Misery And Loss

by Seven


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



Note from Author:     Dedicated to my baby brother Francis, who didn't make it all nine months. Takes place prior to EFC.



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Da'an was walking faster than he ever had before, his hands curled into tense fists over his chest. He was shaking a little as he entered the medical wing.

One of the healers, a Taelon named Mir'al, was standing by the door, wearing a shiny surgical  smock. His oval face was grave and solemn as he saluted Da'an. "Da'an. I am gratified that you came so quickly."

Da'an looked past Mir'al to the sterile chamber beyond. A shimmering energy stream was flowing over one of the chairs, which reclined to allow the tall, shadowy figure inside to rest. Da'an shivered a little at the sight of it. "How is he?" he asked in a low voice.

Mir'al folded his hands. "His system was under severe strain... but he will recover."

"And the child?"

Mir'al's face grew more solemn. "It did not survive," he said quietly. "It had a severe genetic  flaw. There was no possible way for it to have survived... it was surprising that Zo'or survived."

Da'an closed his eyes, and pressed one hand to the virtual glass. His voice betrayed a soft waver, a hint of restrained emotion. "A genetic flaw... like the previous children."

"Yes," Mir'al replied in a low, sympathetic voice. Da'an knew that he had given the terrible news to many Taelons over the centuries. "We attempted to repair the previous flaws after Zo'or's previous conceptions, but... evidently the damage to his DNA is too much."

For a moment, Da'an watched his child in the energy stream, and the hand on the window shook. "May I see him?" he asked softly.

"Yes," Mir'al replied, but with a hint of sternness in his voice. "But only for a short time..." He glided out of the room, sealing the doorsbehind himself.

Da'an slipped past the field, and approached the chair bathed in white light. The energy stream shut off as Zo'or sat up suddenly, his arms tightly held to his sides. Da'an recoiled a little at the pure pain in his lustreless eyes, but seated himself at Zo'or's side.

But Zo'or immediately activated the energy stream with a shaking hand, and all Da'an saw of him was a brief flash of shame across his face. He was miserable... ashamed. He didn't want anyone to see him this way... let alone his parent.

Da'an watched the swirling energy shrouding Zo'or, and bowed his head a little. He slowly rose and walked away...