How Stark is the Here and Now

by Loui

Earth: Final Conflict is copyright © Tribune Entertainment and Roddenberry/Kirschner. No infringement of that copyright is intended by this story.
"How Stark is the Here and Now" is copyright © Loui.

The painting sat on an easel in the apartment as Renee let herself in. Ever since the debacle with the betrayal of the Resistance leaders, she had kept an eye on Liam. He was still working with Augur and he still protected Da'an; but things were different. Something innocent - no, that wasn't quite right, not even Liam was that naive - something good had died in Liam that day. What was it? Faith, trust, hope? Something was missing, and now nothing was right.

Liam had disappeared not long after their last meeting, and he had not checked in with her. She was not worried, she wasn't. He was very skilled at avoiding surveillance and he was probably just taking precautions. She really shouldn't be here, he hadn't been gone long enough for concern, yet.

Her eyes drawn to the easel, Renee approached the painting. Since when did Liam paint? Was this one of the things inherited from his 'parents'? God, she still had trouble accepting that concept. Whether it was inherited or a hobby he had picked up on his own, the painting was stunning. She didn't know the subject, but even so the feelings evoked when she looked at it where deep and profound. It called to some basic emotions buried deep within her. In fact, she was so engrossed in what she was looking at she barely heard the door swing open.

Whirling, she raised her gun instinctively.

"Hello to you too, Palmer."

"Liam, there you are! I was wor-- ah never mind," she stopped talking before she put her foot in her mouth even further.

"Worried? I'm touched, Palmer; I didn't know you cared."

As an attempt to change the subject, she switched the topic to the painting. "Liam, this painting is amazing. What is it about?"

Liam waved his hand as though to say it was nothing. Surprising herself, Renee caught his hand and stilled it with a gentle gesture.

"Please, Liam. Tell me."

"It's from a song I heard. It was playing on an entertainment channel the day I got home from the... well, you know what day I'm talking about.

"The red stallion is the horse of the here and now. The mirrors and glass on her back reflect what the world is like now, the confusion, the fear. The line that caught my attention was 'How stark is the here and now'.

"I just painted what I was feeling, Palmer. It was better than lashing out any more than I had already; the damage was done. Causing more friction would only have made a bad situation so much worse."

Silence descended. Renee was forced to admit to herself, and not for the first time, that the man that stood before her had a greater ability to deal with tragedy and setbacks than anyone she had ever known. That he shouldn't have to be dealing with them at all only made the situation all the more tragic.

"What's that shadow in the corner there?"

Liam gave a sad smile.

"The horse of the years to come. Weighed down by all the sadness of a thousand centuries. The future can be altered, though. That is why the future's song is still unwritten. If fate and the angels will allow it we can change things for the better."

Not wishing to leave, Renee stayed. Liam seemed happy with the company. The rest of the evening was spent talking quietly. The unspoken fact acknowledged by them both was that the next day things would be back to normal. Acquaintances, occasional allies, more likely unfortunate adversaries in some twisted double deal. That evening though, they were just friends.


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Last modified December 5th, 2001.
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