Reflection

by Lynn Moon

  I stand up and brush the sand from my legs. The water is only a few feet away. I take advantage of it. It’s unnerving to know just a few feet beneath my feet rests a huge craft that could be one of the greatest finds to the people of these worlds—or be the cause of their extinction.

  “How did you walk all through that place and never realized what it was,” I ask.

  “I couldn’t read what was on the pedestal,” she replies. “I honestly didn’t know what it was.”

  “This is very weird and scary,” I say, staring at her.

  “We need to go,” Grandmother says, taking my hand. “Promise me, Journey, you will never go inside that ship, and neither of you will speak of this to anyone. Just forget what we found.”

  “I can’t promise you that, Grandmother,” I say softly. “I’ll need to think.”

  30

  THE PREMONITION

  TAKODA’S BY my side and we’re holding hands. We watch the large transport pass silently above our heads. The moon, Makayah, is directly over us now.

  “Where do we go from here, Journey?” Takoda asks.

  The baby kicks inside me, and I smile as I rub my belly. Shaking my head I whisper, “I don’t know.”

  “You are my world, Journey,” he whispers into my ear. “Wherever you go, I will follow.”

  I lean back and enjoy his essence.

  “I know of one place we’ll be going,” he laughs.

  “Yeah, classes,” I say, with a sigh. I stare at the horizon and think of my home in the Carolinas, and all the things I’ve done since finding my new home. I remember my great grandmother at the Ancient City, and my grandparents living on our moon. The warmth from Takoda’s embrace fills me with love even though I face hardships, death and family drama. I’ll never choose any other place than where I am right now.

  “Takoda!” Freya yells, from around the bend. “You have to come back for dinner.”

  “Journey,” Makayah hollers. “Mom and Dad said you have to come home now.”

  Takoda kisses me. I melt into his embrace and realize I am home. I’m where I should be. Takoda is my home. He takes my hand and we meet up with the girls. The crickets chirp and ferns tower above my head. The afternoon sun no longer penetrates the thick canopy of trees, Even in this darkness, I feel safe because I’m with Takoda, the man I share my inner being with, the man I give all my love. As we near the lake, the ground rumbles beneath our feet.

  “What’s going on?” Makayah asks, with fear splattered on her face.

  “Journey!” my father screams, from the cabin. “Quickly!”

  Abeytu runs toward us as we emerge from the forest. He’s yelling but the rumbling is so loud I can’t hear a word.

  “What’s going on?” Takoda asks, as we see his father running hysterically from the cabin.

  “It’s the Tarkadians! They’ve broken through our defenses,” he yells.

  I scream as a large ray of bright light cuts through the lake and heads straight for us. “No!”

  “Journey!” Takoda’s shaking me. “Journey, wake up, you’re dreaming.”

  “No!” I scream again. “Makayah!”

  “Journey, sweetheart,” he says, sternly. “Wake up! You’re having a nightmare.”

  I open my eyes expecting to see total destruction, but instead gaze into Takoda’s eyes.

  “Morning,” he says, kissing my forehead.

  “Where are we? The baby!” I grab my stomach and touch only a flattened stomach.

  “What baby?” My grandmother stands staring at me from the bedroom door. “Is everything okay in here?”

  “We’re fine,” Takoda replies. “Journey had a bad dream.”

  “Are we still at my grandparents’?” I whisper.

  “Yes.”

  “That was terrible,” I state, sitting up. “I dreamt the Tarkadians attacked us. It was awful.”

  “It was only a dream,” he says, rubbing my back. “Our warning system will let us know if they try anything.”

  “Yes,” I reply, scratching my head, not fully convinced. “But it was so real.”

  “Your grandmother said it’s time to eat,” my grandfather states from the door.

  We sit down to another wonderful breakfast, but my nerves are still frayed. I can’t get that terrible dream out of my head.

  “So what’s next?” Grandmother asks.

  “We have a summer class starting in a few days,” Takoda announces. “We will be returning home tomorrow.”

  “And when we start our regular classes again, we have no Trials correct?” I ask.

  “No more Trials,” he states, drinking his fruit drink. “But we do have Skopocit.”

  “Skopocit?” I ask, glancing up at him.

  “It’s the term we learn about our spiritual selves,” he replies.

  “I remember the Skopocit,” Lylillea says, smiling at her husband. “Don’t you, Chawanna?”

  “Oh yes, of course,” he mumbles.

  “And where do we go for our Skopocit?” I ask.

  “We go to the northern city,” he answers. “Or we can go to one of the moons, or to another solar system. There are many options.”

  “The northern city with the factories?” I ask, not liking the sound of it.

  “That’s the one,” he replies.

  “You’ve got to be kidding!” I exclaim. “Don’t people get murdered there? And isn’t that where the criminals live?”

  “Yep,” he answers. “That’s the place.”

  “Don’t worry, dear,” Grandmother says. “We survived it and so will you.”

  31

  HOME

  THE FERRYBOAT ride back to the space station gives me time to reflect on everything that’s happened. I’m sad to leave my grandparents, but happy to have our special time together. Something deep inside knows I will probably never see them alive again. I’m not sure why, but I just have this feeling. After many hugs and kisses, Takoda and I leave with a lot of unanswered questions.

  Leaning against the railing, I watch as the whales play in the water. Large birds soar overhead. I stare into the water and the reflection of the sky echoes my feelings. I allow my mind to wander and my heart breaks. Memories of my mother, Rachael, flood my soul. I miss her so much. She’ll always be a major part of me, but when she died, a little piece of me died too. Because of her, I have the courage to do what I know I must do. I wish she was here to tell me I will succeed.

  When I reached out to the person in my mirror this morning, she reached back. Understanding that she is me, I have to rely on myself more. We still don’t know who’s trying to kill us or why, but we’ll be better prepared the next time we run into them. I have so many questions, I guess I’ll be busy trying to answer for a long time. But at least I know the basics. I know millions of years ago, my ancestors ran from a warrior race; they settled in this galaxy and in the Milky Way. I know we fought a war against the Tarkadians, and they remain a threat. I have to accept who my parents are and the fact I’m related to a group of mad scientists. I’m an Elder and one day I’ll have a place on the Council. In my heart, I’m in love with Takoda. But most important, the number one thing that remains on my mind is my people—my people who live in suppression.

  But what is the truth? I will seek out the truth until the end of my days, and where I will find it is anyone’s guess.

  Takoda takes my hand and kisses it. We smile at each other. As I watch the rise and fall of the ocean, several large ships soar along the horizon. They do not look familiar. Takoda sees them too, and tightens the grip on my hand. We watch as they speed through the air then sharply dive into the water.

  “What ships do we have that go under the water like that?” I ask.

  “None that I know of,” Takoda replies.

  “Do you recognize those ships?”

  “No,” he says. “I do not.”

  “Tarkadians?”

  “I pray to the Most Holy they are not.”

  p;

  Lynn Moon, Reflection