Selma's Note: This occurs, of course, at some point after "Reading the Fine Print", after Ang and Jennifer have settled down in a human community.

Future 1
by Selma McCrory and Deb Cebulski
Copyright 2000

Ang took a deep breath, opening her bedroom door and coming into the living room where her very-great-grandmother was sitting. Nearby, Jennifer perched. Ang turned to her daughter. "Jennifer, why don't you go and have some time at that bookstore of yours while Moira and I have a talk?"

The child did so, taking her moneycard with her, though Ang knew that her child would no doubt want a full accounting which meant, of course, a Sharing. Oh, well. There were some Kimera things she was getting used to. She sat down, noting with pleasure the tea tray that was already there, and blessed her now-absent daughter.

Once Ang was properly settled with a cup of tea close at hand, Moira spoke up. "Now that the child's gone, will you tell me who you are? And no lies, please. That child of yours is a Kimera hybrid -- no more than two, unless I miss my guess." "If she's told you her full name, then you know who I am," Ang responded, thinking fast. "And you're right, she's about a year."

Moira sighed. "She's a good child, but she *is* still a child, and it shows -- especially if you know what to look for." Moira shook her head sadly.

"I know," Ang responded. "I've been lucky to be around people who assume age based on appearance. Nobody knows - except when she sleeps or lets go, and it's painfully obvious."

Moira paused to sip her tea. Her hands visibly shook, and Ang wondered why. Her question was answered in the next moment, when Moira asked a question Ang had been dreading. "Ang, I need to find my granddaughter Sherilyn. Can you help me? I know that you don't want to be with the Kimera, and I promise that I won't tell them about you and Jennifer. I just need to see her."

That was probably the last question Ang expected. She floundered around for a reply which wouldn't hurt the grand lady. How to tell her? How to say, 'sorry, she lived and died a human'? How to tell the truth and spare the blow? Maybe she couldn't. "Sharilyn Schultz-Short... died a long time ago, living among humans. My family... my whole family line... is the result of that decision."

Ang breathed in, as if she had held her breath a long time, and needed the air. Nobody knew except Marianne Schultz, who could not have told anyone without raising suspicion, being under suspicion herself. Still, maybe it would have been better... she'd have to talk to Marianne after this was over.

Moira drew a deep, shuddering breath. She'd never truly thought that Sherilyn's silence would be permanent. "How did she die? She should have lived for thousands of years! What happened to her?" Her voice broke, and she began to sob.

Ang was torn between moving around to comfort the other woman, and an abiding respect for her elders. She hovered inbetween, and tried to explain. "She lived a nearly human lifespan... give or take a few decades... and died of old age. I think Jennifer will be the first of her descendants in generations to live longer than a hundred years. I don't know why her life was so short; I think she was trying to have us blend in easier with humanity, and figuring her children had no Kimera abilities...." she traied off, realizing that the explanations could probably wait. She'd definitely have to send a message to Marianne about this.

DebSabriel: "Oh Sherilyn, you stubborn little fool. You threw your years away just to spite them!" Moira pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped her tears. She glanced up at Ang, still anxiously hovering. "Sit down, child. I'll be all right. I just have to figure out a way to let the rest of the family know, without putting you and Jennifer at risk."

"Spite them?" Ang asked, sitting back down. She was almost afraid to ask. "Who was she spiting? All she wanted to do was the crossbreeding to humanity she thought had to be done. Oh, duh, I guess that would be spiting her grandfather and Ra'das. Never mind."

Moira smiled. "Sheri was always one to follow her own path, no matter where it led. I shouldn't blame her...she's -- she was a typical headstrong O'Sullivan woman."

"I think it would be best if I told the family that I had a vision of Sheri's death. Some of them won't believe me, but it will give the ones who do a sense of closure."

Ang nodded, trying to distract the other woman. "That's always our problem... we've wanted to tell, but there wasn't a way to do so that wouldn't endanger the family. And we aren't overly fond of Kimera society. Jennifer wants me to go and get the bond with her father broken and to get my lifespan back 'the way it should be', but I can't, and it breaks my heart to tell her that."

"I understand, but most of the Kimera wouldn't. Watch her, dear. Your Jennifer is definitely an O'Sullivan. She took matters into her own hands telling me about her heritage, and she won't stop trying to connect with the Kimera." Moira paused. "Have you thought about sending her to the Kimera when she's a little older? As long as Jennifer is fixated on 'helping' you, she won't stop."

"A possibility... but only if I could trust the Kimera in question. I'm not about to let Ri'alit get his hands on his daughter! He's already betrayed me once, and tried to have me betray my family."

"I'm not surprised. I've never trusted Ri'alit myself." Moira shook her head. "You can't take her to the Kimera, then. He'd automatically get custody of her. How does Jennifer feel about her father?"

"Let me say that however fond she is of the Kimera side of her heritage... she's well aware of what her father tried to do. That's why she wants me to go into Kimera space and have my mating bond broken, so that I'd have custody... but I just can't trust, even long enough to have that happen. I may be Kimera, but I refuse to be bound by the rules of Kimera society. I'm afraid that I'd be unbonded from Ri'alit, but they'd refuse to let me go until I was mated again. And I don't want that to happen." Ang found the words dropping unintentionally out of her mouth and prayed that her ancestor would understand. "My family has chosen to breed into humanity; I'm the only one not to do so for generations."

Moira nodded. "I may live with the Kimera, but that doesn't mean I agree with them. You need to do what is best. I just pray you can get your daughter to understand you before she does something irrevocable."

"I hope so too," Ang responded, "before my daughter discovers interstellar travel and doesn't give me much of a choice. Or her family; I don't think my very-great grandfather Liam will take too well to finding out exactly where most of my family is! I have arrangements, though. I'll find a way to make her happy."

Moira smiled. "Well, if there's anything I can do to help, please let me know." (yt)

"Thank you," Ang said with visible relief. "I'll keep that in mind. In the meantime, I have someone I really need to send an email to. Excuse me..." she told her guest, her mind already on what she'd tell Marianne Schultz, doctor and friend.

-end