by Cindy Combs
Author's notes: This is a prequel to my first Roachia story, 'Before Dawn'. While this story is set in time prior to 'Before Dawn', I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU READ BEFORE DAWN FIRST. Otherwise, this story will give away the main mystery in 'Before Dawn' and quite possibly ruin your enjoyment of that story. Also, I do not provide the background of the planet Roachia in this story as I did in 'Before Dawn', so you might be totally lost if you don't read that one first.
With that out of the way, this prequel is set during and after the Clarian Invasion. It mainly focuses on ten-year-old Blair and his father, Jeff MacGregor. Like in Before Dawn, characters from other TV shows will pop up in this story, among them MacGyver, Charmed, and Legend. If I've seen the show, it's fair game.
This was the story Anna requested after winning my services in the auction last fall. Let's just say that I was totally impressed that anyone would be willing to write that many letters for one of MY stories! While I have always had this background in my head even before writing 'Before Dawn', I hadn't really planned to turn it into a story. So you can thank Anna for this one.
In addition, I want to thank Lori and her sons, Kyle and Brett, for helping to make young Blair and Sam more realistic; Sealie for betaing and in helping me to develop the disease statcus; Zadra for her suggestions and moral support; Shallon, for betaing; and Wolfpup for the final check and for giving this and all my stories a snug little home on her site.
Please send any comments to [email protected]
Enjoy the ride.
Disclaimer: Most of characters are not mine. I'm borrowing them out of deep reverence, affection and respect. I will accept only personal fulfillment, and no monetary gain. If you do sue, you will not get much and I will send over my Black Lab mix, who will stare at you pathetically for hours, and probably con you out of all your food.
Rated PG-13, for violence and language.
HOME BY SUNSET
C. L. Combs
INTRODUCTION
Harbor Bay, Laurian Province
Jeff MacGregor was barely listening to the radio as he puttered around the kitchen. He was having fun making a very special breakfast for his son's seventh birthday. Hearing the bell signal that his morning beverage was ready, Jeff continued to read the recipe, stir the batter with his right hand, and reach into the cupboard for a mug with his left. Satisfied that everything was in the bowl that needed to be, he turned to pour the drink. Then his eyes fell on the mug he had grabbed. It was the floral mug he had helped Sam buy for Kate.
A flood of grief washed over Jeff as he closed his eyes. Kate should have been there, teasing him about the apron and discussing their plans for Sam's present. But on a black day nine months earlier, a ferry accident had killed his dear wife and their little daughter, Aubrey. Jeff still felt their loss keenly.
Yet as bad as it was, it could have been worse. Jeff had nearly lost Sam in the same accident. The doctors hadn't given him much hope the first couple of days, with dire predictions of permanent disabilities or worse. Fearfully, Jeff had taken up residence by Sam's bedside, holding the small hand and telling him Keegan stories. It was only when his friend, Frank, put his foot down that he was pulled away long enough for food or a shower. However, it had been worth it. His spunky little boy fooled them all, not only by surviving but also by fully recovering from his injuries. Even his nightmares were growing fewer.
With a deep breath and a shake of his head, Jeff forced his still too-fresh grief out of his mind. It was Sam's day, a day to celebrate his precious life. Jeff was not going to let the pain of the past ruin it for him. He returned the mug to the cupboard and picked up another.
Then the words 'Claria Island' caught his attention.
"...News is spotty, but much of the Western side of the Island has been decimated by Roachian bombs and invading forces. Refugees are fleeing to the East end where many of the resorts and vacation homes are located. So far the Island's tiny police force, more use to handling drunks than an invading Army, are no match for the Roachian Drones..."
Jeff felt stunned. While the antagonism between the human colony and the natives across the sea had grown more tense in recent years, there had been no indications that an attack on the peaceful island was imminent. Closing his eyes, Jeff pictured the warm blue waters, floral scented air, and the farmlands of fruits and sugar cane. He had enjoyed the year he had spent there working on a water project right out of college. He had especially enjoyed meeting and falling in love with one special Clarian.
Naomi. Jeff sighed, remembering the beautiful and lively redhead for whom he'd fallen so hard. While the dating and courtship had been heavenly, their breakup had been a painful experience full of harsh words and bitterness. It wasn't until he had met Kate a year later that Jeff had been able to overcome the hurt and fall in love again. Yet the things he had learned from Naomi had prepared him for his life with Kate. He had never wished her or her people ill. Jeff sent a heartfelt prayer of safety for Naomi and her commune.
Then the lively thunder of feet and paws hit the stairs. Jeff swiftly shoved the disturbing news out of his mind as Sam slid through the kitchen, their large Labdane dog, Bogey, sliding after him. "Happy Birthday, Sam," Jeff declared with a huge smile.
City of Unity, Claria Island
The bombs may have stopped falling, but they had done their damage. Where once shined the most modern city of the island now lay a maze of debris. Soon, the Roachian ground troops would be marching in to finish the eradication of the human pests.
Not that Naomi Sandburg would live long enough to see the Roachians. She could feel her life draining away under the rubble that pinned her to the ground. Her commune was gone, the House of Law where she had served now rubble, her way of life was destroyed. She was almost ready to accept her death. Almost.
Holding tightly onto her hand was her dear, sweet boy, Blair. There was no one left to take care of him, no place for him to go. Except the one name and one place she had sworn never to tell him about. But there was no other choice. No matter how badly things had ended between herself and Jeff, she knew he would take good care of Blair.
Gathering as much of her waning strength as she could, Naomi whispered, "Honey Bear, listen to me."
"Ima," Blair whimpered, tears streaming down his face.
"Honey Bear, you must leave me now."
"No."
"Yes, Honey Bear. The Roachians are coming. They'll hurt you if you stay."
"But Ima..."
"No, I can't go with you, baby. But promise me something."
"What?"
"Go to the mainland. You understand?"
Blair's tear-streaked face only looked stricken. "The mainland?"
"Yes, Honey Bear. To a city called Harbor Bay, Laurian province. Repeat that to me."
"On mainland, Harbor Bay, Laurian province." Her Blair had an incredible memory for a ten-year-old. She knew he'd remember.
"There's a man called Jeff MacGregor. Repeat the name."
"Jeff MacGregor."
"Good. Now, promise to find him, Honey Bear."
"Why?" asked the bewildered and frightened child. He had never heard of the town nor the name before.
"He's your father."
Blair stared at her, round blue eyes stunned. "My, my father?"
"Yes. Now promise."
"I promise," the boy whispered, shaking from a fear he didn't understand yet.
Naomi struggled to pull her satchel off her free shoulder. "Take my satchel, it has money." Once Blair helped her free it, she watched as he slowly pulled the strap over his head and shoulder. Then, her hand shaking with effort, she pulled her necklace off. "You must take my star." Pressing it into his small hand, she
whispered, "It came with our family from the old world. Wear it in good health, my son." With the last of her strength, she kissed his cheek. "Now run, Honey Bear. Stay ahead of the Roachians and find Jeff."
"Ima..."
"RUN!"
Blair stood up, stared at her for a moment, then turned and ran. Naomi watched him run until the light faded from her eyes.
PART 1: ESCAPE
Claria Island, five hours later
~Thump Bump~
The rough jolt shook Blair out of his daze. He suddenly realized he was on the flatbed of a hauling vehicle. A faint memory arose of two teenage boys calling him over to the vehicle and helping him up. Looking around, he saw several small groups of men, women and children, huddled together for comfort. Shivering, Blair wrapped his arms around himself as he thought of Naomi. He wanted to be cuddled up with her, hearing her say that everything was going to be all right.
But it wasn't going to be all right. The radio reported that all communes on the ocean shore were in flames. That would include Serenity, home to generations of Sandburgs. It had only been two weeks since they had left there to return to Unity for Naomi's second term as council person. Blair could still feel Uncle Michael's good-bye hug and hear his promises to play catch when they returned in four months.
After hearing the news of its destruction in their hostel at Unity, Naomi had cried. She rarely cried like that and it scared Blair. Then she shoved a few things into a duffel and hurried him outside. They had barely traveled a few blocks when the bombing started.
Turning his mind away from the painful memories, Blair slowly fingered the medallion his mom had given him. As Naomi's oldest child, it was supposed to be passed on to him when he was almost fourteen, nearly four years away. Closing his fist around it, he fought back the tears. He didn't want it yet. He wanted his mom.
"Promise to find him, Honey Bear."
The voice floated in his ear, nudging him. Find his father? Blair hadn't realized he had a father. Well, yeah, from the biology books he knew every creature had a mother and a father, except the ones that divided or budded or something. Just that most of the kids he knew didn't have a father hanging around. They had uncles and other adult males in the commune, but few had fathers. Those that did rarely did anything with them, except for Danny.
Blair closed his eyes a moment, picturing Danny and his father Jesse, another council person. Jesse had spent most afternoons with Danny, teaching him to fish, swim, play ball and other cool stuff. Blair had been envious, seeing them laugh and play together. Naomi had tried, but she really didn't get into all the 'boy stuff'. Did he have a father like that? For a moment, a warm glimmer of hope pushed back the horrors of the past few hours. I want to know. I want to meet my father. But why haven't I met him before?
Blair quickly shoved the negative thought away and turned to more practical matters. Laurian Province. At the advanced school in Unity, they had all memorized the map of the mainland colony. Laurian had been a pretty blue-green one on the left-hand side. Their main products were fish, red peas, lumber and teal wood furniture. It was also home of the space program. They had watched a space probe being launched from the school's tele system. Blair had thought it was pretty cool.
Could he find it? He thought the mainland might be bigger than Claria and he'd never been further east than Unity. Even then, he used to drive the adults crazy by getting lost all the time. Plus, they spoke Basic on the mainland. Blair had been learning it at school, but he was still more comfortable in his native tongue of Esbrew. Yet he'd promised Mom and he never broke a promise to his mom. Blair swiftly brushed back a tear. He was not going to cry again.
Blair's thoughts were broken when a small, high voice asked, "Can we sit with you?" Suddenly realizing that the vehicle had slowed down, Blair looked up into the big brown eyes of a chubby little girl. Blinking out of his daze, Blair managed a small smile. "Sure."
"Goodie." The girl plopped down beside him and waved at two older girls whose dark brown hair matched hers. Must be sisters.
The older one rolled her blue eyes. "Phoebe," she muttered darkly as they picked their way over. Blair guessed she was probably in her early teens. The younger one, walking with a slight limp, was about his age.
"My name's Phoebe," stated the youngest one, regaining his attention. "What's your name?"
"My name's Blair," he replied, smile a little bit bigger. Normally, he was the outgoing, talkative one. But then, he suspected this little one really didn't understand what was going on. Lucky kid.
"My name's Piper," said the middle girl. She sat down gracefully next to them. "And this is our sister, Prue."
"Hi," Prue replied gruffly. Blair noticed the haunted expression, which he was sure matched his own. "Piper, why don't you take off that shoe so we can see how bad it is."
As Piper leaned over to untie her low-cut leather shoe, Phoebe eagerly explained, "We had to leave our bikes after the road got rocky and busted my tire and then Piper's foot started hurting."
Rocky? From the bombing? Blair bit his lip in sympathy as he saw the broken and bloody blisters on the back of Piper's foot. He quickly reached for his mother's satchel.
"Oh, Piper," Prue sighed. She dripped some water onto a handkerchief then dabbed at the wound, causing her sister to hiss. "I don't think I have any bandaids."
"I do," Blair replied, digging around the numerous items Naomi always carried with her. He pulled out a small kit. "I've got some salve my Ima made, too." His voice broke a little bit on the word 'Ima', but he tried to cover it up by handing the small container to Prue. "It should make it hurt less and help it to heal." For an instant, his and Prue's eyes met, relaying an understanding. Blair suddenly realized that Prue had witnessed the same kind of horror he had and was trying to protect her younger sisters. Blair almost felt envious. He wished he had siblings, too. Maybe he wouldn't feel so alone.
"Thanks." Prue turned back to her sister as she twisted open the top. Piper's foot jumped back when Prue touched the salve onto the wound. "Piper, hold still."
"It's cold!"
Prue glared at her and grabbed the foot. Yet in spite of her stern manner, Prue was gentle in dabbing the salve on broken skin. Wiping her finger on the handkerchief, she then took the bandaid Blair held out to her.
Realizing she wasn't the center of attention anymore, Phoebe piped up, "We're going to Grandma's house. Mommy's coming later."
From the sad glances Prue and Piper exchanged, Blair had a feeling their mom wasn't coming. Just like his mom.
"She lives on the mainland," Phoebe continued to chatter. "Where are you going, Blair?"
"I'm going to find my father." Suddenly, Blair knew that was exactly what he was going to do. The stubborn will that had gotten him into so much trouble at Serenity had kicked in, aimed at a new target. "He lives on the mainland, too."
Piper looked up from watching Prue's bandaging job. "Where does he live?"
"Harbor Bay in the Laurian Province."
Prue shot him a searching look. "Have you ever been there?"
Blair's eyes grew more stubborn. "No."
Phoebe jumped in before Prue could ask anything else. "I've never been to Grandma's, either. But Piper says she sings and makes great cookies."
"That sounds nice," Blair replied, smiling at her.
Piper carefully slipped her foot back into her shoe. "That feels much better. Thanks, Blair." She gave him a warm smile, her brown eyes grateful.
"You're welcome," Blair returned. He replaced the salve and the kit into the satchel.
Prue squinted at the sun, judging that it was close enough to the horizon to signal supper time. She dug into her own bag and pulled out two pocketwiches. Tearing one in half, she handed the slightly smaller piece to Phoebe and the larger one to Piper. The second she broke more evenly and held a piece out to Blair.
"That's okay," Blair waved it away. "I'm not hungry." He didn't want to take food from the sisters that they might need later.
"W
hen was the last time you ate?" Prue questioned sternly. When Blair couldn't come up with an answer, she shoved the 'wich roughly into his hands. "Eat."
"It's good," Phoebe claimed, backing up her sister. She then snuggled next to Blair, munching contentedly on her 'wich.
Giving up, Blair took a bite of the bread with sprouts and nut filling. For the first time since leaving Naomi, he didn't feel quite so alone.
Six hours later
Blair stirred as the flatbed slowed. Nestled next to Piper with Phoebe's feet in his lap, Blair cautiously lifted his head so as not to wake them. Night had fallen, so Blair could only feel the vehicle ease over a couple of bumps. Once stopped, Blair spotted the faint light as the driver's door opened.
"Can you see what's going on?" Prue whispered. She was on the other side of Piper, closer to the center of the bed.
Blair could hear the mumbles of the driver with one of the other men in the cab. "I think they're just switching drivers again," he whispered back.
"Okay," Prue replied, nestling back with her sisters. The truck had stopped every few hours to change drivers and once to get fuel.
~boom!~ ~boom!~ ~boom!~
Most everyone on the vehicle stirred awake and began talking in fear. "Prue?" whined Phoebe sleepily.
"It's not here," Prue told her, squeezing her tighter.
Blair searched the horizon in the direction of the noise. "Over there!" he pointed. They could barely pick out the distant fires.
"Everyone off!" shouted one of the men who had been driving.
Immediately, all the bodies began shoving towards the edges of the flatbed. For an instant, Blair feared he and the sisters would be pushed off the high platform. Then another man appeared on the ground next to Blair. "Here kid," he said as he swiftly grabbed Blair under the arms and gently swung him onto the road. Once his friends were standing next to him, the man continued, "Go to the ditch," pointing behind them.
"Thank you!" Blair shouted over his shoulder as he turned. With the distant explosions urging them on, Blair and the sisters ran. Stumbling in the dark, they almost fell down the steep slope of the ditch. Instead, Blair slid down to the bottom with Piper, Prue and Phoebe sliding on top of them.
