The three of them entered the subterranean sanctuary in silence. Liam strode off with an expression on his face that spoke volumes. Palmer and Augur exchanged glances. She looked like she was about to say something, and almost imperceptibly, Augur shook his head no.
Liam passed his punching bag. Augur had brought one in for him, he said it saved on damaged furniture. Liam punched it distractedly in passing, his rage such that he didn't pay attention to what he was doing. The next moment he was watching abstractedly as the bag flew from its support and halfway across the chamber. His first sign of reaction was when he winced at the sound of breaking glass. Augur wasn't going to be happy.
Still having not spoken a word, Liam disappeared into his 'room' here and changed into some fresh clothes. To suit his mood he chose black, black jeans and a black T-shirt. Sweeping up his black leather coat, he made his way back out to where Augur and Renee were. He passed them as though he never even noticed they were there and simply left.
"What in the name of God is wrong with him?" asked Palmer.
Augur's expression couldn't have said 'You even have to ask?' any louder if he'd shouted it. What he did say was, "Leave it alone, Renee; you don't want to go there."
Thoroughly annoyed now, she said, "Damn it, yes I do."
At the caustic tone in her voice, Augur let loose.
"Fine! What did you expect? He's spent the last three days trying to resolve a situation that should have been straightforward. This experiment was killing human beings - then again, most of Zo'or's experiments do. Naively, he believed he'd have help in stopping it. Sometimes he does act his age, doesn't he?
"Instead, he had to manoeuvre around Sandoval's security measures while not letting on to either Zo'or or Da'an what he was up to. He had to watch your every move because you wanted the bloody technology for Doors International, and he had to select support from the local Resistance members that he could rely on not to disobey orders. Nothing much. He apparently was the only one of you all even concerned about the human lives hanging in the balance. One of these days, one of these days."
Renee, for once, had the honesty to look ashamed about her actions. Quietly she asked, "One of these days what?"
Augur sighed and rubbed a hand tiredly on his scalp.
"One of these days one of the factions will push him too far."
"And?" asked Renee.
"He'll leave, Palmer. He'll give up. He's part Kimera, he doesn't have to stay here. I know he's told you his alien heritage is gone. To be precise, it's dormant. It is still there; his little stunt with the punch bag should tell you that - it does to me. I've seen more of what he's capable of than you have. You would be amazed.
"There are many other planets out there - and dimensions, for that matter. On more than one occasion he has made a conscious decision to stay on Earth. Do you realise what I'm telling you? He's had the opportunity to go, to live a better life, less complicated - and certainly it would be a lot happier for him. He chose to stay.
"Not fully human and yet more human than the rest of us. He honestly can't understand how we make things so difficult. Humanity faces being enslaved, altered to suit Taelon or Jaridian interests or destroyed. We need to work together. What happens instead? There are people who try to make money off the situation. People who don't care one way or another. People that actively work for the Taelons; factions within the Resistance that want to destroy their enemies no matter the cost in innocent lives in pursuit of their goals. There are those that genuinely want freedom and are willing to fight for it; he has to wade through all the rest of that though to find them.
"He sees his life simply. To protect humanity. If that requires his own life, he'll give it without hesitation and without regret. Can you say the same?"
The silence following his outburst was an answer in its own right. Finally Renee asked a question. "Where has he gone?"
Augur gave her a searching look.
"Okay, I'll show you; but if you ever breathe a word of this you'll regret it, I swear to God."
An hour later a bewildered Renee followed Augur into the hospital elevator. What on earth? Finger on his lips motioning for silence, Augur led her down a corridor. A couple of nurses smiled and waved at him; obviously he had been there before. He stopped outside a large room and motioned for Renee to look in through the window.
When she did so she felt a stab of feeling in her heart. Her eyes scanned over everything, taking in the sight, remembering, wondering.
Augur motioned with his head to follow him and they ended up in the cafeteria. Taking a sip from her coffee, she said, "Why?"
A sad and gentle smile on his face, Augur said, "This was the hospital we took Lili to when she was exposed to Bliss and then again after we'd administered the antidote. He couldn't just sit about waiting on her to wake up. He prowled the corridors and he found the neo-natal floor.
"The babies he found were addicted, too. Not to Bliss. To any other number of drugs you care to think about. Most diseases may have been wiped out, but that doesn't stop substance abusers. Babies are still born addicted through no fault of their own. Survival rates are better, as are treatments, but that doesn't mean they don't suffer. Most have difficulty sleeping.
"He couldn't bear their pain. He got permission to go in as a volunteer and to sit with them. The amazing thing was - it worked. I don't know what it is; maybe they recognise his gentle nature or the fact that his soul may be a little battered, but is still basically innocent. They respond to him; if he tells them to rest, they do. The doctors and nurses don't understand it either, they just know it helps. He's welcome here any time, day or night. They protect his right to privacy; nobody outside the hospital knows about this except for us. He wants it that way and they respect his wishes. Most of the nurses would walk through fire for him - not that he even realises it.
"You see him in there as he should be. Gentle, caring, free from scheming and fighting. Every single time, though, he comes back to us. What I'm afraid of is one of these days is he'll be pushed too far. He'll leave. Renee, honestly, look at your heart. Can you imagine what we'd do without him? I shudder at the thought."