A Message From Ha'gel

by Seven


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



Authur's Note: Before Sleepers



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A door opened in the dark Taelon storage facility. A tall, dark-haired man entered, looking around for anyone who might be lurking. He came to a door, took out a card, and passed it through.

A soft female voice said, "ID confirmed: Major Liam Kincaid. You may pass." The door clicked and fell open. Liam slipped into the room, pulling the door part of the way shut behind him. He switched on a flashlight.

Inside was an oddly-shaped alien pod, laced with strange writing. Kimera writing, hard to decipher even for a Taelon. Liam slowly approached it, as if it might explode. His father had spent centuries in that pod, and ever since Da'an had mentioned its transference to New York, Liam had ached to see it. He had noticed a hint of sadness in Da'an's voice; Ha'gel had killed Da'an's friend and previous protector, William Boone. Liam had never known Boone, but from what he had heard from others, he wished he had.

Liam set the flashlight on a shelf, aiming it at the pod. Then he went toward it. It was, he thought, far too small for anyone to spend much time inside. As if to test it, Liam pulled open the hatch and curled up inside. It was snug-fitting, and his ribs were pressing uncomfortably against his hands, squeezing his shakarava.

As Liam wriggled out of the pod, a small object clattered to the floor, after getting caught in his pants. He picked it up, and studied the Kimera markings on it. A small dataclip.Liam touched the top and saw that there was only one file on it. He opened the file, and several lines of Kimerawriting scroll down and across. He recognized the symbol at the bottom of the message: Ha'gel.

To my child.

If you are reading this message, then I have passed into Shahariah. Although you have never seen nor heard me, I must ask you to read my message.

Liam shut down the dataclip, closing his eyes. A message... from his father? Before he was even conceived? No, it was too much. He began to set it down....

"Read it, Liam," a soft voice said. Liam spun to see Da'an standing in the doorway, a small smile on his face. "It may lead you to a better understanding."  Liam hesitated, then reopened the file.

I am the lone remaining Kimera in the galaxy, the only one not murdered by the Taelons. But that fate will soon befall me, and you will be the last of our kind. You doubtlessly have many questions, about yourself, about your heritage, about me. I cannot answer all of your questions, but I can reply that you might save your race.You might not. But you must try to repel the Taelons from the world that is the only one you have known. There are places, my child, where the Kimera are gone but not forgotten. You must seek these places and put them to their final use. Never accept your Kimera side over your mother's side. Both are you, and you are both.

Ha'gel

Liam closed the file. Da'an was looking at him, a shadow of pain on the Taelon's face. "We destroyed Ha'gel's race after they saved ours," Da'an said softly. "Did you know that this clip was waiting for me?" Liam asked."No. I suspected that you would wish to examine the pod, but I had no idea that a message would be there," Da'an replied. "I can barely read Kimera, Liam, but I recognized your expression when you shut off the clip."

Liam slowly tossed the clip from one hand to another. "I don't know what to do with this," he said.

Da'an touched Liam's hand and curled his fingers over the clip. "Keep it. You never knew Ha'gel, and this might allow you to understand him better." Liam paused, then slipped the clip into his pocket.

A few hours later, Liam climbed into his loft apartment and opened the top drawer of his bureau. Inside was a picture of Beckett, smiling and waving, and a small photo ID of Sandoval's.

Liam dropped the clip in and shut the drawer...