She couldn't understand it. Five days ago she had started to put on weight constantly. And the worst thing wasn't the weight itself (“just” half a kilo every day) but her belly. It had always been tight because she had cared for it since her youth. But now it looked like a beer paunch of old men! Additionally her breasts grew and stretched. One could think she was pregnant! Only that this was impossible.
Frustrated she drew a dress in babydoll style out of her wardrobe. She had bought it some years ago. In a wonderful summer. Its shining colours had just reflected her mood when she had discovered it in a little shop. Even now the dress brightened up her bad temper. However, it was not suitable for her job as CEO.
She sighed. What should she do? There was nothing else that still fitted.
What was wrong with her? This was the third time she had to run to the toilet to vomit there! Doors had been worried and had sent her home to rest. Now she was on her way to a doctor. She hoped urgently that the nausea wouldn't return until she arrived there.
She was hungry. Perhaps it was no wonder that she had put on so much. She had eaten like a threshing machine the last days! But to this extent it was surely not normal.
Oh no, again! There! There was a park with lots of shrubs!

 
* * *
 

“Miss Palmer”, the doctor looked reproachfully at her, “I had never thought that you are so unreasonable. You are pregnant in the sixth month but you haven't used a single preventive medical checkup!”
Pregnant? Renée tottered. In the sixth month? Oh, my God! She hadn't had a lover or any one-night-stand in this time just ... oh no! Zo'or!!! She didn't want to believe it. A child with Zo'or!?
“Are you really sure? I have this symptoms since five days, not longer!”
Six days ago, what had been six days ago? A conference ... with Zo'or ... he had accompanied her to her flat ... and it had happened again ... their passion had overwhelmed them ... six days ago!
“Excuse me but I cannot believe in your words, Miss Palmer! You have seen the ultrasonic pictures. Here, I give you one of it. My nurse will hand over to you a list with some dates. I can recommend to you the breathing exercises and the gymnastics to train the muscles of your pelvis.”

 
* * *
 

Renée staggered out of the practice of the doctor. What should she do? She had to tell Zo'or but ... Horror spread in her. She had gotten to know another Zo'or but was still well remembering the hard and imperious one. How would he react? Her worst vision was that he would take away their child for some medical tests. But could she hide her child? From whom was this necessary? Nobody knew of Zo'or and her and that should remain!
Would the child miss something if it wouldn't get to know its Taelon part?
Renée's thoughts raged.

 
* * *
 

Zo'or and Sandoval entered the shuttle to get to a meeting with Doors International.
Doors International. Automatically Zo'or had to think of Renée Palmer. He had learned to esteem her and this was not the only attractive thing of her ... Zo'or tried hard to keep his facade. Sandoval sat next to him.
The worst were those human welcome rituals. To greet her he had to get very near to her so that he always needed his entire willpower to not draw her close to him and finally embrace her. He sighed silently. She felt wonderful.
The last time in her flat they had had a lot of time. So much time. Zo'or smiled gently. Enough time to discover her mind a bit, a bit more that usually. He was carefully. He wished that they could find again some time today. Just some minutes. In those minutes there happened more between them than in the last four years with Sandoval. Not that Agent Sandoval appealed to him in the same way as Renée Palmer but they knew each other some years now and were nearly the whole day together. With Miss Palmer, Renée what a well-sounding name, every minute was something special. Zo'or looked at Agent Sandoval. No, with him certainly not! It was the opposite, he often bored him. Ever so polite and smooth. Of course, he wouldn't tolerate something else but it would be much more exciting.
When the shuttle landed Zo'or had difficulties to hide a happy-expecting smile.

 
* * *
 

She was not there!
He had stopped to ruin her career, so why wasn't she there now? Finally she was CEO of Doors International.
She was represented by Miss Keoto. “Miss Keoto, may I get to know why Miss Palmer has to be represented today?” The little, dark-haired woman smiled friendly at him. “Oh, Miss Palmer is unfortunately unable to come.” He still had one question before it got conspicuous. “Because of which reason?” Miss Keoto hesitated. “She, she had surprisingly go to hospital.” Zo'or nodded and then turned away. In the hospital. Aha.

 
* * *
 

Zo'or sat in his chair on the main bridge of the mothership. He had searched in all files for sick persons of the hospitals of Washington, D.C. Nothing of a Renée Palmer. He continued searching in the rest of patient files. Ah, there she was! But nothing concrete.
Disappointed, Zo'or shut the data stream. If she had not been there, he at least wanted to know what was wrong with her!
Hm. Which meetings were still scheduled for today? In the evening a speech of a famous scientist. Five hours till then. Five hours in which he would sit here, waiting for new information to react on it.
His decision was done.

 
* * *
 

Renée had the feeling to die of happiness when she held her baby in her arms for the first time. She was still exhausted but she gave this tiny, fragile being her whole love.
She had called it Kyra. A human and certainly a Taelon name, too. Renée hugged Kyra softly. Her baby! It didn't matter who its “father” was, she simply loved it. She kissed Kyra tenderly and then smiled while observing her sleep.

 
* * *
 

“Renée Palmer lays on the maternity ward. To visit her you have to go those two stairs up and then it's on the left. Please announce a nurse before entering a room.”
Maternity ward? Zo'or was confused. Why was she there?
She couldn't be pregnant. He had not felt a maturing life within her body. Besides, she hadn't shown typical human symptoms. He had to admit that he only knew one symptom of a human pregnancy and this one was the growth of the abdomen. But when he had met her the last time she had had a tight one. A miscarriage was out of question because of the same reason. Perhaps an abortion on a level of living he could not sense yet.
He felt the surprised gaze of a nurse. “I want to visit Miss Palmer.” - “Ahm, I will tell her.” Then she disappeared in a room at the end of the corridor.

 
* * *
 

Renée's heart stopped beating for a moment when she heard that Zo'or was there. Fear arose in her, terrible fear to lose her child. She held Kyra tighter in her arms. The nurse saw her reaction and said “You needn't to welcome him.” Would this be a solution? Now that he knew her patient on the maternity ward? “No, it's okay. He shall come in.”
The nurse left the room and Renée whispered more to herself than to her child “Don't be afraid. I won't allow that he hurts you. Psh, don't be afraid.”
The door opened. Renée banished every emotion from her face. She saw Zo'or step in, slowly studying the room and then herself in bed with a child in her arms. His gaze reached her face. “Hallo, Miss Palmer.” Renèe's mouth was dry and her lips were glued together. It was hard for her to say “Hallo, Zo'or.”
His eyes caught the child. And now something happended she had never expected: Zo'or smiled. It seemed as if he had forgotten where he was. He stood there, relaxed and still smiling.

 
* * *
 

Zo'or was nearly beaten by the sensations this child evoked in him. Such a sweet baby! He noticed that he had started to smile and for a short moment he wondered how connected his emotions and human body-language already were. It didn't matter!
He wanted to touch it, wanted to embrace and protect this little baby. Zo'or had never felt those feelings before. And he didn't understand why he felt them now. If it would be his own, then it would be logical. But this one was Renée's child.
He was curious who the father of the baby was but he wouldn't ask. He had no right to ask for it. It was Renée's own choice whom to tell. Suddenly he noticed that he had never seen a baby before. Never! He himself was the last Taelon and he hadn't been interested in the children of other species. Perhaps he would always react this way when seeing a little child. He couldn't know but deeply hoped not. He couldn't afford it.
He controlled his facial expression and went two steps forward but was hit by Renée's presence. He jerked. For a moment he had forgotten how he reacted on her. Zo'or looked at Renée and suddenly didn't know what to say.
“Why are you here, Zo'or?” Yes, why was he still here? Now he knew why she was in hospital. “I wanted to know why you were absent today.” - “As you can see I gave birth to a child.” She had now again full control of herself. Her face was quiet with a little smile on her lips, self-assured as always. And just this radiation aroused desire in Zo'or. He wanted to feel her, to sense her essence. He sat down next to Renée on the bed and reached his right arm out to stroke her cheek. He saw how she longed for his touch but in her eyes was something else. Fear. Zo'or's gaze got a cold expression. He had never done anything she had not liked when he had touched her.
Abruptly Zo'or stood up. It was enough. He regretted that he had come here.
“Will you continue working as CEO for Doors International?” he asked emotionless. “Of course.” Zo'or opened the door and left the room.
He didn't like how things had developed. First this child and his intense reaction and then Renée's fear. Forget it, he thought, forget the whole thing. Only that this changed nothing. Renée still attracted him and when he thought of this little being his emotions ran wild.
One thing was not clear and this point made him think about: Why hadn't he sensed the unborn child in Renée? Why? There had to be a reason. And this reason was going to be found out by him. He knew.
He knew.

 
* * *
 

Renée was puzzled. Zo'or. She had seen the warmth in his eyes when he had looked at Kyra.
Was she wrong? Wouldn't Zo'or take away their child? Wouldn't he hurt it? Wouldn't he see it as a test object?
Should she have told him?
She still saw him standing there, smiling tenderly. And she saw him reaching out for her face. Oh, she had wanted it. But she knew that he would know of their child now if he had done so.
A nurse came to take her child to rest the night together with the other babies.
And Renée was left alone in this room of the hospital, confused and not knowing what was best to do.

 
* * *
 

It hit Zo'or like running against a wall. It was not Renée's child. It was their child!
He stood there, trembling. For minutes he could not move. He was overran by love and happiness. This sweet sweet baby was his. His child! He could caress it and protect it, show him the world. Or was it female? No matter! His dream, his strong wish had become true! He hadn't hoped for it since the doctor had told him that he was sterile. But now he had a child!
He turned and nearly ran to the reception. And then he stood in front of the window, looking through it. There! Kyra Palmer!
Luckily, the nurse was confused by his presence so that he could enter the room. He took his child carefully into his arms. His fingers stroke softly over its face. He sensed its tender, smooth skin and felt its peaceful dreams. Uh, strange thoughts! Baby thoughts. Zo'or smiled. He wanted to take his child with him but he knew this would be wrong.
His sadness became anger. She hadn't told him! She had not given him the chance to watch Kyra's growth and maturity process. She had taken his task to show Kyra what life was be. Renée didn't want to share! Hate, he hated Renée for this!
He wanted to experience Kyra's personality and be there for her. Oh, their time would come. Now, he couldn't nurse his child, but in some years, in some years ...
He would have liked to share with Renée. It would be best for Kyra, better balanced between Taelon and human part. But Renée had decided for fight, not for peace. And he would win.
Zo'or kissed his child on its cheek and then put it back to bed. He cared that Kyra was well covered and then left the hospital with opposing feelings, love and hate at the same time.

 
* * *
 

Da'an smiled. Yes, there it was, the new member of the Commonality. It had developed fast. In days its mind had gotten more organised and its intelligence grew continuously.
He watched it as many Taelons did. It had rapidly become main topic in the Commonality and even Zo'or was interested in it.
Nobody had build up a direct link to the child yet. Everybody just watched astonished. It evoked pleasure and happiness in the Commonality but also reserve and distrust because it was strange that there was born a healthy child against the words of the healers and after thousand years. Probably, it was a hybrid. Good for the Taelon who had procreated the child that Zo'or himself was so interested!
A hybrid with connection to the Commonality! Hybrids with other species had never had this ability. Da'an was satisfied. This was another fact that showed the special quality of humankind. He only had to wait until the others were convinced of this, too.
Relaxed, Da'an let his thoughts wander through the Commonality. Zo'or. Strange. He was filled with warmth, nearly love. When had he felt those emotions from him for the last time? Decades, if not centuries ago! Interesting! He would observe this.

 
* * *
 

Renée was on the Mothership. She ran through its endless hallways. Everything was empty. She saw or heard nobody. Fear arose in her. Her child! It had to be here, somewhere, somewhere in these hallways which all looked equal. Did she ran in a circle? She searched for a striking point in her surrounding but there was none, just violet colours and living structures. This being Mothership had swallowed her child! Renée went on searching, called for Kyra. She got panic and tears started to press behind her eyelids. “Kyra!” she shouted again and again but no answer.
“You won't find her.” Renée turned to where the voice came from. She saw a huge pair of eyes in front of her, shining blue and with a gaze she had somewhere seen before. Dark, nearly full of hatred was this gaze but there was something new. Gloating.
She asked obstinately: “And why not?”
The eyes got smaller and multiplied. After it she only saw Taelons, in all hallways and as far as she could see. And all Taelons looked like Zo'or.
Those Zo'ors began to grin satisfied and arrogant. Their glance stayed the same.
“Because she is no longer here.”
The sentence echoed through the hallways. Inside of Renée it cried out loudly “No!” No, no, NO!
She rushed at one of the “Zo'ors”. She had scarcely touched him and he got pervious so that she ran through him. She tried again but couldn't get any Taelon.
Then she felt the Commonality around her. This time it was hard. It had decided and this decision was to take Kyra to itself. She had to do something! What? What? Everything span around and she saw the vicious grin and the evil gaze of Zo'or ... ´´
Renée's eyes pushed open. She was bathed in sweat. Kyra! She sat up abruptly and jumped out of her bed.
Slowly, she opened the door to Kyra's room (her former bedroom, she now slept in her working room). Kyra laid in bed and slept deeply. Renée entered the room as quiet as possible. She kneeled down in front of Kyra's bed and stroked softly over her little face. She felt something tingle under her skin. Kyra would soon have the next growth push. They came regularly and let her get older for about three human years every time. Kyra was nearly six years old now, soon her daughter would be eight then. Renée smiled. She gave Kyra a kiss and sat next to her for a while, just watching her sleep. Then she stood up and shut the door quietly behind herself.
When she looked at the clock she noticed that she only had half an hour to sleep. So she made herself a cup of tea and sat down on the balcony of her flat. It was early in the morning. The sun was starting to light up the sky and the town awake. Renée enjoyed this picture, the soft shiver of her skin because she only wore a bathrobe and the warming tea. In this moment she was happy.
She loved her daughter. She remembered a conversation with Liam. He had asked her if she wanted children. She had not been sure but not because she was afraid of it, no, she had not known if she wanted to give birth to a child in this world. In this world where Volunteers patrolled in the streets and where the freedom of opinion was suppressed violently. Now she had a daughter with the one who was responsible for this.
Renée gave a short laugh. Irony of destiny was it called. And to have a child with the one whose political aims she fought against, who wanted to subdue her species! That's life! Renée laughed. In a way it wouldn't have been that bad if Zo'or was not so insufferable at the moment. Yes, it would be irony. But he was cold and his voice was cutting like a sharp knife.
She missed their uniting a bit but every time she met him, she asked herself how she could feel this way. She laughed again, this time longer.
But then she thought of the dream. It had been Zo'or's eyes, his gaze. This gaze was creepy. His blue eyes seemed to burn like fire then. A cold fire. Renée shuddered. She had several times seen how Zo'or had looked at her like this, ever when they had been alone. Everytime she had been scared deeply and had the feeling her throat was squeezed. She displaced these thoughts. She wondered what was wrong with him. He seemed to be angry of her. Why?

 
* * *
 

“Mummy?” Renée looked up from the screen and smiled at her daughter. “Yes, my darling?” Kyra looked seriously at her. “You have forgotten to tell me something important.” Renée's mind worked. “I'm sorry, honey but I don't know what.”
“Who's my father?” Kyra's bright eyes looked expectantly at her.
Renée stiffened lightly. She had known that it would come but had hoped that it would still last some time. What should she say? “Your father ...” Renée hesitated. She saw how Kyra's glance hang at her lips. “Come to me, sweetheart!” She drew Kyra close to her and stroke over her smooth, blond hair. Then she looked firmly into the eyes of her daughter.
“Your father is a Taelon.” She read astonishment and then understanding in Kyra's gaze. The girl smiled. “Yes.”
“That's why I always hear those voices in my head?” Renée nodded. “All Taelons are mentally connected with each other. What do you think of those voices?” Kyra thought about it. “I don't understand them but I feel that they care for me and that they watch me.” Kyra snuggled into Renée's arms. And for a while they said nothing.
“Who is it, Mummy?” Renée sighed. “Come with me!”
She led her daughter to her computer and called a site with pictures of different Taelons. “What do you think?” Excited, Kyra sat down. She looked carefully at every Taelon and read his name. “Are there moving pictures?” - “Uhm, yes. Please wait a moment. If you click onto a photo you can see them.”
It took long. Renée watched her child observing every Taelon. Here and then Kyra's face lightened up and an “Oh, so this is ...” could be heard.
Later Kyra turned. “And?” asked Renée tensed.
“Zo'or is my father” Kyra said as it was natural to know that. Renée was speechless. “Where do you know that from?” Kyra smiled. “Oh, it's simple. Every Taelon has his own energetic vibration which is characteristic for him. On pictures you cannot feel them because they just show a single moment. But on videos you can see them clearly. Those vibrations can be felt mentally, too. So you can recognize a certain Taelon. There is one Taelon who is more concentrated at me than the others. This Taelon is Zo'or. I thought my father would care most for me and so decided that Zo'or must my father.”
Renée was still speechless. Where did she know that all from? It was unbelievable ... although ... she was part Taelon. “You're right. I just didn't know that Zo'or knew of you.”
“How did you get a child from a Taelon?” Renée's smile brightened to a grin. “To get to know that you still have to wait two growth pushes, my little girl.” Kyra pouted and Renée laughed. They gave each other a little kiss.
“And, what do you want to do now? Eating an ice or Inline-skating, hm?” - “Mummy!” Kyra looked at her with a you-don't-mean-that-seriously glance. Renée's abdomen started to become cramped. Please not! Not now!
“I want to get to know my father!”

 
* * *
 

She was on the mothership. While she was coming closer the bridge step by step it started to tingle of excitement in her tummy. She had known that sometime the moment had to arrive for her to tell Zo'or of their child. She had put it off for a long time. And now she got to know that he already knew of Kyra! Uh, perhaps this was the reason of his anger! That would make sense if she thought of the Zo'or she had experienced at their unitings and whom she missed.
When Renée entered the bridge nobody could see what it looked like inside of her. Selfconfidently she walked towards Zo'or who sat in his chair. Sandoval came to her. “What do you want here, Miss Palmer? You have no appointment with Zo'or.” - “I urgently have to talk to him.” She looked at Zo'or. He asked condescendingly “What is the matter, Miss Palmer?” Renée turned towards him and stepped into his direction. “As I said I have to talk to you.”
“I do not care for a conversation with you.” - “But you already have one!” Silence. “Zo'or, it's really important!” Showing boredom, Zo'or gazed past her towards earth, his fingers moved gracefully on the arm of his chair. “I am not going to leave before I have told you what I wanted.”
“Miss Palmer, if Zo'or does not wish to speak with you I am afraid I have to send you off the bridge” Sandoval intervened. Renée went to Zo'or. “Shall I really say it infront of all the others?” she asked with a bitter-sweet smile. Zo'or looked assessingly at her.
“Agent Sandoval, leave the bridge with the Volunteers.” Sandoval's gaze showed no emotion when he responded to the order.
“Yes, Sir.”
There is was again! Zo'or's venomous gaze. She had to do something against this gaze! She forced herself to meet his look. She only stood there and looked into Zo'or's eyes without saying anything.

 
* * *
 

Kyra sat still on her bed. Her mother had just called to tell her that she had arrived at the mothership. The girl searched Zo'or in the tangle of voiced and watched excited his emotions. How would he react on her mother?
Kyra startled. She felt that Zo'or was filled with rage, endless rage ...
She had to do something.
Gingerly she stretched out a part of her, very slowly and carefully.

 
* * *
 

Zo'or shut his eyes. He felt how his child got active. It stretched itself ... into his direction! Zo'or was overflowed by delight and happiness. His child started to discover the world of the Taelons. He sent warmth and love to the young being to encourage it to continue.
Excited, he followed how she came closer, just like human parents when they watch the first steps or listen to the first words of their child. Zo'or opened himself to embrace it. Now it reached him. He caressed it with his thoughts, felt the loving emotions of his child for him. But it was sad.
* WHAT'S wrong,Ki'ra? *
* Please give us a chance! * Ki'ra whispered.
Zo'or was confused. * But I do! * - * Me but not Mummy! *
Renée! Zo'or had simply forgotten that she still stood in front of him. Ki'ra sank back. *PLEASE! *

Zo'or opened his eyes. He looked at Renée. “Miss Palmer?”
“Zo'or, can you remember our ... unitings?” Zo'or shortly blushed. “I do.”
“Well. Zo'or, we have a child.” He kept his voice as quiet as possible when he said “I know”.
“And she wants to get to know you.” Zo'or's features got bitter. “At least I know now why you have had the kindness to tell me.” Renée avoided his eyes. He was right.
Zo'or stood up and went to the large window of virtual glass. There under him was earth and his child. Ki'ra, a nice name but even that had only been chosen by Renée.
He felt her presence behind him. “I'm sorry” she said in a low voice. “You are sorry?” Zo'or asked derisively. He turned to her. “Oh, then everything will be alright.” His rage which Ki'ra had repressed some moments before came back. But he controlled himself, for Ki'ra. He turned and went away from Renée. Her nearness was uncomfortable to him. He was silent. This would be a way to show this impulsive, young woman his disdain. It seemed as if she interpreted his behaviour differently because after some time her furious voice was to be heard.
“That is all what you have to say to this topic? Aren't you interested in the reasons for keeping Kyra for my own? Don't you ask yourself what she looks like, how she smiles, what she likes? She said that you watch her. Why? I'm probably right and you only see her as a little test object. A little, living being, well observable because every time reachable ...”
“Stop it!” snapped Zo'or. “You really have no idea! Do you really think that I have the same opinion of my child as of humanity? Of my own child?! And yes, I ask myself how she looks and smiles, about what she muses and what she does. But have you thought about my feelings in the whole affair? Just one time? If not, you have not right to reproach me anything!”
Surprised, Renée looked at Zo'or. The arrogant Zo'or started to mingle with the other one. “And if I still do it?” Her gaze was provocative.
Zo'or's features were unreadable. Three nearly conflicting emotions fought for the upper hand in him. The wish to fulfil Ki'ra's entreaty and to give Renée a chance, his anger about her behaviour ... and the desire to merge with this stubborn and strong woman. Her gaze could encourage all three sensations. She approached. Hm, looked like the third one. No! Zo'or moved away from her. He did not want a sharing with her after all that had happened.
Renée's features had gotten softer. She wanted to sense him, wanted to know how he felt even if she could imagine it. She reached out a hand. Zo'or looked doubtfully at her. This Taelon! Hadn't he noticed yet that she did what she wanted? This characteristic had finally led to the development of their relation. If she only thought of the elevator ...
When Zo'or started to evade her Renée jumped forward and caught his hand. Zo'or was shocked and a shiver ran through him. Renée relaxed her grip a bit but cared that he couldn't escape. And then she was in his mind.

When Zo'or didn't defend himself Renée began to “look around”. She felt how much she had had hurt him when she had not told him of their child, felt his resulting rage. He loved Kyra, from the beginning on. She had been wrong, so endlessly wrong. There was his wish to raise their child together. A wave of happiness flew through Renée. she shouted in his thoughts.
Zo'or could feel Renée's regret and her effusive bliss. He stroked her with his thoughts and went deeper. He searched for her reasons. Insecurity, fear for her child. He embraced her and gave her love and warmth which Renée absorbed immediately.
He did not dare to think more.
Suddenly Renée cried out. She broke away from him and flashed angrily. She had searched further and had so discovered his plans. Zo'or had no longer thought of them and had therefore not hidden his intentions. He was unmoved by her outbreak. “You started with it. You have taken her away from me from the beginning on. I think it is quite understandable that I wanted to experience my child as well.” Renée snorted scornfully.
“Not only as well. You wanted her completely! And ... you wanted her to forget me!” - “A wish that unfortunately had never been possible.” - “How can you dare ...”
Zo'or was unnerved. If he had been human, he would have rolled his eyes. “Renée, don't you think that you behave in a silly way?” - “Silly! You call me silly?” - “We have just experienced the reasons of the other to behave this way. Consequently, you know what made me musing of my plans. I think it is time for us to forgive.”
Renée had expected everything but this. Zo'or spoke of forgiving. She studied him exactly and then was caught by his shining eyes. A question, an offer could be read in them.
She closed her eyes. To forgive. Yes, she forgave him. It was still possible since he had not put his intentions into action yet. She opened her eyes and smiled at the Taelon in front of her. She slowly went to him and intended to keep up her gaze into his eyes but his lips caught her look. She remembered his kisses and abruptly got goosepimples. He seemed to be reminded, too.
His lips were warm and soft. Zo'or returned her kiss deeply and cravingly. Their arms wound around their bodies so that they stood there, firmly pressed together. He felt well. Renée followed softly Zo'or's lines of energy. She sensed the power which flew through them, the energy flow tingled on her skin. Energy streams wandered along her, covered her, caressed her body. Zo'or began to arouse her mentally as well. She was in trance. Never she had imagined such touches. She felt Zo'or's arousal, her own and how both melted into one. There was only the present, the moment of ecstasy that she shared with the Taelon.

 
* * *
 

“... it is not possible that ...” Da'an smiled, Liam's words got lost in the background. The child. So it belonged to Zo'or. Delight ran through Da'an. He had a grandchild!
He calmed down. Zo'or. How would he be influenced by it? He obviously loved his child, what would be the consequences? How would the Synod react?
Future would tell. But there was one question that could be answered in the present.
With whom?

 
* * *
 

Sandoval looked at his watch for the hundredth time. Two hours had passed since the Synod leader had sent him off the bridge. He had thought of all possibilities why Zo'or and Miss Palmer could have a conversation but for all his ideas it was not necessary to send him away and such a long period of time was not justified. What had he not thought of?

 
* * *
 

Renée laid in Zo'or's arms. She felt safe and protected. She sensed that he replied this feeling, that he enjoyed to be so close to her. Zo'or's long slender fingers glided tenderly down her arm and Renée snuggled up to him even more. He radiated silence and peace. She knew that he had not felt this for a long time and she was happy that she was the one who had caused his state. She herself was filled with quiet and deep affection.
Zo'or had shown her Kyra in the Commonality. To experience her child from this perspective had been wonderful. She thanked him for it but he had only smiled knowingly at her. She could not believe yet that this arrogant, cool Taelon could give so much love and warmth and she felt how he himself was surprised. Renée turned a bit and smiled lovingly at him. She started to kiss him to release him from his confusion.

 
* * *
 

The door to the bridge opened. Out came a human woman and a Taelon who were connected by a strange bond. They radiated something that told others that they belonged together. Both quietly smiling and self-confident, both shining from their interiour.
Sandoval froze when he saw those two, Zo'or and Renée Palmer. His eyes widened and he slightly staggered just as his world view began to totter. Zo'or and ...
Some Volunteers behind him giggled but he did not want to know if about the couple or about himself.
Sandoval stood rooted to the spot even when Renée and Zo'or were no longer to be seen.

 
* * *
 

Da'an and Liam left the shuttle. The Taelon mused if he should go at first to his private chambers or right away to the bridge. He would not enter Zo'or's chambers in any case but wait onto the bridge then.
He saw how Liam suddenly stared to one point as if there was a ghost (nice human idiom but Taelons did not believe in ghosts, however Liam seemed to see one). Da'an followed his gaze and after a short moment of surprise he started to smile. Renée Palmer then! An interesting mixture, those two! Zo'or and Renée Palmer. His smile became a grin which he suppressed quickly. They nodded and disappeared in a shuttle. Da'an led the unbelieving, shocked and totally confused Liam gently to his chambers.

 
* * *
 

Kyra laid down on the ground of the living room. She had stretched her arms and legs away from her and turned up the radio loudly. She was lost in the song “Gotham City” by R. Kelly, so much that she did not notice how the door was opened.
When the song finished she sighed and opened her eyes. She saw a smiling Taelon face. Her father! She sat up abruptly and stared at him. “Ki'ra!” he whispered tenderly and slowly stroke her cheek. She started to smile and flung her arms happily around his neck. Zo'or hugged her and in her head she heard him.

At the same time Renée went to the radion to turn it down. But when she heard the words of the singer she hesitated and enjoyed the song.
“... I will be your father figure
put your tiny hand in mine
I will be your preacher teacher
anything you have in mind
I will be your father figure
I have had enough of crime
I will be the one who loves you
until the end of time
If you are the desert
I'll be the sea
If you ever hunger -
hunger for me
whatever you ask for
that's what I'll be ...
so when you remember the ones who have lied
who said that they cared
but then laughed as you cried
beautiful darling
don't think of me
because all I ever wanted
it's in your eyes baby, baby
and love can't lie, no ...
(greet me with the eyes of a child)
my love is always telling me so ...
(heaven is a kiss and a smile)
just hold on, hold on
I won't let you go, my baby
I will be your father figure
put you tiny hand in mine
I will be your preacher teacher
anything you have in mind
I will be your father figure
I have had enough of crime
(so I am gonna love you)
until the end of time
I will be your father
I will be your preacher
I will be your daddy
I will be the one who loves you
until the end of time”

 
* * *
 

Zo'or sat in his chair on the bridge.
“Agent Sandoval! Prepare a shuttle! I will start to the home world tomorrow.” After he had heard Sandoval's “Yes, Sir” a slight smile spread over his face.

 
* * *
 

“Oh Daddy, the mothership is so fascinating!” Ki'ra's eyes were shining of enthusiasm. All those forms and violet colours! She liked this colour which dominated on the whole ship. It was calming and strengthening.
Zo'or had much effort in calming her down because Ki'ra wanted to move through the mothership in jumping all the way. Da'an accompanied them and amused himself very well. But on his unbelieving look did Zo'or only get an * do-not-think-you-were-different * back. Da'an started to grin and showed him an event when Zo'or had been about fifty years old.
** Predasor Trksh, I'm glad you took the time for me.” - “You're welcome on Ma'resh, Da'an! I support a friendly relationship between our races and am happy to may welcome you.” They smiled at each other.
“This is my child Zo'or. I am sorry but there was no other way than to bring him along here.” Patr Trksh smiled at the little energy being next to Da'an and greeted him with the typical Taelon greeting. He gave a laugh when the tiny arms moved to greet as well.
“Don't worry! My species loves children and especially me.” Da'an smiled gratefully. Then the three left the Taelon-shuttle and went on their way to the bureau of the Predasor.
Da'an sensed how astonished and enthusiastically Zo'or looked at all those new things. He had never been on another planet than on Taelon. Zo'or stopped at a mechanically-driven puppet. He started to touch it carefully and tried to get into mental contact with her. He fled disappointed to Da'an when he recognised that it wasn't living. Da'an hid his amused but also enraptured feelings so that his child could not feel them when he searched his mental comfort. Oh, how he loved his child!
They arrived at Patr Trksh's chamber. Da'an sat down on a big, spotted three-piece suite. Zo'or on the one side and the Predasor on the other one.
* Zo'or, stay quietly here at my side. *
* Of course, Ma'lou. *
Trksh smiled reassuringly at Da'an. “I have often visitors with children here. That's usual for my race. Believe me, my bureau is absolutely childproofed. Nothing can be broken and nobody can get hurt.” As if Zo'or had understood the words in this for him unknown language, he jumped up and took a closer look at the room.
Predasor Trksh and Da'an started to speak about diplomatic affairs. It was a calm and peaceful conversation between two beings who liked each other and whose races had no other reason to stay in contact than to keep up their friendly relationship.
Da'an felt Zo'or's delight and his love of adventure when he discovered this new world. But suddenly a shiver ran through Da'an. Zo'or started to climb up a duct to touch the orange ornament on the ceiling. Da'an got nervous and the more Zo'or climbed up, the more weakened his attention to the conversation. Zo'or stretched out his tiny light-blue fingers, stretched more. Da'an already saw how he crashed to the floor. “Please excuse me for a moment” he asked quickly and jumped up to get Zo'or down into his arms. His complaints did not matter for Da'an. Zo'or had to sit back on the couch, firmly held by his parent. **
Zo'or smiled embarassed at Da'an.
“And now you show me the homeworld of the Taelons?” Ki'ra asked happily expecting. Da'an stopped puzzled. Zo'or wanted to go with Ki'ra to Taelon? “As I have promised you!” replied Zo'or to his child. “And how long will it take?” - “Just some hours.”
“Do you remember that the Seridian-corridor is very dangerous at the moment?” - “Of course, Da'an. We will fly via She'ron.” Da'an nodded.

 
* * *
 

Ki'ra and Zo'or enjoyed the flight a lot. They felt very close in these hours. Zo'or told Ki'ra of the Taelons' history, their culture, their philosophy. Ki'ra absorbed everything. She constantly asked further and wanted to try many things herself. There was a wonderfully intimate and relaxed atmosphere in the shuttle. Zo'or put down every arrogance and bitterness. To his child he was loving and lenient. Later when Ki'ra laid in his arms and slept Zo'or followed her dreams and was endlessly happy.
Step by step he could waken his knowledge of Eunoia. She got slowly but constantly better in using the Taelon language. It wasn't the expression of an adult Taelon yet but nobody expected that. Every Taelon child needed its time till it had a good command of all linguistic phrases. Zo'or was proud of Ki'ra. Although she was just some weeks old did she have a state of development of a two or three hundred year old Taelon. He tenderly squeezed her hand.
Ki'ra loved the homeworld how she had looked before the war. Reddish, violet light, many different flowers and everything mysterious. But when her parent switched off the projection she was beaten. She sat down on one of the burned stones which were to be seen till the end of the sky and looked depressed at the scenery. The sky was yellow. Under it only barren, black mountains. Variety of nature did no longer exist and she smelled dust instead the fragrance of flowers. Tears ran down her face. After some time her voice could be heard.
“Ma'lou! This war has to stop!”
Although her voice showed great grief Zo'or heard something firm and determined in it.
“We give our best.” Ki'ra turned to his parent. “You give your best?” she asked unbelieving. “Is it the best to live in hatred? To exploit and destroy other species to kill another race with them? This is the best for you? Ma'lou! You cannot mean this seriously!” - “How should the war end in a different way?” - “Not by using other races and not by exterminating the enemy! Ma'lou, don't you think that the Jariadians suffer and suffered pain as well? Why not simply entering into peace and stop fighting? Just doing it! Just not wanting the war any longer because it only causes pain, grief and death!”
Zo'or said nothing.
He got painfully conscious of the fact that she was right, objectively seen, if one let all personal experiences, pain and thoughts of this time out of reflection, out of hundreds of years. He noticed what the Taelons were missing. Children. Children to cuddle and to remove the distance between the members of the Commonality, children to reach peace.
They knew that there was a growing group of Jaridians which were against their war, mostly younger ones who had forgotten the beginning of the war and who knew the pain and loss of friends and family but who finally wanted to consider the war as closed, so that they needn't to suffer under more pain.
There was nothing like that at the Taelons. There were protests against their methods to have war but the war itself was never put into question. Hitherto. The first child after thousand years who had a link to the commonality demanded peace.
He sat down next to his daughter and together they watched the terrible sight of Taelon.

 
* * *
 

Ki'ra and Zo'or stopped in front of the chamber where the Synod was waiting for them. Zo'or squeezed Ki'ra's hand which laid in his. He would present his daughter to the Synod. It was not foreseeable how it would decide. Ki'ra was a human-Taelon-hybrid. This was the only fact that stood against her and it was the most important one. But Ki'ra had a link to the Commonality, she was able to put up mental contact to Taelons and to other living beings and she knew Eunoia. He suppressed a shiver. Should there really exist a chance that the Synod would acknowledge Ki'ra as a member of the Commonality?
He loved his daughter and he would fight for her and would be there for her no matter what the Synod decided.
* This day with you was the most beautiful in my whole life, Ki'ra. *
Ki'ra smiled at him and squeezed his hand firmly. Her gaze held his when she thought * there will be more of those days, Ma'lou. *
They started to enter the chamber when Zo'or mentioned * you should avoid to tell the Synod your opinion to the war with the Jaridians at the first meeting. *
Ki'ra grinned. * Oh, really? *