Doctor Julianne Belman nervously faced the North American Companion. Given what Da'an had learned about her a few days ago she believed that she had every reason to be. She'd been at Liberation headquarters last week when Liam had brought Da'an to the base under St Michael’s church shortly after repairing Da'an's psychic link to the Commonality - the breaking of which had resulted in Da'an undergoing a horrific and painful metamorphosis, regressing into a primitive, dangerous, predatory, semi-intelligent version of the Taelon race called an Atavus. Fortunately for Da'an Liam had been able to repair his severed Commonality link, restoring the Taelon to normal but not before a couple of people had been killed, their life energy drained by the Atavus.

Belman remembered how furious Jonathan had been when Liam had had Augur generate a Commonality harmonic signal in Liberation headquarters in order to lure the Atavus to St Michaels, but he hadn't been able to stop either the hybrid Implant or the cyber wizard extraordinary - both frequently did what they wanted to do and damn what Jonathan said. Belman for her part had watched the scenes taking place above in St Michaels with a sense of amazed fascination. The way Liam had used the power of his shaqarava to repair Da'an's severed psychic link had been utterly incredible. It had also underscored - to all of them - just how little they knew about Liam and the Kimera, and had yet raised more questions about the relationship between the ancient shape-shifting alien race and the Taelons. It had also deepened Doors' suspicions about the hybrid and his apparent connection to - and his obvious sympathy for - the Taelons. It had been enough for Doors' to want to drum Liam out of the movement. He would have too - if Liam hadn't shown up - with Da'an in tow. Da’an’s appearance in Liberation headquarters had blown what Jonathan had been about to say right out of the water and for once had left the billionaire and self-styled resistance leader totally speechless.

That had been a week ago now she stood before Da'an for the first time since he'd seen her in Liberation headquarters. To make matters worse she was facing him alone, Da'an had sent Liam to go and shuttle a Taelon scientist to the embassy from a research centre the Taelons had in Alaska, where Belman wasn’t sure it didn’t do the kind of research projects that she normally dealt with. Da'an looked at her for along moment in silence then he produced a small device and pressed a control.

"Their," the North American Companion said in his ethereal alien voice that somehow always reminded Belman of music. "We can talk in private now. First let me say that I bear you no ill will despite your affiliation with Jonathan Doors. In fact it is because of that affiliation that I have a task for you." Belman blinked surprised and relieved that Da’an did not hold her involvement with the Liberation against her.

"Go on," she prompted.

"As you maybe aware I have always opposed the inclusion of the motivational imperative in the CVI's." Belman blinked startled. She'd always suspected that Da'an disliked the imperatives included in the CVI's programming - but it was one thing to suspect it and another to hear it from Da'an himself, though he had hinted at it in the past on a number of occasions. "To that end a few months ago I had one of our scientists begin a project to develop a form of CVI in which the imperative can be overridden while still appearing to be fully operational on a standard diagnostic scan. This scientist is named Va'len and he answers only to me. None of the other Synod members - not even Zo'or - can order him to divulge to contents of his project. Unfortunately Va'len has met with little success in his goal."

"May I ask Da'an what this has to do with me?" Belman asked curiously. Where was the Taelon going with this?

"Simple. I understand that you have successfully reengineered the CVI's yourself both for Liam and the late William Boone. Is that correct?" Belman blinked. Why had Liam told Da'an about Boone - or had Da'an figured the part about Boone out by himself. That was possible; the Taelon was very sharp and not as naive as some people thought.

"Yes," Belman confirmed.

"Good then you will assist Va'len in the development of the new CVI type."

"Of course I will."

"I am gratified that you feel that way," Da'an said smiling in a very Human gesture of pleasure. Belman couldn't help it she smiled in return. For a Taelon Da'an was very likeable and always had been – he was one of a few that seemed to be determined to follow the advice of Ma’el to treat humanity as an equal.

"Will that be all Da'an?"

"No. I have another project for you to work on. Again it is with Va'len but before I tell you about it you must first give me your word as a doctor that you will not repeat it to anyone besides myself, Va'len or Liam. And by anyone I mean anyone not Doctor Park, not this Augur character, not Jonathan Doors, no one. Do I have your word?" Belman frowned. What was this second special project that Da'an wanted her to work on? Why didn't he want her to speak of it to anyone other than those he designated? What did it entail? Well there was only one way to find out. Da'an knew full well that as a doctor she could not violate an oath of confidence once given. To do so would be to violate one of medicines greatest and most sacred trusts the trust of confidentiality.

"You have my word Da'an."

"I accept you at your word. I know you will not break it. Now then about the project." Belman listened more closely wondering what Da'an was going to say. "This project concerns William Boone." Belman blinked in amazement. Boone! She had expected something else, anything else but Boone. He was dead, what could a pet project of Da’an’s have to do with Boone?

"Boone," Belman repeated incredulous. "What about him? He's been dead for more than a month. What could your project possibly have to do with him?"

"Simple. We are going to bring him back."

"Bring him back? Impossible! Once you’re dead, you’re dead. Bringing someone back from the dead is impossible even with your technology."

"Ordinarily that would be true. However what you do not know is that Boone is in a manner of speaking still alive." Belman gaped at the Taelon. What on Earth did he mean by that?

"Still alive! How?"

"As you are probably aware William Boone's body was destroyed by Zo'or shortly after the battle that resulted in Ha'gel embracing the void."

"Yes. Liam told us," Belman replied remembering the anger they’d all felt when Liam had revealed that Zo'or had been the one responsible for Boone's death not Ha'gel. Lili especially had been so angry that if Zo'or had been in the same room with them at that point then she would have killed him instantly.

"You may recall that I came to the Comtech medical facility shortly before Boone's destruction."

"Yes I recall."

"What you do not know is that when I had you and Captain Marquette leave me alone with him I downloaded Boones mind."

"Downloaded his mind! How?"

"Yes. You see I suspected what Zo'or was going to do. I could not stop him, nor order Agent Sandoval to do so it would have caused a fatal conflict in his Implant had I done so. So I did the only thing I could do. I absorbed Boone's memories and essence into my own mind then placed them inside a piece of technology who's name is best translated as memory sphere. It is in that sphere that he still lives - in stasis."

"Where is this sphere?"

"It is currently in the custody of Sarah Boone." Belman opened her mouth to comment but Da'an held out a hand for silence. "She only came to her brothers funeral to maintain the illusion that she had been bereaved," he said anticipating her question.

"I see. What do want me to do?"

"You will work with Va'len to clone a new body for William Boone using the sample of his DNA that has been kept in storage in my personal chambers on board the mothership. Only I and those I designate are allowed in there, the ship will not let anyone else in."

"But Da'an international law strictly forbids the cloning of Human beings. It is well within our abilities now but is considered morally repugnant. So when biotech became advanced enough it was banned even research into it was banned."

"I am aware of that. And I do not intend to violate that law."

"Then how…?"

"How are we going to resurrect Boone? Va'len has been given information on a separate project I am sponsoring. You will use that information to create a new body for William Boone. However you cannot do this until the new CVI has been developed."

"I do not understand."

"Va'len can explain it to you better than I can," Da'an said just as a distant boom filled the room. It had the distinctive sound of a shuttle exiting ID space.

A few moments later Liam Kincaid walked in accompanied by a Taelon in the uniform of the science/medical caste. A Taelon that Belman had never seen before. The Taelon was shorter even than Da'an and more slender. If Belman hadn't known better she would have sworn that the Taelon was female. But Taelons were androgynous - they didn't have separate genders. They hadn't for millions of years.

"Ah Doctor Belman this is Va'len," Da'an said as Va'len made the gesture of greeting/leave taking. Both Belman and Da'an returned it.

"I am pleased to make your acquaintance at last Doctor Belman," Va'len said in a quiet pleasant conversational tone. "Both Ne'eg and Kee'sha spoke very highly of you. I look forward to working with you."

"Thank you. And may I say that I look forward to working with you to." Va'len inclined his head in acceptance of the compliment.

"I am gratified that you feel that way. I hope we can become friends." Belman already got the distinct impression that she was going to like this Taelon. Jonathan will be furious with me, she thought. It's bad enough from his point of view that so many in the movement like Da'an. If I start liking a Taelon too then he's going to go ballistic. But to hell with him.

[Indeed he will,] Liam's voice said silently in her mind. Belman blushed slightly she'd obviously thought that a little too loudly and Liam had picked it up telepathically - since like all Kimera he was a natural telepath. Belman could sense his approval for the sentiment. She had to remember to give Liam another lecture on mental privacy. Though to be fair Liam rarely probed people on purpose and never probed Taelons - except Da'an with whom he had a mental bond that was somewhere between that of mentor to a protégé and the maternal bond between a parent and a child.

"So do I," she told Va'len while throwing a warning glare at Liam not to read her mind again without permission. Liam kept his face impassive and Implant-like but in his eyes she saw a flash of apology. "So do I," she repeated looking back at Va'len.

*****

Julianne Belman finished her presentation to the Liberation personnel sitting around the conference table. All she’d told them about was the new CVI project – as she’d told Da’an she would keep the part about the plan to resurrect William Boone secret from them. She still wasn’t sure why Da’an wanted it that way but she would keep her word.

For a few moments Augur, Jonathan Doors and Lili Marquette were silent. Liam was sitting at the conference table as well but he’d already known all of this, something that was not lost on the others.

"We’ve known for sometime that Da’an has hated the CVI motivational imperatives," Lili said slowly. "He’s hated them ever since he saw what the imperative did to Sandoval at his first implantation. But I never thought he could do anything about it." Augur nodded in agreement.

"The thing I find interesting is that he wanted us to know," Augur said. "He’s obviously trying to prove that he can be a good ally to us."

"Unless he has something else up his sleeve," Doors said suspiciously. Augur and Lili both rolled their eyes in irritation at Doors paranoia. Why did he always have to assume that the Taelons were up to no good? Doors was meanwhile glaring at Liam. "How long have you known?" he demanded of the hybrid.

"Since just after my appointment as Da’an’s protector," Liam replied calmly.

"And you did not think it was worth informing us about?"

"Would you have listened," Liam snapped back glaring at Doors. "You always seem to automatically tune out most of what I have to say. All because of your stupid petty prejudice against anything you don’t really understand." Doors bristled even as he silently acknowledged the truth of Liam’s words. He did have the habit of ignoring the hybrid’s input wherever possible.

"All right Liam I’ll try to be a bit more open minded in the future provided you stop keeping secrets from me agreed?"

"Provisionally," Liam replied. "There are something’s I will not tell you."

"Why not?" Jonathan demanded irritated. What did the hybrid want from him?

"It is not time. And you are not ready to hear." Lili, Augur and Julianne all grinned at that. Although Liam probably didn’t realise it he was being very Sandoval when he refused to share information until he felt the time was right. Doors glared at Liam, who met his glare with a defiant one of his own. After a moment Doors backed down. After all he was as guilty as Liam was for not telling people everything. He just wished Liam would tell them things about how to defeat the Taelons. He had to know what with the galactic knowledge of the Kimera locked inside his head. But he seemed reluctant to share such knowledge with them. Why he didn’t know. But then again who knew what the hybrids agenda was. It certainly wasn’t the same as his or anyone else in the Liberation movements.

"All right I’ll respect that," Doors said after a moment. "Its not as though I have a choice." Liam smiled.

"That’s right. You don’t." Augur laughed aloud. Liam was his own man there was no doubt about that. No doubt at all. And he was not intimidated by Jonathan Doors – not one bit, which was a good thing as far as Augur was concerned, it did Doors good to know that he could not boss everyone about.