Encompassing Women: Book Four of the Encompassing Series

by Richard Lord

  “I’ll assume you don’t require an escort.” Xaltuth looks at Harmony. “I take it you already have a date for the event.”

  Harmony lets go of her own breasts and looks up, “I thought I would be your date!”

  Xaltuth and Destiny both answer at the same time, “You are.” Xaltuth looks at Destiny and smiles at the fact that they have an understanding. He looks down as his smile grows wider thinking that it is a better one than she has with Harmony.

  “Harmony, there are only two of us now. You are on the gross duty this trip. Can you get to work on that so we can at least be ready to leave if this dinner goes all wrong?” Destiny’s faces scrunches up a bit as she thinks of the waste removal part of traveling the worlds.

  Harmony responds, “We haven’t been anywhere long enough for that to be an issue. When we are we go outside.”

  “Harmony, can you take care of that for me, please?” Destiny’s voice goes down an octave as she looks hard at Xaltuth.

  Harmony takes the hint and crawls under the ship.

  “Xaltuth, we have some money. What gifts should we buy for our guests?” Destiny asks.

  “Put a chip next to each plate. Make sure it’s substantial enough not to come off as a novelty. Make your point.” Xaltuth advises.

  Destiny smiles at his wisdom but adds to the thought. “Have them put a chip in the bottom of a deep glass of wine.”

  Xaltuth smiles at her thinking. He realizes she has learned a lot from someone or is just very shrewd.

  Suddenly a presence appears and flutters above them.

  “Julia, may I introduce you to Destiny and Harmony?” Xaltuth asks wondering how she was able to breach the click barrier.

  Destiny looks up at the small being. Very human, yet with wings. She listens to her mind and hears concern.

  “I need your help. They have taken my brother Mandelbrot because he was handing out invitations to your dinner.” Julia states.

  Destiny wonders at who named them. Clearly someone with a point to make. She looks back at Harmony. Harmony walks forward, Destiny grabs her hand and they click together. They arrive in a sewer and Destiny immediately puts her hand over her face. “This is disgusting!” Then she looks over and sees a creature bound to a chair. He seems human to some extent except for the tentacles coming out of his head and the huge fangs he bears. Destiny pushes Harmony away and thinks to her fast, “Click to the back right of him, someone is coming that way too. I have to cover this entrance. There are five I can hear.”

  Harmony clicks and thinks directly to her, “Is that Mandelbrot?”

  “Yes, concentrate on the attack, they know we are here.” Destiny swings in an arc and wraps her legs around the throat of the first one to breach the entrance on her side.

  Harmony comes in low as she punches hard into the groin of the one on her side.

  “You have one more coming, knock that one out, now!” Destiny thinks to Harmony while she leaps to a pipe and swings herself into the second being entering. She realizes the third has grabbed her arm so she clicks, but he is still there. In the water, she struggles with the strange being. Then it pulls some sort of weapon and she immediately grabs at it twists it, thrusts it into the creature’s midriff and clicks back to her second opponent with weapon in hand and does the same. She thinks to Harmony, “Now, he sees you, act!” Then she leaps and again twists her legs around the neck of the second attacker, this time without mercy. As he falls she looks back at Harmony. “Good job. I’m not so sure we should release Mandelbrot. He has some thoughts I don’t like. But let’s get him out of here.” She smells her own arm. “Disgusting!”

  Harmony approaches Destiny for a tandem click and allows her mind to relax so that Destiny can lead the click. They appear in the wind torn region of the planet. The sound of the winds and the show blowing like a blast at them is intense. “Why here, Destiny?”

  “This may be where we leave Mandelbrot.”

  “But Julia wants her brother back.”

  “Julia will get her brother back when I determine.” Destiny clicks and grabs Julia. Then clicks again and repeats the gesture several times until she is convinced Julia cannot click away from her anymore. More important she wanted to convince Julia she can’t click faster than Destiny can hear her thoughts.

  “What are the two of you up to?” Destiny knows just by asking the question she will hear the answer, but Julia has already figured that out. Julia’s face goes stoic knowing the plan is lost and that Destiny knows everything. Destiny clicks. “Here is your brother.”

  Destiny hears Julia think, “We can just click home from here. This isn’t much of a punishment.”

  “And yet you’ve already tried and know that isn’t the case. It’s cold. You don’t have much time to free your brother before you burrow into him to use his body for warmth.” Destiny reaches a hand to Harmony and they both vanish.

  CHAPTER 28

  “She seemed cruel, but she was very loving.” – from the Book of Harmony

  “Your speech went well. I could see from the looks on people’s faces that you changed a lot of minds, made them think.” Harmony said while getting out of the formal wear they had adorned.

  Destiny, already laying down with everything off of her, just happy to be done with everything watched Harmony. “Come here. Lay down. I have something to tell you.”

  Harmony dropped the last of her adornments and leaped into the poor excuse for a bed they had in the hangar.

  Destiny pulls Harmony on tip of her. Kisses her and says, “You did well tonight. You were very charming to everyone and it was well noticed by all.”

  Harmony laid her head down next to Destiny’s and breathed into her ear, “You knew exactly what to say. I’ve been thinking about something.”

  Destiny pulls Harmony’s head up to listen although she can already hear the thoughts forming. Destiny knows she has a bad habit of cutting people off because she can hear the thoughts they are having before they can vocalize them so she resists the urge.

  “How did all of these species get here and how long have they all been here?” Harmony states her question.

  “I’ve considered that. I suspect the same thing you do. Hence, why we need to be clear we wouldn’t be here long. You have more places and whens to go.” She kisses Harmony’s neck and whispers back, “I’m going with you to make sure you don’t do something stupid. I already know you’ll do something crazy.”

  Harmony bears her hips down on Destiny as she bites at her neck. “I’m not stupid, I’m me. Apparently that’s oaky with you judging by your reactions right now.”

  Destiny reaches up and puts a finger to Harmony’s lips. Harmony stops talking but presses her upper body down on Destiny. Then she leans in to kiss Destiny. Destiny moves her hand up the Harmony’s inner thigh and pulls at her butt cheek, then back down and around as she takes in her shape.

  CHAPTER 29

  “I don’t know how he was able to do the things he did. He scared me.” – from the Book of Xaltuth

  “Yes, I was ordered to kill them. Yes, I worked hard at my job. You understand. You’ve had similar assignments. It wasn’t personal.” Xaltuth explains. His mind is spinning with possible ways he can escape this questioning.

  “My granddaughter. You serve her now. Do be more expeditious in it. You and I both know there are those who still fear her. Fear breeds bad things. Do not allow it to happen and I will allow you to continue to exist, Xaltuth.” Renfield sits and gestures for Xaltuth to do the same.

  Xaltuth, happy to have dodged his own demise at the hands of the first replies, “They aren’t knowingly using time yet, but I heard their thoughts. They have started to understand how this place came to be. They will start actively using time. That’s worrisome. You know why.”

  Renfield looks over at Xaltuth. “I have taught my daughter well. She has taught her daughter well. They won’t change anything. Harmony has a sense for what and where and when. I’m not sure I understand it, but she
hasn’t made any mistakes or all of this,” Renfield waves an arm around, “would not exist.”

  Xaltuth nods for a moment then raises his head sharply, “And if they come across Brian somewhen?”

  “I think they already have. They didn’t know it and Brian didn’t act. He may not have known who they were, but Persistence would have.” Renfield considers one of the aspects of Persistence’s specific talents.

  “They are not always together.” Xaltuth points out.

  “That’s where you are wrong. They may spend times when they choose not to speak to each other, but they are inexorably linked. Persistence is smart and she would have noted it to Brian, despite a cessation of communication.” Renfield looks at Xaltuth to make sure his point is clear.

  Xaltuth understands the threats. If he doesn’t serve Destiny well, he dies. If he moves on Renfield, he dies, if he tries in any way to harm Brian, he dies. If he were to take Persistence as a target, he dies. He shudders at the thought of even considering going after Tomorrow or Joy. He considers this with his mind open and Renfield grins at him.

  “You are smart Xaltuth. Remember, the girls are not to know I have a way to get here.” Renfield considers that even Xaltuth has no idea how he clicks directly to the place he chose for the union of all of the species in the universe that have special abilities to either live in peace or destroy themselves. He trusts Destiny will stop the latter. He looks over Xaltuth’s head as he stares at the wall. His mind begins to relive the thousands of years he has experienced.

  Xaltuth notes that he is no longer the focus and that the point of the meeting was not his own agenda, but reiteration of why the Renfields are to be kept safe. “We have marriage ceremonies, but in their case it requires they each breed once first. It’s not my choice it’s the cultural one.”

  Renfield considers this change in conversation then replies, “Do you really think they are that in love?”

  “I hear their minds at times. Yes, I do. I also don’t think they would be opposed to the concept, but they would have to find their own mates, separately.” Xaltuth raises his hands out palms up to demonstrate the balance of the situation.

  “You are nor Brutus are the ones to bring this up. I’ll go get Julia and Mandelbrot and bring them back, with an understand, of course.” Renfield looks at Xaltuth to make sure he understands the implications of the maneuver. He can clearly see the look of confusion on Xaltuth’s face.

  “They are dangerous. They are both the result of cross-breeding and they inbreed with each other. I’m fairly certain where they left them means they are dead by now.” Then Xaltuth gets where Renfield is going with his plan. “Aren’t you the one who keeps suggesting we stop using time?”

  “Indeed. I mean it. For the most part.” Renfield looks down at the floor.

  “You didn’t go back and save your own children! Why would you bring those two back into the fold?” Xaltuth’s eyes go wide with anger and amazement at the concept.

  “Because I did, a long time ago by my timeline. My daughters have accomplished something neither I nor you nor anyone else ever has.”

  “Do you even know where they are.” Xaltuth looks at Renfield with trying to asses just how much more he knows.

  “That’s what I need you to figure out.” Renfield listens to Xaltuth’s quick thoughts.

  Xaltuth looks at Renfield as if he is a madman. “You are going to get me killed one way or another, aren’t you?”

  “Not my intention. The girls will not kill you. They need you and Destiny knows that. Okay, actually Harmony may kill you, but you can’t kill her or all of this”, he again sweeps his arm, “would not even exist and you would not have all that you do.”

  Xaltuth realizes his position on the board. He knows he is in check and any wrong move will end in checkmate. “How do you plan on doing this?”

  Renfield leans forward with a grin on his face and says, “Okay, here’s the plan…”

  Xaltuth begins to realize he will never control this planet. The prophecy has come to pass, but it may not be bad for the people. Renfield seems rather capable. He isn’t sure how he personally feels about that. Everything he’s done has led to his one day being the one at the top.

  “If Harmony doesn’t continue her bloodline, then she will never have existed. Which means…”

  Xaltuth smiles, “I got it. None of this will ever be. What do you suggest for me to find out where they put them?” Xaltuth wonders at something Renfield, said, “You said you had already done it. Don’t you remember where they are?”

  “Quit angling, Xaltuth and one day you and I could have dinner together with my wife. The two of you have much in common.” Renfield looks at Xaltuth and motions to the door. “Tell Brutus his wife will be near soon enough. I know the two of you have become quite close, but he has already helped you establish your dominance here. When his wife arrives, be prepared for the fact they have a different mission.”

  Xaltuth looks into Renfield’s eyes as if he can gather some clue as to what that might be.

  Renfield notices the look and says, “On my planet a long time ago a spaceship is being built to go to a place. Brutus and his wife must be there first.” He sees the look of question on Xaltuth’s face, yet again and adds, “They spawn two species. The people of my planet who travel there will meet them. They will all be cut off from communication with their home worlds and this one. Not my doing, but what comes of it must be.”

  “Understood. How do you suggest I explain this to Brutus?” Xaltuth asks as he begins to leave.

  “It’s his wife. He won’t argue the point. If he cares about his wife as much as I care about mine, he’ll go there.” Renfield thinks of Tomorrow and awaits Xaltuth’s exit then listens in his mind to be sure he has already mounted Brutus and is headed away. Then he does what no other human other than Harmony can. Next he is in a kitchen looking at his wife and asks Tomorrow, “What’s for breakfast?”

  “How many times do I have to tell you it’s random?” Tomorrow reaches over her shoulder and grabs his head to pull him towards her for a kiss. Then she comments, “Like that reaction.” She reaches down to take him in hand and a smile comes over her face, then she begins pulling off her pajamas while her kiss intensifies.

  CHAPTER 30

  “My father was many things. Until he ceased and became again he did not have good planning. He was rejuvenated by the experience.” – from the Book of Joy

  “Nice touch, Dad.” Joy turns to her father who is watching her in the vineyard.

  “Thank you for buying it again. I will need that.” Adam replies to his daughter.

  “Yes, I know. I also have an idea of when you’ve been now.” Joy looks at her father. Worn, more than she has ever seen him. She wonders why he gave her the clue where it was if he didn’t want her to remove it from the box.

  “As do I. As to when you are now, how did you know?” Renfield asks. His face is scarred.

  “Destiny can hear us.” Joy reminds him.

  “Destiny already knows, it was me who didn’t.” Renfield walks towards her to give her a hug.

  Joy leaps forward, dirty hands and all into her father’s arms. “I love you. I don’t understand any of this, but I trust you do.”

  “Easy for me to, I’ve lived it now.” Renfield grins.

  “How’s, Mom?” She looks back at the craft to see Destiny and Harmony arguing as usual.

  “Sara is busy raising Brian and Persistence.” Renfield looks down and away from her.

  Joy notes he referred to his mother as Sara. From that she gathers the time, but realizes that her father must have literally been in two places at once. She considers asking, but blocks the thought instead. Instead she asks, “Why did you kill Brady and change the timeline you fought so hard to preserve?”

  Renfield looks at her. For the first time in a long time he is stunned at a question.

  “Never mind, Dad. I get it.” Joy thinks about her mother and all of the fun things they did togethe
r. Then back to her father who spoiled both of them, always. She hugs him with all of her might. She feels his strong arms around her begin to let loose. “You’re leaving now.” She takes a deep breath as she backs away from him. “I love you, Dad.”

  Renfield stands and stares at his daughter, “You are my Joy.” He stands still and then asks, “Does Destiny understand why her eyes are the way they are?”

  “Even I have never known that. I would guess recessive genes, but you asking the question raises one. You do realize if you know and you’ve been around you she knows.” Joy comments as she looks into her father’s face. He shows no reaction and he is clearly blocking his mind.

  “What Destiny hears and what she pays attention to are two completely separate things. Destiny has a way of filtering out things she doesn’t want to accept.” Renfield replies as produces a grape and pegs his daughter with it. “Not fast enough, little one.”

  Joy laughs and opens her mouth to show she had clicked and caught it faster than he could see.

  Renfield looks at her and shakes his head, “Okay, one day I’ll get you off guard!”

  The two laugh and then she hears his mind as he thinks his heartfelt goodbyes and clicks.

  Joy heads back to the skycrawler to break up the argument between the Destiny and Harmony, knowing what she has to do next.

  CHAPTER 31

  “My father was many things. Until he ceased and became again he did not have good planning. He was rejuvenated by the experience.” – from the Book of Joy

  “There’s only one way the two of you are back!”

  “Yes, your grandfather. He wanted us to talk to you.”

  “How did he find the two of you? You should be wind weathered popsicles by now.”

  “We don’t know. He knows how to tandem click. I suppose he learned from one of you. Not sure which.” Mandelbrot is extremely clam and demure knowing that he is outdone and has a singular mission to accomplish. “Can we go to thought, we have a lot to communicate and we don’t have time. He also told Xaltuth we would be here. Xaltuth will kill us if we are here when he and Brutus arrive.”