by
J. Price
Recent
raging wars have reduced the population of the planet. Weather
control tactics changed rich farmland into vast sterile
wasteland. Available water is difficult to find and rich forests
have become brittle and dry. Fires rage through acres
making ash of timbers and brush.
Studies have compared similar
planets time of recovery to be two to three hundred years. There is an
ongoing program where DNA is collected and cataloged so that lost
species once living on this planet, will be reintroduced and have a
promising survival rate.
The world recovered from an
Ice Age, Meteor strike, and now must survive the effects of weather
controllers and Bio-Bots devastation to all life of the planet.
Jasher, Brana and Lali are together in The House. They begin plans to make a big move.
THE MOVE
“Hey guys, I have news for you.” Tran grins.
I notice he looks like the cat that caught the mouse. Confident
and sure of himself at the same time, I watch Brana, somewhat smugly
asking, “Is this about Marja?”
Tran freezes. I see an expression of shock briefly flicker across his
face as he says to Brana, “So, you figured that out.”
“You have been very careful about revealing her identity, especially
from Jasher. We both know how tough that has been. We want
to hear your impression of her and also your relationship.” With
the last word, Brana gives him a know it all grin.
I walk over to my friend and slap him on the back. “Congratulations you
sly, tight lipped, hugger-mugger. Why the subterfuge? Is
she ugly?”
“Is she ugly? Of course she is really twisted up dirty, wart covered
ugly, when she needs to be.” Tran gives me a cocky kid style,
innocent grin, and then slowly adds, “She is versatile and can be quite
entertaining. She is able to go into any situation and fit
in. She also has a good sense of humor, is beautiful,
intelligent, and perfect, in my point of view.”
I ask, “What does she do? Does she work for The Etheric Galaxy Intelligence too?”
“No, she works from an offshoot of Brand Masters Education and has been
traveling with another group of protectors. We have much in
common as she is also a Psi-shape shifter. We met while I was
traveling to Dimension 26 last break. I’ve never met anyone as
fun, a perfect match for me.”
“I am happy to hear that, now go get her, buddy. We want to meet her. “ I urge him on.
“I’ll go to her. She is looking forward to meeting you in person.”
Tran is off, vanishing into thin air to bring Marja here for an
introduction. I walk over to Brana, hug her, saying, “You don’t
miss much, do you?”
“Not really.” She kisses me and everything else is lost.
Brana suddenly takes a step back, moves her head to see past mine and speaks, “Lali, put that down and come here.”
I turn around to see what she is talking about. Lali is floating
through the air, heading upstairs with her toy box alongside her.
She makes it look effortless. As Lali maneuvers the big box of
toys, I watch in awe.
When Lali hears her mother’s demand, she reverses the box, places it
gently on the floor where it belongs, and only then lands standing near
her mother’s side, takes a step and promptly plops on her butt.
She has the innocent expression down pat. She looks angelic and
remains on the floor. Brana picks her up and Lali hugs her.
I enjoy watching their close connection. She has her mother wound
around her finger, but Brana keeps a good balance.
“I have talked to you about levitating objects,” Brana tells her, “ You
could hurt somebody, Lali. You also must stay aware of where you
are and where you are going. I can visually lose track of you if
you choose to go through the walls again as a short cut. Stay
where I can see you.”
Lali giggles at her mom, she is nearly a year old and capricious.
She touches her mom’s cheek and goes back to her toy box. Lali remains
hovering the entire time. I will get used to her many strange
abilities. Boy, I don’t know the half of it yet.
Have you noticed Brana, that Lali already has your blonde curly hair
and expressive brown eyes that twinkle when she is happy? She
will be one gorgeous woman like you when she grows up.
“She holds her mouth like her dad did. She will still be a handful, even when she is an adult.” Brana admits.
………………..….
“Sweetheart, I have wondered about a few things. We have
not had a chance to talk about your past. We have been too
busy. You are a psi and know what is going on around you, yet
your husband died of a snakebite. How did that happen, Brana?”
She looks at me, her beautiful brown eyes are intense, and she has a
slight frown, “I was distracted with the baby. By the time I
psi’d back to check on him I knew he was dead. I also knew when
the three robbers came to steal the wagon and was aware I could not
find a buyer, so I did not try to get out of their way. I knew
what a valuable treasure the wagon was in these tumultuous times.
Having it would bring trouble. I was alone with a baby and new it
was wise to let them take it. I had hidden what we would need and
played the part of a victim. That was easy. As just one
woman with a child, I was ignored throughout my journey to get
here. I envisioned you, and The House, then knew where I was
going and why.”
I was aware there was a reason, but I didn’t have a clear view.
You answered what I didn’t pick up. This was a terrible thing for
you to go through.” I hug her dainty 5’2” frame.
She whispers, “I knew that Lali carried her own weight in just a short
time. Her levitation allowed me to make the trek easier, even
though the weather was scorching hot every day. I couldn’t have
done this without her help.” Brana nuzzles into my shoulder.
I am looking over Brana’s shoulder, holding her when I see Tran and
Marja pops into the room, arm in arm. Both smiling sheepishly,
looking a bit guilty. I suspect they had a personal quick hello
before coming here and wouldn’t blame them.
Brana and I break our hug. Brana turns to look at the pair. We notice how happy they look.
Tran puffs his chest out and in an exaggerated movement, extends his
arm as if introducing a Queen. I would like to introduce Marja,
my soon to be mate.
We walk over and shake her hand. We join in, matching Tran’s
whimsical approach. “It is our pleasure to meet you.” We
both curtsy, just for the fun of it, and wink at Tran.
Marja is the opposite sight of Brana and has straight black hair, green
eyes and is probably 5’5” against Brana’s 5’2” out of control curly
blonde hair, big brown eyes. Each is smashing, in her own way.
Lali playfully bounces over to her mom and plants a big sloppy kiss on
her cheek then floats away. She has a small wooden music box in
hand, lifts a fluffy pink throw blanket up from the sofa, covers
herself and begins to sway with the music while remaining above the
floor several feet. She closes her eyes and nods off to sleep. I
watch her as she moves gently back and forth and am amazed that she can
stay safe rocking above the floor, while sleeping. I can
stub my toe just stepping into the tub. Ugh.
Brana breaks my thought, “Please make yourselves comfortable. I
will get food for us.” Brana is back soon and we begin to visit.
“Tell us about yourself, Marja. A bit of a bio, to start.” I ask.
“I was schooled at Brand Master Worlds Higher Education on Tech six,
and hold three doctorates. I manipulate cellular structures,
without laboratory conditions to accelerate their growth, which is
handy in restructuring life forces anyplace on planets after
wars. I am able to transform into anything and was trained by the
finest physical Physics manipulator. I maneuver frequencies
to keep a natural balance. This can change perceived reality.“
Brana whispers in my ear, “Quite a load, don’t you think?”
I am not immediately certain what she means by that. I just shake my head in agreement and keep on listening.
“I was born on Makor two, and brought to Brand Master Worlds
because I showed promise for their programs. I will say, I am
smart and that gives me all the edge I need. I am 29 and more
than a Psi-shape shifter. I don’t advertise what I do but know we
will be as close as family.”
Another whisper in my ear from Brana, “She has so much to tell us,” Brana raises one eyebrow.
