An hour had passed already. An hour since Liam had entered the Embassy only to find that Da�an wasn�t there. Nor on the Mothership. Nor anywhere.
Some protector he turned out to be, Liam thought darkly. Someone, he couldn�t even begin to guess who, had somehow bypassed all security protocols, entered the Embassy, and left without a trace. The only thing they did know was that the ID portal had been used� but whoever had come had been skillful. There was no ID path to trace, no leftover energy signatures. No DNA, nothing at all.
Liam only wished there was something he could do aside from restlessly pace the office while the Taelon engineers performed their scans. He had been introduced to the lead one, though he couldn�t for the life of him remember his name. So�ar, or Sa�or, or something like that. If only he had something better to do than try to remember some Taelon�s name.
He had already contacted Zo�or; the Synod Leader�s obvious displeasure of the situation had made it clear he was not behind the disappearance. Of course, the Taelon was probably angrier about the fact that an intruder had so easily fooled them all, rather than Da�an�s actual capture.
Shows how much he really cares, Liam thought. Damn, he never should have left. Zo�or would most likely blame him, but that was the least of him concerns right now. If anything had happened to Da�an�
Liam started as one of the Taelon engineers broke the uneasy silence of the office, speaking in Eunoia to his colleague with what could only be described as shock. He held a small scanner close to the lower underside of the portal. Liam frowned, kneeling down to see what the Taelon was looking at, but saw nothing.
�What is it?� he asked.
�An unusual reading�� the Taelon said, unusually distracted. He reached towards the surface of the portal with lean fingers and, to Liam�s surprise, plucked a tiny device that flickered into visibility as soon as it was pulled from the portal.
�What is it?� Liam asked again. It vaguely looked like a piece of Taelon technology; it was a lozenge in shape and barely half an inch in length, and glowed green with a tiny power source.
The Taelon held it between his fingers, staring intently. �I believe,� he said. �It is a sophisticated energy scrambling device. A rare design, as well.�
�So we have a lead,� Liam said, reaching out to take the little lozenge. �This type of technology can�t be too widespread.�
The Taelon engineer was now looking distinctly uneasy. �Perhaps,� he said, dropping the device in Liam�s hand. �You should bring this to Zo�or. Immediately.�
Liam frowned. �If you believe that would be wise?�
The Taelon said nothing further; puzzled by the reaction, Liam quickly pocketed the device and headed for the Mothership.
Zo�or sat, quietly contemplating the mechanical lozenge he now held in the palm of his hand. He had blushed violently when Liam had shown it to him, given an order in harsh Eunoia to some of the Taelons working on the bridge, and had now lapsed into grim silence, seemingly unaware of Liam�s presence. He hadn�t even tried accusing the protector of incompetence, which only served to heighten Liam�s puzzlement.
�The Taelon engineer said it was an energy scrambling device,� Liam said, attempting to catch Zo�or attention again.
�I am aware of that,� Zo�or said dryly.
�It was most likely used to erase all traces of the destination--�
�I am aware of that as well,� the Synod leader snapped. He held up the device between his thumb and forefinger; if Liam didn�t know better, he could swear the Taelon was looking worried.
�Then with your permission,� he said. �I�d like to continue the search for Da�an.�
A strange half-smile quirked Zo�or�s mouth. �There is nothing you can do, Major Kincaid. Da�an has already passed to the next level.�
Liam felt the color draining from his face. �What?�
�I said Da�an has passed to the next level. We are no longer able to sense him in the Commonality.�
�I heard, but� there could be another explanation� Are� are you certain?�
�We were not� until you found this,� he held up the tiny device. �It is Tru�del. The only logical conclusion is that Da�an is dead.�
�I can�t accept that!� Liam yelled, ignoring the indignant look he received from Zo�or. �Who are these Tru�del? Why have they taken Da�an?�
�They are none of your concern.�
�Are they like the Jaridians? Are you also at war with them?�
Steadily ignoring his queries, Zo�or went back to gazing at the glittery lozenge he still held between his fingers.
�Fine! If you won�t tell me, I�ll search the Taelon database myself.� He knew it was risky to challenge Zo�or this way, but anger and despair were overwhelming and he needed some answers.
�You will find nothing,� Zo�or said softly. �There is no trace of the Tru�del�s existence in our databanks.�
�Why?� Liam asked pointedly. Still, the Taelon remained silent. �Zo�or, please! At least tell me why Da�an is dead. Tell me who these people are!� He paused for a moment, pondering the name he had heard. �Tru�del is a Taelon word� are they Taelon?�
�They most certainly are not!� Zo�or retorted. He swiveled his chair, purposely turning his gaze away from Liam.
For the second time today, Liam felt as though he wanted to strike something. Da�an gone, possibly killed� and now this. God, it was too much. He wasn�t ready to accept it, no matter what Zo�or said.
All too aware that he was close to saying something he�d regret, Liam turned and started to walk away from the bridge, when Zo�or�s sudden voice both stopped and surprised him.
�The Tru�del� are former Taelons.�
Liam turned. Zo�or had seemingly resigned himself and had pivoted his chair back around, though his eyes were still captivated by the small piece of technology in his hand.
�Centuries ago, while we were in search of a planet to assist us in our crisis, the Synod authorized an experiment. To create organic bodies suitable for the implantation of our consciousness, outside of our Taelon bodies.�
Liam winced. He hadn�t quite expected to hear that. �Organic bodies� like the biosurrogates?�
�Not� entirely,� Zo�or said. He spoke with something akin to disgust, giving no doubt as to what his opinion on these experiments was. �These bodies were created by taking the genetic material of a random alien species, and further modifying them with Taelon DNA and various genetic modifications. They were only intended as a last resort, but necessitated testing to ensure of their functionality.�
Of course Zo�or found this deplorable, Liam thought. Genetic experimentation was fine, as long as other species were the guinea pigs. He wondered, though, why he had never heard of such an experiment from Da�an; surely with all the genetic testing the Taelons had performed here on Earth, it would have been useful information.
Zo�or continued, �Fifteen volunteers were taken and placed within the organic bodies. They were documented, further modified, but the experiment eventually failed when the Taelon consciousnesses implanted in the organic bodies became� altered. Influenced by the weaker, more primitive minds of their host bodies. They became difficult to contain, despite repeated modification to their biological forms, and rebelled.�
Liam frowned. �They rebelled against their own kind? Wouldn�t that defeat the purpose of the experiment?�
�They no longer saw the Taelons as their own kind,� Zo�or said wryly. �In their eyes, we were the enemy. Their� oppressors. Obviously, the experiment was a failure; for years we did our best to hunt them down.�
�To change them back?�
Zo�or smirked, obviously amused by the idea. �To exterminate them. They would not rejoin, and we would not have them return to the Commonality for fear of contamination. Their annihilation was the only possible solution. Although� we never succeeded in destroying them all. They escaped from our grasp, assured us that some day they would be hunting us down, and seeking revenge.�
Liam nodded; he began to understand why no mention had ever been made of this in the databanks, or by any Taelons. No doubt they would try to erase such a dramatic failure from their past.
�But why would they follow you here if they don�t want to rejoin?� Liam asked.
�Because they are� unstable creatures,� Zo�or said. �They seek revenge for the rift that has formed, and believe us to be responsible for their unfortunate creation. In many respects, they are much like humans; irrational and dangerous.�
Ignoring the obvious insult, Liam asked, �And they�re responsible for Da�an�s capture.�
�So it would seem,� Zo�or said grimly. �We had not heard of them for over three hundred years� now that they have located us, no Taelons are safe.�
And probably no humans either, Liam mused. �Why can�t we detect them? If they�re Taelons, don�t they have the same vessels? The same technology?�
�In part,� Zo�or said. �But they have also developed additional technology to evade us. Among them are specialized shielding which phases their ships out of ordinary space, effectively hiding them from all sensors.�
�So we can�t see them, and can�t detect them.�
�Precisely.�
Liam sighed. This new development was far from pleasant. �And they captured Da�an� why? To kill him?�
�Most likely,� Zo�or said, matter-of-factly. �What is of importance now is that you abandon your search for Da�an and concentrate your efforts on protecting the Taelons here and on Earth. The Tru�del will most certainly strike again.�
Liam sighed. There was very little he could do now but follow Zo�or�s orders� but somehow, it couldn�t just end like that. He wasn�t quite ready to announce Da�an�s death to the world, not until he was certain of it himself, Commonality or not.
He acknowledged Zo�or�s command and prepared to leave the bridge. No matter what it took, he�d find these Tru�del.
Liam pondered the name for a moment, frowning a bit, then turned back. �Zo�or, if I can ask� what does �Tru�del� mean?�
Zo�or gave him a wary look, but answered, �The closest term in your language would be� ghost.�
He winced. Somehow, he had thought so.