The Lost Scene

by Seven


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



Note from Author:    This happens between the end of "Atavus" and the beginning of "A Stitch in Time", the scene that everyone wanted to see. .



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Liam Kincaid walked over to Da'an and put his hand on Da'an's shoulder. "Uh, it's time to go." Then he mentally kicked himself when he saw Da'an's agonized face. The Taelon grasped Liam's shoulder for support and stumbled after him, up the stairs. His pale face was overcast in the shadows of the church basement, and his blue eyes were glazed.

Lili was crouched next to Beckett's prone body, global open. "Yes? This is Captain Marquette. We need a medivac team down in the basement of Saint Michael's." She slapped the global shut and stared at Liam. "We need Da'an out of here."

Liam nodded and continued up the stairs, his arm around Da'an's waist. As they came to the doors of the giant church, Da'an suddenly pulled away. "Liam," he said softly. "I... I saw..." Then he fell silent.

Liam felt cold sweat break over his face as he shoved the doors open. "What did you see?" he asked with false cheerfulness. The cool night air rushed over them.

"I... saw... you... your..." Liam felt a stab of concern for Da'an. Was it simply shock and horror, or was there something medically wrong with him? If I reconnected him wrong...

Da'an seemed to emerge long enough to say, "I will be fine, Liam." But as they boarded the shuttle, no more words were exchanged.

Da'an seemed to need help as he entered his office. Every couple of steps he faltered. Liam considered calling a doctor, but Da'an interjected, "I will be fine, Liam. Please... I would like to be alone for a time."

Feeling sympathy wash over him, Liam walked out the door.

****

The next morning, Liam found Da'an sitting in his raised chair, still looking depressed. Liam bit his lip. He had made up his mind to do this the night before, but it was harder than he had imagined. "Da'an?"

Da'an looked up at him. "Yes, Liam?"

"I'd, uh, like to show you something. Something very important." I can't believe I'm doing this. Lili will kill me if Doors doesn't...

Da'an tilted his head to the side. "What is it?"

"Well, um, it's a little hard to explain." Liam chuckled nervously. "It's, um... a place, rather than a thing."

Da'an paused for a moment, then rose out of his chair. "Where is it?"

****

Liam heard Da'an's sharp intake of breath as the shuttle came out of ID over the church. "Liam," Da'an said tightly. "Why have you brought me to this place?"

Ooh, that was something I hadn't considered. "Da'an, what happened to you yesterday has nothing to do with this. Please, just trust me." Well, almost nothing.

Liam could hear his pulse pounding as Da'an sat and looked at him. "Very well."

****

Liam flipped open the box and ran his thumb over the scanner. ID CONFIRMED it said in large red letters. Da'an was looking around the room blankly, not comprehending what was going on.

As the elevator doors whipped open, Liam bowed with a flourish. Da'an walked past him. "Liam..." he said hesitantly. "I have been to churches of this type, and this elevator is not ordinary."

"No, it isn't. But you'll see when we hit rock bottom." Liam swayed a little as the elevator zipped down. This is it. My last chance to turn back, change my mind, tell Da'an it was all a mistake.

But Doors still hates me anyway. The second-worst thing he could do is kill me, since I've not only defied him but am bringing the person he hates the most right into our camp.

"Liam?" Da'an asked again. "Where does this lead? I know that we are deep underground, but unless-"

Liam opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted by the sudden decrease in speed. The doors opened, and Liam stepped out, right into the presence of Jonathan Doors. Doors looked absolutely livid. Liam summoned a cocky smile and looked at Da'an. Both Da'an and Doors were out of the other's field of vision.

Da'an hesitantly stepped out, and jerked a little as he saw Doors. Doors stared at the Taelon as though Liam had escorted pink elephants into the Liberation. Liam felt, rather than saw, Lili's stare.

Da'an slowly walked over with a small smile, looking out at the gaping Resistance. Liam half-expected Lili to duck, or run, or do something. Then the Taelon turned and looked at Doors. He extended his hand.

Doors stared at the hand as though he were being offered a live lobster. Then he slowly took it, and pulled away. Da'an looked at his opponent solemnly.

****

"Kincaid," Doors said tonelessly. "We're going to talk. Now. And all your smart-mouthed banter won't help you in this place now."

Liam shrugged at Da'an and walked over to Doors. Doors's hand shot up with a pistol in one hand, slamming the butt of the gun against Liam's face. Liam was thrown off his feet, his hand pressed against his mouth. A collective gasp was heard.

"Jonathan!" Lili jumped up onto the platform and grabbed Doors's elbow, then grabbed his gun. "Are you okay, Liam?"

Liam grimaced and slowly knelt and stood up, a trickle of blood coming from the corner of his mouth. Da'an was looking more shocked than ever. Doors uttered a low growl and stalked out of the room.

For a long moment there was silence. The Resistance seemed to be torn between staring at Liam, Da'an, or Doors. Lili ran a hand through her brown hair, sending it into chaos. "Um, Da'an... what a pleasant surprise. You probably have a lot of questions, huh?" She smiled nervously.

"Indeed I do." Da'an cast another glance at Liam, who was gingerly touching the corner of his mouth. "I take it that both you and Captain Marquette are part of the Resistance?"

"Yeh," Liam mumbled. "So was Boone."

Lili froze, eyes wide. "You didn't have to do that," she hissed. But Da'an had only stopped looking at anyone. His large blue eyes widened, and he smiled a little, sadly. "Well, it explains many questions I had."

"Questions?" Lili squawked, surprised. "Uh, I mean..."

"She means, would you like the tour?" Liam interjected, stepping next to Da'an. He nudged Lili, who added, "Yes, a guided tour."

Da'an nodded and briskly walked over to Augur's workstation, staring at the computer. Augur, in a wheeled computer chair, began to roll rapidly away, looking horrified.

"Augur, come back here!" Lili shouted. She walked over and grabbed Augur by the shoulder of his shirt. "Augur was the one who severed you from the Commonality," she told Da'an. Da'an automatically stepped back. "You are going to apologize," she whispered.

"Look, I wasn't trying," Augur said, pulling away. "If I had known what that would have done-"

"You would not have done it. I comprehend." Da'an nodded graciously to Augur, who looked suddenly ashamed.

For a moment, the Taelon looked around the Resistance. Then he turned to look at Liam, an odd smile on his face. "I had many questions about William Boone... but I have many more about you, Major." He stepped a little closer. "Why do you have the shakarava?"

Liam opened his mouth and discovered that he didn't know what to say. Lili interjected, "Liam is only part human. Agents Beckett and Sandoval were his parents, but he's got a little of Ha'gel's DNA in the mix, too."

Da'an was staring down, looking perplexed. "But Ha'gel.... was only released a week ago...." He stared at Liam again, as if expecting him to blush or shapeshift. "How is it possible?"

Lili shrugged, looking pained. "Beckett got pregnant when Ha'gel was using Sandoval's form. She was pregnant for only nine hours, and Liam grew up in less than a day. He should still be lying on his back with no muscle control, but he's never had any trouble. I guess he's the first person to be born into the Liberation."

Liam shot Lili a look. But Da'an was still puzzled. "But your military record..."

"Was fabricated by yours truly," Augur said with a smile. "If Liam had to have a record, I didn't want it to read, 'Spent seven years as burger-flipper at various fast-food restaurants.'"

"Captain Marquette," Da'an asked. "How long were you and Commander Boone members of the Resistance?"

Lili shrugged. "Boone joined us right before he was implanted. He wanted to know the dirty truth about who killed his wife." Liam saw Da'an cringe a little. "And uh, I joined up long before that."

"They're still putting me through the rite of passage," Liam commented.

"Speaking of which..." Lili grabbed Liam by the shoulders. "What were you thinking? Doors is going to reduce you to a bloody heap on the floor if he gets his hands on you now!"

"Has anyone done something similar to this before?" Da'an asked. "What will the repercussions be?"

Lili grimaced. "Once a new guy brought his girlfriend in here. They were never heard from again." She jammed her face closer to Liam's. "You have got to get your butt out of here and keep a low profile until Jonathan cools down. Comprende?"

"Comprende," Liam replied. "Okay, Da'an, let's go."

"Not too soon for my taste," Doors said from the back of the facility. His voice was ominous, and seemed to come from nowhere in particular. "You are never gonna set foot in this facility again, Kincaid. You or your little alien pal."

Liam grasped Da'an's arm and marched him into the elevator. Augur and Lili watched the doors slide shut. Augur leaned a little closer. "What do you think is going to happen now?"

Lili's mouth twisted. "Hopefully, nothing. Realistically, everything..."

****

As Liam opened the huge church doors for the second time, Da'an touched his shoulder. "Major Kincaid... Liam," he said softly. "There are many things I wish to ask you..."

Liam took a deep breath. New rules for life: protect Da'an, avoid Zo'or and Doors, be careful what you do... "Sure. Ask me anything you want."