Disclaimer: Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final Conflict is copyright 1999, Tribune Entertainment Co. It's characters are used without permission No infringement is intended
In the Mists of Time
By Jenii Starfire
I have been advised to rate this story as PG-13, because it does contain a few mature scenes. There are spoilers up to "Wrath of Achilles."
Big huge thanks go out to Cache, who edited this thing for me, and provided a great deal of advice and encouragement. This story was written by me, so please dont steal it. You can post it wherever you want, so long as you tell me first, keep it in full, and keep my name on it. Happy reading, and please give me feedback!!
William Boone couldnt sleep. Ever since Kate had died, over a year ago, hed had difficulty sleeping. For a while, it had seemed to get better, but now his insomnia was worse than it had ever been before. Maybe it was his workload; maybe it had something to do with the powers that Katya Petrenko, the Russian psychic, had given him; maybe his CVI was beginning to break down- there was no way of knowing. The only thing he did know, was that he had to be in Washington in four hours for a meeting with Daan, and he wanted at least two of those hours to be spent sleeping. Groaning slightly at the effort that it took to force his body out of bed, he stumbled to his medicine cabinet and took out a bottle of sleeping pills that Dr. Park had given him. She had insisted that they would work, even though his implant suppressed normal sleeping pills, but hed always been hesitant to use such drugs. He needed to be ready for anything, at a moments notice. Pills might get in the way of that.* * *
He had no memory of the dreams that morning when he awoke half an hour late, but he felt a residual sense of unease. Nothing specific, but he could guess the content of the nights journeys. He dreamed like this at least once a week, and it always left him feeling exhausted.
He had to forgo breakfast in order to
meet Lili at the office on time to take the shuttle to Washington. When he arrived, his
assistant and friend was typically blunt in regards to his appearance.
"Boone, you look awful. Did you get any sleep last night?"
"Not much," he admitted. "My insomnias been acting
up again."
"Have you talked to Dr. Park about that?" Lili asked, firing
up the engines of the shuttle. Boone felt a slight lurch beneath him as she brought the
shuttle off the ground with a graceful combination of gestures.
"Yeah, I talked to her about a month ago, and she gave me some
sleeping pills that wont have any interactions with my CVI or my new brain
chemistry."
"Going into inter-dimensional mode," she reported, and then
turned to him, raising a dark brow. "And? Have you tried them
yet?"
"I tried them last night, and yes, they did help me sleep.
Actually, they worked a little too well. I slept in, and when I woke up, I barely had time
to get dressed and shave before driving in to meet you."
"You havent eaten yet? No wonder youve been having
trouble sleeping, Boone; you dont take care of yourself. You skip meals, you work
six-sometimes seven-days a week, and you never relax. How can you expect your body to put
up with that?"
"And you always get all the sleep that you should, and all your
meals?" Boone asked pointedly. Lili shook her head.
"Fine, Boone. Coming out of inter-dimensional," she
announced, going through another series of gestures. "I just hope you dont hurt
yourself." The beautiful shimmers and vortexes of color that had filled the
viewscreen slipped away, rippled, and then the elegant shape of the Taelon embassy rippled
into being in front of the shuttle. Lili set the shuttle down in the little nook
specifically designed for the purpose, and then removed the virtual windshield.
They walked to Daans office in silence. When they entered
the office, Daan and Agent Sandoval were waiting for them. Boone and Lili
simultaneously offered Daan the Taelon gesture of greeting. Daan returned the
gesture, and then tilted his head slightly to the side. "I thank you for your
presence, Commander. Captain Marquette, your presence is no longer required," he told
them, and then watched as Lili nodded, repeated the gesture she had made just a moment
before, and left the room. Once she was gone, he returned his attention to his Implants.
"Commander Boone, how have your preparations for the opening of
the new hospital progressed?" the Taelon asked, tilting his head slightly up and to
the side.
"Ive already prepared the security team for the event,
Daan. Is there something else that you want me to do?" Boone asked, his
forehead creasing. The Taelon stared intently into his eyes, his head tilted down to gaze
at Boone through his eyelashes. It always astonished Boone that Daan took such care
to form his human façade. One might expect that eyelashes would escape the attention of a
being comprised almost completely of energy.
"Yes, there is something else which requires your attention, but
let us complete the preparations for the upcoming opening, first." That seemed to be
Daans not-too-subtle way of saying that the other item could wait until
Sandoval had returned to his private office. Boone glanced over to see Sandovals
reaction to this. The smaller man had the look of a child who has just been told that his
parent would be taking his younger brother to a ball game, but he couldnt come.
Boone turned his attention back to Daan, suddenly feeling guilty for even looking at
Sandoval when he knew the other implant would be upset. Sandoval was so easily hurt in
regards to Daan; he wanted the Taelons approval so badly. And, Boone reminded
himself, he blames you for taking that away from him. It was a good thing that Sandoval
was so much under Taelon control; Boone imagined that killing another implant out of
jealousy would be very much against Sandovals motivational imperative.
For another few minutes, Sandoval and Boone reported on the status of
their preparations for their Companions visit to the new hospital. Whenever
Daan was making a public appearance, the two implants had to coordinate every aspect
of the visit very carefully, so as to insure that the Taelon would come to no harm from
anti-Companion factions, or from crazed crowds. Of course, Boone was in a special position
in regards to that, but Daan was either unaware of his Protectors broken
loyalties, or trusted him anyway. Boone favored the first option, for obvious reasons.
Still, Daan had a way of looking at him oddly sometimes, just when Boone was
treading the thin line between his affection and respect for his Companion, and his doubts
about the Taelon race in general.
"I believe that is everything that you required, Daan,"
Sandoval summarized. "The world is very eager for this opportunity to see your
races abilities, as well as to see you in particular."
"Very well, Agent Sandoval. Please continue your preparations, and
then ascertain what Dr. Park requires of us, and whether our preparations are satisfactory
to her." Sandoval nodded curtly, offered the Taelon salute, and left the room.
Daan watched him leave, and then turned his attention back to Boone.
"Commander, I am informed by Saral, the Companion to the
United Kingdom, that several artifacts have been found within Maels tomb which
the Synod finds
curious. I wish to examine these artifacts for myself."
"You want me to go to the United Kingdom to get them?" Boone
asked. Suddenly, an image shot through his mind. He couldnt quite see it, but it
appeared to be a small clay pot, with some rough paper inside it. His face must have
registered surprise, for Daan cocked his head slightly.
"Commander Boone, are you unwell?" Daan asked gently.
"No, Daan. Im all right. I just had an intrusion,
thats all." The Taelon did not seem convinced. Boone had mastered the art of
controlling his CVI months ago. Now he rarely experienced the uncontrolled intrusions that
had plagued him when he first received his implant.
"What images do you experience?" Daan insisted. Boone
tried to bring the image back, and succeeded, but another came with it- the green hills of
Ireland, but replacing the town of Finbara was a collection of small huts.
"A clay pot with some papers inside, and some huts. Just images
from a dream, probably. I havent been sleeping very well lately."
"Indeed," Daan commented cryptically. "I too, have
felt uneasy in my rest these last days. Perhaps your previous experiences in Ireland offer
you insight which you cannot yet understand."
"Nothing happened there that would have caused anything strange,
Daan," Boone assured the Taelon. But maybe what happened with Katya
Katya Petrenko, a Russian psychic who had found her way into the Taelon Commonality,
had given him her ability, as a final gift before she died. Among the
images that she had given him, were images of Mael, the ancient Companion scientist
who had brought forth mankinds psychic ability. These images that Boone kept seeing
must have something to do with him. But I dont remember these images from the
information she gave me
"Perhaps your CVI has allowed you more control of your
subconscious mind than you previously experienced," Daan suggested, as though
he had been listening to Boones internal dialogue,
"Lieutenant Beckett has occasionally
made comments to that effect. Perhaps you should discuss these visions with her."
"Well, I really havent remembered any of them in detail,
just little things
"
"Then may I offer a solution that is two-fold? Use your CVI to
recall, and allow me to share your memories. Captain Marquette has no doubt told you of
our sharing several months ago?"
"Yes, she did. I was under the impression that she was able to
experience your feelings, but not the other way around."
"Out of respect for the human concept of privacy, I limited my
perception of her. We Taelons are capable of controlling how deeply we experience
anothers mind, for the sake of the inner thoughts of others. Not even Taelons would
enjoy the concept of another knowing our deepest thoughts."
Is that a subtle way of saying that hell respect my secrets? Just how much does
he know, anyway?
"Alright. Lets do it," he agreed. Jonathan will
kill me for this, he thought, but I dont think I can get out of this without
admitting that I have things Id like to hide from him. Any normal implant would jump
at the opportunity to share with a Taelon.
"Very well." Daan stepped down from his chair, and
extended his hand to Boone, palm out. "Place your hand on
mine."
Boone slowly extended his hand, and let his palm gently rest on
Daans. He was immediately rewarded with a flow of energy and emotion that was
unlike anything hed ever felt before. Feelings, emotions, flashes of imagery that
even with his CVI he was unable to completely assimilate before they disappeared, to be
quickly replaced by another. No wonder Lili had been overwhelmed by it all.
Flashes of light, the Synod meeting in Daans chamber, Julie
Paytons innocent smile after her hands had been restored, the expression of terror
in Sahjits eyes as Daan reached forward to touch his forehead,
Zoors smug expression as he took over Daans position as the
American Companion, Boones own face, the serenity of Daans garden behind
the embassy, and strange images of Taelons without their facades and landscapes that could
not be of Earth.
In the middle of it all was Daans voice, gentle and soothing. "Commander
Boone, use your CVI and find the images that we spoke of." Boone pulled up the
small details that he had remembered a moment before, barely catching them before they
slipped back into the depths again. This time it was clearer, as if he was really there,
touching the pot. He could feel the smooth, cool clay beneath his fingers, and
Daans pleasure over the image.
In his minds eye he found himself reaching into the pot, and the
paper that he had remembered slipped out with ease. Written on the paper were Taelon
characters in black ink. Fascinated, Boone brought the paper closer.
"Drawings! Mael put drawings in the margins of the
paper," he exclaimed. The tiny drawings of spirals and intricate knots filled the
margins of the paper, making it resemble the most beautiful of stationary. In their
connected state, Boone could feel the waves of curiosity that filled Daan.
"Perhaps Mael felt that exploring human art would lead to
a better understanding of your people," Daan suggested.
"I believe that when you arrive in Ireland, you will find this
pot among the artifacts that your scientists have found. Perhaps we should consider the
other images, now, and concentrate on the meaning of the document at another time."
Boone carefully called up the image of the hillside again. This
time, with Daans help, he was able to turn around to see the stones. To his
shock, they were new. The weathered, rounded surfaces that he had seen when he was there
looking for Maels tomb were new, and beautiful.
"Follow the dream, Boone," Daan told him, "Go
where the dream takes you." And to his surprise, the dream did move him. He found
himself walking down to the village and into one of the huts on the outskirts. It was
small and warm, with a thatched roof and a low ceiling. As he ducked to enter, he found
himself face to face with a small, brown-haired woman with sparkling hazel eyes. She bore
a vague resemblance to Beckett, but her features were softer, more open and friendly. She
smiled warmly at him, and stepped forward. He reached out to touch her face, but just as
he felt her skin beneath his, she vanished. When he turned to search for her, the hut
vanished as well, replaced by his own house.
"No," he thought, "Daan, let me out of
this."
"I do not hold you here, Boone. You alone guide this
experience. Your mind finds something of great significance here."
"I know what this is, Daan. Ive had this dream almost
every night for the past year. I recognize it now. I dont want to remember
this." He was becoming panicked now, and he could feel Daans
confusion and concern for him.
"Commander Boone, you must face this part of your mind. This is
at least part of the reason that you have not rested well these last nights." As
Daan spoke, Boone could feel a surge of warm, comforting energy flow through the
Taelons hand, into him.
The door opened in his mind, and, as much as he wanted to turn away
from it, he stepped forward to greet Kate at the door. She smiled innocently and slipped
her arms around his neck, snuggling close for a moment. Boone could feel Daans
confusion, but he couldnt explain the reason he was so nervous. The Taelon would
find out shortly, anyway. Smiling and unaware, Boones dream-self held Kate out to
look at her, and then screamed in horror and fear when the face that he looked down on was
burned and torn by the explosion that had killed her. Her hair, which had always looked
like strands of sunshine, was burned off. Her skin was black, blistered and cracking,
oozing, and in some places burned down to the bone. Panicking, he pushed her away from
him, and then screamed again when parts of her skin fell away as she fell to the ground.
"You were supposed to protect me, Will," she sobbed, her
voice hoarse with pain. "To keep them from doing this to me."
"I didnt know
" He found himself crying, just as
he had all the other times hed had this same dream. "I didnt know that
they would hurt you. If Id known I
" He stepped forward, wanting to
comfort her, but Kate disappeared, her last expression one of pained betrayal. William
Boone, who had seen so much death, hatred and disaster, fell sobbing to the floor.
Suddenly, he felt something- not in his dream body, but his physical one, still standing
in Daans office. He felt Daan gently release his hand, and then softly
reach up to touch his cheek, and smoothly run down until his hand rested on the back of
Boones neck. Boone opened his eyes and found Daan looking up at him,
understanding filling his crystal-blue eyes. "The loss of your mate troubles you
greatly, still. I had not understood your pain until now. Are you able to speak of
this?"
"Im fine, Daan. Ive had that dream every night
since Kates death. Sometimes I remember all of it, sometimes not, but it always
leaves me with the same feeling."
"You did not cause your wifes death, Boone. And from what
you have told me of her, I do not believe that she would blame you for this. You could not
have known that she would be killed." Suddenly, Boone could hold the question back no
longer.
"Daan, did you know that Sandoval was going to kill
Kate?"
Daan turned away from him, losing his human façade for several seconds.
"I did not," Daan told him, "Had I known of this,
I most certainly would have ordered him to cease his actions."
"How can I know that?" Boone hissed, immediately regretting
his words. No implant would so challenge a Companions word. Daan cocked his
head, looking at Boone from the corners of his crystal-blue eyes. Despite the serious
nature of his words, he wore the almost amused expression that he saved for situations
which he found ironic in some way.
"Take care of the words you speak, Commander. I allow you many
liberties, but my patience is not unlimited.
"You have often spoken against the Companions. Your words and
actions have often caused the Synod to question your loyalties, and always I have defended
you. You must trust me as I have trusted you, or both our worlds will pay the price of our
deception."
Boone felt a breath of cold air run along his spine. The Taelon had never before spoken so
boldly. "You must trust me as I have
trusted you
" Hes known all along that I dont have a Motivational
Imperative? What else could that mean? Daan watched him, scanning his eyes for a
response. Despite the fear that still ran through his body, Boone forced himself to nod
slowly. Daan blinked in calm approval, still watching his implant intently.
"Perhaps we should continue this discussion at another time. I do not wish to cause
you further stress." Boone nodded, and turned to leave.
"William," Daan continued, sounding hesitant. Boone
turned, surprised that the Taelon would use his first name. "I regret very much that
I was unable to save your wife. I hope that you will be able to forgive me, in time. Our
friendship has been one of the greatest gifts that I have received in my time on this
world." Boone thought for a moment before coming up with a response.
"Ive enjoyed our friendship also, Daan. I hope it can
continue to grow and develop." Daan nodded slowly, and then extended his hand
in the gesture of farewell. Boone returned the gesture, and left the chamber as quickly as
he could without making his haste obvious.
***
The Resistance headquarters were always dim, but today they
seemed more so than usual. Augur, Boones old friend and current ally, was sitting at
his computer console, with Lili peering over his shoulder at the screen. Nearby, Rayna
Amitraj led the work of three other scientists, while the leader of their group, Jonathan
Doors, watched from the shadows.
Of late, Doors was not very popular amongst his makeshift army. He had
never been a very considerate person; and the power struggles between him and Boone had
left him leader only until the day that everyone tired of his callous aggression and
egotism. The only thing he had in his favor was that he had the money to fund the group.
And so the group put up with him. For now.
Shifting his attention temporarily away from that problem,
Boone walked over to where Lili and Augur worked.
"Lili, we need to go to Ireland tomorrow. Daan is sending me
to pick up some artifacts from Maels tomb."
"Is Sandoval coming, too?"
"No. Hes staying in Washington to help Daan with the
opening of the new hospital. But, well have to coordinate with Beckette,
again."
"That could be a problem. Is there going to be anything well
need to hide from her?"
"Not that I know of. She already knows that were taking the
artifacts."
"Good," Lili commented. "I dont like her
intuition. She figures too much out too easily. Sandoval, at least, is so caught up in
logic and procedures that hes easy to skip ahead of. Beckette has some kind of
instinct that keeps her from being deceived by logic and routine."
"I know. She worries me, too. We shouldnt have to worry
about her this time, though. Daan seems to get along fairly well with her Companion.
She wont give us any trouble." "Something else wrong, Boone? You look
upset."
"No, not really. I was just talking to Daan about the dreams
that Ive been having lately, and he had me join with him to help bring the images to
light."
"You did what?!" Jonathan hissed, stepping out of the
shadows.
Boone rolled his eyes as he turned to face the old billionaire. The older mans face
was contorted in anger.
"Jonathan, there wasnt anything that I could do about it.
How long do you think he would trust me if I had refused? No implant would deny that kind
of request!"
"I dont care if you had to kill him; there is too much
information in that brain of yours for you to have a Taelon looking in on your
thoughts."
"I was under control of what he saw. If either of us were in
danger of letting sensitive information out, it was him."
"You continue to believe that you know these creatures.
Theyre masters of deception, and if you trust them they will destroy you. If
Daan tells you that the earth is round, I want to see satellite images and
geographic surveys to make sure that its still true. Everything that they do is to
further their agenda, and they dont care who gets hurt in the process."
"You know, Jonathan, its funny that you should say that.
Ive always believed that you operate in much the same way." Doors scowled.
"You have to, in order to survive in this world." Boone
cocked his head at this comment, unthinkingly mimicking Daan.
"Ive always wondered what happened to you that made you so
hard. Youve had a good life, youre the owner of an economical empire; anything
that you want is yours. Usually it takes a hard life to turn a man into an unfeeling,
mean-spirited tycoon, but I think you were born one. Your level of heartlessness
doesnt come without years of practice." With that, Boone
turned and walked up the steps and out of the small underground complex, no longer willing
to deal with the aging billionaire.
The church above was typically quiet and, as Boone had expected, no one noticed him as he left the neglected side-room that the secret entrance was within.
He walked quickly after leaving the church, stopping only to
buy a bouquet of chrysanthemums and babys breath at a florists shop. When he
arrived at the cemetery, he followed his usual path to the outskirts, and stopped before
the granite headstone that he had come to know so well over the past months. Kaitline
Barret Boone. My Loving Wife.
He set the bouquet in front of the headstone, and then knelt on the
grass, his hand lying on the cool granite. The touch of it brought back a flash of memory;
standing in front of her grave on the day that hed discovered that Sandoval had
ordered her death. Then another memory; standing in front of his parents graves,
holding his sister Sarah in his arms as they both cried. And then
Boones brow
creased in confusion. This last memory wasnt his. Another dream image, he guessed,
and reached out in his mind to pull it back. He was standing on a grassy hill, in front of
a newly dug grave, and the same beautiful, brown haired woman as in his previous
dream-memory was holding her hands out over the body that was being laid out. She was
murmuring something, some sort of prayer
Something pulled him back, made him lose the memory. Annoyed, he opened
his eyes to find that several minutes appeared to have passed. The rain clouds, which had
been hovering on the horizon, were now directly above him. A heavy, cold rain had begun to
fall. Shaking his head and giving the name on the headstone a final caress, Will Boone
hurried back to his car.
* * *
Mael walked carefully up to the small village. His many
years on Earth had taught him to be careful when he first entered a Human settlement;
sometimes the natives were not as friendly as he might hope.
A large group of the humans met him at the gate of the wall. Many were
warriors, tall and noble-looking, but there were a few others among them. Mael
stopped a respectful distance away from them, and raised both his hands in a nearly
universal gesture of peace.
"I am a traveler from a distant land. Would your people be so kind
as to allow a weary journeyman to enter your village, and take rest?" Mael
requested. He had long ago perfected a way to win the humans trust, and then their
obedience. Just as he had expected, one of the men stepped forward.
"I speak for these people, and we will indeed take you in. A bard
who visited the last court at which you stayed told us of you, and we have long awaited
our chance to entertain such a gracious lord. Enter, Lord Mael!"
Mael was greatly pleased by his welcome, and followed his new
host with pleasure. Just as he was about to enter the home of the lord of the village, he
noticed a small figure in a thin green robe, watching him intently from behind a thin
bush. He looked questioningly at his host.
"Do not mind the girl, my lord," the chief told him.
"she is a minor Healer in our village, who earns her keep by easing the suffering of
those in pain. She is poor, but her talents are quite useful during times of
disease." Mael stepped toward her, slowly.
"Come forth, Lady," he told her softly. As she emerged from
the shadows, something caused Mael to start.
It was as though he knew this human. Her spirit, her face
they
seemed to him as familiar as the now-distant touch of his companions' minds. At first she
cast her eyes down, hiding them in loose strands of hair a fine shade of reddish gold.
After a moment, though, her curiosity won over her shyness. She glanced up at him, then
stared as though entranced. Her eyes look as though she feels this connection as well, Mael
mused. Slowly, she bowed to him, her gray-blue eyes never leaving his own.
"I greet you, lord Mael," she murmured.
"May I know your name?" Mael inquired gently,
determined to know this human whom he felt such a bond with.
"Fiona, my lord. My name is Fiona. I have no other."
* * *
William Boone awoke in the middle of the night, his mind racing with strange dreams and confusing memories that werent his own. How could I have a dream from Maels point of view? He wondered. Where are these memories coming from?
* * *
The question haunted him on the way to the office. If his
dreams were from Maels point of view, then he must have received them from the
Commonality, somehow. So they must be from the images that Katya Petrenko gave him. The
only problem with this theory was that he didnt remember these images from his
experience with Katya, and his impression had been that they had gone over everything
shed received. Boone shook his head, putting aside the confusing images for later.
Right now, he had to get to the office.
Today he took the time to eat some toast and an orange, and drink some
coffee before heading off. When he arrived at the office he completed the weeks paperwork,
and then had a conference with Daan via the holographic emitter. Daan seemed
quite pleased by the preparations that Boone had made for the opening of the hospital, and
was obviously looking forward to the chance to meet with the patients. Daan, Boone
had noticed, was always ready to spend time with humans.
At about four oclock, Boone met Lili out on the front lawn of the office. "So,
how did you sleep last night?" she asked as they got into the shuttle.
"Fairly well, but I had another of those dreams."
"Do you remember any of this one?"
"Yeah, I was in ancient Ireland, I think. I didnt recognize
any of the people, but it all felt so realistic. I think I was Mael," he
finished, and then paused, waiting for her response. It was predictable.
"You were Mael? Boone, you must really be spending too much
time around these people if youre starting to dream as them."
"Lili, I think theres more going on here than just me
dreaming that Im a dead Taelon scientist. I think these dreams really
happened, maybe."
"You think that your dreams are memories of some sort?" she
asked, obviously humoring him.
"Yes, possibly." Lili turned back to face him for a moment,
one eyebrow raised. "Okay, maybe not," Boone admitted, "but if they
didnt really happen, then where do you suppose they came from?"
"Your mind? Boone, sometimes dreams are so realistic that
theres really no way of telling that they didnt happen, except that they
dont make any sense. It definitely doesnt make any sense for you to suddenly
remember things from a dead Taelon scientist's past. This was two thousand years ago,
Boone. What are you saying, that you are Mael reincarnated?" "Maybe,"
Boone said lightly, smiling, "I mean, if reincarnation does exist, whos to say
that we are only reincarnated as humans? Or even just creatures from Earth? Maybe Im
recalling memories as Maels pet, how should we know?" Lili shook her
head.
"I think youre taking open-mindedness just a little too far,
Boone," she told him. He laughed a little.
"Well, whatever happens, I think Ill get Lieutenant
Beckettes opinion on this whole thing. If nothing else, she may be able to explain
some of the cultural aspects," Boone told her, and then turned his attention back to
the beautiful swirls and patterns outside of the virtual-glass windshield. He was always
calmed by those images, and had seen Daan react in much the same way.
Were so different, him and I; its strange that we
would find such beauty and peace in the same images. I wonder how universal the concept of
beauty is, and whether its the same everywhere. I certainly cant imagine
Zoor taking the same pleasure that Daan does in a garden, or a sunset. I
wonder which one of them is the norm, among Taelons. Boone tried for a moment to
imagine a world full of beings like Zoor, and then decided that it was likely that
both Taelons were abnormal among their species; Daan for his understanding of
humanity, and Zoor for his utter disinterest in anyone elses welfare. So what
would a normal Taelon be like?
"Coming out of inter-dimensional," Lili announced. Boone
flicked his eyes over to the clock on Lilis display, and was astonished to note that
the entire hour and a half-long trip had passed him by. They were already over the site.
As Lili maneuvered the shuttle to hover above the landing site,
beginning to bring it down, Boone scanned the hills. Walking toward them with her
typically strong, confident gait was Lieutenant Siobhan Beckette, one of the implants who
worked for the Companion to the United Kingdom. As soon as they had landed, and the
virtual glass was removed, she stepped up to the shuttle to greet them.
"Commander Boone," she acknowledged, "Captain
Marquette."
"Good morning, Lieutenant Beckette," Boone greeted. Beckette
nodded curtly in response.
"I assume that youll want to see the artifacts right
away," Beckette told them.
"Yes, are they here in the tomb?" Boone asked, glancing down
at the hole in the ground that had once been the cellar of the White Horse Tavern, and the
second hole that marked the entrance to the tomb. Beckette nodded and, without further
conversation, strode over to the entrance into the tomb.
"Ill stay here," Lili told Boone, "The
shuttles systems need a little bit of fine-tuning."
"If you need any help, just talk to Gregor Collins over
there," Beckette pointed to a tall, blonde haired soldier. "He was a mechanic
before he joined the militia."
"Thanks," Lili replied tersely. Beckette ignored her tone and
turned back to the tomb. Boone had to step quickly in order to catch up to her.
"What happened to the tavern?" Boone asked.
"We had to tear it down, to excavate the tomb properly. Sean was
properly compensated for his trouble, and hes rebuilt the tavern at the other side
of town. Its better in the long run, anyway," Beckette commented,
matter-of-factly.
"What do you mean?" Beckette glanced back at Boone.
"The tavern will get more customers where he rebuilt," she
told him, "Its closer to the tourist shops." Boone
shook his head.
"Somehow, I dont think that group will take kindly to
tourists. They certainly werent too fond of Lili and I." Beckette smiled, and
shook her head a little.
"They werent expecting you to be as open as you were.
Id wager that if you went back, youd find yourselves welcomed."
"Sure, the tavern took a percentage off all those bets that were
made that night," Boone laughed. Beckette nodded.
"Between that and the way you treated OMalley when you found
him, I think youre likely to get a better welcome than I do."
"You could do something about that, you know," Boone
commented. Beckette turned to look at him, the corner of her lip turning up slightly.
"Now why would I want to do that?" She asked, her tone
teasing and light. Boone shook his head.
"You know what I mean. If you stopped trying to intimidate
them
"
"Thats one thing you dont understand, Commander. I do
what I have to do to further the goals of my Companion. I dont have the time or the
desire to make myself popular with the locals. Now," she continued, "the
artifacts that Daan wanted are right over here." Beckette strode over to a pile
of crates. "Do you need to look at them, or is that all?"
"I actually would appreciate your insight on something,"
Boone admitted. Beckette tilted her head slightly, raising one eyebrow. Boone took that as
a sign to continue. "Ive been
having some strange dreams lately. They seem
to have something to do with Mael, and the people who lived here during the time he
did." Beckette nodded slowly.
"And you want me to interpret them for you," she finished for
him. "I see. What have these dreams involved?"
"Fragments of images; a clay pot with some paper in it, a woman
with brown hair and green eyes greeting Mael when he entered the village
Does
any of this sound familiar to you?" Beckette looked at him oddly for a moment.
"What did this pot look like, Commander Boone?" she asked.
"Pretty simple, just a gray clay pot, with some indentations on
the lip, and some old paper inside. There was something written on the
paper in black ink, and drawings of spirals and knot-like patterns in the margin. I think
the writing was Taelon."
Beckette turned away from him, and searched in one of the
artifact boxes. She stopped for a moment, having apparently found what shed been
looking for, and then turned back to him. Her face was unmoving, but Boone sensed that she
was tensed, ready for something to happen.
"Did it look like this?" she asked, her voice low, as she
carefully removed the paper wrapping from the artifact.
In her hands was the exact pot that Boone had seen in his visions. He
pulled the image from the back of his mind, carefully comparing it with the real pot. The
clay was lighter, aged over thousands of years, and there was a small chip in the rim, but
the pot was the same.
"Yes, thats the one," Boone said softly, reaching out
to take it from Beckette. She hesitated for a moment, as though unsure that he would take
proper care with such an important and ancient object, but then handed it over. Feeling
like he was in another of his dreams, Boone peered into the pot. There, nestled in the
bottom, was a collection of rolled sheets of aged, yellowed papers. Boone eyed the opening
for a moment, and then turned back to Beckette, who looked on as though enthralled.
"Would you take out the papers?" he requested.
Beckettes brow creased in confusion.
"Why?"
"The opening of the pot is a little small. I dont want to
hit the sides too much, and your hands are smaller than mine." The answer seemed to
satisfy Beckette, and she carefully reached into the pot to retrieve the ancient
documents. After taking them out, she set each on carefully on the ground, and then knelt
beside them. Boone followed her example, and reached out to pick one up. Gently, and as
slowly as he could, Boone unrolled the first scroll.
The characters scrawled on the paper were indeed Taelon. Each character
was carefully written onto the paper, using what appeared to have been a paintbrush of
some sort. "Can you read this?" Beckette asked, her voice hushed in wonder.
Boone nodded. ""What wonders I have seen while living on this world. Today, I
met a human female who calls herself Fiona. She has the strongest psychic ability that I
have yet felt in a human, and, I believe, is willing to be taught how to extend her
powers. The people of the village trust her, which also makes her the perfect companion
for me.
I find myself drawn to her, as strongly connected to her as I
am to those of my own kind whom I am most close to. I shall teach her to control her
powers, and then strengthen them further. I find myself questioning the desires of the
Synod, in regards to this world. Many of them have shown such potential; it seems to me
that they may well develop to be worthy allies, rather than a merely useful race. I will
continue to consider these thoughts before I communicate them to the Synod, as I have no
desire to be hasty in my judgement."
Boone shivered, and glanced up at Beckette. Her eyes were large, her forehead creased
in thought.
"I wonder if Mael increased the psychic abilities of any
other humans while he was on Earth. That would explain the legends that those who bore the
gift were the chosen of the Gods, wouldnt they?" Beckette commented. Boone
nodded slowly.
"But it still offers no insight as to why I have these memories,
or what they all mean," Boone told her, frustrated. Beckette tilted her head
thoughtfully.
"Perhaps you should stay in Finbarra for the night, Commander.
Theres an inn by the new tavern."
"What makes you say that I should stay?" Boone asked.
"You need time to look over these artifacts, so you can find the
meaning of your dreams. If you stay here, you can do that at your leisure, and Ill
interpret those aspects involving Irish culture."
Boone nodded slowly. "Alright. Ill get Captain Marquette and book rooms at the
inn. Will you meet us for dinner, maybe?"
"Very well," Beckette agreed, brushing some imagined dust
from her sleeve. "Ill meet you at the inn. Well eat there, so we
wont be disturbed."
"Do they have food there?" Boone asked.
"No, Ill bring the food." She smiled wistfully,
"Its a pity that Agent Sandoval couldnt have come out with you. I would
have enjoyed his company." With that, Beckette turned and headed off deeper into
Finbarra. Boone watched her for a moment, and then turned back toward the shuttle.
"Boone!" Lili cried from inside. "Are you ready to get
moving, now? Were going to get in to D.C. around ten, as it is."
"Were staying here for the night. Beckette recommended a
nearby inn, and shes meeting us there for dinner. She agreed to help me sort out the
meaning of these visions."
"Boone, Id be careful if I were you. That woman is not
exactly innocent. You remember how she came on to Sandoval
"
"I do, and thats exactly why Im not worried. If
shed been interested in me, she wouldnt have spent all that time on Sandoval.
Shes not exactly the type to let anything she wants just go on by," Boone
commented. Lili laughed.
"Alright, if you think you can handle her," she said. Boone
smiled.
"Besides," he added, "youll have the room right
next to mine. If I get into any trouble, youll be right there to come to my rescue.
So, how did the repairs go?"
"It wasnt anything too pressing, I just figured now was as
good a time as any. The less time I spend around Beckette, the better." Lili stood
up, smoothing her hair back, and stepped out of the shuttle to stand next to Boone.
"I would have thought that you two would get along great. I mean,
you're both military veterans, you both practice hand-to-hand combat, and she obviously
respects you a lot, or she wouldnt keep pressing you to become a Companion
agent."
"Yeah. Maybe were too much alike, you know? Like were
two sides of the same coin. She fights for the Companions, I fight for the Resistance. And
she's a little too brutal. She doesnt seem to think about anybody else, just the
Companions and herself."
"I dont know; she thought a lot about Sandoval the last time
we were out here," Boone joked. Lili frowned at him.
"You know what I mean, Boone. Shes arrogant, self-conceited,
and over-confident, with a hint of sexual aggression to make things interesting."
"I think you underestimate her, Lili. She has a lot of
spirit-especially for an implant-and her love of history, her connection to this land and
these people
She really has a lot more to her than you might think."
"And you say this from your long experience with her? Boone, you
dealt with her for three days the last time we met, and that was the first time wed
ever met her at all! You have no idea who she is and what shes all about."
"And neither do you. Look, Im not saying that shes an
angel, or even anyone that Id like to have as a friend. All Im saying is that
you shouldnt judge her too quickly."
Lili nodded, and closed the virtual windshield of the shuttle behind
them. Then, without a word, she started walking toward Finbarra. Boone fell into step
beside her, but let the silence hang in the air. If Lili felt insulted by what he had said
about Beckette, then they could walk in silence.
It sometimes bothered Boone, how focused his partner was on the
Liberation. Sometimes she seemed to forget that anyone else had ideas, besides her and
Jonathan Doors. She had been a little more understanding of Boones dilemma since the
time she was trapped in the forest alone with Daan, but she still seemed set on the
idea that the Liberation was always in the right. Boone couldnt help but worry that
her one-track way of looking at things would get them into trouble some day. For now,
though, they would just book their rooms, and then meet Beckette for dinner.
The inn was a small, cozy-looking building that appeared to have been
built early in the nineteen-hundreds. There was a sign hanging above the door that
displayed a heraldic lion holding a banner. Beneath it was a newer sign that read,
"Under new management." Boone frowned, wondering what had happened to the former
manager, but continued inside none-the-less.
As he reached out to open the door for Lili, he noticed a third sign.
Pinned conspicuously to the thick wooden door was the image of the Companion to the United
Kingdom, Saral. Above his image were the words, "Working together for a better
future."
"I wonder what made them put that up," Lili commented.
"Do you think it has anything to do with Beckette hovering around this place,
again?" Boone smiled.
"With all the ruckus she caused at the tavern last time, I
dont blame them for trying to get on her good side," Boone told her, shaking
his head.
Stepping into the inn was like stepping about one hundred and fifty
years into the past. The front room was dim, lit only by lamps that, at first glance,
appeared to be oil. When Boone looked closer, though, he saw that the lamps were mostly
electric, set to flicker and spurt like the real thing. Likewise,
the service desk boasted a large, old-fashioned guest-book, but hidden away on the back
wall was a small computer, to make records more convenient. The young woman who staffed
the desk was warm and friendly; a small brunette, who appeared to be just out of college,
if that. Smiling politely at them, she took their names down on the ledger.
"How long will you be staying, sir?"
"With any luck, well be leaving tomorrow, around noon,"
Boone replied. The woman took note of his answer and then glanced back up, another
question on her lips. But before she could speak, her eyes caught the dim glow of his
skrill. Her eyebrows immediately went up, her blue eyes widening in surprise, despite
attempts to hold down her emotions.
"Im sorry, sir, I didnt realize that you
"
"Its not an issue, Miss. We just need a pair of rooms for
the night."
"Yes, sir. You must be the two that Lieutenant Beckette told me
she was expecting. She said that you were to come up to her room, as soon as you were
settled."
"Thank you," Boone said as he took the keys from her, and
handed one of them to Lili. "Where are the rooms?"
"Yours are the third and fourth doors on the right of the second
floor. Lieutenant Beckettes is the last on the left side of the same floor."
Boone nodded and thanked her again, and then led Lili over toward the staircase.
"You didnt mention that Beckette was staying here,
too," Lili accused.
"I didnt know. It makes sense, though. She wouldnt
live way out here; she would live somewhere in London, so she could easily get to
Saral when she was needed."
When they reached their rooms, they unlocked the doors,
and then both agreed to be out and at Beckettes door in a half an hour.
Boones room was much the same in décor as the main room.
Whitewashed walls, dark, wooden beams, more cozy oil lamps, and a large window that
offered a view of the stone circle in the distance. There was a thick, colorful quilt on
the bed, and vases full of dried flowers on the table and nightstand. A trunk at the foot
of the bed proved to hold more blankets, with packets of lavender between each. Several
paintings of local scenery decorated the walls. From the looks of them, each was an
original. Boone looked closely at the signature, and recognized it as the same as the
young woman who had signed off their names in the guest-book.
Promising himself that he would remember to compliment her on her work,
he went over to check on Lili.
Her room, though much the same, didnt have as impressive a view
from its window as the view in his, and the quilt on her bed didnt appear quite as
new as his.
"Are you ready to go? Im sure Beckettes been waiting
for us," Boone told her. Lili shook her head.
"I still cant believe that were staying here overnight
so that she can help you figure out your dreams. Theyre just
that, Boone. Dreams."
"If you were having them, you wouldnt think that they were
just dreams. Daan even thought that they were important."
"Whatever, Boone. Im just telling you that youre
wasting your time on all this junk. Lets go. I want to get this over with so we can
leave early tomorrow morning." Lili turned on her heel and left the room, scowling
fiercely. Once again annoyed by her temper, Boone followed her to Beckettes door and
then knocked firmly on the thick wood.
"Come in, Commander," Beckette called, "and Captain
Marquette."
Boone pushed the thick door open and found himself looking into a warm,
well lit room that was filled with the smells of wonderful food. And in the middle of the
room, standing beside the table with the air of a residing queen, was Siobhan Beckette.
This was what Boone had been afraid of ever since she had offered to
help him with his dreams. The last time he and Beckette had worked together, she had
latched on to Agent Sandoval, tirelessly chasing him for the length of their stay.
Sandoval, being unemotional even for an implant, had not responded. Boone couldnt
help but fear that Beckette might decide that he would be easier prey.
He just wished that he could tell what she was thinking. Was the
change in her clothing and manner for comfort and a casual evening helping an associate,
or meant to lull him? Whichever Beckette had intended, Boone was quite glad that Lili had
agreed to come with him. Beckette would hardly go too far in her advances with another
woman around.
Her auburn hair hung in a braid down her shoulders, and she
had traded her severe black uniform for a red blouse and loose wine-colored skirt. She
smiled at them in greeting, and gestured to the three chairs at the table. After Boone and
Lili had seated themselves, Beckette took her seat, without a word, and began passing the
bowls and plates. After a moment, Boone forgot his discomfort in delight over the food
that she had prepared.
It was simple fare, but just as good as anything that Boone had found
in a restaurant. A basket of biscuits, a bowl of potatoes roasted with salt and spices, a
salad of cabbage and other vegetables in a vinegar sauce, and baked chicken with rosemary
and sage. For several moments the room was silent, as all three gave the food the
attention that it deserved. But after a while Boone felt obligated to start a
conversation.
"This food is wonderful, Beckette," he ventured, feeling a
little odd using her last name under such circumstances. "Did you make it all
yourself?"
"Not all of it," Beckette admitted, "The chicken is from
a deli here in town."
"Well, its all wonderful," Lili assured her, smiling in
a friendly manner. Maybe theyll both make it through the evening, after all, Boone
thought, allowing himself a smile. The thought of Beckette and Lili getting along like old
friends was a new concept, but almost fit, at the moment.
The three chatted comfortably for the length of dinner, and then
Beckette removed the dishes and brought out a pot of tea. Lili declined, but Boone happily
accepted. After pouring his tea, Beckette also prepared her own cup (no sugar, no cream)
and suggested that they move to the main area of the room. Three comfortable chairs
awaited them, with a small coffee table in between. Sitting on the center of the table was
the box of artifacts that Boone had seen in the tomb. After Boone and Lili had made
themselves comfortable, Beckette knelt before the box and removed an artifact.
"Tell me what you feel about this," she ordered Boone,
handing it to him.
The object appeared to be a piece of jewelry of some kind, with a
shimmering white and blue stone in the center of a silver setting. Even more quickly than
it had happened before, Boone felt himself slipping away into the vision. The room faded
into blackness, and then was replaced by a dark room. It all felt so familiar
"Mael, you simply must try it on! Adair worked for weeks to
polish the stone, and Donovan
You know how hard it is to find good silver in these
lands, my lord. They would be so disappointed if you didnt even wear it once!"
Fiona held out the necklace. A simple silver chain, with a large opal
set in silver hanging upon it. Still, Mael felt no desire to wear it. After all his
decades on this world, he still could not become used to the human desire for decoration.
"Fiona, you are aware that I find the human fondness for
extravagant clothing unpleasant. I do not wish to offend Adair and Donovan, but I also
feel no desire to wear this ornament."
"Please. It would mean so very much to the both of them. Besides,
the color is quite becoming on you."
Mael frowned. Over the last year that he had spent in the lands
of the Celts, he had followed as many of their customs as he was able. He had also learned
to trust Fionas judgment when she told him that he should follow a certain
tradition. The Celtic love of decoration and ritual often tired the Taelon, but on this
matter, the small, blonde haired human seemed quite adamant.
"Very well," Mael agreed, "I will wear the
pendant."
"My lord, I know that you will not regret the decision,"
Fiona told him, handing him the pendant. Suddenly, her brow puckered. "What
do
your people do for decoration and display of rank?"
Mael could not resist a slight smile. The people of this land had a distinct
aversion to referring to anything that they considered sacred by name. Since he arrived
one lunar cycle ago, and the people decided that he was a creature of a race they referred
to as the Sidhe, he had heard "his people" referred to with nearly twenty
different names, all flattering, descriptive titles. "The Good People,"
"the Fair Folk," "the Kind Ones," and still others. Fiona, despite
having known him for just as long as he had resided in this land, still referred carefully
to those that she considered his kind. Mael found this an intriguing custom. He
would have to comment on it in his next transmission to the Synod.
"My people find little need for shows of rank, and even less for
decoration of our clothing and bodies," Mael told her. "We utilize mainly
simple clothing, with small amounts of decoration, and different colors denote our various
ranks and castes."
"I see," Fiona answered, chewing her lower lip slightly.
"Thank you." Then, recklessly, as though unable to hold her words any longer,
she continued. "Mael, youve done so much for me over the last year. You
showed me how to increase my healing talents, you took me into the royal hall to live
among the nobles, and you have always requested that I speak to you as an equal. But I
feel that Ive done nothing for you. All the others show
their gratitude and affection with rich gifts, and lavish feasts, and I can do nothing.
Please, Mael, tell me something that I might do for you, and it will be done."
Mael shook his head. All that he had done for her? This gentle
creature, who finally offered the comfort and closeness that other Taelons had never,
wished to thank him?
"I do not desire anything more than your presence,
Fiona. In my time among your people, I have felt a bond to you, far greater than my
fondness for any other human. I enjoy your company more than any gift of devotion that
others may offer." Fiona looked stunned, then quickly turned her eyes down, as though
examining the small silver ring that she wore on her right hand. Slowly, Mael
reached and held her chin in his hand, tilting her head to face him; Fionas warm
gray eyes were filled with tears.
"For what reason do you shed tears, Fiona?" Mael asked
gently.
"I just
Mael, no one has ever been so kind to me as
you are, and Im just so happy that you enjoy my company as much as I enjoy yours.
I
" Shaking her head as though there were not words to communicate her emotions,
Fiona broke into sobs. Gently, Mael reached out to pull her into his arms, and she
melted against his chest.
Over the last year, Maels feeling of closeness with Fiona
had grown to the point that he could nearly no longer stand their being separated. He
wanted desperately to share his feelings with her, through a Bonding, but that was
obviously not an option in this case. If the Synod were to discover that Mael had
not only assisted humans in developing psychic ability, but actually Bonded with one of
them, they would surely recall Mael to Taelon and disregard all that he had
discovered. Beside that, he would surely be considered contaminated, for having touched,
and shared, the mind and soul of such a primitive creature. He might even be asked cut
himself off from the Commonality for ever.
The silence of the void would be the only option. I could never live
in complete exile from the others. Even here, on Earth, he could hear the voices of
the Commonality, though they were sometimes distant. Still, the longing could not be
denied. In all his existence, Mael had never sought to bond with another Taelon. He
was different from the others. Only one other Taelon had ever shown the potential, the
young Daan. Someday, Mael thought, Daan will join the Synod,
and speak the words that must be spoken, to keep our kind from dying out. As these
thoughts moved through him, he felt Fionas gentle hands stroking his back.
"What are you thinking that troubles you, Mael?" Fiona
asked, softly; moving out of his embrace to look him in the eyes. As she moved apart from
him, she reached out to take his hand.
"I was considering the destiny of my young associate,
Daan," Mael told her, moving to sit in his chair in the center of the
chamber. Fiona moved her own chair close to his, and sat as well.
"Do you miss your people, Mael?" she asked. Mael
nodded.
"Yes, I often do, but we are all connected inside our minds. If I
choose, I may hear their thoughts at any time that I desire." Fiona sighed.
"It must be wonderful to share yourself so deeply with
others," she commented. Then she tilted her head softly, frowning a little. "How
foolish we must all seem to your people, Mael. We rush about this earth, our minds
never nearing the depth of your own. So disconnected. So alone."
Mael watched her, and heard the deep pain in her voice. She longed so much for the
connection that all Taelons took for granted, the feeling of comfort that they all might
derive from the constant presence of others in their minds.
"Fiona, would you desire to share such a connection with me, for a
short time?" he offered, impulsively. Fiona looked at him, her eyes eager.
"You would be willing
. My lord, if you offer this sincerely,
I would gratefully accept!" Mael nodded slowly, pushing aside the memory of his
earlier self-admonition. Fiona needs this connection. And for all that she has done for
me, I cannot deny her such a simple gift. We will only join temporarily, but it will
reassure her, and comfort her spirit. Besides, perhaps this small connection will calm my
own loneliness, as well. Mael held out his hand to her, palm facing her.
"Please, Fiona, place the palm of your hand upon mine."
Fiona slowly reached out, almost pulling back just before their hands
touched. Then, summoning her courage, she lay her palm against Maels.
Mael closed his eyes for a moment, focusing all his attention and energy into his
hand, and enjoying the wonder that he could feel in Fiona when their energies met. For a
moment, the two, both so separate and different from their own kind, found solace in each
other.
Back in the inn, Boones eyes opened to find Beckette and Lili looking down on him.
"Boone!" Lili exclaimed, "What happened?"
"You were unconscious for almost an hour," Beckette added.
"What did you see?" Boones heart was pounding fiercely-he could hear his
pulse in his ears, and his peripheral vision began to fade away swiftly.
Desperate, he opened his mouth to speak. Feeling the world spinning around him, Boone
could barely force his answer out.
"I think
we might want to call Daan," he told
Beckette.
That was the last thing that William Boone was able to do before passing out, and falling
into a deep, dreamless sleep.
End of Part 1