Being Different

Hurtling towards a Black Hole

A/N: Mother Ship KALA - hovering above the earth... Having altered the events that would have led up to disastrous results for planet Earth, as well as Nulandia and other worlds, the team now goes in search of a cure, to save Damien from the effects of a deadly poison, whose origins come from outer space...

Dante POV

None of us could sleep that night. Mother and father took turns healing Damien, as did I, but something went terribly wrong when they tried to bring him slowly out of the induced coma. Damien seemed so peaceful as he lay there sleeping, with pure oxygen being pumped into his lungs, but could not...would not be revived.

Whatever was in that vial was far more potent that any chemical we had ever encountered, and it was making us all very nervous due to the effects Damien was suffering from, such as this unconscious, deep sleep.

Both Prion and Gaia took a sample to the lab on board their ship, citing an urgency to keep the substance in a highly controlled environment. We all agreed, since such precaution had to be taken to ensure the safety of everyone in the compound.

Pavel was keeping his mouth shut on what was being created in the lab underground, but with the triplets' help, Darius was twisting Pavel's arm, to make him talk. It was imperative that all the substances used to make that diabolical concoction were known.

Zack was taking no chances and kept those who were rescued under quarantine, while working closely with Gaia and Prion to develop a powerful antidote. But we learned that there was a missing ingredient which could only be found on our home planet and not on Earth, as I hoped it would be.

This substance, only known as KAVNAR-8, was extracted from a plant which grew on our home soil. I was devastated. This would mean that I would have no choice but to accept my commission earlier than planned, as commander of the space station, and make the jump into hyperspace with my people to find our home planet if it was still intact; harvest the plant, and extract the oil from its' leaves, in order to revive him.

But there was no way in hell I would make the trip, without my beloved Damien. So, he was moved to a hyperbaric chamber, and prepped for the journey. It was difficult for all of us, especially Darius, who felt guilty and blamed himself for his son's condition.

Meanwhile, within Darius' quarters, two men were pacing about, anxiously. I overheard them as I passed the open doorway.

"D, stop knocking yourself. I hate seeing you this way. Damien will pull through. He always has," Bry wrapped his arms around his best friend and lover, pulling him close in a warm embrace of reassurance.

"I almost lost him once. I'll not lose him again! Not if I can help it!" Darius banged his fist on the table in anger, causing his other son to jump.

"Dad, stop it! You think you can bring back Damien this way? He's in the best of care with Dante and his parents," Bron whispered, as he rubbed his eyes, which were moist with tears.

"Forgive me for not thinking straight, son. I know that Dante, Ilya and Mara are doing their best to help your brother. But the thought of them taking this dangerous journey with Damien in that condition worries me," Darius drew a weary hand across his face, trying to mask the tears that had already welled up behind his eyes.

"Dante has no choice, dad. He must find that plant, and we were able to prevent that poison from doing damage to humanity, so that means, their home planet will be in pristine condition as the day they left it!" Bron nodded.

"I certainly hope so, since that plant is the only thing that can revive your brother now," Darius sighed. "Zack will be going on board the space station, to work at the lab there with Arturo. Felix will be taking his place here, since he is a fully qualified technician, with both Mick and Nik. I assume Walid will be staying..." He broke off, clasping his chest in anguish.