Chapter 30: Truths in the middle of the labyrinth

Antoinette addresses Iris Hauer

_ Iris! The Sentinels already know, things got ahead of us because Margaret arrived at the Sentinel Legion Base. Now, you must go and tell the truth: you must tell Andrei and Jaidev that Sharon is alive, and also her adoptive brothers. But, yes, you must do it at your discretion as I indicated, it is not yet time for Malenfant to know of our existence and of the Sentinels, much less of FIREFLY.

_ Okay, boss.

_ By the way, your father is calling you on the phone.

_ Thank you very much - Iris takes the secret phone where she was still in contact with her father - where are you?

_ You would not be where you are if you had not been convinced of the powerful warrior that you are - Agnar told his daughter Iris

_ Father! I am sorry, really! I'm so sorry about the way you found out things ended with Heather's body!

_ Listen to me, my love! The truth is that I don't understand your actions at all. The best thing you can do for me is not to introduce me to the robot you turned Heather into with her brain. I don't want to see her like that! It's logical that she's dead!

_ But Amani and my cousin Johann's partner were able to save her life. Well, her brain! It's true. The only reality is that... she's gone... but now I have a chance, the chance for her doppelgänger... to know... who... she is... her real family. More so because I found out that your double here and mom's double are already dead.

Moment of silence. Agnar doesn't answer Iris.

_ Father? Are you still there?... -absolute silence- Listen! There is something good and wonderful that we had: although we were cruelly separated from you when Yadir and I were children...we did know who our parents were, you! My double doesn't fully accept that your doppelgänger is her father, but I do! And I'll be here for you! Heather knew that we were her brothers. So many years passed before I met you again, and well, I couldn't even see her again. But I'll tell you what I'll do: I won't only make my sister's doppelgänger know who her family is, I'll bring her back to you, she's not Heather, but she lives in Sharon, you can get her back! Not Heather, but Sharon.

_ The more times you mention your sister's name, the more painful memories it brings back from when she died, it's been 3 and a half years since she died. I still can't get her face out of my head when she saw that she wasn't going to survive- Agnar's voice breaks- I really don't know how I'm going to take it!......Seeing her again in another universe if I know that she's not her! I've had enough of her being like a robot now and not really alive!- (loud crying)

Iris lets out a big sigh and many tears run down her face, she lowers her face and tries to keep talking waiting for her father to calm down.

_ Heather left... but I haven't left, and neither has Josephine, neither has Jaidev nor Andrei, nor Yadir, now, I promise you that although I know there's no way Heather will come back, I can make Sharon come back.

Iris moves to Earth, where her sister, Josephine, finds her.

_ Iris!

_ Hey, Josephine! How long will you and Amani be around?

_ Until Sharon knows that she is my sister, well, the double, but well... you know that my doppelgänger did not exist here, and it is possible that it did not exist anywhere else in the Multiverse either.

_ As in the case of Antoinette, Hansel, am... Gretel, Kiara, other The Fighting Cats, Hansel's brothers except for Yamal. Well, there are many.

_ Well, what is the plan?

_ You talked to Melanie, you must go with her and bring Andrei and Jaidev, I will look for my doppelgänger, Yadir and Sharon. See you here.

_ Very well

Iris was gathering more information about how things were worldwide, there was a lot of panic, there were still places where natural disasters did not reach, but it was a matter of little, she receives a strange note from a child, she follows him, until she meets her double, being amazed.

_ Now it turns out that I have a twin sister? - said Iris confused

_ Not exactly - she answered - my name... is Iris Hauer, this information in due time, your friend and boss, Jawara Malenfant will know, but please, you must promise to keep the secret until the time is right for him to know.

_ What are you talking about? I don't understand.

_ The alien existence is real, Iris, I am not an alien, but I became one.

_ How was that possible?

_ The conversion - said Jannaly making an appearance

_ Wait! Jannaly? Aren't you... the one who helped Blossom save many people when Storm Leslie hit Germany?

_ Yes, that's right, and if your doppelgänger is an alien it's because she took a substance called conversion, which makes a human able to become an alien. But that substance had to be kept secret, because for aliens, humans are a threat.

_ And how does my doppelgänger know about that substance? By the way

where do you come from?

_ From Earth 02, and the conversion was discovered by The Sentinels, an organization of undercover spies from Earth 02 and by The Fighting Cats, undercover agents and heroes, which your servant is a member, my name is Iris Hauer, but you can call me "The Ice Cat"

_ Ok! Um... you Jannaly, are you human or are you...

_ Alien! You will soon know what race, but in fact, Hauer came to see you for something special, you already know about the conversion but please don't say anything.

_ Okay, I already said that aliens were real and the existence of the Multiverse was real, although I am not a woman of science, I did believe that things were going that way. What do you want to tell me, Iris, or Ice Cat?

_ It's about Sharon, your sister, I'm talking about your blood sister, she's alive!

_ What do you mean?

_ She's alive, where's Yadir, by the way? He must know that too. I've already been told how the story went, but that girl that your biological parents thought was dead, is alive, and by the way she's among you.

_ It's not possible! And who is she?

_ Sharon Dellinger, of course, your friend, she's your sister.

Iris can't believe what she hears, more family! She tries to contact Yadir, but he was absorbed in trying to win Dorothy over.

_ I can't contact my brother, when he's free, I'll tell him, okay?

Iris Hauer brings Sharon with her, first, she didn't know she was Iris Patterson's doppelgänger who brought her with her, when they all met face to face, Sharon couldn't believe it, by then, Josephine had already told Andrei and Jaidev of the existence of doppelgängers and the Multiverse (a fact that logically Jaidev already knew, but he couldn't tell Andrei yet and neither that he is a member of FIREFLY, so he had to pretend)

_ Iris! Do you have a twin sister?

_ No, in fact I am her doppelgänger- Iris Hauer answered- you are an astrophysicist, so you know the laws that govern her and the existence of doppelgängers and the Multiverse is real. I am from Earth 02.

_ Wow! This is great! - Sharon jumped for joy- I'm sorry, I just love science. You know it, Iris.

_ What is that truth that you have to tell us? - Andrei asked the Ice Cat, Jaidev lowers his head because he already knows it and all this time he hid it from his brother, the same with Melanie, who also looks downcast. - They already told us that on their Earth, another sister of ours was born, who was not born here and was not born in other universes, from what I understand, I'm sorry, I'm a doctor, not a scientist, and I can't fully understand their science. And well, that sister is Josephine, but she told me that you, Iris Hauer, have a truth to tell us.

_ You already know that I am the double of your sister Iris, so logically your doppelgänger is on my Earth and is my brother, as well as the doppelgängers of Jaidev and Yadir. But the woman in front of you is Sharon, their sister whom they believed dead.

_ What are you telling us? - said Andrei angrily - why would my sister Iris's doppelgänger come to lie to us?

_ It's true, Andrei! - said Melanie, while Andrei turns to look at her surprised and confused - she's your sister! I already knew it almost a year ago, but I had to hide it.

Sharon is so confused that she doesn't know what to say, but decides to speak.

_ Wait! Yes! They told me about a deceased sister, my husband became close friends with Andrei since we learned of the suffering and pain that befalls him for having lost his sister. It can't be me! I have a family, I have a father and a brother. It's impossible!

_ A DNA test will confirm it! - said Melanie

The test is done, the laboratory gives them the results immediately, it came out positive! Sharon did nothing but look with pain and many tears in her eyes at such a truth.

_ Look at these pictures... here you are... sister - said Ice Cat, showing her some pictures where Sharon's doppelganger (Heather) is shown as a young adult with her father (Agnar) and her brothers Jaidev, Andrei and Josephine.

_ Look! - said Jaidev - here I have a picture where you are a little girl, and you are with dad and mom.

The photos showed the same thing: the girl in Jaidev's photo is the same as Heather looked as a little girl, and in both photos, it is clearly shown that Agnar is Heather's biological father, because her doppelganger, Agnar Winterhall, looks just like him in Jaidev's photo, which reinforces the truth: Sharon is Agnar Winterhall's daughter.

In Jaidev's thoughts

_ (I know that I also knew that my sister was alive, but by FIREFLY'S order I cannot reveal that truth, I'm sorry brother, but now that I finally have the opportunity to get my sister back, apart from having recovered Iris and Yadir, I feel very happy) Sharon! - Jaidev shouted with great joy and hugged her very tightly, but Sharon looked somewhat sad.

_ That girl they told me about - Sharon said sadly - is me! There is no room for doubt

he's my father! He looks just like me! But... why did another family take me in then?"

_ Madeleine Harper! - Iris Hauer exclaimed - that woman stole you! She made your parents believe that you died, somehow, she put a body just like yours to make them believe that it was you, and she took you, and she tricked your adoptive father, Edward, in a different way, with a substance, she made him believe that the two of you were his biological children, she altered time in his mind, because Jawara is not Edward Malenfant's son either. But that's another story that they will later learn and Jawara will also learn, but you Sharon, were a stolen child.

Sharon already felt a deep hatred and resentment towards Madeleine, but now hearing that truth, her hatred was fueled even more.

_ So... Jawara... is not my blood brother, and my father is not my biological father. How am I supposed to tell them that?

_ You can't tell them! - said the Ice Cat

_ Why not?

_ In due time you will know, please, I beg you, because if this truth is known ahead of time, they have no idea what is coming, something much worse than the end of the world we are facing here now. Please, promise me, doppelgänger of my deceased sister, that you will not say anything.

_ I promise but... why do you say doppelgänger of my deceased sister?

_ Because she is dead on my Earth. You will know more later! Goodbye!

_ Wait! How am I supposed to keep this? Can't you help us? - exclaimed Sharon.

_ I have to go!

_ Wait, Iris! - said Josephine - we still have to tell them another truth.

_ What truth? - asked Jaidev

_ About Denahi and Fatima.

_ Well, we already know that, they are adopted siblings, we knew that for a long time- said Jaidev.

_ Yes, but you should know that their doubles are my brothers-in-law- said Ice Cat- they are brothers of my husband, Jayden Hauer, their names are Denahi Hauer and Fatima Hauer, well, Fatima Miller, because she is already married too. So then you will find out if my husband's doppelgänger and my other brother-in-law are here (referring to Jaime Hauer)

Iris leaves, but Josephine says goodbye before leaving.

_ So, well- said Sharon to Josephine- in this time that we waited for the results, you told me that you were a daughter of my father Agnar, that he did not have here and that he did not have anywhere else in the Multiverse.

_ That's right, and part of what your sister Iris's double told you, well, our sister, it's true, your doppelgänger passed away on Earth where I come from, Earth 02, and you don't know how happy it makes me to see you here, sister! - Josephine hugs Sharon very tightly. - Dad would be happy to see you. I have to go.

_ Wait! Josephine! - said Iris - can't you or my double help us stop the end of our planet?

_ No, because no one is prepared, better take shelter in the underground arks and hold on. Take care, my dear brothers, oh and Sharon, it's a secret! Jawara can't know yet. And don't say anything either, Iris- Josephine opens a wormhole and leaves, returning to Earth 02.

Long moment of silence

_ Andrei! - said Sharon happily- I know I'm very hurt to know that Jawara is not my brother and Edward Malenfant is not my biological father, but that doesn't matter, they will continue to be my family and I will gain more family, and now that you know I'm alive, I want to repair the damage I caused you and everyone by believing me dead! - Sharon approaches Andrei very happily, but he backs off, even pushing Sharon away so she doesn't get close to him.

_ Andrei! - said Jaidev- you didn't say anything in all this time that they proved this truth to us, say something, please. Maybe Denahi and Fatima don't want anything from us anymore, but Sharon is back! Isn't that what you could long for the most?

Andrei looked furious and resentful.

_ Andrei! - Jaidev exclaimed again - don't tell me that far from making you happy to know that our sister is alive, you still hold the resentment you've always had towards her.

_ What are you talking about? - Sharon said in a low voice.

_ Andrei! - Iris said - I mentioned to you that even though I wouldn't change my last name, you weren't going to lose me and I would be your sister, because I am, don't reject me! And you know that, please don't reject Sharon who is your beloved sister whom you have missed so much.

Andrei shakes his head and leaves very very furious.

_ Andrei! - Sharon shouted.

_ I'm going for him! - Melanie exclaimed - Andrei, wait! Don't go! - Melanie runs after Andrei - My love! We have to talk, okay? We need to talk,

_ What!? For starters, you knew! And you didn't tell me anything! And a stranger told me.

_ She's not a stranger, she's your sister Iris's doppelgänger, and yes, I'm so sorry! I knew Sharon was alive, but... They still silenced me like they asked us to keep quiet now!

_ Now it turns out that no one will know that Sharon is my sister, not even the family that took care of her! - Andrei was really angry.

_ Andrei, I don't know either

Why do you have to keep the secret, but you already know the truth: she was a stolen girl, not even her adoptive father or her adoptive brother know!

_ Why hide the truth? You are my wife! You should have told me before! Why didn't you? Weren't you a witness to how much pain it has caused me to believe her dead?

_ Andrei! Forgive me, okay? Forgive me

_ Andrei! - exclaimed Sharon arriving to meet him - I don't know what happened, I don't even have those memories you've told me about, both me and Joshua, I only have memories with Jawara and my father, well, my adoptive father. But you should know that you are my brother now, I feel happy to know that I have more family! I don't deny it, although it will be very very hard for Jawara the day he finds out, also for my father, they will still be my family, but it doesn't mean that I'm going to reject you, in fact, I want to have my father's last name! I'm talking about my father Agnar, please let me get close to you.

_ You won't have any memories! But I don't know what to think of you now! So, get away from me!

_ Andrei! - Jaidev shouted at him - don't reject our...!

_ Wait, Jaidev! - said Sharon - okay, I'll give you time to assimilate it, and even if you don't believe me, Andrei, I love you brother!

Andrei ran away from there crying buckets of tears, Iris approaches Sharon.

_ Well, now about my great friend, I know that you are my sister, I'm so sorry that Yadir is not here now! He's just crazy about Dorothy.

_ The mystery girl?

_ Yes, and now that I have the same information as you, I wouldn't call her that anymore. But now that you're here and I know that we're sisters, you should know that I always wanted a sister!

_ Me too! But now I want my real family to tell me the whole truth.

_ You will meet her, but in the meantime, you must keep the secret, in due time the truth will be known- said Jaidev using his enigmatic accent that characterizes FIREFLY. Still keeping it a secret that he works for FIREFLY.

Iris communicates with her father to tell him that Sharon already knows who her family is, she also tells her mother Dayaceli, who is still at the Multiverse Base. Dayaceli feeling a great emotion to be able to see at least her daughter in her doppelgänger, and Agnar, devastated and very desolate, will they two (Agnar and Sharon) ever meet again? What about Cameron's awareness of Heather's past?