Earth Sentinels Collection

by Elizabeth M Herrera

  The jaguar stood alone in the distance, disgruntled at being left behind.

  Eva glanced around, realizing she had been relocated in the blink of an eye. She gazed at her father with awe and admiration.

  Laughing with delight, Zachary exclaimed, “It works! This changes everything!” Now that he knew how to transport this motley crew, they could go anywhere. “Eva, I’d like to go some place else. Back to where I came from.”

  “Why?”

  Zachary thought to himself, Why? Because everyone here wants to kill me. And I’m miserable and homeless. My wife left me—and every part of the jungle reminds me of her. God, I’m so tired of it all. But he wasn’t going to say that out loud to his four-year-old child, instead, he replied, “It’d be nice to see some friendly faces and sleep in a dry bed. Don’t you agree?”

  She frowned slightly. “I guess.”

  Zachary considered their options. He could take everyone back to his parents’ home in Pennsylvania, but, with them gone, everything would be in disarray. Maybe I should check on things. He hesitated, figuring a jaguar wouldn’t be welcomed in the farmlands, and Eva wouldn’t want to leave her friends behind. Think. Where can I take them that’s remote enough for a wild predator, yet still civilized?

  Only one place came to his mind.

  Together Again

  ROWS OF CORN, bearing heavy-hanging ears, fluttered in the Canadian breeze blowing over the garden. The teenagers were picking the ripe beets, green beans, squash, and sweet peppers. Cecile gently placed heirloom tomatoes inside her bushel basket. Tom tediously browsed through the bean pods. He noticed a stray weed and yanked it out.

  The newcomer, Haruto, was also in the garden. She had arrived at the reservation a few days earlier, seeking refuge from the Japanese soldiers. Her connection to Tom and Cecile as a fellow Earth Sentinel made her more than welcome here, even if she had to explain her sudden appearance and strange powers to them. Haruto stood over the carrots whose bushy green tops reached for the sun. She was determined to find an easier way to do the laborious work, so she focused on the vegetables, imagining them lifting out of the ground. A detectable wiggle occurred, but the bright-orange roots remained firmly within the soil’s grasp, frustrating her.

  Tom stood up, sighing and putting his hand on his sore back. He looked over at Haruto, watching her attempt to magically harvest the carrots. He called out to her, “Once you get that figured out, we’ll leave all this work to you.”

  She smiled. “But what would you do with your free time?”

  “Ah…let me see…fish, hunt, chop wood, read, and make love to my beautiful wife.”

  Cecile laughed as she stood up, holding a large tomato in her hand. “Maybe later, big guy. Personally, I like to garden, but if you want to, Tom, you can take the boys and go do something else.”

  “I think I will—”

  A big cat’s roar reverberated over the garden, causing everyone to freeze in place. The magnificent Ferta stood at the edge of the plot snarling with her muscles flexed, ready to pounce. The black-and-gold feline felt vulnerable in this wide-open and strange environment, making her especially dangerous—any quick movements could cause her to strike.

  Tom, Cecile and the teenagers wanted to flee, but their bodies instinctively had become rigid. Unable to move, and fixated on the fierce creature, the tribe members did not notice Zachary and Eva standing there—even the monkey went unseen. Those in the garden only saw the jaguar glaring at them with her canines bared.

  To calm the situation, Eva put her arms around her friend’s furry neck, telling her, “It’s okay. They won’t hurt you.”

  Ferta came out of her primal trance, and, despite remaining tense, was no longer ready to attack. The little girl continued stroking the big cat’s fur, whispering comforting words in her ear until the beast sat down on her haunches, purring to soothe herself.

  Zachary watched the predator to ensure his friends’ safety. If need be, he would take Ferta back to the jungle.

  Haruto, who knew she could transform herself in an instant, wasn’t worried, and skirted around the jaguar to greet her old cohort. “Hello.” She gave Zachary a quick hug. “It’s so good to see you again.”

  He was overjoyed to see a friendly face. “Wow! This is a surprise. I didn’t expect to find you here. Where’s Billy?”

  She didn’t answer his question because she had something more pressing on her mind. “I see you brought the girl and animals with you.”

  “Yes—”

  “How did you do that?”

  Zachary hesitated. “I’m not sure you’d believe me.”

  Haruto slyly grinned. “I might surprise you.” She saw the potential for getting Billy out of the hellhole he was trapped in, so she pressed her fellow Earth Sentinel for an answer, “You must tell me how you did it.”

  “Sure, just let me greet…” Zachary stopped talking when he noticed Tom and Cecile had become invisible. Their intense fear had led to intense focus, which allowed them to do what they really wanted to do—hide from danger. The young man silently waited for them to experience their amazing transformations for the very first time.

  Indeed, Tom and Cecile were mesmerized by their own supernatural abilities. Since they had already seen Haruto change from physical to semi-transparent and invisible states, they weren’t concerned something had gone wrong. No, not at all. In fact, they felt this was a blessing.

  Cecile spun around admiring the golden light, which was infused in everything and everyone. All the illusionary forms had fallen away. The essence of every person, plant and animal pulsed with love. She delighted in the moment, considering it a sacred gift from the Great Spirit.

  Tom held his hands in front of his face, amazed he could see through his body, yet still know it was there. Then he willed himself to become semi-transparent. With a ghostly hand, he touched a corn tassel, watching it flutter between his fingers.

  Cecile called to Tom, Neechi?

  He saw her shining spirit, and answered, “Yes?”

  Life will be good again.

  He smiled.

  The Divine energy reminded them that they were eternal beings created out of love. No matter what happened here on earth, a part of them would always remain untouchable.

  The couple willed themselves to become physical once more. The teens stared wide-mouthed at their elders.

  Adeelah exclaimed, “You, too!? Just like Haruto!”

  Tom grinned, tilting his face toward the sky. “Thank you, Great Spirit!” He embraced the communion until he noticed Zachary standing there with his usual goofy grin—a welcomed sight. Tom announced to the others, “Kids, there’s someone I want you to meet. It’s our old friend, Zachary.” He motioned with his hand to indicate who he was talking about, even though it was obvious.

  The teenagers studied the lanky Caucasian man with sunburned skin, wondering how he had become such an important part of their elders’ lives.

  Tom explained, “Zachary was only seventeen when he fought nobly with us as an Earth Sentinel. We are honored to have him here today.”

  Zachary walked into the garden to formally greet his old friend. They gave each other a bear hug.

  After letting go, Tom said, “It’s been too long.” It was only then the man noticed Eva standing beside the jaguar with a monkey on her shoulder, the tiny creature nervously grasping her hair. Quite an unusual sight. “And who are you?” he called out to her.

  “Eva!” she cheerfully answered. “I’m four.” She held up all the fingers on one hand as if to confirm her answer.

  “Four? Well, it’s nice to meet you, Eva. I’m much older than you. And who are your friends?”

  Beaming with pride, she introduced them, “She’s Ferta,” pointing at the jaguar who sat quietly by her side, “and he’s Jabbar,” pointing at the monkey.

  “Well, those are fine friends, indeed.”

  Zachary said, “Eva is my and Conchita’s girl.”

  “Really? How is Conchita?�
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  The smile left Zachary’s face.

  Tom understood it was a taboo subject and dropped it.

  Cecile came forward. “Hello, stranger!” She held Zachary firmly in her arms for a moment. “How have you been?”

  “Really good ’til lately. Man, it’s all been so…” He stopped talking as the recent deaths and tragic events passed through his mind. “I’m just grateful to be here.”

  Cecile’s mouth turned downward and eyes grew sad, knowing Zachary’s loss and hers were probably similar. She said, “The world is a crazy place. We’ve had our own share of…” Her voice trailed off. She wasn’t quite ready to say it out loud. “Why don’t we build a fire? We can talk and eat.”

  The Earth Sentinels sat around the flames, catching up on lost time while the teenagers roasted Snowshoe hares, ears of corn and squash served with sliced tomatoes.

  Because the village stocks of beer had run out, Cecile passed around several jars of wine she had made out of sugar beets and vegetable pulp, combined with packets of yeast she had found in the back of a cupboard. While it had an unusual taste, and the color was blood red, its alcohol content was just high enough to loosen their tongues, enabling them to share their bizarre and tragic stories throughout the evening and into the night—in a way only warriors, who have learned to trust each other with their lives, can do.

  Our Origins

  AT THE CRACK of dawn, before Zachary, Haruto, Cecile and Tom had a chance to get out of bed and begin practicing their superpowers, they heard Bechard calling to them from the heavens, his voice infiltrating their minds.

  Unable to sleep, they flung off their covers, stepped out of their shacks and gathered in the center of the village, standing in the pale morning light. Here, they discussed whether or not to answer the fallen angel’s call. The dew dissolved as they debated. The vote was three to one in favor.

  So, the four of them walked to the cold fire pit where they sat on the logs. The morning air was brisk. A Purple Finch perched in a Silver Birch tree sang its warbly melody. The smell of pine needles filled the air. The Earth Sentinels closed their eyes and let their spirits roam free. Each of them, in his or her own way, found the mystical blue door, stepping through the passageway to enter the spirit realm.

  They came upon Bechard, who was standing next to a crystal ball in the center of the cobblestone courtyard. The fallen angel looked his usual regal self as he raised his arms, dramatically calling out to them, “Welcome, Earth Sentinels! Thank you for coming.”

  Tom rolled his eyes, annoyed by the theatrics.

  “Hello,” Zachary said.

  Haruto and Cecile also greeted him.

  Bechard spoke to the group, “It’s been too long since we were last together, even though I understand you had your reasons—”

  “I’m so sick of your half truths,” Tom said. “It was never going to work, was it? We risked everything. And gained nothing.”

  The man was referencing the less-than-favorable events that occurred five years earlier when the Earth Sentinels tried to save the planet from people’s greed, ignorance and indifference. Their demands that the world’s governments make changes to improve earth’s water, land and air quality had been partially heeded, but now what little they had gained had obviously been lost.

  The fallen angel calmly responded, “When I asked for your help before, there were many possible outcomes, and no one knew for sure which one it would be, but we had to try. It was mankind’s last chance before something like this recent virus pandemic occurred.”

  Tom wasn’t happy with the answer, but he knew sometimes there wasn’t a good one.

  Bechard continued, “I know the recent tragedies have been devastating for you, and you’re eager to practice your abilities so you can save your tribe and Billy, but, before you do, I need to explain what led up to the outbreak, and the events that have transpired since then. I believe this information will ensure your rescues are successful—”

  Tom interrupted, “Look, we don’t have time for your history lessons. The soldiers have taken my people. If you have some advice, that’s great, but otherwise, we need to practice and save them. Now.”

  “I disagree. It is important to know your history. Only then will you understand the dynamics affecting you today, and how best to solve them.”

  “I think we should hear what Bechard has to say,” Zachary commented.

  Tom crossed his arms, miffed, believing they were wasting time.

  “Thank you,” Bechard said. “It all began approximately 400,000 years ago when my planet, Nibiru, crossed your solar system—something that happens every 3,600 years. It was then that my people, the Anunnaki, visited earth. We came looking for gold, which we planned to refine into small particles that would be used to replenish our dissipating atmosphere. But our original plan of filtering ocean water to extract gold through a technological process failed to yield an adequate amount. This meant we had to resort to mining, which went on for thirty thousand years before King Anu came to inspect our progress—”

  “Thirty thousand years?” Zachary asked in disbelief. “Who waits that long?”

  “Keep in mind that on my home planet, 3,600 earth years is only one year for us. As you might have noticed from my own appearance, my people age very, very slowly. For example, Enki, one of the king’s sons, oversaw the gold-mining project the entire time, and was still considered a young man. But the king wasn’t satisfied with the results—we needed a lot more gold to save our planet—so he put his other son, Enlil, in charge.

  “Enlil was determined to outshine Enki by increasing production, so he made the six hundred Anunnaki workers toil in the mines for forty Nibiru orbits, or 144,000 earth years, before they finally revolted, burned their tools and stormed Enlil’s abode, imprisoning the prince within his own home.

  “Once again, King Anu had to come to earth to help settle the dispute. The workers faced the death penalty for their mutiny. However, after listening to their side of the story, King Anu agreed the work was too hard and had gone on for too long. But we still needed the gold.

  “The solution was to take an existing species on earth—the Neanderthals, the dark-haired ones—and alter their genetics by splicing it with our DNA, using in-vitro fertilization and surrogate pregnancies to create suitable workers. It took numerous attempts, and we made a lot of mistakes, but, eventually, we got it right and created the predecessors to what you now call Modern Man—Adams and Eves made in the image of the gods.

  “There were some differences, of course. For instance, the crossbreeds were infertile—similar to what happens when you breed a horse with a donkey. The offspring mule can’t reproduce. However, you did inherit a portion of our longevity and were living to be nearly a thousand years old—so not being able to reproduce was beneficial for keeping your numbers in check. And, as an added bonus to us, you were docile and obedient, unlike the Neanderthals who couldn’t be tamed.

  “We justified the manipulation by telling ourselves that we were advancing your intellectual capabilities. We taught you how to farm and dig wells. But, on the other hand, the manipulation unintentionally suppressed your spiritual connection to the earth and all its creatures. In this regard, it was a major step backward for you, but we needed the workers so we defended our actions. And for the next forty thousand years, things went as planned until the Dracos snuck onto the scene.”

  “Dracos?” asked Haruto.

  “They look like lizard people. They wanted to manipulate your genes for their own reasons. Convincing the Adams and Eves to cooperate wasn’t difficult. All the Dracos had to do was tell the women the modification gave them the ability to procreate. To have children. To become like the gods. Of course, this appealed to them, and the women quickly convinced the men to participate. But the modification came at a great cost. The Dracos’ DNA, which was inserted during the process, linked your consciousness to their hive mind. Fortunately, it wasn’t a full connection—you retained your free will—bu
t the alteration did lay the groundwork for future modifications.

  Bechard continued, “The Anunnaki considered the Dracos’ contamination to be the ‘Fall of Man’ because the modified ones were procreating like rabbits and outnumbering us. Plus, you became disobedient and uncooperative. You were done working for the gods. To maintain control, we devised all sorts of schemes, including religion, which threatened you with hell if you didn’t serve the gods.” He chuckled. “It’s hard to believe how easily it worked back then, and still does.”

  The others hostilely glared at the fallen angel, prompting him to wipe the smile off his face and clear his throat before moving on with the discussion. “Eventually, your numbers became too great, and most of the humans were asked to leave our land, E.DIN, referred to as the Garden of Eden in the Bible. Only the necessary workers and our favorites were allowed to remain.”

  Tom clarified, “By favorites, you mean pets. And by workers, you mean slaves. Right?”

  Bechard’s jaw tensed. “I’m not justifying our actions. I’m simply telling you what happened so you can make better decisions today.” He moved forward with the story. “The outcast humans migrated across every continent. Your evolution continued for the next 200,000 years, although it was further complicated by other alien species tinkering with your DNA, and thereby creating several new races.”

  “Looks like you solved the case of the Missing Link,” Zachary joked.

  The fallen angel gave him a half-hearted smile. “Yes, 400,000 years is a ‘blink of an eye’ in terms of evolution. These changes would normally have taken millions of years. But let’s move ahead to just before the Great Flood, which all the legends and ancient writings speak of. My people knew of the impending disaster, but my uncle, Enlil, forbade us from warning the humans. He saw it as a chance to wipe out the contaminated ones and start fresh. However, many of us had our favorites and couldn’t bear to see them die so…well…we went behind his back and warned them.”