Full Circle

Post to archives is encouraged as long as my name and title stay with the story.

Author's Note: Beware of spoilers. You should read all of my previous stories up through "Bundle of Joy," and also "The Arrival - Parts 1 through 3," "Crosscurrents," "Someday," "The Gift," "Mind Games," and "Lazarus Woman" before reading "Full Circle."

Please feel free to use any of my characters for your own fanfictions, but keep their name and status quo as is in "Full Circle," and please tell me so I can read your story.

Summary: Diana reveals to the world a shocking truth about the Taelons' purpose on Earth. Boone struggles with his concerns regarding Kate's safety.

This story is the part of my "alternate universe" EFC series. My alternate universe EFC series begins immediately following my story "Bundle of Joy," and contains numerous aspects not found on the actual show.

All of my stories take place in an EFC universe that is basically similar to that of the actual series, but with a lot of my own characters and ideas blended into it. For this reason, please remember that my story arcs and plots will not always be completely accurate with those of the other fanfiction authors whose characters I sometimes use in my own fanfiction, or of the actual series.
 
 

    * * *

     "Wow! Augur, you actually designed this entire thing yourself?!"
    "That I did, my sweet."
    Kate Boone's eyes were glued to Augur's computer screen. She was entranced by the interactive animated computer software which Augur had custom-created for recreational enjoyment. It was complete with anime, MIDI sounds, and digitally-generated computerized dialogue.
    "Can I play it?" Kate pleaded with Augur, still awestruck beyond belief. William Boone's wife was visiting the Resistance headquarters - - with the permission of Jonathan Doors, of course - - eager to see her husband in action on an average day of fighting to save humanity.
    "But of course." Augur shot the beautiful blond Mrs. Boone a charming grin.
    "Oh my! This is better than Pac-Man!" exclaimed Kate, about five minutes into the game.
    "Pac-Man?!" squeaked Juanita, Augur's sister, coming up behind them. "Kate, you're still living in the 1980s!" Juanita chuckled, amused.
    Augur swiveled around to face his sister from where he sat in front of the computer screen next to Kate. "Baby-sis, you are NOT dissing my boy Pac-Man!" he joked, looking up at Juanita.
    "Hey, at least I haven't stooped to such lows as Super Mario Brothers," quipped Kate, flashing a wink at Juanita with a toss of her head.
    "I knew a Mario back on my homeworld," Maiya contributed, coming up next to Juanita. "He was one of the first men on our peninsula to lead our crusade against the Taelons."
    "Hey, I like him already!" Juanita smiled, elbowing Maiya amicably.
    "I hope you all are aware," Boone stated, having overheard their discussion, "that Pac-Man and Super Mario Brothers are both VIDEO games." He leaned over and pecked his wife on the cheek with a kiss. "Augur's little techno-wonder here is a COMPUTER game."
    "Aw, you're just jealous!" Augur teasingly shot at Boone.
    "Well, honey, I'm having a ball down here!" Kate squeezed her husband's arm excitedly. "If you all keep treating me this well, I'll have to come to work with Will everyday."
    Commander Boone looked a bit uncomfortable when she made that statement. He glanced down morbidly at Kate.
    "You may advance to the next level," recited the computerized voice programmed into Augur's software.
    "All right! Level 2!" cheered Kate.
    "What is 'Level 2'?" Maiya lilted in her thick Spanish accent. The brunette freedom fighter was confused. "And who is that voice?"
    "Don't sweat it, girlfriend!" smiled Juanita, cheerfully slapping Maiya on the shoulder. "My bro just gets carried away with his pyrotechnical toys. Case-in-point: Holo-Lili."
    "But Lili created Holo-Augur," Maiya pointed out.
    "True. So I guess all's well that ends well," Juanita concluded. "Come on, Maiya. Let's go have some coffee and doughnuts in the lounge while these goons finish up their playtime."
    Augur hastily crumpled up a piece of scratch paper and hurled it at his sister as Juanita and Maiya headed off toward the Resistance headquarters' lounge for a snack.
    "So Will, how about we get something like this at home," Kate suggested, her eyes still loyally pegged to Augur's computer screen.
    Will sighed and wiped his brow. He really needed to talk to Kate - - urgently. But now was not the time nor the place.
    "Hey, Boone," called out Liam, "do you wanna work out a little in the gym? Us double agents gotta keep in shape - - who knows when Da'an is gonna call us out on duty next."
    Boone was a bit taken aback at Liam's offer. Since when had Liam ever wanted to become so "buddy-buddy" with him? It was no secret that there was tension between the two of them.
    "Go ahead, gentlemen," Kate flippantly encouraged Will and Liam. "Augur thinks he can whip me in a best out of three game here."
    "Yeah, we'll see who's still smiling when I'm done with you," gloated Augur, grinning from ear to ear. Kate moved over and made room for the inventor next to her in front of his computer screen.
    William Boone shrugged and followed Liam into the gym in Resistance headquarters. The gym was fully equipped with workout machines, weight equipment, free weights, punching bags, and an area for stretching and meditation. Captain Lili Marquette and Colonel Angie Truman were already positioned in an open space centered in the weight room, practicing methods of hand-to-hand combat.
    "So Boone," said Liam, as he and the commander sat atop some exercise bikes, "how's married life been - - or should I say, 're-married life'?"
    "Don't remind me," Boone sighed, switching on his exercise bicycle. He and Liam began peddling on the bicycles energetically. "I'm just grateful that Kate and I are both alive once again. It really puts things in perspective for a marriage when a husband and wife have both been murdered and then been resurrected from the afterlife. Assuming there even is an afterlife - - if there was, I have no recollection of it or what it was like. Neither does Kate."
    "Oh, there's an afterlife," Liam declared knowingly. "Ha'gel has come to me in my dreams and shown me."
    That caused an awkward silence between them. Ha'gel had been the one who'd severely wounded Boone during their showdown at St. Michael's. Since Ha'gel was Liam's father, Boone still harbored some animosity toward Liam Kincaid.
    "I just don't know anymore," Boone spoke, after a minute or two of silence. "Everything's so messed up. Kate acts like she can just waltz in here and befriend everyone, and pretend like everything's A-OK. I know she's just trying to be supportive, but . . ."
    "You fear for her life?" Liam finished for William. "You're afraid that Kate is at risk by being involved with the Liberation, even in a minor capacity?"
    "Yeah . . ." Boone trailed off, and then turned to look Liam in the eyes. "Is that so irrational?"
    "Of course not. It shows how much you love her." Liam gave Boone what he hoped would be a reassuring smile. "You're not worrying over nothing. All of us are realistically in danger fighting against the Taelons."
    "But it's not only that." Boone wiped the sweat from his forehead and continued peddling. "We also have the Kneeloi to worry about. Kate acts like nothing's changed since she . . ." He didn't even want to say the word. The memory of Kate's death was permanently etched in his CVI and sent shivers up his spine. "And then there's Zo'or. Sandoval probably told him about Kate's resurrection - - I'm afraid Zo'or will try to do something to Kate!"
    "Have you told her these fears you have?"
    "No way. The last thing I want to do is scare the hell out of her."
    "She won't know how you feel unless you're honest with her."
    "I know. It's just hard to find the words, Liam. How do you tell your wife that you don't want her hanging around your workplace?"
    Meanwhile, as Liam and Boone rode the exercise bikes, Lili and Angie were practicing combative strategies. Both of them wore protective helmets and sported boxing gloves on their hands.
    "So, you do much military combat, Marquette?" questioned Colonel Truman, taking a swift and agile jab at Lili.
    "When I need to," Captain Marquette replied, blocking Angie's punch. "How about you? You're a fellow marine, can you put your money where your mouth is?"
    "Naturally." Truman ducked to avoid an incoming sucker-punch from Lili. "You're a bit slow at this, I've noticed."
    Wham! Lili rammed her gloved fist right into the protected front of Angie's face, knocking the colonel off-balance. "Betcha weren't expecting that!" she grinned.
    Truman fumed from where she sat on the floor. "You'll pay for that, Marquette! I swear you will!"
    "You can swear all you want, Truman. But you'll still have egg on your face." Lili smirked from ear to ear under her protective helmet.
    Angie was back up on her feet in no time. Furiously, she knocked Lili across the side of Lili's head, sending the captain hurtling downward onto the mat. "Nope, you've just got a big mouth, captain! A big mouth and scrawny bones!"
    "That's it! I've had enough from you!" yelled Lili, regaining her posture as she stood up. With one mighty blow, Captain Marquette swung at Colonel Truman, making contact with Truman's face. The colonel collapsed to the ground; even under her thick helmet, Angie felt Lili's punch with agonizing impact. Sweating and panting for air, Lili grabbed a towel to wipe down her face as she headed for the bathroom. "Maybe you'll think before you speak, the next time you feel like saying something crude, Truman!" Lili called over her shoulder, walking away.
    Red in the face and seething, Colonel Truman took off her own helmet, still reclined on her side atop the mat. Her eyes blazed with fury, with a glare so sharp it could cut glass. "Oh, you're gonna be sorry for that, Marquette," she seethed under her breath.

     * * *

     Diana VanKirk sat comfortably in a sturdy wicker rocking chair, swaying forward and backward in her chair as she stared at the holographic screen before her. The lair which Diana called her domain was cluttered with shelves full of dusty, worn out old books, and tables filled with bottles of strange-looking liquid. Cobwebs had formed in every nook, cranny, and corner of Diana's sanctuary.
    "So what do you think I should do, father?" the deep-voiced, curly-haired woman asked to the being whom she spoke to.
    In front of Diana was a translucent holographic screen. The image on the screen belonged to a bald-headed, smooth-skinned, purple male Kneeloi.
    "You must follow your instincts, my daughter," the Kneeloi firmly returned to Diana. His eyes glowed bright orange. Diana's own fiery orange eyes flared back at her father in affection.
    "I'm getting bored with Earth," complained Diana. "I want to have some real fun on this planet, and stir up some excitement."
    "Have you consulted your mother yet, Diana?"
    "Well now that you mention it, she's due to join us at any second."
    Another holographic image suddenly popped up in front of Diana in her chamber. This screen held the profile of an elderly woman with long, stringy salt-and-pepper colored hair and numerous wrinkles upon her very human-like, slightly distorted face. Her facial skin seemed as though it was covered in some type of latex or plastic, even though it was apparent that it was her real facial texture.
    "Welcome, mother," Diana greeted the elderly woman.
    "Hello, my dear," responded the old woman. She turned to acknowledge the male Kneeloi's adjacent hologram. "Hello, Derrka."
    "Greetings, Agnes," spoke Derrka to his wife. "How have you been?"
    "Enough small talk," Diana interrupted her parents. "I want your advice. I'm not sure what to do next on Earth."
    "Why, this is a surprise," exclaimed Agnes VanKirk. "When you were a little girl, you always made snap decisions. You simply did whatever you felt like doing."
    "I know! That was fun!" Rubbing her hands together mischievously, Diana continued. "But now things have changed. Now, father's species is living on the planet." She looked at Derrka.
    "Yes, my race has a mission on Earth," confirmed Derrka, "and all of us are aware of precisely what that specific agenda entails, no matter how much we may oppose it."
    "The Taelons also have an agenda," Diana divulged. "I read Zo'or's mind, and I know exactly what his underlying motives are."
    Agnes paused in thought. "Refresh my memory, dear. What is it again that the Taelons intend to use humanity for?"
    "They want to bio-engineer the humans as warriors, to fight against their enemy Jaridian race," Diana said. "But I wanna find some fun way to spoil their plans!"
    "Well, killing them would be too simplistic," Derrka pointed out, "though not impossible for you, Diana. Possessing the combined powers passed on to you from both your mother and myself, you have achieved immortality and invincibility - - something the Companions shall never experience."
    "They're scared of me too!" gloated Diana, jubilantly. "I can sense it in them!"
    "If your flawless extrasensory perception tells you so," Agnes commented, "then it must be genuine. So why not place a conflict in the Taelons' path, to make it more difficult for them to achieve their goal?"
    "Good idea!" Diana perked up quickly.
    "Then do so!" instructed Derrka. "Reveal to the world why the Taelons are really on Earth. Force the Synod to contend with raw human indignation."
    "Now this sounds like a plan!" Diana exclaimed. "Thank you, mother and father."
    "Diana, you really must come to visit me," Agnes requested. "Your dear old sorceress mother gets lonely all by herself on Planet Minerva."
    "Oh Agnes, you have your pixie and gnome friends to keep you company," Derrka reminded his wife.
    "Yes, but it would be nice if my own husband paid me a visit once in awhile," pouted Agnes.
    "I have my own business to attend to on Planet Kneeloia, which occupies my valuable time," declared Derrka in his deep, stodgy voice. "As Chief Advisor to our Kneeloi elders, I must be stationed on the planet continuously."
    "Don't worry, we'll all have a family reunion someday," Diana assured her parents. "Now I must go. I want plenty of time to prepare for my little . . . surprise for the Taelons."
    Diana, Derrka, and Agnes all cackled wickedly in unison.
    As her parents signed off the holographic monitors, Diana clutched ahold of the nearest bottle, one which happened to contain some thick, globby, magenta-colored liquid. Removing one of the dusty books from her library shelf of magic spells, the clever Kneeloi sorceress began to recite an incantation.

     * * *

     "People of the world, thank you for hearing us on this momentous day," voiced Yo'og, the President of the United States.
    The soft-spoken Taelon diplomat, recently elected to the U.S. presidency, spoke into a microphone from in the Oval Office. He was accompanied by Vice-president Maria Rodriguez and Ffuga, the Kneeloi Ambassador to the United States. They were speaking via satellite broadcasted as a worldwide telecast across the planet.
    "Earlier today," Yo'og continued, "sixteen human astronauts - - three from America, three from Russia, two from China, three from Canada, two from the British Isles, two from Australia, and one from Germany - - along with sixteen bilingual Kneeloi astronauts, boarded a Kneeloi spacecraft and launched into outer space, destined for the most far reaches of the universe."
    "We are extremely proud of this joint endeavor between the Kneeloi and humanity," Vice-president Rodriguez, who was significantly more enthusiastic about the event than Yo'og was, picked up. "This entire project is known as 'Starscape,' a collaborative space mission designed to increase humanity's awareness of the infinite galaxies out there beyond the stars. Here to explain more about 'Starscape' is the program's creator, our own American Kneeloi, Ffuga."
    Ffuga was already seated at Yo'og's desk along with the president and vice-president. The Kneeloi's green skin glowed from the reflection of the fluorescent lights built into the Oval Office.
    "I am both proud and excited that 'Starscape' has finally 'gotten off the ground,' if you'll pardon my pun," Ffuga quipped with a grin. "As we speak, the crew of 'Starscape' is traveling across the Milky Way Galaxy at incredibly accelerated speed. Their first stop on this mission will be the Andromeda Galaxy, to . . ."
    The American Kneeloi's articulate speech was disrupted by lights in the Oval Office flickering off and on.
    Ffuga cleared his throat. "As I was saying . . ."
    Once again, the lights flipped off and on, followed by a loud, crackling, static-like noise that could even be heard within the Oval Office.
    Rodriguez looked bewildered, Yo'og looked worried, and Ffuga looked annoyed.
    All of a sudden, Diana VanKirk materialized in the Oval Office right out of thin air.
    "Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" she grunted, stretching out her trademark, deep-voiced greeting.
    "Who are you?" Yo'og blurted out.
    "How did you get in here?" demanded Rodriguez.
    Diana ignored them and looked straight at the cameras. "I have a message for the world!"
    The technicians operating the cameras and satellites tried to disconnect the signal, but they found that their equipment suddenly no longer worked - - as though it was frozen shut and someone else was operating it at will.
    As Secret Service agents lunged at Diana, armed with guns and tranquilizers, Diana suavely pointed her fingers at them. All of the Secret Service agents in the room were instantly frozen in place. They were frozen solid, immobile, as though they'd been turned into statues!
    "Now as I was saying," Diana moved closer to the camera lens, "a lot of you have been wondering why the Taelons are here on Earth. Well I'm going to tell you!"
    Yo'og blushed blue, his face pale, sickly, and excruciatingly flushed.
    Diana had augmented the extent of her voice translation via satellites, so that every country in the world viewing this telecast could understand her in its own applicable language.
    "Gifts never come without a price. The Taelons are on Earth to use humanity against an enemy," revealed Diana. "Contrary to popular belief, the Taelons are NOT your friends. They are using humans to bio-engineer you as warriors against the Jaridians, who are the Taelons' enemy species. All your world government and military leaders know about this too. What do you think all the skrills and CVIs are for? I'm not making this up. Remember their names - - the Jaridians! Oh, and no, I'm not a member of the Resistance. Jonathan Doors can kiss my ass!" Diana bugged out her eyes. "And just to prove that I'm not lying, I'm going to leave you all to ponder what I said. Remember, the Taelons are liars. And if you don't believe me, well, it's your life - - what's left of it, that is!"
    With a final malicious laugh, Diana disappeared into thin air again, right before the eyes of the world.
    On the Taelon mothership, Zo'or sat in his Big Chair, lips pursed, trembling. Having viewed the live broadcast, the Synod speaker felt shocked, furious, humiliated, panicked, and scared - - all at the same time.

     * * *

     Resistance headquarters was buzzing with murmurs, shouting, and chatter in the aftermath of Diana's abrupt and unexpected revelation during President Yo'og's live world telecast.
    "Quiet down!!" hollered Lili, making herself vocally heard over all the commotion.
    "Who made you the leader, Marquette?!" Jonathan Doors challenged Lili. "Last I heard, I was still running the Liberation! So don't go throwing your weight around!"
    "Aw, you're just miffed because Diana embarrassed you on TV," giggled Juanita, giving Doors a teasing poke in the shoulder.
    "Knock it off, Juanita!" blared Doors, losing his temper. "This is no time for joking around! Do you want out of the Liberation?! Because if that's the way you want it, then you're history!!"
    "Whatever, groucho," Juanita shot back, sticking her tongue out at Doors. "I see someone forgot to take his Happy Pills this morning."
    "Calm down, Doors," said Liam.
    "No Kincaid, I will not calm down! . . ."
    Maiya harshly slapped her hand over the mouth of Jonathan Doors. "For once, listen to someone other than yourself!"
    "Maiya is right," Lili contributed. "We're a team, Doors. Don't forget that."
    "Funny to hear that coming from you," Angie Truman snorted at Lili. "After all, you're Ms. Big-Shot Marine who always has to take charge of everything! Talk about dominance!"
    "You know, Truman, you're really one to talk!" fired back Captain Marquette. "You're the woman always saying how we should blast the Kneeloi off the face of the earth! I'm beginning to suspect you have a screw loose in your brain!"
    "The Kneeloi are murderous beasts!" Truman furiously roared.
    "You're deranged, colonel!" spat out Lili in disgust. "It makes me sick even to see you in uniform!"
    "That's enough, you two," Boone intervened, stepping between Angie and Lili. "This is exactly what Diana wants, is for us to turn on each other."
    "Will is right," Kate agreed, gazing at her husband as though he was her hero. "We'll never get anything accomplished if we keep fighting with each other."
    "Since when did you become part of the Liberation?!" Colonel Truman sneered at Kate.
    "Back off, Truman! Kate is just trying to help," Lili pointed out.
    "Stuff it, Marquette!" glared Angie.
    "Quiet, both of you!!" Doors barked at them, annoyed. "We're veering off-track here!"
    "Yes, have we forgotten," Maiya reminded them, "that now the entire world knows the Taelon agenda?" Maiya's face suddenly turned as white as a ghost. Juanita took notice.
    "Good point, Maiya," responded Liam. "But will they believe it?"
    "I think it's going to be tough for the Companions to try to squirm their way out of this one," Augur opinionated. "The evidence is all right there on camera."
    "Well Zo'or will obviously try to discredit Diana in any way he can," Kate brought up. At the mention of Zo'or, Commander Boone stared at his wife uneasily.
    "How does she do all that stuff, anyway?" Doors blurted out. "What is she, some kind of human-freak?"
    "Diana isn't a human," Augur informed Doors. "She's told people that many times."
    "I'll bet she's working for the Kneeloi!" Angie speculated.
    "You think everyone's working for the Kneeloi!" Lili shot back.
    "Shut up, Marquette!"
    "Oh, bite me, Truman!"
    "Okay, I think we could all use a cooling-off period," Liam stepped in. He and everyone else could tell that Lili and Angie were practically ready to kill each other. "Let's take a lunch break, huh?"
    "Sounds good!" Augur clapped his hands together.
    As the group separated for lunch, Maiya glumly wandered off by herself. Juanita had observed Maiya's reserved behavior, and immediately confronted Maiya.
    "Hey girl, what's wrong?" Juanita caringly touched her friend's shoulder.
    Maiya looked back at Juanita's sincere eyes. The Spanish beauty had a distraught expression of fear on her face.
    "I am scared," Maiya confessed.
    "Scared? Why? Tell me, please."
    Maiya sighed. "Juanita, you have been such a good friend to me. I would not want you to see me as a . . . coward."
    "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Back the truck up here!" Juanita nearly laughed, but instead she put her arm around Maiya. "You are NOT a coward. You're brave, intelligent, funny, caring . . . you're the Latina version of me!"
    Maiya actually laughed, cheering up a tiny bit.
    "On top of that," Juanita continued, "you can tell me anything, Maiya. We all get scared. Even a fearless crusader such as myself." She smiled.
    Smiling back, Maiya admitted, "I shouldn't have doubted you, Juanita. I just am wary of where we are the Liberation will go from this point on. The Taelons' plot is now exposed. Diana can do whatever she wants. Will she go after us next? Are we in danger? You see the power she possesses."
    "Yeah," Juanita acknowledged, "but I don't think an outright attack on the human Resistance is quite Diana's style. She's a more complicated sister than that."
    "How do you mean?"
    "Diana knows what she's doing. I think on some level, she just wants everyone to get their just desserts."
    "You sound as though you are acquainted with her."
    "Well . . . I've met her once. She's actually not such a bad apple once you get to know her."
    "Thank you, Juanita. I know I can always count on you."
    "Anytime, Maiya. We Resistance babes gotta stick together, you know!" Juanita grinned. "Pretty soon we'll be able to give Charlie's Angels a run for their money!"
    Maiya and Juanita snickered together and hugged.
    Meanwhile, Kate sat down next to her husband, who was eating lunch in deep thought all by himself.
    "Mind if I join you, Will?"
    "Be my guest."
    Kate set her plate on the table and plopped down next to William. "I am starving," she cheerfully exclaimed.
    William Boone said nothing.
    "Penny for your thoughts?" Kate solicited from her husband.
    Will bit into an apple.
    "You've been kinda quiet lately," she observed. "Is something wrong?"
    More silence.
    "Will, honey! Talk to me. Please."
    Commander Boone faced his wife. "I think it would be best if you didn't hang around Liberation headquarters so much."
    Kate was taken aback. "Why not? I thought you enjoyed having me around?"
    "I do . . . but I'm afraid you're in danger."
    "Danger? In danger from what?"
    "Zo'or."
    "Forget Zo'or. He's not going to hurt me."
    "Kate, you don't know him the way I do . . ."
    "Do you think Zo'or would actually try to do something to me?"
    "I wouldn't put it past him."
    "What makes you so sure?"
    "Well Sandoval did it!" Boone suddenly clammed up, realizing what he'd just said.
    "What?!"
    "Nothing."
    "No, what are you talking about?! Tell me!" Kate had a no-nonsense expression plastered on her face.
    Boone sighed heavily. "It's better that you don't know."
    "Will, tell me!"
    "It'll only upset you."
    "Tell me now! I have a right to know!"
    William Boone's eyes dropped to the floor. "Sandoval . . ."
    "What?! Sandoval did what?!"
    Will was silent.
    "Spit it out, Will! What did Sandoval do?!"
    "He ordered your death!" Boone spat out all in a rush. A strained look of pain overtook his face.
    "He WHAT?!"
    "Da'an wanted me to be his implant. So did you, remember? When I declined Da'an's offer, Sandoval's motivational imperative compelled him to . . . have you killed." Boone felt horrified just recalling it.
    "So the car accident? . . ."
    "Sandoval's doing."
    Kate was speechless. "Why?!" she demanded, after a few seconds.
    "Sandoval thought he was serving Da'an to optimum loyalty by ordering your assassination and then pursuing me to be Da'an's implant."
    "Why didn't you tell me this before?!"
    "I didn't think you could handle it."
    "Excuse me?!" Kate looked like she'd been slapped in the face.
    "Okay, bad choice of words. I wasn't sure how you'd react."
    "I can't believe Sandoval did that!" Kate's face was an infuriated bright red. "Didn't he know how much it would hurt you?!"
    "He figured my CVI would take care of the emotional damage."
    "Like hell! Sandoval is a . . . he's a . . . monster!!"
    "Kate, it was his MI . . ."
    "So that makes it right?!"
    "I never said that . . ."
    "MI or no MI, he had no right! And you're making excuses for him!!"
    "Kate, I . . ."
    "Does Da'an know about this?"
    "Da'an knows, but he never ordered your death specifically. It was all Sandoval's own interpretation."
    "You should have told me this earlier."
    "Well you never want to talk about anything!"
    "What's that supposed to mean?!"
    "You're always this happy-go-lucky wife, waltzing into Da'an's embassy with picnic baskets, playing computer games with Augur, when you don't seem to realize that you're in danger! We all are!"
    "Oh, well I'm sorry, Will . . . I'll never serve you another picnic lunch ever again as long as I live, I promise!" Kate sarcastically chided.
    Before he could respond, she got up and stomped away to the elevator.
    "Kate! . . ." Will called out, running after her.
    "Doors," announced Augur, "you have an e-mail." The computer-wiz had been checking the server of the underground Resistance network.
    "Who from?" grumbled Jonathan Doors.
    Augur raised his eyebrows. "It's a summons. Your presence is wanted . . . by Diana VanKirk."

     * * *

     As expected, the news media was predictably abuzz over Diana's public revelation. Overnight, millions of Americans began questioning President Yo'og's loyalty to them and his capability as president.
    The Synod demanded that Zo'or, Da'an, and Yo'og hold a special press conference to smooth things over with the American public. That task, however, would prove to be quite a feat as some of the most ruthless journalists in the Industry were slated to be in attendance at the press conference.
    President Yo'og pragmatically walked into the conference room, followed at a humiliated snail's pace by Da'an and Zo'or. No polite applause greeted them from the audience this time.
    Liam and Boone were both there to protect Da'an; Boone still distracted by his unresolved blow-up with Kate. Lili and Sandoval were on location as well, accompanying Zo'or. Numerous skrill-bearing Secret Service implants had strategically positioned themselves to protect the president and vice-president.
    Next, Vice-president Rodriguez calmly emerged into the conference room with many agents guarding her. Also with Rodriguez was Ve'ep, a Companion scientist who specialized in physics.
    The commander-in-chief stepped up to the podium. "Sinuai Euhura," President Yo'og softly offered his salutations to the audience. "As you all are aware, recent accusations have been made against the Companions, charging us with manipulating the truth of our presence on Earth." Yo'og took a deep breath and continued. "Sadly, I cannot claim that such accusations are entirely unfounded."
    Murmurs of anxiety and upset rumbled amongst the crowd of journalists and paparazzi.
    Zo'or directed a vexed glare at President Yo'og. The Synod speaker certainly had not expected Yo'og to be so forthright.
    Stepping up next to the president and leaning in to speak into the microphone, Zo'or broke in, "What your president means is," - - another side glare at Yo'og - - "our Taelon race does have plans to introduce humanity to new military techniques and standards. But in no way have we been 'manipulating' your human species."
    "Oh, come on, Zo'or!" shouted out Brian Hughes, a beefy, stocky-built brunette investigative reporter with stout, round cheekbones and a gruff demeanor. "You can't seriously expect us to swallow that!"
    "What I expect, Mr. Hughes, is that you humans will use common sense and avoid a sensational embellishment of this issue," Zo'or antagonistically replied.
    "So how do you explain that woman who interrupted the Chief Executive's speech last night?" challenged Brian Hughes.
    "We believe that she is an agent working for the Resistance," worded Zo'or.
    "A Resistance agent?! Then how do you explain her materializing and de-materializing out of nowhere on live television?!" Catherine Shaw, a respected news reporter/anchorwoman, interrogated Zo'or.
    Zo'or bristled. "Our leading Taelon physicist, Ve'ep, may be able to explain it better than I." The Synod speaker gestured for Ve'ep to come forward and speak.
    Once Zo'or and President Yo'og had moved out of the way, Ve'ep took center stage.
    "Our hypothesis," Ve'ep theorized, "is that the woman whom you saw on last evening's worldwide broadcast was a Liberation agent. She used a holographic image of herself to spread lies about the Taelon race. Her hologram was somehow secretly programmed into the satellite systems, unbeknownst to Taelon and human technicians."
    "That's a pretty flimsy excuse," negated Catherine Shaw. "Sorry, but I don't buy it."
    "President Yo'og's approval ratings are dramatically dropping," Brian Hughes added. "Of course you'd say anything to salvage your image."
    "And what about these so called 'Jaridians'?" Catherine probed.
    The audience began firing more questions and comments at the Taelons all at once.
    "Please," Da'an came up to the microphone and tried to make himself heard above the chaos, "we will not get anywhere by quarreling."
    No one was listening. The entire conference room was in an adrenaline-driven uproar.
    "They're going to get violent," Vice-president Rodriguez grimly predicted.
    Promptly, the Secret Service ushered Da'an, Zo'or, Yo'og, Rodriguez, and Ve'ep out of the room.
    "Well, one thing's for sure," Lili spoke to Boone, Liam, and Sandoval. "The Yo'og administration has a real crisis on its hands."
    "Brian Hughes is right," concurred Liam. "Yo'og is losing more popularity with every passing hour. His approval ratings in the public opinion polls are plummeting to the bottom of the barrel.
    "But in a way, our purpose has come full circle," Boone pointed out, fully aware that Sandoval was in their presence. But since Sandoval knew of Boone's and Lili's Resistance involvement and hadn't done anything - - yet, William Boone decided to take a chance and speak freely. "Humanity has discovered the true Taelon agenda. The question now is where will we go from here?"
    Sandoval stared Boone straight in the face. "The conflict is far from over, Commander Boone, and you know it. It's only just begun."

     * * *

     "Is everyone here?" Diana asked rhetorically.
    She had, of course, summoned all of her guests. Jonathan Doors, Da'an, President Yo'og, Zo'or, Ffuga, and Crroba were all linked up with Diana via holographic data streams or globals. They could all interactively see and communicate with each other.
    "Very well, Ms. VanKirk. What is the meaning of this?" Yo'og asked diplomatically.
    "To let you all know how it's going to be!" responded Diana, grinning superfluously.
    "And how is it going to be?" Doors patronized her.
    "Don't patronize me, Jonathan Doors!" glared Diana, shooting a murderous look at the Resistance leader. "Or I'll reveal to everyone where the Resistance hideout is. And then, maybe I'll blow up the Taelon moonbase. No more Kaarpaaj for you, Da'an!" She winked at the kind-hearted alien.
    The North American Companion blushed. "Why would you do such a thing?!"
    "Because I can!!" Diana grunted back.
    "How dare you spread such falsities regarding my Taelon race!!" Zo'or lectured Diana, angrily. "You pitiful human!"
    "Shut up, Zo'or!" seethed Diana. Her eyes bulged out at him sarcastically. "Or I'll tell everyone what you're really planning for humanity!"
    Zo'or clammed up quickly.
    "You are wasting our time," complained Crroba. The Kneeloi High Commander shifted in his seat. "What is it that you want?"
    "What do I want? I want to have some fun!" crackled Diana. "And I get whatever I want!"
    "So why call us all here?" Ffuga questioned her.
    "Yes, please elaborate," Da'an gently encouraged Diana.
    "I just wanted to get you all together to remind you that I'M the one in control here!" Diana emphasized. "Remember that, all of you - - humans," she looked at Doors, "Taelons," she looked at Da'an, Zo'or, and Yo'og, "and Kneeloi," she looked at Ffuga and Crroba. "So if you try to stop me, it'll be useless. Oh, and I thought it would be a kick to see you all together, since you're all enemies."
    "Enemies?" Da'an repeated. "I beg to differ . . ."
    "Oh, you're enemies with each other!" Diana declared, laughing. "And later," she added in, non-chalantly, "I'll reveal to everyone what the Kneeloi agenda really is - - when I feel like it!" Diana bugged out her eyes again, threw back her head, and cackled loudly, deeply, and psychotically.
    Da'an, Doors, Yo'og, Ffuga, Zo'or, and Crroba all looked scared to death.
    "Oh, and by the way," tacked on Diana as a passing thought, "don't try to trace my location. I instructed my holographic matrix to re-direct its global coordinates . . . so you'll never find me!!!"
    At that very moment, Sandoval and a swat team of Companion agents had followed up on a bogus lead courtesy of Diana's matrix . . . and consequently, they ended up bursting into and raiding a local Burger King.

     * * *

     FIN
 
 

Copyright 1999 by Earthboy
Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final Conflict is property of Tribune Entertainment Company and is produced by Roddenberry/Kirschner Productions. No monetary profit is being made from this work. No infringement is intended. If you sue me, I will send Diana to your house with a big, demonic grin on her face.