Title: Nightfall In the Big Dipper, a Pretender/Earth Final Conflict crossover
Co-authors: Lomeinie and KaraB

This story contains spoilers for EFC Season 4's "Limbo".

As for the Pretender, this story takes place sometime between DONOTERASE and THE INNER SENSE. Read with caution if you haven't seen these episodes and everything else in between them!

You've got nothing to lose

When you've lost it all

And that's a good time to choose

If you're gonna stand or fall

I've got a feeling

Things'll get better soon

Dreams are for dreaming

Dreams are for coming true

Shoot for the moon

Aim high

There's a billion stars

In an endless sky

And one is yours

And one is mine

Shoot for the moon

Aim high

You've got everything you need

If you've got a friend

Somebody that'll whoop your mule

Push you to try again

Pull back your arrow

Stand with your chin up high

Feet firmly planted

Sight with a single eye and

Shoot for the moon

Aim high

There's a billion stars

In an endless sky

And one is yours

And one is mine

Shoot for the moon

Aim high

Shoot for the Moon,

Linda Davis

The Centre

Blue Cove, Delaware

Sublevel 5, Tech Room

"What is it?" Miss Parker snapped as she entered the room. Broots nervously waved to her, but hurriedly finished his conversation on his global before turning his full attention to her.

"Uh, Miss Parker, where's Sydney?" he asked.

"Broots, I don't make it my business to keep track of Syd every hour of the day. Now what did you want?" she asked.

Broots cleared his throat. "I've got another lead on Jarod."

"And where is Wonder Boy this time?"

"On the other side in the world. Asia to be exact. Jarod helped Interpol bust up a new smuggling/black market ring," Broots replied, showing her the report

he'd found.

"Is he still there?" she asked.

"Probably not."

She nodded. "Get ready. We're going to see what the lab rat left behind."

"What about Sydney?"

She stopped at the door. "I'll find him. You just be ready to leave in ten." She didn't wait for his reply but instead made her way to Sydney's office.

She opened the door. "Syd, Broots has found a--" she stopped as she saw he wasn't there. She picked up a note from his desk that told her simply that he had left for the day and wouldn't be back until early tomorrow morning. She found it strange that he had just left like that. She wondered where he could have gone when he knew that they were close to locating Jarod again.

Her global beeped. "What?"

"Uh, Miss Parker, we're at the portal and ready to go," replied Broots' voice.

"I'm on my way."

Near the Lincoln Memorial

Washington, D.C.

The steady flow of tourists was finally starting to slow to a trickle by the time Renee arrived at the Reflecting Pool. Pulling her sunglasses off, Renee began to visually scan the crowd searching for the man she'd come to see. After several seconds had passed, her eyes locked onto the familiar form of his backside as he stood looking at the body of water before him. Smiling, Renee walked over to join him.

"Hello, Sydney."

Sydney looked up when he heard her voice. Smiling he pulled reached out to pull Renee into a hug even as he spoke into her ear, "It's so good to see you, Renee!" As they pulled apart, Sydney offered her his arm and Renee took it as they began to walk slowly around the pool.

"Thanks for coming," Renee said after a moment.

Sydney nodded. "You sounded like you needed someone to talk to, Renee. What's bothering you?"

"I call you because you're a psychiatrist and were a friend of Jonathan's," Renee paused. "I called you here because I need to talk to someone about Joshua."

"Jonathan's son?"

"Yes."

"What has you so worried about him, Renee?" Sydney asked.

Renee stopped walking to stare at him. "You haven't heard then?"

"Heard what?"

"Joshua was arrested by the Taelons and they've imprisoned him on the mothership," Renee replied. They began to walk again as her words sunk into Sydney's mind.

"Oh my- Renee, I think you better start over from the beginning. I am ashamed to admit that I haven't been paying attention to current events as I should but I am have had . . .other matters on my mind as of late," Sydney said.

Taking a deep breath, Renee began to relay the story of what had happened with Joshua and how he'd destroyed the Taelons' precious core energy . . .

Mile High Portal Station

Denver, Colorado

3:45 Mountain Standard Time

Jarod blinked as the ID stream released him at an outside portal station of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. He breathed in the thin afternoon air, putting on his sunglasses. No one paid any attention to this traveler who had just returned from the Far East. Jarod had spent nearly two weeks in Cambodia pretending to be an Interpol agent helping the local authorities bust up a ring that had begun smuggling black market items into the country, including Taelon contraband.

Jarod had just ended his pretend that day, and had nearly had a run in with Miss Parker as she arrived with Broots at the portal station. He had spotted them first fortunately and so he had been able to hide before they could see him. It was just a matter of waiting to them to leave the portal station and after that he'd simply portaled Stateside. Miss Parker would be annoyed when she realized her and Broots had JUST missed him.

Again . . .

Jarod smiled as he hailed a cab, because he didn't feel like walking to the place where he'd be starting his next pretend. He was going to be teaching a class for new immigrants to the United States who did not speak English as their first language as surprisingly there were a lot of people who still did not speak the official language of the United States.

The cab took him to the school's location, and Jarod saw that he had just enough time to eat lunch as he was to start teaching that same day. The school was located near a part of town where Spanish was the main language being spoken and the only place to eat near the school was a small open air café called Jorge's, which served authentic Mexican food as part of their menu.

"Buena tarde, señor! Mi nombre es Maria. Cómo puedo servirle hoy?"

Good afternoon, sir. My name is Maria. How may I help you?

"Buena tarde, señorita , tendré el especial de la casa."

Good afternoon, miss. I'll have the special of the house.

"Y para beber, señor?"

And to drink, sir?

"Una cerveza por favor."

A cold beer

"Sí, señor."

Jarod looked around at the other customers seated at the four other available tables. There were only a few people several men in fact, who stared at him as though he swallowed a canary. Jarod turned his gaze towards the town, trying to not let their gazes bother him.

"Hola, señor!" a little girl's voice said.

Hello, mister!

"Hola!" Jarod replied, smiling at the little girl who had joined him. "Mi nombre es Jarod."

My name is Jarod.

"Soy Eva. Soy 4 años de viejo, casi 5. Cómo viejo es usted?"

I'm Eva. I'm 4 years old, almost 5. How old are you?"

"Eva, no incomoda a hombre!" the waitress scolded the girl. "Estoy apesadumbrado, señor, ella sé para no incomodar a los clientes!"

Eva, don't bother the man! I'm sorry, mister, she does know not to bother the customers!

"Ésa es autorización, senorita, ella no me está incomodando en todos. En hecho, amaría tener alguien a hablar con mientras que yo como. Usted importa de si Eva permanece?"

That's okay, miss, she's not bothering me at all. In fact, I'd love to have someone to talk to while I eat. Do you mind if Eva stays?

"Por favor, madre?"

Please, mother?

"Todo a la derecha, pero solamente si usted es seguro ella no le está incomodando?"

All right, but only if you're sure she's not bothering you?

"No, ella está muy bien."

No, she's fine.

The woman nodded. "Apenas envíela lejos, señor, si ella comienza a incomodarle."

Just send her away, mister, if she starts to bother you.

Jarod spent the rest of his time at the café answering questions from the little Eva. She seemed curious about where he'd come from and she told him that she's never left her home since she was a baby. She had never left the state of Colorado; much less the United States and she asked Jarod about the places he'd visited. It sounded strange to hear, especially the age they were living in with the advanced technologies their alien visitors have given them but some people were meant to just never leave home, he guessed….

Renee and Sydney spent the better part of the evening, talking about the situation with Joshua before finally turning to other current events over dinner. Renee insisted on taking them out to dinner saying that it was the least she could do after dragging Sydney away from Blue Cove only to act as a sounding board for her concerns about Joshua.

It was well after 9 o'clock when Renee walked back with him towards the portal station. She hugged Sydney goodnight telling him, "You'll have to let me be your sounding board sometime." Sydney thanked her for the gesture and they parted company. Renee returned, still unsure what could be done to help Joshua.

'Maybe the Resistance could find a way to rescue him from the mothership. . .

She drifted off to sleep on that thought. . .

"Good morning, Meg," Renee said as she walked passed her secretary on her way to her office.

"Good morning, Miss Palmer," Meg replying, getting up to follow her inside. Renee placed her briefcase on her desk, gestured for Meg to begin reading off the day's schedule. "And at lunch today the representatives from the Centre are coming in to start the preliminaries on-"

"The Centre? Meg, what day is it?" Renee asked startled.

"Tuesday, ma'am, the 17th," Meg replied.

Renee closed her eyes, and sitting down she briefly propped her head in her hands. "How on Earth did I forget the talks for the most important business opportunity for DI to expand was set to begin today?"

"I don't know, ma'am. I did leave you a memo yesterday about this-"

"Meg, relax. I'm not blaming you for me not being prepared for this today. Cancel all my morning appointments."

"Yes, ma'am."

"I need to spend the morning getting ready for this preliminary meeting with the Chairman of the Centre. Meg, please send in and any files you have for what's on today's agenda," Renee said.

"Yes, ma'am. Anything else?"

"Yes, make sure no one short of the President of the United States or a member of his staff walks through those doors. I have a lot of read to do before noon."

"Yes, m'am. Good luck."

Renee barely acknowledged her leaving. "Oh why did this have to happen on a day I am running late!"

The Centre

Blue Cove, Delaware

Sublevel 5, Tech Room

"Where did you disappear to yesterday?" Miss Parker asked as she walked in. Sydney was seated in a chair pulled up next to Broots' computer and he had been reading a report when she walked in. Broots was away, retrieving another document.

He looked up at her. "I had something important that needed attending to, Miss Parker."

"Nothing is as important as Jarod, Syd," she replied.

"Jarod can wait."

"Only if we expect to be chasing your lab rat around God's Green Earth for the rest of our lives, Sydney, and I, for one, do not plan to be doing this for the rest of my life," she replied, "Now what was so important yesterday?"

"Miss Parker, I told you once that I have priorities outside of the Centre. What I was doing yesterday fell under one of those priorities I place before my work here at the Centre," Sydney replied.

"What or who could possibly be more important to you than the lab rat?"

Sydney ignored her, turning instead to the report he'd been reading. "Now about Jarod's lair in Cambodia-"

"Jarod left very little behind. Except this." She took out his usual red notebook and threw on table before Sydney.

"Yes, Broots told me that he had left very little behind," he said as he flipped the pages. Jarod had cut and pasted only local newspaper clippings, making it very difficult for anyone who didn't read the language to understand. Sydney closed the notebook. "Broots said that he left something else behind as well."

Miss Parker walked over to another part of the room and picked up a box. She returned to the table and dumped the contents of the box before Sydney. Sydney chuckled as he fingered one of the items before him.

"Chinese finger puzzles."

"Syd, explain something to me. Jarod is supposedly one of the most brilliant geniuses in the world, or at least the Centre thinks so, and yet the simplest things often fascinate him. Why is that?"

Sydney sighed, laying the puzzle down. "Because he was never allowed to have the simplest things as a child, Miss Parker." Before she could reply, Broots walked in and handed Sydney the report he'd requested.

"Let's find Jarod, shall we boys?"

Renee strolled down the hall, toward the conference room. She couldn't believe how late she was running - well, a few more minutes to compose herself wouldn't hurt. She ducked into a bathroom to freshen up and splash some water on her face. Her thoughts had dwelt on Joshua especially since her discussion with Sydney last night. She had heard nothing from him since Sandoval had arrested him. Several times she had tried to contact Sandoval to ask, but he refused to give her any answers. She didn't even know for sure that Joshua was still alive, or in what condition he was in. But given that he was at Sandoval's mercy, it couldn't be very good.

She'd find a way to help him. There had to be someone who would get him out - it might cost a fortune - literally. But surely it could be done . . . surely there was a way.

Renee vowed to not rest until she found a way. Joshua didn't deserve to be left up there alone - while he endured only God knew what.

When Jarod began teaching at the class, they had all been studying English for several months so nearly a week later, the class was ready for advanced lessons in English to begin. His students consisted of immigrants from either mostly Mexico with a few of the South American countries mixed in. The countries they came from were for the most part still very poor, even in the age of the Taelons. The people in the class wanted a better life for themselves, their families and all were willing to work hard to get it.

On the day that Jarod was supposed to begin the advanced class was the day he finally received Sydney's message about Joshua. Ever since he had started to teach at the school, he hadn't been checking the email accounts he kept opened just to stay in touch with Sydney.

Jarod,

Your help is urgently needed to help someone caught in an unjust situation. I've attached the appropriate information in this email. If you choose not to help, I understand. -Sydney

Jarod opened the attachment and saw several newspaper articles about the son of late billionaire Jonathan Doors. He read of Joshua's arrest at the hands of the Taelons and how following his arrest, he hadn't been heard from. He was being held on . . .

"The Taelon Mothership," Jarod murmured.

He closed the global and his eyes. He wouldn't be able to turn his back on Joshua's plight and Sydney knew that too when he had sent the email. Jarod felt a little angry with his former mentor for doing this because he knew Jarod wouldn't be able to say no, especially after Joshua's grim situation had been revealed to him.

Joshua had destroyed precious Taelon core energy, something that was key to their survival. It stood to reason that Joshua's stay on the mothership wasn't going to be a pleasant one. Zo'or was known for several things, but mercy was not one of them. He'd probably have Joshua executed after they'd tortured him.

"This is Sydney."

"You know me too well, Sydney." Jarod had shut off the video feed of his global link.

"I'm sorry to do this, Jarod, but I know of no one else that can help Joshua. No government will help him for fear of reprisal from the Taelons," Sydney replied.

"What about the Resistance?"

"I'm not even sure that they could help him. He'd been heavily guarded on board the mothership. His rescue will take careful planning and calculations," Syd replied.

"The kind that only a Pretender is capable of."

"Yes."

"Sydney, I want to help, but I need to know if this is some sort of trap on the part of the Centre."

"Don't you trust me, Jarod?"

"I've always wanted to, Sydney, but there are times I couldn't. I'll check into this. If I am satisfied it's not a Centre trap, I'll see what I can do to help Joshua Doors regain his freedom."

"Thank you, Jarod," Sydney said but Jarod had already disconnected the call.

St. Catherine's Church

Somewhere near Washington D.C.

Renee coughed as she entered the small church. Her eyes scanned the sanctuary and she decided that it had seen better days as several of the stain glass windows were shattered. Dust covered several of the pews while an inch

of dust was on the altar along with a tarnished cross, and it was then she noticed that part of the ceiling was collapsed.

"Nice meeting place," she muttered.

"Isn't it though?"

Renee whirled around towards the voice that had spoken from the shadows, leveling a gun in that general direction.

"Are you Jarod?" she asked.

"Are you Renee?" the voice replied.

"I asked first," she replied.

A man stepped forward from the shadows and Renee knew she'd never seen him before. He was in his late 30's if she had to guess and he was holding up his hands in a gesture of peace. "Kara sends her best," he said.

Renee stared at him skeptical before she finally lowered her gun. "Jarod."

"Yes, I'm Jarod."

"Renee," she said, offered her hand, "Don't take this the wrong way but I don't know you. How long have you been a member of Kara's cell?"

"About a month. She hasn't told you about me yet?" Jarod asked.

"Uh, no but then again we haven't had a reason to contact the El Cajon cell lately," Renee replied, sneezing.

"Come on, let's go outside," he said, indicating the open door.

Renee nodded but allowed him to leave first. They walked outside to a starless night, Renee breathing the clean air in deeply. The chill of the night caused them both to pull their coats more tightly around themselves as they walked around the small church.

"Word has it that you want to free Joshua Doors from his...home on the mothership," Jarod began.

"You've heard right. Joshua doesn't deserve to be held prisoner and tortured by the Taelons, especially not after everything he's been through in the last several months," Renee replied. "And besides, it's the least I owe to Jonathan, keeping his son safe."

"You feel you owe this to him because you feel partly responsible for death of Jonathan Doors?" Jarod asked. "I read the reports, Renee, and you weren't responsible for what happened at One Taelon Avenue. You were controlled by Taelon technology designed to suppress the free will of the people inside those walls."

"I know that! Don't you know that I've also read the reports? I had the best technicians of DI pick that place apart after the computer core was taken offline," Renee replied, pausing for a second. "I showed the same reports to Joshua, and like me his head accepted what the experts were said. In our minds, we both accepted that we weren't at fault but tell me, Jarod, have you ever tried to convince your heart to listen to your head?"

Jarod closed his eyes for a moment, understanding exactly what she meant. How many times over the years had his head tried to tell his heart that he was not responsible for what the Centre did with the simulations he performed for them? And how many times had his heart refused to listen to his head? Too many times it seemed. . .

"I understand, Renee. I understand all too well."

Renee nodded and started to walk again. She waited for Jarod to catch up to her before speaking. "What's your plan for getting Joshua off of the mothership?"

Jarod shrugged. "I thought I'd play it by ear."

Renee looked at him, alarmed. "You are not going to the mothership without a plan because if you are you might as well march right up to Zo'or and ask him to release Joshua."

"Which isn't likely to happen in this millennium."

"Exactly."

"Don't worry, Renee, I'll have a plan before I go to the mothership. Within the week, Joshua Doors will be a free man. I promise you that."

Joshua lay still in his cell on board the mothership. Not that he could have moved if he had wanted. His life had become an endless stream of pain, occasionally broken by a few moments of relief. He hurt - all the time. Sandoval was the one doing most of the torture, at Zo'or's orders of course. During these few moments of relief that he got he never allowed himself to think about what they were doing to him. At first he had fantasized about escaping. Now, his thoughts had turned darker - revenge - what he wanted to do to them if he ever got the chance. And he ferverently hoped and prayed that he got the chance to make them pay . . . for him and for his father before Zo'or ordered his execution, a day he dreaded and in some ways looked forward to.

They had not broken him - not yet. That was the only thing he had left to hold on to. They controlled him - when he ate, if he ate, the pain, the scars, and sometimes they even controlled his memories. He shuddered at recalling how that had felt the first time they had invaded his mind . . . . forcing him to relive the painful memories, manipulating them . . . so the only thing that had kept him sane and grounded was the fact that he still had some power over them - they hadn't gotten what they wanted yet - they were having too much fun trying to actually go ahead and force it out of him.

And Joshua knew that they were close, very close. And they could have forced the information weeks ago, but Sandoval had been ordered to take his time . . . And take his time, he had. Each day he came a little closer to cracking that resolve that Joshua had built up. No, it wouldn't take too much more . . .

He had long ago given up hope of rescue. No one wanted to risk the Taelons wrath and he knew he was out of reach - even for the Resistance. The only human contact he had besides Sandoval were volunteers and a few doctors. The volunteers served as guards and the doctors . . well, he actually hated them the most. Sandoval was evil, but he was following orders and besides, Joshua knew where he stood. But doctors? They were supposed to be protectors of life. Up here, they kept him breathing . . . sure . . . but they were also helping Sandoval perfect the memory invasion technology. And not one of them saw him as a person. Some had even mocked his pain . . . taking notes while the machine slowly ripped his mind apart; watching passively as he screamed in pain, pleading for their help - silently and aloud.

Had destroying the core energy been worth this? Joshua was no longer sure. He had lost all control of his world and his mind. Now, they were slowly taking his soul . . .

The Centre

Somewhere on SL-17

"Can you or can you not transfer my consciousness into the bio-surrogate, doctor?" Mr. Raines wheezed out. His time was coming to an end and each day he was finding it more difficult to breathe, even with the tank he had been hooked up to for more than 20 years.

"Of course I can, Mr. Raines, but you should know something first. If this transfer is unsuccessful I won't be able to transfer you back to your current body," the doctor replied.

"I'm dying anyway, doctor. I have very little time left. Only this transfer will extend my life. Now prep for the transfer. I want to do this in 10 minutes. Understood?" Raines replied.

"Yes, Mr. Raines. Excuse me," the doctor said.

"Doctor, the tower is not to know about our activities here on SL-17, so don't even think about trying to clear this with Mr. Parker."

The doctor who had been on his way out of the room stopped dead in his tracks and he turned again to face Raines. "But, sir, a procedure like this- well the tower has to be notified so I can get the proper authorization-"

"Doctor, you have my authorization. I am second to Mr. Parker. That is all the authorization you need. Now get things ready for the transfer."

The doctor gulped. "Yes, sir."