Wind in the Trees
 By Rilei S. Gateland

Author's Note:  ["This indicates a memory intrusion occurring.  Primarily it indicates a scene that is a memory but it is being written as though it is presently a part of the story.]
 
Drs. Jane and James Sandoval are my creations from an earlier US Taelon Division mission. For now they may not be used outside of the ULSG without prior permission first. Contact me at  agent_rilei@excite.com for further information.

The song you'll see in this story is called I Don't Know Why and it can be found on the Touched By An Angel soundtrack of last year. It is used in this story without prior permission and there is no copyright infringement intended by its use here. So please do not sue me!

A note from the webmaster: This story takes place after Mission #3 (Which isn't up on the site yet, but will be soon!!! I HOPE!)

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 "Oh, God," Dr. Belman breathed as she checked over Arthur's medical scans again. She looked them over again and finally looked up with a grim expression on her face at the overjoyed couple. Grace stood stroking Arthur's face, murmuring quietly to him, her tears never ceased in their flow from her almond brown eyes. She looked up first as Dr. Belman neared them.
 "What is it, doctor?" she asked, taking Arthur's hand after noting the look on Belman's face.
 "I'm afraid I have so rather bad news. I checked twice just to be certain." Belman began painfully. "Arthur," she continued, "Arthur, the Taelons removed 20% of your internal organs." she grated out slowly. Arthur closed his eyes.
 "Then why am I still alive?" he asked after a moment.
 "I wish I knew. There's a chemical compound in your system I can't quite identify. Have any idea what it could be?" she asked. Arthur sighed.
 "No, doctor, I haven't one faint clue as to what it could be. To tell you the truth the only way to survive that living hell the Taelons put me through each day I was there in the last 3 years of my life was to block out what they were doing to me. The human mind can only cope with so much agony anyway before it starts to block things out. That's what happened to me." Arthur said. He looked at Grace. "The that only thing kept me alive while people died around me was knowing I had to live for Grace, I had to live to see her face again_..to feel her touch again."
 Doors stepped forward.
 "We still have to know what kind of experiments the Taelons performed on you." he said.
 "I'm sorry, Mr. Doors. I simply can't remember anything." Arthur replied quietly to him. Before Doors could say anything further,  Julieanne intervened.
 "I have a possible solution to this problem," she said.
 "Well?" Doors asked after a moment.
 "This can wait until after Arthur has slept. That goes for you too, Grace and you too, Lili." Belman said. Grace looked to Arthur and she read his mind.
 "Can I get some help into moving my husband to one of the guest rooms please?" Grace asked. Dr. Belman frowned.
 "Now look you two, I know you've been apart three years-"
 "Doctor!" Grace said, turning several shades of red.
 "Doctor Belman, I give you my word as a fellow physician, we will be doing as the doctor ordered and getting some sleep. But I want Grace in my arms as I sleep, otherwise I won't be sleeping very well." Arthur said. Julieanne sighed.
 "All right." she agreed.
 Grace kissed Arthur's lips gently.
 "I'll be right back. I'm going to go get Augur or Ken and see if they'll help me get you to a guestroom." Grace said. Arthur stood up.
 "That won't be necessary, love. Just lend me your arms and I'll make it on my own." he said as he wrapped one arm over her shoulders and took her hand with his other hand. Dr. Belman  watched as they made their way slowly out into the main area of the Liberation's Headquarters_and down the new section to the guestrooms_..

 Liam was seated at his desk watching Da'an as he spoke to the Taelon Synod that was `present' in the Washington embassy via datastream. The Synod had been relentlessly questioning him over an incident in Antarctica for over an hour. Zo'or was mainly the one leading the attack on Da'an. Da'an, had in turn, abandoned his seat and was standing in the midst of the Synod members_.
 "Doctor Christian's findings of the remains of the prisoners have been confirmed by Dr. Belman, Zo'or. What more do you want?"  Da'an asked.
 "An analysis performed by one of our own scientists, aboard the mothership." Zo'or shot back.
 "It is a sad day when the members of the Synod do not trust one another at their word." Da'an said.
 "It is not `your' word I do not trust, but rather that of your human doctors. You will have your agents bring the remains to the homeship for our analysis." Zo'or ordered.
 Da'an nodded outwardly as his mind began to make plans to help this cover up from being exposed by Zo'or. The Synod disappeared and Da'an turned to Liam. Liam by now had made his way to Da'an's side.
 "Grace is in danger as is Tara." Liam said.
 "Zo'or is unaware that the most prominent scientist we have next to Ra'el is also a member of the Ta'az. Na'ay will also help to keep this scandal covered. I need only to contact him and advise him of our plans." Da'an said.
 "Where is he stationed at? I will go warn him for you." Liam said.
 "Na'ay is stationed our research facility at Beijing China." Da'an answered. Liam nodded.
 "He'll be warned, Da'an. I promise. You, Grace, and Tara will not be exposed."
 

 After a restless night, Arthur and Grace finally rose out of their bed and went to the kitchens to get some much needed breakfast. It was 5:30 AM and to their surprise they found not only Dr. Belman but Jonathan Doors sitting in a corner of the kitchen murmuring quietly about something. Grace wanted to watch them from where she and Arthur couldn't be seen, but Arthur pulled her into the kitchen.
 "Good morning." he said.
 "Good morning, Grace, Dr. Whitney. How did you sleep last night?"  Julieanne asked.
 "To be truthful, I didn't. Grace tells me that I was having nightmares all night long." Arthur replied.
 "Yeah I thought I heard someone screaming bloody murder last night." Doors said quietly. Grace noted that he didn't appear to have had much sleep last night either.
 "I'm sorry about that, Mr. Doors." Arthur said.
 "Don't apologize," Belman spoke up quickly, "You've been through a terrible ordeal and nightmares are a natural side effect. Tell me what do you remember from the nightmares last night? Anything?"
 "Not one iota. It's just like my memories of that place. It's like they're erased from my mind." he said.
 "No they're there somewhere. The question is, how do we make them resurface?" Grace said. She looked to Doctor Belman.
 "After you've both had breakfast, come to the lab. There's something I need to discuss with you." she said. After that she and Doors left the couple alone. Grace set about making them breakfast which consisted of eggs, bacon, toast, and potatoes. Grace found her appetite left her as she watched Arthur dig into his breakfast with gusto.
 "I have dreamt about a breakfast like this for 3 years. While I can't recall a lot of things I do remember what the Taelons gave us to eat. It was some sort of laboratory food which they said have 10 times more nutrition than the average human food. That may have been true but it tasted like_..well let's just say it was the blandest thing I've ever eaten in my life." he told her between bites. Grace smiled. Arthur stopped suddenly_."Is something wrong?" she asked.
 "It's just that I've dreamt of this for 3 long years. Having you with me again, being able to reach out and touch your face or your, have you kiss me again_.I just feel like this is a dream, that I'll wake up very soon now and return to the life without you." she said. Arthur reached across the table and took her hand.
 "This isn't a dream, love, I am with you now. The Taelons think I am dead. Nothing is going to separate us." Arthur said. Grace smiled, squeezing his hand.
 "I love you." she said.
 Arthur stood to his feet, pulled her to her feet, and kissed her hand.
 "Come on, we've kept Doctor Belman waiting long enough." he said.

 Dr. Belman looked up as Grace and Arthur entered the lab of the Resistance Headquarters. She motioned for them to be seated on a nearby sofa as she went to call in Jonathan Doors. After she and Doors were both seated, Arthur questioned her.
 "What was it you wanted, doctor?"
 "I believe I can help you regain your memories through a specially re-engineered CVI I had been working on in hopes of freeing the full-blown implants from their motivational imperatives. In light of recent discoveries this new CVI is irrelevant to helping this movement now, except now I believe we can use it to recover you repressed memories." she said.
 "I don't wish to have a permanent piece of the Taelons within me, doctor." Arthur grated out. His face was flustered with strong emotions.
 "I understand that but this CVI, the reason why we never were able to use it because its effects don't last more than a week at most." she said.
 "And then it breaks down? Doctor, what are its side effects?" Grace asked.
 "Well Arthur would receive a CVI's full benefits such as enhanced memories and heightened intelligence. There are no negative side effects to this CVI. When the week is passed, the CVI simply ceases to quit functioning with no danger to its host whatsoever." she said.
 "None?"
 "None. It's completely safe."
 Arthur closed his eyes.
 "You don't have to do this." Grace whispered in his ear.
 He looked at her.
 "I have to know what they did to me." he replied back. He turned back to Dr. Belman. "I agree to take this CVI." he said. Belman nodded and looked at Jonathan who nodded in turn. She stood up.
 "I'll get ready for the procedure."
 Grace watched her go then turned back to her husband.
 "Are you sure you want to do this?" she asked quietly.
 Arthur nodded.
 "I have to know, even it is by Taelon technology." he said. Her kissed her hand. "What can I expect during the procedure and afterwards?" he asked. Grace stared blankly ahead as a memory intrusion occurred.
 "Grace?" he said. Grace blinked and looked at him.
 "Sorry, I just had what you'd called a memory intrusion. During the procedure_" Grace began to explain it to him in detail. Arthur nodded after she had finished.
 "What about afterwards? What can I expect?" he asked.
 "Well I am not sure about this CVI but I think its safe to say you'll probably experience memory intrusions like me. The intrusions are incredible, especially how real they seem to you. You recall everything in perfect and complete detail. I can tell you about conversations I had word for word with my brother and friends when I was in grade school. You taste, feel, hear, see, smell everything as though you are in that very moment again." she said.
 "Wow."
 "In fact the CVI has helped me these last few months of your absence. I mean with it I have been able to hear your voice speaking to me and I've been able to relive my memories of you. Oh, Arthur, how I've missed you!" she said her voice breaking. Arthur gathered her in his arms and she laid her head on his chest.
 Arthur was silent, choosing to just hold her because if he spoke he'd lose control of his voice and the tears he held back would make their way loose from his eyes. Suddenly Grace's global started to bleep and with an annoyed sigh she picked it up. Wiping all emotions from her face, she opened it.
 Da'an was at the end other, a serious look upon his face.
 "Agent Whitney, report to my office immediately." he ordered.
 "Of course, Da'an, as you wish." she replied in full implant mode.
 After the link was severed she looked at Arthur.
 "What do you supposed that's about?" he asked.
 "I don't know but it's serious. There's a chance that it's really the Synod giving me this summoning and not Da'an." she said.
 "Be careful, love." he said and kissed her.
 "Now that I have you back, love, I have everything to live for, so I do intend to be very careful." she replied. She kissed him again and went to finished getting ready, calling Ken as she went.
 

 When Grace entered Da'an's audience chamber, she indeed found the Synod members present via datastream and she also saw that Tara Carmichael was present via the datastream along with Zo'or.
 They're most likely still on the mothership, she realized. She acknowledged each Taelon in turn and turned to face her own Companion. Da'an sat in his seat, his fingers in motion, the only  thing that betrayed his inner turmoil. Oh, God, please don't let him be broadcasting to the Commonality. If he's not careful he's going to betray Tara and I as Liberation agents_. Grace's attention was brought out of her thoughts as Zo'or addressed her.
 "Agent Whitney, review your actions for the Synod." he said.
 Taking a deep breath Grace began to relay the events of their ill-fated mission to Antarctica for the Synod members.
 "_.When we were about to enter interdimensional flight, our engines experienced a power failure, causing the pilot to set us down in the snow by a controlled crash, approximately 10.5 kilometers from the Rrra- shaui facility. The impact was unfortunately not controlled enough for it caused a chain reaction within in the quantum drive, which in turn caused the explosion which killed the prisoners we were transporting back to Washington DC." Grace finished.
 As Grace spoke Tara had concentrated on getting Da'an calmed down by sending the Taelon peaceful images she had received during her adventure at Atlantis.  In the image she sent to Da'an Tara was dressed as a priestess of a long lost temple of Atlantis. Her hair was pulled up, decorated with golden chains and flowers, while she was dressed in a long white flowing dress that was tied off at the waist by a golden belt.  Tara didn't quite know what the temple and place was at Atlantis but  she did know that it was a place of peace, healing, and meditation. Da'an, in turn, seemed to calm down almost immediately and the nervous movement of his fingers stopped.
 "_There was no way you can have saved your prisoners?" a Synod members asked.
 "None, sir." Tara answered.
 "Agent Whitney, what was the nature of the relationship of Doctor Arthur David Whitney to you before his disappearance and your implantation of a year ago?" Zo'or asked. Now, how Grace answered this question would either expose all three of them or it would convince the Synod completely that Arthur was dead and that Grace's and Tara's loyalties were completely to them alone.
 "Dr. Whitney was my husband before his disappearance three years ago." she answered without feeling, a perfect imitation of Ronald Sandoval.
 "Do you still have feelings for him, Agent Whitney?" Zo'or asked.
 "I am a servant of the Companions. All my loyalties, feelings, and energies are turned towards the betterment of the Taelon race. Everything and everyone outside that goal is irrelevant." she replied.
 "Do you concur, Agent Carmichael?" Zo'or asked his Head of  Security.
 "Of course, Zo'or. I concur fully with Agent Whitney." she said,  she too in full implant mode.
 "Enter, Na'ay." the Synod Leader commanded.
 A Taelon Grace had never seen before entered the room in its natural form. He give the Taelon greeting to all the Synod members present, bowing slightly to his higher ranking brethren.
 "Report of your findings, Na'ay." Zo'or ordered.
 The Taelon scientist bowed and faced the Synod members. In a very high pitched voice the Taelon began his report.
 "My findings indicate that the human medical doctor, Jennifer Christian, was correct in her analysis. The charred remains are indeed of those of the human Doctor Arthur D. Whitney and the Liberation  Agent Mark Maxwell as per our records." Na'ay finished. Da'an gave Zo'or a satisfied almost smug look.
 "That is all, Na'ay. You may return to your post in Beijing after transferring records of your findings to the mothership." Zo'or dismissed him. Na'ay, after giving the Taelon greeting/goodbye and a slight bow, left the building indeed the continent by using the interdimensional portal in Da'an's audience chamber.
 "It seems that after reviewing Da'an's report and that of Agent Whitney that the two implants are to be commended for their service." one Synod member said.
 "Indeed." Zo'or said.
 The Synod vanished from view. Grace breathed out in relief  after they had vanished.
 "I will place a commendation on your service record to keep up the appearance I am obeying the Synod's wishes." Da'an said.
 Grace nodded.
 

 "What was the Synod's final word on your husband and me?" Mark Maxwell asked as they watched Dr. Belman prepare Arthur to receive  the special CVI.
 "To them you are both dead. One of the Taelons' own scientists, Na'ay, confirmed Doctor Christian's analysis of the remains. You're both free." Grace said. At that moment, Dr. Belman came out.
 "We're ready." she said.
 Grace followed her into the room and went to her husband's bedside. She took his hand and smiled down at him.
 "This won't be too bad, that I can promise." she said.
 "Grace." Dr. Belman said gently. Grace looked up at her.
 "I'll be back as soon as it's over with." she promised her husband. "I love you." she said and left the room. She watched the probe's movements up until it entered Arthur at the point of between his cheek and throat. He closed his eyes as he felt it enter.
 Doctor Belman watched her monitors, and looked back to Grace.
 "You can go back in now. The CVI has been delivered." she said.
 Grace nodded and hurried back to her husband's side. Arthur smiled up at her.
 "You're right that wasn't so bad." he said. Grace was about to remove the strap that restrained his head from any movement when Doctor Belman stopped her.
 "What's wrong?" she asked.
 "Nothing. I am just expecting Arthur to experience something very close to a seizure right about now." she said.
 "A seizure? I thought you said that there'd be no ill side effects, doctor." Grace said.
 "There won't be but this is very normal when anyone who is male is implanted with a CVI. Both Sandoval and Boone experienced this as well as any other man I've implanted for the Companions." she replied.
 "Doctor, I feel fine." Arthur piped up.
 "Humor me please, doctor." Belman replied.
 "Can we at least remove this strap?" Grace asked.
 "All right, but you keep your butt flat on the bed, Doctor  Whitney." she said.
 "Agreed, Doctor Belman." he said as she loosened the strap. As she walked away, Grace took her husband's hand.
 "Feel any different yet?" she asked.
 "No, nothing yet. I feel the same." he answered.
 "Hmmm, you should be feeling at least a little different now. Just wait until the memory intrusions start, they're_."
 I, Arthur David Whitney, do take thee, Grace, to be my lawfully  wedded wife_
 "Arthur? Honey?" Grace looked at him concerned. Arthur snapped out of the memory intrusion and looked up at her.
 "I think I just had a memory intrusion. I was at our wedding, and I was speaking my vows to you again. It was incredible. I was actually there again. This CVI is incredible!" he said. Grace smiled.
 "Now you know what I mean."
 Arthur experienced another intrusion just then.
 "How do you control these intrusions?" he asked.
 "It takes time, but you eventually learn to control your CVI. Before I learned how to control mine, the intrusions just about drove me crazy. Now I enjoy them and believe it or not they are an asset to my job." she answered.
 "I can imagine."
 About that time, Doctor Belman came back into the lab.
 "All right I think it's safe for you to get up now. Just take it easy as I run a few tests, okay?" she said.
 Arthur sat up slowly.
 "Whoa!"
 "What's wrong, honey?" Grace asked.
 "I'm just a little dizzy. It'll pass." he said.
 "That's very normal. That's why I said to take it easy." Belman said.
 "I hear you, doctor."

 Later that day, after Arthur was finally out of Dr. Belman's laboratory and he was alone with Grace in their room, Grace began to discuss her wishes to throw a party for the entire Liberation Movement.
 "Even for Jonathan Doors?" he asked in a joking tone.
 "Well somehow I doubt Jonathan will ever attend a party unless it's one celebrating the defeat of the Taelons."
 "True. Is he always like that?"
 "For as long as I have had the pleasure of knowing him."
 "He's just a barrel of laughs then, hmmm?"
 "Uh huh_."
 They both laughed. Arthur moved to sit down on the bed they had shared the pervious night and he held out his hand to her. Smiling Grace took it and sat beside him. As they began to kiss, a memory intrusion flashed through Arthur's mind. It was of their wedding night. Suddenly Arthur pulled back.
 "What's wrong?" she asked.
 "Every little thing reminds me of something or another from my past. When we were kissing just now I thought of our wedding night. I have got to get a grip on these memory intrusions." he said.
 "You will, love. It just takes time, that's all." she said gently. She touched his face. "But right now, I need you to love me so very desperately." she said quietly.
 "Gladly." he whispered and kissed her again.
 

 "All right, Arthur, I want you to sit back and try to relax." Dr. Jane Sandoval said. Dr. Belman had called her in since she was a trauma expert. "Now from what I understand, we won't have to put you understand hypnosis to induce your hidden memories to resurface. I want you to close your eyes and think back to that time in your life right before you were kidnapped by the Taelons."
 Arthur closed his eyes.
 [I'll be home early tonight love. Be ready. I want to go visit with Mom and Dad tonight." he said as he kissed her.
 "All right. I'll call them and let them know we're coming over. Some time after dinner, right?"
 "Sounds good. I'll call you later but I have got to run." Arthur said. He kissed Grace again and dashed out the door.]
 Grace shuddered as she remembered that morning. When he left that morning he left her life for 3 years. The following details were of his drive to work, his day at work, and whatnot. Finally  they reached the part of his memory where he left his work at the hospital.
 "What happened next?" Jane asked.
 "I was walking to my car. It was parked on the 7th floor of the parking garage. I remember thinking at some point I thought I heard footsteps following me but then I thought that was just my imagination_." Arthur said.
 "Arthur," Doctor Belman spoke up, "I want you concentrate on that moment when you someone was following. Concentrate on  the sounds surrounding you alone. Now what do you hear?"
 [What the_Hmmmm, I am just imagining things, Arthur thought to himself. He continued walking towards his car. As he reached  the door of his car and pulled out the keys_
 "Good evening, Doctor Whitney." a voice said from the rear end of the car. Arthur's eyes shot up and looked for the source.  The "source" was an Asian man about 5'8" dressed in a dark suit. He wore a long overcoat, navy blue in color, also. He's not a thief, at least not that well dressed, Arthur thought.
 "Who are you and how do you know my name?" Arthur asked.
 "Why, Doctor Whitney, I thought you'd recognize a Companion agent on site. My name is Ronald Sandoval, attaché to the North American Companion, Da'an." the man replied. He moved closer.
 "May I ask just what you want with me, Mr. Sandoval?" he asked.
 "The Synod wishes to see you immediately." Sandoval replied as he edged his way closer to Arthur.
 "Some other time, perhaps, Mr. Sandoval. My wife is expecting me to be home soon and I don't want to worry her. So if you'll excuse me_" Arthur said and opened the car's door. Sandoval  in return pushed it shut. About that time, two agents came out of  hiding.
 "Doctor, you can either cooperate with us or we'll sedate you and take you to the Taelons." Sandoval said.
 "Be my guest. I don't think that the Canadian government will take too kindly to have one of its citizens kidnapped by a Taelon agent." Arthur replied sarcastically.
 "Be assured, Doctor Whitney, they'll never know about this." Sandoval said and nodded to one of the agents. The agent sedated Arthur just as the horrible truth hit him. He wasn't coming back  from this_.]
 "Noooooooo!!!!!" Arthur yelled, causing everyone in the underground to look up and towards the lab. Grace took her husband's hand.
 "Arthur, open your eyes." Jane said.
 Arthur's eyes snapped open and he sat up from the couch. He looked over at Jane.
 "You're related to that man who imprisoned me, aren't you?" he asked forcefully. Jane looked away, tears in her eyes and she nodded.
 "Ronald Sandoval is my brother-in-law. I am so sorry that he did this to the both of you." she said. Arthur got up suddenly and left their circle. Grace followed him after taking one quick glance in Jane's direction.
 "That's enough for today." Belman announced unnecessarily. Jane nodded, wiping her eyes of their tears.
 "I'd better call James. It looks like this is going to take a few days. He may want to come here." she said. Belman smiled.
 "Take it easy, Jane. We have a lot more sessions ahead to know exactly what is happening in the Rrra-shaui facility." she said. Jane nodded.
 "I know, I know."
 

 Grace retreated with her husband to their room, each trying to deal with the revelation they had just received about Sandoval. Grace was just flat out angry.
 "I don't how I'll be able to look him in the eye again! I don't know how I'll be able to stand to even look at a Taelon again. At this very moment I would be able to stand looking Da'an in the face." she said. Arthur was silent, just letting his wife vent her emotions. Finally, she sat down beside him on the bed. He laid back and opened his arms to Grace. Grace laid her head  on his chest.
 "Love, we can never undo what has been done. We'll never regain what time we've lost. Let's just enjoy the present. We are together again. I for one intend to rejoice in that fact." he said. Grace sighed.
 "You're right. Now, what are we going to do about getting that party started for the Liberation members?" she asked.

 Augur stood at the door of the Flat Planet Café, preparing to hang a sign that read: "Do not disturb. Private party." He glanced down at his watch.
 "6 o'clock. That's it! No one but members get in here for the rest of the night." he called to the back room, hanging the sign and closing the door. At that cue, Grace and Arthur stepped out from a private booth. Grace gave Augur a small peck on the cheek.
 "Thanks for helping to arrange this, Augur, and thanks for loaning us the Flat Planet for this." she said. He smiled.
 "What are friends for?" he said.
 "Besides, it gave you perverted pleasure messing with the systems at the hideout because it gave Doors a little grief." Liam piped up  joining them. Grace smiled.
 "I've been meaning to ask you. How did you rig the computers to flash up the invitation to this party every hour, on the hour?" she asked. Augur shrugged.
 "Sorry, but I do have to keep some secrets." he said.
 "You might want to let me in out your secrets tomorrow if you want some help in straightening out the systems." Liam said.
 "Oh?" Arthur asked.
 "Yeah I gotta straighten out all the systems tomorrow. That's the condition." Augur said.
 "Condition to what?" Grace asked.
 "That Doors want kill me for rigging up the hideout's computers without his prior knowledge." he replied.
 "Wasn't that the entire point though?"
 Augur snorted.
 "Yeah well you know Doors has no sense of humor. What Belman sees in him is beyond me."
 "Sees in who?" Belman asked joining the circle.
 "Nevermind. If you'll excuse me, I'll go get a little music going. Any special requests?" Augur asked retreating from the group.
 "Yeah. Got any Celine Dion?" Arthur asked.
 "Ah, you like the late 1990s?"
 Grace smiled at her husband.
 "We both do." she said.
 "Well I have a 90s mix that'll make you happy." Augur said. Suddenly, music started to play. It was the group Hanson. Augur frowned and snatched the CD out. "How the !@#$ did that get in there?" he muttered. He looked over at Grace. "Sorry about that. That must belong to one of my employees." he said.
  "It's okay." Grace replied, smiling.
 Augur popped in another CD and this time they heard Mariah Carey singing instead of the song "MMMBop." Grace smiled and Augur moved off to go check on something else. Arthur  smiled at his wife.
 "Have I told you this evening how lovely you look?"
 Grace was dressed in a deep red Chinese style formal gown, her hair arranged up on her head, Chinese chopsticks holding them in place.
 "No, you haven't. You'd better not let my husband hear you talk let that." she said playfully.
 "Why not? I want to marry you." he said.
 Just then the door opened and Lili came in, taking off the light work jacket she was wearing. Augur took her jacket. It was then he noticed she was carrying a bundle in her arms.
 "I need a room to change in." she said.
 "I don't think Liam will have any qualms about you using his room."  Augur said. Lili smiled.
 "All right but no peeking by either one of you." she said.
 "Good evening, Captain Marquette." Arthur said as she passed them.
 "Good evening to you both." she replied.
 "Lili, are you okay? You look tired." Grace asked.
 "I've had that kind of day. Let me go change and then I'll tell you about it." They watched her step into Liam's room and shut the door.
 "Now, where were we?" Arthur asked.
 The door opened again.
 "We'll have to save this for later. Everyone is starting to arrive." Grace said. Arthur sighed.
 "I'll look forward to later then." he said.
 

    Two days later, Doctor Jane Sandoval was again guiding Arthur in a controlled session to cause his memories to resurface. This time they were focusing on his time in the Rrra-shaui facility.
 "All right, Arthur, as near as we can tell, you're internal organs were removed in several surgeries for a well over a period of three months. Do you remember anytime where you were taken into surgery a great deal?" Jane asked gently.
 ["Subject 20 is experiencing no ill side effects from the kree'ha experimentation.]
 "Kree'ha?" Doors questioned.
 "We'll have to ask Da'an what the translation is later on." Belman said.
 "It means roughly translated `dismemberment'." Liam piped up.
 "The `dismemberment experiment'?" Doors questioned. Liam shrugged.
 "Strange that the Taelons would choose to use a Kimera word to describe their own procedure." he added.
 "Nevermind the commentary." Grace said, silencing both Doors and Liam. Jane turned back to Arthur.
 "Do you remember waking after a surgery and wondering why you had wound dressings on certain parts of your body ?" she asked.
 "Yes, I do." he answered.
 "Could you show us where they were?"
 Arthur nodded and pointed to several places on his body.
 "According to my scans they removed among your major internal organs, both of your kidneys, your liver, and your entire digestive tract." Dr. Belman said.
 ["Your body shall function more efficiently now that we have removed many of its primitive and introduced it to Taelon  medicine." G'Har, a Taelon medical scientist told Arthur one day during one of their more difficult sessions.
 "But how can I live without these organs?" he asked wearily.
 "In time all of humanity will be able to live without the need of their primitive organs and they will be better able to fight  the Jaridians." G'Har replied and injected Arthur with a hypo.
 He immediately retched.]
 "Oh my_.that must be the chemical in your body I cannot identify." Dr. Belman said. She quickly took out her global and called up the file.
 "How can a mere chemical perform the functions of the organs of the human body?" Doors asked alarmed.
 "It was hoped by the scientists that the chemical would mutate the internal part of the human to where it would function much  like a Taelon's body." Arthur answered.
 "Arthur, is there any time limit on this chemical?" Belman asked.
 "Yes, it's a little over 2.5 months."
 "How long ago was it that you received your last injection?"
 "It's been almost two weeks ago."
 Grace grabbed Arthur's hand, suddenly afraid.
 "Does that mean you'll die in two months if you don't receive another injection?" she asked.
 "It is_.possible that my body has mutated as the Taelons hoped already and I'll be able to survive without further injections." he said gently. Grace was stunned. She had found her husband again only to lose him again, but this time it would be to death. Grace lost her control and just laid her head on his shoulder as she cried.
 

 The following two months seemed almost surreal to Grace and Arthur as they spent what time they could together. Grace still had to keep up a brave front with the Taelons as their still loyal implant. The hardest thing in her life was dealing with Sandoval on a day to day basis, knowing he had taken her  husband to that living hell he had lived in for the past three years. It was also difficult looking him in the eye, knowing that  Arthur could be dead within 3 or 4 months time. If he lived even that long_.It was during this time, Augur did something very  sweet for Grace and Arthur.
 "Anytime day or night you want to make use of the Flat Planet, so. I know with Arthur so fresh in the Taelons' minds you can't exactly go out to anywhere public. I'll have a private booth  reserved for both of you whenever you want to have a romantic dinner and escape the confines of the hideout for an evening." he had said.
 Grace and Arthur took him up on that offer. Kwai Ling Hong herself saw to their service each time personally. About the fourth  time they came at evening, she made the remark, "You must really  like this place to keep coming back for dinner." They merely smiled at this. It was during their 5th night their, something happened for the worse.
 Kwai Ling had just brought them their dinner when Arthur suddenly started experiencing stomach cramps_.only he had no stomach to experience them with.
 "I'll call the paramedics." Kwai Ling said.
 Grace was on the floor beside her husband as he laid out on the floor.
    "No, call Augur and Ken Grayson."
 "He needs a doctor." Kwai Ling replied.
 "We'll get him to one but don't call the paramedics."
 

 There was a grim expression on Belman's face as she turned to face  Arthur and Grace.
 "The chemical is wearing off. And as nearly as I can tell your body has not mutated as the Taelons had hoped." she said.
 "I'm dying."
 "Yes_.I'm sorry."
 

 "He has a very limited time, Da'an. Is there anyway Grace can stay with him until_." Ken Grayson was in Da'an's audience chamber.
 "I will place Grace on extended field assignment. Unless I am mistaken, Grace will need time after he has passed to the next level to  grieve. This assignment will permit her to do so." Da'an said.
 "Thank you, Da'an." Ken replied and he turned to leave.
 "Agent Grayson, we of the Ta'az could help to prolong his life by supplying the chemical his body needs to live." Da'an offered. Ken smiled sadly.
 "He's already refused the further help of the Liberation movement. He wants to die I think now that he's seen Grace again." Ken said.
 "Please tell Grace I am sorry and_.ashamed of my race for what they have done to her mate and her race. I will see her again when it time." Da'an said. Ken nodded and Da'an turned to walk towards the window.
 

  "I don't know why
  The sky is so blue
  And I don't know why
  I'm so in love with you
  But if there were no music
  Then I would not get through
  I don't why
  I know these things, but I do

  I don't know why,
  But somewhere dreams come true
  And I don't know where
  But there will be a place there for you
  And every time you look that way
  I would lay down my life for you_"

 Grace sang the words of this song she hadn't heard in many years, not even sure why she was singing it.  She has just taken a shower and was in the bathroom, getting ready for the day and she was singing. And that's how Arthur found her. He kissed her on the neck as he came into the bathroom.
 "You shouldn't be up." she said.
 "I shouldn't be down in bed either! My cramps have passed and  I feel fine." he replied.
 "Arthur_"
 "Grace, we can spend my last days on Earth together only one of two ways. We can be happy and rejoice in the time we have left together or we can mourn my remaining time here. If it's the latter  I think that my time on Earth will be shorter." he said. Grace turned to look at him.
 "I'll do whatever it takes to keep you with me a little while longer." Grace said. She hugged him. "You know what," she said while her head was still laying on his head. "I am going to take you for a walk today around the city. As long as we steer clear of where the offices of the Companions are we should be safe."
 "You think Doors will allow it?" he asked.
 "He won't have any choice in it." Grace said.

 The fresh air felt so good breathing and Arthur had been so long out of the sun that he just basked in its warmth. Grace held  onto his arm, content to walk with him again.
 "Grace," Arthur began after they had walked in 30 minutes of complete silence. "Do Mom and Dad know I am alive?" he asked.
 She looked up at him.
 "As far as they know you're still missing. We just couldn't risk tell anyone outside of the immediate movement here that you were alive." she said.
 "I understand, but they have a right to know, to see me again,  you know." he said.
 "I know it, love."

 One morning when Grace awoke, she found that he husband unconsious in the small bathroom they shared. She immediately called for the paramedics that the Liberation kept on duty at all hours of the day and night. They in turn, contacted Doctor Belman after they had stabilized his condition.
 Nervously Grace waited for Doctor Belman to come out and see her. Augur, Lili, and Liam all waited with her.
 Grace smiled sadly as a CVI intrusion took over her thoughts.
 ["Do Mom and Dad know I am alive?"
 "As far as they know you're still missing. We just couldn't risk tell anyone outside of the immediate movement here that you  were alive."
 "I understand, but they have a right to know, to see me again,  you know."
 "I know it, love."]
 "Grace?" Augur said touching her hand. Grace blinked as she came of the CVI  enhanced memory and she looked at him.
 "I was just remembering something Arthur told me two weeks ago when we went for a walk one morning. He asked me if his parents knew if he was still alive and I had to tell him that they still thought that he was missing and that it was safer for the movement that way if they thought that. He said, `I understand, but they have a right to know, to see me again, you know.'  He's right but I know Jonathan would never allow it. But Samuel and Andrea have the right to know." Grace said.
 Augur whispered something in Lili's ear. He nodded to Liam and then turned back to Grace.
 "Excuse us for a moment." he said and he followed Liam out of the room. Grace watched them for a second.
 "What are they up to?" she asked. She noticed that Augur had made sure his back was to her but she could read Liam's lips.
 "What are they saying?" Lili asked.
 "I don't know. All I know whatever it is Liam is saying that `Doors isn't going to like it.'" Grace replied. At that moment, Augur came back over to them pulling on his jacket.
 "We'll return shortly." he said. He left before Grace or Lili could say anything.
 "They're up to something." she said.
 

 "There you go, love." Samuel Whitney said as he handed a steaming mug of coffee to his wife, Andrea. Andrea took it and smiled at him as he was seated beside her. Samuel blew on his coffee as Andrea turned to look at the stars.
 "The stars are certainly lovely tonight." she said. Samuel paused in trying to cool his coffee and looked up at them. Suddenly they heard the sound of a distant thunder.
 "What the_" Samuel said as he stood, putting his coffee down on the railing. A Taelon shuttle appeared out of thin air and was gracefully landed on their front lawn. Samuel looked at Andrea.
 "Is it Grace?" she asked.
 "I don't know. Stay here while I find out who they are and what they want." he said, walking down the steps leading off of the porch. As he approached the shuttle he could see two men inside one deactivating the virtual glass interface. Samuel stopped just short of  the shuttle and waited.
 Liam was the first one out, followed closely by Augur.
 "Mr. Whitney?" he said cautiously.
 "Yes? Who the heck are you?" Samuel asked.
 "My name is Major Liam Kincaid and this is Augur." Liam offered his hand. Samuel took it and shook it. He followed suite with Augur.
 "How can I help you gentlemen? You obviously work for the Companions." he said.
 "I do, sir. But the reason we're here is not on official Companion business per say. It's about your son_.Arthur."
 "I'm listening."
 

 Grace sat by Arthur's side as he sleep peacefully in their bedroom. Reluctantly Doctor Belman had agreed to monitor Arthur's condition from there, and she had moved a few none intrusive devices into the room. Grace sat watching him, almost dozing off when she heard the intrusion alarms go off_
 Quickly she ran for the main part of the headquarters_.
 

 The elevator doors opened and Liam stepped out guiding a hooded figure, followed by Augur with another hooded figure. Doors glared at Liam as he removed Samuel's hood.
 "Kincaid, you've gone too far this time." he said, calling off their security personnel. He looked at Augur. "And I would have expected  you to know better than to do something like this."
 Augur shrugged as he removed Andrea's hood.
 "Relax, they didn't see anything." Liam said.
 Samuel stared at Doors, his mouth wide open.
 "I don't believe this! You're Jonathan Doors!" he said.
 "Yes, I am. Just who the !@#$ are you two?" Jonathan replied.
 "Samuel_Andrea?!!" Grace said, coming into the room.
 "Grace?" they said together in unison.
 Grace ran to their arms and they hugged tightly. As they hugged Grace looked at Liam and Augur and mouthed the words "thank  you". Samuel pulled back first.
 "We came with these two gentlemen because they said that they could take us to Arthur." he said.
 "Did they also tell you of his condition?" Grace asked.
 Tears were in his eyes as he nodded.
 "Come, I'll take you to him."

 "Arthur, honey, wake up and see who is here. You have visitors." Grace said, gently touching his hand. Arthur stirred and opened his eyes. He looked to the foot of his bed.
 "Mom? Dad?" he said weakly. Grace helped him sit up so he could hug them both. Tearfully, the three family members hugged, and Arthur smiled_.
 

 Hours later, Samuel and Andrea left their son's room and allowed Grace sometime alone with him. Liam and Augur sat with them during that time.
 "I hope brining us here didn't get you into too much trouble." Samuel said. Liam shook his head.
 "Don't worry about us. We can handle Doors besides, I think he won't mind so much if you promise not to tell who and what you've seen here since many of this place's members depend on that secrecy." Liam said.
 "Why would we tell? The Liberation Movement has given us the opportunity to see our son again. A chance we may have never gotten otherwise. I swear we won't say a word to a living soul about what we have seen here." Samuel said and Andrea nodded her consent.
 "That is good to hear." Doors said joining them.
 About that time Doctor Belman emerged from Arthur and Grace's room. A grim expression was on her face.
 "What's wrong?" Doors asked.
 She shook her head.
 "I don't think Arthur will survive the night." she said simply.
 Andrea cried and looked to her husband.
 "We should go back in." she said.
 "No, love. We had our time with Arthur to say our goodbyes. Now let's allow Grace to do the same in private with him." he said putting his arm around her.
 

 Doctor Belman was proven right because during the course of the night Arthur slipped into a deep coma. By 5:53 AM his heart had just simply stopped. Belman did what she could to try and revive him but she did it with little hope. Ken had arrived within the last few hours and now held Grace as Belman worked on Arthur. Finally with a sigh and tears in her eyes, she laid his hand on his chest.
 "I'm sorry, Grace. He's gone." she said simply.
 

 A week later, her husband's death was still very fresh in her mind. Grace had returned to her home in Macon and had basically had withdrawn from the world. The CVI had proven to be a curse once again as it replayed the memories over and over again_.
 ["I think you should take Arthur's remains with you. I think he'd want to be buried there at home." Grace had said to Samuel and  Andrea as they discussed where Arthur should be buried.
 "Toronto is a long way off from Macon. Are you sure, dear?" Andrea asked. Grace nodded.
 "It's not so far and I'll be back to visit sometime soon." she replied. Andrea touched her cheek.
 "Thank you." she whispered and Grace hugged her again.
 Samuel turned to Jonathan Doors and offered his hand. To Grace's surprise, Jonathan too it.
 "Thank you, Mr. Doors, for everything. You have my word no one will ever know about our visit here, where ever here is. You gave us a chance to say goodbye to our son and that is a debt we'll never be able to repay." Samuel said, his voice cracking with emotion. Doors nodded and for a split second Grace thought she saw sadness in his eyes. He leaned close to Samuel to whisper something in his ear and  then he released Samuel's hand, leaving them alone. About that time Liam arrived to take the Whitneys home. As Grace hugged Samuel she questioned him about what Doors had said to him.
 "He said, `I'm a father too.'" he whispered in her ear.
 Grace was shocked as she looked at him and as she watched them leave, hooded and Andrea carrying the small urn that contained  her son's remains_]
 Grace had awakened quite nauseated that morning as she has ever morning for the past week. She had stayed in bed that morning, hoping that it would soon leave her_
 She fell asleep_.
 

 "Grace, please open the door."
 Augur had managed to make his way to Grace's home in Macon, Georgia. He was there to check up on her since no one in the hideout had heard from her in a week. He had spoken to Grace's neighbors, and they had told him that she hadn't left her home all week and she was barely taking in any mail she got. He stood patiently knocking on her door, and he would do so until she answered. Finally he heard the sound of the door being unlocked from the other side.
 "Augur?" Grace said.
 "Grace, are you all right?" he asked, giving her the once over. She had the appearance of someone who was grieving, her hair having the appearance of having not been brushed in days and her eyes were swollen from obvious crying.
 Grace nodded.
 "As well as can be expected." she replied. There was no life in her  voice and it scared Augur.
 "Can I come in?" he asked. Grace opened the door to allow him to enter. He watched her as they moved in.
 "Grace, are you all right? You look kind of pale." Augur said. She sat down on the couch and Augur sat beside her. Grace shrugged.
 "I've had this stomach bug this last week. It's nothing."
 "Have you went to see Doctor Belman about this yet?" he asked.
 "Why? It's nothing to be worried about." she replied.
 "I'd rather let her be the judge of that." he replied.
 "Augur.."
 "Grace, I am not leaving you until you promise to make an appointment to go see Doctor Belman today." Augur said.
 "And I won't take no for an answer either." Grace studied his face and decided that it would be better not to argue with him.
 "All right I'll go if you'll make the appointment." she said.
 "Agreed."

 "Grace, how long have you been sick like this? Is it all day or just in the morning time?" Belman asked. Grace was sitting on a bed, slipping her jacket back on.
 "It's just been in the mornings why? Is something wrong?"
 "Before I answer that, let me ask you something else. Are you late for your cycle this month?" Belman asked.
 Grace nodded.
 "I'm over a month late in fact. It's been about five weeks overdue. Why?" Grace asked.
 "Grace, you are exactly five weeks pregnant." Belman replied.
 "I'm pregnant? I'm going to have a baby?"
 "Yes, you're going to have a baby."

 The look on the face of Jonathan Doors was_.deadly to say the very least when Grace told him that she was expecting. Grace was quite grateful that Doctor Belman was present when she told him because the last thing Grace wanted was to get into a heated  argument with Doors.
 "You can't keep this baby. You're an implant and implants do not get pregnant because their first priority is to the Taelons." he said.
 "I am not giving up this baby. This child is all I have left of Arthur. You might as well save your breath, Jonathan." Grace shot back.
 "And how are you going to explain this to the Taelons when they ask how you became pregnant?" he asked.
 "I don't know yet."

 Da'an blushed when Grace told him she was pregnant. Da'an had invited her into his private chambers when she made it clear she could not afford to be overheard by Sandoval or Zo'or.
 "It is your husband's offspring?" Da'an asked.
 Grace nodded.
 "We are now in a dangerous position for when the Synod learns of this they shall demand an answer as to whom the child belongs to. We cannot possibly say that it is your late husband's." Da'an said.
 "Da'an, I came to you hoping that you could help me out of this somehow. Doors is already demanding that my child be aborted. I can't accept that. There must be a way to protect both us and this baby from the Synod discovering the truth." Grace said.
 Da'an was silent for several moments before he turned and waved the datastream on. Ra'el appeared on it. Da'an spoke with him in Eunoia, the only thing Grace could make out was the name of Dr. Jennifer Christian. After waving the datastream off, Da'an turned back to face Grace.
 "I have asked Ra'el and Doctor Christian to join us here at the embassy late this afternoon. Together, we shall find a way to protect  you and your unborn child." Da'an said.
 "Thank you, Da'an."
 

 Ra'el titled his head and it was apparent that the Taelon was deep in thought. He stayed this was for several seconds, looking to Jen occasionally before he finally looked to Grace.
 "You carrying your late husband's child presents a most challenging dilemma to us. We however have thought of a solution that will easily deceive the Synod into believing that you carry the child of another man." he said. Grace glanced over to Ken Grayson, who had joined the small circle after shuttling Da'an's guests to him.
 "Please elaborate, Ra'el." Da'an said.
 "Doctor Christian proposes that we mask the child's DNA coding to match that of a volunteer `father' as it were. Your baby would remain your husband's, but it would be enough to fool the Synod into believing  you carry another's child." Ra'el said. Grace looked to Jen.
 "Does this `masking' in anyway pose a danger to my child, Doctor Christian?" she asked. Jen shook her head.
 "It's perfectly safe." she replied.
 "I agree then. Now who do we get as a volunteer?" Grace asked.
 "I volunteer." Ken said.
 All eyes were suddenly upon Ken_..
 

 Grace sat in her office's chair, music playing on the speakers. It was a song called I Don't Know Why. It was on a CD she had recently rediscovered in her collection at home. She had her eyes  closed as she allowed the music to call to her_.
 Suddenly there was a knocking on her office door. She opened her eyes and found Ken standing there. She reached forward and turned the music off.
 "Come here and take a seat." she said pointing to the chair across from her. Ken sat down laying his jacket across his lap. He was on suspension_had been since the Companions learned of his "fathering" Grace's child a few days ago.
 "How are you doing?" he asked.
 "I was going to ask you the same question. I am doing okay I guess. This place is not same without you here." Grace admitted. Ken shrugged.
 "This suspension won't last forever you know." he said.
 "Yeah but the question is: Are they going to allow you to come back and work with me again?" Grace said.
 "Who knows. Do you think the Synod really bought that story about it being the heat of the moment kind of thing?" Ken asked. Grace  shrugged.
 "They have for the most part, or at least that's what Da'an tells me. I am sure Zo'or doubts we were telling the truth about who the baby belongs to_Ken, why did you do it? Why did you volunteer to say  you're the father knowing it'll most likely ruin your career?" Grace asked.
 "For several reasons, but mostly because I love you_.."