twinshadows

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Twin Shadows

By Agent Sandy

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

Author's Note: Sandoval is told he must arrest a powerful telepath and bring her to the Mothership. What will he do when he realizes that the telepath is someone he cares deeply about?

Rating: PG

**********

"We'll walk together,

Through the fire,

Through the darkness,

To the sun.

Like two raging rivers full of passion,

At the ocean,

We are one.

Oh...I hear you crying..."

Agent Sandoval wished the face that was looking back at him from the picture he had just been given was any face but this one. Zo'or had to see the resemblance. He had to know that this telepath wasn't just any telepath. He had to...

"Do you think you can handle this assignment, Agent?" Zo'or asked smugly. Sandoval forced his face blank and then looked up at Zo'or, "Of course, Zo'or." Zo'or smirked, "Are you certain? This woman is a threat to us, and is not to be allowed to live under any circumstances." Agent Sandoval nodded and stated, even though there was a lump in his throat, "I will not fail you."

Zo'or gave him a long hard look, "See that you do not."

Agent Sandoval placed the picture face down on his desk and prayed that it wouldn't be the same one when he picked it back up. Of course, it was. He sighed and collapsed into his chair. How could he not do this and manage to keep his position? How could he do this and keep his soul?

Ronald picked up the picture and looked at it again. Instead of thinking of a way out, though, he was pulled into a memory intrusion...

*****

"You have to catch me first!" The six-year-old's pigtails bounced against her shoulders as she ran away from him. He scrambled to his feet and ran after her. She'd had the ball all day. It was his turn now, and after all, Mom had said he could have it.

" 'Lyia! Mom said I could have it! You have to share!" The six-year-old version of him called to her.

Alyia stuck her tongue out at her brother and kept running, "I'm older than you, and I say it is mine for as long as I want it!" "You're only older by ten minutes! That doesn't count!" Little Ronnie cried. Alyia stopped running and looked back at him, "It does too..."

Her voice cut off as a car suddenly jumped the curb and came right at her. Her little brother could do nothing but watch as the vehicle ran her over...

*****

Ronald squeezed his eyes shut to stop the tears that were filling them. He didn't want to remember the helplessness or the pain he had felt. Alyia's abilities had violently come to life that day and she--through no fault of her own--had projected all of her pain onto the person she was closest to--her twin brother. He had been in a coma almost as long as she had been because he also had some dormant psychic abilities. His were far weaker than hers, though, and as a result, they had been blown wide open--permanently scarring the psychic pathways so that, even today, using any fraction of his abilities was painful.

* Of course, I got off easy, * Ronald thought. * I lost the use of abilities that I wouldn't have ever used, and she...she lost the ability to walk. Now, Zo'or wants me to bring her in? God, he must know I won't. I, I can't do that to her. * [But you have to,] a soft voice said at the back of his mind. [Come and see me little brother. The time is now and we have a lot to do.]

Ronald nodded and grabbed his jacket. She was right. There was a lot to do. Unfortunately for Zo'or, none of it was in the best interests of the Taelons...

*****

Agent Sandoval hesitated as he neared the door. He was having so many second thoughts, so many fears. He had almost decided to return to the car, when the door opened. There was a young blond woman behind it. She smiled at him, and then lowered her eyes, almost as if she were afraid of him.

"She had a feeling you would change your mind. Please come in," the girl said softly.

He nodded and followed her into the house and onto the back patio. Ronald didn't even noticed the girl slip away because he was so focused on the woman in the wheelchair.

Alyia hadn't changed any in the five years since he had last seen her. Her long dark hair was pulled up on the sides with a pair of butterfly clips. The curls bounced against her shoulders as she smiled and motioned for him to come over to her. For a moment, though, he couldn't move. The emotions he was feeling were too strong. Then, after a few minutes, he moved to her side, knelt, and took her hands.

Neither of them said anything. They didn't need to. Everything important was being said though the connection of their thoughts--a connection that had been there since they had been born. Tears entered Ronald's eyes as he realized how much he had missed having someone there who knew him completely, even when he didn't know himself.

"Why did you wait so long? You could have come at any time, and I would have accepted you, you know that," she said, gently wiping the tears from his face. Ronald shut his eyes briefly, and then looked back at her, "I couldn't risk hurting you. The MI would have made me..." "But you never turned me in," Alyia corrected him softly. "No, you felt you were too tainted to come near me. I can't understand that Ronnie." "You don't know the things I have done," he stated, looking at the ground.

"Of course, I do! Our minds have always been open to each other. Not only do I know all that you did, I know all if the pain you felt--even when you couldn't express it and it ate at you," she gently placed a hand on either side of his face and pulled his head up until he was looking at her. "I know all that you did, and I still love you." Ronald looked at her for a moment, doubting. The doubt was washed away when he felt her mind wash over his in a comforting embrace.

A few minutes passed, and then Alyia spoke, "You must take me to see Zo'or." Ronald looked up at her in surprise, "No. That would be sentencing you to death. I won't consider it." Alyia watched as her brother stood up and began to pace. "And not taking me to him would be sentencing you to death," she objected. Ronald stopped walking and looked at her, "No, I can work something out. I have..."

Alyia shook her head, "No, this is the only way."

Ronald began to object again, but stopped and paled as he realized what she meant, "You have seen something."

Alyia reached out to him, and he took her hands, again kneeling in front of her.

"Yes, I have seen something," she whispered. "I must go to the Mothership. There is no other path that leads to an acceptable outcome." "And if you don't go?" Ronald asked warily.

Alyia looked her brother in the eyes, "Then we both will die."

*****

Agent Sandoval wondered how long his sister and Zo'or could stare at each other. When Zo'or had first seen Alyia, he had looked surprised. Sandoval wasn't sure if it was the wheelchair or the aura of innocence that always had surrounded his sister that had thrown the Taelon, but whatever the cause, the surprise was quickly covered up with the Taelon's normal, arrogant, look.

"You did an excellent job, Agent Sandoval. I wasn't expecting you to find her so fast," Zo'or's voice seemed to mock him. Sandoval made eye contact with Zo'or for a moment, and then looked at the floor to hide the hatred he was feeling. Zo'or turned back to Alyia and seemed to study her, "So you are the one who has been causing so much trouble." "Trouble is only trouble if you define it as such. I have done nothing that would cause the Taelons trouble as I define it. I don't know what you want from me."

Ronald looked at her out of the corner of his eye. Why was she lying to Zo'or? That would only get her into more trouble.

Instead of getting mad, though, Zo'or seemed pleased, "Stubbornness seems to be a trait you and your brother share." Ronald winced slightly. He had hoped against hope that Zo'or hadn't made the connection between them. Alyia only smiled, "You say that as if it was a bad thing. Stubbornness is a quality that is quite useful to humanity."

Zo'or glared at her, "Let me get to the point. You have committed acts of aggression against the Taelons. Because you have such strong abilities, you have a choice that many that have been in your position did not have. Instead of just being killed," Zo'or glanced at Sandoval to let him know who would have been doing the killing, and then looked back at Alyia, "you have the choice to come and work for the Taelons."

"Become a slave to the Taelons, you mean," Alyia stated.

Zo'or glared at her, but didn't deny the comment.

Alyia continued, "I am no fool, Taelon. I know what games you are playing, and I know how you are playing them. Do you truly think that I will allow you to turn me into a mindless puzzle piece?"

Zo'or's face angered, then suddenly calmed, "Then your answer is no."

Alyia looked at him hard, but didn't answer.

"Very well then," Zo'or stated. "We will just have to resort to other measures to 'acquire' your cooperation." The Taelon waved his hand over a data stream. For a moment, Alyia watched him, wondering what the gesture meant. Then a pain-filled gasp caught her attention, and she turned her head to the side just in time to see Ronald grab the sides of his head and collapse to his knees.

"Ronnie!" She cried, and started to move toward him, but stopped when he was surrounded by a group of Volunteers. When she realized that she wasn't going to be able to get to him, she turned back to Zo'or with hate-filled eyes.

"What did you do to him?" She hissed at the smirking Taelon.

Zo'or looked at her as if he didn't know what was upsetting her so, "The last time I had his CVI checked out, I had the doctor add a little 'gift' to it. Now, if you wish your brother's pain to end before it kills him--and believe me I could kill him if I wished to--you need only to agree to my offer."

Alyia couldn't believe what was happening. None of this had happened in any of the versions of the possible future that she had been shown. She didn't know what to do or what her actions would lead to and that scared her more than Zo'or's threats did. No matter what she did or what happened to her, she had to make sure Ronnie got out of this alive. The future of humanity would be assured only if he survived to play his role.

A strangled groan tore Alyia out of her thoughts, and she turned to face her brother who was lying almost unconscious on the floor. When she saw his tear-streaked face, she knew what she had to do.

She turned back to Zo'or with a bowed head, and then whispered, "All right, you win."

*****

"You needed to see me Da'an?" Liam asked, worrying about what had caused the Taelon to so urgently summon him.

Da'an turned from where he had been looking out over the city and faced Liam, "There is something that you need to know." Liam was concerned about the look on Da'an's face. There had been some weird things going on in the last few days--not to mention the fact that Agent Sandoval seemed to have disappeared. Liam was hit with a sudden feeling of doom, and he waited fearfully for Da'an to continue.

"Your father is in grave danger," Da'an stated.

Liam was surprised to hear Da'an speak so openly about his connection to Sandoval, and began to speak. Da'an cut him off with a wave of his hand. "It is perfectly safe for us to speak openly here. I have seen to it." Da'an stated.

Liam relaxed a little, "Then would you care to tell me what the he** is going on? Zo'or is up to something--something that is obviously going well since he has been so smug the last few days." "That is what I must speak to you about I am afraid," Da'an took a few steps toward Liam. "Ronald...Agent Sandoval is in great danger. Zo'or is using him to force another to obey his wishes."

Liam looked confused, "I don't understand. Sandoval is Zo'or's loyal servant. Why would he be in danger?"

Da'an bowed his head slightly and then looked at Liam again, "You must not have access to those of his memories concerning that. Agent Sandoval is no more a 'servant' to the Taelons than you are. He is here because his government wanted someone to keep an eye on us. While he worked for me, his MI kept him from fulfilling that task. Since then, his MI has broken down, and he has resumed his reports to the government."

"And you let him do that?" Liam was completely confused.

"Yes, it gave me another way to keep an eye on Zo'or without him knowing it. Unfortunately, Zo'or has become aware of Ronald's actions and is now using him as a hostage to control another. Once that person has bowed completely to Zo'or's control, I fear Ronald's life will end."

"So you want me to help them escape?" Liam asked. Da'an nodded so slightly that Liam almost missed it.

"Who is this person? Why is he so important to Zo'or?" Liam inquired.

Da'an met Liam's eyes, "She is Ronald's twin sister--your aunt."

*****

Alyia gently swept the dark hair off her unconscious brother's forehead. Tears she couldn't stop slipped from her eyes. She didn't want to see him hurt so much, but any time she even so much as paused a moment to think about what Zo'or had ordered her to do, the Taelon would set off the device in Ronnie's CVI that caused him pain. It didn't help to know that Ronnie would have told her to ignore his pain and not give into Zo'or...that is, he would say that if he was ever conscious long enough to gather his thoughts. Zo'or was doing a good job of making sure that didn't happen, though.

Alyia shut her eyes. What hurt the most was that the device in Ronnie's CVI also severed the link that had always been between them for the first time. The emptiness in her mind was driving Alyia crazy.

Alyia's eyes flashed open when she sensed two people enter the room. She immediately went on the defensive.

The intruders were Da'an and his protector. She didn't trust the first because he was a Taelon, but the second...Her first instinct was not to trust him either--he was a Companion Protector after all--but something about his presence was eerily familiar to her. Alyia thought for a minute, then her eyes went wide as she remembered why his mind was so familiar to her.

She met the man's--no, boy's--eyes, but didn't know what to say.

He looked back at her, "I assume you know who I am." She nodded and whispered, "Yes." Liam's eyes moved from her to his father, "How is he?" "If I was still connected to his mind, then I could tell you. As it is..." she let her voice trail off.

Liam walked over to where Alyia sat with Ronald's head on her lap. He knelt down and gently laid his hand on top of hers where it was resting on his father's shoulder. Then he looked up at her with concern-filled eyes, "I promise I will do everything I can to get you two out of here."

Alyia gently touched his cheek, "You know as well as I that your father is the important one. You must make sure he lives."

Liam glanced down at his father a moment, then looked her in the eyes and whispered in an almost child-like voice, "I will make sure you both live Auntie 'Lyia."

*****

As Zo'or watched the young woman work, he couldn't help but smirk. After her initial reluctance, she had now begun to cooperate without a fight.

* Humanity and its love...the weakness that will destroy it, * Zo'or thought to himself. * If they were more willing to sacrifice anyone, then they would possibly have a chance against us. As is, * Zo'or looked from Alyia to the tank of swirling energy in front of her, * love will be what allows me to win. And in the end, the love she works to preserve will still die... *

*****

Alyia looked around her at the Astral Plane. She knew he was there, but after their first meetings, she wasn't surprised that he was doing everything in his power to hide from her. Unfortunately for him, no non-psi could hide from a psi on the plane for long. Still, she didn't want to force him to appear.

"Commander, please!" She said, trying to get him to come out of hiding on his own. "This is childish and beneath you." "And expecting me to walk right back into slavery isn't?" A voice asked. "Over the last few days I thought I had made it clear that that was something I wasn't going to do." "Don't you care that he is going to kill my brother?" Alyia asked.

"Let's see. Your brother killed me twice. Why should I care?" The voice, which had now become a shadowy figure, replied bitterly. "That's not fair!" Alyia cried. "You know he had no choice. You know he is more than just an implant. You saw him as he really is."

The figure began to speak, then paused.

"Please, William," she begged.

William Boone looked down at her, his face stern, "I'm sorry, child. I won't go back--especially if it means slavery to Zo'or. I refused to live with an active MI before and now that I have seen first hand what a MI does to a person, you can bet I won't accept one!" Tears entered Alyia's eyes, "There has to be a way! Ronnie can't die. It would mean the death of the human race as we know it if he does."

Boone narrowed his eyes, "What do you mean?"

Alyia shook her head, "I can't say exactly, I just know if he dies now, then the Taelons win and humanity will become enslaved." Boone sighed and shut his eyes, "Is there anyway to deactivate the MI?"

Alyia looked up at him, "I might be able to. There is some prep I have to do to the body's brain to prepare it to hold your mind again, but..." "Wait a minute, again? Did they clone my body?" Boone interrupted.

Alyia shook her head, "Do you remember when Zo'or brought you back before?"

Boone paled, "Lazarus?"

"Zo'or cloned his body again and placed a CVI similar to my brother's in him and gave him a skrill. I guess Zo'or decided having you as a slave was better than not having you at all," Alyia replied. "William, I know..." "No," he interrupted her again, "you don't know. You have no idea."

Alyia didn't know what to say, so silence fell between them until Boone spoke again.

"Once he gets me back, you and Sandoval will be of no use to him. How exactly are you going to get out of there especially if Zo'or can control that device even when Sandoval isn't near him?" "I think I can deactivate it if I only had enough time and strength to do it. Zo'or has seen to it that I have had neither," Alyia replied. "Liam is going to get us out of there and give me the time to work on it."

"What about me?" Boone asked.

Alyia looked back at him, "I won't lie to you. If you make it back, you aren't going to be in much shape to be do anything for at least 24 hours. Hopefully, we will be gone by then."

"And...?" Boone waited for her to continue.

Alyia looked him in the eyes, "And then you can stay undercover. That way if none of us get out of this alive, the Resistance will still have someone they can call a leader..."

*****

When Boone woke up in Lazarus's body, he was trapped in a sea of haze. He tried to get his eyes to focus, but that only made his head hurt. Across the room, he could hear scuffling and then a woman crying.

"You promised!" Alyia's voice seemed to be coming through a fog to reach Boone's ears. "You said you would let me and Ronnie go if I convinced him to come back!"

Zo'or's voice cut, strong and cocky, through the fog, "You are a fool if you think that I would let someone so powerful leave my control. It has always been my plan to keep you here, especially if you were able to return Commander Boone to my control. You will be implanted within the next day."

Alyia went very still, "What about Ronnie?"

Boone could faintly make out the smirk on Zo'or's face, "Agent Sandoval is worth nothing to me any more. He will be eliminated."

"No!" Alyia gasped. "Please!"

Zo'or was unmoved by her pleas, "It is not your decision."

Alyia's voice went stern, "I will do nothing for you if you kill him."

Zo'or's smirk spread to his voice, "Once you are implanted, you will have no choice." Zo'or waved his hand, "Take her to a cell separate from her brother's. I want her prepped for implantation."

The sound of a fight drifted to Boone's ears, but it was short lived. Boone faintly saw two Volunteers drag Alyia's unconscious form from the room. The sight made him want to get up and kill Zo'or. Unfortunately, he was so weak, his body wouldn't reply. He hated it.

Zo'or slowly walked over to where Boone was laying. For a long time, the Taelon just stared at him. Boone stared back, pale blue eyes meeting dark blue ones. After a minute, Zo'or smiled at him, "I can see the hatred in your eyes. It must be hard for you to know what is going on, yet not be able to do anything about it." Boone started to reply, but stopped knowing he was supposed to be under the control of a MI that wouldn't let him talk back to Zo'or--even though he wanted to more than anything.

Zo'or laughed--a sound that both surprised and chilled Boone.

"This is going to be fun," Zo'or reached forward and stroked Boone's cheek. "You are going to suffer a great deal for betraying us William... Perhaps I will have you kill Agent Sandoval. Yes, that would be...what is the phrase you humans use? 'Deliciously ironic?'"

Boone didn't reply; He just stared at Zo'or--his barely controlled fury shinning out of his eyes. Zo'or's smile became a smirk. The Taelon gazed at the 'helpless' man on the table a moment more and then left the room. Boone shut his eyes to try and think of a way out of the trap he was in. Alyia's plans were nothing now. Alyia...

A tear entered Boone's eye as the sight of such a strong woman being drug from the room popped back into his mind. It wasn't right...It wasn't fair. He couldn't let her be implanted. The very thought of it chilled his heart and shattered it into a million pieces for some reason.

"I'll get you out of this. I swear..." Boone whispered in a barely audible voice. "I'll make sure you are safe..."

*****

'Deliciously ironic.' Zo'or hadn't been wrong in choosing those words, Boone realized. < After all, if you count Sandoval watching me die in the blue tank and him skrilling 'me' before, he has killed me twice and it would only be fitting that I kill him now. I bet Zo'or was counting on that--figuring my anger would override any inhibitions that the CVI didn't. >

Boone shook his head. Even if he were that angry, he couldn't kill Sandoval now, not when he knew how important he was to the future...and to Alyia. < Anyway, look at him, he's so weak he can't even stand, and he is still trying to look like he could kick my butt if he wanted to. It reminds me of who he was when his CVI went, and I respected that man. I can't kill him...but am I going to have a choice? God... >

Boone shut his eyes, more to keep himself from looking at the viewing window than to keep himself from seeing Sandoval. He didn't want to see Alyia's pale face looking back at him. The girl was deeply drugged to keep her from using her psychic abilities until she was implanted, but that didn't keep her from feeling pain and fear. Boone had made the mistake of looking at her once before and the look was burned into his mind. He knew he would never forget the desperation and pleading in her eyes. She wanted him to save her brother so badly, but at the same time she knew that was impossible.

"Is there a problem, Lazarus?" Zo'or walked up behind him. "I trust this won't be too difficult for you. I understand you are still weak from your ordeal. If raising the skrill and firing is beyond your capabilities, I can find someone else to do it. Perhaps Major Kincaid."

"No," Boone hissed in a hate-filled voice, "I can do it."

Zo'or smirked, "Excellent, then get on with it."

Boone glared at the Taelon a moment more and then turned back to Sandoval. Sandoval locked eyes with him, almost daring him to do it. Boone had to hold back a chuckle. Sandoval was just too stubborn for his own good sometimes. < But you aren't going to die today. Not on my watch. >

Sandoval's head came up, and he looked Boone in the eye, almost as if he had heard his thoughts. < But he couldn't have...they have been drugging him too--just on the off chance that he might try and use his abilities. >

* I do...believe...you...were...the one...who...just...stated I...was one...stubborn...person, * a weak thought replied.

Boone's eyes opened wide.

* Do what you...must...to me, just...protect...Alyia...please... * Sandoval's thoughts slowly forced their way into Boone's mind.

* Don't worry Sandoval. I'm planning on getting you both out alive. I just have to think of something, * Boone thought back.

* Then...think...quickly, * Sandoval stated.

* What...? * Boone asked.

"Lazarus!" Zo'or's voice came sharply from behind him, "What are you waiting for? Do I need to do it for you?" "No," Boone whispered and then suddenly spun around and fired a skrill blast at Zo'or. The blast threw the Taelon into the back wall. Zo'or lost his human facade completely and lay against the wall, stunned.

Several Volunteers raised their weapons at Boone, but he pointed his skrill at Zo'or again and they froze.

"Any of you move, and I will finish the job! Bring Alyia in here now!" He ordered. The Volunteers just looked at him a moment, but when his skrill started to glow again, several rushed out of the room and returned a few minutes later with Alyia. She wheeled herself over to her brother's side and helped him to stand.

"You are making a mistake, Lazarus," Zo'or warned, forcing himself to his feet. "Shut up! If you take so much as a step, I will finish the job!" Boone threatened. Zo'or froze and was smart enough to keep quiet.

Boone kept his skrill trained on Zo'or, but half turned his head toward Sandoval, "Can you carry your sister out of here?"

Sandoval shook his head, "I can barely walk." < Da**, > Boone swore to himself. "Then can you fire that skrill if he moves?" Sandoval glared at Zo'or, "I would fire it even if he didn't."

Boone nodded at him, and they switched places so that Sandoval could hold his skrill on Zo'or and Boone could pick up Alyia. Once he had--and he had gotten over the fact that she fit so well into his arms--they started to edge out of the room. As soon as they were out, they took off down the hall, sirens blaring after them.

They ducked into a hallway to avoid a group of Volunteers and, by some miracle, made it to the shuttle bay. Once there, though, their miracle abandoned them.

Sandoval cried out and collapsed to his knees with his head in his hands.

"No!" Alyia gasped as she and Boone moved to his side.

Sandoval slipped completely to the floor. Alyia pulled his head into her lap; Tears slipped out of her eyes when she saw the blood running from his ears.

Boone was confused, "What is it?"

Alyia's eyes never left her brother's as she answered, "That da** Taelon...he couldn't let him go. He had to trigger the overload in the CVI just when it looked like we would make it. It's...it's killing him." She looked up at Boone, "Do something!"

Boone was saddened by the desperation in her voice, but there was nothing he could do no matter how much her pain made him want to.

"You...you can't die," she whispered to Ronald.

"Shhhh..." Ron replied quietly.

"Ronnie?" Alyia took his hand.

"It's okay," he whispered, his voice and eyes far away. "It's going to be okay. Just go with him."

"I can't leave..." she was cut off as someone entered the room. Boone turned to skrill the person, but stopped when he saw it was Liam.

Liam started to say something, but stopped when he saw his father. Liam's face paled when he saw the pool of blood under his father's head--so similar to the one that has surrounded his mother when he had found her.

"No," Liam whispered as he dropped to his knees beside his father's still form. Sandoval smiled weakly, "It's all right, my son." "No!" Alyia cried. "My visions..."

Ronald looked at her, "The future can change...It is no longer I who must carry on."

"What?" Alyia asked. "I love you both. Now go...before someone comes," he ordered weakly. "We can't leave you," Liam objected. The silence that followed made Liam look down at his father...only Ronald's empty eyes stared back.

Tears entered Liam's eyes as he gently shut his father's eyes.

"Ronnie..."Alyia moaned. The loss in her voice torn deeply into Boone and Liam--Liam especially as he was momentarily overwhelmed by memories of his mother's death.

The sound of approaching footsteps pulled Boone and Liam back to their senses. "We have to go! Liam, can you fly us out of here?" Boone asked. Liam nodded and ran to a shuttle to get it ready. Boone started to pick Alyia up, but she wouldn't let go of her brother's body. "I can't leave him!" She cried. "I can't leave him!" " 'Lyia, you have to, please," Boone pleaded.

Alyia just shook her head and clung to Ronald's body.

Boone crouched so he was facing her and gently touched her shoulder, "He asked you to come with me." Alyia started to object again, but stopped. Boone locked eyes with her and saw something flash in hers. Suddenly she softened. Alyia began shaking. She wanted to cry, she wanted to scream, she wanted to die, but she knew, for some reason, that she had to do it all with this man.

Boone lifted her into his arms. He could feel something coming from her as he dashed to the shuttle. He didn't have time to think about it, though, because just as he reached the shuttle, a group of Volunteers burst in. He dove into the shuttle and Liam jumped it into ID space a few seconds later leaving the Mothership far behind...

*****

Boone watched Alyia stare at the wall. That was all she had done since her brother's death and their escape-stare and shiver. She wouldn't eat, and as far as he knew, she wasn't sleeping either. He wanted to hold her so badly, but he didn't. Who was he to touch her? He wasn't even in his own body!

* No, * Boone thought to himself. * How can I consider loving her when I don't even know who I am any more! *

Boone shook his head and turned to leave. He stopped when he noticed Alyia go into some type of seizure.

He was barely able to keep her from falling off the bed, but somehow he got her laid back on it. He was about to call for help when she suddenly laid still and started crying. "Da** him! He won't let me come!" She yelled in a choked voice. "He won't let me come! Boone looked down on where he had her pinned on the bed, " 'Lyia, who won't let you come? What is it?"

"Ronnie won't let me go with him! It's not fair!" Her voice cracked, "It's not fair…"

Boone gently pulled her against himself and let her cry. He was scared…why he wasn't sure, but the thought that she had the power to make herself die scared him to death. He didn't want her to go. He wanted her here…in his arms…near his heart. He put his head into her hair, "Please don't go." He whispered, "Stay with me. I need you."

Alyia shut her eyes when she heard the pleading in his voice. Why suddenly were his wishes so important to her? Why should she want to be so close to this stranger when she should be with her brother?

* Why won't you let me come! Da** you Ronnie! It's not right! I don't want to be alone! I don't want to be without you. It hurts too much! Why won't you let me come with you?" * [ He needs you, 'Lyia,] Ronald's voice said softly at the back of her mind. [He must carry on. The fate of humanity is now his fate, and he needs you to fulfill that fate.] [Why? Why?] She cried out to her brother, but got no answer. After a moment, she realized that he had finally been judged and passed onto wherever humans went when they died. She shivered. She was alone…so alone. She had never been alone before.

Boone felt Alyia shiver again and he held her tighter.

Alyia felt his arms tighten around her and it pulled her out of the semi-trance she had fallen into while talking to Ronnie. The first thing she felt was the fear radiating off him. She sat back, and he reluctantly let her go. When she saw the mingling of fear, concern, and sadness in his face, something in her heart let go. She reached up and gently touched his face.

"What is it?" She whispered.

Boone took her hand into his and gently pressed it against his lips. Then he looked at her, "I don't want you to go. I don't want to be alone."

Alyia's heart jumped into her throat, and she moved into his arms again, "I won't go." She whispered, "We have a destiny to fulfill."

THE END

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