Quiet Conversation

by Loui

Earth: Final Conflict is copyright © Tribune Entertainment and Roddenberry/Kirschner. No infringement of that copyright is intended by this story.
"Quiet Conversation" is copyright © Loui.

"Liam, will you go do something already!" Augur yelled in exasperation. "Go see a movie, go annoy Da'an or Sandoval. Just go do something! I'm busy here."

Augur's attention dropped back to the console he was working from so he didn't see Liam head towards the elevator, shoulders slumped, expression resigned. Liam came out of the church and just aimlessly picked a direction. He walked along, head bowed and lost in thought. A laugh startled him out of his reverie and he looked up to see a park, children playing on swings and shouting out their joy to the entire world.

He was about to walk away but decided instead to go sit for a while; aimlessly sitting would work just as well as aimlessly walking. Disdaining a bench, Liam headed off for a secluded spot under some trees. He took off his jacket to use for a pillow and laid his sweater out to sit on. The spring air felt cool on his bare arms and he smiled. He lay back against a tree trunk, uncaring of the bits of twig and grass that were mussing his jet-black T-shirt. Settled, he closed his eyes and let his mind wander.


Renee Palmer sighed. She had been due to meet Liam four hours ago and he hadn't turned up. Concerned, she'd gone to Augur's – maybe Liam had been caught up in something and lost track of time. She snorted quietly, not likely!

Augur had been no help at all. He'd murmured vaguely about Liam visiting earlier but that he had been too busy to pay attention to what he'd said. She had successfully restrained herself from smacking the back of Augur's head when he'd absently murmured about the fact that he seemed to remember suggesting Liam go annoy somebody else or go see a movie. He was supposed to be Liam's friend. Why was it that she seemed to be the only person out of Liam's Resistance colleagues to notice that something had been bothering him for a couple of weeks now!

Renee frowned. There was no other option. She activated a code on her global and waited. Two seconds later she had her answer; Liam was less than six blocks from her current location in a park. Why on earth was he in a park?! She set off to round up the Resistance leader. That was the only way to find out.


Renee eventually located Liam lounging against a tree. Confused, she stepped off the path and made her way towards him and stood looking down at him. He was laying there, eyes closed, seemingly oblivious to his surroundings. She frowned. Did he have no concept of personal safety? He should know better! She opened her mouth to talk some sense to him but jumped, startled, when he spoke first.

"Renee, don't start with me. I know I missed our meeting but, to be honest, I really don't care. Unless there is an imminent threat of death to somebody I know then please just leave me alone."

Sighing, Renee dropped down to the ground beside him and laid her jacket out to sit on. She settled into position and sat with her arms curled round her knees.

"Renee, what do you think you're doing?" asked Liam in an exasperated tone.

"What? Is there a law against me sitting in the park and enjoying the peace and quiet?" she asked in a sweet tone.

"Suit yourself."

Two hours later, dusk had fallen and the lights were starting to come on, lighting the pathways through the park. Renee watched the people passing through the park and moving about their 'normal' lives with a feeling of envy. Normal, she vaguely remembered what that felt like. She shivered suddenly; the temperature had dropped about ten degrees since she'd arrived.

A long arm reached out and gently tugged at her. Surprised, Renee turned to look at Liam, it was the first move he'd made since she'd sat down, she'd thought that he'd totally blocked out her presence. Liam pulled her down till she lay with her head against his shoulder and wrapped his arms around her to warm her. Renee stilled for a moment; this was a little odd. Wryly, Liam said, "Relax, Renee. Your virtue is safe. I'm just trying to warm you up a bit.

"I'll be ready to leave in a little while. I'll buy you a coffee somewhere, I owe you that much."

Head against his shoulder, she replied, "Coffee and an explanation and you've got a deal."

"Fair enough," whispered Liam. "For now, can we just be quiet?"


In the quiet coffee bar, Liam and Renee sat with their hands wrapped round steaming mugs of coffee, marshmallows melting on top. Renee had eyed the concoction that Liam had suggested she try with a great deal of doubt until she had taken her first sip. Her eyes widened in astonishment. Liam grinned and said, "It's the vanilla that they add to the marshmallows. I told you that you'd like it."

A companionable silence was shared while they enjoyed the magical brew that they were drinking. Eventually though, Renee said, "Well?"

Liam placed his mug on the table in the booth that they were sharing. He spoke softly, his fingers absently toying with the mug, "It's nothing serious, Renee. I just... Augur just... this morning was the final straw, that's all."

Renee sighed. She chided Liam gently, saying, "That made no sense, Liam. Complete sentences, please."

Liam rolled his eyes at her. "Okay, okay. I suppose I over-reacted a bit this morning.

"It's just that for the past two weeks they've all been treating me like a child. I'm sure they haven't really thought about what they've been doing."

Renee's eyes betrayed her confusion and Liam sighed, rubbing at the bridge of his nose. How could he explain this so it actually made sense outside of his own head?

"When it's about work or Resistance business, Augur and Dr Park, Dr Belman too, they treat me like an equal. Most of the rest of the time too. It's just that recently, when I've just wanted to talk to them about something they've dismissed me like a child. Da'an does it too. This morning was the icing on the cake. All Augur had to do was say he was too busy, I'd have understood. Instead, he basically told me to 'go play', not quite in those words but that was the general idea."

Liam pulled a rueful face at the smile that Renee was desperately trying to hide.

"I know it's stupid, Renee. Two weeks of it has been getting to me, that's all. I went to the park to clear my head. Topped off with the memory flashes I've been having recently, I needed a break."

"Memory flashes?" asked Renee.

Liam shrugged. "It comes with the territory, Renee. I have the memories of three parents; countless races encountered by the Kimera and my own thoughts all running round in my head. Sometimes it gets a little noisy."

"I had no idea," murmured Renee. "How do you stand it?"

"I go for long walks in the park," retorted Liam.

Renee acknowledged his riposte with a murmured, "Touché."

Liam smiled at her and said, "That's one of the reasons I like being around you and Sandoval. You accept me at face value.

"You found out about my heritage after you knew me. Your perceptions of me are as an adult, Augur and the others see the adult but they have the memory of the child that they saw first.

"You accept me for what you see."

"What about Sandoval?" asked Renee.

Liam shrugged. "I know he doesn't know about me and I have no idea how he will react if he ever finds out. He'll accept me, ignore me, kill me or turn me in.

"Until then, I'm a colleague. On occasion a very annoying one, but a colleague nonetheless. That's the way he treats me. I like it."

"What am I, Liam?"

Liam reached across the table and clasped Renee's hand. "You're a friend, Renee. One I can talk to and know that I will get honest answers from. Thank you."


Liam walked her to her car. Before driving off, she lowered the window and looked up into his eyes. Peaceful now. Calmer. "No more vanishing off without warning. Okay."

Liam nodded.

"Oh, and Liam. If you ever want to talk you know I'm only a call away."

Watching her drive off, Liam said softly, "I know that. Do you have any idea how much I count on that?"


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Last modified August 5th, 2002.
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