him.
"I am on my way," he said instead.

Da'an closed the link and looked at Joshua. "If you wait here until Major Kincaid arrives, I will go with you to the entrance of the Embassy."

"Will you go out?" Joshua asked, incredulous.

Da'an tilted his head amused. "I am not a prisoner here, Mr. Doors. I do not need to ask for permission to leave this building. I only need the proper security."

Joshua cleared his throat, embarrassed. "Of course," he managed to say.

Da'an smiled at him.

Fifteen minutes later, Liam arrived. He also was surprised with Da'an's request, but didn't say anything. The three of them left the 'audience chamber' and
stepped inside the elevator.

Da'an did not know what to expect outside, he only knew... no, he felt that he must be there.

******

Despite her short legs, the little girl was running really fast, with Zo'or in tow.
"Hurry! They are coming."

"I... can... not..." Zo'or tried to say, breathless.

"Come on, only a few steps more," the girl said.

"Hey! there they are", Zo'or heard the thieves shouting at her back.

The girl ran faster. Suddenly she let loose her companion's hand and, unable to stop herself, Zo'or bumped, at full speed, into someone...

When the thieves saw with whom Zo'or had collided, they immediately turned around and ran away. The little girl was no where to be seen.

Zo'or could not believe what had just happened. She had been so focussed on running, that she had not noticed where the crazy race was leading her. Now
she was on the ground... well, almost. She really was over an startled and undisguised Da'an, with her hands on his shoulders and her face closed to his.
Both of them were silent, staring at each other.

"Da'an..." she whispered, still breathless.

Da'an regained his human appearance, but could not say a word to the woman that was over him. She was looking at him with an incredible familiar gaze.
He felt that deep inside her eyes, she was asking for his help.

In that moment, Zo'or closed her eyes, she could not stand Da'an's blue gaze any longer...

Liam was speechless and Joshua couldn't believe his eyes.

"Sophie!" he called her and quickly knelt to help her.

Zo'or opened her eyes and blinked in surprise. What is he doing here? "Joshua?" she said and turned her head to face him.

"What are you...? Are you alright?" he asked worried, and then held her arm, helping her to stand.

"I... do not know," she said confused and embarrassed. The situation was really beyond humiliation.

"Are you alright, Da'an?" Liam asked him after he had regained his voice.

"I think I am," he answered, while standing up with Liam's help, but he was looking straight at Zo'or.

Joshua didn't seem to notice Da'an's gaze. Despite the ridiculousness and oddness of the situation, he was really happy. Sophie was with him again.
This time he would not let her go so easily.

"I assume that you know each other," Da'an said, tilting his head.

As an answer Joshua smiled and placed his hand on her shoulder. Zo'or opened her eyes wide, but for a strange reason she was pleased by his action.
Of course she would have never admitted it. Suddenly she started to feel dizzy, her legs were getting weak, she started to fall... Joshua held her.

"Something is wrong with you," he said worried.

"I..."

"May I suggest to enter the Embassy? Dr. Belman will help you, " Da'an said kindly.

"Thank you," Joshua said gratefully.

Zo'or tried to protest. She did not want to go inside the building. "No..."

Da'an interrupted her, raising his hand in a peaceful manner. "I can assure you that you will suffer no harm... despite of your nice T-shirt," he said amused.

"He is not like Zo'or, you know..." Liam added and suddenly stopped at Da'an's annoyed look.

"Sorry," the hybrid muttered.

Zo'or smiled slightly at Liam's correction.

"Beware, Major Kincaid, despite her nice T-shirt, Sophie is a Zo'or admirer," Joshua said, half joking, half serious.

At his words, Da'an tilted his head and smiled slightly, Liam looked at Zo'or in disbelief and she gave Joshua an icy stare, which obviously he ignored.

None of them seemed to notice the black car parked at the other side of the street. Deadly eyes of a hunter were looking at Joshua Doors, his prey.

******

When they were entering to the building, Da'an held Liam's arm to stop him and let Sophie and Joshua go ahead. When they were out of sight,
he made a request. "Please, Liam. I wish to talk with Sophie, alone. I need you to... entertain Mr. Doors," Da'an tilted his head and then continued,
"You can show him our research area... or the shuttle bay."

"Why do you want to talk with her?" Liam asked curious, but at the annoyed look Da'an gave him, again, he quickly added, "Of course it is not my
business. Considered it done."

Da'an softened his gaze. "I will be waiting in the garden," he said and turned away.
Liam shook his head and went away too.

******

Once inside the embassy, Zo'or was taken to Dr. Belman's medical lab. Joshua was by her side. The doctor checked her and then smiled.

"Well?" Joshua asked worried.

The doctor looked at her patient. "When was the last time that you had some sleep or some food?" she asked her.

Zo'or blinked in surprise and looked at her with a puzzled face. She tilted her head.

Dr. Belman suddenly felt as if she were talking to a Taelon. How odd, she thought, but quickly focused on her patient.

She smiled again. "I am asking you that, my dear, because according to the medical exams, you are extremely tired, exhausted being the proper
word. You have to eat and rest.

Zo'or was about to said something, but Joshua spoke first, with conviction in his voice.
"Of course she will, Thank you Dr. Belman."

"My pleasure."

In that moment Liam arrived. "Is everything fine?" he asked looking at them.

"Sophie is just tired," Dr. Belman answered.

"I am glad to hear that," then he turned to Joshua, "There is something I need to show you. It has to do with Da'an's new project," he said and
then looked apologetically at Zo'or, "I am afraid it is only for Mr. Doors."

"Of course," Zo'or said a little bit annoyed. What project could that be?, she thought.

For a second Joshua had thought of denying Liam's request, but he didn't. He was a responsible man, but if Sophie leaves him again, he... "Can
you give me a minute?" he asked Liam.

"Of course, there is no hurry."

Joshua smiled. "Sophie..." he began to say and then he placed his hand on her shoulders and looked at her directly in the eyes. "Please,
promise that you will wait for me this time," he almost pleaded in a low voice.

Zo'or flushed and she could feel her heart beating fast. "Why should I?" she asked after a moment of hesitation. Joshua was about to answer her,
but she interrupted him. "I... I know. It is a human tradition," she said with a little grin, "I do not promise anything... but I will try."

Joshua smiled back. He was so happy, that he didn't notice her strange reference to 'human tradition'.

"You can wait in the Embassy's garden," Liam said.

"Good idea," Dr. Belman replied, "It is a beautiful place, you will love it."

Zo'or thought about it. In the garden the possibilities of meeting Da'an were very few and certainly, she did not want to be with him, not after that
annoying incident. Anyway, if she dare to tell him who she was, what kind of assistance would he be able to offer her? However...

...However in a strange way, she did know that, despite her rude behaviour with him, Da'an would try to help her... but what about the rest of the
Synod? The answer came immediately to her mind. She did not fool herself for an instant. Surely they would force her to face the void... Just as
she had done with Rho'ha. At that time, he had appeared to be abhorrent to her, but now... it was different, but also it was too late.

Zo'or tilted her head. "Indeed it is a good idea, Major Kincaid," she said. Suddenly she realized that, in fact, she was willing to wait for Joshua Doors.

"This won't take long, I promise," Joshua said and before changing his mind, he did something he had wanted to do since the first moment he had met her.
He kissed her tenderly on her lips. Then he quickly left the lab. with his face red and a curious Liam in tow.

Zo'or did not move, she did not even blink. Her face was deeply red and her heart was beating like a drum... no, like thousands of drums. Luckily for her,
she was seated on the examination table, because she would have not been able to stand on her feet.

Dr. Belman looked at her with an amused smile on her face. If this is not love, then I don't know what it is, she thought. After a while she decided to call
the girl back to reality. "Sophie," she said in a low voice. There was no answer. "Sophie," she tried again a little louder. Still no answer. "Sophie," she
repeated, even louder.

Zo'or blinked. "...Yes?" she asked distracted.

Dr. Belman rolled her eyes. "Wake up, girl," she said, "do you want me to guide you to the garden?"

Zo'or left the examination table and shook her head. "That will not be necessary. I know the way," she said while walking toward the door. She was
about to leave, when something occurred to her. She turned around to face Dr. Belman, "Thank you," she said for the first time in her life, and went her
way to the garden.

Strange girl, thought the doctor and then returned to her work.

******

Da'an was in the garden, waiting and thinking on Liam's question. Why do I want to talk with Sophie? he thought. The truth was that even he did not
know. He just sensed that he was joined to her somehow. Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted by an incredible strong emotion. It was so intense that he
lost his façade and had to seat on a bench. Strangely he noticed he had been the only Taelon who had felt it. After a while he regained his human appearance.
He realized he had been touched by other being's feelings... "Sophie," he whispered.

He blushed blue. How could he be so joined with a woman he had just met? Though, in an odd way, he felt that she was ... like him. He blinked in surprise.
Where did that idea come from? Suddenly he turned his head...

******

Zo'or was walking automatically to the garden, her mind was elsewhere. She was thinking about what had just happened in Dr. Belman's laboratory.
How Joshua Doors had dared to... kiss her! Though she had to admit it had not been a bad experience. Not at all, she thought, smiling to herself. She had
never experienced something like that before. Of course, no one will never know that a mere human... kissed the Synod Leader... no one, but Zo'or... herself.
She sighed. Humans were not the simple creatures she had thought... though that had been before becoming one of them.

After a while she arrived to the garden. Indeed it is a beautiful place... for humans, she thought. She looked ahead and realized that she was not alone. Da'an
was seated on a bench, looking at her with his head tilted.

Zo'or immediately knew that this was not a coincidence, he had been waiting for her. Having nothing else to do, she walked slowly towards him. When all this
human-madness had started, this had been her first and only course of action, so why was she so... nervous? She shook her head and blamed it on the
humiliating accident. She stopped a few steps in front of Da'an and made the 'Taelon Salute', realizing too late her mistake. Da'an blushed blue and returned the
salute, then he gestured with his hand, inviting Zo'or to sit on the bench, next to him. They stared at each other for a while. Da'an was the first one to break the
silence.

"I assume that you are fine," he said gently.

"Yes," Zo'or nodded, then she tilted her head and went straight to the subject. "What do you want to talk with me about?"

Da'an blushed blue at the sudden question, but he did not want to lie to her. He looked at her.
"I have closed myself from the Commonality, so that we can have a private conversation," he said, amazed that he was telling that to a stranger. What he said
next, surprised him even more, "I feel that in an odd way... we are joined, though I do not understand how that can be."

Zo'or blinked in surprise. "I do not know what you are talking about," she said. How can that be? she thought. It seemed that spite her human body, her link
with Da'an was still there. Maybe he could help her after all.

After a moment of silence, Da'an continued. "There is a way for us to learn the truth. It is a deep communion between two beings," he blushed blue and looked
at her directly into her eyes, "... a Sharing," he said while offering her his palm.

Zo'or flushed. Da'an was offering to share himself with her. She could not believe it. This was the opportunity to learn all his secrets and finally get rid of him,
to assume the complete control of the Synod, to enslave humanity, to... but instead, she looked into his kind deep blue eyes and smiled surprisingly tenderly,
then she held his hand between her own and placed them down.

"Believe me," she said, "You do not wish to join your mind with mine. If you really knew me..." She stopped, leaving the sentence unfinished. Then she
released his hand and stood up to leave. Da'an felt that something important had happened between them, but he did not know... She had walked a few
steps when he spoke again. "If you are afraid of Zo'or..."

She stopped dead on her tracks. "Zo'or... is not Zo'or any longer," she said without turning. Then she continued walking, knowing that she had let her last
chance of help to slip away.

Da'an blushed blue, how could she knew that Zo'or was missing?

******

Zo'or really did not know why she had refused to share with Da'an. Perhaps she was losing her mind. She sighed. She could have had everything, but know
she had nothing... well, almost. Joshua was coming with Major Kincaid.

When Joshua saw her, his eyes lit up. "Sophie, you did wait for me!" he said happily, while walking toward her.

Zo'or flushed and her heart started to beat faster again. Why do I feel like this every time I see him? she asked herself and lowered her gaze. "I just honored a
human tradition," she said with a rather shy smile.

Joshua smiled back.

Then she looked at Liam through the corners of her eyes. "Major Kincaid, Da'an is in the garden... as you already know," she said with a smirk.

Knowing that he had been caught, Liam flushed, then just nodded to them and went to meet Da'an.

They began to walk toward the exit. After a couple of steps Joshua stopped and looked at her with surprise in his eyes. "You were with Da'an?" he finally asked her.

"Yes," she said and lowered her gaze. "I was saying goodbye... forever"

When she raised her eyes, they were full of tears. Will I really miss Da'an? she thought surprised.

"Sophie," Joshua said kindly. He had realized that something had affected her deeply. "Are you all right?" he asked, while gently drying her eyes.

She tried to control herself. Humans feelings were really overwhelming... and his touch was not helping.

Joshua looked at her with concern. "Sophie, this have been a long day for you and you need to rest."

"You have no idea," she said, a little amused by the coincidence.

"Come on girl, I will take you home," he said teasingly.

Suddenly Zo'or looked at him puzzled and then realized that she had no place to go. She lowered her gaze embarrassed. "I… I have no home... not anymore,"
she whispered sadly. Zo'or, the homeless Synod leader, she thought bitterly.

Joshua flushed and felt like an idiot. He should have known that she had some troubles. The money she had taken was a proof of it. He cleared his throat,
something had occurred to him.

"Sophie," he said nervous, "despite the short time we have been together... I mean the short time we have known each other, just a day..." God this is difficult,
he thought. "...Well, you know what I mean."

Zo'or blinked and tilted her head amused. Joshua Doors was acting really strange, even for a human. "I do not," she said serious.

Joshua cleared his throat again. "What I am trying to say is that you can count on me. Come home with me, tomorrow I will help you to find a place to live...
and before that you ask it," he added quickly, "I am doing this because I... I care for you... and that is much more than tradition." He said with a red face and a
beating heart. God, I really screwed up this time, surely Sophie will give me one of her looks, he thought, a little afraid of her answer.

Zo'or blushed red and looked at him for a moment, without blinking. Why not? she thought. In fact, the idea of being with him was... interesting. Surprisingly, she
did not find his company annoying any longer. Why had she not liked him before, when she was Zo'or, the Synod Leader? Well, she could tell that he had not
liked Zo'or... her either. How strange...

Suddenly she realized she had admitted to actually like Joshua Doors. Of course no one will ever know, she thought. Her face was still red when she answered
Joshua's invitation. "I will go with you," she said to Joshua's surprise.

He was frozen for a moment and then reacted with a broad smile. "Let us go. The limo is waiting at the entrance of the embassy."

Zo'or nodded and they continued walking together. Moments later, the limo departed with its passengers... and so did the black car.

******

When Liam found Da'an, he was still seated on the bench, with a puzzled look on his face. "Da'an?" he asked.

Da'an did not answer, he seemed to be lost in his thoughts. Sophie's last words were echoing inside his mind... very loud. What do they mean? he wondered,
they did not appear to have any sense... unless they are taken literally! He blushed blue, he had understood... or so he thought. "Zo'or is not Zo'or any longer," he
said suddenly, but how?

"Pardon me?" Liam asked really confused.

Da'an stood up and looked at him. "I need to go to my office and contact Agent Sandoval," he said and quickly left the garden, followed by a puzzled Liam.

******

Once in his office, Da'an sat on his chair and with a wave of his hand he activated the data stream. The image of Agent Sandoval appeared. "Do you have
any information about the woman that escaped from the Mothership?" Da'an asked without giving the Agent time to greet him.

"I am afraid not, but it is impossible that she had avoided our security," he answered, clearly annoyed by the idea. He wondered why Da'an had not asked about
Zo'or and why he was in such a hurry.

As if knowing his thoughts, Da'an looked at him through the corners of his eyes and then continued. "Do you have any image of her?"

"Yes, Da'an, but is not clear enough to make a positive identification. Strangely, the computers have not been able to give a better resolution. Do you want
me to send it anyway?"

"Yes, please."

Immediately, Sandoval's image was replaced by the faint one of a woman.

"Can you identify something?" Da'an asked Liam.

He looked at the image. "Well, she seems to be wearing jeans, blue, actually," he said after a while. Then he turned to Da'an, "What are you looking for?"

"An answer," he said and pointed to the image.

"Well, she also appears to be wearing something white..."

"With red letters?" Da'an interrupted him.

"Can it be, I don't know. The image is not helping..." he said, but Da'an did not listen. At Liam's astonishment, he lost his façade.

"The truth!" he exclaimed and then regained his human guise, "Please, prepare the shuttle."

******

Zo'or was enjoying the ride, it had been far better that the previous one in the taxi. She could tell that so was Joshua, in fact, he was almost laughing. "What
is so funny?," she asked, tilting her head.

"Oh, nothing. Is just that I started this day feeling... well... depressed, but then something wonderful happened..."

"What? she asked, always curious.

He looked intensely at her. "I met you," he answered sincerely.

Zo'or blushed red, embarrassed by his statement, and turned her head to the window. "You are not serious," she said shyly, but deeply pleased... but why?, she
thought.

"Of course I am, but I must admit that other things happened too." Zo'or faced him again and Joshua continued. "I had a very interesting meeting with Da'an and,
thank God, I did not have the reunion with Zo'or."

"Do you think that Zo'or is not good enough?" she asked dryly. Why do his words hurt me... so much? she thought confused.

Joshua raised his hands in a peaceful gesture. "Sophie, don't be mad at me. I have forgotten that you are Zo'or's number one fan," he teased her, but seeing that
her face was deadly serious, he quickly added, "Please, forgive me. Sure Zo'or is good enough for the Taelons..."

She did not buy it for a second. "But..." she said with her normal voice.

Joshua seemed embarrassed. "...but he makes me feel like an insect and I really hate that," he said a little annoyed. His confession drew an amused smiled
from Zo'or. "Hey! Do not laugh at me!"

"I am not," she said, obviously lying.

Joshua sighed, his face became serious. "Sometimes I wonder how I am still alive."

"Why do you say that?" Zo'or asked, suddenly worried.

"Let's face it. I am not a Taelon supporter, not to say Zo'or's. To him, I am nothing but an inferior human, who annoys him to no end. I believe that he will get rid
of me at any time. I am not afraid, though. I will fight until the end," he said matter-of-factly.

Zo'or looked at him with a mixture of sadness and surprise. Despite his natural limitations, he had seen deep inside of the Taelon called Zo'or, the Synod Leader.
Not just one time, but on their previous conversation too. He had seen deep inside of her. She bowed her head.

"Hey, do not worry," Joshua said noting her sad demeanor, "It is my fault, I didn't want to upset you. Sometimes I talk too much, but I believe that you have
already noticed that."

She raised her head and tilted it. "I had." she said with a small grin.

Joshua smiled back.

Minutes later, the limo parked in front of a beautiful house.

******

The unnoticed black car parked at the other side of the street. The hunter stared at his prey with a cold mind and a lethal weapon. One shot is all I need,
he thought evilly.

******

Joshua was helping Zo'or to step out of the vehicle, when suddenly she stiffened.
"What is wrong?" he asked.

"I... nothing," but she sensed that something was about to happen... something dreadful.

******

The hunter lowered the window of his car and locked his target.

******

Joshua was a couple of steps away from Zo'or. He faced her. "You will like it here..."

She knew that he was talking to her, but she was not listening. Suddenly she turned around and saw the black car with a lowered window.

******

The Hunter shot.

******

Zo'or knew that there was nothing that she could do to stop it. Her orders were being obeyed at this very moment. Why this feeling... why the concern?
I do not understand... Finally she would get rid of this annoying human, she would not hear his ridiculous demands anymore, she would not see his eyes again...
nor his smile, she would not... she would not... let it happen. "NO!" she yelled and ran toward him, knowing too well the terrible price she would have to pay in
order to save him.

Joshua was taken aback by the strong and unexpected embrace Sophie gave him. "Sophie..." he began to say, but was suddenly interrupted by her cry of pain.
Slowly, her arms started to release him. He embraced her limp body and was surprised when he felt that her back was wet. "Sophie!" he shouted and his face
went deadly pale when he realized that the liquid was blood. "NO!" he yelled.

******

At that very moment, Da'an had collapsed in the shuttle, completely losing his façade.

"Da'an!" Liam almost shouted, "Are you alright?"

"I am fine," he said and franticly he tried to reach Zo'or in his mind. "Zo'or," he whispered, "Quickly, to Mr. Doors's residence."

"We are almost there," Liam informed him, while leaving interdimensional mode.

******

Damned woman, the hunter thought, now I will have to spend another shot. He was about to fire, when something hit his car. "What the..." He was interrupted by
another shot... that came from Da'an's shuttle.

******

Joshua knelt by her side. He held her hand and gently stroke her hair. He was trying hard to hold back his tears... in vain. "The help is coming, you will
be fine," he said, more to convince himself than her.

"Do not lie to me... my joining to the void is imminent," she said in a whisper. Why is he crying... and why am I so afraid? We... Taelons do not fear death, but...

"Sophie... I..." his voice broke, "I am so sorry, it was my fault..."

With a considerable effort, she spoke again, "I am... the only one to blame."
Suddenly she tried to raise her head, but the pain was unbearable. She closed her eyes.

"Do not do that," a soft and familiar voice said, "stay still.”

Joshua raised his head. "Da'an!" he said surprised, "Sophie..."

Da'an stopped him with a gesture of his hand and knelt down. "Major Kincaid is dealing with the author of this... tragedy."

Then he placed his hand on Zo'or's forehead... and blushed blue. It was true!
<How... Why you did not tell me?>, he thought to her.

<You would have not been able to help me... and it was... humiliating>, came the faint replied in his mind.

<Now is too late>, she finished for him.

He could sensed her fear. <No, it has not to be that way. I will take you to Doctor Belman...>

<After all I have done to you, why do you still want to save me?> she interrupted him, curious.

He blushed blue. <Because I was... I am your mentor>, he thought to her, feeling her surprise at his answer.

<No. I want to remain here... please.>

Da'an nodded in sad acceptance and looked at her. Something else was on his mind.

<What?> she asked him.

<Yes.>

<But why did you save him?> Da'an asked, really puzzled.

After a while Zo'or answered him, <I... do not... know.>

Da'an had sensed her hesitation and other feeling that she unconsciously was trying to hide... in vain. He blushed blue when he realized what it was, but decided
to keep it to himself. He was sure that she had not recognized it.

Suddenly, Zo'or seemed to gather her strength. <Da'an>, she thought to him, <do you think that they will fight for us... freely?>

This time was Da'an's turn to hesitate, <I do not... know>, he answered sadly.

With an incredible effort, she opened her eyes to see Joshua for a last time. She slightly smiled at him. "It is not so bad to be human..." she began to say in
a whisper, "...if it is in your company," she finished, closing her eyes... forever.

Da'an blushed blue, Zo'or's presence was fading fast from his mind.

"Sophie, no!" Joshua cried, "I... I love you," he whispered sadly.

"She is in a deep coma," Da'an said, while placing his free hand on his shoulder. The irony of the situation was not lost to him. Joshua Doors had fallen in love
with the one he consider to be his enemy and Zo'or, in turn, had sacrificed herself for one of the beings she so desperately wanted to enslave. How has all this
madness occurred?, he thought sadly.

Suddenly they were interrupted by a loud noise and by Liam, "The ambulance is here," he said.

In a second, two paramedics and a tall doctor carefully took Zo'or inside the ambulance. The doctor was about to close the door, when he looked at Da'an and
Joshua. "Don't worry, my friends, she will be fine... although a little bit different," he said in an annoying teasing way. Next, he closed the door and the vehicle
departed at full speed, leaving two very sad beings behind.

Inside the ambulance, the paramedics suddenly fell asleep under the mischievous gaze of the doctor. Then he took of his white apron and touched Zo'or on her
shoulder. "Wake up, Sleeping Beauty, time to go home," he said and they both disappeared in a blinding flash of light...

******

...Almost in the same moment, with an identical phenomenon, Zo'or appeared in the Mothership, seated on the throne like chair. Zo'or blinked in surprise, this
was not the void! She looked at her hands and her clothes. She touched her head... no hair. She blushed blue, she was herself again... HERSELF?! Why
am I thinking as a ... FEMALE?!

"Oh, I would call it a side effect," a teasing voice said behind her.

She stood up, startled and angry. "Q! What have you done to me?!"

"Calm down, girl," he said in a mocking tone, emphasizing the last word, "I think that I have saved your life.

Zo'or looked icily at him and sat down again, with her head bowed. "What have you done to me?" she repeated in a low voice, "You have to change me completely!”
she demanded louder."

"Why would I do that?" Q asked serious, "I believe that you are better now. Don't you realized the immense gift I have given you?"

Zo'or looked at him in disbelief. " A gift?" she asked angry, while standing up again. "A gift?" she repeated , with her human façade completely gone by now. "A
GIFT?" she really shouted this time in such a threatening way, that Q went a step back.

"Yes," he said in a peaceful way," a gift."

"How dare you... you trapped me in a human body... you..."

"Wrong, my dear, I turned you into a human woman, I didn't trap you," he interrupted her, "and yes, a gift. Don't you see it? Of all the Taelons you are the only
one who knows what is to be human... what is to experience deep humans feelings... such as love," he said while walking around her.

"I do not understand..." Zo'or said, strangely embarrassed, still in her blue sparkling Taelon form.

"Don't try to deny it," he interrupted her again. "I should have warned you about them. Humans feelings are dangerously contagious, love being the strongest
one," he said with a knowing look, "It make us do stupid things, like... self sacrifice."

Zo'or sparkled like a blue diamond.

"Believe me," he continued, "I know too well what I am talking about."

Zo'or regained her control and looked at him. She returned to her chair, feeling suddenly very tired. She sighed. What mattered if Q was right? Love was
definitively not number one issue in her agenda. She was not, could not be Sophie anymore. Now I am Zo'or, the Synod Leader... Well, at least until the
Taelons notice my change. "You should have not bothered. When the Synod learns about my change, they will force me to join the void," she said with
resignation and her head bowed.

Q shook his head and chuckled. "Come on, girl, didn't I tell you that this was too funny to just get you killed?"

"What do you mean?" Zo'or asked, raising her head.

"No one will recall that you were missing and no one will notice your change, no one but Da'an."

"Why him?"

"Because I owed him a favor," he said enigmatically.

Zo'or was about to add something, but Q stopped her. "No, no, no. Don't push your luck, girl. I am really generous today. Keep it that way."

Then he seemed to remember something. "Here, I have two more presents for you."

Suddenly two things appeared in Zo'or's hands. She looked at them and blushed blue. One was the picture of Joshua Doors that she had taken and the
other was a coin... with two heads sides!

Zo'or looked at him with wide surprised eyes. "You knew!"

"Of course, I am Q," he said with a seductive smile and after a bow, he disappeared in a blinding flash of light... to return in the next second.

Zo'or did not have time to react.

"Oh, I have forgotten," he said, pointing at her with his finger, "you have to behave yourself. This time the lesson was easy, however, the next one..." he was
interrupted by a loud thunder, "I hope that you get it," he said and disappeared with a sinister laugh.

Zo'or blinked in surprise and remained on her seat, thinking. All was normal, she was home now. Her link with the Commonality was restored and, as Q had
said, no one had missed her. She could feel Da'an's need to talk to her, but not now. All was normal now, except that she was also... Sophie. She lowered
her gaze and looked the picture that she was holding. Yes... I have changed. She blushed blue. Will you fight for me, Joshua?, she whispered in her mind.

Then she tilted her. "I am looking forward to se you, Mr. Doors," she said with a tender smile. She had the feeling that their future meetings will turn out to be r
eally... interesting.

***************************************************************************

Epilogue

In a Universe full of wonders and possibilities, she was waiting for him with innocent looking eyes. With a blinding flash of light, he appeared by her side.

"Welcome back," she said with a smile.

He raised a bemused eyebrow. "Why did you interfere?" he said, trying to sound serious.

She didn't buy it. "You didn't say that I couldn't," she teased him, "and besides, she was suffering..."

"Dear Joyce, I had thought that was the idea."

"Q!"

"Ok, Ok. Just kidding. Are you happy how all turned out?" he asked, strangely interested in her answer.

"Yes, I knew that you would save her in the end," she said, looking at him with a tender expression.

Q looked at her intensely. Indeed humans feelings are dangerously contagious...

<As they should be>, Joyce thought to him.

"Come on," she said aloud, "I thought that someone had offered himself to teach me how to span barriers of time, space..."

"And parallel universes," Q finished for her, while offering, gallantly, his arm to her.

"How sweet," she said, placing her arm around his own, "Where are we going?"

"Oh, I want to introduce you an old friend... I think that you will like dear old Jean Luc," he said with a mischievous smile and then they disappeared with an
incredible flash of light.

Fin

================================================================================