Christmas Surprise Three

Logan had not left the medical centre since the four of them had transported there. Most of that time he’d spent at the bed-side of Rahel, holding her hand, speaking to her softly. Doctor Hancock had suggested that Logan go back to Lake Town and get some rest, there was nothing immediate anyone could do, but Logan had resisted.

He had taken a walk down to the refectory and eaten, again after a lengthy protest with Will. Logan hadn’t eaten since breakfast and as he now sat once more by Rahel side, he thought of just how much the day had changed. This morning he would have been proclaimed the happiest man in the universe after Rahel had accepted his marriage proposal. Now she lay unconscious, with no explanation as to why.

His train of thought was interrupted by a female voice, speaking with Will in the other room. Logan looked up and saw Shara talking to Will and then heading into the room where both Rahel and Karissa lay side by side.

“How are they doing ?” Shara enquired.

“They have no idea why this has happened.” Logan stated. “All Will can say for sure is that they are linked telepathically somehow and their two minds are working as one.”

Suddenly Logan paused and looked at Shara. Although he knew that Shara and Karissa were also linked genetically, he’d spent so much time around her that he’d forgotten that they were.

“What’s wrong ?” Shara enquired, sensing Logan’s mood.

“You and Karissa……” Logan started to say. “…..you’re genetically the same person, clones…… am I right.”

“Yes and No.” Shara admitted. “Our genetic make-up is virtually the same, but there are subtle differences. When we both served on the Ronin, Will did some basic tests on our DNA which showed that my DNA is far less sophisticated than Karissa’s. In many ways you could say that I’m more human than Karissa, I have about seven percent more human DNA than Karissa. Why do you ask ?”

“Have you ever had any problems being around Karissa ?” Logan asked. “Has anything like this ever happened to you and Karissa ?”

“No.” Shara replied. “We were both shocked when we first met on the Ronin and it took a while for us to figure out what had happened. Karissa was adopted at a very early age by the Bentara’s, whereas I was brought up by the man I thought was my uncle. We only discovered that we were “sisters” when Will did his DNA analysis.”

“Well you may have another sister now.” Logan remarked.

Shara was confused for a moment, then something Logan and Will had both said about Rahel and Karissa being linked telepathically came to her.

“You’re saying that Rahel is one of us ?” Shara announced, clutching her open hand to her chest. “That she was created in a lab somewhere.”

“Will’s still running some more tests, but we believe that Rahel and Karissa maybe more than just “sisters” as you put it, we both believe that they are twins.” Logan stated. “Has Karissa ever spoken to you about the nightmares she has ?”

“Being trapped in a fire as a child on Kritarus.” Shara suggested.

“Rahel has had the same nightmare.” Logan answered. “Until last year she was alone in that fire, unable to see anything but the smoke. Then last year she discovered that she had not been alone in the fire at all, there was another child with her. I believe that Karissa was that child.”

“But I thought only one child was rescued from the fire.” Shara remarked. “I’ve seen the official reports, it said one child was rescued and put into care on Kritarus.”

“Most likely a ruse to put whoever was working in the lab from pursuing two children.” Logan said. “We’ve been searching for answers for nearly eighteen months now, including looking for that child. What we do know is that soon after Karissa was adopted, the home where she was cared for disappeared along with all the records.”

Just then Will came into the room and looked at Logan and then Shara. He had a padd in his hand and took a deep breath before speaking.

“It’s confirmed.” Will announced. “I’ve done some DNA analysis and the results show that their non-human DNA is identical. I’ve also run an age analysis on their DNA and it shows that they were born within a few days of each other, I can’t get more accurate than that. Given the other evidence we have about where and when they were adopted it’s very likely that they are twin sisters, looks like you’ve got another sister Shara.”

Logan was silent for a moment as if he was finding it hard to take in, then he said one word, a name. “Zack”

“Who ?” Shara asked.

“Zack Dare.” Logan answered

“Who’s Zack Dare ?” Shara asked once more.

“We served together on the Taurus and Leviathan-B.” Logan explained. “I don’t know all the details, Rahel never told me them, but Zack’s mother was involved in the work at the Geni-tec labs on Kritarus. He was adopted by his own mother about six months after the fire, along with a Commander Dan Dare, who she’d married in the meantime. Zack had no idea that his adopted mother was in fact his birth mother until he saw a photo Rahel and I had uncovered.”

“What was the photo ?” Will enquired.

“It was a photo of the Geni-Tec team, including Zack’s mother, babe in arms and a second female, who was heavily pregnant. That second female was the spitting image of Rahel today and as the photo was taken about six weeks before she was born, we assumed that she was Rahel’s mother or at least her birth mother.”

“Do you still have the photo ?” Shara asked.

Logan moved over to the computer console and established a link with the security office at Lake Town. He then accessed the database he and Rahel had set-up containing all the information they had on Drakara. He brought up the image on the screen and Shara let out a small gasp as she looked at the picture.

“That man there….” She said, pointing at one of the men in the picture. “….that’s the man who my uncle said was my father, the one standing beside “Rahel”. I’ve only seen a couple of pictures, but it’s definitely him, I’ve never seen a single picture of my mother, my uncle said he never kept any. And the man to left is my uncle.”

“The man’s name according to the picture is Doctor Bakar Drakara and the woman beside him is his wife Alice Drakara. He was the brother of Doctor Helorian Drakara, the man you say is your uncle.” Logan explained. “ Alice’s maiden name was Scott, which was also the maiden name of Amanda Dare. Rahel discovered that they were sisters.”

“Then Zack’s my cousin.” Shara remarked.

“He could actually be a brother…” Logan stated. “…..Rahel never had access to a sophisticated DNA analyser that could discern that fact, he may have been another child created in a lab, Amanda may have just been the surrogate mother.”

“So where’s Zack now ?” Will asked.

“I have no idea.” Logan admitted. “After the Leviathan was lost, he was re-assigned, we never kept in touch.”

“We should see if you can contact him.” Shara said, looking almost as exhausted as Will and Logan did. “He maybe able to help, he may even know where my mother is.”

Will noticed that Shara was looking tired and spoke up.

“You should both go home, get some rest.” Will suggested. “It’s been a long day for all of us. There’s nothing any of use can do tonight, I’ll let you know if things change.”

“What about you ?” Shara suggested. “You’re in this just as much as we are, you should get some rest soon.”

“I’ll be OK.” Will lied. “With the kids at their grand-parents, the house would feel so empty anyway, I don’t think I could sleep. I’ll maybe doze off in one of the vacant side-rooms.”

“Doctor heal thy self.” Shara remarked. “You can’t hide your emotions from me remember…..I know you’re just as worried about Karissa as Logan is about Rahel, maybe even more so. You’ve known each other a long time and you’ve been through a lot together.”

Will let out a sigh, realising that he was fighting against the wind.

“OK….OK.” Will submitted. “I’ll go home….. Logan, if you’d prefer to stay in Serenity City, the guest room is prepared and I’d appreciate the company.”

Logan began to feel the stresses of the day starting to take effect and Will’s offer of a bed for the night sounded tempting.

“I accept, thank you Will.” Logan remarked. “I know we don’t know each other that well, but I thank you.”

“As Shara said, we’re in this together.” Will replied.

“I’ll come and see you both tomorrow.” Shara stated, turning to leave.

“Give me five minutes to bring the medical staff upto date and we’ll get off.” Will stated.

Half an hour later, Will and Logan stepped into the empty house, the lights on the Christmas tree were out and the place was much quieter than when they’d left. Will showed Logan to the guest room and left him to check on the kids. Ten minutes later, he was in his own bed and contrary to all his thoughts and protests, he fell into a deep sleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.

Millions of miles way, Zack Dare heard a cry for help, two distinct voices speaking as one. Zack recognised one of the voices, the other he had only heard singing once. But his instincts told him who they were, if not why they were calling to him now.

Within six hours, he had arranged to take some leave and was heading off to the New Canada system on the first available transport. It was going to take him nearly a week to reach his destination; he just hoped that he could help once he was there.

*Hang on…..* He called out with his mind. *…Hang on….*