****

                                 Da'an was walking faster than he ever had before, his hands curled into tense fists over his
                                 chest. He was shaking a little as he entered the medical wing.

                                 One of the healers, a Taelon named Mir'al, was standing by the door, wearing a shiny surgical
                                 smock. His oval face was grave and solemn as he saluted Da'an. "Da'an. I am gratified that
                                 you came so quickly."

                                 Da'an looked past Mir'al to the sterile chamber beyond. A shimmering energy stream was
                                 flowing over one of the chairs, which reclined to allow the tall, shadowy figure inside to rest.
                                 Da'an shivered a little at the sight of it. "How is he?" he asked in a low voice.

                                 Mir'al folded his hands. "His system was under severe strain... but he will recover."

                                 "And the child?"

                                 Mir'al's face grew more solemn. "It did not survive," he said quietly. "It had a severe genetic
                                 flaw. There was no possible way for it to have survived... it was surprising that Zo'or
                                 survived."

                                 Da'an closed his eyes, and pressed one hand to the virtual glass. His voice betrayed a soft
                                 waver, a hint of restrained emotion. "A genetic flaw... like the previous children."

                                 "Yes," Mir'al replied in a low, sympathetic voice. Da'an knew that he had given the terrible
                                 news to many Taelons over the centuries. "We attempted to repair the previous flaws after
                                 Zo'or's previous conceptions, but... evidently the damage to his DNA is too much."

                                 For a moment, Da'an watched his child in the energy stream, and the hand on the window
                                 shook. "May I see him?" he asked softly.

                                 "Yes," Mir'al replied, but with a hint of sternness in his voice. "But only for a short time..." He
                                 glided out of the room, sealing the doors behind himself.

                                 Da'an slipped past the field, and approached the chair bathed in white light. The energy
                                 stream shut off as Zo'or sat up suddenly, his arms tightly held to his sides. Da'an recoiled a
                                 little at the pure pain in his lustreless eyes, but seated himself at Zo'or's side.

                                 But Zo'or immediately activated the energy stream with a shaking hand, and all Da'an saw of
                                 him was a brief flash of shame across his face. He was miserable... ashamed. He didn't want
                                 anyone to see him this way... let alone his parent.

                                 Da'an watched the swirling energy shrouding Zo'or, and bowed his head a little. He slowly
                                 rose and walked away...