Author: Selma McCrory
Email: smccrory+sa@mindspring.com
Title: Free In The Heart
Type: Alternate Universe
Rating: PG?
Spoilers: Redemption
Disclaimers: Most everyone in this story belongs to
Roddenberry/Kirschner and Tribune (among others), except for Ben Wiley, who
belongs to Henerson/Hirsch (among others). Dr. Rosemary Schultz, Adam Chen, and
maybe a few random Liberation members belong to me.
Author's Notes: This story takes place just before "Redemption", and departs
from the established E:FC timeline there. Call it a very late response to what
happened to Beckett in that episode. The incident that Rosemary mentions in the
story is an altered version of a subplot from the former ULSG's USTD. The name
for Siobhan's skrill comes from, I think, a writer named Athena.
This story was posted on PhilosophySphere in mid January 2000. It won 2nd place in the Siobhan Beckett category in the Winter 2000 Shaqarava Awards.
Free in the Heart
by Selma McCrory (Angel Island)
copyright 2000
She's going to die. She's going to die.
The thought chanted its way chillingly through Liam's mind as he fought his way
towards the prone form of his unknowing mother, Siobhan Beckett. The two of them
had been mutually assigned to assist with locating the whereabouts of a
Liberation base, possibly Doors' own headquarters. Siobhan had not known, as
Liam had, that the people there were not Liberation members; instead, they'd run
across a more radical group of Companion haters. But he could not tell her, just
as he could not tell her of their relationship.
At last, the obstacles, human and otherwise, were out of his way. Kneeling
beside her, he started administering as much help as possible. However, as he
turned her head to check for injuries there, his heart sank. Her ear was
bleeding again, in the sure way that meant imminent CVI collapse.
She began to stir, and he realized they weren't safe. "Siobhan... Lt. Beckett...
can you stand?" he asked as she blinked. "We've got to get out of here."
"I'll try," Beckett said, and with his help, was able to stand. He guessed she
was using her CVI to control her pain. Grudgingly blessing it for that benefit,
he and she struggled towards his shuttle, finally making it and activating the
shield.
When he looked back, she was unconscious.
* * *
"I have good news and bad news," Dr. Melissa Park said as she turned towards
him. He'd brought her to Dr. Park, one of the few CVI specialists that he liked
and trusted. "The good news is, here injuries are less severe than I initially
thought. She'll pull through those just fine. And... I was running some scans."
"Her CVI isn't breaking down?" Liam asked, hopeful that he'd mistaken a cut for
a CVI breakdown earbleed. Park shook her head.
"I and others have been interested in the long-term effects of the CVI. When
Siobhan was under my care, some tissue samples were taken. Liam, the
motivational imperative is breaking down."
"You mean, she's no longer thinking the way the Taelons want her to?" Liam
asked, a hope dawning in him. "That's great! That means that I can bring her in
to the Liberation."
But Park was shaking her head. "No, you can't, Liam."
"Why?"
"Look, Liam, your father did weird things to her CVI - it was barely functioning
when she was pregnant with you. Whether he did it by accident or was intending
to remove it I don't know, but it made the standard CVI break down much, much
faster than it should have. And any CVI's going to be the same way. Plus, we
always run the risk of her returning to the Taelons. We just can't take that
chance. I'll reimplant her - but I can't let you do what you want."
With that, she left, hurrying away as if she had suddenly remembered something
important she had to do. Liam watched her go, clenching his fists as he realized
she meant to report to Doors. A part of him knew she spoke the truth. Another
part of him railed at missing the chance - again - to be close to his mother and
to be known by her.
Feeling suddenly heavy, he pulled a chair close and sat by her bedside, taking
her hand in his while smoothing her hair out of her face with the other, he
closed his eyes and started remembering....
* * *
She was like how she had been first time he'd met her in the guise of Companion
Protector Liam Kincaid. Her hair was partly down, her face tired-looking, her
clothing seeming a bit disheveled. She was sitting in one of the chairs in what
had been Boone's office. For some strange reason, Sandoval was missing, but that
was the only thing that had changed from his memories.
"Liam?" she asked. It was not the tone of a professional to a newly-introduced
colleague, but rather one of disbelief upon finding a relative thought lost.
"Liam, how could I have not recognized my own son?"
It was so unexpected, that his attention was drawn away from the mist starting
to cover the floor back to her face. "Because they made it so that you
*couldn't* remember," he told her. Drawing up a chair, he sat down.
"If I could only have told them more... if Ha'gel had only lived long enough,
and fixed my CVI... have the Resistance no understanding of the bond between
mother and child?"
"It was still there," Liam said soothingly, trying . "I knew, even if you
didn't. I didn't agree with them either, but I understood their fears."
"Aye," Siobhan agreed. "Still, I'm glad that I know, in the end."
Alarm shot through Liam. It probably showed on his face, for she took his hand
in hers. "I know my time is done, Liam. I can feel it. And I'd rather go now
than do anything more for the Taelons. I've done enough in their name."
"I wish I could fix the CVI," Liam told her, shaking her head. "The knowledge
might be up in my head and I'd never know it."
"Ye musn't be too hard on yerself, Liam. You're only a few months old, a child
by any standards. Do not feel bad for something you cannot change."
"But if I only knew how to make the changes, to bring things back to before your
CVI altered your brain structure...."
Siobhan Beckett sighed. "Nay. Don't fret yourself, Liam. I'm ready to go. Just
give your old mother a hug."
Liam allowed himself to be drawn upwards, into a standing hug. His mother's arms
surrounded him, pulled him into the warmth that he was soon to be denied.
Placing his hands on either side of his mother's head, he kissed her on the
forehead. "I love you, mom."
As she drew back, he could see her eyes glistening with tears twin to his own.
"I love you too, Liam."
Siobhan started fading into the mists as he tried to hold onto her with glowing
hands. "No!" he screamed, as something flowed through him and everything went to
black.
* * *
Liam awoke with a screaming headache and aching hands. He was lying on a bed a
few feet apart from his sleeping mother, in a hospital room. The medical
terminal by his bed wasn't activated, but he recognized the monitor strapped to
his wrist. Getting up, he read the indicators. His heart pounded as he realized
she was still alive.
A few minutes later, Dr. Park came in, wearing the badge she wore at the Comtech
human/taelon medical facility. "How do you feel?"
Looking over at her, he rubbed his palms. "Other than my head and my hands hurt,
I'm fine. How is she?"
Park shook her head. "I was hoping *you* could tell *me*, Liam."
"Tell you what?" Liam asked, confused.
"What you did to her. I leave you alone for a few minutes, when I come back,
you're slumped over, your pulse is racing, and her ear's stopped bleeding. I
brought both of you here for a few tests, and it's like she never had a CVI in
the first place."
"I did that?" Liam asked groggily.
"Apparently," Park said, cocking her head slightly. "I was going to ask you to
explain it, but I take it you have no idea."
"None whatsoever," Liam replied honestly. "So, she's going to live, then?"
Park sighed. "She's going to live. I've been talking to Doors, and he's willing
to take the chance of telling her. But Liam... before you tell her anything...
if you tell her and she doesn't join us, we're going to have to kill her."
Liam's blood ran cold. "Then I'll just have to make sure she joins."
* * *
Park left, after fussing a bit about him and promising him a pain reliever. Liam
drew up a chair, taking his mother's hand again. The door was closed, giving him
a chance to talk to her privately without the staff at the facility wondering
why one Companion Protector was calling another "Mom".
Besides, from what Park had told him about the cover story she'd devised, he
assumed that the UK companion would soon want her back at work. But she'd have
to disappear before then, since Park had sensibly removed her skrill. He hoped
he'd have time to recruit her; she hadn't seemed too thrilled about going back
to work for the Companions, which meant that she might be amenable to what he
said.
While he was pondering the right approach to take, her eyes fluttered open.
"Liam?" she croaked.
Liam picked up the cup and the water pitcher that someone had left and poured
her some water. "Hi, mom."
Siobhan took it, taking a small sip. "Is this Comtech? It looks like it."
"Yeah."
She looked briefly confused, as if trying to remember a fact or memory just at
the reach of her consciousness. "I was dying... and you were with me. Now,
everything looks so fuzzy, so dull. I feel like I'm wrapped all over in cotton
wool."
Liam shifted uncomfortably. "I'm told I did something to you."
"Aye, I would guess you have something of your father's gifts in you," she
observed thoughtfully. "I think I remember being this fuzzy before I was
implanted. Maybe ye've done what your father intended to do, without realizin'
it."
"If I did, I don't remember," Liam told her.
"Yer not Athena, springing full-blown from Zeus' head," Siobhan chided him. "Ye
surely can't expect to know all you're capable of."
"Sometimes, I wish I did."
Siobhan shook her head. "Ye've got to learn to walk before you can run."
"I guess so," Liam said.
"I wish we had more time," she said. "I have my son back for the first time back
since he was born, and now, I'm going to lose ye to the implant again. Surely my
Companion will want me implanted again. I don't want to go back, but I don't
think I have a choice."
"Actually," Liam told her, relieved that she had brought it up, "There is an
alternative."
His mother stared up at him, in seeming disbelief. "What?"
"I have contacts in the Liberation that are willing to help."
"*Doors'* Liberation? Have ye gone mad, Liam?"
She was staring at him, which he noticed because he was staring at her. "No.
They're willing to give you a place to hide, in return for your help in fighting
the Taelons."
"Ye misunderstand me, son. It's not whatever friends you've made there, it's
Doors. I don' think I could trust him much more than I could trust the Taelons
right now. I had a dream, after ye did what ye did, and he was there, jeering at
me for what I'd done. I want to help - I just don't know if I want to give that
help to him."
"Then we'll just have to make sure you don't deal much with Doors. How about
Lili Marquette? Didn't you trust her with me when I was being born?" Liam asked,
drawing the memories of his birth out of both their memories.
Siobhan took a deep breath. "Aye, I suppose I could. I don't know who to trust
anymore, except maybe you, but she seemed a competent woman even when I was
trying to prove she was Liberation."
Liam squeezed her hand. "Then I'll make sure she's there. Sandoval's got to give
her some time off sometime."
"Aye," Siobhan agreed. "Now all we have to do is get me out of here."
"That's the easy part," Liam assured her.
* * *
Liam closed his global, frowning, and his mother leaned forward in her bed.
"'Tis a good time to plan, Liam. T'wouldn't be good if someone caught us. Is Dr.
Schultz still at the facility?"
"Yeah," he said, putting his global away and rubbing his left palm. "She's
temporarily running this facility while Dr. Belman's doing a research project
with the Taelons."
"She's a smart and crafty one, Liam," Siobhan said, shaking her head. "If you go
off without permission on her watch, she'll hunt you to the ends of the earth.
She might even find you."
"Then we'll just have to make sure you don't leave a trail," Liam responded,
punching information into his global. "At least one not past the hospital doors.
I'll make sure a car is waiting."
The door opened and closed, and Liam looked up guiltily as Dr. Park came in.
"She'll need her clothes. I can get someone out pretty fast. Any other
problems?"
Liam stood up. "I'll see if I can distract Rosemary for a few minutes," he said.
"Invite her out to lunch."
Park snorted. "Better you than me. Siobhan, you're well enough to get out of
bed, at least until we can get you someplace safe. But don't over-exert
yourself."
"'Rosemary'?" Siobhan asked her son.
"I'll explain... sometime, much later," Liam said, trying to keep a slight blush
out of his face. He got out of there in a hurry.
* * *
Siobhan watched in amusement as Liam nearly fled out of the room. "Rosemary?"
she asked the doctor.
Dr. Park shook her head. "I guess when you mutually embarrass each other, you
can start using each other's first names."
The doctor didn't seem like she was going to say any more, so Siobhan got up to
the closets and found her clothes in a plastic sack. Behind her, she could hear
the doctor dialing someone up on her global and getting someone to come with a
car. She turned around. "Right. Someone will be waiting for you on 14th and
Alhambra in about ten to fifteen minutes. That's about two and a half blocks out
the back. They're in a blue car, an 05 Echo with an 'honor student' bumper
sticker on the tailgate. Got it?"
Siobhan nodded. "Good," Dr. Park said. "I'm going to go out now. Wait a few
minutes and then go downstairs. It's still visiting hours so you can easily get
out one of the back doors. Liam should be meeting you at HQ."
With that, Dr. Park left, and Siobhan started counting the seconds.
* * *
Liam forced himself to walk out of the hospital after talking a little bit too
long with Dr. Schultz. He hoped she wouldn't associate his visit with his
mother's disappearance. He'd been careful to mention that he'd been to visit her
so nobody would get suspicious.
His mother had to be at HQ right now. He eased himself into his car, hoping that
he wouldn't arrive too late, given Siobhan's misgivings about Doors. Lili
couldn't be down from her errands yet. Still trying not to hurry, he drove
towards the church and the hidden base.
* * *
Despite everything, Siobhan could tell she was going down. She didn't know why
they were bothering to blindfold her, as she had no problem identifying the
church where she'd been seduced by Ha'gel even without full use of her sight.
She supposed they were in the elevator behind whatever panel was activated by
the DNA scanner.
As she'd told Liam, Doors worried her. Oh, some of her dislike of the man had to
do with her dream and lingering dislike from her time as an Implant, but she was
also bothered by working with someone who could easily become a terrorist. She'd
gotten the impression that Liam wasn't fond of him either. Good boy. Good son.
But he now held her life in his hands.
She felt the air stream in as a door opened. As her captors/rescuers led her
forward, she heard safeties on guns click off, and tried not to be afraid.
After a moment, the blindfold came off, and she was rewarded with the unpleasant
visage of Jonathan Doors. The billionaire-turned-fugitive was looking at her
with a stern expression. "I hoped never to see you again," he said gruffly. "But
I'm told you're willing to join us. Are you?"
"I am," she confirmed. "For the sake of my son, his future, and the life of the
world we live on."
Doors nodded. Although his expression didn't soften, she thought a certain
something evaporated from his bearing. "Untie her. Lieutenant Beckett, would you
care to join me at the conference table?"
Without waiting for her reply, he strode off. As she observed the still-wary
soldiers, she decided the reason that he was so willing to let her have free run
of his headquarters was because she could easily be shot should she try
something radical. Squaring her shoulders, she walked down to where Doors had
gone, to the astonished stares of the Liberation personnel. She found him
sitting at the table, talking with a solidly-built man in his early fifties who
was going grey. The other man turned to her, reaching out to shake her hand and
looking at Doors as if to ask him to introduce her. Doors paused for a moment,
considering it, and then said, "Ben, this is Companion Protector Siobhan
Beckett. This is FSA Agent Ben Wiley. He keeps us up to date on any FSA
Taelon-related activities."
"Glad to meet you," the man rumbled, shaking her hand with a very solid grip.
"And you," she replied, carefully exerting pressure. The man nodded as he
released his grip.
"Would you like some coffee?" Ben asked.
"Coffee would be fine," she replied. The man nodded, going out of sight and
presumably to the coffee machine. He came back a minute later with the coffee,
holding three mugs.
"This your blend, Ben?" Doors asked. Ben nodded, turning to look at her.
"One of my old bosses was a coffee freak," he said by way of explanation.
Just at that moment, Lili arrived in the small conference area. "Liam'll be a
moment," she said, before disappearing off to get her own coffee.
Soon, she, Doors, Lili, and Ben were having a surreal tea party using coffee
instead of tea. Siobhan wondered when her son would get there so that they could
get started, and hopefully convince Doors to use his resources to keep her free.
A few minutes later, Liam arrived. At Doors' glare, he panted, "Sorry, Rosemary
held me up."
"Coffee's over there," Ben said helpfully.
After Liam fetched his own mug, Doors leaned forward. "You understand, Ms.
Beckett, that I cannot allow you to leave here if I think you're going to betray
us."
"That's fine, Mr. Doors," Siobhan replied in an only slightly less cold voice.
"I come here to seek sanctuary from the Taelons. In return, I will help you with
your fight against the Taelons. I know you do not care for me very much, nor I
you, but I meant what I said."
"And who would know, better than a former Implant, what the Taelons can do to a
person?" Liam added.
"My son is right," Siobhan said. "I am aware more than anyone here of what the
Taelons will do if humanity will let them. I know what crimes I've committed
because my mind told me that the Companions were more important than anything. I
want a chance to fight against them, directly or indirectly."
Liam's global beeped, and he got up and stood a fair distance away, the visual
pickup of his global pointed towards the wall. It was a short conversation, but
Siobhan could see Liam's body tense. He concluded the call, and went back to the
table. As he was sitting down, Lili's global beeped, and she answered her call
in much the same manner. "Sandoval?" Liam asked.
Lili nodded. "It seems that an injured Companion Protector is missing from her
hospital bed. I've just been called to ferry Sandoval down."
"I also got a call to help investigate," Liam told her. He looked at his mother,
regret and fear showing in his eyes.
"Then you'd better go," Doors said. "I can't afford for either of you to blow
your covers."
Lili turned to go, but Liam was looking at her still. "Mom?" he asked, clearly
wanting to be there for her.
"Go. Mr. Doors is right," she said, hoping he caught the unspoken reassurance:
"I'll be okay."
Liam nodded, leaving with Lili to fulfil his duties. Siobhan watched the two of
them disappear out of sight before turning to Doors. "You'll forgive me if I
don't trust you, lieutenant," he said. "It's what keeps me alive. The Taelons
have attempted to trap me once already; what better bait than a prize such as
you?"
"Because I am not bait," Siobhan responded. "My son was the one who saved my
life, not the Taelons, and even before that I was starting to wonder about some
of the things the Taelons were saying to me. I won't pretend I'm a fanatic like
you. But I want to live. I want to have the free will to love my son and my
world, and not what my CVI tells me to love. I want to live to spoil my
grandchildren."
Doors mumbled something about "Liam" and "Rate" that Siobhan couldn't quite
understand. "Sometimes you have to be a fanatic. So, what do you want, and what
will you give me?"
"I want you to keep the Taelons from finding me. In return, I will help you in
your work against the Taelons with my expertise in Companion Security procedures
and the things that have been said in front of me."
"Hey, you can live here," Ben said merrily. At Doors' glare, he added. "You can
keep a close eye on her, and she's safe from the Taelons. And if the Taelons
can't find her, we're safe from her telling us about them."
Doors nodded. "I agree. So, Ms. Beckett. This is my offer: you live here,
assisting wherever needed, and especially in any plans involving Taelon-related
facilities. In return, we'll do whatever we can to prevent you from being found
by the Taelons."
"Agreed," Beckett replied.
* * *
Liam drove back to the medical facility, hoping his mother could negotiate
sufficiently with Doors. He hoped so; Doors needed her expertise, and she needed
the hiding places he could provide. In the meantime, he would have to do all
within his power to obscure the investigation he was supposed to be helping
with.
Lassiter was there to meet him. He handed him a board with all known information
about Siobhan's mistake as they got in the elevator. As they were going up,
Lassiter cleared his throat and said, "Dr. Schultz wanted to see you when you
got up."
Liam nodded, handing the board back to Lassiter. The agent followed him into
security, where a small crowd was gathered. A tech was going over the films,
scanning to find when Siobhan had left. "Keep an eye here and call me if
anything's found. I want to talk to Dr. Schultz for a few minutes."
The agent nodded, smiled, and turned to the monitors, leaving Liam to his
interview.
Liam walked off towards where he knew the administrative offices to be. As he
got near, he heard two voices, one female, one male, both of which he knew.
"I'm serious!" the female exclaimed. "We didn't do much besides talk. What can I
do to make people stop thinking that we had hot, wet sex?"
The male replied in a humorous tone, "Well, you could try not blushing every
time he or his name come up."
"I do not blush when that happens."
"Right."
Liam rounded the corner to find Dr. Rosemary Schultz and her assistant, Adam
Chen, standing in the hallway. Rosemary turned a shade of red, prompting Adam to
make an amused sound in his throat. "I guess I'll see you later, Rose, Major
Kincaid."
With that, he left, still chuckling. "Hi, Liam," Rosemary said, almost shyly.
"Let's go into my office."
She proceeded him in. When he went to close the door, she said, "No, don't. It's
better if things stay open."
When she had settled down, he sat down in the chair in front of her desk. "So, I
hear you lost a patient. In the not-usual sense, anyway."
Rosemary sighed. "I don't know what it is with Siobhan Beckett - she's been in
this hospital twice when I've been here, and she's left without permission both
times. It's like she's my personal curse."
"I'm sure she's not doing this just to annoy you," Liam offered. He set his
global on record. "So, tell me from the top what happened."
"Well," Rosemary said, "It was several minutes after I finished talking to you.
You'd left, and I was doing some paperwork. I knew the Lt. Beckett was a patient
here, but I left everything up to Dr. Park since my duties right now leave me
rather busy. One of the nurses notices she's missing, can't find her, talks to
security, they look for her. And then I'm called in. That's about all I can tell
you, since I wasn't very involved."
"Is there any similarity between this time and the last time this happened?"
Liam asked, attempting to pull his mother's memories out to compare.
"Other than her departure, I hope not," Rosemary told him, and he could see him
visibly shudder. "You see, last time she left, she killed one of our doctors on
the way out."
"She *what*?" Liam asked, totally unprepared for what Rosemary had said. He
couldn't remember anything of the sort from her memories.
"Maybe I better start from the beginning? When all this happened, I'd just been
hired here. It was my first official day here, so it kind of stuck in my mind. I
happened to be the CVI specialist on call when she came in, unconscious. I
treated her, tended to her injuries as best I could, and then left her. Next
thing I knew, my patient was out of there, leaving a blood trail that even I
could track. She killed the doctor, for an unknown reason, then departed the
hospital. We eventually got her back with no other known casualties, well, other
than my global, but it makes me shudder every time I think of it."
"Why would a loyal Companion Agent with a CVI do such a thing?" Liam asked.
"Because, very simply, she wasn't running her own show. We found out during that
time that some sort of militant anti-Companion group had come up with a virus
that effectively scrambled the CVI. Eventually, we were able to kill it, but we
had half a dozen implants living in quarantine for a couple of days. Ask Agent
Sandoval sometime; he was one of those infected."
"I will. Thank you, Doctor Schultz."
"Anytime, Major."
He left Rosemary Schultz back in her office, and headed back to security, where
he found Lili and Sandoval watching the tech with the security tapes. Lili
favored him with a brief smile before Sandoval turned. "There you are, Major. I
understand you've interviewed Dr. Schultz. Have you come up with any pertinent
information?"
"Other than an overview of the original incident, no," Liam offered. "Until we
find out where she went from the cameras, we won't know how she got out or her
physical and emotional state."
"Then I'll go talk to Dr. Schultz myself," Sandoval said. "Perhaps I can yield
more information. Captain, Major, you stay here and gather more information."
Sandoval left. Behind them, center security staff was still trying to isolate
Siobhan's departure time. Liam personally hoped that his mother hadn't left any
obvious clues.
After a minute or two, Lili slipped out of the room, with a motion to follow
her. Once there, Liam commented, "Sandoval must think this has something to do
with some sort of CVI virus. Was that something the Resistance was responsible
for?"
"I remember that... we were working on something like that, but someone beat us
to it. After seeing the effects, we decided against it and Dr. Belman ended up
doing something subtler. That's how we got into a project to remove the MI."
"It wouldn't be beyond Sandoval to try to pin a re-occurrence on the
Liberation," Liam said thoughtfully.
"No, and we don't need another public-relations disaster."
"Then we'll just have to make sure this isn't turned into one."
* * *
Siobhan lay down on the medical bed in the small medical/lab area of HQ, which
she remembered from when she was pregnant with Liam. Dr. Park, having made
herself scarce from the medical center, was quickly and efficiently tending to
the wounds sustained during the fight with the extremists. Finally, she paused.
"You'll need rest- lots of it. That'll give you a few days to adjust to being
here. I heard that you were going to stay."
"Aye," Siobhan said. "I didn't like the idea of it at first, but what better
place to hide than Jonathan Doors' well-guarded headquarters? And where else can
I have a chance to be a mother to Liam without having to hide who we are?"
"Not many," Park conceded wryly. "Look, Jonathan is hard to get along with,
especially if you have any sympathy towards the Taelons, but he's not about to
throw you out. You're too valuable. So, he'll try to put up with you, and you'll
have to put up with him."
"Aye, I guess I will," Siobhan said. A thought made her pause. "Doctor, who was
a mother to Liam while I was... busy?"
The question took the doctor aback, but she answered after a short pause. "Me,
Lili Marquette, a few others. You've got to understand, Liam's rapid maturation
rate, we didn't get much of a chance to be mothers. Most of the staff that's
been here since before your first visit have known Liam all of his life and love
him. I think even Jonathan has a grudging respect. He's a father, you know."
"Aye, I paid attention to the Rho'ha trial," Siobhan said. "But it's good to
know that someone has loved my son, even when I was unable to."
Park patted Siobhan's uninjured shoulder. "Liam... isn't that hard to love. Now,
I guess we'll have to find you a place to stay. We do have rooms set up for the
occasional member on run from the law, and for people who often have to stay
overnight. It should be easy enough to fix you up with one. Here, let me help
you out."
* * *
"Major, Captain," one of the security people said, "We found her."
"Thank you," Liam told him.
Lili opened her global. "I'll call Sandoval." The security man nodded and
disappeared back into the room, Liam following. Lili joined them shortly. "He's
on his way."
On the screen, Siobhan was frozen in midstride right outside her room. "If you
don't mind, Major," the Tech said, "We'll wait for Agent Sandoval to get here."
"No problem," he reassured her.
Sandoval arrived, with Dr. Schultz, a few minutes later. "What have you got?" he
asked without preamble. The tech turned, manipulating the controls.
"This is when Major Kincaid left the room," she said, freezing the picture of
Liam as he walked out the door of the room, "And here's when Dr. Park left. Lt.
Beckett left a few minutes later."
"She must have been wiping the medical records," Dr. Schultz said, eyes opening
as if she'd just realized something of great importance. "When I got a hold of
Dr. Park, she said that the medical records were still there when she left. That
means they had to be erased between the time she left and the time we tried to
access them."
"Did she have her clothes on the last time?" Liam asked, hoping to throw her off
that track.
"Yes," she answered promptly. "Last time, we'd just finished an initial
observation of her and were about to put her in a gown and transfer her to a
bed. Dr. Park didn't say anything about her being dressed. I guess she may have
wiped the records after she got dressed. It's a bit of a stretch, but then I
don't know how good the lieutenant's computer skills are."
"Isn't that a little bit alarmist?" Lili asked.
"Captain, trust me, the lady might not have been firing on all four cylinders
when she was infected, but there was a feral, single-minded devotion in her eyes
when I ran across her that time. She'd have done anything needed to prevent
people from stopping her. Including hacking into the files. I can't say
absolutely that this is another CVI virus, but why else would she wipe any
evidence?"
"Then we will presume, for the moment, then that's what's happened," Sandoval
said. "Doctor, what assistance will you need?"
"I need *you* to come with me and submit to a scan, since you might have been
exposed." Dr. Schultz said sharply. "I'll need reports of any unusual behavior
from any Companion Protectors around the world. With the portals and the
shuttles, this could have come from anywhere and anybody could have it. I'll
need to know if Lt. Beckett interacted with any other Companion Protectors."
"Understood," Sandoval told her. "Captain, Major, continue the investigation."
"Hold it, I'll need a sample from the Major as well," Dr. Schultz said. "Since I
presume he was in contact with Lt. Beckett."
"This thing infects people without CVIs?" Liam asked, trying to delay the test.
She shrugged. "The last one used non-implanted humans as carriers for the virus.
I have to assume that if this is a new infection, it'll be passed the same way.
Think about it, Major. There aren't that many implanted humans. If you want to
infect all the implants in the world, you've got to find a way to hide your
virus so people can't find it. Don't worry; I'm just looking for a certain spike
in a certain blood chemical."
Liam shot a helpless look at Lili. Dr. Schultz sighed. "Would you rather I
quarantined you until I could make sure that you aren't going to pass anything
along, Major?"
Lili rolled up her arm. "I've been in contact with him for a while now. Why
don't you try me, first."
"Very well," Dr. Schultz said, frowning. "Major, maybe you'll come along."
"Yeah, Liam," Lili said in a tone of mock-teasing, "Why don't you prove I can
best you any day?"
"Because you can?" Liam replied in the same tone, although he was grateful for
Lili's intervention. Being thought a coward about getting holes poked in you was
much better than being discovered.
* * *
Dr. Park's global beeped, and she stepped away to answer it. Siobhan gazed at
her curiously, but it was a short call. "Liam's having a little bit of a hangup.
Dr. Schultz thinks that there's a new form of the CVI virus that you got
infected with, and she insisted on testing everyone."
"But Liam... his blood has to be different!" Siobhan protested.
"If I recall the test correctly, his blood is normal enough to be mistaken for
human on that particular test. There's a Liberation member there than can
'misroute' his sample so that it isn't looked at any more than it has been
before. So, don't worry. I'm sure he'll be out of there and back here before you
know it."
"You'll have to forgive me, Doctor. I've just found my son; I don't want to lose
him again, not now."
"I understand," Dr. Park answered, her voice sympathetic. "I don't want to lose
him either."
* * *
"Now, that wasn't so bad, was it?" Dr. Rosemary Schultz said, coming back after
dropping the samples off for analysis. Liam ran his finger over the pad that
covered the needle mark. "You can put your arm down now."
"Okay," Liam said. "So, this test will clear me?"
"At least for the original virus. I'll be having some other tests run as well to
make sure. I know that you probably haven't had dinner yet, so I'm sure you want
to go home."
"Kinda."
"Lucky you. I was just starting on mine when all this happened," Rosemary
responded, grinning wryly. "Moment I can release you, I will."
Just that moment, somebody beeped her global, and she excused herself to answer
it. After a minute, she came back. "I guess at least somebody gets to their
dinner. Nothing's shown up for you or Captain Marquette, so you're free to go."
"Thanks," Liam responded. He walked out, trying to make it seem like he wasn't
hurrying.
* * *
After he and Lili were excused from the medical center, Liam headed back to the
church and the hidden HQ. He was anxious to spend time with his mother, and he
was sure she was anxious to spend time with him.
When the hidden door opened, Dr. Park had just stepped out of the elevator on
the other side, adjusting her coat. "How is she?" he asked her.
"Oh, she's fine," Park said cheerfully. "Don't worry, Liam, your mother's a
fighter. We found her a room, and she was settling in last time I looked. Just
remind her to take another dose of painkiller in another four hours, okay?"
"You heading back to the medical center?" Liam asked, noticing the badge.
"Unfortunately, yes. No offense to you, Liam, but I don't have as much tolerance
of Dr. Schultz as you do, and it looks like I'll be working with her a lot in
the next few days. I wish Dr. Christian hadn't moved to that new research center
in Ireland."
"You'll do fine," he reassured her with a smile. "You've put up with me."
"Trust me, Liam, you were easy. Now, I think you have a mother who wants to get
to know her son. Get down there!"
* * *
It was business as usual, although some of the crown was thinning away as
members started to wander out in ones and twos, back to their homes. By late
that night, the only ones left would be the die-hard researchers and the
fugitives.
And the only thing that he could think of right now was one particular fugitive,
the newest addition to this underground facility. His mother, who could finally
be his mother instead of the colleague that she'd been for the past few months.
The woman who had finally gotten her freedom... sort of. If one could be called
'on the run' freedom.
He headed down the residential hallway, realizing he had no idea where Park had
put his mother. It wasn't a part of the base that he ventured into very often.
But when one of the doors opened, he knew who would be in the doorway. "Mom," he
breathed.
"Come in, Liam," Siobhan greeted him. "It's not much, but it's a place to lay my
head. Dr. Park says I shouldn't be moving about much anyway, so I guess I'd
better get used to it."
She let him in, and Liam looked around the small, spare room. The walls held no
decoration, although there was a small stand with a light, and a mattress with
sheets and a pillow on it. Near the wall, not far from the bed, was a cot. His
mother must have caught him looking at it, for she said, "Dr. Park had that
brought in, just in case you wanted to stay the night sometime."
"Remind me to thank Dr. Park," Liam said. His mother smiled at him and sat down
on the bed. Liam joined her after a moment, realizing that she had no chairs at
all. "Can you cope?"
"Aye." After a moment, she added, "Agent Wiley asked me much the same thing
after I finished negotiating with Doors."
"And what did you say?" Liam asked.
"I told him that I didn't know. He smiled and told me I reminded him of a case
that he'd been part of in the late eighties. It involved a man who they were
trying to catch. By coincidence, the man had chosen that time to become a part
of his teenage son's life. Every time that they'd get near the father and son,
the duo had moved on. Now, most people wouldn't have had the tolerance these two
had to run all around the country, but these two had a secret. Y'see, even
though the family didn't have a stable home and were effectively on the run,
they had each other. It was the freedom to be close to one another which kept
them from giving up. When he talked about this family, my mind finally
crystallized on why I'm willing to live down here, in limited freedom, with
Doors. It's because here I have you. Someday I'll be free to leave - but right
now, my heart's freedom is all that matters."
"Did he ever say what happened to the father?" Liam asked idly.
"Aye," she said, as if having a memory intrusion, though he knew that wasn't
possible without her CVI. "The government dropped the charges, the father went
on to marry his son's mother, and the son went to college, became an astronomer,
and became involved in SETI until the Companions came, after which he went to
other projects. He apparently turned out pretty well."
"I'm glad for them," Liam said sincerely.
"So am I. I don't know their names, but I'm glad for them. I just hope I turn
out as good a mother as this man turned out to be a father. The last time I
remember you, you were just a wee boy, and look at you now!"
Liam tried not to blush. "I think I'm a bit bigger now."
"Aye," Siobhan replied, flashing her son a wistful smile. "All grown before I
knew it. Liam, did ye have a childhood at all?"
"Not much," Liam admitted. "I was a physical adult an hour or two after I was
born, and with all that happened and me assuming a position as a Companion
Protector, I didn't have time to be a child."
"Oh, Liam," his mother said in a sad voice. "Ye should have let yourself be a
child for a longer time. A childhood is a precious thing, not to be tossed away
just because it can."
"I know now," Liam admitted, thinking back to his first few weeks of life. "But
then... all I could see was a way to help the people that were caring for me and
doing you proud as a Protector. And I wanted to stop the Taelons as well. It
felt so *right* back then."
"Aye. I guess that makes us both as human as the rest of them, then," Siobhan
said thoughtfully, before yawning.
"I guess I should let you rest, then," Liam said. "I'll be back tomorrow."
"Nay, Liam. Stay the night, let me have my little boy near me."
"I'm not little anymore."
"I know."
* * *
Siobhan woke up that morning before her son. She suspected it was because her
body was still in the wrong time zone. Her CVI had helped her adjust to the
changed time zone, but now it was gone, and its regulators with it. Still, it
was a chance to watch her son sleep, a chance she'd never had... and a chance
that she hoped that she'd have many more times over the years.
Quietly, she cursed Ha'gel for Liam's rapid growth. What mother wanted her
children to grow up fast, to never know the joys of childhood? Liam had been
denied those joys, and he knew too much to ever go back to a childhood. Even in
places where children had to grow up quickly by circumstance, they could go back
to being children. Liam, with his adult looks, was forever trapped being assumed
an adult, never given the chance to be a child, the child he truly was.
She inched to the side of her bed. Reaching out, she could just barely touch her
son's hair, barely knock a bang out of the way. Someday, she'd have the chance
to get Liam out of this forced adult role, taking him to a place where he could
be the child he truly was. Somewhere where he wasn't playing Liberation spy and
Companion Protector, and where he could be her son.
As her stomach growled, she willed it to be quiet, to not wake Liam up from his
blissful dreams. Looking over at her son, she got up and headed towards the
door. She hoped Liam was hungry. She looked forward to having breakfast with
him.
* * *
Liam woke up to find his mother missing. Her sheets were a mess, as if she
hadn't had time to do them. He got up and felt the bed, relieved to find that
the bed was still warm from her body heat. Probably was just in the bathroom, he
decided. He put his shoes on, figuring that maybe he should fix breakfast and
they could eat together. A look at the clock on top of the nightstand confirmed
that they had time for a leisurely breakfast before he had to go to his
apartment, change clothes, and head in to work.
When he arrived at the area where the HQ had its break room and meal preparation
place for those who lived there most of the time, he stopped in the doorway at
the sight of his mother clearly putting food together for breakfast. He watched
her from the doorway for a minute or two before going to join her, consumed by a
sudden desire to do something together with her that didn't involve military
action or protecting Companions. He noted absently that she looked a lot like
her mother when she was cooking; surely she'd learned a thing or two at her
mother's knee, even a mannerism or two.
She turned, smiling as she saw him. "Liam. I didn't expect ye up."
"We... um... had the same idea," Liam said, grinning sheepishly.
That made her laugh. "Like mother, like son. I guess I shall have to let ye
help."
So he joined her, making the toast as she made eggs. "'Tis too bad they don't
have any bacon," she said. "Not anything I'd call bacon, anyway."
"I think they call it Canadian bacon here," Liam said, though he wasn't sure if
he was right in his assumption.
"Whatever they call it here, they don't have it in supplies," Siobhan replied.
She finished up the eggs as he finished up the toast, and then expertly put it
on the two plates on one side of the counter. "It'll be strange, eating for one
for the first time in years."
"I guess you'll just have to go back to normal," Liam observed.
"Aye. Or as normal as my life will allow," his mother replied with a wry grin.
Taking their breakfasts to one of the tables that was in the room, the two of
them sat down, Liam pulling his mother's chair out before settling down in his
own. He picked up his fork when he noticed his mother had bowed her head in
prayer. "Oh Lord, we thank ye for the harvest that ye have given us. Bless our
food and our lives, as we bless you forever. Amen."
"Amen," Liam echoed.
Siobhan dug into her food. "I miss Falcon, even if he always meant it seemed
like I was always hungry. But I'll gladly trade him for you."
"I'm sure Doors will be glad that you did," Liam replied.
"Aye. I'm hoping today that I won't be dealing with him much."
"Better him than a date with an implantation table," Liam reminded her.
"'Tis why I don't mind helping him and his people… because I know that they'll
do anything to keep me from being implanted."
"I'm glad to hear that," a third, gruffer voice broke in. Liam and his mother
both looked up to see Doors entering the room, probably for his own breakfast.
He selected his own breakfast, microwaving it and making some coffee before
joining them. "Liam, don't be late to work today. Lili tells me that there's
going to be a meeting up on the Mothership today, and I don't want you making
Sandoval or Zo'or suspicious."
"I don't plan to," Liam told him. "I'm going to have my hands full just keeping
Sandoval on the wrong track."
"And, I hope, that girlfriend of yours," Doors replied, his tone indicating his
opinion. "I don't want her to get any ideas with Belman away on her research
project."
Liam gritted his teeth. "I don't think she's going to give up on her pet theory
anyway."
"Keep it that way," Doors ordered.
"Girlfriend?" Siobhan asked, looking confused.
As if he didn't hear her, Doors turned and said, "I've got some people who want
to consult with you about Companion Security procedures. In the evening, we'll
get together and figure out how to make your profile a little bit lower to the
Companions. And Liam, if you don't get going right now, you're not going to get
out of here in time to do us any good."
Liam looked at his mother, knowing again how much he wanted to be with her, and
also knowing Doors was trying to push him out of there so that his mother could
earn her keep. "I'll see you later," he said, rising from the table.
Siobhan just nodded.
* * *
Liam left his apartment quickly, even though he knew that he would be a bit
early to work. Doors had sent him out of there far too early, which probably had
less to do with Liam's cover and more to do with Doors not liking him very much.
"Maybe I'll just do the paperwork that I probably won't be able to do," he
muttered to himself as he started his car, knowing that finding the missing Lt.
Beckett would probably be taking up his time today. If there was only some way
of declaring her dead! But it wouldn't be as easy as what he'd been told about
DeeDee Sandoval, who had been easy to make disappear because she didn't hold any
dangerous secrets.
He made a note to make sure he showed up for the evening meeting, and then
assumed the demeanor expected of a Companion Protector. Reviewing his mental
notes, he knew that Da'an would have been scheduled for an event over in San
Francisco, helping celebrate the re-opening of the Exploratorium there. However,
he didn't know if Da'an still had plans to do that, or if he'd be involved in
the hunt for his mother.
Liam parked his car in the lot for Companion employees and rapidly made his way
into the Taelon Embassy. Between his badge and the fact that all of Companion
Security and all the embassy staff knew who he was, he found himself rapidly
emerging into Da'an's audience chambers. "Good Morning, Liam. You are early, are
you not?"
"I had the feeling that I'd be kept pretty busy today, Da'an," he said, keying
up his schedule from the computer and confirming the Exploratorium visit.
"Ah, yes. Lieutenant Beckett's disappearance," Da'an waved gracefully. "I
believe Agent Sandoval is handling that."
"And as your protector, and one of the last people to see Beckett, I might be
called in. Agent Sandoval is very efficient."
Just then, Liam's global beeped, and Liam was unsurprised to find Sandoval on
the other end. "Kincaid."
"Major," Sandoval acknowledged. "You're needed for a briefing at the
mothership."
"I'll be right there," he acknowledged. He looked up at Da'an.
"Go, Liam. If you are not done, then I will take another pilot this afternoon."
Liam nodded, glad that Da'an had released him to help head off the
investigation. But, just as he headed towards the shuttle bay, Da'an added, "I
hope that you will keep me informed of any… discoveries in the matter, Liam."
"I'll do the best I can," Liam said, knowing that Da'an didn't just mean the
normal investigation. He quickly got to a shuttle, ran the pre-flight checks,
and lifted off for the short trip to the mothership.
He easily got aboard and made his way towards the bridge, where Zo'or liked to
have his little conferences. Sandoval and Lili were already there, standing on
different sides from Zo'or's chair. Zo'or was smirking as usual. "Major,"
Sandoval acknowledged. Zo'or didn't even manage that.
"Good, you are here," he said imperiously. "One of our scientists, Tsh'ir, has
developed another theory to explain why Lt. Beckett departed from the hospital
as she did."
"Tsh'ir," Sandoval said, taking up the explanation from his Taelon master, "has
been working on the long-term effects of the CVI. He believes that instead of
the CVI virus that Dr. Schultz postulated, that it is possible that the
Motivational Imperative burned out, and Lt. Beckett decided to leave before this
was revealed and corrected by her physician."
"So, Lt. Beckett is on the run," Lili said in a thoughtful tone.
"We must find her before she makes contact with the Resistance," Sandoval
replied. "You, I, and Major Kincaid will be assisted by the local police. I have
already provided them with information that she is armed and dangerous."
Liam froze inwardly, calculating when he could get away to warn Doors and his
mother that Sandoval was after her. But outwardly, he nodded as Zo'or said, "You
may go."
Sandoval strode off, obviously not caring about either of them. Liam risked a
quick, returned glance with Lili as they hurried up to keep stride with
Sandoval, or at least a little behind him. "We have to warn them," he said
quietly.
"I know," Lili replied. "I'll keep Sandoval busy, you call Doors."
Liam nodded, keeping an eye on Sandoval until he reached the shuttlebay.
Sandoval than stood at the doorway, apparently waiting for the two of them to
catch up with him and annoyed that they had fallen behind. No words were
exchanged as he let Lili lead them to the shuttle, where she got in the pilot's
seat, ran through the preflight checks and flew down to the Taelon embassy, and
then drove to the police station.
While Sandoval was busy annoying the local police, and Lili was distracting him,
Liam ducked into an empty office to call Doors. The face of the Liberation
Leader soon appeared on the screen. "I don't have much time," he told Doors,
"but Sandoval has figured it out. We're collecting the police to search for her
now."
"I understand," Doors said simply. He then cut the call from his end.
Liam left the office to join Sandoval and Lili.
* * *
Park had stopped by briefly to look at Siobhan before she got to her first day
of 'work' in Doors' underground complex. Siobhan was starting to like the
doctor, who seemed to have a common bond with her through Liam. "Looks good,"
Park said. "Don't strain yourself, take it easy, and rest whenever possible."
Siobhan nodded, wondering if she should bring up the topic of Liam's apparent
girlfriend. "Doctor, is Liam really dating Dr. Schultz?"
Park paused for a moment in the middle of putting stuff away. "It's not really
my place to tell you... but, thank goodness, no. I think they had one date,
embarrassed each other over something Liam won't tell even *me* about, and
haven't gone out since and don't seem inclined to."
Siobhan stood up. "I thank ye, doctor, for what you could tell."
Doctor Park nodded before picking up her own stuff to take topside. As the two
of them were about to head out of the small medical center, Doors came in.
"Doctor, Lieutenant. Good. We're holding an emergency meeting at the conference
table, and both of you need to come."
Siobhan found herself at the conference table again, fortified by a cup of
coffee. The only difference this time was that Park was there and Ben Wiley had
been replaced by a yawning young man. "Dr. Richard Natal," he introduced
himself. "Forensic pathologist, night shift, for this city."
"Richard," Park greeted with delight. "Long time, no see."
"Well, different fields, different lives," Richard answered. "But, anyway, I
guess we better get this through so I can sleep."
"Right," Doors said, leaning back in his seat. "Here's what's going on. The
Taelons have come to the conclusion that Lt. Beckett here has her free will back
because her Motivational Imperative has malfunctioned. They're starting to
search for her, and worse, they're tightening security, which is something that
I *don't* need. So, we're going to have to make the Taelons think Lt. Beckett
died. Any suggestions?"
It was Dr. Natal that answered. "I think I might have one, right off the top of
my head. We've got this serious firebug that sets fire to condemned houses,
empty buildings, and the such. Thing is, he isn't big on checking to see if the
place is inhabited by transients before he sets fire. I was thinking that we
could have Lt. Beckett seem to have died in one of those fires."
"How would you convince Sandoval and the Companions that it was me that 'died'?
Sandoval isn't stupid, ye know!" Siobhan asked him, resisting an urge to point
out the really obvious.
"Hm, good question. Is there anything you have, lieutenant, that you carry
around with you all the time? Anything at all that would easily identify you?"
"Her skrill," Doors said. "If it was also burned in that housefire... I'll make
sure her skrill burns with whatever body we use."
Siobhan blinked, wondering if she'd heard Doors right. "Yer not going to take
Falcon and set him on fire!"
Doors looked at her coldly. "Do you want to join it, Lieutenant?"
"He's got a point, Siobhan," Dr. Park said. "Falcon is probably the most
identifiable 'thing' that you have. Besides, we can't return him to the Taelons
without arousing suspicion, and I'm sure you'd rather not have our scientists
experiment on him, which they would do given half a chance. I know the bond
between an implant and a skrill can be very close... but he may just save your
life, even at the cost of his own."
Siobhan tensed, but realized Dr. Park was correct in her thinking. Still, could
she give up Falcon to save her own life? Falcon had saved her life several times
over now. But there was no life for it now, not as it was. "All right, Doctor,"
she said in defeat.
Dr. Natal was running his finger down his chin. "Okay, we've got that. Now,
let's see. Lt. Beckett, does your will specify cremation or burial?"
She blinked. "Burial, of course."
"Good. Here's the plan: somebody will burn down a vacant structure with a body
inside sometime during the night. I'll get the burned body, and report the
findings. Then, something will happen and Lt. Beckett's body will accidentally
be sent for cremation instead of the right person's. That way, they'll have none
of the body to prove that it isn't Lt. Beckett, but they'll have some stuff that
seems to be Lt. Beckett's. Hopefully that'll satisfy them."
"What will you need?" Doors asked.
"Hm. A dead body, female. The body of somebody who's died accidentally or
suddenly. Not a murder or someone under a doctor's care. That person will need
to have wanted cremation and will have wanted to spread the ashes. And I'll need
the skrill and maybe some of Lt. Beckett's hair and a skin sample."
"One of my people had a mother who died yesterday of a heart attack and was
taken to the morgue," Doors said. "Would that be sufficient?"
"Just as long as they can be misprocessed. Did the mother want cremation?"
"I believe so. Let me get in touch with the young lady."
"You have someone for me, and I can do it."
"I'll take care of the hair and skin samples," Dr. Park offered. "And... I'll
get the skrill out of stasis. I presume you'll want to say goodbye to him,
Siobhan?"
Becoming dizzy at the speed of the proceedings, Beckett could only nod. Doors
was opening his global as Park rose up. "Come on, Siobhan."
They left Doors and the pathologist behind. Dr. Park removed what Siobhan
recognized as a skrill stasis chamber before leading her to the medical
center/lab. She opened the stasis chamber. "Here, you say goodbye while I take
the stuff Richard wants."
Siobhan held the stasis chamber in her arms, almost too scared to touch Falcon
for the last time. The skrill lay still, its legs and probes resting by its
side. "Goodbye, Falcon," she said. "May you fly free in the next life."
Park gently took the chamber from her and closed it. "I'll see what I can do to
make sure his passing doesn't hurt."
"Thank ye, Doctor," Siobhan said, trying to not sniffle.
"It's the least I can do."
* * *
The search throughout the day turned up no clues, which wasn't surprising since
Siobhan was safely underground. The only memories people might have had were of
her departure. In fact, Sandoval released him to fulfil his duty to Da'an that
afternoon, and he assumed that Lili was doing her part at misdirection. He
assumed Doors was coming up with something to get the heat off her.
Liam ran his thumb down the DNA scanner in the church, impatiently waiting for
the hidden door to open and let him get down to see his mother. He wanted to
know how she was getting along with Doors, and the rest of the daily Liberation
staff. He got into the elevator, waiting impatiently as it went down the
hundreds of feet to the Headquarters, and, once he was down, strode through the
thinning crowd to where his mother's quarters were. He found her sitting down on
her mattress, chin in hand. She looked up. "Hello, my son," she said in a sad
voice.
"Mom?" Liam asked in alarm, sitting down beside her. "Is everything okay?"
"Falcon," she said by way of explanation. "I had to make a choice to let them
burn him to death to convince the Taelons that I'd died. But now, as I have time
to think, was that a good thing? Did I have the right to give up his life
without asking him?"
"Look at it this way... he's free from what the Taelons used him for."
"Aye, I keep telling myself that. I keep telling myself that he would have
gladly sacrificed himself if it saved my life, and that he knew and hated what
the Taelons had done to his species. But I still have to wonder."
"I think I have Falcon's memories inside me," Liam said quietly. "One time after
I had a drink of alcohol, I went to sleep, and I think I dreamt his dreams. Or
at least the dreams you dreamt with him. I get the sense of alienness as part of
you, and I wonder if my father might have saved Falcon's memories as well."
"Aye, it seemed the kind of thing that he would do, if I remember correctly. Yer
mum is getting forgetful in her old age," she joked.
"My mother's had a brain-enhancer in her for three years, and just recently lost
it."
"True. If there's one thing I miss, it's being able to remember. It's like
everything's fuzzy now in my memory. Like I reach for a memory and I don't fully
remember it, not the way I used to."
"I guess it's just something you'll have to get used to."
"Aye. Liam, answer me a question, yes or no."
"What?" Liam asked, slightly disconcerted by the change in subject.
"Are you dating Dr. Schultz? Doors says yes; Park says no."
Liam sighed. "No. Park is right. Don't get me wrong, Rosemary's a nice person.
But it's best for both of us that we don't repeat the experience. Besides, she
knows that I'm not as pro-Taelon as I seem, but she doesn't know what I am or
that I'm Liberation. I'd always have to hide that from her."
His mother put her arm around his shoulders. "Oh, Liam. I'm sorry for ye."
"We'll survive," Liam said, a smile touching his face. "It's just not going
anywhere."
"I've missed so much of your life so far. I didn't even know you'd dated Dr.
Schultz," his mother said. "It must be fortune, then, that I will get to see a
little of it now."
"How are you doing here?" Liam asked.
"Well," Siobhan said, removing her arm, "Doors had me conversing with the
Liberation leader in London - a Darla Bennington. After that, he had me working
with a strange man named Augur. Those pretty much took up the day. Doors is
waiting for the pursuit to end before he does a lot more with me, I'm told."
"Do you think that what he's planning will work?"
She brushed a stray hair back up over her ear. "It may work, if it can fool
Sandoval. But he isn't an idiot, Liam."
"He can be fooled. Even implants can be fooled."
"I know," his mother replied. "I suspected Captain Marquette just before you
were conceived - but I never had any suspicion of William Boone."
"Because nobody expected an implant to have a non-functional imperative. It's
working on peoples' assumptions."
"Aye. Twouldn't be the first time it was tried in history."
"No."
His mother looked at the clock. "You'll be wanting to go to bed soon, I expect,
Liam. I don't think I'll be of good company, anyway, until the Companions are
convinced of my death."
Liam recognized this as a polite brush-off, but decided it was because she was
mourning Falcon more than anything else. Kissing her cheek, he said, "I'll be
back tomorrow… hopefully with good news!"
"I hope ye do, my son."
* * *
It wasn't until late the next morning, nearly eleven, when Sandoval called him
out of the mounds of paperwork that seemed to accumulate every time he left his
desk and to the coroner's office. He looked at Da'an, but the Taelon merely
nodded. He left, taking his car over.
Sandoval was there, as was Lili, who spared him a look as Sandoval interrogated
someone who looked like he'd much rather be in bed. The man protested to
Sandoval that he'd just done the autopsy, Sandoval had the results, and the
mixup wasn't his fault. "What happened?" Liam asked Lili.
"It seems like somebody found Lt. Beckett," she said. "She was in a vacant house
burned down by an arsonist."
"How can they tell it's her?"
"The pattern matched her, and then there's there are remains of the skrill.
Unfortunately, Lt. Beckett was mistakenly cremated and her ashes were scattered
by someone else's family."
Sandoval stalked towards them. "Captain, Major, come with me," he said, leaving
the annoyed coroner inside. He stopped them at a small office, probably that of
the annoyed coroner. Sandoval keyed his global. "Zo'or. We have a positive match
on Lt. Beckett's remains, and a sampling of those remains, as well the remains
of what we believe to be her skrill."
"Excellent. Have the body brought up, so that our scientists may examine it."
"I cannot, Zo'or," Sandoval said smoothly, but with just the right tone of
regret. "Lt. Beckett's remains were accidentally confused with another's. The
family has apparently already scattered the ashes, and we were unable to come up
with the container. The only samples we have are from the coroner."
Liam could imagine Zo'or getting more and more upset. "Yet, you are satisfied
with the results?"
"Not until I confirm them with what we have, no. I will shortly be bringing
samples up which should bring us satisfaction as to whether or not Lt. Beckett
is the owner of the remains."
"Very well," Zo'or said, his voice biting with anger.
* * *
Siobhan waited expectantly near the elevator for her son, who was coming down
for his lunch break and to bring news. When he walked in, smiling as he saw her,
she felt her heart beat faster. "Did they believe it?"
"They seem to have. Since their only samples were the ones we provided them,
they're satisfied it's you and Falcon. If they're not, they're certainly not
telling either me or Lili."
Siobhan enveloped her son in her arms, finding sudden tears. "Then I am truly
free," she said. "Maybe not to go up there, at least for a while. But still
free."
"Are you staying here, then?" Liam asked.
"Aye. I have an obligation to fill. Besides, where else can I be safe and spend
some time with my son? Here, I am safe, until the Taelons are gone."
She could vaguely see Doors standing there, sour-faced as always, but his
presence didn't bother her. In that moment, she was Siobhan Beckett again.
-end
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