Singled Out
An Earth - Final Conflict (Prequel) story by Tina Price
(TinaP@prodigy.net)
Preview: As an adolescent, Da'an once followed a unique course
of action, which ended up influencing his future... and in turn, our own...
Disclaimer: Earth - Final Conflict, all characters and images
therein are the property of the Tribune Entertainment Company. Original
Story Idea © 1998, Tina Price. All rights reserved. Several characters
appearing in this story are my own creation. Any similarity with anyone
living or dead is purely coincidental.
Authors notes: Any text appearing in a
Purple and between the following symbols:
< & >,
denotes mental communication. In my past stories, I postulated that it
takes two Taelons to procreate, but that each member of the pair brings
forth and raises their own offspring. Said offspring has been given the
vast majority of their substance by their 'birth' parent and therefore
is very nearly a copy of said parent, physically anyway. A Taelon refers
to their 'birth' parent as their parent and usually has very little if
anything to do with the other Taelon who helped bring about their creation.
They refer to this other Taelon as their sub-parent and they normally do
not imply that the other infant created from the union is related to them.
Only other Taelons birthed by their parent are (usually) referred to as
siblings. As I said, this is MY idea on the subject and does not in any
way represent the ideas of the series creators...
As always, I am in no way
receiving 'privileged information'. A friendly warning: I've taken steps
to protect my material! Any advice, criticism and kudos are always
welcomed. Please contact me at the above e-mail address.
Singled Out
Image is from Earth - Final
Conflict and is the property of Tribune Entertainment
Sra'lal
communed with his fellows through their common link, as was his habit in
the evenings and frowned slightly.
That
one was pondering his individuality again, causing ripples of discomfort
to spread outward throughout the commonality. Brought forth by Ma'el, he
had inherited his parent's strong presence in the link and his strange
musings had begun disturbing the others at a very young age.
Now
his stature and appearance marked him as fully mature, while his mind betrayed
his youthfulness. In many areas of the commonality, his strange musings
were considered entertaining. Ma'el's own ponderings had been missed since
his departure to the newly discovered world and his offspring's similarities
were a welcome distraction.
Synod
leader Sra'lal, leaned back in his chair and concentrated.
What
was that one up to now?
Da'an
sat upon the large window seat on an upper level of the abode in which
his family resided and watched those who moved about the concourse below.
What
strange twist of fate dictated that he be fortunate enough to live within
this dwelling, whilst many of those passing below returned to much smaller,
less private quarters?
Privacy...
A
concept which held much fascination for him. In a society in which all
members were joined through the mind web they referred to as the commonality,
it was amazing that such a concept should exist. Yet...did they not all
have a side - a secret self - which they chose not to share?
<Da'an.>
He
looked up to find his sub-parent watching him from the doorway. Standing
as quickly as he was able, he approached him with the respect which he
was due.
In
a show of affection for his sub-child, Xe'em placed a hand directly upon
his head. <You are projecting too strongly
again, young one. Have you not heard Sra'lal's request that you desist?>
He spoke to his sub-offspring directly, mind-to-mind,
as was correct between friends and family.
Da'an
reveled in the contact for a moment, but then cast his eyes to the floor
at the mild reprimand. <I did not sense
him...,> he admitted.
<You
must pay more attention to the voices of the commonality,> his
other-parent again reminded him. <The Mentor
is here. Quo'on is with him already. Go to them now.>
With
a quick bow, Da'an headed for the ramp which would lead him down to the
atrium. He looked forward to today's learning, for the Master who was acting
as their mentor this day was an explorer of other worlds.
He
had also known Ma'el...
By the time he arrived at
his destination, most of the other young Taelons in the building had gathered
together about the mentor. With some relief, he noted that the lesson had
not yet begun. They were apparently awaiting his arrival.
"My brother arrives," Quo'on
addressed the mentor.
As one, everyone gathered
turned to look at him and he found himself advancing slowly toward them,
uncertain as to why he should feel so uncomfortable...
With a quick glance at Quo'on,
the mentor stepped forward, looking Da'an up and down.
Da'an watched with amazement
as the elder Taelon smiled at him.
"You are the child of my
friend," he said, almost laying a hand upon Da'an's head. "Long have I
been gone from our world and many more years has it been since I communed
with Ma'el," he explained, as he gently made contact. "Yet, in touching
you, I have connected with him once more..."
Uncertain of how to respond,
Da'an tolerated the touch. "You knew my parent well..." he prompted.
"Yes. Had your sub-parent
not agreed to care for you, I would have abandoned my last assignment to
do so myself," the mentor admitted. "Such is the respect I held for your
parent." He looked from Da'an to Quo'on and back, finally addressing Quo'on.
"Your parent is to be greatly admired for having raised both his union
offspring. These days so very few choose to raise even their own... It
is reassuring to see the affection you two bear each other."
Deeply uncomfortable by
the attention being given him, Da'an did his best to steer the master back
to his assignment. "Will you show us all that you have seen in your travels?"
he asked hopefully.
With a nod, the mentor moved
to the center of those who wished to learn, allowing them to encircle him,
touching him with their extended hands.
The learning began...
Da'an was meditating upon the
verandah late in the afternoon when his sub-parent again approached him.
Moving forward, he seated himself cross-legged upon the twilight blue pavement
next to his sub-child and regarded him in silence for a time.
<Xe'em?>
Da'an acknowledged without so much as shifting his pose of tranquility.
<I have spoken with the mentor. He sought me out once your day's learning
was completed,> Xe'em began. Receiving no response from the more
sensitive of his union children, he continued. <He
was impressed with your desire to learn and commends you on your acquired
store of knowledge in his chosen field.>
There was a pause, as Da'an
opened his eyes and tilted his head so that he might see his sub-parent's
face. <He confuses me with my parent,> he
said softly. <Like so many, it is Ma'el he sees
- not me.>
<I
believe that you do not give yourself enough credit, young one, for though
you share much in common with your parent, you are very much unique amongst
us.> Reaching forward, Xe'em again placed a hand on Da'an's head.
<No Taelon, hearing your ponderings about your
'individuality' within the link could ever mistake you for another. You
must trust in yourself.>
Da'an
smiled faintly and reached out to touch his sub-parent's head in return.
<You have always come to me when I have
felt most alone,> he thought and then switching
to verbal speech, he leaned closer and whispered, "I thank you for having
raised me. Never could I imagine my life had I been sent to one with less...understanding."
His
sub-parent regarded him tenderly. "Raising you has not been a chore, Da'an,
but a great adventure..."
The
statement drew a bubble of mental laughter from the adolescent, but before
either could say more, Quo'on's thoughts interrupted them.
<Eh'har
is here,> he announced.
After
acknowledging his brother, Da'an stood, intent upon meeting his friend.
Xe'em
grasped his arm, halting him in his tracks.
<You
thanked me for raising you... as though that time was done. Are you contemplating
joining a caste? Have you made your choice?>
There was more than a little anxiety in the elder Taelon's mind.
<I
have not yet chosen, however I sense that the time has all but come,>
Da'an replied.
<Then
I wish you luck in your journey of self-discovery. May you find the correct
path towards your future.> Xe'em uttered the ancient blessing which
all Taelon parents eventually bestowed upon their mature offspring.
With a shy smile and a slow
blink of his eyes, Da'an made the gesture of parting to his sub-parent
and accompanied Quo'on down the ramp to where Eh'har surely waited for
him. He was aware of his brother's curiosity and therefore not surprised
when he was addressed.
<You
have made your choice?> Quo'on asked as they approached the ground
level.
Da'an shook his head. <I
am not so fortunate as you. Always have you been pulled toward the diplomatic
caste, while I have never felt any one calling...>
<You
excel at those studies which would make you as great an explorer and scientist
as your parent. I know of your fascination in the discovery and study of
new species...> Quo'on tilted his head in a puzzled fashion. <Why
do you deny this part of your heritage?>
Da'an
rolled his head in the Taelon equivalent of a shrug. "I wish to find my
own future," he said aloud, trying hard not to broadcast his thoughts to
the commonality. "It is important to me that I tread my own path and not
that of my parent."
Quo'on
snorted. "Never have I met a fellow with such an odd sense of not belonging..."
"I
wish to be a productive member of our species," Da'an corrected him. "I
do not see why this means I must not think my own thoughts..."
Just
then they rounded a corner and came upon Eh'har. The offspring of an elite
member of the scientific caste, he was friend to both of them. Da'an especially
felt an attachment to him, for he too questioned the differences between
himself and his parent. For Eh'har, however, individuality was a more difficult
concept to entertain. He lived with his parent..and parent's parent...
"Eh'har," Da'an greeted
him. "I feel your need to communicate some information to us. What is it
that has happened?"
"My parent has brought the
otharranna home," their friend said with a smile.
Da'an and Quo'on exchanged
looks.
"May we observe it?" Quo'on
finally asked.
"It is the reason I have
arrived. Please allow me to escort you to my abode," Eh'har replied.
As the three of them started
through a sheltered concourse which led to the next group of living structures,
Da'an spoke.
"If the otharranna has been
allowed into our habitation area, I assume that your parent's experiment
was a success."
Eh'har nodded. "Yes. the
implant has allowed him to control the animal's more primitive impulses
and has rendered it most docile."
"Why has it been moved from
the research facility to your abode?" Quo'on asked.
"It has been assigned tasks
which it must perform each day," their friend explained. "We are observing
its abilities and tracking its functioning in Taelon society."
"I am certain that our fellow
Taelons will be startled to see so large a matter-based creature moving
about amongst them..." Da'an surmised. "May I ask what its assigned tasks
are?"
"It is to enter the environment
and gather tadarras. It has been specifically instructed not to do so in
any area in which its digging will destroy Taelon landscaping," Eh'har
explained.
Da'an stopped walking, forcing
the others to stop as well. "It is a very long way from our abodes to such
a place," he noted. "Surely a single trip would take the animal over half
our rotational time?"
"Ah, but the tadarras it
gathers will allow a beautiful show at our next celebration of the season.
You see that we have at least found it a useful task." Eh'har gestured
towards the concourse exit. "We are nearly arrived. Let us hurry that we
may be present when it returns from its first outing."
In short order, the three
friends made their way through the corridors of the abode and came upon
the large, ground level quarters of Eh'har's family.
His was one of the few families
in which a parent's parent still resided. His grand parent had also been
a noted scientist and so when his parent made great progress in the field
as well, the two were assigned to work together. It had simply made sense
for the younger Taelon to move back into the home of its parent - they
spent all their time discussing their projects anyway.
When Eh'har had been brought
forth, they had gained notoriety for being the only three generation family
in the sector.
Now as the friends entered
the home, Da'an felt himself fuzzing - slightly losing the boundaries of
his form - at the sight which greeted him. Standing in the room before
him were two identical older versions of Eh'har.
As many times as he had
greeted the parent and grand-parent of his friend, the sight never failed
to disturb him.
"Quo'on. Da'an. We welcome
you to observe our experiment," Eh'har's parent greeted them warmly.
"We thank you for the opportunity,"
Quo'on responded, sensing his brother's discomfort.
"Our surveillance has picked
him up," The grand-parent related. "He is approaching the outer habitat
doorway now."
But a few minutes
later a side door, which opened directly onto the private yard, swung inward
and otharranna shuffled in. The height of a Taelon at its shoulder, it
was a hunched over animal which moved about on four limbs. The front ones
ended in three digit 'hands' which allowed the animal to manipulate objects.
Its head was large, with two small, black, foward-facing eyes, a large
snout with prominent teeth, large nostrils and small, pointed ears. The
entire creature was covered with thick, mottled brown fur.
As the visitors watched
in amazement, the creature moved to stand before Eh'har's parent and rising
up on its back feet, unslung a sack from around its shoulders, where the
thick fur had concealed it. Sitting back on its haunches, it handed the
sack over to its master.
Eh'har's parent opened it,
displaying two medium sized tadarras. "Is this all you were able to collect
in the allotted time?" he asked, as the creature flattened itself to the
floor and whined.
Da'an felt a shock of pity
for the animal as Eh'har's parent ordered it to go back out and collect
at least five more before returning. With a quick glance at his friends,
he bowed slightly and addressed the scientist. "Perhaps it may be allowed
to refresh itself before resuming its task?" he asked. "I believe that
animals of its type require much water in heat such as we are currently
experiencing."
The four other occupants
stared at him in surprise for a moment before the scientist finally responded.
"The otharranna must learn
what is expected of it," he said sharply, causing Da'an to look down at
the floor. "When it has adequately completed its task, it may have a day
in which to refresh itself."
Stung by the mild chastisement,
Da'an glanced at the cowering animal and realized with a shock that it
was looking up at him intently.
"I apologize for questioning
your methods," Da'an said, as he raised his eyes to meet Eh'har's parents'.
"I thank you for this opportunity, however, I fear that there is something
I must do."
"Very well, Da'an," the
grand-parent answered. "Do not be ashamed of asking such questions, for
it shows an active mind. We will perhaps see you another time?"
With a nod, Da'an bowed
and turning, left the room. As he passed out the main entrance to the home,
Eh'har caught up with him.
"What are you up to, Da'an?"
he asked. "I know you too well..."
"There is a task I feel
compelled to perform," he answered. "Do not worry. We shall discuss this
on the morrow."
Exchanging formal leave
taking with his friend, he hurried on his way. He would need to move quickly
if he were to have a chance at success...
By the time the otharranna left
the habitation enclosure and made its way through the ample gardens, Da'an
had positioned himself where the surveillance cameras could not see him.
The animal was passing within an arms breath of him when he held out the
container of water by its strap, offering it to the creature.
The otharranna stopped and
stared at him for a moment before sitting back on its haunches and accepting
the parcel. With a twist, it opened the top and downed a goodly portion
of the contents.
Resealing the container
and then shouldering it, it then did something amazing...
It pointed to itself and
uttered the word, 'Taaka'. Then it pointed to him and said, "Daaan".
If Da'an were one of the
humans his parent was studying, his hair would, no doubt, stand on end...
As it was, he fuzzed up. The creature was telling him its name and saying
that it knew his!
As he stood, frozen by shock,
it nodded and then continued on its lumbering way.
A strange feeling welled
up inside him - a feeling of accomplishment, tempered by a feeling of dread.
The creature was far more than the animal he and his friends had been led
to believe it was. If it could talk...and communicate that it had a name,
was it not a sentient being deserving of their respect?
He began to wonder at Eh'har's
parent's involvement in the experimentation being carried out on the otharranna.
Surely he realized that
this was no mere beast?
Over the course of the next
nine days, Da'an continued meeting the otharranna, bringing him first water
and then also vegetation of the type it consumed.
It did not take him long
to win the creature's trust and it's consent to touch it. Running his hands
over Taaka's thick brown pelt, he had been able to establish a small, but
functional link to it, even interpreting some of its thoughts.
Although Taaka was a simple
creature, it did have intelligence and feelings. It was not long before
he had developed an empathic fondness for it.
Now, as he stood before
Taaka on the ninth morning, stroking its back and bulging sides, Da'an
picked up a definite invitation on the otharranna's part.
Taaka was asking him to
keep it company during its long trek!
With a glance back toward
the habitation area, he weighed the feasibility of making the journey.
True, he might be spotted leaving if any were watching the monitor, but
it was not forbidden to do so. His sub-parent might grow worried, however
he felt certain that Xe'em would understand why he risked the wild areas.
In the end, he knew that
this was an adventure he could not miss.
With a nod at Taaka, he
followed the otharranna out towards the distant hills.
Otharranna's were known
to have a unique way of sensing geodes, so long as they were somewhere
near the surface of the ground. It apparently had something to do with
a change in the chemical makeup of the air directly over the buried geode
- the otharrannas could 'see' the change.
Taelons had, of course,
developed instruments which were capable of locating the geodes and in
the course of the last few generations, had pretty much cleared the natural
areas surrounding the habitation areas of them. Taelon technology could
not distinguish between a geode of any type and one which was a tadarra.
Otharrannas could however locate tadarras specifically and they were better
yet at finding those which had been overlooked. Since tadarras hadn't been
actively searched for in many seasons, some were appearing with the ground
tremors which opened large faults and turned the ground... and they were
now worth a great deal when they were found.
He and Taaka walked well
into the afternoon before arriving at a spot at the base of the hills where
the ground was disturbed.
It was exceedingly hot and
the hills cast their shadows upon their other face, leaving the two travelers
in the direct light. Da'an sat upon a rock. He was fortunate in that heat
did not much affect Taelons - they felt discomfort, but were not endangered.
He was, however, quite tired from the long walk.
Taaka was not so fortunate.
He had been drinking a great deal of the water and had very little left
to get him through the labors ahead. The poor creature was panting in the
heat as he began digging in the hard, rocky soil with nothing more than
his clawed front limbs.
It took the otharranna a
very long time to locate the tadarra, which had lain nearly a Taelon's
height beneath the surface. Pity welled up within Da'an at the knowledge
that it would need to repeat its efforts four more times before it could
return to the comfort of the habitation area...
Xe'em summoned his sub-child
before him as soon as the adolescent entered their abode. He had touched
his mind earlier and known that he had gone off into the natural areas
with the creature belonging to Deh'r.
Knowing that Da'an
could not turn down such an excursion any more than his parent would have,
Xe'em had contented himself with merely waiting for his safe return.
Still, he had worried about
his sub-child...
<Da'an,>
he reached out mentally as soon as Ma'el's offspring entered his private
chambers. <Whyfore did you go off with the otharranna?
You know the natural areas may pose dangers...>
<I
regret having upset you, Sub-parent,> Da'an responded as he moved
to take Xe'em's hands. <However, I had much to
do in the way of deciding my course of action...>
<With
regard to the otharranna?>
Da'an nodded. <Parent,
it is a sentient creature, undeserving of the treatment it receives at
our hands!>
<There
are varying degrees of sentience, Da'an. You know this...> He was
interrupted by the young one.
<This
I know, however, there is no doubt in my mind that Taaka is quite sentient...
and he is not well...> Da'an dropped his sub-parent's hands and
wandered to the window, where he watched the sunset.
Xe'em moved to stand beside
him and placed his hands on the troubled Taelon's shoulders. He could feel
that Da'an was nearly depleted and in need of his energy stream. "Tell
me," he invited.
"I wish to help this creature,
parent...however, I fear being ostracized for my efforts..."
"You fear that the others
will label you as 'different' once more." Xe'em stated with certainty.
"...Yes..." Da'an whispered
before turning to face his sub-parent. "I know this is something I must
do, and yet...I fear..." He looked up at Xe'em with large, confused eyes.
"What am I to do?"
<You
will do what you already know you must do,> Xe'em thought. <I
know you. You will not rest otherwise.> Patting his sub-child on
the back, he switched to speech. "Go now. Rest and meditate, knowing that
I support your path..."
With a wan smile, Da'an
turned and headed, not for the energy stream within his chamber, but for
the balcony.
Eh'har arrived on the balcony
later that same evening and took the cushion Da'an offered him. For a time,
the two friends sat in silence.
<When
last we met, you told me that we would speak of what troubled you, yet
I have not seen you in the nine days since your visit to my dwelling,>
Eh'har finally said.
Falling into a long-time
pattern, he spoke mind-to-mind with Da'an, in the hopes of picking up the
more subtle nuances in such a conversation. <Will
you tell me what troubles you so?>
Da'an glanced at him and
then back to the ground. <I fear speaking of it,
for surely I may damage our friendship...or your own relationship with
your parent.>
<Speak
then. Rather would I hear it than have us become but members of the commonality
to each other!>
Da'an hesitated.
<How does the otharranna fair?> he asked slowly.
<It
has slowed considerably since last you saw it. I fear that all is not well
with it...> Eh'har admitted.
<And
what does your parent say about its condition?> Da'an asked.
<He
says that it is becoming lazy, that it returns later and later because
it does not wish to dig quickly.>
<I
fear that the otharranna is ill,> Da'an replied. <It
requires more rest, more water and more food than it is receiving. It is
it's illness which slows it's progress.>
<How
could you know of this?> Eh'har questioned. <My
own parent is well aware of the animal's requirements and does not feel
this is so.>
<For
nine days, I have met the creature at the habitat portal, supplying it
with water and food for its journey. It is a sentient creature Eh'har.
It knows my name and tells me to call it Taaka. I feared telling you this,
for I felt that you would not wish to question your parents motives in
his experimentation.>
Eh'har stared at him in
shock, but did not doubt his friend's statements. <It
is sentient? It speaks? Why would it not then communicate with my family?>
<Perhaps
it fears to...>
<My
parent is aware of its requirements and the creature is plump enough. How
could it be that it is being neglected as you say?>
<I
do not know,> Da'an answered, <But I can
feel that it is suffering. It must be given time to rest. Will you consult
your parent...or grand-parent about this?>
<Rest
assured that I shall. Immediately.> Eh'har rose and Da'an rose with
him.
Each placed a hand on the
other's chest in a parting given to close friends, before Eh'har turned
and made his way from the dwelling.
Da'an resumed his seat by
the balcony's edge and looked out over the main concourse. Taaka was down
there, slowly making its way back in the direction of Eh'har's dwelling.
It glanced up at Da'an as it passed and nodded its acknowledgment of his
presence.
Slowly the young Taelon
closed his eyes and gave a mental sigh. He had done what he could. Perhaps
Eh'har would obtain some respite for the creature. Rising, he prepared
to leave the habitat enclosure. He needed to retrieve the water container
and fill it for the next day...just in case it was still needed.
It was not long after he
had accomplished his task, that he felt a disturbance in the commonality
and with dread, felt himself being summoned to Eh'har's abode...
Xe'em rose from the chair in
his chamber and moved to check upon his sub-child. The young one had been
treated quite harshly by Deh'r the evening before and had retired to his
chambers immediately upon his return. Although he had attempted to conceal
his state of emotional turmoil, Xe'em had felt it from his own chamber
and worried about his unorthodox offspring.
Now as he carefully entered
Da'an's chamber, his worry increased. The young one was not here...
Da'an sat upon the very roof
of the complex in which he lived and watched miserably as the sun rose.
He had taken a wrap with him and moved to his current, secretive location
during the very early time before sun up. The material was a mesh fabric,
kept warm by a powercell, but the cell had become depleted of energy a
while back and he was feeling the chill of his planet's crisp nighttime
atmosphere. Even now he sat huddled within its folds, with his back against
the main building structure, unable to stop quivering.
Only he knew that the chill
was not the cause of his shaking.
He had been severely reprimanded
by Deh'r in front of Eh'har and his grandparent. He had been reminded of
his unsuitability to make any scientific observations with regard to the
project which Deh'r, a master in his field, had begun.
Remembering the humiliation
of his chastisement, the sorrowful look on Eh'har's face...he rested his
head upon his knees and fuzzed.
The worse part of all had
been Deh'r's intention to increase Taaka's workload - to prove to Da'an
that the otharranna had been taking advantage of him.
Da'an would not be allowed
to bring water or food to the beast again, a mandate backed by the Synod
leader himself!
His humiliation had been
communicated throughout the commonality...
Now, as he remembered the
events of the night before, and seemed about to drown in a sea of his own
pain, he felt the comforting touch of his sub-parent's embrace and found
himself clinging to Xe'em like a very young one.
<It
is not all so bad as you believe it to be,> the older Taelon soothed.
He had, long ago, discovered Da'an's secret place and surmised that he
would seek out solitude there during troubling times. <You
did your best to right an injustice and many in the commonality understand
this.>
<They
believe me to be unstable..>
<Only
a few believe this, and they do not know you.> Sensing that his
thoughts were not calming the young one, Xe'em lifted Da'an's chin so that
he would look him in the eye. "Da'an," he said aloud. "You are like your
parent, unable to see injustice done without moving to help end it...and
no one would ever say that Ma'el is unstable. He is, as you know, widely
respected and liked."
"But...I am not like him!
I do not ever seem to make a difference..."
"My...child," Xe'em spoke,
causing Da'an to blink at the being referred to as his proper-child. "You
are so like my bonded one, that I could not help but love you more than
any child I myself might bring forth. You are everything I could ever wish
in an child of mine..."
Glowing feebly, so depleted
was he, Da'an hugged his sub-parent tightly and for a time found peace
within his embrace...
Da'an was relaxing within his
energy stream, absorbing the sustenance which he had, in a fit of self-loathing,
denied himself the evening before, when Quo'on entered his chamber.
Sitting up in his chair,
he cut off the stream and waited patiently for his sibling to convey his
thoughts.
<Da'an,>
the other young Taelon addressed him, as he approached. <I
wished to let you know that I support your attempt to aid the otharranna.
I do not know why Deh'r is being so obstinant...unless it is due to his
impending division...>
Da'an's head tilted in surprise
at the information. <Deh'r brings forth another
offspring?> he asked, in amazement.
Quo'on looked at him strangely.
<Did you not note his fuzzed out abdomen?> he asked.
<I would guess that the child will be brought forth at anytime...>
<Eh'har
has never mentioned...>
<I
believe that Eh'har may be denying the obvious,> Quo'on
shrugged. <I came to you so that you would
know that I respect what you did. I offer my aid to your cause. Perhaps
Eh'har's parent will be more reasonable once the child begins its own existance.>
Da'an
stood and offered his hand, smiling as Quo'on took it. By touch alone,
he conveyed his joy at having been raised with his sub-parent's child.
<You are my true brother,> he thought as
their sharing ended.
Quo'on
returned his smile. "It pleases me greatly that you feel as I do," he said
aloud.
Just
then Xe'em's thoughts found them. <Eh'har
has arrived,> he announced.
When they arrived in the
atrium, they found, to their amazement that Eh'har was carrying containers
of both food and water.
"Come along," their friend
urged. "The otharranna...Taaka, does not fair well this day. I fear for
its health."
Without further word, the
two fell into step with their friend and made their way towards the outskirts
of the habitat area.
As they walked, Da'an kept
sneaking sideways glances at his friend. Finally he was unable to prevent
himself from asking the question which was troubling him. "Eh'har...you
would help me in this...despite your parent's anger at my previous involvement?"
"I am not Deh'r," he stated
tersely.
"Will your parent not surmise
what it is we are doing?" Quo'on asked.
"He is quite...busy...dividing
his form," Eh'har said sharply. "Besides, my grand-parent has sanctioned
my actions..."
Noting Eh'har's obvious
disturbance over the 'becoming' of his brother, Quo'on and Da'an became
silent.
"Taaka was moving with much
difficulty this morning," Eh'har said, quite a while later, breaking the
silence. "I believe that we shall overtake him well before midday."
They had been walking for
the better portion of the morning and Da'an could feel that Quo'on was
beginning to doubt their ability to catch up with the creature they pursued,
when Eh'har suddenly pointed to something in the distance.
"What is that?" he asked.
"Is it Taaka?"
Seeing the brown mound in
the distance, Da'an quickened his pace, heading right for it. "I fear that
it is the otharranna," he sighed when he saw its legs flail weakly.
Quickening his pace, he
approached the poor alien and going down on his knees, cradled its head
in his lap.
Taaka's eyes opened and
regarded him sadly, as though it had already given up all hope of survival.
"Do not fear," he soothed,
both verbally and mentally. "We shall aid you."
Holding out his hand for
the water container, Da'an opened it once it was passed to him and carefully
poured the cool liquid into the thirsty creature's mouth. Stroking it's
muzzle, he felt its momentary relief that it would not face the end alone...that
perhaps the strange young creatures of light would save its...
"Da'an!" Quo'on cried out.
"The creature is lying in its blood! It bleeds profusely!"
"Its innards are protruding!"
Eh'har added, with a note of disgust and panic in his tone.
Rising, Da'an moved to view
the problem, fearing what he might find.
The creature was bleeding,
a condition which they all knew could result in its death. Moving around
to where Eh'har was indicating, Da'an noted that the creatures innards
did appear to be protruding from its posterior...except that...
"I believe Taaka is birthing
offspring!" he said in amazement.
"Offspring? How can this
be?" Eh'har asked in confusion. "Taaka has been in Taelon hands for a very
long time..."
"My parent, Ma'el, reports
that upon the planet Earth, life forms are divided into different 'sexes',
with only the 'female' sex bringing forth life."
Quo'on stared at him, aghast.
"Only one of the pair brings life? That is preposterous!"
"I have studied most of
my parent's reports," Da'an assured them. "The 'male' sex contributes as
much to the offspring's makeup as the female, however it is true that only
the female brings forth offspring. Ma'el has reported that many different
female animals from the planet, "Earth" bear their young a long interval
after joining with a male..."
"Taaka must be female then."
Quo'on stated, making more room for Da'an and staring curiously at the
spectacle before them. "Can you aid it?"
"I know not much about this...process,"
Da'an admitted. "However, I fear that Taaka does not believe that she will
survive..." That said, he knelt closer to the creature and laying his hands
upon her, tried to offer her mental encouragement.
With a groan, she tensed,
causing her abdomen to heave and harden. Da'an watched in amazement as
the glistening sack protruded further and then ruptured, spilling liquid
over the dry soil.
The three friends were now
able to make out a small tail and part of a leg. A miniature otharranna
was slowly becoming!
Eh'har moved to cradle Taaka's
head and could be heard encouraging her to try again, while Quo'on knelt
next to her large belly and running his hand over the brown fur there,
sought to ease her pain.
Looking closely at the emerging
infant, Da'an was able to note the problem. One of its legs was caught
at a strange angle! Hardly believing that he dared to do so, he grasped
the infant's hind quarters and focusing his strength, twisted it slightly
to one side.
The leg came free of its
parent's flesh even as Taaka tensed and pushed again.
This time the entire infant
slipped out!
"There it is!" Quo'on informed
Eh'har. "A miniature otharranna has emerged!"
Da'an looked up, clearly
worried. Taaka was making no move to help her child... and he could see
that all was not right. The infant was still attached to the parent by
a strange, twisting cord and it struggled feebly in its clear membranes.
Coming to a decision, he
began tearing the membrane off the new creature, who coughed and sputtered
and finally let out an odd wail. Da'an lifted it up into his arms, a look
of joy upon his face.
"This one must be male,"
he stated as he examined it more closely. "It is not quite the same as
Taaka at its posterior end."
As his eyes met Eh'har's
and their minds made contact, his smile faded.
Taaka had faded away to
join the void...
As one, the three friends
began to glow brilliantly, as they wrestled with the emotion of loss. Several
minutes later, when the young otharranna began nuzzled at Da'an's hand,
Quo'on spoke.
"Perhaps we had best end
its attachment to the parent creature," he said with his usual practicality,
indicating the cord.
Da'an shook free of the
numb state he had slipped into. Quo'on was quite correct. Taaka was gone
from them, but his...her offspring had need of their aid. "I have not the
necessary tools.." he began, helplessly.
Quo'on stood and moved off
a way before lifting a sharp rock from the ground and returning to hand
it to his brother.
"My hands are full," Da'an
said. "Perhaps you might perform the task?"
"I will do it," Eh'har said,
as he gently lowered Taaka's head to the ground and rose to his feet. He
was glowing brightly, and Da'an was able to feel the guilt which consumed
him.
As Eh'har knelt beside him
and began cutting at the cord, Da'an spoke. "It is not your fault that
Taaka joined the void, Eh'har," he said, trying to soothe his friend.
"It is my fault,"
Eh'har said in a tone heavily laden with...anger? "You at least attempted
to aid this creature, while I stood back, fearing to question my parent..."
Just then, the cord parted, so that Da'an was able to stand with the infant
otharranna in his arms. "If I had but brought it more water and sustenance
during the nights it sheltered in my home, it would still be amongst us..."
Eh'har continued.
"Such thoughts will not
change matters, " Quo'on admonished. "We must bring the young one back
to the habitation area before it too expires."
"What of Taaka's body?"
Eh'har asked, clearly disturbed.
"We can do nothing about
it now," Quo'on responded. "Come, we shall notify the proper caste once
we have returned..."
Da'an stroked the infant's
head as it bleated. He seemed lost in thought for a moment, his form glowing
brightly on and off. Several moments ticked by before he composed himself
and spoke. "The young one is thirsty and hungers," he related. "It is most
likely suffering for its parent's abuse. I believe we had best take it
directly to the xenology building. It would be best cared for there."
"I agree," Eh'har said with
a nod, as he stooped down and shouldered Taaka's gathering bag. "I would
not trust my parent's reaction to this news..."
"Very well. Let us be on
our way," Quo'on urged. "Can you manage the otharranna alone, Da'an?"
Da'an nodded. In truth,
the creature was heavy...however, he felt that he owed it to Taaka to care
for its offspring, at least until it was time to turn it over to another.
Besides, he had connected with it when it had begun licking his face...
<Poor
orphaned little creature,> he thought privately to it. <You
must grow strong and carry on for your parent so that when you meet her
in the void, she will be proud of your deeds...>
As if on cue, the infant
licked his cheek again.
Xe'em entered Deh'r's abode
when Deh'r's parent opened the portal to him. With a bow, he asked permission
to address the scientist, intent upon obtaining his agreement to smooth
things over with Da'an...
"He is in the final stages
of division," the parent announced. "However, he may welcome your presence,
since he shuns my aid..." He led the way inside and gestured to the left.
"You will find him within his chamber," he said.
With a startled look at
the parent, Xe'em slowly moved forward and entered the indicated room.
Within, the unfortunate
Deh'r was writhing on his feet as he attempted to render up some of his
form with which to cloth the new sentience which had developed within him
and now hungered for its own existence. The trick was in not allowing it
to grasp too much of his substance for itself.
He appeared to be losing
to his own offspring, an occurrence which could mean his own death.
"Give me your hands that
I might aid you," Xe'em offered.
Deh'r grasped his offered
hands as though his life depended upon it - which it did.
"I did not want this!" he
groaned. "I was a fool to succumb!"
"Hush now," Xe'em replied.
"Soon you will have a new child. Your feeling will change then..."
"No! They will not! This
child has whispered within my mind and thoughts for the entire time I have
hosted it. It has influenced me in ways which leave me shamed..." He paused
to groan again as a portion of one of his pathways divided into two. "I
will not raise it! It is not a Taelon!"
Xe'em was taken aback. He
had heard of Taelons who viewed their offspring as unwanted aliens, but
he had never heard of so serious a case. Still....because of their joined
hands, he was aware of Deh'r's child and it did seem to be trying to grasp
far more of its parent's form than was normal.
"Concentrate, Deh'r," he
commanded. "It is time to end this labor."
"I will not raise it!" Was
Deh'r's final shriek as he dropped Xe'em's hands. A large portion of his
form billowed out of his abdomen and gently settled into his waiting arms.
Even as he doubled over and sank to the floor, the new one arranged itself
into typical Taelon form, becoming a squirming infant.
Xe'em knelt down next to
him, and fearful that he would harm the child when he saw what it had done,
took it from his arms. The infant was twice the normal size of a Taelon
new-formed and Deh'r had been greatly reduced by the ordeal. Standing and
moving to the door, Xe'em opened it and called in Deh'r's parent, entreating
him to help his own offspring into the energy stream.
Deh'r's parent gaped at
the infant as he entered the chamber, while Xe'em moved into the abode's
common area and seated himself in a chair. He contemplated the child he
held and felt a profound distaste for the consciousness he felt trying
to touch his mind.
Something was not right
with it....
It was very late in the day
when the three fatigued friends finally re-entered the portion of the local
habitation area where their abodes were located.
The xenologists had been
taken aback by their relation of Taaka's fate and its infant's needs. The
young otharranna had been quickly examined and removed to an enclosure
where caregivers would attempt to pair it with another such female creature
- they had two, each with offspring.
Da'an had offered to raise
the creature himself if the adults would not, even though he had been told
how difficult such a task would be. Still, he had not backed down and the
head Xenologist had smiled slightly at his dedication, no doubt believing
that he might one day join their caste.
Eh'har had been deeply disturbed
to find that his parent had known the creature was female and might have
been gravid. He had taken a grim satisfaction in the xenologist's statements
that Deh'r would be held accountable for the atrocity...
Now, as Da'an and Quo'on
were about to head away to their own structure, Eh'har halted them with
a pleading thought.
"What is the matter?" Quo'on
asked.
"I do not wish to face my
parent alone," their friend responded. "He is sure to have been alerted
by the disturbance in to the commonality and must already know of our hand
in his disgrace..."
"Your parent must face the
consequences of his actions," Quo'on said. "It would serve no purpose for
him to chastise you for his own failure."
"I shall accompany you,"
Da'an quickly offered when he felt the trill of fear his friend again emitted.
"Besides, I would welcome the opportunity to greet your new sibling."
Eh'har visibly wilted, making
it apparent to Da'an that the presence of a new family member was not being
considered a welcome event. As Quo'on bowed and headed off towards their
home, he turned and took Eh'har's hand.
<Why
do you fear so much?> he communicated. <It
is a time of joy for your family, despite the repercussions of Taaka's
death. I am blessed to have Quo'on as my sibling and I assure you that
such a relationship is most...worthwhile.>
<You
do not understand,> Eh'har responded.
<My sibling's sub-parent is one whom I do not care for. He is most...self-absorbed
and cares nothing for his fellow Taelons. I fear that my sibling may be
much like him in temperment.>
<How
then did your parent come to join with him?> Da'an
asked in confusion. That the Taelon in question could be more self-absorbed
than Deh'r was troubling indeed!
<He
has a certain talent for influencing those around him...>
<Well,>
Da'an soothed. <It is unlikely that your
sibling will take after his sub-parent if you are there to help guide his
steps...>
Eh'har
tilted his head as his friend's thoughts sank in and finally smiled. "I
thank you for bringing the situation into focus," he said, as their hands
parted. "Come, let us greet my parent...and see if my new brother has become..."
Together they moved off
down the concourse.
A weak and greatly reduced Deh'r
stood before the head Xenologist with his eyes upon the floor. He was a
full head shorter than he had been the day before and very thin.
He knew that this would
not be a pleasant meeting, but after all which he had just gone through,
his attitude was one of complete uncaring. So long as he could continue
his research...and he knew that the Synod would see to that, it did not
matter what the general population believed.
Taaka's body had been recovered
by the caste. Examination revealed that it had died as a result of malnurishment
and dehydration during its pregnancy. To make matters worse, there had
been a second, dead offspring discovered within its womb.
In short order, Deh'r was
chastised and officially held responsible for the death of two sentient
creatures.
Before formal recommendation
for his removal from his project could be made, Synod leader Sra'lal appeared
in the room via datastream technology.
"The Synod is aware of the
events which have led to this unfortunate circumstance," he announced.
"Although we do not approve of the senseless loss of sentient life, we
are aware of the importance of Deh'r's research - research which the Synod
itself sanctions. Therefore, Deh'r will be formally chastised throughout
the commonality, but he shall maintain his caste rank and continue his
research." The Synod's decision rendered, Sra'lal cut off the datastream
and vanished.
The startled Xenologist
stared down at Deh'r, who finally raised his head.
He was smiling most unpleasantly...
With a bit of mental encouragement
from his friend, Eh'har led the way into his abode. His grandparent was
seated in a chair next to a table on which an energy beam had been trained.
Eh'har's sibling was bathed
within the beam, as it squirmed atop some cushioning.
"Where is my parent?" the
anxious Taelon asked, as he slowly approached the infant.
"He has been summoned before
Sra'lal," the elder Taelon responded. Taking a closer look at his grand-child,
he quickly added, "He is not angered at you, only at himself."
Da'an felt the relief which
washed over his friend and watched in amusement as Eh'har asked permission
to pick his sibling up.
When his grandparent nodded
affirmation, the elder sibling scooped up the child and holding it carefully,
peered curiously at its face.
"He is very large!" Da'an
gasped in surprise. Never had he seen a new-formed that size!
"What is his name?" Eh'har
asked, as the infant cooed and grasped at him.
"He is to be called Zo'or,"
the grandparent replied with some pride in his second grandchild.
Moving to stand beside his
friend, Da'an scrutinized the infant's face, finding it to be - as he feared
he would - an exact duplicate of Eh'har's. He felt a shiver run down his
pathways at the thought of four identical Taelons under one roof.
By late the following
morning, Deh'r had formally apologized to Da'an and the information had
traveled quickly throughout the commonality. Da'an found himself enjoying
an unexpected flurry of respectful acknowledgment with regard to the empathy
he had shown the otharranna. Many commended him for having investigated
and having tried to correct the injustice he had discovered.
The problem was that he
himself still felt that he had failed. Taaka had died and to make matters
worse, it turned out that a second offspring had perished with her. If
only he had known of it! He might perhaps have freed it from its parent...
He looked down at the satchel
which lay in his lap. Eh'har had given him Taaka's bag and the two tadarras
found within, feeling that it would have pleased Taaka for him to have
them.
Eh'har himself was not doing
well. He had formed a strong attachment with his young sibling only to
have had his parent whisk it off to the community nursery where the local
care giving caste had been instructed to move it to a habitation area far
away.
Da'an felt badly for his
friend, although his own sub-parent's recounting of Zo'or's bizarre becoming
and consciousness had led him to believe that perhaps Deh'r had done the
correct thing. That the infant's will was strong enough to influence its
parent before its actual becoming, was...frightening...
Standing, he moved to the
window of his chamber and gazed out over the habitation area. Today his
parent was due to send back more observations of the human race and he
was having trouble containing his excitement.
How very much he missed
Ma'el... He remembered so very little of the short time his parent had
raised him, and yet his attachment to him was still very strong.
What would he think about
the recent events which had surrounded his offspring? How would he have
reacted? Was Xe'em correct in his assessment that Ma'el would have done
the same as he had done?
How he yearned to hear that
from Ma'el himself!
Ma'el's package was not
due to arrive until after midday. Perhaps he would visit with Taaka's offspring
first...
At the xenologist's otharranna
enclosure, Da'an learned that another otharranna had accepted and nursed
Taaka's offspring. The news had cheered him considerably. Now as he stood
in the observation room and watched the young one being groomed by its
new parent on the monitor, he could not help by smile.
"Would you perhaps wish
to enter the enclosure?" one of the xenologists asked.
"It is allowed?"
"Yes. And quite safe. The
otharrannas are gentle creatures," the xenologist answered.
"I would relish the opportunity,"
Da'an said, with a blink and a small smile.
He was led to a doorway
and ushered through into the actual compound. Staying near the parameter,
he slowly worked his way over to the adoptive mother's location and stopped,
content to simply watch her nurse the infant.
It was with amazement that
he saw her raise her muzzle and stared directly at him. He had the feeling
that he was being judged and then she rose and slowly approached him.
Watching her sure, graceful
walk, Da'an became uncomfortably aware of just how ill Taaka must have
been. She had never moved so effortlessly.
The otharranna stopped before
him and sniffed at his hands before suddenly sitting and holding the infant
out to him.
She was offering him the
chance to hold it!
Kneeling down slowly next
to the large creature, Da'an accepted the infant, which immediately licked
his face and settled down to sleep in his arms.
Da'an sighed with pleasure
at being so accepted.
At precisely the prearranged
time, the package arrived through the main portal at the Synod Complex.
Those hundreds of Taelons in attendance emitted a flurry of satisfied emotion
at the knowledge that Ma'el apparently still fared well.
Da'an sat in the front row
of the large theater-like room, as was his right as Ma'el's offspring.
He had traveled via portal to be here and waited impatiently with the others
who had gathered until the time arrived. Now he let out a self-satisfied
smile and relaxed. Although curious as to what his parent had to report,
he was more than happy enough to know that the humans apparently had not
harmed him.
Still, as Sra'lal opened
the package, he felt himself tensing with anticipation...
Reaching within the oval
package, Sra'lal removed a data stream journal... and a memory sphere.
Da'an was not prepared for
his next move, which was to cross the space between them and hand the sphere
to Da'an.
This message was for him?
At Sra'lal's nod, Da'an
carefully cradled the sphere in his lap and nodded his acceptance of it.
He felt those who surrounded him seething with curiosity and envy, some
going so far as to encourage him to absorb the information now.
He quickly denied them.
This was a rare contact
with his parent and he would share it with no one.
With a small smile, Sra'lal
mentally communicated his support of Da'an's decision and returned to stand
beside the room's portal.
"The Synod shall study Ma'el's
journal and issue their information tomorrow morning," he announced. "This
gathering is now concluded."
Everyone stood and began
shuffling from the room.
Da'an remained seated, trembling
slightly as he stroked the sphere's smooth surface. What would he learn
upon activating it?
When the room had cleared,
he rose and made his way out. He was headed for the public portals, home
and a long-distance meeting with his parent's mind....
Da'an waited until nightfall
before settling himself upon the floor coverings in his chamber. He had
set the memory sphere upon a cushion and lit five flame keepers, which
he arranged artistically around him. The virtual glass to his window had
been programed to allow in the rapidly cooling nighttime air and the breeze
stirred the flames in an appealing manner.
Crossing his legs and resting
his outspread arms upon his knees, he calmed himself and entered the meditative
trance which would allow him to activate the sphere.
Finally ready, he reached
forward and delicately grasped the sphere with the fingertips of both hands.
<Da'an,>
his parent's thoughts, so like his own, addressed him. <
How my thoughts have turned to you of late! I have been faced with some
very difficult decisions concerning my purpose in being on this planet
and I have reached certain conclusions which I know the Synod will not
be pleased to hear. I have therefore decided to withhold an important portion
of my research from them, as they would most likely not only disregard
my conclusions, but recall me in favor of sending a less sympathetic scientist
to study the human species.>
<My studies of the human species has taken an unexpected turn, one which
I know that you alone are ready to hear...>
A short time later, the sphere
rolled out of Da'an's suddenly clumsy fingers. Retrieving it with shaking
hands, he placed it back on the cushion.
He spent the rest of the
night staring at it and trying to calm his inner turmoil.
By morning he knew what
he must do...
Da'an entered the main headquarters
of the Diplomatic caste in the early morning of the following day carrying
nothing but Taaka's satchel. In it were the tadarras the creature had given
its life to obtain... and the memory sphere sent to him by his own parent.
Approaching the main arched
entrance reserved for those who were members of the caste, he entered.
He had found his calling.
He knew his purpose. He alone knew what was at stake when the Taelons finally
contacted the Humans.
He had to be aboard the
planned mission to Earth. He had to gather a base of power about himself...
He must not fail!
"Da'an!" came a voice from
the entranceway behind him.
Turning, he was amazed to
see both Quo'on and Eh'har approaching. He stared at them in confusion.
"Does Xe'em send you with
a message for me?" he asked. Although he had already taken leave of his
sub-parent, he supposed that something crucial might have been missed during
their last conversation...
"Eh'har and I have decided
to make our choice this day as well," Quo'on explained. "You know that
I was leaning towards the diplomatic field. Your sudden decision has simply
caused me to put off delaying the inevitable."
"And you, Eh'har?" Da'an
asked. "You were never interested in this field..."
"I have lost all interest
in the sciences," Eh'har declared. "You yourself have suddenly turned away
from the same field...." moving closer, he placed a hand on Da'an's shoulder.
<Did you not believe that I was capable of wishing
to change the future as well?> he thought privately to his friend.
<When Taelon meets Human, there should be those
there who remember Taaka's fate and work at preventing a reaccurance...>
With a sigh, Da'an glowed
a brilliant blue.
He was beginning to believe
that he had a real chance at success in his personal quest. So long as
there were those he could rely upon, was not anything possible?
Together, the three moved
off down the hall and toward their rendezvous with the future.
FIN