...he landed badly and I heard the crack as his bone snapped. Even as he screamed I changed back to my Akiard shape and rushed to hold his leg as I called out an unneeded warning to the rest.
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The distant Akiards had sensed the younger kids and had been about to teleport to them to prevent my being killed by mistake. As they shared in the pain of the youngster they jumped to us and those most experienced in healing of Akiard bodies gently pushed me aside to touched the leg for their healers to get a clear picture of the damage. I sent my healer with instructions to learn from their healers and waited apart from them.
This is the first time ever that an Akiard has been seriously wounded and I think it was a great shock to all of them, not only to us. We have seen them suffer blows that should have smashed their bones without them even exhibiting any signs of pain. It is amazing how such a small misstep can cause such a hurt. But then, it is true of life in general.
Once the youngster was on his feet we broke up into smaller groups, some walking and talking as they quietly enjoyed the feel of being home, others wished to explore and other felt the need for more physical activity and raced each other. Whatever hints of bloodlust had risen to their minds were gone as if never having been there, apart from the background feeling of shame and guilt they were trying to hide from me. Without my noticing what I did, I broke off and walked by myself until Batsy called that we were to return to Freddie.
Back home again, I found it strange sensing how closely everyone had shared my experiences. For many it had almost been as if they had lived through it themselves. In one way it was not different. That night I was loved as if they had feared they might lose me.
Two days later, we went for a late breakfast to the taverna so those who were already there walked off to give us a short time on our own as family. As Robbie lit his cigarette the others found their way back to their tables and then the scientists arrived to report their latest theories, discoveries or inventions. When they were finished they did not leave, only moving back for us to have a clear view of the grass covered land to the one side. First the youngest of the Akiard kids (excluding the babies and toddlers) walked out of the bushes and grass to stand to the one side, gradually older kids joining them so that they formed a long curving line by the time the eldest, the generation of Akiar had taken their positions.
There was utter silence as we waited. Suddenly they all raised one leg and slamming it to the ground they called out something that sounded like ‘Ha!’. They then raised their other foot and repeated the action and call. The youngster whose leg had broken stepped forward to proclaim. “We are the Warriors of Love!” Again they stomped a foot with their cry.
“We are the Warriors of Cherine!” The same again, their cry even louder.
“We are the strongest of Warriors!” This time they stomped both feet and cried out twice in affirmation.
The youngster turned to stare at his fellow Akiards. “These Warriors sought to hunt a Terran girl child named Samantha and the hunter became prey. Samantha is Father and Mother to all Akiards. Samantha is the strongest Warrior. Samantha is the first and best Warrior of Cherine.” He turned to look at us again and then they all bowed their heads without a sound. Then the tiny ones chanted on their own, “Warrior Samantha!” and thumped their feet as they called out “Ha!”
Since I was not an Akiard, my face was bright red. Then I noticed the kids were changing the cry. With each thump of their little legs they called, “Ha - ha!” and the elders now chimed in with their own “Ha - ha!” Soon everyone was laughing.
It took me a while to realise that I will treasure this little performance because, not only is it rare for the Akiards to openly display their humour, but also because they were not making fun of me, they were laughing at themselves. It did not take long for the Akiards to find themselves talking to a number of people, mostly their questions having to do with how the surface of Batsy had affected them. I looked for the youngster and lightly touched his shoulder. He froze.
“There are thousands of Akiards now and I no longer know the name of all. What is your name?”
“Akari, born of the elder Akiard, Semidia.”
“Akari. A nice name and I will remember you. Tell me Akari, is this the new way, that you give the name of the Akiard you were before this life?”
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“We are told it is the same life, a continuation, but also new in that we are now true warriors, not as we were before. We are also told we must never forget the first Akiards, for we could not be what you made of us if they had not been as they were.”
“There was much to admire about your people as they were and, as with all species, there was much to regret. I hope the continuation brings all of you closer to your potential.” I lightly placed the fingertips of both hands on his shoulders, “I am honoured to have met you Akari.”
Chapter Three Hundred and Three
We wish to return home, but we do not know what to do with Batsy and its child. It cannot stay in Freddie, but to ask it to take itself out may insult it. None of us are willing to even consider tricking it as we considered doing with the silkims, to our shame. We spent many hours debating and throwing out solutions that would not work. Most of our alien friends were quite happy to remain here for another year or two as they were learning from the fleet and teaching them at the same time, but they have learnt that once we start to feel homesick, then it is best for everyone that we do return home or else our emoting affects them and then they start to feel homesick - and some of the species do not have a home world to return to. Not yet, but they will, that promise will never be forgotten.
Ordinx and Ashiir rarely join in our debates, they feel it is good the younger generations learn to exchange ideas with all the species. They’ll visit often, at home and the taverna, but it is just as friends and even, at times, as parents. Orshiir, Annavi and Ashia love both of them very much as mothers (as weird as it may make both Ordinx and Ashiir feel to have their daughters think/feel of Ordinx as their mother). They were sitting with us in our home and we were continuing our discussion, worrying how to deal with Batsy. We sensed Ordinx wanted to speak, so we fell silent and looked at him.
“The only solution that makes sense to me is that Batsy is linked as a Cherinian.”
His proposal made sense, Cherine told us that she felt he could grow into an empathic and compassionate human, so we started on Batsy the next morning. The first thing we had to concentrate on was teaching it about Cherinianism. We would spend hours each day floating around it so as to communicate our ideas and answer the myriad of questions it thought up. It was quick to see the advantages, from a practical viewpoint, which in a way makes me sad, for I’d always felt that any species that learns of us would instantly see the advantages from a practical point of view, but we rarely have that reaction, mostly their emotions take over and they grow afraid of what we could or might do to them and afraid of how they could be changed.
Batsy studied how Cherinianism has changed us, but most of the details meant nothing to it. For instance, health and eternal life. It had never thought of death for itself and there was no way it could grow sick; a being that can manipulate itself so that it changes from solid to fluid matter already has all the controls over its body that our healers give us. As for many of the other gifts, teleportation, telepathy, telekinesis and so on, it already has those abilities. Our ability to split our souls is not exactly matched as we have not identified the existence of its soul yet, but it can split itself - by splitting from itself a smaller part of its physical self. I’m glad we don’t split ourselves the way it does or else I would be really tiny by now. With all the similarities and differences, I expected its understanding of Cherinianism to be different from ours, but as we ran out of things to say and began to ask questions, we found its understanding lay almost parallel to ours. I really wished I could enter its mind, I was certain mine would learn a lot and grow beyond all I can learn from just being a Terran.
“Batsy, as you have understood, we have a number of problems. First of all, the child part of yourself is a danger to us if it remains within Freddie. There have been a number of accidents or near accidents when a sudden stop or acceleration has caused immense damage because we cannot entirely control inertia. Should the part of you that is in Freddie be thrown against our shields, the shields are likely to be torn apart and Freddie will be destroyed. If it happens while we are in the void, the explosion would be so powerful and all consuming that we believe our souls will be destroyed. We do not fear death, but we do fear final death.”
“Is there a method for me to continue sharing?”
“Yes, if the part you keep with us is much smaller. Would that work for you?”
“Please define ‘much’.”
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“Less than a quarter the size and weight?”
“Please advise what present weight is.” I grinned at Robbie, for the fact that it floated above us suggested it did not have weight, which we knew was not true from the damage it caused when it lost its buoyancy.
Robbie replied, “The weight should alter in direct proportion to the size?”
“Understood. Withdrawing.” The mountain of stone suddenly disappeared, but this time we had the warning needed to sheathe ourselves quickly so we did not get earaches.
Robbie called out, “Batsy, before you send a replacement, please allow me to finish explaining our problems.”
“There are more? Will wait.”
“The smaller part you send to us will have to be fixed to one place. I do not mind which you prefer, it can be just above ground level or else it can be fixed to one of the ledges alongside the inner shield. Hopefully either will prevent it causing damage if we have an accident. Whenever you need to withdraw it for returning to your main body, we can release it. Is that acceptable to you?”
“It is.”
“We need to know that your part can survive being out of contact with you for long periods of time.”
“Why should that be necessary? I can travel at the same speed as you.”
“You are able to identify where we are going to teleport to, that we know. There is one…direction we can teleport to that you cannot. For you to go to the void would not only destroy you, but also any souls within the vicinity. For all we know, an explosion of that magnitude could also affect normal space and destroy suns and planets.” Batsy went silent, not even responding to our questions about its problem. Finally we had to accept that we’ll have to wait until it is ready to communicate again.
“How does Freddie enter void? No explosion? Why?”
“The shields of Freddie are created out of energy from the void. Only matter explodes, not energy.”
“Matter released to energy?”
“I presume so.”
“Can you create energy shield for very small part and take it to the void?”
“If I can? What is the purpose?”
“Bring back to study.” Robbie collected a tiny part, about the size of a mini automobile of your time Arthur, he sheathed it and then added a platform around it. He left his body and as the void he carried it to the void. He carried it to areas rich in energy and then jumped back to normal space with it. He released the part and it returned to merge with its main body. We returned to Freddie for supper and to sleep.
“You can see me from the void?”
“No…sorry, I never tried. Give me a few minutes.” Many of us went with, eager to see. Robbie was right, as he’d suspected, we could not see the small planet, but we could see either its energy or else it has a soul. Suddenly it disappeared! Before we could panic, Batsy appeared in the void! It looked as if it was present in its body, but then a number of souls came to the void to inform us that Batsy was dead. Stunned they saw Batsy and stammered their news. Urgently Robbie called to Batsy to return to his body.
As soon as Batsy sensed we are alive (it still did not understand that our souls left, but the body lives. To it, from what it understood about souls, a body without one was dead), it communicated. “I was right, I can transfer to the void. Not a problem anymore, we can travel.”
“How?” Robbie asked, “What about your body?”
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“It did not come with me to the void? I altered matter to energy…I was certain.” To make certain it knew we spoke the truth, Robbie went to the void, it arrived, he wrapped it in himself and brought it back to normal space for it to see itself.
Batsy seemed rather shook up so we told it to relax and we will work on the problem together. Once we were under the roof of our home, Tina commented, “God, if it could change its body to energy and back again - it would be invincible.”
Meli looked up with surprise in her eyes. “Why? Everyone else can, you’ve done it so many times.”
“I have not!” More judiciously, “What do you mean?”
“How do you teleport?”
Robbie jumped to the Unation ship and asked their scientists, telling them what Meli had suggested. They confirmed that all the species scientists have wondered about the possibility, but they have not succeeded in proving or disproving the theory despite years of experiments, since, scientifically, nothing above the size of a quark should be able to teleport. Unknown to us, while we asked our questions and wondered, so was Batsy doing. It split off a tiny piece and did all it could to convince the matter to change to energy. The first we knew about it was when Freddie was rocked and sent flying by a nuclear explosion. Luckily nobody was seriously hurt.
Robbie was sympathetic and only suggested that Batsy first discusses with us and the scientists any ideas it gets. I sent a laugh and asked Batsy not to discuss it with us first, but to always keep in mind that experiments can go wrong - and make certain nobody can be harmed. Privately with Robbie I apologised and reminded him that some of our greatest advances had come about because we thought they were possible. If Batsy thought it could do something and the scientists, or any of us, explained why it is impossible, it would become impossible. Robbie corrected himself so that Batsy would not have to try and cope with conflicting requests, and then told Batsy that for the time being it would be advisable for it to consider me its partner and friend and asked it to discuss with me any ideas it has.
When we got home Robbie grinned at my scowl and pulled me onto his lap. “You are supposed to be friend of aliens. Batsy is too ignorant about many things we know and it could do something that would destroy itself. All I expect you to do is ensure no lives are lost.”
Cassie, the little cat, she did it on purpose, asked, “Robert, are you hoping that Samantha finds a solution?”
I sensed the twinkle in his eyes as he responded, as if in cahoots with her, “I don’t think so, some things are beyond even her abilities sweetheart.” Cherine openly grinned at me when I reacted as expected, despite my being aware of what they were trying to do. I left to chat with Batsy again.
“I’ve been trying to think of some of the problems that could crop up if you manage to travel with us in the void. Let us imagine that you succeed and we travel to our next destination and return to normal space. Batsy, are you certain that you will be able to change energy back to matter or do you intend staying in the void permanently?”
“The void is not interesting Samantha. I wish to learn and being close to you will teach me more than if I continue to travel on my own. I had not anticipated the explosion - if it had been closer to me it could have damaged me!”
“When you teleport, are you aware of what happens to your body, do you feel it turn into energy and then back into matter when you arrive?”
“Is that what happens? I had not felt it. How can I find out?” Batsy did not wait and teleported to somewhere and then back again. “I could not sense anything Samantha.”
“I think we’ll have to ask Robert to help. He has a way, as the void, of slowing down time. If he can watch you when you teleport, he might see what happens.”
I pointed out to Robbie that Batsy is so huge, comparing its mass to ours, that where our bodies would seem to disappear instantly, it surely would have to take slightly longer for so much mass to be dissolved or transported and even if that delay is only one ten thousandth of a second, he should see something that gives us a clue as to what is happening, how we really teleport. Robbie watched, slowing time again and again, but as far as he was concerned, the entire planetary body of Batsy disappears instantly. He took scientists with in the hope they would notice something he missed, even in the hope that being alien would enable them to see something we cannot, but for all his efforts, Batsy insisted on disappearing instantly.
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Robbie scowled at me as he sipped at his beer and ate his plate of piled up lamb chops (as always after prolonged absence as the void, of whatever colour, his body seems to ‘think’ it is starving). “Tonight, there are not many people of any species who will feel like smiling if they hear the name Samantha. Scientists have spent so many years trying to work out how we teleport, they create a mathematical model that proves we must be stripping ourselves to atoms or quarks or whatever and just like that you prove it all wrong.”
He was not upsetting me because I could sense his heart, but Cherine flared up and told him that they all feel like smiling with happiness and love when they hear my name and then Alki backed her and then Robbie burst out laughing at the way they glowered at him and I betrayed all those who’d stood up for me by jumping to his lap and burying my face against him as I giggled.
Batsy was just as stymied as the rest of us and promised not to try anything while I took a day off. I went to my waterfall (at my apartment) and sat behind the curtain of water and allowed my mind to blossom like a flower while I tried not to think. I had not been that certain I want Batsy trailing after us throughout realities and time, but I did not want it not to happen because we cannot find a way to make it possible.
After a long time I became aware of very colourful wooden Russians dolls and then they changed to bowling pins and then back to Russians dolls again. Finally I had to give up on meditating as my mind seemed to be obsessed with these images.
There are a number of radio and television stations on the internet and a number of the stations specialise in categories of movies, like comedy, drama, action and so on. Every time we return home, the stations very generously give us a copy of their programming for the period we’d been absent so that we have something to watch while away from our Earth. Some of the girls decided to watch a movie from the olden days and they were so enthusiastic about it that I joined them. Before the movie started there was an advertisement for Russian vodka (made in Poland J). The advert showed little Russians dolls! As the screen filled up with them I realised that those from my meditation, and the bowling pins, looked different in one important way: the ones on screen have flat bottoms whereas mine had rounded bottoms. Seeing the difference forced me into realising what I’d actually been looking at. I don’t know what they are called, but they are just like the Russians dolls, except that they have a weight inside the rounded bottoms and if you push them over they spring back up again.
Now, all I needed to do is work out why my subconscious thought they represent a solution to my problem!
The next day I returned to talk with Batsy. It is not actually necessary to float in space to communicate, Batsy can talk to us even when we are inside Freddie, but it feels nicer being able to see who I’m talking with - even if it looks like a tiny planet, especially now that it has the look and ecology of an Akiard home world - scientists are harvesting plants and Akiard insects for seeding more planets.
One of the questions I asked Batsy was, “How does becoming liquid affect your thinking?”
“Would I be aware of any change? Why do you ask?”
“For how long could you remain liquid?”
“I can only know by trying Samantha.”
“One more question about becoming liquid. Can you only do so by heating up? Could you become liquid without becoming so hot?”
“I will try. For how long must I stay liquid?” I showed it from my mind that I did not know, but would be happy even for one day, for a start. It asked me to return to Freddie so that it does not hurt me by accident.
Days and then weeks went by as Batsy tried to find the answers I needed. Scientists talked with it and explained how there are other ways for solid matter to become liquid without becoming molten. Despite their explanations being highly technical and beyond me - apart from something about vibrations and ultra sound being used, it seems the data we’ve been sending to it has given it a small base to begin understanding from. It tried.
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“Samantha.”
“I’m coming Batsy.” I beamed at everyone, certain that Batsy wanted me because it had succeeded, and jumped. “You have news for me Batsy?”
“Controls of experiment?” Robbie confirmed the scientists were recording. “Not big heat Samantha. Is wrong to destroy life on my surface?”
“It was only meant to be temporary. We now have more if needed.” Luckily it has not reached the point of agonising over the deaths of non-sentient beings, so it did not argue.
The world of the Akiards was destroyed and it reverted to a cinder world, black. After a while I noticed that it looked as if I was looking at Batsy through water, it wavered and the shape distorted until it settled again and became as smooth as glass.
“Am liquid, not water Samantha, liquid stone, metal and crystal.”
Batsy allowed us to swoop in and take a pail or two from the surface (Robbie with an open, bucket shaped energy shield). Within minutes the scientists confirmed that they were examining a viscous liquid that does not conform to any known material - liquid or solid.
We asked Batsy to share as we partied so that it can sense how we rejoiced. It was more interested in finding out how this would help it travel with us. I told it to be patient, we’ll talk the next day. At least it learnt early on to respect our need for privacy when we ask for it and our need to sleep on a regular basis.
My loves could sense my anxiety as I showed Robbie my idea visually, which in words would have been something like this, “If you create a layer of energy over the outer energy shield, like a flat bubble or envelope with a slit at one end and we pour Batsy into it and then you seal it - and this is done at the other end of Freddie under us, would that also help stabilise FTS so that Freddie and you don’t have to work so hard to prevent us spinning like a ball when we hit turbulence?”
Robbie was not about to even think of making such a serious change without consulting all the experts; he asked Freddie and all the scientists. Each species it seems designed their own computer models to test the idea. Mostly they came out in favour, the rest not against, but worried because they felt that real life experiences don’t always match up to theories and computer models, and Freddie is too important (in a practical sense, but also symbolically) for it to be risked.
I shrugged. “I guess we’ll have to ask the Spartans if they can take Batsy into their World whenever we need to travel in the void.”
“I’m still thinking about it Sam, don’t push me.”
“I’m not pushing! If you do it and anything goes wrong they’ll all blame me, that’s why I suggested asking Leonidas - Solomon’s World already has too many species.”
He frowned. “Are you growing up? You sounded just like an adult!” He made a moue of distaste and everyone laughed. I waited until the laughter settled down, asked Solomon for a private chat and going to my apartment I lay down and left my body.
Batsy was happy to come to the void when I promised it a new experience - if my idea can be implemented. Once in the void Solomon spent some time examining the soul of Batsy and, giving me the go ahead, he left for my apartment. Batsy became very excited when I explained my idea and chose to be a girl like me. As soon as Solomon returned, the two of us took Batsy to the body Solomon had created and Solomon attached her soul to the body. I returned to mine and opened my eyes as soon as I was aware. Batsy was lying to the side of me, her face turned to look at me. Solomon was on her other side, also looking like a girl. God! None of us have seen him looking like this for years and, as excited as I was to have Batsy here, I could not help staring at Solomon and my eyes filled up.
Solomon and I had been very careful not to betray ourselves by our emoting so when I arrived with Batsy’s hand in mine they could not imagine what I’d done, so they stared at her with wonder and then at me for an explanation.
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With one of those ear-to-ear grins that can’t be controlled, I swung towards Batsy and called out, “I want to introduce you all to my very special friend…” As the pause grew they began to wonder what the hell had gone wrong. I shrugged. “No, why should I introduce you, why shouldn’t I keep you just for me, why should you be everyone’s friend!”
Batsy has a totally black skin, nothing like the blackness of the blackest Terran; she is pure black. Her features are delicate and her limbs and fingers are slender. Her sea-green hair glistens and shines like oiled metal all the way down to the curve of her bum and her eyes are a slightly darker but brighter shade than her hair. She is any paedophile’s dreamy ten year old angel and the slightly confused look on her face was just adorable. I hugged her and with a laugh turned around, “Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce the one and only Batsy!”
Before we’d come down, while still in my apartment, I knew I did not have much time, I had to take her down before one of my loves became curious or worried about me. I explained that she must try to minimise the data she is absorbing, avoid moving and allow me to hold her upright. Once I’d introduced her, Maria had the robots bring out the sofa and I carefully helped her half lie on it.
She was an instant hit, even the scientists leaving their laboratory to meet her and when the fleet admirals heard, they also asked to visit. Batsy is quickly growing accustomed to being mobile, but we do have to mentally prompt her now and then to close her mouth; she forgets and lets her lower jaw hang when she is totally absorbed in the conversation. Solomon was careful to ensure she has no erotic stirrings and since, as a planet, she does not reproduce sexually, she does not realise what she’s missing. We only let her stay for two hours, but it looks like it will become a daily occurrence.
Robbie would have preferred taking it slowly, starting with a smaller mass and building it up, but Batsy cannot split such a large part of herself without it affecting her, so we’ll have to try with all of her from the first time.
All three, Robbie, Freddie and Vincent created a maze of ribbed v-shaped energy columns jutting out of the outer shield, only below the midsection (equatorial) platform our ‘world’ rests on. The v-shapes face in all directions so as to be effective whatever the direction of any sudden pull. It was realised columns were needed not only to fixate the added layers of energy but also to prevent the weight or inertia of the mass of Batsy being ripped off by some sudden move of FTS. It has to be linked to thousands of such columns so as to hold Batsy snugly under all conditions, even extreme ones.
Robbie has been preparing for tests in secret and soon everyone will be stunned when they see what he is preparing. Every night he has been leaving us for ten minutes, but staying in another reality for weeks at a time. He is creating a mock FTS but without any land or water. When it is completed, he will bring it for Batsy to practice sliding into and then he’ll subject the sphere to extremes; sudden stops while travelling at thousands of kilometres an hour, sudden swerves and even explosions on the outside and inside. Only once Robbie, Freddie and Vincent are satisfied it is safe, will they take the mock FTS to a dead reality and take it in and out of the void.
We were talking about our plans for when we return to Athens and I imagined the reactions of everyone when we tell them about Batsy. “I’m glad I’m not the one who has to announce we have a Cherinian planet.” I paused as my loves expressed the same sentiment. “I think I must have checked the diary at least a hundred times and I still can’t believe it wasn’t Arthur who wrote Batsy into our lives. I mean, let’s face it, he’s the only one I know who would be crazy enough to do that to us. A sapient planet! I bet his readers won’t find it believable.”
Robbie grinned. “You think so? I can quote at least one excellent science fiction writer who did.” We all knew he meant Anne McCaffrey and her series about the planet ‘Petaybee’.
I shook my head. “It is not the same. Even though she created Petaybee, the planet could not do all the crazy things Batsy can do and mostly natural laws were used to explain its existence. Come on, a planet that turns itself into liquid stone!?”
Claudia cut in, eager to have her say first. “First dibs on all rights to forming a partnership with Batsy. We’ll create a holiday world with maybe a dozen luxurious themes and the great thing is that whenever we see a theme is not so popular anymore, Batsy can change it.” She paused and gave me a worried frown. “Promise you won’t be too upset if I ask Campbell to be my partner? He is sooo good at getting things organised.” I hit her with a pillow and soon she was buried in a small hill of them.
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For the tests, Robbie is not really interested in the inner shield as we do not see how attaching Batsy could negatively affect it, while it could provide an extra layer of safety. Our lives mainly depend on the outer shield as the tiniest leak from there while we are in the void would instantly destroy us. We remember the first time we all nearly had a heart attack at the moment of our arriving in the void. We’d passed through a dust cloud in a rather leisurely manner just before going to the void and as we arrived the void exploded the dust specks still stuck to the shield. Luckily they were spread out without any accumulating in a pile and the shield was able to withstand the explosions. Of course, even before the explosions had ended we jumped back to normal space. Since then Freddie does not rely on last second spring cleaning and maintains a sensitivity to even the tiniest grain. We still have the odd dust explosions, but we now know our outer shield can withstand them.The mock FTS was brought to our reality and Robbie allowed us to take a look before he began the tests. It only has the outer shield, but it has exactly the same thickness, composition and strength as Freddie’s. There is the platform at almost the equator but there are no rocks, soil and no water. The ‘bottom’ outer shield already has thousands of columns and once Batsy has poured herself among the columns, he’ll cover her with another shield that will be exactly the same as the outer shield. It will change the appearance from outside and, to an extent, for those of us who think of Freddie as being our home, it will feel and look weird and alien for a while.
Batsy had joined us in her Terran form as we flew on a last minute inspection and we could feel how alien our expectations felt to her. I thought up a small improvement that may turn out to be important, if she can do it. “Batsy love, you should not remain liquid once you are in place, but you must be plastic so that you can bend with the shield if it is struck or pressure distorts the shields. If you are liquid and somehow a leak develops while we are in the void, the results would be catastrophic. One more point, is there anyway your surface, all around, could be bonded to a layer of energy? It would be just a small extra level of security for all of us.”
My requests, and a few others thought up by the scientists, did not delay us much and a week later Batsy declared herself ready and the tests began. The first and most important step was for Batsy to pour herself over the area waiting for her. She did communicate now and then and confirmed that having to allow for the pillars did not affect her ability to think clearly. Oh, sorry, my loves pointed out that whoever has not seen Batsy do it may be wondering how she poured herself onto the shield.
The presumption that Batsy must not approach Freddie too closely is valid. She may be smaller, but she is solid all the way through and when she is not directing her ‘pull’, she could cause severe damage to our world. It would be too much to ask that she simultaneously changes her body and controls her gravity, so she kept her distance while she changed and then she altered her shape. She flattened herself into a sheet of a circular shape and the size was calculated to fit over the one half of Freddie. Let us imagine that Freddie has a North and South Pole (not tilted at all) and the center of the sky above us is the North Pole. She aims for the center of herself to approach from underneath and as the midpoint of her circular shape touches the outer shield at our South Pole, she folds herself until the one surface of her is up against the shield. Wherever there is a pillar, her liquid state makes it easy for the pillar to pierce and exit on the other side. Even before the sheet of energy is placed over her, Batsy claims she can sense that the pillars are helping to hold her in place.
It turns out that the translucence or transparency of the outer shield is not of importance to Batsy since she does not actually ‘see’. The energy covering her does not prevent her from maintaining her ability to sense space and the galaxies just as if she were out in space. She only feels she is surrounded by energy, some of which is useful for her, so she does not feel she has been covered.
Our three protectors tried everything they could think of to force Batsy to tear the shield apart through inertia, without going to extremes that would be fatal for us anyway. Well, they did one thing that was a little bit extreme. They shot an asteroid at the area covering her at enormous speed. If an asteroid of that size and at that speed hit Freddie it would pass through the shields, if it is not going through the platform part. If travelling north to south or vice versa and passing through the platform holding our ecology, the destruction, even without the radiation, would equal a nuclear bomb or two. Luckily it can only happen in normal space so even our deaths can be reversed. When it hit Batsy, the damage was far less than it would have been if she had not cushioned the blow, but Batsy herself was not damaged.
Batsy has shown awareness of the damage she could cause if approaching a planet too closely, so Robbie has behaved in the way he always does, he has not warned her or placed conditions. We decided it is time for us to leave so as to travel to the planet of the Meéjeira for Simito and Zwithinia to visit their family and friends. As for returning to our home, that we will only do once Craig is ready to face life outside of Freddie.
The Fleet Admirals confirmed they do not need anything from us, so we advised them we are leaving in two days. We invited everyone from the fleet to a party we are throwing for them. The party will last two days and nights so that they can continue working and yet each shift have a turn. Each species helped by bringing food machines and drinks, Robbie gave a very short speech to welcome them and the party began.
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All non-Unation species were eagerly sought out, but the one that all of them had to meet was Batsy. They felt they had found her, she belongs to their time and, in the case of the locals, their reality. Meeting her in Terran form might have been a slight anticlimax, but knowing that her body is wrapped around Freddie and they are meeting her soul excited them. Because of the novelty for them, meeting Lusalith and her people was also among their priorities.
Since we had guests arriving and departing on a regular basis, there was no chance for us to sleep. We’ve done without sleep for longer periods and using our healers kept us fresh and filled with energy so that we mingled, talked and danced without flagging. I’d say that each of us made new friends and I know that I especially liked a Horekian cadet who cheerfully told me she has the duty of keeping the mess clean. Allow me to quote a description of their species that I gave a long time ago when I described Spexette: Stick thin with soft pulsating globules on either side of their torso. Face vaguely humanoid but mouth opens right across face. Gentle creatures and very fragile. My new friend, Iriesitte, has the sweetness of youth without the early signs of bitterness I find so often among those who have what is considered a lowly job. She mostly spoke of how she had dreamt of travelling to meet other species and standing under new suns and exclaimed at how lucky she is that she is living her dream while also being part of such a wonderful undertaking - bringing back to life species that have been exterminated. I did find it odd that she did not speak of any companion or dreams of having a family of her own, but I do not know enough of her species to risk a gaffe by raising the subjects in casual conversation.
We have arrived by the planet of the Meéjeira. They arrived in Freddie emoting awe and excitement, anticipating new stories because of the change in the outer shape of Freddie. There is too much for us to tell again and again so the girls are doing a telling on planet, with Sparklers creating repeater platforms outside the various towns that serve as the centres of the inhabited areas.
Very few Meéjeirans from the Fleet returned with us and they were soon reunited with their family and friends. Michael, Ahní and Zenon remained in privacy with Simito and Zwithinia for a few hours and when they came out and Simito and Zwithinia jumped to their planet, we could sense their friendship and love has been refreshed.
Apart from the telling, which was a bit tiring for the girls, this has been a lovely interlude. In a way the telling has affected us also for we decided and agreed with Robbie that we will reinstate our ancient system of each girl having in turn a day alone with Robbie. We took a look at what other habits we’ve accumulated and made decisions to change many of those also. Not because the habits were wrong, nor only because we slid into some of them out of comfort and familiarity. We have to make changes so that we see with fresh eyes and recapture every now and then the wonder of our love for each other. It is a wonder to all of us, including Robbie, that our main purpose of life is to love each other and yet we forget and allow ourselves to slip into routines that dull our relationships.
The Meéjeirans asked Themi for Craig to visit them. They confided their reasons and Themi agreed. When they sensed his anxiety, Themi also agreed Candy should go with as a security net for him
They chose wisely and organised a picnic in a clearing within the jungle. Although there is a lot of life of all forms and seeing them is incredibly beautiful, they are not noisy like our animals and birds. The spot chosen is like a varicoloured jewelled sea of tranquillity and the conversation was kept friendly but not intrusive or complex and by the end of the meal Craig smiled at them a few times and even gave Candy a smile.
“Craig,” Voorisfa looked across at Ecquel, his father and still one of their leaders, “My father was one of those who fought Cherine, but it is not only his generation that feel guilt for what they tried to do, so do my generation and probably, so will the next one hundred generations. You see, all children born of our species come from the over-soul, or as your people call it, the mother soul. Souls from our distant past, at the time our world was destroyed, wait in our World in the void. Have you been to the Sparkler World?”
“No. Only friends of Robert are allowed.”
Candy tugged at his hand. “Who told you that!? My friends can also go!” She bent the truth a little to make him smile or laugh so that he relaxes - anyone wants to go there, all they have to do is ask a Sparkler, that is, if they are not capable of going there on their own.
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Voorisfa continued once the chuckles died down. “Our World is similar to theirs. To shoot off at a tangent for a moment, all species are puzzled by the World of the Teller family and other Terrans. We do not understand why it is the only one that has such a small surface area available for their souls to visit.
When Robert brought back to life the first few groups so that they could build and prepare for the next groups to return without having to suffer the hardships of not having homes, food and so on, that was a time of great excitement and our fathers tell us stories of how vibrantly alive they felt. What we are doing, sitting in a natural part of our world so as to enjoy the scents, shapes and colours of life, they did very often. As a people we still do, but our population has grown into the billions since then and we’ve had to regulate the visits so that we don’t destroy what we love.”
His eyes examined the trees and other plants before he continued. “Having lost our world once, this time we refuse to allow one species to die out, not even the insects that can be a nuisance.” He smiled. “As Cherinians they can no longer harm us, but I can tell you, some can be very persistent and irritating.”
Candy giggled. “Just like mosquitoes and sand flies when we go to tropical beaches. Sometimes we have to let them bite us because if we make ourselves invulnerable, we find our sense of touch is less keen.”
Craig said, “There are no insects that bite in Freddie.”
“Robert doesn’t want them. He still worries that someone will bring a few fleas with them and they’ll multiply very fast in Freddie because the conditions are ideal for them. We do have ants, but I’ve never been bitten by one.”
Craig smiled at her. “I don’t think they are the kind that bite. Have you seen the red ants from South America? They can strip an entire forest as they pass through and anyone caught by them will soon only be a skeleton.”
Voorisfa said, “We are very lucky, we don’t having any insects that voracious. I’ve read about some of the lifeforms of your planet and it seems to me that all the species, from all the kingdoms, do not control themselves, they depend on other species to keep their numbers within reason. Within our ecology many species tend to regulate themselves, not giving birth or producing seed if their food supply is not sufficient to feed them.”
Candy found it interesting. “I didn’t know that and I can’t see how it would work!” Craig added his comment and they soon had a nice conversation going with Craig speaking now and then. Some time after their meal had ended they decided to walk into the trees to examine some of the flora and small lifeforms. Ecquel apologised, explaining he had to return to Council Chambers, but invited Craig to visit them for a few days as a guest at their home. He obviously liked Voorisfa so he gave in when the young man insisted.
Candy returned a very happy girl, helped Craig pack, lending him one of our small suitcases, and then delivered him to Voorisfa. Before they left, she made Craig bend down for her to kiss his cheek. He was so excited that he was getting away from Freddie and that he had made a friend despite his new friend knowing what he had done, that Themi had to use his healer to prevent him getting over-excited, as he could then slide to the other extreme.
There was great excitement among the Meéjeira about the introduction of Batsy into our list of species, not that I’m certain a single planet qualifies as a species J. There was such a strong call for Batsy to visit on planet that we gave in. Robbie created a platform and we all went with him and Batsy. We learnt that the entities from the two mother souls intended being present as they are curious and want to meet Batsy.
We will be visiting all the population centres, but at the first place we visited, all the local leaders and media were present. Add to that admirals and captains from visiting spaceships, ambassadors and but not least, the two entities. When we walked out of the platform two leaders gave a short speech welcoming us and then Robbie stepped forward with Batsy at his side for him to introduce her to the entire planet - since it seems everyone was watching.
“My dearest friends, the universe is full of surprises, but we thought, when we met Ambros, that we’d met the strangest and most wonderful new species and I think you will agree that you also did not expect to meet anything more miraculous. You have all heard by now that we met a new and unique species. It started when we found ourselves having to deal with an inquisitive little planet that wanted to know what our ships are. My loves named the planetary being Batsy and she truly is beautiful, in her natural shape a black pearl.” [If he was using some poetic licence in his descriptions, I’d say that since he was talking as a politician, we’ll have to allow it].
I hope you enjoy reading this story of fantasy, adventure and love - and should some of it be true for our reality, I hope you will love our Cherine.
- posted: 15th Aug, 2020
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