Chapter 4: And Lo! The Children Came Forth!
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	Banon watched in satisfaction and the ship was pulled ashore
by about twenty Returners.  There was no port in Mobliz, so  they had
to find some nearby beach area to land upon.  As the ship came to its
final rest on the sandy ground, Fen dropped the rope and walked over
to the bough and pulled himself up to the deck.
	"You ready to unload, sir?" Fen asked.
	Banon nodded, "I think we should wait till we have a look
around, don't you think?"
	Fen shrugged and worked to get the gang plank lowered.
	"Are we ready to get onto stable land?"
	Banon looked up to see Natasha approaching him and smiled.
He looked out onto the land again.  It still had signs of the time of
destruction, with rubble lying everywhere the town was pretty much
destroyed.  It would take a lot of rebuilding.
	"Yes.  Yes, I think we are ready."  Banon started to make his
way down the plank to the waiting sand below.
	Natasha picked up her skirts and followed gingerly; she hated
being in such a costume.  And, as if the laws of the universe had
such a clause, Natasha's skirt got caught on a large split in the
wood and yanked her off balance.  She squealed and fell off the plank
and into the wet sand.
	Red-faced, she sat ther for a moment and fumed.  She heard
someone chucking behind her and angrily she twisted around to
verbally batter whoever was mocking her.  It was Fen.  She opened her
mouth to spout some unkindly obscenities at him when he brought a
finger to his lips and offered his other hand to her. "Shh, there
could be young ears about."
	Natasha blinked for a moment, then hauled herself up,
ignoring the hand.  Brushing herself off, she looked around the
deserted town and frowned, "I don't see any children. I don't see
anyone except Returners!"
	Banon shuffled of to meet with some of the Returner leaders
that had left before the Jidoor conflict. General Mirkat saluted him
and smiled, "Good to see that you have made it here."
	Banon nodded, "How has the construction been going?"
	"Fairly well.  We have just finished the framework on the
town hall.  The walls and roof should be finished in a week."
	"Wonderful!  Was anyone here when you arrived?"
	"Only a handful of children and a young couple."
	"Oh?" Banon was surprised, the last report he had received
was that the town had been deserted.
	Mirkat sighed, "Apparently they migrated here from the Veldt,
something about their town burning down and one of the children
mentioned pirates of all things!" he chuckled, "You know how well kids
can spin yarns."
	"Indeed," Banon returned gravely.  "And how was the welcoming?
I didn't plan on anyone being here.  Are they alright with us?"
	Mirkat frowned, "A bit uneasy.  The leader does want to meet
you, he said that we could stay if he extracted a favor from you."
	Banon frowned and motioned to Natasha and Fen to follow him.
	Mirkat led them into a large building and then behind a
bookcase. They descended into an underground cavern that was furnished
rather well with tables a couple of bookshelves; even a partially
finished wooden floor.
	A one of the tables a haggard young man lifted his head
to the newcomers as they came into the lamp light.
	He stood up slowly, gazing harshly at each one of the
group until his gaze rested on the young woman, "Can it be?"
he asked in awe.  He could not be sure till the woman herself came
into the light.
	Banon cleared his throat.  "You must be Duane.  My name is
Banon.  I am the leader of the Returners."
	Duane looked away from the woman for a moment and eyes Banon
critically.  "I am pleased to finally meet you."  He shook the old
man's hand roughly.
	Banon kept an even face.  "I have been informed that
reconstruction will not continue until I agree to some favor.
May I ask what is it you desire?"
	"MOMMY!" a small voice cried out, startling all present.
	A little girl dressed in a green, ragged frock rushed out
from behind a once-closed door and latched onto Natasha's leg.
	"What the devil?" Banon sputtered in shock and moved away
as several children came pouring out, laughing excitedly.  All
crowding around an equally confused Natasha.
	The children dragged her into the center of the room and
offered her a chair to sit in. Still utterly dazed, Natasha plopped
into the seat as many tiny hands caressed her hair, hands, and dress
lovingly.  The first child crawled into her lap and looked at her
thoughtfully for a moment, "You changed again, Mommy, but I could
tell, you didn't change your insides.  I can tell!"
	Natasha looked helplessly at the stunned onlookers.  "Who do
they think I am?"
	"They think you are our soul mother, Terra," Duane answered
sullenly.
	"Terra!" Banon exclaimed.  "Of course! This is Natasha,
Terra's half-sister!"
	"Really?"  Duane stood dumbfounded.  "I wonder, perhaps you
can help me after all!"
	"How so?" Fen inquired, with a rather big grin on his face.
He absently was watching Natasha deal with the crowd of adoring
munchkins around her.
	"Come with me," Duane said, "There is something I must show
you."  He motioned Banon to follow him into the room that all the
children had just previously poured out of.
	When they entered the room, it was lit by a small candle.
The room was lightly furnished, only a small bed sat against the
far wall.  In that bed was a woman.  She sat upright, propped against
the pillows, her eyes were open, but she made no response.  Upon
closer inspection, one could see that her eyes had no life behind
them.
	Banon stood in silent sorrow.
	"My beloved Katarin," Duane said softly, "She has not moved
or said a word ever since I insisted we come back here.  She had
been in grief before, ever since our first search for our son failed,
sending us back to the beginning of our rescue attempt."
	"Your son?" Banon whispered, "What happened?"
	"He was stolen from his mother's arms when our temple was set
afire by saboteurs... a man named Shamel..."  His fist clenched
tightly.  "We chased after him, but took a wrong turn and ended up on
that dreaded phantom train.  The train deposited us back into
our town, where we found the rest of the village had been torched
by Shamel's deciples!"  Duane sighed, his eyes glazing with water
as he remembered, "Katarin was crushed, but the trail to our son was
cold.  We searched for two more months, but there was never a sign
of Taran, or that horrible Shamel."
	"Why did you come back?" Fen asked, visible grief on his
face.
	"I thought..." Duane muttered, "I remember that before Terra
left she promised that she would return someday.  I hoped she would,
I believed in her!"  His eyes glimmered.  "And now, she has sent her
own sister in her place!  Just like she promised!"
	Banon frowned.  "Natasha has never come in contact with Terra
as far as I know, Duane.  This may be false hope..."
	"NO!" Duane cried, "This HAS to be SO!  You must help me!  If
you don't, you... you can just locate yourself somewhere else!"
	Banon frowned, "What exactly do you want us to do?"
	"Save her!  Find some way to bring her soul back to us!
She won't survive much longer... we can't even feed her."
	Fen look sorrowfully at the woman and slowly walked out the
door back into the room where Natasha was still fending off her new
fan club. He moved towards her and gently grabbed her hand, "Come
on, I want you to see something."
	Natasha, seeing this as an escape, quickly agreed.  She stood
up and followed him back into the small room.  Duane looked up in
slight surprise as Fen led her over to the bed side.
	Natasha looked at her carefully, "What happened to her?"
	"Her soul lost itself in grief, she's empty," Banon said
softly, "Perhaps since the children thought you were Terra, perhaps
you might be able to get her to recognize you as such."
	"But," Natasha protested, "I am NOT Terra!"
	"Try," Fen said softly, "she may die soon."
	Natasha bit her lip, and took Katarin's near lifeless hand
and waited.  Nothing happened.  Natasha sighed, "I can't do this,
I'm not Terra, I never was."
	She stood up and walked out.  Duane sighed and collapsed to
the bed sobbing.  Banon shook his head and turned to go back upstairs,
"We'll think of something, Duane," he said sadly, not trusting his
own reassurance.
	
                               *  *  *

	Outside in the fresh air, Natasha sat with Fen on some
crates.  Natasha was once again surrounded with children, she sighed
in despair.  "Why do they think I'm Terra?!"
	Fen just shrugged, "Want me to distract them for a while?"
	Natasha shrugged, "What could you do? These little guys
are stuck to me like glue!"
	"Watch..." Fen grinned as he stuck his hand underneath his
shirt and pulled out a set of pan pipes that were attached to a chain
around his neck.
	He stood up and wandered over to a boulder, hopped up onto it
and sat down indian-style.  He placed the pipes to his lips and began
to play.  Natasha sat in wonder as her ears melted to the melody
that began to fill the air.  It seemed almost magical in it
presence.
	The children stopped pestering Natasha and stood there,
entranced, with slow open smiles creeping across their faces.  As
the music continued its serenade, the children slowly began to
leave Natasha and head over to the rock where Fen was sitting.
They all began to sit down in an orderly fashion, smiles spread
across their faces.
	Banon stood with Duane, both were talking about Katarin's
welfare a moment ago.  Now, they stood there listening to the
wonderful music.  Duane felt his heart become several times lighter
than before, a calmness entered his spirit.  Banon just smiled and
walked over to where Natasha was.  She sat there, a small smile on
her face, she looked at Banon as he sat down next to her and smiled
in welcome.
	Fen soon finished the song, and there was an audible sigh of
sorrow from many of the on lookers.  The children started to cheer
happily and begged Fen for more music.  Banon sighed happily and
patted Natasha on the shoulder,"Isn't he the talented one?"
	Natasha smiled, her eyes wide in amazement, "He's..."
	"Katarin!"
	That was Duane's cry.
	Natasha stood up, expecting an attack of some sort.  Banon
looked over to where Duane was staring in shock.  In the doorway,
stood the woman who was only moments before beyond all help.
	She smiled as Duane rushed to her, "I head the most
beautiful music, Duane..." She paused as she collapsed into his
arms, "I - I had to see who was playing..."
	She slipped into unconsciousness and Duane began to sob
happily.  Natasha and Banon stared incredulously, as he carried her
back into the house.
	"I don't believe it.." Natasha gasped as she turned to look
back at Fen.
	Fen, who was now standing on the rock, was staring right
back her.  His eyes flickered and danced with life as a grin spread
across his face.