Without turning, Joanne felt an intense and calm sensation rise within her as Sky placed her hand on her shoulder; her touch was soothing and gentle. It felt as though she was not only standing there on that warm Spring day, but there were small unseen and non-existent cool little drops of crystalline rain causing tickles down her back. She knew Sky’s touch could kill a man, so a subtle fear and subsequent thrill permeated her being. Somehow, this was the most soothing feeling she’d ever felt in her life. She blushed. As she slowly raised her arm and closed her fist, pausing again, she felt Erin put her hand on her other shoulder, and felt a special bond of sisterhood and of support and a special maturity that could not be described in words.
“Time to meet my parents; it’s been long enough,” Joanne thought to herself.
“Knock, knock, knock,” Joanne tapped the door nervously. As she did, thoughts of all of the moments she had spent with her parents and her brother at the dinner table flooded into her mind—the conversations, the shared laughs, and the warm feelings shared between each family member. She also began to pick up on the thoughts of her parents.
They had no idea who was at the door. There was a “No Soliciting” sign at the bottom of the door, so they were mystified as to whom it could be without any advanced warning. Together, her parents went to the front entryway, peered out the secured eye hole, and were ecstatic with what they saw. In a hurry, her Mom opened the door. She eagerly looked at Joanne, overjoyed, and gave her a big and very long hug.
“Where have you been, young lady. We’ve missed you for a long, long time. It’s so good to see you,” her Mom said, tears were streaming down her face.
All of the fear that Joanne had felt for so much time, was gone in a flash. Her parents were happy to see her. They weren’t angry with her in any way. She didn’t feel indignation at her absence, instead, she felt their love emanating from their minds and their auras. They were quick to let Joanne and her two beautiful and young companions inside to talk and share a cup of tea.
After making introductions in the doorway, Mrs. Gallant invited the party of three into the Gallant home, and Mr. Gallant gave each one a gentlemanly hug. He too was in tears. He was an emotionally-connected man, and he loved his daughter very much. He was very proud of her and each turn she made through the years during her absence. While gone, she had still made herself available in public through her music, the videos, the concerts on YouTube, and so much more.
Her parents had watched her pursuits as they unfolded in the public eye and the inspiration her father had derived from every song she had ever written and recorded through her career, all of which he’d listened to in repeat over the years giving him hope each day that she would eventually return home. He’d always known that the loss of Joanne’s brother weighed heavily upon her. Losing his son tore him apart as well. He had loved his son, straight or gay, or no matter the actions expressed due to his inherent nature. All around, he was a good young man.
His son had done well in school, looked out for others, was a wonderful role model for his peers, and it was unconscionable to Mr. Gallant that there was someone who had wanted to harm Thomas. He was a good boy, a wonderful person, and had the untold potential for making the world a happier and better place. His loss was the world’s loss, and Mr. Gallant knew that he would always feel that way. His daughter, likewise, was wonderfully amazing in every way, he loved her very much. He had dismissed any other sentiment or question as to why she had not returned after she graduated from high school. He missed Joanne and was glad to see her back.
“So, what brings you home after so many years?” asked Mrs. Gallant. She was happy to see her back, had resented her leaving for so long, but she seemed to collect her emotions a little more quickly and tried to be an upbeat host for Joanne and her two absolutely resplendent guests.
Erin and Sky had secretly been conversing with each other through their neural links; both of them were admiring how Joanne had gotten her blonde locks from her father and her big crystal blue eyes from her mother, who had raven hair.
“I suppose a myriad of things,” said Joanne, feeling a little more at ease with how things were playing out, but still picking up a little-bridled apprehension from her Mother. “Mostly, it was Sky Taylor, a dear friend who sensed a growing need for me to visit. The fact that I hadn’t visited in so long made it harder for me to do so. Thomas’ tragedy and the unresolved mystery surrounding it made me rather queasy about returning to South Otselic altogether. Sky and Erin made it so much easier all along the way. We arrived in town last night and walked here from the Broadlawns Bed & Breakfast. They walked with me to kind of ease me into seeing the crime scene and then seeing you two again. I’m so sorry that it’s been so long, and I apologize for not visiting or keeping in contact. It’s just that this has all been rather nerve-wracking.”
Mrs. Gallant spoke up with subtle cheer and more overt curtness, “Well then, we have Sky and Erin to thank for bringing our daughter back home to us. Thank you, Sky and Erin!”
Sky, noticing her mother’s tone, spoke up in Joanne’s defense, “Mrs. Gallant, Joanne had wanted to return to home and to her hometown for quite some time, but her nerves had been affecting her too much. It didn’t lessen her attention to detail nor the quality of her work, but I could sense that if we didn’t do anything about it soon, it just might. She is a wonderful person to work with, a very talented lyricist, songwriter, singer, and performer, and her work with Pathway as its Vice President has been monumental in a way that is unique to Joanne alone. Have you heard of Pathway, Mr. and Mrs. Gallant?”
“I am pretty sure neither of us has,” responded Mrs. Gallant, who had kept her emotions at bay, yet was very intrigued with Sky and Erin, both of whom sat on each side of her daughter, facing her and her husband while sharing a rather delicious tea. “Please, enlighten me?”
Erin sensed Sky giving her a mental nudge through her neural link, since she was the President and President of Pathway, and something cryptic about Mrs. Gallant seemed to be causing Joanne to freeze up a little. Erin spoke up, “Well, Pathway is a fairly large multi-industrial company that specializes in biotechnology and neuroscience. However, it is also very involved with physics, space mining, development and use of cold fusion, and exploration throughout the solar system. Eliza Williams was the initial founder, accompanied by Yesha Alevtina and James Cooper. Have you heard of them before?”
“The name, Eliza Williams, certainly rings a bell,” Mr. Gallant responded; suddenly clear as to who she was. “I believe she is the Senator from the state of Massachusetts who was the first to put her hat in the ring to run as President of the United States last year. Yesha is her running-mate, also running peculiarly early for a presidential race. They’re each a part of this new political party, the UP, I believe. I don’t believe, however, that I know too much about James Cooper. Who might he be? How does he factor into the Pathway equation?” her Father asked.
Erin answered Mr. Gallant’s question, “Well, yes, you’re right about Eliza, Yesha, the UP, and their aspirations toward the presidency of the US. Since they were a relatively new political party, which has been growing quite steadily from local office through national office since its official formation in 2012, they entered the political race quite early for an earlier increase in exposure. There are a lot of issues they will be able to resolve, rather quickly, if they win. Much of what many people fear, or are worried about today, may well be mitigated within days of both of them assuming substantial roles in the executive office. Interesting enough, they have done so much for humanity already, but most of their ideas and technologies are classified to prevent misuse of them by those who might be less than benevolent with their intentions. They have developed powerful tools to increase our health, our clarity of mind, and our quality of life. They are also close friends of ours, as is James Cooper.”
Joanne, took over for Erin, having now regained her bravery, appreciated the fact that Erin had given a wonderful intro, and e
xplained, “James was an architectural engineer and project manager for YY Corp about 15 years ago, and is now the President of Pathway Solar System Operations and Pathway Construction. He doesn’t see himself so much as a public figure and has pretty much worked with his crews and quite a large populace to help things happen. He’s been a powerhouse behind the scenes for Pathway Industries, working closely with Eliza and Yesha, and now with Erin and me. Have you seen some of the latest architectural designs that have come out around Massachusetts and in New York?”
Mr. Gallant grew curious, “You both seem convinced of Senator Williams and Ms. Yesha Alevtina. I suppose you’ll enlighten me soon regarding their political goals? As far as James’ architectural designs are concerned, I am intrigued by them actually. Furthermore, the more I think about it, I do believe I’ve seen Pathway in the news a few times. Joanne, you’ve been with Pathway for at least four years, haven’t you?”
“Yes.”
“I knew it! I’ve seen you in talk shows and in the news. You were in interviews talking about your musical career and your recently accomplished Ph.D.’s in neuroscience and business administration. You explained how that has helped you with your music, and I will say, those tunes certainly have struck a chord in this home, Joanne. We’re so glad to see you. How well do you know this, um, James Cooper? Is there any romantic connection we should be aware of?”
Joanne politely chuckled, “No, I can’t see any romance in the stars for any of us at all, at least not at this time in our lives. As far as political goals for Eliza and Yesha are concerned, we have every bit of confidence in them. If you would like, I can explain why we do have confidence in them. Ultimately, we’re all working to prevent the gloom and doom that gets tossed around via too many channels and so many social avenues these days, and we keep in touch with each other in different and more productive ways. As such, we are very dedicated to the different missions, goals, and innovations of Pathway.”
Joanne paused, and then continued, “If James were interested in anyone, my guess is that it would be in Eliza Williams. Ever since they met in 2008, I’ve heard from others and have seen with my own eyes since 2019, a little bit of heart-warming chemistry between the two. The truth is, they both refuse to admit it. I’ve spent time with both, and I when I mention the other’s names, they have this unexplainable glow about them.”
Erin picked up where Joanne left off, “It’s been quite some time since Eliza or James has dated anyone. Eliza lost her first true love during 9/11, and I don’t believe that James has ever dated anyone.”
“Oh?” asked Mrs. Gallant. Looking at Erin with curiosity.
Erin responded, “Yes. I can still feel her pain, as she sat watching the news that day, having talked to him earlier as he was so excited to go into work. That same morning two towers fell, and then she watched aghast, knowing that Charles was on the same level, the level that the planes had impacted first. Her pain still burns as a fire within, yet she culls the flames through innovation that heals rather than harms. No matter her past and the residual and intense feelings that ensue, it all seems to dissipate each time she is around James. I get the sense there is something brewing there too. The truth is, they’re both always busy, never slowing down, and I don’t think that either of them would even guess the other one was even remotely infatuated with the other. It’s a romance story in the making and playing out before the eyes of the rest of us. As amazing as both are and as much as they have done for humanity, I think the rest of us would be moved to tears if they were to begin dating. It would be a union of the stars, for sure.”
Mrs. Gallant curious about her wording spoke up, “When you say, ‘I can feel her pain,’ or, ‘I don’t think either of them would even guess the other was remotely infatuated,’ how is it that you would say you know that?” It seemed to Mr. and Mrs. Gallant that Erin was talking as if she could actually understand what was going on inside their heads, so she wanted more clarity.
“Well,” Erin paused, “I suppose we can call it intuition?” That was Erin’s attempt at a save, following her little slip. In small circles, she was used to talking to Pathway members in the open and without encrypting her speech, so she had spoken as if that were still the case. Therefore, she knew she had to say something in order to avoid talking about biopods, neural links, and the Virtual Universe, etc. She felt that she needed to hold off on that conversation until the time was right and that this might be a topic best handled by their daughter, Joanne.
“Mom and Dad, please let me try to explain?”
“We’re all ears,” chimed Mr. and Mrs. Gallant in unison and ever so eagerly. They were honestly very happy to see their daughter after all of these years, but what Erin had said was also kind of alluring. All three of these young ladies were captivatingly intriguing to behold and to listen to. What they were saying seemed quite a bit above their heads. They saw their daughter, and she was every bit as beautiful as she had always been, if not more so. She had this unexplainable maturity about her, coupled with this aesthetic youth she had when she had gone through high school so many years before.
As they followed her music career, they noticed that she had begun to age like normal until 2019, and when they saw her again, she had been quite a bit revitalized and youthful. Here she was now, and none of it was glitz or glamour, her youth and beauty was the real deal. The more they thought about it, the more the Gallants were curious as to how Joanne had maintained such a vibrant persona, similar to a twenty-two-year-old, even though she was actually thirty-three. Whatever she had to share, it might be quite interesting. They were beginning to sense that Joanne had a lot more to say than what she was getting at. Plus, there was something about Sky that made them feel both instantaneously at ease and whimsically curious about both her and Erin. Erin seemed like a precious jewel, a young lady who was powerful, intelligent, wise, yet innocent and charming.
Joanne explained to her parents each place in life that she had gone, and then more of the deeper details about Pathway. She brought forward Eliza’s foresight and goals as her company, Pathway LLC, was set up. She went into detail about how it had grown to Pathway Industries, and then Eliza’s goals with the UP and the meaning behind the term, Universal Ethics. She then explained in detail the science of the biopods, how they worked for optimization of physiological and neurological health, the issuance of nanos, and the interface with the Virtual Universe, neural links, and how to use each of their newly gifted abilities.
“Eliza’s developments were so brilliant they were beyond the scope of anyone else or anything they could have possibly imagined at her time in history. Eliza continuously teaches us all through example that life, longevity, its quality, the mind and its clarity are essential to our overall well-being. She also teaches how each individual possesses abilities that are unique to those of anyone else, especially when it comes to our untold potential and the plethora of contributions we can each make to the advancement of civilization. Different from many others, each of us here, carry virtues that are essential to the existence of humanity for the long-haul.”
Joanne paused, and together, Erin, Sky, and Joanne took turns briefing the Gallants on the history of Pathway and what it stood for. Each aspect of Pathway seemed to intrigue her parents more and more. As they talked, they began to discuss the biopods and Virtual Universe training, until they asked, “Is that an option that we can have?”
“Since you asked,” said Sky. “You may. However, since I am here, you won’t need a biopod. I can provide one for each of you anyway, for future use, after I am gone. However, I can take us all on a similar journey, if you’d like.”
“Would you like Sky to work her magic now?” asked Joanne, looking at her parents in a manner that suggested she was trying to contain her excitement. Her parents over the last hour had been sold multiple times on the idea of physiological and neurological optimization from the moment that they had introduced it. They were especially intrigued by the idea of completely understandin
g one another and appreciated having the ability to compartmentalize memories that were much more private or confidential in nature.
Joanne had explained, “The things you share in private with each other, or the things that you are not ready yet to share with anyone else, those things will remain private and will never be accessible to anyone, aside from those who you truly wish to share them with. Privacy and intimacy are things that are for you and those who are closest to you in a special way.”
Mr. and Mrs. Gallant were also internally intrigued with the Virtual Universe and some of the projects that all three of the young ladies had talked about, “We develop and carry out our goals with ingenuity and love for those around us, and we are determined to raise the quality of life of every living being, so that humanity can be worthy to carry its legacy throughout the Cosmos. We are determined to be bringers of life, of beauty, and of abundance, and all that we bring, we bring with a legacy of love, of kindness, of compassion, and of healing, bringing youth and indeterminate lifespans to those who wish to be a part of the long-term journey, whether through support in the home solar system, or in future settlements and cities throughout the Universe.”
Sky got up, and like that, she changed into her iridescent angelic form, as she had many times before, but in the Virtual Universe. Erin and Joanne were amazed, and Joanne’s parent’s hearts raced as a flicker of light flashed, and they fell silent for a brief moment. When they awoke, it was with a youth, both within and without them, and clarity of mind that they hadn’t felt in years or had quite possibly never felt before.
Further than Before- Pathway to the Stars Page 92