“Granted. Do we allow their existence to affect our plans?”
Robbie shook his head. “Only as far as the manner in which it could endanger Michael.” He turned to me. “What is it you were about to tell us?”
“But why!” Hettie asked.
“Michael has to begin taking more extreme action to keep his followers happy. He sees his only option as being an attack on Cherinians or Normals. The idea of doing so, of killing or badly hurting anyone, is eating away at him, causing him too much anguish. My thought was to provoke his followers into taking action without involving our son. The rest will evolve from there.” From the mixture of emotions battering me, I knew Robbie would agree.
“Before we do, we must first restock Freddie as we may not be able to do so again for a long time. Then I’ll take my holiday.” Suddenly another idea hit me, the ramifications stunning me. I felt my face drain of colour as I stared at Robbie. “Robbie, if they attack to kill, I must appear to be dead. I’ll then have to stay in hiding for a long time. Only Michael must know the truth or else it could darken his heart.”
I felt a pair of strong arms enfold me in a rib crushing hug. “Our little pallikari. Roberto, let me go in her place.”
I knew everyone was going to fight to stop me, so I chose an alternative. “Sorry Alki, I can’t agree.” I turned to him with my eyes and heart sending him my love. “Another volunteered before you did and it is her right. Haven, I could sense you planning to ask and though I hate the idea of anyone else suffering because of an idea of mine, I agree, you may go.”
From her kisses of joy, anyone would think I’d offered her the most wonderful gift in the world.
We had to wait for the adoption process to be completed. During this time Robbie toted tons of goods from a dozen realities, the Hetties or Eddies being careful that nobody else knows what we are doing. We dare not trust even all our Cherinians for too many who are still Cherinians are likely to change sides. Isn’t it magical how Hettie and Eddie have turned out to be such loyal friends?
When Savva told us that the process cannot continue without Kalliopi attending a meeting with psychologists for emotional evaluation, we told Sheena what we’ve been arranging. She could hardly contain herself and was ready to go within minutes.
We all shared from Sheena since we’d told her she had to go alone. She hid her feelings (she was unable to contain her yearning to be loved and Kalliopi felt her) and took her hand. “Come with me, I want to show you something.” She followed happily, her heart warmed by the feeling of her tiny hand in hers. I doubt anyone outside the family loves our little Sheena as much. A couple of women volunteers followed them out of curiosity.
Sheena stopped by a crib. “Kalliopi, please pick him up and hold him.” She did as she was asked. “Look at his tiny face, isn’t he perfect?”
She smiled, her face suffused with love. “All babies are Sheena.”
“But isn’t he especially beautiful?” She gave a huge grin. “How would you like to adopt him? Do you want a son Kalliopi mou?”
“How could that be?” She looked at Sheena’s radiant face and burst into tears. The other women pressed up against her to pet the baby and be part of her joy.
“You have to go to this address,” she handed her a business card, “for a psychological evaluation. If you pass, he is your son.”
Kalliopi was evaluated and the papers were signed. The day she carried her son home it felt as if she could fly if she stretched her arms up to the sky and tried. She arrived home to find it filled with everything she could possibly need for her son for the next three years. Included was an expensive camera so that she can record his growth (we told her it is for her to show us whenever we return). We introduced her to a number of our close Cherinian friends and they made certain she understands she must call them if she needs any kind of help. After that we had a party to celebrate. This has been one of our loveliest days, especially feeling Sheena made it so.
For the next few days, Sheena spent her days with them and she was delighted when Kalliopi kept on telling her son that she is his auntie.
“The truth is, you are his mother also. I would never have had him if not for you.”
After three days we asked Sheena to remind Kalliopi that she still has a role to play, helping less fortunate children at the orphanage. She insisted on naming her son Roberto and she asked that Wendy be his godmother. We arranged the christening at the Kefalari Square church and she was overcome when she saw the number of people who came to rejoice with her. I think that next time we return here we’ll find she’ll have forgotten her obsession.
As I’d presumed, the Ipohin were not unwilling to wait for a new agreement with ADFI since we would continue supplying them. If I were on their team I would have found an excuse to bring things to a head by insisting on a new contract immediately.
Solomon visits us, at home on Earth and within Freddie. He suggested the girls carry a couple of Sparklers within them and his proposal was immediately accepted as being wise. Dommi insisted both girls update their memory gifts that we hold for them and Robbie took us all to the void to strengthen the slivers we hold. Nobody said anything about why it was being done, but it caused a lot of us to cry.
Hettie asked for data from other realities, but made certain that Michael stayed to attend the meeting. As we’d hoped he sent some of his top echelon to the other realities. We chose the one Arthur Campbell went to.
Haven, Solace and Robbie as the void, first went to the local Robert and Cherine to explain to them so that they do not react if the girls are attacked. The local Hettie and Eddie also had to be told so that they arrange for the girls to be given a lot of publicity in the media.
They spent a day in Kefalari, went on to London and from there they jumped to South Africa. They did not stay in a shopping mall, walking on the streets. The local government saw to it that they were surrounded by secret police and any thieves who thought of stealing their cameras and purses soon found themselves being jostled to a waiting armoured van that took them away. They were shown on tv and the girls announced they want to go to the waterfront in Cape Town the next day as they have a lot of happy memories from there.
It was obvious that the government selected those to play the role of shoppers for they hardly glanced at the girls when they arrived. They did some window shopping, had a cold drink and spent an hour in the restaurant. By late afternoon they were feeling dispirited, their foray into enemy territory starting to bore them.
*Where should we go now Robert?*
*Return to Athens, at least it’s warm there. Don’t let down you guard my loves, they would not choose to attack at an obvious time.*
*Okay, Kefalari here we come.*
Robbie arrived in Kefalari and without wasting more than seconds he returned to Cape Town. The shoppers felt free to discuss the girls now that they were gone and were exclaiming, excited to have been present when they jumped. Robbie sensed they weren’t around.
He retraced all the points they’d been to, then tried the Namibian/Botswana desert we’d been sent to before he returned to let us know what had happened. As panic spread, everyone close to us jumped to our home. I sat lost in my thoughts as they planned large scale search patterns, only the silence bringing me back. Everyone was staring at me.
Robbie asked me, “Have you had any ideas?”
“No. I’ll join you.”
Theresa said, “It doesn’t make sense, they could be in a different reality by now.”
“I’m calling all the Roberts to help search in their reality.”
“Don’t dad, we don’t need them.” Sol sent on my message and Solomon appeared. “Solomon, could you send Sparklers to all the realities we know. Tell them not to search for the girls, they must try to find the missing Sparklers.” My mind lit up. “God! That was clever of Solomon!”
“What now.”
“Don’t you remember, Solomon explaining how they jump to other realities? All they have to do is want to jump to the missing Sparklers. Even should that fail, the Wirms can find our warriors.”
We tried both without any success. By now everyone was ready to ask Michael for help. I refused to allow it. “I don’t think he knows what happened to them and we must not compromise him. Either they’ve killed the girls or else they are prisoners and we have time to think this through.”
Word got out and it made the headlines. At ten the next morning Michael appeared with three of his senior Ipohin. “You made certain I was kept busy at meetings dad. My friends have confirmed to me they have not harmed my mothers. What they are claiming in the media is not true.”
“We know that Michael.”
“Then we might as well leave.” one of his men said.
Cherine explained, “Samantha was just about to tell us what she thinks.” Michael took a seat so the others also did.
“If the Sparklers and the Wirms cannot find them in any reality then it means they do not exist. However, we do know they still exist.”
“What makes you certain?” Michael asked.
I smiled and pointed at Robbie. “His protector instincts would not have allowed them to leave if they were to die. So, how can they exist and not exist? Time, distance and realities would not prevent us from finding them. Lynda has tried to find them and she finds her daydreams keep on returning to the reality they disappeared in but she does not sense them there. We have two clues, as I’ve mentioned. We should be able to work out the rest of it and find them.”
“You’re right!” I grinned. “Unless they are not in danger.”
Robbie exploded. “Are you suggesting they are hiding to provoke an incident?”
I laughed. “Haven? Hide?” He made an apologetic grimace. “What if they are no longer aware of themselves and think they are someone else?” Quickly I shook my head. “No, even if that were the case, the Sparklers with them would be aware.”
“May we offer you something to drink?” Dommi asked the three men. One of them made his excuses and left but the other two stayed and accepted a whiskey each. I would hazard they stayed to keep an eye on Michael more than for listening to us.
The Robert of the reality the girls are lost in arrived. He was startled to see Ipohin sitting with us. He gave Robbie a quirky grin, amused by what he thought is our game playing. “All the Cherinians in our reality are searching for the girls. Do you have any clues as to what happened yet?”
“No. I’ve been back in time with Vincent and watched them as they jumped. They were aiming for Kefalari as we’d agreed, but I did sense a flicker of energy that was not normal.”
“Did you go back in time to watch in case they arrived and were instantly grabbed?”
“I should have arrived simultaneously with them Robert.”
Hettie had been listening to reports being sent to her telepathically. “Robert, the Unation ask to send one of their leaders here.”
“Of course.”
Fwiyehe arrived in his own stocky body, suitably sheathed of course. “We might be able to be of some assistance Robert, if we may.”
“We’d be grateful for anything you can do.”
“We have electronic DNA sniffers far in advance of yours. If they are anywhere on planet they will be found. If you can provide us with clothing the girls recently wore we’ll send them to all the realities we know of. I presume you do expect to find them on one of the Earths?”
“We better limit our searches to them.”
In case they took Robbie’s answer too literally I added, “We should include the moon and maybe Mars.” He was provided with clothing and left.
“You have amazing resources available to you Mr Teller.”
“Those we are prepared to show publicly? Yes, I suppose we do. I take it you are Mr Campbell?”
“I’m impressed. How do you know of me, I’ve never been a public figure.”
“As one of the Ipohin Federation officers?”
He chuckled. “Someone has misled you I fear, I am not in their government. Exactly what does Ipohin stand for? We were curious why your son chose to accept the name you gave us.”
Robbie nodded at Michael. “Michael, do you care to enlighten them?”
He smiled, to all appearances a genial giant of a man. “Someday your sense of humour will get you into trouble.”
“I have tried warning him, but he will not listen. I am pleased to see that you have his best interests at heart.” I fervently prayed that Robbie would not get carried away and place Michael into more danger.
Michael shrugged fatalistically. “That is the disadvantage of youth, the older generation always gang up against us.” It was funny when he said it because of Robbie looking so much younger than him.
Robbie laughed. “Don’t let him fool you Mr Campbell, he is older than you are. Not that I blame him for staying so young - I’m not exactly the best example as a father.”
“May I quote you Mr Teller?” I dislike him, but felt like clapping, he’d scored a real biggie.
Michael gave Arthur Campbell a wink. “What do you say, have they struggled long enough? Is it time for me to confess?”
“What are you talking about!” He was not the only one puzzled.
“My family set me up. They sent the girls to another reality deliberately, in the hope they would be attacked. Why dad?”
“Samantha.”
“Oh, one of her schemes? I should have guessed. Anyway, I became suspicious when Hettie demanded my presence for negotiations that did not need me, just the paper pushers. When she asked for me the second day I became certain you were up to something and when I checked I realised that three of you were missing.
I tracked them down during the night but I had to wait for Hettie to let me go from her meetings at a time my two mothers were available to me. Since I’d guessed you were with them as the void I knew I had to do something clever. Was I clever enough for you dad, are you still puzzled?”
“As to how you grabbed them, no. As to how you’ve succeeded in hiding them from me, yes.”
“You’re not going to tell them Michael, are you? Why lose an advantage that could prove useful in the future.”
Michael grinned, “It won’t, this one was a strictly one-time trick. There wouldn’t be much point in wanting to keep it a secret as I’m certain Samantha or Empathia have guessed.”
“Not me.” Athia agreed with me.
“Where could I take them that you would not search?” He laughed, delighted at having confounded us. “Yes, they are in Freddie. They’ll be released now. Excuse me.” He jumped to the other half of Freddie, released them from his energy trap in a mini Freddie and they returned with him.
Haven explained, “I was honour bound. He did capture us and when he told us where we were we promised not to betray him.”
“But how could the Wirms not sense you?”
“Oh, they found us, but we explained and they agreed to let Michael have his fun.”
“You too Solomon?”
“God but I love him! He’s brilliant!” They all stared at me for a moment and then broke up into laughter.
Cherine slyly asked, “More brilliant than his mother Samantha?”
“Now and then.” I countered, provoking more laughter and teasing comments.
The Ipohin Federation problem had not gone away, but being bested by Michael did not deflate me. I realised that Michael had used the opportunity to achieve something extremely important. He’d managed to arrange for us to meet three of the top men in his group, Arthur Campbell being the most important. We’d all felt his powers flickering in the background and agreed with our son, he is an extremely dangerous man.
Now I have to come to the bad news: Ordinx played a dirty on me. He actually went ahead and suggested they change the emblem (logo) of ADFI and they secured permission from Jade to base their simplified version on the butterfly she’d painted. Not satisfied with people seeing it as a symbol of our concern for our ecology, they explained why Jade painted it. I think Hettie is having a really good laugh out of it.
When the debacle was explained and why Michael had captured his mothers, his stock rose and nobody was surprised to see another four countries join his federation. It did make it urgent that we find a solution or answer to his ploy that stops it, at a minimum, from going further.
What none of us had considered was the way the United Nations organisation has pervaded the societies of all the poorer countries, shoring up many social services that are critical to the future of their people. The UN (who are sans the Cabal at this time) voted to withdraw from all the Federation countries and suddenly the Ipohin found their billions being drained by the vacuum left behind. Michael and his cronies initiated urgent negotiations with the UN and they were re-voted in. They actually lost a lot of ground as they now only have one vote. Who would have thought of it! The Normals scored over both the Cherinians and the Ipohin and the people had a good laugh at us.
We all guessed that Robbie would be wanting to leave because our Cherinian anniversary was drawing close. Unanimously we decided to stay and he gave in. Hettie was quick to advise everyone so that Robbie could not change his mind. Not that he does so often enough for us to have reason to worry.
We have not seen Kalliopi for nearly two months but Sheena still tries to visit every day. She brought home photos of baby Roberto which we ‘oohed’ and ‘aahed’ over and Sheena was in heaven, almost thinking of him as her son. Poor Robbie, I wonder how long before she starts pleading for a child. Maybe she’ll make it easy for herself and ask for a son. Can you imagine your little snowbird as a mother?
After the last show, Wendy was approached by a recording studio for permission to use one of her songs. She listened to the maki-three-step conversion and gave her permission. The band were excited by her approval, but the lead singer asked to meet Wendy. She was curious and agreed because he is one of the few previous generation singers that has survived transitions from one kind of music to another a couple of times.
“You are exactly as I remember you.” Wendy ignored his appearance, for it did not help her, and compared voices in her head.
“You were at our party in Sun City!”
“You opened my eyes and I left the band. I spent the next four years experimenting and only then did I perform in public.”
Wendy asked, “You did not use the song I adapted for you?”
“You are a rare man, a singer who cares more about his art than fame and money.”
He nodded. “Perhaps also a man who wants to become the best he can be? I’ve asked to meet you for a reason, Mrs Teller. You’ve heard my adaptation of your song. I expected you would send back with your answer, if it was positive, suggestions on how I could improve it. You did not and I was disappointed but also curious. Surely my efforts were not perfect?”
“Call me Wendy. Candy, can you tell the gentleman why I did not?” He looked over at Candy, despite knowing better, startled that a five year old was being asked.
“Because of Samantha?” Wendy laughed and tickled Candy.
“What she is referring to is part of an episode Sam lived through. She refused to help the people travelling with her because she knew they would derive far greater satisfaction from solving the problem themselves. I guess she is right to an extent, but it is not the main reason. I felt that the adaptation was yours, if I made changes, it would not be. I can live with the tiny imperfections.”
“Would you show me?”
“With pleasure.”
Timothy is the first ever really big star who has become a Cherinian. Success has not spoilt him because he only lives for his music. And yes, his rendition became a huge success. At an interview, he gave credit to Wendy, admitting she’d improved his version for him.
We were all at home in Athens when we sensed Freddie jump. Shocked we stared at each other and then at Robbie, waiting for his reaction. He pretended to be too immersed in the tv show to notice so we calmed down. Since Robbie has repeatedly told everyone they can ask Freddie to take them wherever they want, we guessed that was the case - or else Freddie decided to go somewhere.
Two hours later Freddie was back and he asked us not to go there. We speculated, but in the end all we could decide was that it had something to do with the forthcoming anniversary.
We were still watching tv when the broadcast was interrupted. “Ladies and gentlemen, the Cherinians have invited one hundred million people from our planet to go to Freddie. From there we are advised they will be taken somewhere else, destination unspecified. The same invitation we understand was extended to another twenty six realities!
One moment please.
We have just been asked to advise all Cherinians and Ipohin that they are requested to assist in transporting the guests.”
Robbie frowned. “They better not expect us to foot the bill for feeding nearly three billion people!” As we laughed he cracked up, amused as always at his own joke.
Since nearly everyone has, at one time or another, submitted their name for visiting Freddie, they quickly held a lottery and announced in local newspapers who the eighty million were. The balance was made up from children in orphanages or from very poor families. As soon as we heard, Robbie called for Alki, Elia and Eddie.
“If they have done the same for every reality it means we will have over half a billion children who rarely know any joy. Is there anything we can do for them?”
“What could we do Robert? Even if you only wanted to buy them each a chocolate, where would we find that many?”
Cherine giggled. “I bet Robert is wrong and I’m surprised our friend of aliens didn’t complain. Why should they only invite people from our planet?”
“Jesus! You can’t be right, that would make them tens of billions!” He suddenly roared with laughter. “At least I can’t be expected to handle the loos this time.”
“Actually, we would not need to buy the chocolates, we could use food machines to create them. Since they all have food machines I doubt they’d appreciate a chocolate anyway. Robbie, if we do something special for Terran kids we can’t do nothing for all other species.”
“May I return to my office, I still have the Ipohin leaders arguing with my staff. Let me know if I’m needed.” Eddie and Hettie left with a grin on their faces.
“I can sense they have not asked for either of you (Wendy and Candy) to perform so I guess they want to do everything for us. Angel baby, do you think Jesus and Christós would mind putting on a display for the kids?”
The venue was obvious. Freddie could not fit a fraction of the guests we expected, it had to be either the Sparkler or the Spartan World. If so, then food and drink would not be a problem. I guess loos won’t be either.
Vincent did not put in an appearance and we were careful not to ask for him. Cherinians could take our guests to Freddie, but not to a World in the void. I wonder whether RT will be here with his Robert to help Vincent. Oh, is that why they invited the Ipohin, they needed Michael to help. That should take care of the Terrans while the Sparklers will have transported all aliens already.
On the 30th of April, at seven in the evening we were all dressed smartly and ready to go. Some of us had wished to go as adults but with so many Normals there, we knew they get a thrill out of seeing all of us as children. Funny that the same does not apply to Robbie, they become frightened if they see him as a child.
When we arrived in Freddie, Robbie asked him what we should do. “Wait a moment.”
“Is RT here?”
“Yes, he is visiting me. We’ll take alternate turns in joining you.”
Cherine said, “I hope Adam was invited.”
“All the entities were. From the sound of it you’re going to have quite a bash.”
Cherine scolded, “Not just us, it is also your celebration.”
A cloud of Sparklers appeared at the top of the dome. We watched as they floated down to us. We’d never seen them fly in such tight formation and wondered what they were up to. As the lower edge approached the ground they split apart and Solomon stood smiling at us.
“Come closer to me, we have a surprise for you.” We thronged around him and the Sparklers re-formed their cloud. It seemed that they instantly flashed away again and we saw we were in their World! Solomon laughed, delighted by our amazement. “We have improved on the method you use Robert, was the trip comfortable?”
Politely Robbie answered, but he also was staring. We were a couple of hundred feet above the ground and for as far as we could see all around us the land was filled with faces staring up at us.
The air around us shimmered with colours coruscating and a melodious sound wavered with the colours. A voice spoke and it echoed from repeater platforms, “Normals, Cherinians, Ipohin, we present to you…the Teller family!”
Robbie hates this kind of ceremony that borders on adulation, but the crowds below and around us in the air were emoting so much joy at seeing us that he did not even scrunch up his lips.
“Today is the day all Cherinians celebrate the coming together of Robert and Cherine, their love creating what we consider the future for all humans, a future where all are brothers and sisters, their hearts and minds open to each other.
We have prepared a show for you. Please collect some edibles and the refreshment of your choice and make yourself comfortable as you join Robert and Cherine in their first years.” Solomon chuckled. “At the request of friends close to our prime family, the intimate moments will be edited.”
We saw that the ground encircling the platforms was filled with children, their happy voices gentling our lovers heart. The parents of Robbie, Cherine and the mother of Wendy joined us. I saw my mother close by and she smiled at me, her delight obvious and warming me with love.
