by Sarah Carter
“Do you think that’s where the kids came from. Some of them are their biological mothers?” Claire gasps. She quiets down because the kids are watching them. So, she whispers, “Do you think their eggs were harvested?”
“That’s what we are thinking,” Mr. Blakely
“This is sick and twisted,” Claire murmurs. “Would we do testing to see if it’s true?”
Mr. Blakely shrugs his shoulders. “I have no idea. It would be putting a lot of pressure on both the women and kids. I’m not sure what we are going to do.”
“We should start out small and just see if we can test them at all,” Damien says. “We are leaving it up to them, right?”
He nods. “Yes. I don’t want to force them to do anything. They need to trust us. They need to know that we aren’t going to hurt them.”
“You aren’t?” A tiny voice says. Everyone turns around. There is a small boy there. “You’re Master Blakely.”
“I am,” Mr. Blakely replies, kneeling before the boy. “What’s your name?”
“Georgie.”
“Well, hello Georgie.”
Georgie takes a deep breath. “You aren’t going to hurt us like she did.”
“No,” Mr. Blakely replies. “I’m going to protect you. Keep you safe. Give you a happy life.”
“Will you teach me how to ride a bike?”
A smile sweeps across Mr. Blakely’s face. “Of course, we will teach you whatever you want to learn.”
“No, you. Will you teach me?” Georgie asks.
“Oh,” Mr. Blakely says.
An older boy comes over. “Georgie. He has bigger things to do than teach you how to ride a bike. He’s our ruler.”
His face falls and Georgie says, “I just want to learn.”
“I will gladly teach you how to ride a bike,” Mr. Blakely says. “I taught Damien.”
“Did he do a good job?” Georgie asks.
“No. Actually, he fell down quite a bit.”
Damien turns on his Dad. “Dude. Dad. Seriously?”
“What? It’s true,” Mr. Blakely laughs.
“I did not know that,” Claire snickers, smiling mischievously.
“Don’t let her fool you,” a voice says. “She probably fell down more.”
Lexi turns around. “Gampa!” She leaps into Mr. Hardrick’s arms and he picks her up.
“Hey you,” he says.
“You’re alright with her referring to you as Grandpa?” Mr. Blakely inquires.
“Hold her for a second,” Mr. Hardrick replies. “See for yourself.”
Mr. Blakely replies, “I don’t know.”
“It’s fine. I promise you.”
Reaching forward, Mr. Blakely takes Lexi from him. He looks at her apprehensively. “Hi.”
“Grandpa,” she giggles. Lexi wraps her arms around his neck and squeezes tight.
Mr. Blakely’s eyes widen and he gasps, “Oh my god.”
“Told you,” Mr. Hardrick says.
“Can we trust it?” Mr. Blakely asks, making a goofy face at Lexi. She giggles.
“She has told us the truth so far,” Damien replies.
Claire smiles. “She is something special. That’s for sure.”
“Food’s done,” one of the cooks yells.
“Hungry!” Lexi squeals.
Laughing, Mr. Blakely says, “Let’s go get you something to eat.”
“Everyone eat together,” Lexi states.
“It would be good for the kids to see you with them,” Mr. Hardrick whispers to Mr. Blakely.
“Very well. We will eat,” Mr. Blakely declares, with a nod.
There is much commotion as everyone eats. Praising and excitement can be heard about all the food. Claire laughs because Lexi eats a large amount of French fries and pizza. “She fits in well with us.”
“We will drain the bank of the Neturu just by food,” Ariel laughs.
“That’s why I am marrying into the Merjyet line,” Claire snickers. “That way I know I am always fed. Otherwise I would need three jobs.”
“Use us for our money,” Damien replies. “I see how it is.”
Mr. Blakely laughs as he wipes his mouth. “She could want to buy purses or shoes.”
“I make enough money for that,” Claire replies. “So, I guess I could buy my own food. Still think I would need a second job.” Everyone laughs. That’s when Claire notices Lexi hasn’t said anything. She is staring straight at the table. “Lexi honey.” She doesn’t move. “Lexi,” Claire says again, reaching for her. Lexi doesn’t move. “Lexi,” Claire exclaims, touching her arm. Slipping to the side, Lexi just stares forward with her eyes open. She slips out of her chair. Claire grabs her and lays her gently on the ground. “LEXI!”
Dr. Galliger comes over. “Lexi honey.” He reaches to her side. “She has a pulse.”
“Lexi,” Claire gasps, stroking her face and patting her hand. “What’s happening?”
“She does this,” Mason says, coming around the side of the table. “I’ve seen it once before.”
“What’s going on?”
Mason grabs her up into his arms. “Lexi, honey.” She closes her eyes. “She said she sleeps if there is a major time shift. It like…overloads her.”
“Let’s take her into an observation room,” Dr. Galliger says.
Mr. Paulson comes up behind him. “We should run some tests.”
“We told her we wouldn’t do that without her permission,” Damien says.
“It’s necessary,” Claire states. “Let’s go see what we can find out.”
Lexi is still unconscious when they make it to the room. Mason sets her on the table. Mr. Paulson says, “Take off her clothes.” Claire scrambles and pulls everything off. Mr. Paulson comes over and starts to apply the sensor discs. Once they are applied, Dr. Galliger hits an icon on the computer. A bunch of graphs show up. Everyone is silent. “That can’t be happening.”
“What does that mean?” Claire asks.
The energy signature is flat, but at a very high level. “She doesn’t have energy,” Mr. Paulson replies. “She is energy. She doesn’t have a pulse, it’s a constant current.”
“How is that possible?” Damien stutters.
Dr. Galliger shakes his head. “I have no idea. It would explain how she can do everything and not instantly drain herself. Because, I was thinking about that. Think of all that she was doing since she woke up from her nap. She wasn’t fatigued at all. The mass amount of energy needed for that.”
“Is it Neturu energy?” Xander asks. “Because I can do a lot of stuff, but I don’t have Neturu energy. I have that disc’s energy.”
Mr. Paulson goes to the graph. “It’s not Neturu energy, but it’s not your energy either.”
“It’s like a mixture of the two,” Dr. Galliger says. He turns around. “We should get a blood sample.”
“Better when she is out like this, than when she is awake,” Damien states.
Dr. Galliger comes over with a syringe and takes a blood sample. He puts it in the computer. A couple more graphs and images pop up. “She is definitely part Kenga, but…”
“But?” Damien counters.
“She is 75% Kenga and 25% Neturu.”
“How is that possible? Doesn’t it have to be half and half.”
Pushing a few icons, Dr. Galliger moves a few graphs around. “See, this strand, it’s the same in all the kids. Way more prominent in Lexi. If I had to say, I would think they are all from the same person.”
“So, we are related,” Xander exclaims.
He turns around. Dr. Galliger says, “I have told you before. We aren’t like humans. It’s not the same.”
“We all have the same relative,” Xander snaps. “How is that not the same?”
Dr. Galliger sighs. “It’s not the same. That’s the stigma of the humans. We don’t have the relations like they do. Our genetic coding is different. You can have children and not have the same strands. Especially with the Kenga. It’s just a smal
l part of who you are. We aren’t human. Sometimes we forget that. You aren’t related like you think.”
“Yes, we are,” Xander counters.
“No, you aren’t. You all have different Neturu make-up. The Kenga strand has been altered. It may have the same distant relative but it’s not the same. It’s different in every one of you.”
“How is that even possible?” Ariel asks.
Laughing, Dr. Galliger answers, “Well, if you want to sit down for a year, I can try to explain the genetic coding of the Neturu. Though we have to add on the Kenga. Trying to explain the mixture of the two may take longer, since we have no idea how it was done. It’s not anything easily put into simple conversation.”
“Good point,” Ariel snorts.
“Back to Lexi,” Damien urges, walking to the screens.
“She has a lot of powerful energy,” Dr. Galliger says. “It’s incredible. I wouldn’t even know how to explain it. I am hoping we can get some information off of those hard drives.”
Claire strokes Lexi’s face and hair. “Do you know what’s wrong?”
“Her brain isn’t the same, but there’s massive fluctuations. It would be best to get her in the scanner.”
“She’s unconscious.”
“You should be able to hold her,” Dr. Galliger says. “Why don’t you try that?”
Reaching down, Claire picks her up in her arms. “Just step in there?”
“Yes.”
“You should let me do it,” Damien states, stepping over by them.
“Damien, no,” Mr. Blakely says. “We have no idea what the reaction is going to be. I won’t let you risk it.”
“We will be fine,” Claire says, turning to Damien. “I won’t let anything happen to her.” Damien looks at her with worried eyes and furrowed eyebrows. “We will be fine. Let me go in there.” Claire walks over and steps into the scanner. “Alright, whenever you are ready.”
Mr. Paulson hits a button and the scanner turns on. “Okay. We can see the difference between you two.” He pauses. “The energy signature in her brain is obviously different. But there is a great amount of energy around this area of the brain. It’s fluctuating.”
“Is that maybe how she sees the future?” Damien asks.
“This very well could be. There are a few spots that have greater concentrations. One of them is where the communication portion of the Neturu brain is. That may be how she speaks to people telepathically.”
Dr. Galliger shakes his head. “None of this is laid out like a Neturu brain. We don’t have much to go until she uses her powers in the scanner. I don’t know what to say.”
Suddenly, Lexi stirs in Claire’s arms. “Lexi,” Claire gasps.
She opens up her little eyes. “Mommy?”
“Oh god. Hey sweetie,” Claire says, pulling her close. She lifts her up and Lexi leans her head on her shoulder. “Are you okay?”
“Time shift Mommy,” Lexi whispers.
“Time shift for what honey?” Claire asks, putting her head on hers.
Lexi snuggles up against her. “Lexi no know. Collector different.”
“Do you not know because it involves you,” Claire says.
“Mommy smart,” Lexi yawns. “Lexi in scammer?”
“Yeah,” Claire asks. “Can you do Mommy a favor?”
She sits up. “Yeah Mommy.”
“Can you use your powers?”
“Which one Mommy?” Lexi inquires, sleepily.
“All of them.”
Suddenly, every chair in the room is lifted up. “What else Mommy?”
“Talk to me in my head.”
Why Mommy?
“We need to know what makes your brain different.”
“Give Lexi something.”
Dr. Galliger brings over a pen. “Here. Can you change this?”
Lexi grabs it. It turns to water and splashes on the ground.
“That’s all we can test for.”
“Can you look into the future?” Claire asks. “Just a little bit.”
“What Mommy want to see?” Lexi yawns again.
“Can you see Daddy’s birthday next year?
She nods. “Daddy get cake in his face.”
“Who does that?”
“Auntie Kayla,” Lexi replies. She rubs her eyes. “Lexi, no more.”
“Okay, sorry honey. We are just trying to help you.”
Lexi nods. “Lexi know Mommy. Lexi tell Mommy tests.”
“You did tell me, didn’t you,” Claire says. “You really can see the future. Except for now. Can you try to see the future?”
“Future Lexi tell little Lexi no. Just now. Lexi sleepy.”
Claire’s eyes widen. “Your future self told you not to?” Lexi nods. “This gets weirder by the minute.”
“Mommy think Lexi weird?”
“Oh no, honey. The situation is weird. Not you.”
Another yawn escapes Lexi. “Tired Mommy.”
“Do you want to go to bed?”
“Yeah Mommy.”
“Okay.”
“Sleep with Mommy,” Lexi whispers, closing her eyes.
Leaning her head against Lexi’s, Claire replies, “We will get a bed right next to ours.”
“Okay Mommy.”
Chapter 18
Xander
“We are going to lay her down,” Claire says, looking at everyone.
“I’m tired too,” Trinity says.
Mr. Hardrick nods his head. “You can go lay down. There are clothes in Xander’s room.” Trinity blushes. “We figured you would be staying in there.”
She turns redder. “Thanks.”
“Come on,” Xander says, putting her hand on his arm. “I bet you are exhausted.”
“Emotionally and physically,” Trinity sighs, following him out.
“Everyone is safe now,” Mason states. “We can all rest.”
Trinity asks, “Do you really think we are safe from The Collector?”
“I think so,” Xander replies. “The Neturu are a scary race.”
“That’s true,” Trinity sighs. “Do you think we should check on the kids?”
“We can if you want,” Xander says. “Let’s go this way then.”
When they enter the cafeteria there is a buzzing of conversation. Kids are screaming and running around, chasing each other. There are some on the floor playing with toys. The older kids have tablets and are playing on them. “Everyone looks fine,” Ariel says. “Happy is a better word. They are playing and smiling.”
Trinity puts her hand to her chest. “I wish I could see them happy for the first time.”
“Shima. Go to Shima,” Xander says, walking her to a chair. “Come to me.”
“I’ve never gone to Shima before with people around,” Trinity says. “Will you protect me?”
“Trinity,” Xander laughs. “You will see anyone coming towards you.”
She smiles. “That is true, isn’t it?” Closing her eyes, Trinity says, “Okay. Give me a second.” Xander patiently waits and then Trinity appears next to him. She immediately starts looking around. Trinity brings her hands up to her mouth and gasps. “Look at them. Look at how happy they are. I’ve never seen the kids smiling like that.”
“I think Lexi played a big role in calming them down,” Xander replies. “But yeah, they look content. Not scared.”
Trinity turns to Xander. “This is it, isn’t it? We are safe. We were finally saved.”
“We were,” Xander agrees, with a smile. “We can do anything we want now. We can go to school. Get a home. Get married.”
“You want to get married?” Trinity gasps.
“What? No. That’s not what I meant,” Xander stammers.
“Oh,” Trinity whispers, looking down.
He reaches out and takes her hands. “It’s not that I don’t want to, but we need to get settled first. We need to decide what we want.”
“You better mean what we want to do with our lives, not what we want,” Trinity tea
ses.
“Well,” Xander says, grimacing. “The world is a pretty big place.”
Trinity’s jaw drops. “Well, yeah, I can definitely see going to greener pastures.”
“I wonder what that actually means,” Xander says.
“I think it has something do with cows,” Trinity replies. “Greener pastures.”
“We are going to be so confused out in the real world,” Xander sighs. “We are going to stick out.”
Aurora frowns. “I think about that all the time. You guys have each other. How am I supposed to find someone? Being gay is a huge thing already. Then you add on that I have no idea what’s going. Then you add on that I’m a freak. I will be alone for the rest of my life.”
“Ask Lexi,” Xander suggests. “She would be able to tell you.”
Her eyes widen. “What if I really am going to be alone for the rest of my life? Why would I want to know that?”
“You’re not going to be alone for the rest of your life,” Ariel groans.
“You don’t know,” Aurora snaps. “It could be true.”
“Aurora. Seriously. Stop being silly.”
Huffing, Aurora crosses her arms. “You don’t know.”
“We will ask Lexi tomorrow,” Ariel replies, rolling her eyes.
“She’s not a fortune teller,” Mason scolds. “You can’t bombard her with questions.”
“I know. It’s one,” Ariel says. “Just one.”
Mason shakes his head. “She will tell you tomorrow if you are supposed to know. She’s done it to me a dozen times.”
“What did she tell you?” Ariel asks.
“Things that were going to happen on the outside,” Mason replies. “Things that were going to go wrong.”
“Wouldn’t that change the future?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know. She knows when and when not to say something. Yoda. Pint sized Yoda.”
“I’m getting tired,” Trinity yawns. “Today was a lot to handle.”
“Trinity is tired,” Xander tells everyone.
“I think they are getting the kids settled too,” Ariel says. They see a group of women trying to calm the kids down. A kid screams and starts tearing around the cafeteria. “Oh my god. I’ve never seen them this hyper before.”