We Have A Device

(crossover story)

by Seven


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



Note from Author: "We have a device that can send one human being... back in time... seven days." This is a crossover to the UPN series "Seven Days"



**********



THE TAELON MOTHERSHIP ORBITING OVER NORTH AMERICA

A tall, dark-clad man was lurking on the mothership. His tight jumpsuit was that of a Volunteer. But he was not working for the Taelons. The tiny charge on his belt was set for seven minutes and counting.

Zo'or would not be late, he never was. The lurker watched the doorway as it spiraled open, allowing the tall slim form of the Synod leader into the room. Zo'or glanced around with a small smile, satisfied. The Volunteers were buzzing around on their assignments, occasionally stopping to laugh or talk.

The lurker raised his hand and looked at his watch. Two minutes, thirty seconds. The door whirred and Da'an entered, glancing briefly at the lurker. "You wished to speak with me, Zo'or?" he asked smoothly.

"Yes. I wish to know the reason for your interference with the datastream for the Volunteers program," Zo'or growled.

Da'an tilted his head. "Changing the passwords hardly counts as interference on my own project."

Thirty seconds. The lurker threw down his dataclip and strode toward Da'an and Zo'or. Da'an looked slightly startled. Agent Sandoval moved to block the lurker. "Volunteer, what are you doing?"

The lurker did not reply, but only smashed his fist against Sandoval's jaw. The FBI agent staggered but did not fall. He raised his skrill and fired a blast. It hit the lurker in the middle of the back, knocking him unconscious and throwing a small timer at Da'an's feet.

*00:03.... 00:02.... 00:01...*

The explosive charge detonated, enveloping Da'an and Zo'or in a blossom of fire and throwing Sandoval backwards.

Lili Marquette shouted, "No!" and ran toward them. The last blue-white streaks of Da'an and Zo'or's energy was whizzing out the window. Sandoval was moving weakly, but a puddle of blood had pooled behind his head. As she reached her superior, he stopped breathing.

****

"Liam," Augur said over the global. "I'm sorry. It's all over the news; apparently someone has killed Zo'or, Da'an, and Sandoval."

Liam Kincaid dropped the global in shock, then began hyperventilating, trying not to cry.

****

"What do you mean, there'll be no investigation?" Lili demanded of the President. "Da'an was brutally murdered, and you're telling me that no investigation is necessary!"

Thompson shrugged. "No it isn't. The situation is being remedied even as we speak." He cut the link, leaving Lili fuming.

****

NEVER NEVER LAND, SOMEWHERE IN THE NEVADA DESERT

Olga Vukavitch was walking down a corridor when she heard off-key singing from Frank Parker's room. "I will, I will, I will," Parker warbled through the sound of running water, "love you always, love you forever..."

She rapped on the door. "Mister Parker!" she called. "There's been a new crisis. We need you in the conference."

There was a muffled groan from inside, and the water shut off. "Olga, I'm naked in the shower."

"That's all right," she teased, beginning to walk away. "Nobody minds."

****

Talmadge stroked his beard a little as Frank Parker entered, his hair still wet. "Glad you could join us, Mr. Parker." He touched a panel, and a picture of a tall, haughty-looking Taelon sprang up. "This is Zo'or, the leader of the Taelon Synod. Early yesterday, he and the North American Companion Da'an were brutally murdered." Talmadge switched the photo to a publicity photo of Da'an.

"How were they killed?" Mentor asked.

"An explosive charge, at close range. It also killed this man," he switched to a picture of a dark Asian man, "FBI Agent Ronald Sandoval."

"So a Backstep's been authorized?" Parker asked, rubbing at his left eye.

"I don't see why," Nate Ramsey said loudly from his seat opposite Parker. "Those lying little creeps have refused to give us straight answers for four years now! Why should we help them get their racist little leader back?"

"Put a sock in it, Ramsey," Donovan called.

"It's possible that any new leader would be infinitely worse," Olga stated. "Zo'or has shown that he considers humans to be beneath him, but no major military strikes have been made."

"Better to make sure it doesn't happen," Ramsey retorted.

"Well, that's what Backstep is for," Ballard began.

"YOU shut up," Ramsey shouted.

"Enough, people!" Talmadge boomed. "This is not about personal opinions about the Taelons, this is about what our orders are. Frank," he glanced at Frank Parker, who was flipping through a file folder, "you're not uncomfortable with this?"

Parker shrugged. "Backstep, save the Prez and Vice Prez. Backstep, save the Taelon leader and his Taelon buddy. Sure, no difference."

****

The hangar was readied for the backstep. Parker, dressed in his usual orange flightsuit, was sitting in the Sphere, hands gripping the controls. He hummed to himself as Ballard passed overhead in his harness, calling, "I've altered the needles so you should land a few miles off Washington, within walking distance of the Taelon Embassy."

"Got it, Ballard," Parker said. Something occurred to him. As two workers began to pull on the hatch of the Sphere, he called out, "Ballard, have you made any modifications to the Sphere?"

"Just teensy ones," Ballard shouted.

"Reactor at forty percent," Olga said over the intercom.

"HOW TEENSY?"

"Reactor at one hundred percent. ENGAGE!" she shouted.

Parker groaned and hit the engage button. As he fought to keep the Sphere under control, jolting and dancing as it began to warp time in a spray of lightning, he saw a slow melt of images...

*Da'an*

*Sandoval in a pool of blood*

*The mothership in orbit of the moon*

*Zo'or's shocked face*

*A man lurking in the shadows*

Parker began to scream as the Sphere went into free fall.....

TO BE CONTINUED