seasonstoremeber

i don't own them i dont claim to. it's all for fun.
seasons to remember.
by stephanie meyer
-------------------------------------------------------------

New Pacifica, finally. After setbacks upon setbacks, Edan Advance has finally
reached our destination. We have all been changed by this planet, some more
than others. We have evolved into a society, this molty little crew.
Juliea rubbed her temples. She had too much to do and too little time. The
colony ship would be here in less than two months and her research into the
syndrome's cure was still incomplete. Well, according to Dr. Vandezez's
standards, it was incomplete. If only she'd been able to finish her experiment.
Not for the council's good, but for the children's. She'd never fully explained
her research. They hadn't really wanted to listen. She admitted the taking of
Uly's DNA had been wrong. She knew she'd gone about it the wrong way. Then
there were the terreain bones she still had. DNA could be extracted from
bones... Julia mentally shook herself. It would be stupid to do such a thing.
After all, she'd had a toxic reaction the first time, a relapse would be more
than she wanted to deal with. She was just overworked... and desperate. Julia
stood, stretched, and pushed all thoughts of Terrian DNA aside. She left her
tent and went looking for Deven.
She found the older worman elbow deep in plans, as usual.
"Deven?"
"Yes, Julia."
"I need to ask you a question."
"What is it?"
"I need a sample of Uly's DNA. Ineed to compare it to a Terrian's DNA."
Deven looked up at the young doctor whom she considered a friend. Although
she
trusted Julia completely, the momry of the last thing Julia had done with Uly's
DNA make Deven shiver. Julia, noticing, ignored it.
"Where did you get the Terrian DNA?" Deven asked.
"The bones that True brought back. I can extract the DNA from there."
"All right," Deven agreed, "But I don't have time to....."
"Deven, Uly's a big boy. He can handle this with out you. I'll have True
watch. She's interested in the field, plus it will give Uly something to lord
over her for awhile, make all the better because she'll know he's not
exaggerating."
Devin smiled. "Uly!" she called, "Will you and True come here?"
The two children scrambled toward the women.
"What is it mom?" Uly questioned.
"Julia want to take a DNA sample."
"If that's okay with you," Julia added.
Uly nodded, "Okay."
"What about me?" True whined.
"You," Julia answered, " I need as an assistant."
"Really? Cool!" exclamed True.
Deven smiled to herself as she watched the children scamper off, dragging Eden
Advance's only doctor behind them.

? ? ? ? ? ?

It had to be here, she thought. It just had to be here. Julia was rummaging
through the med. tent, looking for her slides. She had a theory but she
couldn't prove it without those slides!
"True.." Julia called. The little girl looked up from the gadget she was
tinkering with. "Do you remember where I put those slides with the blood
samples?"
Ever since Uly had had his spinal tap, True was fasinated with medicine. She
begged Julia to let her help, and the doctor had agreed. True was smart,
efficient, and organized. She could file and run errands while Julia peeked
into her microscope. The blood samples she was looking for were taken from the
group after Devon had become ill. Julia had hoped to find a pathogen, but came
up empty.
True crossed the tent and opened a crate. She rooted around for a bit and
produced a small box.
"Here they are, Julia!"
"Ture, you're a lifesaver. I don't know what I did without you."
Julia took the blood samples from the child and set them on the table. True
followed and leaned against Julia's chair as the young doctor sat down.
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to extract some DNA from the blood samples. It's not as pure as
spinal fluid but I think it will be eought for this."
"For what?"
"I'm going to look for the beginnings of the same changes to the DNA structures
as the one's Uly underwent."
"You mean, you think we all are changing?" True asked, wide eyed.
"I have a theory, True. I think that what happened to Uly will happen to
anyone who is exposed to this planet on a long term basis. It may have just
happened to Uly faster because he was so sick when we got here."
"But the terrians healed Uly." True said.
"I think they may have just sped up the process." Julia explained.
"How come Deven got sick then?"
"That I don't know, True." Julia said, sighing.
Julia bent over the samples and began to extract the DNA.
"How long does it take?" True questioned.
"Well, as soon as I do this," she dropped a chemical onto each slide, "it will
have to set for about an hour and then they'll be ready to view."
"Cool, can I see?" True asked excitedly.
"I don't see why not."
The tent flap rustled and Alonzo stepped in. "Hey, Doc."
True jumped up quickly. " Julia can I go see what Uly's doing?"
"Alright, but remember, in an hour I'm ging to start those samples." Julia
reminded.
"I'll be here," the little girl cried as she flew out of the med. tent.
"That kid has an inpecable sense of timing," Alonzo grinned.
"Really, flyboy? You think?"
"Sometimes I do," he murmured as he leaned down to kiss her. She smiled
through his lips, " and to what do I owe this pleasant surprise?"
"Yale picked up a cargo pod signal about a day and a half by rail from here.
Its cargo was listed as building materials and medical supplies."
"You found the hospital pod?" Julia asked, hopefully.
"We think. We're not sure. That's why we're going to check it out before we
haul the transrover out there."
"Alonzo, we only have five weeks! The best thing we have to offer those
children is a few tents strung together and some cots!"
"I know. Relax, we'll have something thrown together by the time the colonists
arrive." Alonzo said as he put a calming hand on her shoulder.
"But it's my job to see that the hospital is ready for the children…"
"It's not your fault, Julia. No one is going to blame you."
"You obviously have never met Dr. Valdeaze."
"Julia, you've done a damn good job with what you've had to work with!" Alonzo
exclaimed.
"What I had to work with," Julia grinned, suddenly feeling mischieveous. She
eyed him, " and pray tell what have I had to work with?"
He kissed her passionately. "This," he said. Then he kissed her forhead, "and
this, and…" he slipped his hand under sweater, "this."
She slapped him away. "True will be back in lass than an hour."
"You two are as thick as thieves lately." Alonzo commented.
"She distracts me from my self doubt and recriminations. She's so eager to
learn. It makes me feel like I'm not a total failure."
"And who said you were?"
"I did. The planet offers a cure, but I can only say this is what it looks
like, not how it happens. I don't know how Devon was cured. And to top it all
off, I have to explain to my mentor that I tried to undercut everything he's
ever done with the syndrome!" Julia explained.
"Hey," Alonzo drew her into his arms. "Don't be so hard on yourself, Doc.
You're really cut up aobut the whole council thing, aren't you?"
"Well, if someone told you were going to die running, you'd be upset too."
"Julia," he looked her in the eyes, " I won't let anyone hurt you, ever."
"You sound like you see a future in this."
"You're stuck with me, Doc." Alonzo grinned.
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
He held her. "When are you leaving?" she asked.
"Baines and I are pulling out as soon as Yale gets the exact coordinates."
"How long will you be gone?"
"Four days, five tops."
"Be careful, fly boy!" Julia teased.
"What, and risk your wrath?"
Julia smiled and kissed him. Changing the subject, he asked, " are you feeling
better?"
She nodded. "All better now."
He looked skeptical. For the last week she hadn't been sleeping well and what
she did manage to eat she threw back up.
Suddenly, Uly burst into the tent. "Yale's found it!"
Alonzo separated himself from Julia. "Alonzo, be careful." Julia said again.
" I will."
"And if you see True, send her in."
Alonzo smiled and left, Uly following behind. Outside Alonzo walked over to
Deven.
"Deven?" he asked.
"What is it Alonzo?" She looked up from her blueprints.
"Could you talk to Julia later. Reassure her a little bit?"
"Is she alright?" Deven asked, concerned.
"She's nervous about Valdeaze's reaction to her work…and the council."
Devon placed her hand on hes shoulder. She'd gone looking for the best poilet
for the Eden project and found a remarkable man that was her young doctor's
salvation. " I'll keep my eye on her."
"Thanks Deven. Hey squirt," he called to True, "the Doc's looking for you."
"Oh my gosh!" True shrieked, "I forgot!" Then dashed into the med. tent.

l l l l l l

Julia yawned. She looked up from her microscope and stretched. Her eyes fell
upon the little girl sprawled out on her cot. She smiled. Danziger had come to
retrieve his offspring about five hours ago. Julia had shoed him away, telling
him not to disturb the child. He'd chuckled and left, proud of his daughter's
new on enterprise.
Julia truned back to her microscope. The was the first of three slides she
still had to analyze. Bingo, there it was. Her suspetions were confimed. The
DNA strand showed several minute changes, not as drastic as Uly's, but there
none the less. It also exibited the precursary changes she'd seen in the
others. It didn't surprise her, given whose sample it was. Alonzo. Because of
his access to the dream plane, she had assumed he would be farther along the
curve. Now she had two more samples that she had to look at. Her's and
Devon's.
As she analized Devon's she exhaled slowly. The woman's DNA showed the
same
amount of change as Alonzo and something more. She had some of the same genetic
marks as Uly did after his transformation. The one's Julia believed marked the
erratification of the syndrome.
Julia took a mental stock. They were evolving to coexist with the planet,
astoundingly fast, on the evolutionary scale. The syndrome children,
apparently, went through this change all at once because of the severity of
their illness. The rest of them were being changed chromosome, by chromosome…
"That's it!"
True woke with a start to find the med. tent empty. Julia had rushed out of
the flap, across camp and ducked into Devon's tent.
"Uly," she called, gently shaking the boy. "Uly, wake up!"
Devon awoke, "Julia…"
"I'm sorry to wake you, Devon. But I need to speak to Uly."
"Julia…mom…what's going on?" Uly's sleepy voice hearlded his awakening.
"Uly, I need to ask you a question." Julia said in a hushed voice.
The sleepy boy nodded.
"Do the Terrians understand parents like humans do?"
"Terrians don't have parents." Uly replied.
"So they don't understand that children have traits that their parents do and
parents have traits, even if they don't show, that children do?"
"No, I don't think so." Uly said, rubbing his eyes.
"Julia, what's this all about?" Devon questioned.
Julia turned to Devon. "I think I finally understand it, what the Terrians did
to Uly."
"What?" Asked Devon, more awake than before.
"They were merely speeding up what is happening to all of us. Everyone's
gentic structure shows a slight deviation from its original pattern. The planet
is slowly changing us to fit its needs. Eventually, after significant exposure,
everyone will have the same changes as Uly." Julia explained.
"But then why take Uly and speed up the process?"
"Maybe to show us what was going to happen but more likely because of Uly's
condition when we crashed. I think this planet has the …compulsion…to heal.
Uly's a perfect example. So is Alonzo. He lost his ability to dream until this
planet gave it back. The planet, in essence, is rewriting the damaged parts of
our genetic codes…"
"How does that explain me?" Devon whispered.
"When the chromosome that effects the transmition of the syndrome was reached,
it triggered it. It became active. There was no way for the Terrians to know
that you had that gene, but now they know. Before they didn't understand the
concept of parent and child, now they do! That's why you recovered on your
own."
"The Terrians…but you said the planet…"
"Don't you see, Devon? The planet and the Terrians…they are one in the same!"
"What!?" Devon was definitely awake now.
"We already know that this planet has a strong mediphysical plan and nervous
system. Why not living extentions of itself to interact with the planet and
animal species?" Julia explained, excitedly.
"Julia…" Devon said, shaking her head.
"I know this sounds farfetched, Devon. And before I experienced this planet, I
would have never believed it."
"Julia, if you're right, this may rock every definition of life and sensience
we have." Devon said, suddenly realizing the implications of Julia's theory.
"I know."
Suddenly, Devon's tent began to whirl around Julia. She felt Devon take her by
the shoulders and sit her down on a cot.
"Julia, are you alright?"
"I'm fine. I'm just a little tired. I haven't been eating or sleeping well
lately…"
"Julia?" Devon was concerned by the far off look that appeared on Julia's face.
"Devon, oh my God, you don't think that when…when I injected myself with Uly's
DNA…it started to rewrite parts of my DNA, what it saw as defects, more
rapidly?"
"Julia, what are you saying?" Devon asked.
Julia was no longer listening to Devon. "That would explain the hightened
emotion, the
cloudiness of judgement, the emotional attachments…"
"Julia, what are you talking about?"
"My god, Devon! That's it! That's why. I'm not supposed to hoave emotional
attachments! I'm supposed to stay objective."
"Julia, maybe you're jumping to conclusions."
"Devon. I am geneticly programmed to show very little emotion. I'm not
supposed to be
able to love anything but my work…"
"Julia…" Devon's voice was lost as Julia ran out of her tent and retreated into
the med.
tent. True was sitting on the cot, looking bewildered. Julia hurriedly viewed
her own side.
"True, hand me my diaglove."
The girl scampered to find the piece of medical equipment. She had just handed
it to
Julia when Devon entered the tent.
"Julia…"
"In a minute, Devon. I need to check something first." Julia took her own
vitals and several other readings. "Oh…"
"Julia, what wrong?" Devon asked exasperatedly.
"Well, this proves it."
"Proves what?"
Genetically, it's a specific part of my chromotilt that I'm unable to have
children, so I wouldn't be distracted from my career."
Devon, thinking of how cold that sounded, asked, "So?"
"Devon, according to my glove, I'm pregnant."
"Julia, are you sure?"
"It would explain how I've been feeling lately. Besides, the glove doesn't
lie."
"But doesn't…"
"I didn't think they were nessesary," Julia said shooting a look at True.
"It's not supposed to be a possibility with me."
"Julia…you're going to have a baby?" True piped up.
Julia nodded. "Looks that way."
True threw her arms around the doctor and hugged her. "Yea!"
"True, we have to keep this to ourselves," Julia said, "Just you and me and
Devon, Okay?"
"Okay, I promise." The little girl answered.
"Good girl. Now, go back to sleep."
"Who can sleep now, I'm too excited!"

Alonzo and Banes stopped in front of the massive cargo pod. They circled it,
noting that it was intact.
"We better call it in," Baines said.
"Yeah," Alonzo replied. He flipped his gear on. "Solance to base camp."
"Base camp here," came the reply, sounding like Bess, "Did you find it?"
"We sure did and it appears to be intact."
"I'll get Devon."
Two minutes later, Devon appeared online. "You found it?"
"Yeah, and it's unopened. Apparently we got to it before the grendlers."
"Have you opened it yet?"
"Nope, Baines is trying the codes now."
"I want a POV seen before we sent the transrover out. I want Julia to look
at it." Devon stated.
"She find anything?"
"She thinks she's made a breakthrough, but she wants to test her theory
futher before she completely claims it. She needs more sophisticated
equipment though."
"Well, hopefully it's all here." Alonzo replied.
"Let us know when you get the compartment open."
"Will do."
"Be careful"
"You sound just like the Doc."
"Great minds must think alike," Devon teased, "Base camp out."
Devon diengaged her hear and smiled at Bess. Suddenly, True ans Uly
desended upon them.
"Did they find it?" True asked excitedly.
"Yes, they did," Bess replied.
"Alright!" Uly exclaimed. "Let's go get Julia!"
"No Uly," True shook her head, and in her best adult voice she continuted,
" Julia needs to sleep. She's been up for a long time."
Devon smiled at True's knowing attitude. "True's right, Uly. We should
let Julia rest as must as possible. I f everything is the pod is vialble,
she's going to have a lot to do these next few weeks."
"All right, mom," Uly surrendered. He and Ture scampered out into the
sunshine to 'help' whatever adult they found first.
"Devon," Bess asked. "Is Julia all right?"
"She's fine Bess, she's just tired."
"She looks it, I'm beginning to worry about her. Did you notice how little
she eats and what she does eat usually comes back up."
"I noticed. She'll be fine though. She's putting herslef under a lot of
pressure right now." Devon explained.
Bess looked around the tent and lowered her boice. "do you think hse's
worried about the Council?"
"I don't know, Bess. But I think we should all be worried about it."
Suddenly, the gear in the comm tent went off. Devon flipped on her gear.
"Alonzo?"
"Yeah, Dev. it's me." We got the pod open and looks like the stuff's still
here. I have no ideas what any of it is, but it's here."
"I'll get Julia," Devon handed the gear to Bess and ducked out of the tent.
She walked over to the med tent and called, "Julia.." She entered the
tent and shook the doctor awake. "Julia, I hate to wake you, but we need
you."
"What happened? Whose hurt?" Julia was up and in full doctor mode in less
than a second.
"No one. I want you to look at the POV of the cargo pod Alozo's going to
send us."
"They found it? That's great! And it's intact?"
"Looks that way, but I want you to check it."
Julia hauled herslef up off her cot and headed for the tent flap. Devon
stopped her with one more question.
"Are you going to tell him now?"
"I hardly think this is the sort of thing to inform him of over gear. I
want to tell him in person."
They excited and headed for the communications tent. Julia pulled on a
gear and set and spoke to Alonzo. "All right, let's see the POV."
"Yes ma'am."
Julia mentally catalouged the items she saw. "Looks like diagnostic and
surgical equipment. Those crates might be medical supplies. Does it look
like anything was damaged in the crash?"
"Not than I can tell, Doc."
"I guess I should examine them first hand to be sure. Maybe John can fix
whatever could be broken."
"Oh, I'm sure he'll just love that." Devon commented under her breath.
"I want to get those things back to camp as soon as possible. We don't
have much time."
Alonzo flipped his gear back so he got a visual of the doctor. "Relax
Julia. We'll get all the equiment back to camp."
Devon chimed in, "the transrover will leave as soon as possible."
"Good," Julia replied. "I'd like John to go with me if possible…"
"You?" Alonzo questioned.
"Of course. I need to get my hands on that equiment."
"Doc," he said, noticing the dark circles under her eyes and her pale face,
"you sure about that? You don't look so good."
Julia glared at him over the channel. "I'm fine. Quit worring."
"Whatever, Doc. I'll see you in two or three days."
Devon eyed Julia as she signed off, "Julia are you sure you want to go?"
"Devon, I need to see that equipment."
"Alright, but I want you to take your diaglove and check your vitals every
twelve hours."
"Devon…" Julia sighed.
"Julia, you need your rest. Since you won't rest, I want you to monitor
yourself."
"Fine, Devon. I'll take True if that's all right with John. I've been
teaching her how to use a diaglove anyway."
"Julia ducked out of the communications tent leaving a tight liped Devon
behind her. Bess raised an eyebrow.
"I think I'll go get provisions for them," she said.
"Good idea, Bess, and grab something for Julia to eat before she leaves. I
don't know the last time she's eaten."
Julia was putting supplies intothe transrover. True was at her side,
holding the doctor's bag. Devon approached them and handed Julia a ration
bar Bess had given her.
"Eat it."
"Come on Devon…"
"Julia you need…" Before she could finish Julia interrupted.
"I know how important is is to keep my health up right now. I'll be
careful."
"I'll make sure she is," True piped up.
Devon smiled at the little girl. "It's a deal then."

l l l l l l

Julia sat in the transrover's cab with True and Danseiger. Carmen and
Walman rode in back, alternately playing lookout. By John's estimate they
were about an hour from the pos's locations, and Julia was valiently trying

to steady her heaving stomach. She was losing the battle.
"John, stop the rover."
"What?"
"I'm serious, John, stop it now!"
Danzinger complied and as soon as he did, Julia shot out the door and
doubled over five meters away. True followed her.
"Are you okay Julia?"
"I'm fine now."
"I thought were supposed to throw up in the morning? That's why they call
it morning sickness, right?"
"Shh, True! It seems for me, it's 'all day sickness'."
True handed the woman a reag and they walked back to the rover and climbed
aboard.
"You okay doc?" John asked. "that's the fifth time in three days."
"She's fine, Dad," True said. "Really, you worry too much."
They continued on their journey.

l l l l l l

Alonzo looked through his jumpers. He saw the transrover lumbering toward
them.
"Yep," he called to Baines, "That's them."
"How long do you figure it will be till they get here?"
"Maybe a half hour. Depends on how hard Danz is pusing her. Wanna call
and ask him his ETA?"
"Naw. You do it. He's less likely to chew you up and spit you out." Baines
declined.
Alonzo grinned and flipped on his gear.
"Danziger, come in. Hey John, buddy, what's taking ya so long?"
"Put a sock in it Solance. We'd be there by already, but we had to make a
Doc stop."
"A what?" Alonzo asked, confused.
"We've had to stop a couple times for Julia." He glanced over at the
doctor who was sleeping, propped up against the door of the rover, a
sleeping True leaned against her. "She's vomiting every six to eight hours
and Devon's having her check her won vitals every twelve hours. Something's

up."
"Is she alright?" Alozo asked worriedly.
"Don't know, Solance. Maybe you'll get her to 'fess up. Frankly, I'm
starting to worry about her."
Alonzo nodded and signed off. The next half hour would be a long one.

Back in the cab of the transrover, a voice interupted Danziger's solitude.
"You know, John, you didn't have to worry him like that."
Danziger glanced over at Julia. The young woman's eyes were still closed,
but she was apparently, very much awaske.
"Well, Doc, you're starting to worry me."
"I'm fine."
"So you and True both say…"

l l l l l l

Julia opened the door of the transrover only to be lifted off her feet by an

enthusiastic, but worried piolet. He spun her around in a full circle
before her protests persuaded his to set her down.
"Alonzo Solance, put me down this instant!" Julia protested.
"I'm just glad you're here, that's all. How you feelin'?"
"I'm fine, really, I'll explain later. I promise. First, I want to take a
look at the pod."
"Julia," True called. "It's time." The girl ran over with the diaglove in
tow.
"You do it this time, True. I'll talk you through it."
As Julia intructed True, Alonzo walked over to Danziger.
"Do you have any idea what that's about." He asked, gesturing to True and
Julia.
"Nope. All I know is that both my daughter and Adair have been treating
Julia like a porcelin doll the past couple days, and it makes me nervous.
Julia, on the other hand, insists that she's fine, and I figure whe would
know."
"You're right Danz, something's up."
"No kidding."
Both men turned their gazes back to the spot where Julia and True had been
moments before. The ground ground where they had sat was devoid of their
forms.
"Julia, True…," Danziger called.
"We're in the cargo pod!" True called back.
The men entered to see Julia and True rumaging through stacks of equipement
and supplies. "It's all here! It's all intact!" Julia was estatic.
"What's in the other bay?"
"Building material and such," Alonzo answered.
"I think we should take the equipment and supplies back first. We're
running low. This way we'll have facilities for the children, even if it's
under a tent."
"Sounds reasonable," Danziger replied. "We'll have to leave Walman and
Carmen here with the rail to make sure no one helps themselves. To the
stuff we leave behind. Alonzo and Baines will go back with you, me, True,
and the Rover. Sound okay, Doc?"
"Perfect."
Danziger ducked out to inform the rest of the party of the game plan. Alonzo
too k Julia by the shoulders and confronted her.
"Alright, Doc. You've looked at the pod, now what's going on with you?"
"I'll go see what my dad is doing," True said, suddenly finding the inside of
the pod a bit crowed.
"Alonzo," Julia began. "It's nothing serious. Well, actually it is serious,
but in a good way. I know we thought it was impossible, but nothing is fool
proof, at least not on this planet, and I know this might affect your plans, but
I was hoping you were staying, so this my be somewhat of a shock…."
"Julia, stop explaining, just tell me what's wrong." Alonzo interupted.
"I'm pregnant." Seeing his stunned expression, she hurriedly contiued. "It was
supposed to be impossible, but the planet…"
"Julia?"
"Yes?"
A grin spread across his face, "I'm going to be a daddy?" Then he picked her
up and spun her around. Suddenly he stopped. "oh, my God, I'm sorry. Are you
alright?"
"Alonzo, It's all right. I'm just pregnant, I won't break. I promise."
"So who else knows?"
"Devon and True. They were with me when I found out."
He kissed her. "I'm going to be a daddy!"
He ran to the cargo pad's door and yelled out, "Hey, Danz! I'm going to be a
father!"
John called to Julia, "Take his temperature, Doc! I think he's delusional."
"No dad, it's true." True said.
"And how would you know?" her father asked.
"Think about it, Dad," True explained, "She's been throwing up and Devon makes
her have her vitals checked every twelve hours. Plus, I was there when she
found out." The little girl stated, matter-of-factly.
"Way to go, Solance," Walman hooted.
Julia, just exiting the pad, blushed furiously. Alonzo hugged her and shot
back, "whatever, Walman!"

l l l l l l

Julia had just finished unpacking the last of the medical supplies just in
time, the colony was due any day. Julia gazed over at the construction site.
The foundation and the framework of the hospital were up. Unpacking and setting
up the equipment for the hospital had taken longer than Julia had expected. One
delay after another had muddied her attempts, but now the make shift hospital
was ready for the children, even if it was all in one huge tent. Julia sighed.
She shouuld return to her research. She couldn't tear herself away farom the
sky. The sun was barley skimming the horizon, it's rich tones coloring the
couds that ringed it. It was breathtakeing.
Someone came up behind her placing a soft kiss on the back of her neck and a
pair of arms snaked around her abdomen. Julia looked over her shoulder and met
Alonzo's eyes. She smiled.
"So, you done for the night, Doc.?"
"Mmm hmm. Yes, just enjoying the view."
He buried his face in her hair. "So am I."
"Is that the best you sleep jumpers can come up with these days?"
"Ha, ha, Doc."
"Alonzo, do you want to stay?"
"What?"
"Do you want leave on the colony ship?"
"Julia, for the first time in my life, I don't want to jusm in a cockpit and
fly away. I want ot stay here, with you. I want to grow old with you, Julia."
"But you're a pilot."
"Julia, I was a pilot. Now I'm yours."
Julia grabbed his chin and guided his eyes to meet hers.
"Not a bad line, for a sleep jumper."
"I aim to please," he murmered as he bent to kiss her.
Julia stood with Devon and Yale, watching the first passenger pod land near
them. The most critical of the syndrome children plus Dr. Valdeuz were on
board.
"I'm nervous," Julia thought, "why am I nervous?"
The pod thouched down and the door slid open.
"Julia?"
"Yes?" Julia turned to Devon, wondering how many times she had said her name
before she had responded.
"I asked if wanted to go down and meet them?"
"No, I'll wait for them in the medical tents."
Devon watched the young doctor walk away. From a distance Julia's pregnancy
was barely visible. Julia had been painfully thin before; they all had. Now,
only the casual observer would not notice the small swell of the doctor's
abdomen.
"She seems to fear Dr. Valdeaze's arrival," Yale remarked.
"I can't seem to convince her that we couldn't be in more capable hands, and
that we won't turn on her even if Valdeaze does." Devon sighed. "We did more
damage than we know when we left her."
Yale nodded. "But, Julia is a strong person. She will deal with her
insecurities."
"I hope you're right, Yale. Now, let's go greet our first arrivals."

l l l l l l

Julia checked the little girl's readings. Stable, they were all stable. In
the last five days, Julia had been conserned about each and everyone of the ten
children that had been deemed critical. The were fine for now, but she had no
idea how much longer they would stay that way. The decision to accept the
Terrian's offer for help needed to come soon Julia winced as she remembered Dr.
Valdeaze's respose to the suggestion that they allow the Terrians to take the
children. It almost parrelled his outburst when he saw the makeshift hospital.
Julia felt helpless and useless.
She headed over to the campfire where the advance team, Dr. Valdeaze and the
parents of the critical children were gathered. She smiles at the nurse who was
watching over the children. The woman raised an eyebrow. The ice princess has
never been so ambable before. Julia thought to herself. Oh, well, to her the
planet was a strange new world.
Julia approached the fire, hearing the heated discussion before entering the
circle of light.
"They change out children!?" one parent exclaimed.
"You let them do this?" said another.
"How can we just let them take them?"
Devon's frustrated response made Julia's heart ache with sympathy. Devon
barely understood what she was trying to explain.
"They are not making the children any different from the rest of us…"
"Actually, Devon," Julia rescued her friend, "they do make the children
different for a period of time. With in a span of five or ten years everyone
should exhibit the same changes. The Terrians simply accelerated the process
for the syndrome children. Most of the don't have five to ten years to live in
which they would evolve with the rest of us." Julia had manged to weave her way
to Devon's side during her speech.
"So that is what you're proposing Heller?" Dr. Valdeaze's voice was
increodouless. "That this is an evolution?"
"The planet is adapting us in order to allow us to survive here."
"To fit it's needs." ßwho says this?
"Humanity has a long histoyr of trying to adapt its environment to fit its
needs. Is it too hard t obelieve that this planet is doing the same thing to
us?" Julia offered.
"You're research has no foundation." Dr. Valdeaze shot back.
Julia, tired of being unheard and tired from the long nights caring for the
syndrome children, finally lost her temper, "How would you know!? You haven't
even looked at my research!"
"A few DNA slides do not constitute a viable research Heller."
"Julia has been nothing but thurough," Devon broke in.
"Clearly," Dr. Valdeaze spoke to the group, "Dr. Heller has abandoned her
scientific logic and the realm of common sense and resorted to mysicism to
explain when she is unable to comprehend."
"She has done a remarkable job under the circumstances…" Devon struggled to
defend Julia.
"Devon, please," Julia interrupted. "I don't need you to defend me. All I
know is that those children won't surrvive much longer without help. We do not
have the resources to keep them on support. We do not have the ablity to heal
them. The Terrians do. This should be a simple choice. Why hesitate?"
Silence met her as she finished speaking. She turned to Devon, "if you need
me, I'll be in my tent." The she left the circle, entered her tnet and crawled
into her cot. Moments later she felt a familiar warmth crawl in next to her.
"You made a quite an impression, Doc."
"Why can't they understand, Alonzo?"
"I think they are beginning to now."
"But Valdeaze refuses to listen to me."
"Some people are just stubborn." Alonzo soothed
"Oh, you're a fine one to talk. Who wanted me to put him in cold sleep and
haul him across the planet and refused to cooperate?"
"Hey, I do what I can." Alonzo smirked.
"Alonzo, I'm just so tired of him treating me like an incompetant child. He
despises me."
"Despise is a strong word, Doc."
"However, accurate."
"Well, he's the only one," Alonzo said as he kissed her forhead. Julia smiled
as Alonzo wrapped his arms around her. He somehow always knew just what to say…

l l l l l l

Dr. Valdeaze was trying to hold his temper in check. However, neither Heller
or her young 'assistant' were helping. The children had been gone three days
now, their parents opting to take the Terrians cure, and Valdeaz was viewing
Julia's research.
"You jumped to conculsions."
"It seemed logical in my opinion."
"Don't talk to her that way! Julia is a great doctor!" True's indignent cry
was accompanied by a stomp of her foot.
"True…" Julia began.
"Young lady," Valdeaze interupted, "you have no right to speak to me in that
tone. I am Dr. Heller's superior. I do not need your judgement to make a
decision."
"True glared at him, fighting hot, angry tears.
"True," Julia soothed, "why don't you go find and see if he's found anything
out about the Terrians?"
True nodded and slipped out of the tent. But she didn't go far. The little
girl heard everything that followed her departure.
Julia turned to Valdeaze, "Don't you ever speak to her that way again."
"You procede to give me orders? Besides, it's rediculas the way you dolt on
that child."
"She's incredibly bright. She has a natural apptitude for this."
"All without a chromotilt? My, my, aren't we optimistic."
"I am tired of this. Why can't you open your eyes to what's happening?"
"To your theory of evalution?"
"I'm proof enough!"
"Your pregnancy means nothing. It just indicates that your genetic structure
has become unstable. On the stations you and your pregnacy would have all ready
been terminated."
Julia visablely paled. "I that a threat?"
"Merely an observation. As for your leaps in logic, you were not designed to
make them."
"I've changed."
"Impossible. You were completely designed chromosome by chromosome before
you
were created."
"Born, I was born."
"You were made in a test tube, don't flatter yourself."
"You can't accept me, can you?"
"I can accept your creation as a necessity. You have always been an unplesant
reminder of how closely the council is watching me!"
Julia's breathe caught in her throat. Valdeaz continued, "Did you think I
didn't know? Please, Julia. I knew before you did. You mother…"
"Leave my mother out of this! This is about me and you, not her. She made it
painfully clear that the only reason I was born was to boost her politically.
But you, what did you gain?"
"Once again Julia, you muddy the waters. You were not born. You were created.
Manufactured. Do they know, hmm? That their precious little chromotilted
doctor is not only a spy, but that she came from a petri dish? Do they know
that you grew out of an incubator, just like a plant or an animal? All to serve
the council? You weren't born Julia. You're not even human. You're someone's
failed science project."
"Why, because I feel? Because I laugh and cry and get angry?"
"You were never meant to have emotions."
"Well, it looks like you screwed up. Didn't weaken the right genes. Or maybe,
your genetic material isn't up to snuff? I'm not just anybody's failed science
project. I'm you're failed science project.
Valdeaz began to tremble with anger. Julia lunged forward.
"Do they know that, dad? Do they know that before you were the selfless doctor
devoted to curing the syndrome children you were a council lacky, creating the
perfect child? I had no chance. You did. You're the one who's not human."
Valdeaz's hand shot out and struck her across the cheek. Julia, stunned began
to cry. He grabbed her by the arms and hissed, "If you ever say that me again,
I will make you wish that you'd never existed. And that is a threat." Then he
strode out of the tent. In his anger, he never noticed the small figure
crouched by the med tent's entrance.
True was shocked by what she'd just heard. She knew one thing for sure. She
would make sure that Julia was never alone with that man again.
True wanted to run to her friend, but then Julia would know she'd been spying,
somehow, she knew the doctor wouldn't have wanted her to hear that conversation.
True decided to go find Uly. She found the boy sitting by his tent, head bowed.
"Uly!"
He looked up at her, "What is it True?"
True stepped in front of him. " Julia wanted to know if you heard anything
else from the terrians."
"No, I would have told her."
"I know," True didn't move.
"What?"
"Uly, do you like Dr. Valdeouz?"
"I guess so. He's nice, but….I think I like Julia a little bit better. She's
more fun."
"Do you trust him?" True probed.
"What do you mean." Uly asked.
"Uly, don't Dr. Valdeouz examine you without Julia and your mom or Yale there.
Okay?"
"Why?"
"Just promise me, Uly." True insisted.
He looked up at her quizicly. "Okay, True."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
True hugged Uly and then rushed back to the med tent.
"Julia," True called entering, "Uly says he hasn't seen anything."
Julia was sitting on her cot and startled when True entered. True could see
that she'd been crying by her puffy red eyes. But what made her gasp was the
black and blue bruise on her cheek bone.
"Oh, Julia!" True cried and threw herself at the doctor. She wrapped her arms
around Julia.
"I'm sorry I left."
"True, it's not your fault."
"He hit you."
"True, Julia smoothed the little girl's hair," what happened between Dr.
Valdeouz and myself, isn't another one of those things we don't talk about.
"It's not true."
"True…"
"Those things he said. He was wrong."
"You heard all of that?"
The little girl nodded. "And he's wrong, Julia."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because I love you"
Julia buried her face in True's hair. "Oh, True. I love you too."

· · · · · ·

Uly scuffed up dirt with his shoes. There was nothing to do. He'd all ready
tried talking to the Terrians. They were busy. All the adults were being
serious and True was in the med tent. He looked toward the tent just in time to
see True exit. He ran over to his friend.
"True," he called.
"Shh!," the girl replied. "Julia said she's going to try to get some sleep."
True grabbed Uly's band and led him to the other side of the camp.
"Uly," True whispered consperitiably, "do you think there are certain promises
it's okay to break?"
"Well, some, why?"
"Nothing, let's go find something to do."
"Okay!"

· · · · · ·

True and Uly sat next to Danzinger that evening listening to the man's patented
ghost stories. Uly was enthrallled, but True sat, distant, staring at Dr.
Valdeouz across the campfire. She used the semi-darkness to examine every facet
of the man's face, wondering how he could be so pleasant to others but so nasty
to Julia. She noticed that Julia had joined the group circling the fire up
remained in the shadows. True wondered how long the doctor thought she could
hide her face.
Julia sat down and stared at the group gathered around the fire. Some of them
were her friends, others were new comers. She wondered what would happen if
they knew. For the first time since she'd awoken alone in the forest, Julia was
truly scared.
She stared into the flames. Her mind wandered between the flickering flames and
John's now mystical voice. She was startled when she felt Alonzo's arms around
her. He smelled like sweat from his day working in construction. She reveled
in the feel of his arms, all the while pryaing that she sould hide her face in
her hair. Alonzo would not be very understanding about it. He planted a kiss
on the back of her neck. Her brushed her hair aside to reach her lips but
topped when Julia involuntarily flinched. She studied her face intently, moving
her bruised face into the flickering light.
"Julia…"
"Alonzo, please. Don't do anything rash…"
His eyes turned to seal, "Why would I do anything rash? Did someone hit you?"
"Alonzo…"
He grabbed her shoulders and forced her to look at him. "Who hit you?"
Julia tried to defuse the situation. She stood up and he followed. "Alonzo,
it's not important."
"Damn it, Julia, it is important! Now tell me!"
The camp went silent as Alonzo's voice rang into the night. Julia was silent as
she felt the whole camp's eyes on her. She quickly turned and left, leaving
Alonzo clinching his fists. He was about to go after her when he felt a small
hand grab his wrist.
"Don't be mad at her, please?" True begged.
Alonzo smiled at the child. I won't get mad, I promise." The he went to find
the doctor. Sound resumed around the campfire.

· · · · · ·

Devon searched the camp for Dr. Valdeouz. She found him in the makeshift
hospital, sorting through supplies.
"Dr. Valdeouz?"
"Yes, Devon?" The doctor turned around to face her. "What is it?"
"I want to talk to you about Julia."
"What about Dr. Heller." His voice was cold.
"I was wondering if you could perhaps be a little more tolerant with her. She's
had a hard time of late with my illness, the arrival of the syndrome children,
her pregnancy…"
"Her pregnancy is part of her instability."
"Excuse me?"
"Her genetic structure is destableizing. It's the only plausible explaination
for her preganacy."
"The planet…" Devon started.
"Surely, Devon, you don't believe this evolution theory?"
"As a matter of fact I do." Devon stated defensively.
"Devon, Devon," the doctor sighed, shaking his head. "I thought you had more
sense. Moreover, I find the faith you put in Dr. Heller discencerning."
"She's very capable."
"She was designed to be that way. Now that her genome has destablized, there's
no telling what she'll do. Are you sure where her loyalties lie?"
Devon's heart stopped. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, if anyone's going to be a spy, it's going to be our lovely little
chromotilted doctor."
"Devon has no reason to doubt my loyalty." Devon whirled around to find Julia
standing behind her. Uly clung to the doctor's hand, sensing the tension among
the adults.
Julia continued. "I needed to examine Uly and I thought I would ask you first."
Devon nodded. Looking at her friends face she saw what had angered Alonzo the
night before. "Julia, what happened to you face?"
"I tripped and fell against the table in the med tent." Julia explained.
"Why do I not believe that?" Devon questioned.
Julia sighed. "Probably for the same reason Alonzo doesn't."
Julia sat Uly down on a bed and began to run a scanner over Uly.
"What are you doing?" Valdeouz querried.
"I want to compare his readings after the change and now to see if the rate is
the same as the rest of us, if he's still changing rather rapidly or if it evens
out after a certain period."
"Your wasting your time." Valdeouz stated.
"I don't think so…" Julia gritted her teeth.
"As I recall, you don't have that right."
Julia slammed her fist into the bed and confronted him. "I am tired of what you
think! You have never supported me so why should now be any different? To you,
I am nothing but a way to fund your research! Well, this is the solution to the
problem. From now on, your research means nothing. I will continue to try and
help these children anyway I can. However, I will not work with you. Do you
hear me? I quit."
Valdeouz chuckled to himself. "You can't quit Heller. You owe your existance to
me. I made you, and believe me, I can destroy you."
Julia glared at the doctor. "What would the council say to that?"
"Apparently, you have turned your back on them. I'm sure they'd be glad for
someone else to do their dirty work."
Julia visablely paled and sand down on the bed next to Uly. The little boy put
a ortective arm around her and reacted before his mother had a chance.
"You leave Julia alone. You already hit her!"
Devon, finally able to speak again, questioned. "Excuse me?"
Uly defined his statement, "True saw. She told me."
Devon turned to Dr. Valdeouz. "You hit her?"
"Don't look so agasted, Devon. It was a regretable outburst, but a warrented
one. I am completely with in my parental rights to smack my daughter if the
occasion arrises."
Now Devon was shocked. "Your daughter?"
"Only in the loosest sense of the word, Devon," came Julia's shaky voice. He
consistantly reminds me that I am nothing more than a science project to him."
"Unfortuantely," Valdeouz sighed, casting a condesending glance at Julia, "a
disastrous one."
Valdeouz left the tent and headed for his own.
Devon stared at Julia in shock, "Dr. Valdeouz is your father?"
"Half my chromosomes come from him, nothing more."
"You mean…"
"Devon, he's merely a genetic material donor to me."
"A genetic donor?"
"Devon, how long ago did the syndrome first appear in the station children?"
"Twelve years ago" Devon answered.
"Offically. Unoffically, twenty one years ago, Dr. Valdeouz started his work,
after due loyalty and sacrifice to the council, he was allowed to go public with
his work."
"Sacrifice?"
"He had to do a 'research project' for them."
"What kind of research?"
"Genic manipulation." Julia turned to Uly. "Why don't you go find True and have
her help you gather some wood for tonight?"
Uly sighed and okay, knowing full well that True and himself were being sent out
because "grown up talk" was about to comense. Even though they were sent away,
they would not go far, a fact that both adults here aware of.
After Uly wondered out, Julia turned to Devon. "Dr. Valdeouz wanted to work
with the children. The council wanted to know if they could genetically
manipulate those same children. They let him do his research at a price."
"What price Julia."
"They know what gene causes the syndrome. They can cause it. They just can't
fix it."
"Julia…"
"Let me finish, Devon. They already knew that they could create the syndrome
and they thought they could create the technology to erradicate it…in about
thirty years. They needed a test subject. One that would be accesable, loyal,
and describe the process throughly."
"They need an adult. A doctor." Devon added.
"They made me. Dr. Valdeouz himself implanted the syndrome in my genome. After
he engineered me, they incubated me and 56 hours later they handed citizen
Heller a bouncing baby girl."
"Julia, do you mean that they gave you the syndrome?"
It's still in the remition period. Hopefully, because of the planet, the gene
has been nullifed."
"You've known this all along and you haven't told us?"
"It doesn't matter. They'd have recalled me before it happened."
"After, Julia."
"I hoped I wouldn't have to. Although, Dr. Valdeouz seems to think the
pregnancy is a sign of the break down."
"What do you think?" Devon asked.
Julia buried her head in her hands, "I don't know anymore."
"You said the change had to do wit h the terrians."
"I thought it did, now I'm not so sure. I need more equipment. More time.
Hell, I need to have never…"
"Have never what, Julia."
"Never been born."
"Julia!?"
"Never mind, Devon. It's just my exahustion talking."
"I don't think it's just exhustion."
"I just…I'm just so tired, of everything. I thought this planet was going to
change everything. It hasn't."
"Julia, you have changed, we all have. You are part of our family now."
"I've never really had one before. I'm not quite used to it."
"Well, you're stuck with us."
Julia smiled at her friend and sighed. "I just wish you were stuck with me."
Then she stood and exited, leaving a puzzled Devon in her wake. Devon made a
promise to herself to talk to Julia. But the return of the children distracted
her until it was too late.

· · · · · ·
Julia stood, staring into the night. Her trembling hands caressed her swollen
belly. She knew it was beginning. She found her senses dulled, her ability to
concentrate lessoned. Soon she knew she'd struggle with even the slightest
medical delema. She already had to review some of the medical referance chips
she had for the first time. Ever. Her genome was beginning to destablize.
That would lead to two possiblities. The first, that she would become "normal",
equal with nonchromotilted individuals. The second was that she could die.
Julia has come to believe that death awaited her. She only prayed it would be
after the baby's birth. Then she would have accomplished something. She
debated telling anyone. She knew how hard it would be. They all belived she
was adapting to the planet, not that she was slowly slipping away. Julia knew
he could help her. All she had to do was swallow her pride and ask. The baby
moved beneath her hands. Her pride was no longer an issue.

· · · · · ·

"You know how risky this is?"
"I have no choice."
"You could take the drugs…"
"And kill the baby!? Not an option. I happen to care about my offspring."
"Julia, it's not that I don't feel something for you…I'd be inhuman if I didn't.
You were always a very unpleasent reminder of what I was willing to become."
"It wasn't my fault."
Dr. Valdeouz placed a surprising gental hand on her shoulder. "I know. I was
also jealous of you. You were so brilliant so early."
Julia blinked back tear. It took her immenant death to produce any parental
concern on his part. But she gladly accepted.
Returning to his professional persona, Dr. Valeouz continued, "you are aware of
the side affects?"
"Delerium, dizziness, tendency to cough fluid and blood out of the lungs,
disorientation, weakness. Yes, I know what the injection will do."
The man looked tenderly at his daughter for the first time. Then, as a doctor,
he injected her. Then as her father, he awkwardly comforted her.
Julia sat around the campfire with the rest of Eden Project and the return
children and their parents. They were all so healthy. Julia gently rubbed her
rapidly expanding abdomen. She knew her baby was healthy. But she knew she
wasn't. So far, her symptoms of the daily injections had consisted of nausea
and dizziness which she could blame on her pregnancy. For the next month that
was. She was almost through and hadn't said anything about the treatments. She
was completely focused on making sure her baby was healthy, nothing else
mattered.
Julia stood and waddled over to the mess tent. She began to notice that she was
short of breath, which was unusual. She filled a cup with water and turned to
head back to the fire. Suddenly, she was struggling to breathe. She could feel
the fluid pooling in her lungs.
"Oh god, not now." The cup fell from her hands as she began to cough. Her
knees buckles and she sank to the ground.
"Julia." She heard Valdeouz cry. The for the first time in her life, Julia
Heller fainted.

· · · · · ·

"The fluids have been expelled from her lungs. She's on oxygen now. She should
be able to breathe on her own now, but I want to keep her on the oxygen untill
she wakes up." Dr. Valdeouz explained.
"What happened?" That was Alonzo's voice.
"I can't tell you."
"Come on, doc. I mean, I deserve to know right?" Alonzo argued.
"He does have that right," Devon added.
Julia was definitely consious. She could never mistake Devon's voice.
"She didn't wish anyone to know of her condition."
"What condition?" Alonzo sounded frantic.
Julia struggled to open her eyes as the room in the newly constructed hospital
came into focus. Julia reached out to grab her lovers hand.
"Julia!"
She smiled at him, "Hey you."
"Don't ever do that again."
She snorted. "This from mister 'let's see how I can hurt myself and give Julia
grief' Solance?"
She struggled to sit up.
"Careful, Julia," Valdeouz cautioned as he moved to help her. "You'll have to
take easy from now on. I don't really want to have to continuously drain your
lungs.
"So noted. What's the verdict?" Julia questioned.
"I drained eight cc out of your lungs. Fluid only, no blood. No sign of
hemorage. You spiked a temp. of 100 then dropped."
"Is it a result of the genome?"
"Not the medication or the genome."
"Damn. Syndrome."
"It appears so."
"Well, it looks like I'm early. Options?"
"Same course now. Stop the treatment. The there's inducement."
"It's too early."
"Another week and it should be phesable."
"Phiesable?"
"The onset will depress O2 carrying capacity."
Julia rubbed her temples. "I don't have a choice then do I?"
"Julia?" Alonzo asked.
Dr. Valdeouz steered Devon out of the room so Julia could begin her confession.

· · · · · ·

Alonzo stood on the first level of the half constructed administrative building.
John found him banging his fists into a crossbeam.
"Easy, Solance. Julia'll yell at you if you bust up that hand."
"She's dying John."
"I know. Devon told me."
"She's dying and she didn't even tell me."
"She was scared."
"Yeah, well, she's not the only one." And with that he headed out into the
night.

· · · · · ·

Julia sat in her bed, her head in her hands. She hadn't wanted to tell him like
this. He was hurt and angry. She didn't blame him. She was hurt and angry
too. But it wouldn't help either of them.
At first, Julia didn't notice the twinge in her abdomen. However, by the time the second
'twinge' errupted into a spasm, she was well aware or it.
"Dr. Valdeous?" she called, struggeling to stand. Seh didn't get too far before Dr.
Valdeous rushed into the room followed by a concerened Devon.
"I think I'm in labor."
Dr. Valdeouz ran his bio glove over the frightened young woman. "You certianly are."
Devon switched on her gear. "Danzinger, you there?"
"Yeah, Adair."
"Have you found Alonzo yet?"
"Nope, he's dissapeared good and without his gear, or he's turned it off. Stupid kid," he
grumpled.
Oh, the irony. Devon continued. "Step up the search, John. Julia just went into labor."
"Damnit."
Devon signed off. She went and stationed herself next to Julia. "Hang in there."
"This hurts."
"I know, honey. But it's going to get worse before it gets better."
Six hours later, Julia began to push. Devon anchored and kept up the encoragement she
had be giving throughout the entire process.
"Come on, just one more push."
"I'm going to kill him! This is all his fault!"
"You'll feel differntly later."
"Somehow I doubt it!"
"Well, just think about it for awhile before you do anything rash."
"Ohhh...."
Julia pushed and this time a high pitched wail greated her at the end.
"Meet your beuteful new daughter," Dr. Valdouz handed the squalling bundle, after the
after birth was delivered and the cord cut, to the exahusted doctor.
"She's so....perfect," Julia breathed. She placed her cheek against the tiny infant's damp
head before handing her back to Valdousz.
"I want her on oxgyen and incubated to be safe," the old man stated. "Until we know the
condition of her lungs."
Julia nodded and watched her tiny daughter be wisked away.
Later Julia sat holding her baby. She could hold the child for up to three hours before she
had to return the mite to the incubator. She wondeered what her child would be like,
what was going on in that tiny head. She also wondered where Alonzo was.
Julia was pulled from her thoughts by the sound of footsteps. She looked toward them.
"Dr. Valdeouz….Oh, God, no! You're not real!" Panic over took her.
"I assure you Citizen Heller, I am real."
Riley approached her. Julia struggled out of bed, backing away on shaky legs.
"Stay away from me!"
Riley continued towards her. She tripped and continued pulling herself away,
closing herself into the corner. Riley reached out and smoothed her hair away
from her face.
"Don't worry, Heller. We'll take care of you. Just like I promised."
Julia felt the sting of the sedadrom before she blacked out. Riley turned to
the shadows.
"Hurry, we don't have much time."

· · · · · ·

Devon couldn't sleep. Thoughts of Julia kept her awake. She looked towards the
unfinished administrative center. John was still looking for Alonzo. Devon
walked towards the hopital. Dr. Valdeouz had shoed her out after assuring her
that both Julia and the baby would be fine. Suddenly she had an overwhelming
desire to check on her friend. She entered Julia's room and froze. On the bed
where Julia should have been resting lay a (no clue what you want here) baby.
"Oh my God," Devon exclaimed. She rushed over, scooped up the tiny child;
wrapping it in a blanket.
"Somebody, get in here now!"

Six hours later Devon paced in the hospital hall. Yale approached her.
"Any news?"
"Dr. Cooper says the baby will be fine. He put her back in the incubator
though. Dr. Valdeouz and the night nurse are still unconsious. Whatever
knocked them out was pretty strong. How about you, find anything?"
"Initial search turned up nothing. Morgan's still scanning. John is about to
launch a long range search. Alonzo is with him. They got back fifteen minutes
ago."
"He needs to be here."
Yale raised an eyebrow. Devon headed for the mess tent, where to search party
was forming.
"Alonzo…" she called when she reached them, "can I talk to you?"
"If you make it quick, Dev."
She led him away from the crowd.
"Don't go." She said.
"I have to find her."
"You have a daughter who needs you."
"Julia is dying, our daughter is not." Alonzo stated.
"She needs you." Devon pleaded.
"Dammit, Devon. I know that. But I am not going to let Julia die alone. I
have the rest of my life to be with my daughter. I don't have the rest of
Julia's too."
"Atleast go see her before you leave. I'll tell John to wait."
Alonzo took off for the hospital.
"He still going?"
Devon turned to find John standing behind her. Yes. He's going to see the
baby before he leaves."
"Is she still "the baby"?
"I don't think they had decided on a name. Julia…" Devon choked on her words.
"Hey," John comforted, putting a gentle hand on her shoulder. "we're going to
find her."
"John, if you do, the chances are you'll just find her to bury her."
"Don't think like that."
"John, she was so sick. It was the worst thing I could imagine. Oh, God, it
was what…"
"was happening to Uly?"
Devon nodded.
"Don't worry boss lady. We'll find the Doc and bring her back. Alive."
Julia woke up. Something was wrong. Breathing was no longer a struggle. She
sat up quickly and the world spun around her.
"Careful, Citizen."
"Riley."
"Charmed as always."
"Where am I?"
"Unimportant, time is of the essence."
"How long would it take you to kill me? Funny, I never pictured you as a
sadist."
"Your wit astounds me. He guestured to someone behind her. "Inject her now."
Before Julia could react, a hypodermic needle sunk into her flesh. "What are
you doing?"
"We've cured you, so to speak. We irradicated the syndrome. That injection
will rewrite your genome to it's original status. You won't remember anything
it has to rewrite."
"That's impossible." She began to fade.
"Oh, it is possible. You'll wake up a loyal citizen to the council, resuming
your spy mission remembering nothing of your new life. Including your new
daughter."
Julia cried as the darkness overwhelmed her.

"Julia, Julia! Come on Doc. Open your eyes."
Julia squinted up at the figure leaning over her. "What happened?" Julia
struggled to sit.
"You scared the hell out of us, Doc."
Julia looked up at the big boned, grizley man crouched next to her on the
ground. "Mr. Danziger?"
"Doc.?"
Julia looked at his puzzled expression. Then visably paled. "Where's Ullysses
Adair?"
"What?"
"The last think I remember we were crashing, obviously we have. Uly's not
strong. Even is his immuno suit, his lungs may not be able to take it."
"Julia, that was over two years ago."
"What?"
"We crashed two years ago," Danziger restated.
Julia stared at him. "That's impossible. I wouldn't forget two years." It's
inconsievable."
"Let's get you back to New Pacifica, Doc. It'll all get worked out."

"She doesn't remember the past two years?"
"I'm telling you Devon, she woke up thinking we'd just crashed."
"Oh my God." Devon passed back and forth in front of John. "Has anyone told
Alonzo yet?"
"He's not back yet."

"She what?!"
"Lonz, man, calm down."
"I won't calm down, John, you're telling me that Julia, the mother of my child,
has absolutely no memory of anything past crashing on this planet! And you want
me to calm down?"
"Listen, man. I know. But charging in there and trying to force her into
remembering is just going to push her farther away than she is now. Our Julia
is gone, Alonzo. It's an awful, terrible thing, but it's true. She's gone,
man."
Alonzo buried his head in his hands. "She can't be gone, John. For once it
was supposed to be happily ever after."
"I know buddy, I know."

"Where's Alonzo?" True asked her father.
"He had go take care of somethings."
"Because of what's happened to Julia?"
"Yeah."
"But what about the baby?"
Danziger sighed. "I don't know True-girl, I just don't know."

Julia Heller couldn't sleep. So much had happened. Two years. She'd
forgotten two years. Then there was the council, they would be expecting her
reports, but where did she stand with them? Deep in thought, Julia become aware
of something crying. A baby crying. She'd been told of her child, but she
hadn't comprehended it. Now she rose from her hospital cot and padded toward
the sound. SheShe reached her daughter's crib and cuddled the sleeping child in
her arms. "Hope," she whispered, "that's what I wanted to call you…"
Her began to pound. She gently lowered her sleeping child back into the crib
and clutched her head. The aching intensified. Blood began to trickle from her
ears and nostrils. But Julia did not notice. Her attention was directed to the
seven foot Terrian that had appeared in front of her. She stood in awe as the
creature reached out and layed his hand on her shoulder. Julia entered the
dream plane.
"You are hurt." A voice said.
"I can't remember." She responded.
"You reject the earth."
"The earth rejects me."
"How do you know."
"I don't remember."
"You remember."
Memories assulted Julia's mind.
"I remember."
"You do not reject the earth. You help the…'children'."
"I help the children."
"You are the children. Save the children."
"Who wants the hurt the children?" Julia questioned.
Instead of answering, the Terrian trilled softly and Uly entered the plane.
"Uly!"
"Julia!" The boy reached for her. As his hand closed in hers, the scene
shifted from the searing light, to the councils inner chamber. Julia saw the
members, including her mother, judging her. Uly still clung to her hand.
"You are the children," the voice said again.

"Julia!" Uly's cry woke his mother.
"Uly, what's wrong?"
Uly scrambled out into the night. Devon rushed after her son. She found him
clingging to Julia who was not only unconsious, but rushing toward her.
"Devon!"
"Julia!" Devon called. Then noticing the blood on Julia's face, "are you
alright?"
"I'm fine. I remember! I remember everything!"
"You're bleeding."
"Oh, that. It's nothing. I remember what happened, all of it. The journey
here, the Terrians, Alonzo, my baby, all of it!"
"What happened?"
Julia disconnected Uly's hands from around her wrist. "Uly, go back inside."
"But…" Uly protested.
"Uly go." Said his mother firmly.
Uly did as he was told.
Julia looked at Devon with sorrow filled eyes. "Riley."

Julia sat on her hospital cot once again, cradling her daughter in her arms.
She had told Devon everything. Eveyrthing except that she would continue to
report the Riley. Devon would never agree, and Julia had no choice. If she
didn't report, it would put them all in danger. A tear rolled down her cheek
and splashed into the downy hair of the creature nestled in her arms. Julia
would keep them all safe. Placing the baby in the near by crib, Julia reached
for her gear and activated it. She didn't notice the man standing in the
shadows. He heard it all.

"Riley, what the hell is going on?"
"Good to see you, too."
"You caused the crash two years ago!! And I don't have any memory of that time
span!"
"An insignificant time span, nothing to be concerned about."
"I apparently gave birth. That's pretty significant."
"Only to the child. Correct, Citizen Heller?"
Julia raised an eyebrow. "Correct."
"Now, how goes the Eden Project?"
"Nothing very important."
"Do they believe your story?"
"Of a rouge terrian attack? Yes, although I don't see why. It's possitively
rediculas."
"Only to the intellectually privaledged. The masses will believe what you tell
them to."
"How fortunate for us."
"Yes, isn't it. Keep it up Heller. It is, after all, what you were made for. Have the
children been cured?"
"Those that opted for the Terrian cure, yes."
"The rest you can use your DNA as a template to cure them."
"You're so concerned."
"Don't kid yourself, Heller. The children you cure, we can controll. Hopefully, they'll
exhibit the same characteristics toward the planet."
"Why should they? The planet didn't cure them!"
"But the planet doesn't know that."
"Why should my DNA cure them."
"In the time span you have 'forgotten,' you manafested symptoms of the syndrome. We
irradicated it."
"You mean you have the cure."
"My dear, we've had the cure for as long as the condition has existed. WE created it.
Humanity needed a reason to expand."
"But without the stations, you lose control."
"Don't be naive. We can control a planet just as well as a space station."
"Except for this one."
"Unfourtunately, this planet has cetrian complications."
"The Terrians."
"Obviously."
"Why expand?"
"Only a matter of time before the natives became restless."
"So you murdered innoccent children!"
"Murder is such a messy word."
"No matter how accurate."
"Heller, that's what I find so fasination about you, your need to flirt with danger."
"You make me ill."
"It doesn't make what effect I have on you as long as you carry out your mission. Are we
clear?"
"Completely."
Julia left V.R. and stared blankly into space. She didn't know he was there
until he grabbed her roughly by the arms.
"So you lied to us again?"
Stunned by his appearance, not knowing he had come back to yet, she protested,
"Alonzo, no, you don't understand!"
"Oh, I think I understand fairly well, Doc! You never did remember did you?"
"Alonzo…"
"Save it! All of it, it's all been a lie!"
"Alonzo, that's not true."
"Why should I believe you?"
"You have to trust me."
"You were reporting to Reily! To the council!"
"I have to! If I don't…"
"If you don't, what?" his hands were vices on her arms.
"Alonzo, if you care about me, about our daughter, you will forget about what
you heard."
"Are you threatening me?"
"I'm warning you."
He looked at her through hooded eyes. "I'm going to tell the others."
"If you do, we're all dead. I thought you were smarter than this."
Alonzo raised a hand off her arm, but paused.
"Go ahead, hit me, if it will make you feel better."
Alonzo turned, and stalked out of the room.
Julia knew where he was headed. She knew what she had to do. One more
would
start it. Two would bring her par with before. Three would complete it and
four would over load her system. She grabed her gear and recorded two messages.
One to Devon and one to Reilly. Then she transmitted both with a delay of
twenty minutes.

· · · · · ·

Devon and Danziger were discussing the last phase of construction when Alonzo
burst in.
"Devon, John, she lied to us."
"What, who lied?" Devon asked.
"Julia, she's been in contact wit Reilly."
"Lonz, you must be crazy!" John exclaimed. "Reilly's the one who started this
mess."
"I'm deadly serious, John."
They argued, stopping only when Devon's gear began to beep. She answered,
peterbed. "What!?" she paused, listening. "Oh my God." The she sprinted from
the tent. A confused Danziger and Alonzo close behind.

They found her, collapsed on the floor of the biolab, an empty seaderm lying
next to her. Devon reached her friend, and finding a pulse, directed Alonzo to
find a medic.
"What happened?" Danziger asked.
Devon picked up the sediderm. "She emptied 20 cc's of Terrian DNA into her
system.
"Oh God!."

The first thought to enter Julia's mind was, 'what was I drinking?' The second
thought was that the light was funny. The she realized she was on the
dreamplane. She remembered injecting herself and then nothing…curiousier and
curiouser.

"We crashed on this planet over two years ago. In these two years we have
become a family first and a community second. When a member of the community
leaves us, we are hurt. Julia has been unconsious for nearly a week. The
closest thing we can summerize is that she's in a coma, but unlike any coma
there is, no physicological signs. She's dreaming. Alonzo can not contact the
Terrians and Uly refuses to. He says that when they are needed the Terrians
will come. Why did Julia do what she did? Why was she in contact with Reilly
again? Why didn't she tell us? I refuse to believe that she would betray us."
-Devon Adair

Edan Advance sat apart from the colonists. While the colonists viewed the
current situation with distrust and skepticism, Edan Advance worried about their
friend. Among themselves, they debated Julia's motives, to the colonists they
presented a unified front.
True sat next to Uly, half heartedly scratching out a tick-tack-toe game in the
dirt. Neither of them really had the heart. True was more interested in the
adults. Devon was scared, her dad was worried, Yale was praying, Alonzo was
feeling guilty 'cause he thought what happened to Julia was his fault, Bess and
Morgan were thoughtful and everybody else was glum. True decided to get to the
point.
She whispered to Uly, "when's Julia gonna wake up?"
He shot her an unreadable look. "How should I know?"
"Ask the Terrians."
"You ask 'em."
"I would if I could."
"Then you can!" Uly grabbed True's hand and trilled. The entered the
dreamplane.
"Uly!" True called, frightened.
"Here." Uly appeared beside her and took her hand. "Ask them."
True gazed upon the Terrian that suddenly towered above her. Her gaze flew past
the native to a form, crumpled on the ground.
"Julia!" True rushed over to the doctor and began shaking the young woman.
The Terrian trilled at the girl and looked at her quizzically.
"They want to know why we came," said Uly.
"Tell them we cam because we love her," True instructed.
"They want to know what love is."
"I don't know how to tell them, Uly. Help me." True was near tears. She began
to shake the young doctor again. "Julia, wake up! Please!"
Julia did not move.
"Julia please! I love you, Julia! Don't leave!"
A new figure appeared on the dreamplane.
"Uly, True? What are you doing here?"
The children turned around to find Julia standing behind them. They rushed to
her and clung to her.
"Julia, how…?" True stammered. She looked at the figure on the ground. It
slowly disappeared, disintegrating into mist and then wisked away.
The dream plane was shattered.
The two frightened children stared at each other. They ran for the hospital.

Julia opened her eyes. A wide eyed and frightened face stared back at her.
True turned to Uly, "she's awake!"
Uly took off, "Mom!" he called, "Mom, mom!"

"Julia has come back to us. She explained why she did what she did. I have no
doubts. She had not faced all her demons, but when she does, we will all be
here for her."
-Bess Martian

Julia gazed out at the sea. She raised her hand to lessen the glare of the
golden sun. She laughed as Alonzo and Hope played in the gentle surf. Life
would go on in New Pacifica and she would go with it.
Once again, her attempt to incorporate Terrian DNA into her genome
had…unexpected…results. It should have killed her, but the planet wouldn't let
her die. It somehow needed her. She was still stalling Reilly. It was just a
matter of time. But she would not let them control this planet. No matter
what.

Twelve years ago, we, Eden Advance, crashed on this planet. The council we ran
from followed us. The manage to influence the society we built here. Everyone
who was raised on the stations brought a little part of the council with them
here and it has had it's impact on us. The land territies with the Terrians are
just a minor example. What we sought so hard to separate ourselves from, we
have become. Some have left, some have stayed. Today, we have begun a war."
-Morgan Martin
Bodies were everywhere. The smell of blood and death was heavy in the air. Sixteen
years after Eden advance had crashed, the entire planet was embroialed in the bloodest
conflict anyone could remember. And Julia Heller was right in the middle of that blood.
She looked up form the still form on the stretcher as a pair of feet planted themselves in
front of her.
"Mom?"
"Get out of here, Hope. Now."
"They're back. Devon's with them."
"Leave. I don't want you in here. No fourteen year old should see this."
She heard her daughter walk away. She could only protect the girl for so long. If only
Alonzo......... She turned back to her patcient. No time for this now.
When she was done, she headed for the main caveren where she knew they would be.
For the past two years, she and her daughter had been underground, furthering the cause
for the Terrians and healed syndrome childeren. No longer children. Just because she
hadn't changed didn't mean they hadn't. She and Uly exhibited a unique trait. Their
health mirrored the planet's. Julia's was more directly linked. The Terrian DNA. She
hadn't aged. She only looked a few years older than Uly and True, but she felt so much
older. She entered the cavern only to be engulfed in a giagantic bear hug from the once
little boy.
"Uly, are you alright?"
"I'm fine. How you holding up, Doc?"
"Not even a trimmer. Just the same ever present exhaustion. How did the reintergration
go?"
"True had no problems at all." Uly released the older woman. Julia held out an arm to
True and recieved a hug form her too. Julia had become their parent in this underground
world, replacing Devon in True's mind but not in Uly's. John spoke up.
"Julia, Devon wants to talk to you."
"Where is she?"
"Hope took her to the 'kitchen.' Kept her away form the medical and militant parts."
"Did you talk to her, John?"
"No."
"Coward."
"Julia, Mom helped me. She's on our side now."
"Uly, I know you miss your mother, but she is not on our side. The only reason she gave
a damn is because it effected you, not that I fault her for that. But she still belives that
there is a diplomatic solution for this mess. And even if she is on our side, what good
does it do now?" She shoulder past the group and headed to where Devon and her
daughter were.
Hope looked up form where she sat next to Devon. "What was my father like?"
"Why are you asking me?"
"No one else will talk about it. It makes my mother sad. She has enough to worry about
it now without being sad because he died. How did he die?"
"Hope."
The girl turned to see her mother in the door way. She left without being told.
"Julia..........you haven't ..."
"Do you really want to be here or is just because of ULy."
"We need to talk."
"There isn't much to talk about, is there?" Julia readed to leave.
"Yes there is."
"Say what you have to say then."
"JUlia, this is not my fault."
"You didn't stop it, did you?"
"There was nothing I could do!"
"You could have taken a stand!"
"And be forced underground? I was working for a peaceful solution!"
"Peaceful! Does this look peaceful? WAs what happened to Alonzo peaceful?"
"I tried as hard as I could to stop this."
"No you didn't. You didn't until it affected ULy. The Great Devon Adair, screw
everybody else but her kid."
"Julia, that's not true."
"Isn't though? I odn't fault you for wanting to save ULy. I've come to care a great deal
about him. Gut realisticly Devon, if Uly hadn't been born with the syndrome, would yo7
have organized Edan Project? Would you have given any thought to them?"
"I don't know."
"You wouldn't have. I"ve dedicated myself to them no matter what, first by design, then
by choice."
"All by the council's hand."
Julia's face blanced white. "What the council did to me isn't relivant to this conversion."
"I think it is."
"Do you really want to know what they did to me?"
"I think I deserve an explination."
"Do you now why your son was born with the syndrome?"
"Of course not! There are only theries."
"I know. They needed to expand humanity. Whay not make it appear that the stations
were killing childeren? ONce that has been astablished why not pick someone who was
rich and powerful to start colonization? That's why you were picked Devon. I was made
to serve that agenda. I tried to run away here, but you can't fight fate, can you? "
"Julia..."
Julia grasped the other woman by her shoulders. "Did you thinkyou could control this
planet? You're not a god Devon! The council did come here Devon. But not in me. The
council came here in you."
The two women stared at each other.
"You have no right to acuse me of that."
"Oh, I think I do. I have as much right to acuse you of taht as you did to leave me."
"I thought we'd settled that. YOu experimented on my son! You lied to us! You
wouldn't give up your contact!"
"I thought I was proteting us. I never gave Rielly our location. Everyone wanted
someting form me, and I was so damn tired of being manipulated! You didn't know how
lucky you were. Be glad I was the person I was or I culd have sytamiticly taken out the
whole group. Do you know how to fake a viral out break? I do. As for Uly, be glad I
disobyed evyry thing I was ever taughted and defied Rielly. If I hadn't, we'd all be dead."
Julia released her, but Devon reached out and clenched JUlia's arm. "What did you do to
my son?"
"Rielly wanted his pinal gland."
"What?"
"I told him ULy didn't have one. I lied Dvon. Then, foolishly, I tried to throw Rielly off
the boy's trail. I injected myslelf with this DNA so I could be the link the council
wanted. Mylife wasn't as importent as the one of an eight year old boy. He was
humanities salvation. I was it's distruction."
The two women stared at each other. Years of hostilty permated the room. That's when
Julia's gear went off.
"Heller....don't move him. I'll be there as soon as i can." She shut off her gear. "Tell
ULy i had to go to sector two. I'll bring him back as soon as he's stable." A terrian
appeared infront of her.
"Who?"
"Morgan." That was all there was time for before she dissapeared into the earth.