The constant sound of the cicadas gave an almost musical air to the vast, endless field Duran found himself in. He didn't know why he happened to be in this particular field or how he came to be within it's vast confines, but the old man was indeed in the middle of a field. What kind of field is a tricky question, for a variety of plants grew within this sunset garden. Mostly tall grasses gave the clue that he was indeed in actuality on a prairie. The sky was growing a shade of slight pink, indicating the time of day. Duran smiled and looked about. This sight was quite common on Filgaia's endless plains, but yet, this scene had a individual aura about it, making it seem surrealistic. Duran began to walk, a little more bounce in his step and vigor in his stride than he could recall having in his recent years. Every direction had the same horizon, so it really didn't mater what direction Duran decided to take. Nevertheless, he decided he would venture south, walking through the fields with no ultimate goal in mind. He really should have been wondering what in Abrams name he was doing there, but he was content enough to forget his worldly concerns and concentrate on, well, nothing. He was in a state of perfect bliss, above the things that mortals tire themselves with, nirvana. A couple pronghorn antelopes watched him, and in turn he returned their gaze. Their large black eyes blinked lazily and their ever revolving satellite ears twitched, catching the sound of some concern far out in the plains. The Pronghorn had decided they had their time and now it was time to go. With a few quick bounds, they disappeared from Duran's sight. It was a pity to see such beautiful animals go, but every creature has his own aims.

It was then, when the antelope silently vanished into the sunset, Duran's own ears caught the sound. If it were the same sound that sent the antelopes off would never be known, but to Duran it was a sad, mournful noise. The sounds of loneliness. The sounds of mourning, of tears, and of grief. Duran knew this sound quite well, for he had experienced loneliness, mourning, tears, and grief quite well. His wife and children had left him, and left him to be the cold husk of an old man. Duran sighed and tried to look away, but yet his fathering instincts told him to look and see what pitiful creature could ever be miserable in this Eden.

She was a child, perched upon the back of a strange yet ever so captivating Pronghorn. The Pronghorn itself was larger than the average antelope by far with a sleek, glossy coat of fine browns, blacks, and powder whites. Upon it's snout was a black spire that spilt into an enormous "U", spanning a good five or six feet from the far right of the head to the far left. The girl who was perched in such a mourning state was pale, adorn in only a black dress with a red bandanna tried around her neck. Her eyes could not be seen through the sorrowful mist emanating from them, but her hair was long and dark. She appeared to be a young girl, probably eleven or twelve. Duran felt no threat from either creature, only sorrow and grief. A cold wind began to slowly blow through the prairie, lifting the grass seeds into the air upon their tiny white umbrellas.

Duran stepped closer to the girl and her beast, taking his time as to not to upset neither one of them. The girl continued to sob as the antelope watched Duran keenly with the black orbs of its eyes. It's ears were constantly twitching, catching the sounds of the footsteps of the man. Duran was finally able to come close enough to the animal, being only as high as it's breast, and began to pet it's hair so slowly. The animal did nothing in reply but continue swishing its cotton swab like tail and rotate its ears. As beautiful and powerful as this strange animal was, it was the sad girl that Duran needed to talk to. Seeing how the animal wasn't interested or threatened by him, Duran walked over to where the girl was sitting. He had to crane his neck a little to see her, as she sat on the beast's back, but he had renewed strength in this land.

"Hello there, young girl." Duran greeted through a smile.

The girl in the black dress continued to sob, not granting Duran permission to see her face.

Duran raised an eyebrow and began to talk more slowly in a hushed manner. "What's the matter? My, You've got more water leaking from your eyes than the Hudson Dam! C'mon, you can tell old Duran what's the matter."

The girl looked from her palms to the man below her, looking up with caring, fatherly eyes. She sniffed and looked back with her soft red eyes. "Go away."

"Go away?" Duran replied, his voice still small and soothing. "A young maiden such as yourself shouldn't be crying, not with such lovely eyes as those you got there in your little head! Here," Duran reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. "Use this to wipe away those dreadful tears." He hadn't spoke this way in countless years to a child. It was almost as if… she were the child he neevr had the chance to raise as his own…

The girl accepted the handkerchief and wiper her eyes with it, even going as far to blow her nose. She sniffed once more and looked at Duran through wet eyes. "Thank you."

"It's no problem. Now," Taking a bit of courage, Duran hoisted himself atop the animal, sitting himself next to the girl. "Why don't you tell me why your all alone out here. It's dangerous in the wild, you know? All sorts of beasts and what not."

"There isn't anything else." The girl replied. "Where do you come from?"

Duran raised an eyebrow in question. "You don't seem like a Baskar child to me. I come from civilization, surly you know of it. Your parents must be on holiday. Don't worry, they'll come back for you and you can go back to buildings, rail cars, clocks, and most of all, people."

"There are no other people. I don't have a mum or a dad. There's only me, by myself." The girl sniffed.

Duran patted her back. "That's not true. If you were all alone, where would I come from, eh? Your parents wouldn't just leave you here. They love you, I'm quite sure. What's your name, little girl?"

The girl looked to Duran and wiped her eyes. She opened her mouth, strange sounds came forth. Sounds that Duran couldn't identify. Wait, he could. Telephone sounds. The sounds of a strange contraption he had seen at Welles Island during a Yggdrasalian experiment one time. The sounds of a "modem". The moment she spoke in this "modem" tongue, the world blinked out and Duran woke up…

-

The next day… October, 1860

Duran rubbed his eyes as he placed the spectacles upon his face. Sunlight was streaming in through the broad windows of his motel room. Duran rolled his eyes at the thought of it being any other sort of weather besides sun. As Werner would say, 'it's a sign of the times'. Duran instantly grew frustrated at the thought of Werner Maxwell. For some strange reason, the younger Council member was acting the part of a child, trying desperately to persuade he and Malik's position on hiring the famous Dr. Leehalt Alceste. Duran walked into the restroom. The restroom was a white linoleum and porcelain, as all restrooms should be. On the other end was a door, which led to Werner's room. Malik stayed across the hall from the two, having his room all too himself, which was just fine with Duran. After all, they had just bailed him from a clinic for the mentally insane. Duran glanced in the mirror as he began applying water to a scrubbing rag. It was himself, as always, but yet not. He found himself feeling much less of what he normally felt on a morning. He had felt he had lost a part of himself, or realizing that he never had been complete. That strange dream… Duran shook his head as he pulled out his grooming kit from under the sink. It was a small, beaten black box, which contained a comb, small scissors, a razor, and soothing cream. He looked to the bottle. It must have been at least five yeas old, as Duran had grown himself a beard and kept it for that period of time. It was a small, neglected piece of who he used to be, much like his children; the piece of himself that was never formed. He was too busy working too ever really raise them. He would leave when they were asleep and return when they were asleep. Every day, they would be a bit more grown, but missing out on a father. Well, they gained one when Tiffany decided to leave with that man, Duran thought to himself.

"Oh Abram, if only… if only I could change all of that. If I could ever see my children again…" Duran sighed and looked into the mirror. He had never given them anything, but now… now he would. He would give them the future, a Filgaia of tomorrow, green and lush, with tall forests and deep seas. "And in order to do that…" Duran mumbled to himself as he snipped at his white beard with the tiny scissors. "I must acquire the best I can find. And the best in Filgaian theory is Dr. Alceste."

-

Werner, as luck would have it, was out at the moment. His room was unlocked, as Werner was forgetful at such things, and nowhere to be found. His things were still unpacked upon the wooden floorboards, indicating that he had not jumped a train and abandoned the cause all together. Duran sighed with relief. "Shame on me for thinking Werner to be that much of a fool."

"Who's a fool?" Malik asked, brushing his teeth while standing in the hall right behind the investigative Duran.

Duran turned around and frowned. Such un professionalism! "Please Malik, could you at least wait until you're done before talking? You've got suds in your mouth."

"Looks like I'm rabid, doesn't it?" Malik smiled, showing off all the foam from the toothbrush.

"Yes Malik, yes it does." Duran replied.

"So, when are we going to visit Dr. Alceste again?" Malik continued to speak while brushing his teeth.

"I would say soon if I could find Werner, wherever he went. That man can be so infuriating when he wants to be." Duran checked the room once more through the corner of his spectacles.

"You know, the way he acted yesterday wasn't very respecable at all, I have to say! He acted like a total kid." Malik gave his two cents.

Duran raised his eyebrow. "This coming from a man who makes comments about being rabid while brushing his teeth."

"…Hey!" Malik finally caught on.

"But I do agree with you Malik." Duran interrupted before Malik could begin. "It is rather childish he act like this, especially to such a highly esteemed individual like Dr. Alceste."

"The way he acts, you'd think something personal happened between him and Dr. Alceste. Mortal enemies or something, y'know?" Malik was finally done brushing his teeth.

"Well, Dr. Alceste did mention that the two knew each other when their were children…" Duran remembered.

"Well, you've been hanging out with Werner long enough. Hasn't he said something about it?" Malik asked. "Wait, hold on. I'm gonna go spit this out." Malik then walked into Werner's room, heading for the restroom door.

"Wait Malik." Duran called. "Why don't you use your own?"

"This one's closer." Malik shrugged.

Duran sighed a frustrated sigh. You'd never guess he was a nominee for the Council of Seven. It was a moment (including an opera of gurgling and running water) before Malik came back. Duran rolled his eyes as Malik adjusted a suspender strap. "Malik, if your to actually impress any board you must pass through, I'd suggest using a little more common sense."

Malik chuckled. "What are you, my father?"

This seemed to have struck a nerve with Duran. He ashamedly looked to the floor beneath them. "I… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to insult you."

"Hey, it's cool." Malik patted Duran on the back. "Don't worry about it." Malik then actually looked at Duran. He didn't appear to be doing so well. "Hey, you all right Dr.?"

"Yes, I'm fine. …I just had a rather unpleasant dream last night." Duran admitted.

"A nightmare?" Malik asked.

"No, it in itself was a pleasant dream. It just brought back some inner demons of mine that I still have yet to deal with." Duran said.

Malik put a hand to his boyish chin and thought. "Why don't you explain?"

"What is this, an inquiry? I'm all right, you're not a psychologist, and we need to find Werner and deal with this troublesome matter of enlisting Dr. Alceste." Duran demanded.

"Hey, I've gone through enough psychology appointments to be one!" Malik made a half-serious joke. "Werner's probably out getting breakfast or something."

Duran slumped his shoulders. "All right, I give up. Hopefully you're right…"

-

"Well, it's apparent that you're having some kind of father issues." Malik finally stated after Duran's story. Both were sitting on the ends of the bed in Duran's room.

"Let's just keep this to ourselves, O.K?" Duran asked.

"Of course, client patient confidentiality. Gotcha." Malik nodded. "What you need is the chance to be a father. Have you ever tried a dog?"

Duran gave Malik an evil look. "I don't have the time for a dog! I'm too busy with for that kind of thing. A dog of all things!"

"Ah, right there! You're too busy!" Malik pointed out. "Wasn't that the problem from the start."

Duran caught himself and instantly became silenced. "I am too busy…"

"This girl in your dream is your instincts to father! You missed your chance and now it's coming back to haunt you. But there is one interesting thing…" Malik thought.

"And that is?" Duran asked, impatient.

"The antelope in your dream. The really big one with the "U" shaped horn on it's snout. It's a common element prevalent in many troublesome dreams." Malik explained.

"And you'd know this how?" Duran crossed his arms.

"I read everything when I was by myself for a long time. Ask me any trivia question, I dare you!" Malik grinned.

"Getting back to the antelope." Duran stated.

"Oh, right." Malik cleared his throat. "The massive antelope represents the need to redeem ones actions. In Baskar religion, it is known as Oderyuk, the Guardian of Life. According to the ancient Baskar myth, when one sees Oderyuk, it means that something wrong has occurred in your life, and Oderyuk is telling you to go back and change it. An object to represent what has gone wrong in your life usually accompanies it. A bushel of wheat if you've destroyed your life through drinking or a mournful adult if you've destroyed your chances for love. The child in your dream is obviously meant that you need to amend your ways of parenting. Of course, it's all just dream theory 101 stuff."

"Still, it makes sense…" Duran thought. "But I must continue with PROJECT Yggdrassil. Maybe, maybe that is how I can amend my past, by providing a future for my children, wherever they are…"

"Possibly." Malik then dropped, resting on the bed. "Where the hell is breakfast?"

-

The daylight streamed in through Leehalt's windows, illuminating the antique furniture. Leehalt was awake, as the town had been for some time now. It wasn't yet noon, but still morning. Leehalt looked as if he had barley any sleep and had been thinking for a long time. He sat in his chair, staring out the window of his personal car, tapping his khaki clad thigh with a pen. The birds were out side, singing to each other. But how long would they be singing out there? When the end came, there would be no more birds to sing, or anyone to hear them. This small thought ran quickly through Leehalt's mind, as he was more concerned with another item. His youth seemed to trouble him during the night and in these hours of the day, and the thoughts of a young love occupied his mind. Regret, he had deduced, was filling his life, no matter what accomplishments he had made. His happiness, no matter how many great deeds he has and will do in his lifetime, would amount to nothing due to one, small, almost insignificant action played out years ago. He would remain in loneliness and sorrow even if he became the President of the Union of the Federal Republic of Filgaia.

A tapping came from his door. He looked to it, awakening from his trance, and focusing upon it. "Who is it?"

"Eet eez I, Jon." The familiar accent came though the door.

"What is it that you want?" Leehalt asked, a bit of anger coming into his voice.

"Eet haz been several hours now, and yet you steel haven't come from your room, even for breakfast? Wee are wondering… are you O.K, sir?" Jon asked.

Leehalt sighed. He whispered to himself that he would never be O.K, but found that would be most discouraging to his loyal staff. But, an idea appeared in his head. He smiled a bit. "Jon, can you come in here for a moment?"

"But of course, sir." Jon replied. The door opened, and the Governing Representative walked in.

"Please, have a seat." Leehalt offered a chair, one of the same that Werner, Duran, and Malik had been sitting in the night before. Jon did as told, sitting quietly and obediently, waiting for Leehalt to speak. Leehalt smirked. "Jon, in six hundred years, what do you think this territory will look like?"

Jon thought for a moment, toying with the tiny mustache he had. "A fair meetropolees, I'd zink. Of course, zat would only be possible because you started her wondrous growth!"

Leehalt continued to tap his slacks with his pen. "Don't be such a worm, Jon. In reality, this territory will be even more worthless than it is now. Do you know why?"

"I 'ave not a clue, sir." Jon shrugged, a bit confused.

"Because in six hundred years, Filgaia will die, and with her death, everything upon her face shall die, and all will die in a glorious despair." Leehalt replied. "The end of everything will occur in six hundred years. Your children's children's crops will die, your children's children's cattle will die, and your children's children will die. Thus it will be the end of humanity, no matter what party they had chosen to vote for."

Jon swallowed. "Eez zees about what zose meen from ze Council, sir?"

"They asked me, Jon, to help them save the world. Deter Filgaia from her path to destruction, and ultimately preserve the human race. You know why they had decided to ask me these things, Jon?"

"Beecause… you are a famous heero?"

"Because I'm a famous scientist." Leehalt raised a thin eyebrow. "Because, despite my absence from the scientific realm, I am still the leading authority on Filgaia Theory, the theory that the entire PROJECT Yggdrassil is rooted in. If I were to save the world though, it would mean I'd have to retire from the senatorial race. But I can't do that, I've spent too much money and time in this to do that. You've spent too much money and time into this for me to do that, saving the world. This entire campaign team has dedicated their lives for my election, but if I were to leave now, all of their efforts would be wasted. No, I couldn't do that… unless…"

"Unless?" Jon asked.

"Jon, how satisfied are you with being "Governing Representative, or whatever term they call your puppet of an office?" Leehalt smirked.

"Well, I do not like eet as much as I had hoped for eet…" Jon put a finger to his chin in thought.

"You crave real power, Jon." Leehalt leaned forward, staring the thinner man in the eyes. "I can see it in your eyes. You are a commanding officer, born to lead and make decisions, ultimately controlling the public to your own whim! You seek a respected position and seek the respect and worship of every man and woman on Abram's dusty Filgaia! I can see it in your eyes, Jon, I can see your aspirations…"

"Zen what do you suggest I do, sir?" Jon leaned in, building great joy within him.

"It would do me a great favor- no- the world a great favor if you were to run in my place. I could save the world, creating a future for Filgaia, and you could lead the people of the territory into statehood and into the utmost bliss a politician can! You could be a hero, and I, a savior. Our talents would be beneficiary to everyone. You would have my complete support of your campaign, Jon Abondues. So, what do you say?"

"I'll doo eet!" Jon leaped out of his chair, excitement spreading through all his body.

Leehalt smirked. "That's just what I wanted to hear Jon. You've done the world a great deed this day." Leehalt reached over to his desk and flipped through some papers. After a moment, he found the right one and handed it to an all too excited Jon. "This is a legal exchange of services, property, and appointments. Just sign here and the train, the crew, and the entire campaign is yours."

Without a moments hesitation, Jon scribbled his name with a pen on the paper. His smile reached from ear to ear as he handed the paper back. "I can not belieeve zes is reely happening!"

"Oh it is Jon. It is. Now, you are not to breathe a word of this to anyone until I say so, understood?"

Jon nodded with all of his might. Leehalt smiled.

-

"I still can't believe we're doing this! He's not going to say yes." Werner grumbled as he accompanied the two men to the train.

"Your lucky you bought us breakfast, or I'd be all over you right now." Malik stated. "Now try to act like an adult this time, right Duran?"

"Exactly." Duran nodded. "Say, what the devil is going on?"

A large crowd of newspaper reporters and cameraman were thronging the caboose, where Leehalt, Jon, and a few campaign managers stood, answering questions of some sort. Leehalt noticed the oncoming recruiting council and held his hands up for silence. "Doctors!" Leehalt announced in a happily energetic voice. "I've decided to join you on the council of Seven!"

-