CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
ANTONIO
He was sitting by Jayden's side, forcing himself not to run. His best friend had physically recovered from Ninjor's attack, but he still wasn't waking up. It made Antonio's chest ache to see him like that. Jayden had always been so strong. Now, he was vulnerable and weak, and that was terrifying.

He'd spent a lot less time with Jayden than he should have, mostly distracting himself with training or working on freeing Ren. Mia and Spike visited daily. Emily only left his side for training or to take care of basic human needs like grooming herself. She had unofficially moved into the Command Center, even sleeping on a cot beside Jayden almost as if she feared he'd die the second she left him. Zordon made sure the Alphas kept her fed while she was there. Even now, Emily slept beside Jayden.

Lauren was hardly around. Antonio wasn't sure if seeing Jayden in such bad shape was too much for her or if she was busy working on something, but her visits were very brief and mostly seemed to be so she could get updates on his condition.

"Hey, Jay," Antonio said awkwardly. "I know I haven't been around much, but I'm trying to help someone... There's some major stuff that's about to come out, and I really want to tell you about it, but first you gotta wake up, Buddy... Okay? Can you do that for me?"

Jayden didn't respond. "What major stuff?" Emily asked with a yawn as she sat up on the cot.

"Um... It's complicated," Antonio replied. He knew he couldn't tell anyone yet... Not until he figured out how to free Ren.

Emily automatically stroked Jayden's hair a couple of times. "He'll wake up soon," she said. "You'll see... He's going to be fine."

"I know he is," Antonio replied with more confidence than he felt. The truth was, he was terrified Jayden might never wake up again.

"Are you okay, Antonio?" Emily asked in concern. That girl always knew when someone was upset.

"I'm just worried about Jay," he replied. And trying to figure out how to help the teammate we all forgot existed, he added silently.

Emily reached forward and squeezed his hand. "Jayden's going to be fine," she said. Those words had become her mantra. She spoke them frequently, as if she could manifest them into being true if she said them often enough. Antonio knew how scared she really was, but Emily was strong, and she wouldn't give up until Jayden was awake.

ZORDON
To say the current situation was awkward would be an understatement. Briar was sitting in what served as his kitchen in the Command Center. She was eating like she hadn't been fed in a century and he realized nearly dying had caused her to burn through whatever food had been in her system. Dale sat awkwardly across from her looking as if someone might attack him at any moment.

Alpha Prime stood beside Zordon, silently helping him cook. "Are you well, Zordon?" Prime finally asked quietly.

"I suppose I am still in a bit of shock," Zordon admitted. He paused as he sensed a spirit lingering nearby. He couldn't quite get a sense of who it was, but her energy was powerful and he knew she was watching the children closely.

What on all of Eltar is going on? He wondered.

Dale tensed, almost like he sensed her, too. Briar continued eating, apparently not picking up on the energy.

Suddenly, Zordon realized that his father must have known about Briar all along, which probably meant he knew about Dale. He excused himself and left the Command Center before saying, "Father, I know you hear me. Come. Now."

His father arrived quickly. "Zordon, what troubles you?" He asked in concern.

"You knew the truth," he replied bluntly.

His father frowned. "I know a great many things, my dear boy. Can you be more specific?" He asked.

"Briar is mine."

"Please tell me you know this because you found her and she's safe."

"I did. She's with Alpha. That isn't the point, Father. You knew Briar was my daughter and you didn't tell me!"

"Zordon, you know how delicate time travel is. Briar is here with an important mission."

"To help Dale. Her brother. Which you clearly also knew. Father, how could you not tell me that the Guild had my son?"

"I was trying to protect you... I have been doing my best to assist Briar."

"Yes, you did such a good job of that. The Guild tortured her!"

His father looked so upset that Zordon actually felt bad for lashing out at him. "I adore that girl, Zordon," he said sadly. "I am horrified any harm came to her."

Zordon took a deep breath. Mother would be ashamed of me, he thought. This isn't Father's fault...

"I believe you wanted to do the right thing," he said, although he struggled with the words. He was furious Briar had been hurt, and he was furious Dale had been part of something as evil as the Guild and his father hadn't intervened... But deep down, he understood. Time travel was delicate and messy, and one wrong move could have destroyed everything.

"I'm sorry, Zordon. Truly. Is Briar alright?" His father asked.

"I think she's a bit traumatized, but physically she is fine now," Zordon replied.

His father paused. "How much has she told you?"

"She told me she came here to save Dale... Is there more?"

"There is, however, it also involves time travel."

"I do not think I can handle any more surprises, Father. Tell me before it just comes out."

"In the future, you have two other children. They have been staying on Eltar in a secure location except while we were searching for Briar. They initially came here to locate their younger sister and bring her home, however it became clear they were meant to remain for a bit."

Zordon nodded slowly, trying to process that. "So I have four children who traveled here from the future."

"No, my dear boy... You have three who traveled from the future. Dale is their half-brother. He is in his correct time."

"I do not understand. I have not..." Zordon shook his head. "It is not possible I fathered a child that many years ago."

"Time travel was employed at some point to create the boy."

"Create?"

"He comes from Jezzeff's Flames, my son. He is the only child Jezzeff successfully made."

Zordon's chest tightened. "Jezzeff created Dale?" He repeated.

"Yes. I do not yet know who the boy's mother is, although I have my suspicions."

"Which are?"

"Unconfirmed and potentially very upsetting. I will tell you, my dear boy, but not until I am certain."

"Father-"

"Zordon, I must stand firm on this. It is only a theory, and now is not the time to explore it. Your son and daughter need you to remain focused."

"Very well... If that is all you can tell me, then go. I will return to the children."

His father hesitated before nodding. Zordon went back inside the Command Center. Briar had passed out while still sitting at the table. He watched as Dale used a bit of magic to conjure a pillow beneath her head before he showed himself.

"You must hate me," Dale said softly.

"Why would I hate you?" Zordon asked.

"I am part of the Guild."

"Did you want to harm people, Dale?"

"No... I hate it. There were some things I refused, but others... I had to."

"I knew Jezzeff well when I was a boy, Dale. I understand how persuasive he can be. He is nearly as charismatic as my father, and he is the greatest liar Eltar has ever seen. It is very easy to get sucked into his web, and once you are, it is incredibly difficult to escape."

"You aren't angry?"

"Oh, I am angry, Dale... Just not with you. You did not ask to be created, nor did you ask for Jezzeff and the Witch to force you to join the Guild."

"Aiyana figured out where I came from. I only knew I was abandoned on Onyx. I was still pretty young when I was rescued."

"By the Witch?"

"No... She came later. Zydia found me while searching for mindless monster minions. For some reason, she couldn't bear to leave me there. She asked Garron to allow the Rebellion to rescue me, but he was fiercely against it. He wanted me killed. Zydia asked Rupi to hide me, and he sent me to a good family. They were killed in a fire less than a year later, and I ended up in foster care. That was... Difficult."

Zordon's chest ached. He knew what both Josh and Angie had endured in foster care, and he could tell from Andie's eyes that her experiences had been similar to their's, even though she refused to discuss it with him. He even recalled Troy's horror stories of his time in the system. He could tell just by the way Dale wouldn't look at him that he had also been abused while in a system that was meant to protect him.

"That's when the Witch found you?" Zordon guessed.

"Yes. She rescued me... And she and Jezzeff both promised no one would harm me like that again if I worked with them," Dale replied.

"It is no wonder you accepted... It was your only way out."

"I am sorry, Father," Dale replied awkwardly. "Or do you prefer Zordon?"

"Use whichever makes you comfortable, Dale. This is a shock for both of us. And do not apologize. Anyone would have done what you did in your situation."

"I hate what they made me do..." Dale whispered, staring at the floor.

Zordon took a deep breath before gently taking Dale's hand. Dale flinched, but slowly relaxed. "I will not harm you, Dale. You are my son. I know what it is to have a father who harms you. I will never raise a hand to one of my children."

Dale finally looked into his eyes. He seemed to be searching for something. Finally, he said, "Jezzeff will send Jonah after me. He doesn't take betrayal well and he knows I fear him. Now that Leigan has been captured, no one can keep Jonah in line."

It didn't take much to guess what the warlock had done to his son. Zordon forced himself to remain calm so as not to further traumatize the boy and said, "I won't let any harm come to you, Dale. The Command Center is a sanctuary. No one can enter unless the Alphas teleport them in. You can remain here with me for as long as you need to."

"I can?"

"This place is my home currently. My living quarters are easily expanded with magic. I can create a room for you... Unless you prefer to stay somewhere else?"

"No, it isn't that," Dale replied quickly. "It's just... I didn't think you'd want me."

"Magic spell and stolen energy or not, Dale, you are my son. I want to be here for you."

"You do?"

Zordon paused thoughtfully. "I never believed I would have children. I gave up on that possibility when my father turned the girl I loved evil, knowing I could never love another. Now, she is cured and we are reunited and we plan to be married... I sometimes fear I will be a horrible father. I lost my mother very young and my father was not exactly a good example of being a parent... He had his moments where he was wonderful, but he was also a monster, and I never knew which version of him I'd get. However, all of that makes me determined to not make his mistakes. I will nurture my children, just as I have tried to nurture my Power Rangers. I will be there, which is far more than he often did. So, if you will allow it, I'll be here for you, Dale. And whatever that means can be determined as we go."

"I'd like that," Dale replied softly.

Zordon offered him a kind smile. "On the plus side, you are a teenager, so you can tell me if I make a grave error concerning you."

"Teenagers are a handful... And I'm legally an adult."

"Teen years last for two centuries on Eltar. Most people forget this because he was born long ago and because people treated him as a wise adult by the time he was thirteen, but technically my father is barely past his teens. He was under three hundred when he died."

"Is Jezzeff still a teenager?"

"No, but he wasn't much older than one."

"You would think he'd have at least outgrown the tantrums."

Zordon surprised both of them when he laughed. "Yes, I suppose he should have," he agreed after a moment.

His laughter seemed to make Dale relax. For a few minutes, they made small talk and tried to get to know each other. Then, Briar began whimpering in her sleep. Soon, she was screaming.

"Stop it! Stop!" She shouted as she tried to fight off invisible threats.

Zordon quickly knelt beside her and wrapped her in his arms. Dale conjured a blanket, which Zordon wrapped around her shoulders as he gently shook her awake. "All is well, Briar," he said soothingly. "You are safe now. It was only a nightmare."

Briar jumped as she woke up, but she immediately relaxed as she snuggled against Zordon. "Dad..." She whispered.

"You are safe, sweet girl. Do not fret," he said as he stroked her hair. She sobbed into his chest for a minute before fully calming down.

"Sorry about the water works," she said quickly. "I'm not usually all weepy and broken."

"You have been through a trauma, Briar. This is perfectly normal," Zordon reassured her.

"Did you and Dale talk?"

"We did. I also spoke to my father. I understand you have other siblings."

"He told you? What about the timeline? If I mess it up, we might never be born!"

"Do not worry, Briar. I believe you were meant to come here. I think Jezzeff and the Witch left you no choice. Time travel is very dangerous, but I know how to preserve the timeline. My father is, after all, the top expert on the subject."

"So I'm not grounded for eternity?"

"Not at this time. From now on, no more secrets, alright? Not from me anyway."

"I'll do my best. Some things need to happen on their own."

"I know. Just tell me when you need help, alright?"

"I will. I promise." She paused. "Are you going to tell Mom?"

"I assume your mother is Rita?"

"Like you'd ever be with anyone else!" She laughed. "You two were made for each other."

He smiled. "Then yes. I need to tell her about Dale, and to explain that, I must explain you. Rita and I try not to keep secrets from each other anymore."

"Okay... Just make sure this doesn't scare her off."

"If my father didn't scare her off, nothing will." He hoped that was true. Rita had agreed to marry him, but she hadn't signed on to parent a stepson.

I'm going to be Angie's stepfather, he realized. He hadn't really considered that before. I suppose that already makes us a blended family.

"Dad, are you okay?" Briar asked.

"Yes," he replied. He was pretty sure it was the truth. At least Briar was proof he and Rita would have the happy life he'd hoped they could. "Come on. It's quite late. You must rest."

The children obediently followed him. He quickly cast a spell to create a suitable room for Dale. He was about to cast another when Briar grabbed his arm. "Dad," she began, "can I just sleep with you in your bed tonight? I just..." She paused, not looking at him.

"Of course, sweet girl," he replied as he sensed her fear. "I will keep you safe as you rest."

He led Briar to his room and held her, gently stroking her hair. He was quite startled to realize he'd automatically begun singing Ezkabar Sherra, the Eltarian lullaby his mother sang to him when he was small. Ever since her death he'd been unable to bear the sound of it, but it came out naturally as he tried to comfort his little girl. Briar soon fell into a peaceful sleep.

THE NEXT DAY.

JEZZEFF
He was piecing himself together faster than ever. He could feel himself growing stronger by the minute. Suddenly, a man appeared before him. He smiled sadistically as Jezzeff wondered why he felt so familiar.

"Who are you?" He asked.

"I am your ancestor, Jezzeff," the man replied. "My name is Joachim EverSpring. I was once a powerful Chief of the Stone Canyon Tribe."

Jezzeff began paying more attention now. "Have you come to assist me on my journey?" He asked.

"Yes." Joachim laughed. "I am called the Great Deceiver. When I have found other Shaman, my role was to fool them and try to make them fail, but not you, Jezzeff. You are everything I desire in a descendent. Do you know why I was given my surname, EverSpring?"

"Why?"

"I was born to be incredibly powerful. I have limitless potential to acquire new magical gifts, like a spring forever flowing and replenishing the earth. They believed I would bring great things to my people. And I did... I brought great evil. You see, power requires sacrifice, and only the strongest have the will to seek it."

"What happened when they figured it out?"

"They killed me and my son. They believed the line died with us, but my son had unknowingly fathered a child, and the line continued in secret. The descendants were raised to be good, and they never knew their true potential... Until you. I knew this day would come. You shall bring glory back to the EverSpring line!"

Jezzeff smiled. Finally, he understood the last piece of his heritage. The final shards of his soul came back together, filling in the remaining holes. It took him a few moments to adjust before he stood up.

"How do I return to life?" He asked.

"You do not yet," Joachim replied. "First, you must learn to use your new gifts. I shall be your teacher, Jezzeff. I will ensure you are the most glorious descendant our line has ever seen."

With the promise of that glory, Jezzeff smiled.

FELINA
She had kept to herself for the better part of the last year. It was easier that way. Besides, all Felina really needed was her son. Topaz, the child she'd believed she had miscarried, was alive and she had slowly been getting to know him.

Kizzie, Amareese, and the other former Rebellion members occasionally visited her. Laby checked on her fairly often, and he always made time to make her laugh and get her to relax. Zell lived in a house on the other side of the same property and checked in on her about once a week. Things were still awkward between them, like neither knew quite what to say to the other, but she was grateful he cared enough to try.

The Alchemist and Warlock lived with Elgan in the other house on the property, but she rarely saw them. Sometimes, she ran into them in the woods behind the houses, usually when she was gathering ingredients for meals or spells. Their interactions were limited, but civilized. Eva Leigh and Maizon were different now, full of light and a love of life they'd never had when she'd known them. Felina understood. She was different now, too.

What brightened her day the most, however, were the visits from Vrennius. As a girl, Felina had been very close to Vrennius. He'd saved her life when she was a child and she'd grown to consider him her only real friend. Zell had ordered her to kill him, but she'd spared his life and faked his death instead. He'd lived under the identity of Phoenix and ultimately joined the Rebellion, but despite his flawless glamour spell, Felina had known exactly who he was. For his own good, she'd stayed away from him. Ever since Zell's redemption, Vrennius had been living as himself again.

He hadn't been by in a few days, and Topaz had told Felina about Hudzon and Danzel's deaths. She was very worried about Vrennius, and that was what made her leave the safety of the property she lived on.

She found him easily enough. Vrennius stood in the park playing with a little girl. Felina watched them from a distance as he pushed the child on a swing. The girl giggled in delight.

"Who is this little one?" Felina asked softly.

"Felina! How lovely to see you," Vrennius replied. "This is Danica. Dani, meet Felina."

The toddler grinned at her and waved before cheerfully saying, "hi!"

"Hello, Danica," Felina replied politely.

"She only knows a few words so far," Vrennius explained. "Hi is her favorite."

"How do you know her?"

"She's sort of mine..."

"Yours?" Felina repeated in surprise. "I thought the Circle didn't generally get to know their children... With the exception of Hudzon."

Vrennius smiled sadly. "Hudzon made me realize it is possible to raise a child even with our lives, if one is careful... Her mother passed away during childbirth a year ago. Dani didn't have anyone else, so I decided to raise her myself. No one knows, Felina. Not even the Circle. She is my most guarded and precious secret."

"Yet you told me..."

"I trust you."

"Do you not trust the Circle?"

"They're my brothers, Felina, but we collectively agreed not to risk bringing kids into our lives. Hudzon was exempted from that because he lost his family as a boy and it meant the world to him to have one again, and he had a wife to watch over the children when he could not. I don't want to be known as the one who defied that rule."

"Little Danica has no one else. They would understand."

"I'm not ready to tell them yet... But I refuse to lie to you." He smiled at her. "Dani is my world, Felina... But so are you."

She stared at him in surprise. "What?" She asked.

"You can't really pretend you don't know how I feel about you after all this time, Felina. Have I been too subtle?"

"Vrennius-"

"If life has taught me anything it's that you never know when it might be cut short, so you should say what you think. Felina of Eltar, I love you. You may take that however you want... As a friend, as a lover, as anything you need... Regardless, it is the truth, and I refuse to lie to the one woman I have ever said those words to."

Felina hesitated before doing something that terrified her... She kissed him. She'd kissed Zell countless times, but she'd never felt what she felt now. Vrennius kissed her back with a passion that went far beyond lust and a desire for power. The way he held her... The way he pressed his lips against hers, hungry for more but obviously not wanting to push her too far... Felina suddenly understood that he meant it. He loved her.

Zell had never said those words to her. He'd cared for her as much as someone like him could, but he hadn't loved her. He'd never felt that kind of passion for her. The only one he'd been able to almost feel it with had been Daphne.

And the Witch made him killed her for it, Felina thought. Perhaps, in hindsight, I was rather lucky.

"Felina... Are you alright?" Vrennius asked as he pulled away from her.

"I am," she replied. "I simply think too much sometimes."

"Don't we all?" He laughed.

"Vrennius... How are you holding up? I heard about Hudzon and Danzel... Is Hudzon's family alright?"

"I'm as well as I can be," he replied. "As for Hudzon's family, they are doing their best with their current circumstances."

"I'm surprised none of them attacked Sezzon. Some of his children have hot tempers."

"They understand why that would be a poor choice. We relocated them to a sanctuary planet. Jezzeff and the Witch should be unable to find them there, at least for the time being."

"I'm relieved they're safe. His poor wife, having to care for so many children, and the youngest is still just a baby..."

"She is excellent with children and the older ones are happy to help her."

"Who helps you? With Danica?"

"I have some trust issues, especially now... I found a nanny here on Earth who's wonderful. She's got an enchantment on her to keep her from asking questions if anything unusual happens, like Captain Smith's staff in New York."

"Impressive."

"Thank you."

Danica unexpectedly reached her arms toward Felina. The gesture was so warm and trusting that Felina didn't know what to do with it at first. Finally, she cautiously picked the child up out of her swing and held her. Felina was startled as the girl snuggled against her and began saying, "Hi! Hi, hi, hi, hi!"

"Hi," Felina replied softly.

Danica giggled and clapped her hands in response before babbling "hi" again a few more times. Felina couldn't help but smile as the baby babbled in her arms.

"Dani likes you," Vrennius said with a grin. "She is an excellent judge of character."

"I like her, too," Felina admitted. Her exposure to children had been limited, but she'd been around a couple who were born into the Rebellion. Van and Allie had been a little older than Danica when they were brought in, but Felina remembered when Tiffani was that small. Amareese had carried the girl around like a tiny sidekick until she could walk, at which point Tiffani had spent much of her time chasing after Laby. Felina couldn't blame the girl. Children always flocked to Laby.

Danica looked down at the swing suddenly. Felina put her back in it. She pushed her gently a few times before allowing Vrennius to take over. "I have to go," Felina said. "Topaz may worry if he returns home to find me missing. Come by soon, alright? Bring Danica if you like."

Vrennius smiled. "I'll do that." He gave her a kiss. "Bye, Felina."

"Bye! Bye, bye, bye, bye, bye-bye!" Danica said cheerfully. She blew a kiss at Felina.

Felina smiled at the girl. "Goodbye, sweet Danica," she replied. "And Vrennius."

Danica continued to say "bye" and blow kisses until Felina was out of earshot. Felina was in a good mood as she headed home. The last thing she expected was for someone to fling a spell at her head before she made it there.

It hit, but her own protection wards deflected most of the effects. Felina immediately pulled out her wand. She didn't need it, but it helped her direct her energy when she needed to channel her full power. Amos had once temporarily turned it into a large, squirming fish, but that had only been a glamour spell. Still, after that, she'd tried to only use it in emergencies.

"Honestly, Child, do you really require training wheels?" A woman's voice asked. Felina didn't recognize her, but she could sense the enormous power flowing from her.

"I am no child," Felina snapped.

"Everyone is a child to me. I was born long before Eltar's existence."

"T'Dania Treygan," Felina said softly.

"Yes, Felina Bezzak. It is I."

Felina cringed. "Do not ever call me that!" She snapped.

"It is your name, Child. Bezzak blood flows through your veins."

The image made Felina want to slit her wrists just to get that blood out of her. "I have not used my bastard father's name since Zell saved me from him when I was six. I am legally Felina of Eltar."

"You Eltarians and your dislike of surnames... Have you no respect for your heritage?"

"That monster does not deserve my respect."

"Yet Zell does? Oh, Child, you are a misguided one!" T'Dania laughed.

Felina weighed her options. If she attacked, T'Dania would surely try to slaughter her. She'd killed so many former Rebellion members already. Lido was the only one who could kill Felina in theory, but she'd come close enough to death before to wonder if this woman's ancient magic might be strong enough to destroy her. She could alert Garron and the other former Rebels, but if anyone other than Garron came, they would probably be killed. The only reason Garron couldn't die was he wasn't technically alive, just walking around in a Gigai.

Reach out to Laby. Laby can't die, she thought. She immediately decided against it. Laby couldn't die, but he could be tortured, and she refused to risk anything happening to him.

There was calling on Zell, but Felina suspected T'Dania was expecting that and would turn her wrath on him.

I can do this myself, she decided. T'Dania might be powerful, but so was she, and she would face this foe with dignity. If she died, at least she wouldn't take anyone else down with her.

T'Dania began casting a spell. Felina cast one of her own. The spells collided in midair, knocking both sorceresses onto their backs.

"Not bad, Little Sorceress," T'Dania mocked her. "However, that won't be enough to save you."

"I have done nothing to you, T'Dania!" Felina said as she sent another spell at her enemy.

"Oh, but you have, Child. Unlike many of my targets, you directly crossed me. You participated in an attack on a hospital a while back. I am here for Wisteria."

"Wisteria?" Felina paused. "That was ages ago... She wasn't the target. If she had fled, she would have survived."

"She went back to save children. Innocent children who only survived because of her kindness! That doesn't matter to the likes of you, however."

"It does... I do not know how you knew this girl, T'Dania, but I do regret her demise. Too many years in the Rebellion convinced me there was such a thing as necessary casualties. I understand now how wrong we were."

"The Rebellion did not teach you that, Child... Your master did."

"I have no master."

"Lies! You, more than anyone, are loyal to him! The things you did in the name of that abomination can never be forgiven! And now, you shall pay for your choices with your life!"

Suddenly, Felina was certain T'Dania could strip away her immortality and kill her. She took a deep breath and began to cast a spell as she prepared to fight until her very last breath.

B'DANNA
Something had drawn her to the woods. B'Danna hurried through them, following the energy that was calling her. She almost turned around when she spotted T'Dania, but then she realized what she was doing.

Felina was battling as hard as she could, but she was injured, and B'Danna knew she was growing weaker by the second.

"Stop!" B'Danna shouted as T'Dania prepared to attack again. She jumped between the dueling sorceresses. "Don't do this!"

"B'Danna, my darling!" T'Dania said in surprise and pleasure. "It is lovely to see you. Just allow me to finish this and we can talk."

"Leave her alone," B'Danna replied firmly.

"B'Danna-"

"Felina is my friend. I won't let you hurt her."

"Darling, I don't think you understand what this woman is. She was that abomination Zell Yizak's willing servant. She gave him everything. She has done horrific things. Her crimes must be punished."

"Look, Felina's no saint. I know that. I also know what Zell put her through. He groomed her from the time she was six. She never knew anything other than being loyal to him. It's not her fault, and she's changed. Don't do this."

"I'm sorry, Darling, but I must." T'Dania began casting something too powerful to be anything but a spell to strip away Felina's immortality and kill her. B'Danna panicked as she realized she was about to be forced to watch another friend die.

"Mom!" She shouted.

T'Dania froze. She turned to stare at B'Danna with tears in her eyes. "You called me Mom..." She said.

"Yes," B'Danna replied. The word was foreign to her, but it appeared to be working, so she used it again. "Mom, you say you love me and want to be part of my life. Felina is my family. The Rebellion is my family! For most of my life, they're all I've had. If you kill them... If you hurt them... You hurt me. You claim you don't want to hurt me, but hurting them is hurting me in the worst way possible. Don't do this. Please." She looked at T'Dania with desperation in her eyes.

T'Dania hesitated. "If I let her live, will you give me a chance?" She asked softly.

"I'll try," B'Dania replied.

"If she is important enough to you to make you negotiate with me then she must be worthy of another chance." She sighed, letting the spell break apart and fade away.

"The Rebels aren't what you think, Mom," B'Danna said. "Vitti broke the Rebellion apart when she realized how far off our true mission we'd gone. We're good people. Most of us, anyway. The majority of the ones who aren't are either dead or defected to the Coalition."

"They nearly killed someone very important to me. For far too long, I believed she was dead!"

"Wisteria survived?" Felina asked in surprise.

"She did, no thanks to Garron and the rest of you."

"Garron's an ass," B'Danna said. "If you want to fight with him, go for it. He deserves what he gets. But everyone else... Mom, please don't keep targeting them. I've lost enough friends. I can't watch anyone else I care about die."

T'Dania softened significantly. "Very well," she said.

"Very well?" B'Danna repeated.

"If it is your wish, my darling, I will stop hunting the Rebels. I think my point was made. I make no promises about Garron, but the others no longer need to fear me unless they prove to be threats."

"Thank you..."

"Of course. Felina, you are free to go."

Felina hesitated. "Are you certain, B'Danna?" She asked.

"She won't harm me," B'Danna replied. "I'm her daughter." T'Dania smiled at her words. B'Danna tried to embrace them, but having a mother would take some getting used to, especially one who had proven to be so unhinged.

"Very well. Be safe," Felina said gently.

"Wait... You're hurt."

"I'll manage, B'Danna."

"No." B'Danna hesitated. "Mom..."

"You wish for me to heal your friend," T'Dania guessed.

"No. I want you to teach me to heal so I can do it myself."

T'Dania's eyes lit up in delight. "Certainly! Come. Bring her closer."

B'Danna helped keep Felina steady as they approached T'Dania. "Alright. What do I do?" She asked.

"Focus on your own spirit, my darling. Feel it flowing through you... Touch your magic."

B'Danna wasn't sure it would work, but she took a deep breath and focused, and soon she felt her energy in a way she never had before. "I... I think it's working," she said.

"Good. Now touch Felina's energy... Feel her pain. See if you can sense her injuries."

To B'Danna's surprise, she did feel them. She focused as much of her energy as she could until she knew exactly what was wrong with Felina. The healing seemed to come easily after that. She'd never done it before. Draze had been the healer, not her. Still, it felt as natural as breathing to heal Felina.

"Very good, my darling! Slow down, though. You'll burn yourself out quickly at first if you don't pace yourself," T'Dania said. She gently placed her hands over B'Danna's. This made B'Danna's magic focus better. It drained less of her energy as T'Dania helped her finish the job.

"Did it work?" B'Danna finally asked as T'Dania released her hands.

"That was impressive, B'Danna," Felina replied. "Thank you."

"I'm glad you feel better. Go home and call Captain Smith. Tell him I'm safe but may not be home for a while."

"I'll let him know," Felina promised. She left quickly, probably in case T'Dania changed her mind.

"You have done well, B'Danna... Now, join me. I wish to make you and your sister a meal," T'Dania said.

"Sister?" B'Danna repeated. "I thought all of my siblings were dead."

"Wisteria, my darling... My first daughter, my beloved girl... I am only now getting to know her, and I would love for you to join me."

"I don't understand."

T'Dania sighed. "Sit with me for a moment, my darling." She sat and patted the grass beside her. As B'Danna sat down, T'Dania cast a privacy spell.

"Long ago, my home was at war," T'Dania began. "Nozann men abducted my sister and I from B'Deston after they slaughtered my youngest son. I went with them to protect my twin sister. They did terrible things to us. We were tortured, beaten, and violated repeatedly for a year. During that time, I suppose I developed what they call Stockholm Syndrome. Zekiah Yizak, great-grandfather of the abomination, Zell, showed me kindness. I told myself I was in love with him, but that was probably a survival tactic. He also violated me, but he didn't want to. As time went on, I gave myself to him willingly. And, as it turned out, I was carrying his child. My judgment must have been clouded by that. One day, his father and a soldier with the surname Farmell tortured my sister to the brink of death. I could have saved her... I know I could have... But Zekiah shot her in the head and had the nerve to call it a kindness. He was just as evil as his father! He wouldn't even let me try to save her!"

B'Danna stared at T'Dania, finally beginning to understand her. "That's why you hate Zell and the Yizaks," she said softly.

"The Yizaks are liars, my darling. They betray. They destroy all that they touch." T'Dania took a deep breath to calm herself. "After Zekiah murdered my sister, I went into labor. I killed the ones who delivered my daughter. They would have killed me... I had only survived that long because I was carrying a child with Yizak blood. I took your sister and fled. I encountered a man who promised to get her somewhere safe and offered to do the same for me. I couldn't allow it. I had to return. Your oldest brother, Rizdan, needed me. This man was only part of the Nozann army so he could save innocents the other soldiers abducted and tortured. I trusted him, and I sent your sister away because I knew she would not be safe with me. I feared the fact that she was Zekiah's would make me grow to hate her, and I knew my husband would kill her and try to kill me for conceiving her. That man was Tiktah Veritez's father, and to this day, I owe him so much. Zell destroyed Tiktah's life. He killed all of his children. I can never forgive such an act."

"What happened after he took her?" B'Danna asked.

"Wisteria was safe. She was raised by a wonderful family on a sanctuary planet. I did not find this out for a very long time. I told Zekiah I killed her... I spared his life for reasons I cannot explain... Then I returned home, where my husband called me a whore for the things the Nozann soldiers did to me. He attacked me, so I killed him. No man will ever lay a hand on me in anger again."

B'Danna couldn't deny she respected that. "He deserved it," she said.

"Yes, my darling. He did. Even Rizdan understood that." T'Dania smiled. "He was unkind even before that, but my father wished for us to marry. I kept my name, however. There is great power in the Treygan name... And once, it had great honor as well. I intend to restore that."

"I heard a rumor Keilah captured Percival... He's going to be executed."

"Thank you for telling me that."

"Are you going to try to save him?"

"No, but I think I might attend the execution. Keilah is fabulous, and Percival deserves what he gets."

"He is one of your Elites."

"I gave him the chance to prove he is worthy of the Treygan blood in his veins. Time and time again, he failed to do so. He is not as vile as Aphell or even Rinton were, but he is still a criminal. He's only out for himself, and many of his crimes warrant execution. I will not interfere."

B'Danna was mildly surprised, but also impressed. "You aren't what I thought you were," she admitted.

"I'm pleased you're coming to understand that." She paused. "The Rebellion of Eltar was a very dangerous organization, my darling. Their initial intention may have been to target those who deserved death, and I respect that, but they reached a point where they didn't care about innocents getting caught in the crossfire. Wisteria heroically risked her life to save children, and she succeeded. For a long time, I believed she was dead, just as Eltar believes. Somehow, she ended up on Earth with amnesia. I intend to find answers as to how that happened, but for now, I am simply grateful that it did. You must not tell anyone of her heritage. It will put her at risk."

"I won't," B'Danna promised.

"Good. This is why I killed the Rebels, my darling. Do you understand now?"

"I do. Garron's made horrible calls before. That's why I prefer Captain Smith. He's honorable and never harms innocents. He even refused Garron's orders if he disagreed with them."

"I have heard that about him. It's why he was at the bottom of my hit list. I intended to kill all of the Rebels, but he was not my priority." She paused. "I'm sorry my actions caused you pain."

B'Danna nodded, not sure what to say. Finally, T'Dania asked, "Are you ready to meet your sister?"

"I've never had a sibling before, but I guess so," B'Danna replied.

T'Dania paused. "My darling, since we're being honest... You should know something."

"Alright... What is it?" B'Danna couldn't even guess what might be coming, but she tried to brace herself anyway.

"You had another sibling, B'Danna... One you knew quite well."

"Wait... You said all of them died or you killed them."

"He wasn't mine, my darling, although I wish he was. He was your father's... And he was born the same day you were."

B'Danna froze. She only knew one person who had shared her birthday. "That's not possible," she said firmly.

"It's why you were so close once you met. You were practically twins."

"No. You're lying."

"I won't lie to you, B'Danna. Especially not about this."

"He... He couldn't have been..."

"He was, my darling. Draze was your half-brother."

She wanted to run, but she felt Draze's light wrapping around her and she knew it was the truth. Suddenly, she was too broken to respond. She couldn't wrap her head around it. Draze was her best friend. She'd always viewed him as a sort of brother, but to know it was actually the truth... To know her brother had died to save her life... It was too much.

She didn't realize she had tears in her eyes until T'Dania held her. She was too broken to fight her, and she simply allowed the embrace, wishing it would stop the pain.

"Come, my darling," T'Dania said soothingly as she released the privacy spell surrounding them. "I will bring you somewhere you can grieve and process this in private. When you feel better, you can come out of the room and meet your sister." She opened up a portal. Too numb to argue, B'Danna followed her, not caring where they were going as long as it was away from the prying eyes of others.