Jade was not amused. “He’ll still consider you his enemy and try to cause you damage.”
Alki only smiled. “I’m certain a favourite grandson of mine will be keeping him too busy for him to remember me for long.”
His little spurt of activity seemed to bring Alki to life. He conspired with our friends and they cornered Robbie. “There are a number of day to day chores you deal with that you could teach us to handle for you. We think it is time you do so.”
“You’re going to leave me nothing to do and I’ll be bored!”
“That’s fine, better you than us.”
He gave them a mischievous grin. “If I get too bored we’ll end up getting involved in new adventures.”
“Those are not worse than being bored and feeling useless. Go paint Roberto, and for a change try to concentrate on making your wives happy.” We happily endorsed that idea.
Syrina named these the ‘rainbow days’ because she says we find a pot of gold at the end of each of them. Robbie has spent the last few weeks painting every day and because he likes having Jade with him when he does, she is back to painting also. We do not need to have Robbie constantly showering us with his attention, what we do need is to feel him relaxed and happy.
The Fegorians have taken to projecting as various species. Talking with them has shown us, once again, that the body we assume does change us. They are still fairly slow, but now we enjoy talking with them and don’t mind waiting a bit as they think. A lot of their philosophies are not applicable to most species. The enormous differences in their bodies and way of life while young and then mature gives them a viewpoint on life that is unique. They admitted that having to face the ground all the time can become tedious. When they were not with us we discussed this with other species as we felt that their evolution should have made it pleasant for them to face the ground all the time. (It is comforting but boring for them, so I suppose nature did provide them with some compensation.)
The imps persuaded Goldi to take part in a prank that almost angered Robbie. They called for all species to be present and brought out Goldi chained in garlands of flowers they’d threaded together. They announced that she is being auctioned for a day to the highest bidder. Her duty will be to emote her sweetness and joy, making it a happy day for the species that win.
They were asked what they were to bid with since we do not use any kind of coin. Cassie replied each of them have to think of something they can contribute for all to enjoy. By now Robbie had calmed down and was amused so nobody held back from the bidding.
eiu asked me what they could bid as the only gift they have is of filling us with joy. For a long moment I was stumped, but the others were bidding so I had to think fast. “Offer two things. Offer to create a song, such as the one you sing to your sun, in celebration of being Cherinians. Add to that the joy it will make you feel.” They nearly spoilt the bid when they blazed with the joy they felt at having something to offer.
Coral had been delegated the job of keeping notes of all the bids. When the bidding ended Cassie and Jade looked each other in the eyes and we felt their love and happiness as they stood before all of us holding hands.
“We’ve decided all the bids are too beautiful for any of them to be sacrificed to any other. All of you have won and will have Goldi for one day. We’ll spread those days so that she gives one day a week to the bidding species. The day before your turn you must make your payment. We’ll start with the Elipians.”
If I’d thought of it, I would have expected them to put on a show of their graceful dancing or an exhibition of their physical prowess. What they offered was infinitely more beautiful.
The next day Goldi offered to become an Elipian for the day so that she could play with them. We did not get much done that day, everyone in Freddie wanted to share. When she returned to us her cheeks were red because of all the love being emoted to her.
We were spread out, some at the taverna, some at home studying and some with friends when Michael arrived. Within seconds we were all at the taverna. We felt his joy and love as he hugged and kissed us, but we also sensed a worry, so we did not monopolise him for long. He hugged Robbie and they sat where Maria had placed their coffees.
“We’ve had an unexpected development - actually, it is stupid of me not to have foreseen it. One of the followers of Campbell, someone called Trevor Hartley, from the USA, became disgruntled with him because he refused to act as blatantly in grabbing power and wealth as Hartley wanted. This Hartley is not gifted with any special powers, but he is a cold fish and ruthless.
He reasoned that if Campbell was not man enough to act, he’d find another Campbell who is. He searched the known alternate realities until he found a Campbell who is not successful and has turned to crime. He linked him and showed him what powers he knows our Campbell has.”
“Jesus!” Christós did not react, understanding how we all felt.
Michael nodded. “He helped him gather supporters, in some cases linking those who had not been linked. Father, he sent a woman to warn both Campbell and me to stay out of his reality, claiming it as his own, and we’ve now learnt that he has attacked the White House and, holding the president and his family hostage, has declared himself the president of the United States. He dismissed the congress and senate and paralysed their armed forces. Of course they cannot send atom bombs against him, not while he is staying in the White House.”
“I’m not certain, but I suspect he answered that as long as he keeps to his reality, he will not take any action against him. I think he sees this as a test case, without risk to him, he’ll see how Robert reacts.”
“And react I have to.” He stared at Michael. “What’s wrong?”
“They will have foreseen you will. They will be expecting you as the void. However rough this Campbell is, he is not stupid, they must have a plan to deal with you.”
“It does not alter what I must do. This time I cannot do it by myself, they are holding a city hostage. I predict they’ll be spread among the people and they’ll threaten to kill them if I don’t leave.”
Suddenly Zenon appeared. “Michael, Robert, we’ve just been contacted by the Robert of that reality. Cherinians in the other major powers have given warning their governments have decided to send missiles to Washington. They’ve decided that if they don’t act quickly other mutants will follow Campbell’s’ example and try to take over.”
Seltwe spoke forcibly and the other species backed him. “Robert, we must go in Freddie. As soon as we arrive, let our ships out to fight with you. You cannot handle this on your own.”
“I cannot do that. If even one non-Terran helps, this could turn into an inter-species war. That is how my people would react Seltwe, please believe me.”
“I agree with my father. He will not be alone Seltwe, all Terran Cherinians and Ipohin will stand by him.”
“No, they won’t Michael. Not even you. I’m sorry.”
He flared, furious with me. “How dare you say that!”
“What dad said about the aliens is equally true about anyone from another reality joining us, Cherinian, Ipohin or Normal. Only we are considered outside the law and may take action without risking this spreading further. As a matter of fact, Freddie will stay here, only the family may go.”
“What nonsense is this Samantha! Which one of us would stay.”
“Pappou, I’m sorry.” He stared at me and I felt his bitterness as he gave in. I spoke without looking at her. “Cherine, I’m sorry.” Suddenly all the others who’d been trying to shout us into changing our minds fell silent at the fury in Cherine.
“How dare you!” I stared back without answering. “I’m coming and just you try to stop me.” I waited silently.
“Why Sammy mou, why not Cherine?”
“Going as The Light to save Michael has damaged our future enough. Her anger and threat at that time will not be forgotten for a long time. The more often she joins us, the more Cherinians there’ll be who’ll turn against us. She is a symbol dad, it is known she stands by you, but she must never fight for you using her powers. By being a symbol of empathy and the future of Cherinians, she’ll win us more battles than if she stands with us in open defiance of all laws.”
“But we’ll be there to save them!”
“And they’ll be grateful, until they remember to be afraid of us again.”
Many of the girls had been about to demand they be with, but they kept quiet when I refused Cherine. Silently they waited to see what she would decide.
“I won’t, I won’t be with you.”
“Samantha, don’t take things to extremes.”
“I’m sorry dad. Today will be our greatest defeat and I refuse to be part of it. Either you only take Vincent, me and Jade or you choose among the others.”
Samuel King spoke up, “I’m an American, are you saying I may not come with to protect my country?”
“I’m sorry Samuel. You are no longer an American, not in the eyes of all the Earths, you are a Cherinian.”
I was surprised by his answer. “I guess you are right - as you usually are. Samantha, you may be right and I’ll do as you ask, but know that I hate what you ask of me, for in my heart I am an American.” He walked away and we could all feel how shattered he was.
Cherine refused to give in for a long time. However, Samuel had affected her. She finally pulled me aside. “I’ll stay. Samantha, I’ll never forgive you for this.” I knew she will, once the danger ias past, but my heart was heavy.
We had lunch, Robbie lit a cigarette and asked me, “Do you have a plan? Why Jade alone?”
“Jade and Vincent will go to Europe to stop them. You’ll go to Washington and I’ll go to China. Robert, I suggest we arrive secretly three days before Campbell attacks. If he has killed anyone, you can bring them back after we’ve got rid of this Campbell and his followers.”
We discussed our plans in detail so that each of us was clear about what we had to do and, blanking ourselves, we jumped.
We arrived on the top of Mt Olympus, where we left our bodies, Robbie collected us in the void and returning he placed our bodies in stasis and then camouflaged it, making it look like a large rock. Being the middle of winter we did not expect many visitors, but it was better to take precautions.
We went directly to Washington and waited. This Earth is not as advanced as ours is and they only have the atom bomb, but they have a lot of them. We worried as to whether Robbie can handle so many from so many directions if the governments refused to listen to us.
At five in the morning Campbell and his followers arrived within the White House. They promptly killed the security men while Campbell forced open the door to the presidents’ bedroom. He used his mind to force the president to go to his desk and sign his resignation, naming Arthur Campbell as his successor. His men took the president and his family to an underground store room and locked them there. Robbie had already collected the souls and we’d taken samples from their bodies so we went to the store room and Robbie materialised. Now he could see that they were shivering from the freezing cold. He used his energy to heat up the room.
“Mr President, please do not be alarmed. I am here to protect you and your family. All the men you saw dead will be returned as soon as we’ve handled Campbell and his followers.”
“You are not our Robert, you’re younger.”
“I’m the outlawed Robert.” He smiled. “Samantha is with and she’ll deal with the political problems. I believe she is on her way to visit the president of China.”
He was in shock, so all Robbie said only confused him. “Why? What can he do?”
His wife was holding her children to her. She had obviously read more about us than her husband had. “Won’t they see in our minds what you told us?”
“I have shielded this room. Even an atomic bomb cannot harm you now. I’ll bring you some food and drinks and then I’ll close the shield so that they cannot enter or harm you with their powers.”
She looked around. “We don’t have a toilet, for how long will we be here?”
*Samantha?*
*Sure, take them to Roberts house. They can’t attack them there.*
“I think you would be more comfortable staying at the home of my alternate. Mr President, if I am to do so, I must have your assurances that you will not try to contact anyone. Your disappearance will trouble them, but if they know where you are they could end up taking action that will cost many lives.” It was all twaddle, they’d know we’d taken them and were in this reality but, it would change the future if it was discovered the presidential family were in Greece.
Vincent took them to Greece while Robbie stayed to seal his shield so that Campbell thinks they are still in there. Just in case our point has not been made clearly, the missiles to be sent to Washington, they will not strike. Campbell and his followers have the ability to send them on to other cities anywhere in the world. That was what had worried us. A missile travelling under its own power, Robbie and Vincent can handle. How do they stop missiles ‘sent’ telekinetically?
It had been very difficult spying on them. Once a telepath is aware he might be spied on, it is almost impossible to do so without being sensed. I doubt that even Dommi could have. On the other hand, it was crucial we learn what defences they were preparing for our attacks. Remember the trick Robbie used on Richard, when he took the form of a puppy? Campbell had not got rid of the dogs belonging to the presidential family, so he found a safe moment to replace one of them with himself in the exact same shape and colouring. The instant he entered the office where they were sitting, energy lashed out from all of them, so Robbie let it ‘kill’ the dog and flung himself back to the void. They found it amusing standing by the windows and shouting taunts, daring us to return. Without warning, Jade jumped back to Freddie and returned with insect size cameras from the Unation ship. Those they did not sense and we had it confirmed first hand that Campbell has arranged for all the atomic missiles to be launched against targets all over the world the instant we attack.
We waited until Zenon left for Freddie and split up. Robbie’s job was to track down the key twenty or so major talents supporting Campbell and remain aware of where they are at all times. We’d already found most of them while we’d had to wait. Since they were all nervous, they kept in contact with their leader and as the void Robbie was able to trace the energy of their contacts. Robbie probed very delicately one that he thought was the weakest and discovered they had placed blocks or shields to prevent him using the same trick he’d used before - he will not be able to enter their minds to burn out the parts of their brains that hold their powers. This means he will have to kill them and then, as the void, in the void, block their talents.
The three of them thought it was necessary, so I kept quiet as Jade took on my form, mimicking me in every way. Vincent appeared as Robbie at her side. They appeared in London in the prime ministers office. He was not alone, but they were recognised and listened to. ‘Robbie’ explained what would happen to their missiles and asked them not to launch any. ‘Samantha’ asked them to trust Robert and, not having much of an option, they agreed. From there they jumped to Germany, then to France, leaving the Soviet Union for last. By then I was sitting with the Chinese president. With only five other officers he sat listening to me.
“How do I prove who I am?”
“There is no way you can, only the appearance of Freddie in our skies will be satisfactory proof.”
Dismayed I explained, “We can’t! That would tip our hand.”
“Then the missiles will be launched.”
I could not believe what was happening to me. My mind raced as I tried to find a counter argument without calling for Freddie. I felt my face turn white as a sheet and my heart lurched as I thought of an idea. If they think I might not be Samantha, then I will have to be what they fear.
“It is a pity you are not gifted Mr President, Arthur Campbell would have appreciated having someone as wily as you as his first in command. Perhaps we can link you once we are in control?
Despite what you think of us, we do not wish to destroy the planet, we will still have to live on it. I’ll make you an offer. Test us. Launch one missile right now from a ship close to the American coast. You know it will not have the range to reach China. We’ll redirect it so that it explodes over Hong Kong or Beijing, your choice.”
I had not thought the Chinese could look so sickly pale. “You win. We will not launch any missiles.”
I grinned. “Campbell will not win. I really am Samantha. Trust us gentlemen, we will not let you down.” Once I had soothed their ruffled feathers I jumped to meet Jade and Vincent in Paris.
“Are you trying to confuse them?” Jade asked me in French.
“My apologies gentlemen, Madam President. I really am Samantha, this is Jade. I’ve just come from China, allow me to tell you what happened there.”
They appreciated the point I was making and guaranteed they would not launch. I grinned at Vincent. “I had to come as I think you will not find the Russians willing to listen to you.”
I need not have bothered, the Chinese had phoned them and as soon as we appeared they confirmed no missiles will be launched, but that they are staying on red alert, ready to launch if we do not handle Campbell.
I asked the other two to jump with me to the beach outside Dar. As soon as we arrived I hugged Jade. “I’m sorry love, I’d had such a shock when the Chinese refused to believe me and was so relieved that I found a way to change their mind, that I acted without thinking. I did not mean to show you I don’t trust you.”
Jade stared at me solemnly for a moment. Then she giggled. “You wanted to keep it a secret?” Vincent chuckled and walked off to get us some freshly grilled tiger prawns while we hugged again.
“I’m worried Samantha, the four of us cannot handle an attack by a couple of thousand talents.” I sort of wished he’d let me finish eating first, I’d been enjoying myself.
“What if Robert becomes the green void and sheaths us in those energies?”
“He will not with me, he does not want me to know how to reach that plane.” He stopped me. “He is right Samantha, he must have a unique power for defending his family from everyone.” I’ve grown a bit wiser so I did not protest.
“Then we’ll just have to concentrate on taking out the most powerful first.”
“They’ll expect it Jade, because there is no alternative.”
She grinned at Vincent, her spirit still unconquerable. “Samantha cannot think of an alternative. She must be growing old.” I let her tease me, for the truth is, there is no alternative.
We spent the next six hours invading the minds of thousands as discretely as we could, giving them the idea (compulsion) that it would be nice to be elsewhere, for whatever reason their own minds supplied. We could not get everyone out of harms way, but the less of them we had to worry about the better.
Just as the first of the enemy became aware of the lessening of emoting by strangers, we attacked. We let Robbie start seconds before we did. He enclosed the White House within a green shield, locked it within stasis and then instantly attacked the next most powerful. Perhaps they’d been expecting contests of energy, explosions and so on, for they were disorientated just for split seconds as they sensed those at the White House disappear, giving us the advantage we needed.
Our attacks were non lethal to bystanders, but their defences deliberately targeted innocent people, knowing it would force us to split our attention to save them. None of them, not even when making concerted efforts, could harm either Robbie or Vincent, but I am the weakest and Jade was trying to absorb attacks meant for me, weakening her too rapidly. Robbie screamed in our minds to get out but we could not break away. I collapsed with a scream, losing consciousness.
I woke up with my head on Cherine’s thighs, her fingers caressing my face.
I could recall screaming from the pain as a fist seemed to reach into my body and crush my organs. I saw afterwards that the same happened to Jade. Vincent abandoned his targets to save us, increasing the number Robbie had to handle.
At that moment Freddie appeared and a force Robbie did not recognise reached out to burn the powers out of all the minds we’d fought.
*Robert, release the stasis now!* He delayed a second, for he was stunned by the suddenness of it and then obeyed. Those inside found themselves ordinary Normals again and the police were able to arrest them.
When we’d left Freddie, Dommi had realised Cherine planned something. “Cherine, you agreed not to go.”
“We’re all going. Akiards, come to me.” They soon surrounded her. “All who wish to join us in helping them, join us.” When Dommi saw that thousands rallied to her cry, including pappou, Samuel and all the others, she gave in and joined them.
“I’m not interested in melding as the Akiards, Samuel and Samantha do. We will do as we did the time we needed to move the Imefi planets and only meld our gifts.” They practised until Cherine felt confident she could handle it. She event timed their jump, aiming for a time we’d already be fighting and starting to need help.
As for my theories. I don’t know. The entire world was united in welcoming us and the president and his wife pleaded for Robbie and Cherine to visit at the White House for a couple of days.
“A proposal will be tabled tomorrow at our United Nations declaring you exempt from our laws. In our reality you are not an outlaw Robert.”
“Actually, as far as the Normals of all realities are concerned, we are not. As terrible as it may sound, only our own Cherinians consider me a criminal. The Ipohin just take advantage of it.”
“You already have a Robert and Cherine. I trust you will not make it public knowledge that they helped us?”
“I’ve given my word to them Robert.”
So many functions were organised for us to attend that we were forced to stay close to a month. The man who’d linked Campbell was tried and his attorney tried to claim he could not be tried since he belonged to a different reality and should be deported. The judge, a hard headed man, decided he did have the right to try and sentence him and gave him the same sentence handed out to all the others: life without parole.
The Chinese were the only nation to publicly admit they’d been ready to nuke Washington. They had recorded my visit as a normal security measure during the meeting and though the video was not of good quality they broadcast my entire visit. They explained why they had ordered missiles to be ready for launching, asking the American people to understand that all would have become slaves if they had not and we’d not come to the rescue. This forced the other nations, except for the Soviets, to admit the plan had been agreed to by all of them. This led to a new uprising by the peaceniks, demanding all atomic weapons be scrapped. What they could not understand was that the scare had actually reinforced the convictions of all governments that atomic weapons are a necessary evil and they set out new programs to increase the number of missiles they have.
We did enjoy one surprise. We’d expected the Cherinians to become less popular. When the local Teller family advised us that they were inundated by requests to be linked, we were happy for a short while, until we thought it through. Most of them wanted to be linked so that they will not be at the mercy of mutants again. The funny thing is that each of them thought of themselves as not becoming mutants, just Normals with extrasensory powers and abilities to defend themselves and their countries.
Being behind our Earth in technology made it a dirtier world in some ways, but also a simpler one. Banks there still welcome anyone who wants to open an account and they do not make a quarter of the demands ours do. Not only they don’t charge a fee for deposits, they even pay a small interest on average cash balances in cheque accounts. As for savings accounts, what you earn is far more than their charges so you don’t end up with dwindling savings as you do in most realities.
Robbie read what I wrote. “Hettie, how would the Normals react to ADFI opening a bank?”
“We don’t need one Robert.” Alki nodded in agreement with her.
“I was thinking it would be nice to open a bank that treats their customers in the same way they do here.”
“We can’t ignore banking laws Robert. It is compulsory for banks to watch out for money laundering and demand explanations for any large sums deposited.”
“I was thinking more of the commercial side. What if we open accounts with a guarantee that no fees will be charged? After all, banks pay a smaller interest rate than they charge for loans. Surely that should cover all expenses and leave a profit? I would not want the kind of exorbitant profits banks make nowadays. A reasonable return on investment should be more than fair to all. It would also be the first step of attacking the Cabal on that front, so it would serve two purposes.”
“I’ll look into it. Perhaps we should limit savings accounts to a maximum deposit of a million dollars?”
All went well and we enjoyed ourselves. It was not a dancing kind of party, just a lovely meal and groups talking. The kids ran around on the lawn squealing and shouting as they played and no adults frowned at them. Except for one little ugly duckling of about seven. She will not grow up to be a pretty woman, but there was something very sweet about this solitary little girl. Allan of course just had to respond to her in his usual way. This time he caused a bit of a fuss and embarrassed our hostess slightly.
Allan left the adults and sat by little Sandra. She is a solemn girl, blonde with brown eyes and when there are no adults around she has a delightfully cheeky smile. Her mother is religious and can be fairly strict. Allan teased Sandra until she giggled and relaxed, hugging her doll to her as she started to tease Allan back.
“Would you like me to tell you a story about a nasty monster?” She nodded. “One day a little girl was walking in a field. She loved looking at the colourful butterflies as they flew from flower to flower. She saw a bunch of rocks and thought to herself, ‘I’ll sit there and eat my sandwiches.’
When she climbed on to the first rocks, she saw the dark opening of a cave. Now, this little girl had spent her whole life being loved, so she didn’t know what it meant to be afraid and because she was curious, hoping there was a treasure inside, she walked into the cave. As she saw a glinting from deeper inside she walked in and something slithered between the entrance and her. She was startled and turning she saw the monster. She recognised it, for there were pictures of it everywhere in her village. It was called the Shit Monster.”
Sandra looked over at her mum but though her lips thinned, she did not say anything. “You said a bad word.”
“Yes, it is a bad word, but it was a bad monster, it loved eating little girls. The reason it was called the shit monster was because it could move so fast that it could grab you and eat you before it could finish saying ‘shit’. I’ll tell you what, say ‘shit’ quickly just so that you know how fast it was.”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Aw, come on, just once won’t matter. Please?”
She looked at her mother but she was carefully looking away, her disapproval plain to us. Timidly Sandra said, “Shit” as quickly as she could. Allan beamed at her.
“You see how fast the shit monster is? Well, guess what, that little girl was clever. Do you know what she did? Before the shit monster could say shit and eat her, she threw the pepper she had for her sandwiches and the shit monster could only say ‘atchoo’ and ‘atchoo’ so it couldn’t eat her because it couldn’t say ‘shit’. The little girl ran around it and out into the sun where she was safe.
As you grow up Sandra, you will meet a lot of monsters who use ugly words and think ugly thoughts. You must never be afraid of them or their words and just pretend you are throwing pepper at them.”
Sandra was staring at her mother, hardly daring to believe her mother had not told him off for saying the word so often. She felt compelled to say something because she feared her daughter might think she did not mind Allan using the word. “I don’t think that is appropriate language for using with children.”
“You mean it is okay to use with adults?” We laughed and she flushed. “Come on Lizzy, say it quickly so that you can know how fast the monster was. Please?” He was talking to her in the tone adults use with children.
Allan chuckled and tipped Sandra’s chin up so that she looked him in the eyes. “You see love? Once you are tricked into saying or thinking something ugly, it is easier to do so again and again. When you are forced to do it once, remember not to allow yourself to do it again, or else you’ll turn into a you know what monster.”
Lizzy was not amused, so Dommi softly spoke to her. “Think about what he was trying to teach her Lizzy, instead of concentrating on the word you don’t like.”
When Robbie shared with us (he’d been sitting with the men) he chuckled and asked me to include it in the diary.
Cherine has shown for many years that she is happiest in Freddie. I don’t know whether it was this Earth that affected her or if her yearning sprung from some other inner need, but she surprised us when we went to bed. “Can we go home for a visit Robert?”
“Home?”
“To our Athens.”
Robbie was about to point out the problems this could cause, but he was extending himself to sense her and he felt her unease, that he thought was homesickness. Softly he ran the back of his fingers over her cheek. “Why now my love?”
“I don’t know.”
He looked at us as he tried to fight her need. I hid my smile for he has never been able to say no to her if she wants something so desperately. “What if we go to the one most like ours?”
“Please?” She closed her eyes and almost in a whisper she said, “Forget it, I was being silly. Another one would be just as nice.”
Robbie spent the night feeling her and did not sleep. We had our breakfast at the taverna and once all our friends had joined us he looked up. “Freddie, take us home please.”
“Is it wise Robert?” Eddie asked. Hettie nudged him and spoke directly to his mind. He reached out to sense Cherine and answered himself. “Yes Robert, let’s go home.”
Freddie was wise enough to take enough time getting home for everyone to adjust.
Jodine asked no one in particular, “Solomon says we must not go home but Michael declared it our safe haven. Where does that leave us?”
“Robert, I’m sorry, I’ve changed my mind. Freddie, go back to Haven-R.” Robbie cupped her face and stared into her eyes. They filled with tears. “I’m sorry, I don’t know why I need to go home.”
“We’re going home love, that deserves a smile, not tears.” Freddie ignored her request.
