Guardian Generations

by C. Osborne Rapley

  They walked to the gate at the edge of the field, opened it and stepped onto the pavement at the side of the road. Cassiopeia closed the gate behind them. They passed the field and came to detached houses set back off the road. The field carried on behind the houses.

  “Tristain, these people are just normal Lantians; they are not capable of becoming Guardians.”

  “What do you mean, Cassiopeia?”

  “They do not have the necessary genetic code in their DNA that will allow them to interact with an AI such as myself.”

  “But they have latent telepathic capability; I can sense them.”

  “Yes, but they need the code as well, or they are just ordinary Lantians, the code that acts as the key that allows us to function together.”

  Tristain stopped walking and turned to the avatar.

  “Why have you not told me this before?”

  “I’m sorry, but there was no need as I assumed all these people would be capable.”

  “They must be! You are mistaken – how come my father and James are capable?”

  The machine gave Tristain a troubled look. “I am sorry, Tristain, but I don’t know.”

  “Damn. Let’s hope my grandparents can shed some light on what’s going on.”

  Tristain resumed walking and it wasn’t long before they stood in front of the house they were looking for. They opened the gate and walked up the drive. Tristain swallowed, the butterflies had passed now she felt sick.

  Oh well, here goes. She raised her hand to knock on the door, but Cassiopeia stopped her.

  Use the bell!

  She swallowed again, and if Cassiopeia had not been behind her she would have turned and run. She pushed the doorbell with a trembling finger. There were muffled chimes, a pause, and then she heard footsteps and the door latch going. The door opened. Tristain was holding her breath, not knowing what to expect. An older version of her father stood before her.

  “Yes, can I help you?”

  He even sounded a little like her father. All her prepared speeches were forgotten.

  “Mr Taylor?”

  “Yes?”

  She noted he looked suspicious. “My name is Tristain Taylor; my father is Tristan, your son.” She blurted it out in a rush and gulped.

  She noted his expression changed from suspicion to surprise. She was trembling. A detached part of her was annoyed with herself. That’s not how it was planned.

  “I beg your pardon, young lady?”

  “Um… I’m sorry, but I’m your granddaughter.”

  “My son Tristan is dead.”

  “I assure you, sir, he is very much alive.”

  They stood frozen for a moment looking at one another.

  William Taylor cleared his throat. “Well, I think you and your friend should come in and explain yourself. And don’t try any funny business, we are not alone – my eldest grandson is working in the back garden.”

  “I assure you, sir, there will be no funny business,” Cassiopeia replied.

  “Now please sit down. I hope this is not some kind of sick joke.”

  “No, sir, it is not.”

  William led them through to a neat sitting room overlooking a well-tended garden. A young man in his mid twenties and a handsome old woman were working together on one of the flower beds.

  The two women sat down on the chairs indicated. Tristain sat forward on the edge of her chair, resting her shaking hands on her lap.

  “Now, young lady, what proof do you have for this assertion?”

  “Sir, please don’t be shocked by what you are about to see. I assure you it is very real.” Tristain turned to Cassiopeia. “Please play the message.”

  There was a shimmer in the middle of the room and Tristan appeared standing facing his father. William gasped.

  “Tristan – how?”

  “Hi, Dad. If you are seeing this you have just met your granddaughter Tristain for the first time. Please don’t be shocked, but as you can see I’m not dead. I have not come home because I have been lost and unable to find you. Tristain will explain everything to you, but you must have an open mind and believe that everything she tells you is true.

  “Now that she has found you I will be able to come and visit and bring the rest of my family to meet you. Meanwhile, please welcome my eldest daughter, your granddaughter, and listen to what she has to say. I hope to see you and the rest of the family soon. Cheers, Dad.”

  The image faded. William sat in stunned silence. Tristain sat quietly and let the old man recover from his shock. Just at that moment the silence was broken by the old woman walking into the lounge.

  “Oh hello – who do we have here, William? …William?”

  “Huh? Oh sorry, it appears that we have our Granddaughter come to visit us.”

  “Granddaughter? What do you mean? We don’t have a Granddaughter!”

  “Well we do now! I think you should sit down, Vicky.”

  She glanced at her husband, and then looked across at the two young women as she sat down next to her husband.

  “William, what is going on?”

  “Please show my wife the recording. I’m sorry, I forgot your name?”

  “Cassiopeia.”

  “Oh yes, Cassiopeia.”

  There was a shimmer in front of them again. Cassiopeia substituted another version of the recording that started “Hi Mum and Dad.” The rest of the recording was much the same. To be on the safe side Tristan had made three recordings and left it to Cassiopeia to select the suitable version.

  At the end of the recording there was silence except for the sound of a clock ticking. Tristain could see the old lady had tears in her eyes.

  “Is it really true, my son is alive?”

  “Yes, it is true,” Tristain answered.

  “Well, young lady, I think we need a cup of tea and you can tell us all about it.”

  Tristain glanced at Cassiopeia sitting impassively.

  “Yes please, I would love a cup of tea. My companion won’t have one though as she doesn’t drink.”

  “Oh, are you sure?”

  Cassiopeia shook her head. “No thank you, I won’t have a cup at the moment, thanks.”

  “Oh OK.”

  The old lady rose and went into the kitchen. Shortly after they heard the chink of crockery and the old lady shout out of the window. “Alistair, would you like a cup of tea?”

  The man in the garden turned towards the house. “Yes please, Gran.”

  William sat looking at his granddaughter.

  “Well this is a turn up for the books, Tristan alive. Why has he not tried to find us before now, or at least get a message to us?”

  Tristain shifted in her chair and looked at her hands.

  “Um… can I answer that when everyone is together?”

  “Why yes of course.”

  “So how far have you come, Tristain?”

  “A very long way, Sir.”

  “So you were brought up overseas then?”

  Tristain coughed uncomfortably. “Um… sort of.”

  “Well your English is very good.”

  “Thank you, Sir.”

  “Tristain, please call me Granddad, Sir is a little formal for my Granddaughter although we have only just met.”

  “Thank you Si… Granddad.”

  There was a shout from the kitchen. “How do you like your tea, Tristain?”

  “Er… I’m sorry, but I don’t know – I’ve never had it before.”

  “You’ve never had tea? You have come a long way.”

  “Well my father says he always had his tea with milk and one sugar, so I will try it like that please.”

  “Oh yes, I remember,” the voice came from the kitchen.

  There was a shout, “Alistair, tea is ready, please come in there is someone here we would like you to meet.”

  Vicky walked into the lounge carrying a loaded tray.

  “Here you are, tea and some biscuits.”

  She handed out the tea just as
Alistair walked in.

  He looked at Tristain and Cassiopeia. “Hello.”

  “This is your cousin Tristain, and her friend Cassiopeia.”

  “Oh – really?”

  Tristain thought he sounded sceptical.

  He held out his hand and Tristain shook it. He sat down with his tea.

  “So, Tristain, we are all together.” William smiled.

  “The first thing is I must warn you what you are about to see and hear will probably come as a shock and will be hard for you to believe. I hope you are ready for what I am about to tell you.”

  The old couple nodded. Tristain noticed her grandmother take a large gulp of her hot cup of tea. Alistair looked sceptical and disbelieving.

  So, um… you asked why my father has not contacted you for so many years. He has been lost, but not on this planet.”

  Alistair laughed. “Oh yeah, I’ve heard it all now. I suppose you are an alien! We always said Uncle Tristan had been the victim of an alien abduction.”

  “Alistair, don’t be rude.”

  “Well, Gran, I ask you.”

  Tristain coughed. “Well actually…”

  Cassiopeia the second message please.

  The air in front of them shimmered and Tristan was again standing before them. Alistair jumped.

  “Wow, that’s impressive! How are you doing that?”

  His question was ignored as the image of Tristan began to speak.

  “Mum, Dad, I expect you are wondering why I haven’t been in contact over the years. The simple reason is I travelled a very long way, and I couldn’t find my way back. I left because I met someone.” The image of Tristan turned away from the camera and held out his hand. “I would like you to meet my wife – Aesia.” A tall slim woman stepped in front of the camera. The old couple gasped in unison.

  Alistair rolled his eyes. “Oh I don’t believe this!”

  The woman’s eyes were blue and cat like her ears long, pointed, and swept back, her skin had a hint of mauve about it. She spoke with a strange accent.

  “Hello, Mr and Mrs Taylor.”

  Tristain was getting irritated by her cousin’s attitude.

  You had better believe it because it is true! You are not at all like your brother, James! Now be quiet and let your grandparents listen.

  Alistair looked as though he had been hit between the eyes. He sat in stunned silence until the message was finished.

  When Tristan had said goodbye and the message ended; William shook his head in amazement.

  “Well I’ll be damned. So that woman is your mother?”

  Tristain nodded. “Yes, Grandfather, she is.”

  “But you don’t look alien, my dear,” her grandmother interjected.

  “Well I do have some of my mother’s traits.” Tristain pulled off the hair band covering her ears.

  “Oh!” her grandmother raised her hand and covered her mouth. “It’s really true, everything!”

  “Yes it is.”

  Alistair seemed to shake himself out of his shock. “What do you know about James?”

  “James! Do you know about James, Tristain?” her grandmother asked with a trembling voice.

  Tristain sighed. “Yes, Grandmother, I have met James.”

  “Did you take him?”

  “No, Alistair, I didn’t. We were looking for Earth when we came across a remote drone. It had one prisoner on board. I mounted a rescue and was surprised to find the prisoner was James, my cousin.”

  “Is he with you?”

  Tristain shook her head and looked at her hands. “No, Grandmother, he is not. They, whoever they were, retook him.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know; I was hoping to find an answer here. One thing they wanted him alive, so he must still be out there somewhere.”

  “Maybe it’s something to do with our family.” William interrupted.

  Tristain looked at her grandfather in surprise.

  “What do you mean, Grandfather?”

  “There is something about our family-”

  Cassiopeia interrupted. “You are correct,” she turned to Tristain. “Your grandfather and cousin both have the genetic key required to be a Guardian.”

  “But you said it wasn’t present in the people around us!”

  “No, Tristain, they are unique. There are several others in range of my sensors, I assume part of the same family, but no one else has the capability.”

  “Grandfather, are there others of the family nearby?”

  “Yes, Tristain, most of the family stay near here, we have always been close-knit. We have stayed here for generations.”

  “Why do you think there is something special about us, Grandfather?”

  The old man sighed and shifted in his chair.

  “There is something I have kept hidden. It has been passed down in our family for generations. It was to be passed to your father on my death. It was going to your mother, Alistair, after Tristan disappeared. She would then have passed it on to you in her turn.”

  Vicky raised her eyebrows at her husband. “What are you talking about William?”

  “I’m sorry I have never shown you, Vicky, but it has always been passed down the direct family line since time immemorial.”

  William rose and went to the mantelpiece; he put his fingers into two recesses on either side. There was a click, and a section sprang open. He reached in and brought out a very old and battered box. There were strangely meaningless shapes carved in the lid that at first glance looked like some form of writing.

  “I don’t believe this is the original box; the tradition is that it is a copy of the original, but as you can see it is still very old. There is a folded parchment inside with names going back to the ninth Century. But, I believe the objects inside have probably been passed down long before the parchment was started. The markings on the lid are supposed to be something like: For When He Returns, but it has apparently never been confirmed and the copying is probably not accurate.”

  He handed the box to Tristain.

  For some reason she found her hands shaking as she took the box, and could almost feel through her hands the great age. She placed it on her lap and lifted the lid. With trembling hands, she took out a folded parchment. She could see it had writing on both sides consisting of lists of names and dates. The last name was William Taylor 1986.

  “We are required to write our name as soon as the box comes into our possession; as you can see mine is the last name. It was put on when your Great Grandfather passed the box to me.”

  Under the parchment was something carefully wrapped in green material. Tristain gasped, “This is the material Guardian uniforms are made from!”

  The material was old and fragile so she unwrapped it carefully. She caught her breath. “Oh my God, I don’t believe it!”

  Lying in her lap was a battered laser pistol and a Guardian insignia broach.

  “Do you recognise these items, Tristain?” William asked.

  She tried to control her trembling voice, “Yes, Grandfather, I do. Cassiopeia, my pistol please.”

  Cassiopeia reached into the bag she had been carrying and took out Tristain’s pistol. Other than looking new, the two weapons were almost identical.

  “What does this mean, Tristain?” William stared open mouthed at Tristains identical weapon.

  “Grandfather, I really don’t know.”

  “There is one logical explanation, Tristain.” They all turned to Cassiopeia. “From the location and, the information in Octavian’s tactical computer, I believe he may know the answer.”

  “Octavian, who is that?”

  “Well, Alistair, it’s a long story, but suffice to say he is a survivor of a very ancient race who were our very early ancestors. Cassiopeia, please contact him, we need to talk.”

  “Yes, Tristain.”

  “Tristain, how is your friend doing all this communication and projection? She has no equipment.”

  “Um… well, Grandmother, she is b
asically a machine.”

  “A machine!”

  “Yes, an Artificial Intelligence,”

  “Oh dear this is getting too much for me; I need another cup of tea.” The old lady stood and left for the kitchen.

  The air shimmered and Octavian was standing in front of them. The control room of Tristain’s ship could be seen behind him.

  “Yes, Tristain?”

  “Octavian, this is my grandfather and cousin.”

  Octavian bowed. “Pleased to meet you.” Cassiopeia’s systems took care of the translation, making it appear as if Octavian was speaking English.

  Tristain continued, “Octavian, did you have any intimate relationships with any females when you were here?”

  Octavian looked surprised. “That’s rather a direct personal question, Tristain.”

  “Well did you?”

  Octavian ran his hand through his hair uncomfortably.

  “A young woman, Seonaid, I rescued from the Celts came on strong one morning while I was still half-asleep. She had some vague idea of becoming the mother of a God –why?”

  “And you of course didn’t put up a fight!”

  Octavian frowned. “I don’t see how it is any of your business, Tristain, what I did or did not do long before you were even born!”

  Tristain ignored his remark. “Did she take anything else from you?”

  “That’s rather a crude way of putting it.”

  “Well did she?”

  “I disguised her as an AI to fool the Cartigian. She had a Guardian uniform.”

  “Did you give her a pistol as well?”

  “Er… yes one with a discharged power pack to complete the deception. Why?”

  “I have the remains of the uniform and the pistol here. It has been passed down through my family for generations.”

  “Oh my God!”

  “Yes, Octavian. It would seem that Seonaid had her wish and became a mother. You and she are the ancestors of my family. It would seem you are my grandfather hundreds of times removed! And you are the reason we have the Guardian gene, the key to interfacing with the Planetary AI computers.”

  “Tristain, what is going on?” William sat with a puzzled frown on his face.

  “Well, Grandfather, it appears we have found the source of the family relics and one of our early ancestors.”

  Tristain turned back to Octavian, “I think you need to explain what went on from the beginning please for the benefit of your grandchildren hundreds of times removed.”