CHILDREN OF A GREATER LOVE
    By Agent Sandy

        If a person had been watching for someone to be leaving the Taelon Research Facility, the two shadows that slipped out around midnight would have been
seen and stopped.  Fortunately for them, the person who was supposed to be watching them was laying in the hallway unconscious.  The two shadows cautiously
crossed the street and vanished into an alley as a police car drove past.
For a moment the car's headlights lit up the faces of the two teens. One was a girl who looked to be about 19.  She had shoulder-length, curly reddish brown hair,
green eyes and a determined, if slightly scared look on her face.  The other, a boy, also looked about 19.  He had dark slightly wavy hair and dark eyes to match
it.  If he felt any fear about their break out, it didn't show on his face-a face that would look eerily familiar to anyone who knew anything about the Taelons...
        "You wanted to see me, Zo'or?"   Agent Sandoval asked, after greeting both Zo'or and Da'an.
        "We will begin as soon as Major Kincaid joins us," Da'an replied when it became obvious that Zo'or wasn't going to answer Agent Sandoval.
Sandoval nodded to Da'an and they waited.  A few minutes later, Major Kincaid entered the room.
Kincaid greeted Zo'or and Sandoval and then turned to Da'an.  After greeting him, Liam spoke, "I'm sorry I'm late.  I had shuttle trouble."
Zo'or barely acknowledged the Major's statement.  Instead he began to explain why they had been asked there.
"As you know, Da'an has been heading a project that is attempting to create the first Taelon/Human hybrids.  The main research site is just outside of the city."
Major Kincaid nodded.  "Is this the same project that Sandoval spoke about at the last news briefing? "
Zo'or looked slightly annoyed at the interruption but answered yes.
"I thought he said that that particular project had been turned over to you," Liam pointed out.
Da'an nodded at Liam and spoke before an annoyed Zo'or could, "It was.  I am still overseeing parts of it though."
"The project was dying under Da'an's leadership.  I took over and the new, aggressive, tactics have worked," Zo'or straighten his posture and tried to look
superior.  "Two hybrids were created, each using the DNA of two humans and one Taelon."
"This is great news for the Taelons," Sandoval said in his usual butt-kissing manner.
Liam Kincaid also looked interested, but for a far different reason.  * They would be 2/3 human, just like me.   I wonder if there would be a way for me to meet
them? No, it would just be asking for trouble, but... *
"Last night something unexpected happened," Da'an stated.
Zo'or picked up where Da'an left off, " The hybrids escaped."
Liam and Sandoval both looked surprised, but before they could speak, Da'an did.
"Their names are Danella and Ronnie.  They both looks 19, but have only been alive for about 2 months," Da'an looked at Liam for a moment and then
continued.   "We need you to track them down and return them to us before they are harmed."
"Do you think that they will fight returning?"  Sandoval asked.
"To the death," Zo'or stated.  "The female has been scheduled for termination; she may be killed if she resists.  The male is to be returned unharmed at all costs."
"Why is the girl so expendable?"  Liam asked.
"She hasn't shown the gifts that Ronnie has," Da'an's voice was tight with a pain that Liam didn't miss.
"Gifts?" Sandoval inquired.
"They both are very strong telepaths.  The male has also shown some talent toward channeling energy to hurt and to heal," Zo'or replied.  "Talk with Dr.
Belman.  She will fill you in on the details and give you descriptions.  You are to return the hybrids to us without letting the word out to anyone else."
Liam was about to ask a question when Zo'or dismissed them.  He gave Da'an a questioning look and then left.
Silence stretched for a few minutes between the two Taelons after their Protectors left.   Then Zo'or spoke.
"You told Dr. Belman not to reveal anything that would give away the fathers' identities."
Da'an responded yes in a whisper.  "How will you explain to Agent Sandoval why Ronnie looks just like him?"
"Agent Sandoval is my implant, and he will accept whatever answer I choose to give him," Zo'or replied.
"He and Ronnie deserve better than lies," Da'an stated.
"Agent Sandoval and the hybrid will get what I give them," Zo'or stood and walked toward the door.          "And if I choose never to tell Agent Sandoval that the
boy is his son then that is how it will be...

       That night Ronnie and Danella found an abandoned warehouse to spend the day hiding in.  It would be hazardous enough for them to travel at night let alone
during the day.  They both knew that people would be looking for them soon, and if they were found before they found who they were looking for, well....
        *Don't think about it Dani, * Danella thought to herself.  * Ronnie won't let them kill you, but what if he can't stop them?   I'm so scared. *
Dani's thoughts were interrupted as a pair of arms wrapped around her and a familiar thought pattern mixed with hers.
        [You know I won't let you down.  We just have to find my brother and then we'll be safe,] Ronnie thought to her.
        [But we don't even know what he looks like,] Dani's thoughts sounded sad.
        [Dad has an idea who he is and some of the memories I have from Zo'or also point the finger at this same person,] Ronnie replied.   [It has to be him.]
        [How do you know he'll help us?  Just because he would also be a hybrid doesn't mean that he'll do anything to help us,] Dani argued.
Ronnie turned Dani to face him, [He will.  I know he will.  Come on, we need to get some rest-tonight will be a long night.]
Dani nodded and they curled up together to go to sleep-though it was a long time in coming for her.
 
        "Da'an, may I speak to you?"   Liam asked as he entered Da'an's office.
        "Of course, Liam.  What do you need?"  Da'an replied.
        "Answers.  Real ones, not just half truths," Liam stated.
        "Concerning what?"  Da'an looked confused.
        "The two teens that escaped last night," Liam said.  "Both Zo'or and Belman were very vague in what they told Sandoval and me about them.  What is
going on?  What are you hiding?"
Da'an was silent a minute and Liam could see how torn the Taelon was about whatever was going on.  Finally, Da'an spoke.
        "You realize that in order to create the hybrids we needed the DNA of two humans and one Taelon."
Liam nodded yes and Da'an continued.
        "The human DNA that was used was actually used without the humans' knowledge.  Most of them worked for the Taelons at one point or another."
Liam looked puzzled a minute and then asked, "How did you get the DNA then?"
        "Everyone who works for the Taelons must have a sample of their DNA taken every few months for security purposes.  Of course, I managed to get that
by-passed in your case," Da'an replied.
        * It's a good thing too,  * Liam thought to himself.  * Or else some people and Taelons would be in for the shock of their lives. *
Liam nodded to Da'an, "Is there a reason you haven't told us their parents' names?"
        "Yes," Da'an stated. "But I will tell you now because you need to know.  Danella's human parents are William and Kate Boone."
Liam's eyes opened wide in shock, but he didn't speak.
Da'an continued, "Ronnie's human parents are Ronald Sandoval and Siobhan Beckett."
Liam had to fight to keep his jaw from dropping.  * Ronnie's my bother!  I have a brother! *
Liam's shock was so deep that he barely heard Da'an's next words.
        "Zo'or donated his DNA for Ronnie because he had taken over the program at that point, but I requested a different Taelon donor for Danella."  Da'an
voice got quiet and sad.  "Since Will had been my implant, I donated my DNA for her.  She is my daughter as much as she is Will's..."

Liam wasn't happy.  Sandoval was suppose to have waited for him, but when he came out of Da'an's office he found the agent had already left.  Now Liam was
moving toward Sandoval's location in the south part of the city.
Suddenly, Liam stopped walking and looked around.  For some reason he, felt like he was being watched, but a look around the area revealed nothing.   He started
to walk again.  As he did, he suddenly felt something touch his mind.  It was just there and then gone, leaving the question...Will you help us?
Danella waited impatiently for Ronnie to return to the warehouse.  She didn't like the idea of him going out after Liam alone once they had picked up his unique
brain wave pattern, but one of them was less likely to draw people's attention than two.   Danella started to stand up and then froze when she sensed a thought
pattern downstairs that wasn't Ronnie's...
Ronnie had meant to confront his brother after making contact with his mind, but Dani's frightened telepathic message had sent him running back to the
warehouse instead.  He cautiously entered it and then froze when he saw who was looking around the room.   Part of him wanted to run to the man, but the other
part knew that that would result in him returning to the Taelons and Dani's death.  * Sorry, Dad, * Ronnie thought, * but no one is going to keep me from
keeping her safe...*
Ronald Sandoval had just decided to leave the building when he spotted a set of rickety stairs leading up to the building's second floor.  The steps had been hidden
well by a few old crates.  Sandoval slid around the crates and cautiously moved up the steps.  When he reached the top, he saw that there was a room on the other
side of the catwalk. Ronald tensed, ready for anything.  Raven hissed lowly, showing that the skrill was as ready for action as its host was.
Sandoval slowly crossed the catwalk and then entered the room.  At first it appeared to be empty.  Then he noticed a shadow being cast in the corner that
shouldn't have been there.  He looked toward where an old box sat and realized that person casting the shadow must have been on the other side of it.  Ronald
brought Raven into firing position and moved around the box...
Danella heard Sandoval enter the room and her heart froze.  She knew Ronnie was downstairs, and she was afraid of what would happen if he and his father were
forced to meet like this.  Dani curled into a tighter ball and continued to think to herself * He won't find me.  He can't see me. *   She hoped that her telepathy
might relay those words to him and keep him from seeing her.  Of course, she also knew it was a long shot because her telepathic training with anyone other than
Ronnie had been little to none.
Suddenly a shadow dropped across her and Dani looked up-right into a glowing skrill.
"Don't move," Sandoval ordered.
As soon as Ronnie felt Dani's fear at being discovered, he was out of his hiding spot and on his way up the stairs.  He sprinted across the catwalk and entered the
room.  He knew now, that there was only one way out of this...
Sandoval had just got the girl into the middle of the room, when he heard someone coming across the catwalk.  He quickly turned toward the sound-ready to fire
at whoever it was, but froze when he saw the person that entered the room.  For a minute, he couldn't breathe.  The boy looked exactly like him...

 
When Ronnie had entered the room, he had known what he was going to do, but for some reason he couldn't do it.  Seeing the shocked look on his father's face
froze him as he realized that the Taelons hadn't told him he was chasing his son.
* Those freaks, * Ronnie thought. * How could they send him out and not tell him? *
Sandoval was still in shock himself, but he managed to let his FBI training take over.
"Don't move!"  He ordered even though Ronnie wasn't moving.  "Who are you?"
The look on Ronnie's face soften, and he replied, "I'm your son.  Didn't they tell you?"
Ronald couldn't believe what he was hearing.  It couldn't be true...
"You're lying.  Now move over there by the girl," Sandoval ordered.
Ronnie moved so that he was standing next to Danella, but didn't stop talking.
"I know this has to be hard to believe, but it's true.  I can't understand why they didn't tell you.  Certainly they couldn't expect you to do your job
properly...unless...they wanted you to fail." Ronnie let his voice trail off as one of Zo'or's memories floated to the surface of his mind.  In it, the Taelon was
feeling an intense hatred and suspicion toward Agent Sandoval.
Sandoval was about to tell the boy to quit lying when a thought crossed his mind.   Could Zo'or be setting him up?  Testing how well his MI was functioning?...*
Because if it were,* Sandoval thought, * I would bring Ronnie in no matter who he was.   If it weren't then I would most likely let him escape.  That little...*
Ronnie tried once more to get his father to listen to him, "What can I do to get you to believe me?"
Ronald looked at the boy.  He could see how torn Ronnie...his son...was.   Suddenly, something in him softened and he lowered his arm so that the skrill was no
longer pointed at them.  Then he looked Ronnie in the eye, "Tell me who you are."
Ronnie shook his head, "I told you, I'm your son."
"I know that.  Who was your mother?  Which Taelon is also your father?" Sandoval stated.
For a minute, Ronnie couldn't speak, then he found his voice.  "You believe me?   You aren't going to turn us in?"
"Not at this moment.  I need to know what is going on first,"   Sandoval stated.
Ronnie nodded, and then told Sandoval about Dani's parentage.  After that he explained his own parentage.  At the mention of Siobhon's name, Ronald's face
softened.
"She would have loved to meet you.  She always said she and I were meant to come together or something.  I don't think she ever dreamed it would have been like
this," Sandoval stated.
Ronnie had to repress a smile.  He was half tempted to tell his dad that his suspicions about Liam were correct, but he knew now wasn't the time.
"Will you let us leave?" Ronnie asked, drawing Dani protectively against him.
For a minute Sandoval was silent.  He wanted to, but letting them go would endanger his life.  Still...* I refuse to let the Taelons control my family any longer.
They took Deedee from me, I will not let them take my son.*
Sandoval looked at Ronnie, "You will need to knock me out and make it look like you ambushed me.  Zo'or won't be happy with your escape, and I will hear
about it, but at least you will still be free.  Get out of Washington as fast as you can."
Ronnie nodded and then walked behind his father.  He placed a hand on ether side of his father's head and then used his telepathic abilities to knock him out.
Ronnie gently lowered his father's unconscious form to the ground and then motioned for Dani to wait for him downstairs.  Once she was gone, Ronnie crouched
by his father's side and again touched the side of his head.
[Thank you daddy.] Ronnie telepathically placed the words in is father's mind so that he would remember them when he woke up. [I love you.]

Ronnie met Dani downstairs, and they quickly left the building.  They had gone about half a block, when a voice called out to them.
"Companion Security.  Stop right where you are!"
Danella froze in fear when she heard the voice and couldn't understand why Ronnie didn't do the same.  Instead of stopping, he chuckled and then turned around.
After a moment she did as well, and then smiled.
"Hello brother," Ronnie said.
Liam watched the two teens a moment and then lowered his weapon.  "You aren't going to run?"
"No," Ronnie stated.  "Because I know you are going to help us."
Dani looked at Ronnie and thought, [How do you know that?]
Ronnie smiled at her, [I just know.]
"Do you mind speaking out loud?"  Liam asked.
"Sorry," Ronnie laughed.  "So are you going to help us or send us back to the Taelons?"
Liam was silent just long enough to make Dani worry, then he smiled.  "What do you think?"

"Doors is going to kill you for bringing them here," Augur stated when Liam entered Resistance Headquarters with Dani and Ronnie.
Liam shrugged.  "Doors has wanted to kill me since I was born.  This will only give him another reason." Liam stated and then introduced the techno-wizard to
Ronnie and Danella.  When she only smiled in response, Augur looked confused.
"I won't bite," he joked. "You can talk to me."
Dani just blushed and looked down.  It was Ronnie who answered.
"Actually, she can't," He stated.
"What?" Liam asked.
Ronnie shrugged, "Dani's mute.  Something was incorrectly formed in her vocal cords.  She can't speak."
Both Liam and Augur looked at Dani in surprise.  Then a soft voice filled both of their heads.
[I would have been dead a long time ago if I hadn't shown such strong telepathic abilities.  Zo'or thought I would end up with the same abilities as Ronnie, but he
was wrong.  I never got any abilities besides these and half of the time I am to afraid to use them.] She thought to them.
"Whoa," Augur whispered.
Dani smiled, [Yes, I guess you could say whoa.]
Liam chuckled, "Augur could you keep Dani busy while I talk to Ronnie...my brother?"
Augur started to object, but stopped when he saw the pleading look on Liam's face.   "Okay, but what are we suppose to do?"
"Whatever you want," Liam said as he and Ronnie stepped into another room.
"Great, now what?" Augur muttered.
Dani looked at him and smiled, [You work with computers?]
Augur laughed, "Well, duh.  I am the best there is."
Dani raised an eyebrow, [Oh really?  Care to prove it?]

After Liam shut the door to the room, the brothers just looked at each other for a while.  Neither knew what to say to the other and Liam was actually kind of
afraid to start.   After a few minutes, Ronnie smiled.
"We are quite a pair aren't we?  We both have finally been given something that we have been longing for forever and neither of us say a word."
Liam laughed and then sat down, motioning for Ronnie to do the same.  After he did, Liam asked, "How much of their memories can you access?"
Ronnie shook his head, "Only a small part and more from Dad and Zo'or then Mom," Ronnie's voice dropped, and then he looked at Liam.  "What was she
like?"
The look on Liam's face got distant for a moment and then he spoke, "She was an angel.  I just wish I had been able to spend more time with her."
Ronnie was silent and, as the seconds passed, Liam could see something changing in Ronnie.   The teen was slowing letting down the wall of indifference that he
had created to protect himself and Dani.
When Ronnie finally spoke, his voice shook slightly, "How do you do if?  Being a part of two words?  Not having a family?  Being a child and an adult all at
once?"
Liam smiled sadly at his brother, knowing exactly how he was feeling because he had once-and still did at times, felt the same way.
"I had some really good friends to see me through," Liam answered.
"But what am I suppose to do?  I have none," Ronnie replied.
Liam looked at the boy, whose face was half hidden by his long bangs.  Suddenly, he knew the answer to the question that he had been thinking about ever since
he had learned of Ronnie and Dani's existence.
"Yes, you do.  You have me, and don't think I'm letting my only sibling walk out of my life.  I want you and Dani to join the Resistance.  That way you can help
us defeat the Taelons.  I'm sure there is a lot of information in both of your heads that will help us," Liam stated.
Ronnie's face brightened, "Really?"
"This is now your home," Liam answered.
A smile suddenly crossed Ronnie's face and the next thing Liam knew he was being hugged.   At first it was a little ackward, but after a few seconds it seemed like
the most natural thing on the world...

Across town, Sandoval was just waking up in the warehouse.  His head ached, but not nearly as much as his heart did.  When he had woke up and heard the soft
words of love that Ronnie had left as a parting gift, Ronald almost started to cry.   He realized that he would probably never see his son again, and it hurt him
more than anything else-even DeeDee's death, had.  He took a minute to pray that they had found a safe way out of Washington.  When he was done, Sandoval
stood up and brushed the dust off of his clothes.  As he left the building, his thoughts turned to someone he felt no love for at all.  If Zo'or wanted to play
hardball, then he would play hardball too...