Being Different

Of Space and Time

A/N: Hello again! I apologize for the long wait. It's become very hectic here at the moment, with the numbers of infected fluctuating from the hundreds to the thousands in a matter of just a few days!!! It's been quite alarming. So sorry to trouble you all with the news. I'm at my wits-end, just trying to survive...

Anyways, all that aside, I remain truly grateful to all of you who have come along with me on this literary journey. I hope this won't disappoint...

Thank you once again with much love and hugs to ambermoon3105 12MidnightBlue12 AlphaKelly sanmariano Zachsilver26 lonelycauliflower Annteee and to Dan...

Damien POV

I went in search of Dante, and found him conversing seriously with Lord Prion and Gaia, as they briefly stepped out of the interrogation room, where Tyron was being held for questioning.

I slipped into the corridor, not wanting to disturb them but I could not help myself, as I listened unintentionally to the heated exchange of words between them. Dante was being pressed upon by Prion into taking his responsibilities seriously as the leader of his people, into finding a safe haven where they could settle down and thrive as a community.

But our mission was not quite over, as we had yet to find the remaining five supposedly silent benefactors of Tyron's devilish project, to bring the human race into a forced evolution into a species that would atrociously wipe out the human race and eventually set its' sights on other habitable planets in our solar system to conquer.

I felt as if I was the deciding factor that had caused Dante's retainment here on earth, and I was getting more and more agitated by the conversation, that I forced myself to walk away, knowing that we would be discussing this further on our own.

I loved Dante but the last thing that I wanted was to be in the way of his destiny, and dad had indicated that it would be a good thing for Dante to be in charge of the new space station, only if he wanted to, with the assumption that I would be going with him.

He had suggested this, due to the fact that Dante would be able to keep tabs on his people and look after them, even at least from a safe distance, and come to their aid if necessary, allowing them to continue their peaceful co-existence on a new planet.

I went back to the lab, to check on Felix, who was receiving a dose of the new serum, a highly developed antidote on the first tier, after the initial prototype, which we were given that day when we invaded the laboratories of Tyron and his cohorts.

Felix howled in pain as the injection was being administered to him by nurse Sylvia, while a very worried Alma looked on. Lab doctors, Dr. Garrett and Narayan entered, to observe Felix, monitoring his heart rate.

During his transformation back into his human self, Zack and Sam discussed the possibility of enhancing the formula further so that those infected, like Felix, would retain the ability to transform without losing their humanity.

Dante came bounding in, coming to stand alongside me. I felt his hand gently squeeze mine, in an attempt to reassure me. I suspect that it was about his earlier conversation with both Prion and Gaia.

Dad came in with Bry, looking very somber, as he called us both over to one side. It seemed that Marcus Adams knew about Christian Tech's developments, and had been working as a double agent, both for Christian Tech and The Organization, for a big fat fee.

Was there anything that the man would not stoop to? No wonder Dad looked considerably pissed, while Bry constantly rolled his eyes at every single remark.

"I suppose he knew about the labs and those other benefactors, too, huh? I suddenly have this feeling that he might have known my father all too well" Randy piped in, grimacing in disgust.

"Yes, he probably did, and it disturbs me greatly as to what he might have divulged to these other parties. He's currently under hypnosis while Kryon interrogates him. Mick's over there with Walid, taking down notes. We have to be on our guard from now on. I've put all the compounds on high alert for anyone acting suspicious, whether internally or externally," Bry concluded.

"Good idea. Since my people have integrated themselves into the system, all of us being sentients, we should be able to detect any unusual activity in any of the compounds all over the earth. I will instantly be alerted, should any disturbances occur. Both Prion and Gaia have been notified," Dante added.

My eyebrows shot up, thinking, 'That was quick' as I marvelled at his response to the matter. I assume he had divulged the information telepathically to them. I admired how Dante was always quick on the ball with everything. Observing my beloved, I watched him converge on the documentation left for our information, perusing it with great interest.

"Hey, can I have a word with you later?" He looked up, noticing my observance of him as he sat there at the desk.

"Sure, no problem. What's it about?" I casually asked.

"Something that both Prion and Gaia have been discussing with me. I need your opinion on the matter. It's important to me that you know what's been going on, especially since it involves us" He added.

I nodded in compliance, since I kind of had an inkling as to what had been discussed, having overheard them earlier. But out of the respect I had for Dante, I knew not to pry but to wait until the right moment for him to personally inform me.

"I've been asked to take up my responsibilities to lead my people out of here as soon as possible before anything worse happens," Dante grimly confirmed.

"You're being pushed," I stated flatly, "And you're not liking it one bit" I continued, to which he nodded in agreement.

"It's not as if I'm ignoring the gravity of the situation. After all, we are trying to resolve this issue right now, aren't we? I mean, we're trying to eradicate the problem before it escalates into something worse," He reiterated with conviction.

He was trying to rationalize our situation, and it made sense, but I realized that both Prion and Gaia felt responsible for their people, in the hopes of finding a new planet where they would be able to thrive as a race. Only my father and a few other personnel such as Marcus and Bryant knew of their existence, since they had been hidden safely all this time below ground level, until Dante's parents had tried to make contact.

This sudden intervention initiated the entire process, with the discovery of our parents being from the future, and the repercussions of our changing or altering such a future, which consequently alarmed him.

"I will still be here, "I stated, reaching out to grab his hand instinctively.

"Yes, my love, I know that. But will I?" He looked straight at me, his eyes welling with tears as he sought my gaze, at which point he turned to my father and announced out loud, "I will take you up on the offer to man the space station, upon the condition that Damien comes with me. Once we've found the rest of the benefactors and shut down the operation in its' entirety," He concluded.

It became so quiet that you could literally hear a pin drop as several jaws dropped across the room, including both Prion's and Gaia's as soon as they had entered.

"Very well. Bry will make the arrangements as soon as this is over," My father looked at us both with resignation.

"I have had a vision of the new home planet, and its' coordinates. We will guide you there once this is over. We are going to our new home," Dante turned to Prion, as both Ilya and Mara held onto one another in shock.

Dante let go of my hand briefly to embrace his parents, as the others mulled over his words silently.