Division

by Seven


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



Note from Author:  Sequel to "Creation". Takes place about three centuries before the Taelon arrival.



**********



"What have you done to me?"

The growling tone of Zo'or's voice sent a spike of pain through Da'an. He closed his eyes, unwilling to see the furious face of his offspring.

In the past seven centuries, Zo'or had matured. He was intelligent, quick to learn, with an odd animosity towards his rivals. Da'an had watched him with self-inflicted blindness, noting that Zo'or was taller than most Taelons. Faster. Given to more physical action in a crisis. Quicker to anger.

Wait, Da'an had thought. He is not yet fully grown. There are changes yet ahead of him...

And now, Zo'or was staring furiously at him, hands clenched into fists at his sides. His bright blue eyes flashed alarmingly. "What did you do to me?" he repeated in a low voice.

Da'an only shook his head, willing the DNA readouts on his desk to vanish. For Zo'or to forget he had ever seen them.

There was a long pause, and Zo'or added, "Why did you do this to me?"

"It was the only way," Da'an whispered.

"The only way to what?" Zo'or snapped heatedly.

"The only way to insure your survival." Da'an turned pain-filled eyes to his only child. "My DNA was damaged by millennia of our species's bioengineering. There was no way for me to naturally conceive a child, let alone a...." He stopped, realizing what he was about to say.

Zo'or's face was blank now, cold with the understanding, but not the pity. "Let alone a fully Taelon child," he added blandly.

Da'an turned away, his features working. "I... only wish that things had been different," he said quietly.

"But they are not," Zo'or interjected, his eyes flashing again. "You have not spoken of my dual ancestry to anyone?"

Da'an nodded, eyes still closed. "Except for the scientist who helped me with the merging of the genes, who embraced the void not long after your birth."

"Good," Zo'or replied coldly. He turned and quickly strode to the door, and glanced over his shoulder. The same wintry expression was still there. "What you did... never occurred. Never."

Da'an rose from his seat and held out his hands. "Zo'or..."

Zo'or simply shook his head and walked out. Da'an's hands dropped to his sides, the fingers still twitching weakly. Overwhelming pain overcame him, as though a part of his soul had been ripped from him. He bowed his head, mourning the sudden loss of his only child.