A Child's Tears

by Seven


Disclaimer:  Earth: Final Conflict and its characters are copyrighted by Tribune Entertainment Company.  All rights reserved.



Note from Author:  Shortly after the episode "Vanished." I decided to put this in, since Al'ith liked Lili a great deal. For Fear, who wanted a Liam story!



**********



The mothership's decks were darkened, simulating night. Many of the Volunteers were gone, leaving the corridors empty and echoing.

Liam stifled a yawn as he made his way to the bridge, wondering what kind of deranged reason Zo'or had for calling a meeting with Da'an at eleven in the evening. I'll have insomnia and be completely brain-dead tomorrow. That's the last thing I need right now.

And now, he thought with a bitter pang, there wasn't even anyone on the mothership to talk to...

He heard a faint sniffle from behind and turned. A little girl, looking about four years old, was looking up at him with tears in her large blue eyes. Her blue silk dress was mussed, as if she had been crawling around in it. She held out her arms pleadingly, and Liam scooped her up, feeling tears come to his own eyes.

"I want Lili back," Al'ith whimpered, her face buried in Liam's shirt.

A lump rose in his throat as he heard his own thoughts given plaintive sound from the mouth of a child. He hugged her close, his tears trickling down the side of his face and soaking into the silky sleeve. "I want her back too," he whispered.

"Why do things die?" Al'ith asked, her voice becoming slightly petulant. "Why don't things live forever?"

Liam could only smile through his grief. "I don't know. But nothing—and no one—lives forever. We try hard to avoid it, but it happens someday."

"I miss her."

"I know you do," Liam said, picking her up and carrying her as he continued his walk down the corridor, towards the bridge. "But you still have Da'an and Sandoval... and me." He smirked exaggeratedly. Al'ith giggled despite herself, throwing her arms around his neck.

Da'an appeared at the end of the hallway, looking troubled. But his face softened slightly at the sight of Al'ith, balanced against Liam's shoulder. Al'ith glanced at them both.

You still have me.