by I. Christie
"You have been a good student during dreamtime but terrible in a waking state. Your critical rational side is slow to catch up," Gedaliaha explained.
Harriet could feel Sharon's approach. She turned to face her.
"Hello, Harriet," she spoke softly, while leaning to kiss her on her cheek, as if it were only yesterday they had last seen each other.
"I am happy to see you are staying out of Alan's reach, so far."
"You know Alan?" As if I didn't know, she thought guiltily.
"Yes. You know that. I had told you that in a dream many months ago. You should start remembering our conversations that we have had in dreamtime now. Your channels are fully open. You have experienced the higher energy of the qi channeler. It has cleared the blocks you have been effectively protecting yourself with for so many years."
"You're a shaman?"
"Yes. Before I took the identity of Sharon, I was a shaman on MageWield, one of the planets Alan's family visited. When Alan's father arranged to have me run through the metradame process, I chose to become Sharon Teal," she patiently explained. Sharon's demeanor was different from what Harriet remembered. A sense of loss was on the periphery of her awareness, where she held it firmly, afraid if it came closer to her consciousness it might loosen something she did not want to experience in this crowd.
"How did he manage to get a shaman?" Harriet was visibly upset. Having her channels opened did not seem to give her clear insight into her own motives.
"I choose to become one to fulfill my own destiny."
"Were we part of…?" Harriet could not finish it.
"The Web of life has strange and interesting cross-over lines in its web patterns. I had not foreseen our becoming lovers. It was a natural and pleasant progression of a friendship. But for you to remain with me would have put your life in serious jeopardy, for Alan feels he has a debt to collect. However," Sharon laughed softly, "you seem to do a very good job of taking care of yourself, no matter how hot the fire is that you are jumping into. You also have a good mentor, Harriet, who looks after you very well."
"Add a bunch of guardian Angeles to the pot!" Gedaliaha added laughing heartily.
"I must go back now, before I am missed." Sharon was looking directly into Harriet's eyes when she said this. Harriet could only see deep dark pools without any reflection. They were the eyes of a shaman when she wanted to be recognized. This was something that had not been revealed to her when they were together. Instead, the eyes that Harriet had spent many times staring into, would take on the color of the clothing she wore. Feeling a little off-balance she nodded trying not to show her disappointment or to think of anything that would reflect her feelings. She wanted to ask so many questions.
"We shall meet again and very soon," Sharon whispered in Harriet's ear as she hugged her. "Then we will talk some more."
Harriet could feel the energy from Sharon tingling her own body. She had thought she had forgotten how nice it was to hold her. Harriet let Sharon go, dropping her hands to her side. The others were also leaving, nodding toward Sharon and Harriet. They all looked tired. Gedaliaha remained. When the door closed behind Sharon's departing form, Gedaliaha touched Harriet gently on the elbow and motioned for her to the sit in the chair across from Carol.
Harriet pulled the loose fitting cloth around her and sat down, studying Carol's vibrant form before her. There was nothing subtle about the change.
"The energy you feel will lessen as the physical body absorbs the new spirit," Gedaliaha explained to Carol. "Now your awareness is split between the two dimensions and will be that way until both hosts get use to the new energy. Then both consciousnesses will be able to experience the two worlds simultaneously without confusion," Gedaliaha explained. "You will both be having interesting dreams from here on out." She nodded toward Harriet to include her.
"CarolMaa will be sleeping between two realities and you, Alexandra have moved to another level in your lessons. You are coming along rather quickly, but I see no danger in that at the moment." She regarded Harriet with her head tilted slightly. "Do not forget your night rituals. Protect yourself before you sleep. I would rather you two sleep separate for a while. Both of you are working on different issues and should not be disturbed with the other's energy. Guardian has notified us that CarolMaa will be taking Zohra's room next door. Major Zohra has moved to quarters to be with her sisters. It is their way." Gedaliaha waved her hand at this. "The Sisters of the Athenian Shield will be taking over the military protection of the outpost along with their Brothers since the Centurian doesn't have enough troops to do so and it may be straining relations between the Committee that is reforming. It is better you move away from this warrior energy for now."
"As if," Harriet shook her head. "I somehow don't think the admiral will take my 'change' too well."
"Why do you feel that way?" Gedaliaha asked quietly.
Harriet waved her hand, "Military types don't hold much value to anything they cannot touch or see."
"They believe intuition is a valuable asset," Gedaliaha mentioned watching the young woman shrug her shoulders tiredly. It was more than a physical weariness; however Gedaliaha was confident in her inner resilience.
Harriet nodded, uneasy at how her future will change with the reopening of her channels…career wise. A heavy feeling settled in her stomach. She shook her head impatiently. It would be nice to turn over military responsibilities to someone else who would be more interested in the war games. She was too unsure of herself right now to participate. There was a different type of awareness that was commingling with her own perspective of the world around her and it would take some time for her to adjust to these multitude of new sensations, just as Carol and MaaSa, though it was not quite the same. Having to attend to military meetings was the furthest thing on her mind right now.
"Major?" The promotion suddenly registered.
"Yes. She is the most qualified to oversee the ground protection on the outpost, until the General arrives and other high-ranking officials. Now, you both need to sleep. It's been a long day and I can see Alexandra's energy level is about ready to take a great big dip downward. I shall be staying a while on this outpost and will see you when you wake. I am in the room across the hall from yours, Alexandra. Now, to bed, both of you." She ushered the two toward the bedroom.
CarolMaa was looking about her and would occasionally wave her hands before her face as if to clear something.
"CarolMaa, what are you doing?" Harriet asked curious.
CarolMaa turned to look at her with a smile on her face. "Lady Alexandra Harriet, Lt. Montran, Harriet, Mistress. This dimension is very interesting. How do you wish me to address you? So many names, is that normal?"
Harriet cleared her throat. "Hmm. I…Montran is my clan or family name, Lady is the title from my home planet, Lieutenant is my military title, but…Harriet or Alexandra is fine too."
"You look different with these eyes and the space you live in is most peculiar."
Harriet was grateful Carol would not be sharing her bed. She had not thought about how their relationship would change with the melding of the two spirits.
Harriet smiled. "I am sure Carol is saying the same about your world. Good night and dream well, CarolMaa."
"And you too Mistress Alexandra." Carol waved as she continued her careful progress though the bedroom and into the bathing area, looking this way and that with new eyes.
Mistress Alexandra. I should have just told her what I would rather be called. Why do I keep giving people choices when I have my druthers? They ask…so why am I not honest?
"Helgas Moon!" she muttered, "I'm a real wimp when it comes to stating personal preferences. This has got to stop." She flung her clothes onto the chair mindful of the butler bot, which slid out of the closet and proceeded to pick them up.
***
Chapter 19
JG was dreaming of her friend Katrina. They shared a desire to be among the four sisters chosen to represent their Hous
e at the Galactic games that were held once every four stan years, with tours about the Galaxy to compete in competitions that led up to the final one. Both had a good chance to be chosen as they were well-rounded in their skills. The pretrials consisted of a weeklong endurance challenge that required them to compete in seven separate areas of skill out of fifteen, which were chosen the day of the contest. For eight years, before she enlisted in the space academy, she traveled throughout the galaxy competing and learning that differences in others were the qualities that made life interesting. She sighed deeply.
The memories were from a time so long ago she was not sure if they were from this life. She frowned. She was not called JG then…what was it….oh, Delorita. It was not a name she felt comfortable with so she had added Zohra at her coming of age ceremony, but that was when she was still a young woman. She resisted the pull to go further back into her youth. Instead, she focused on faces and names that she had been ordered to protect…she sniggered to herself in contempt. There was no way she was going to protect that pack of lawbreakers. One face she remembered as her half-sister. She would have burst out laughing at the audacity of the subliminal to assign her the job of protecting Lady Varina Chaney, as if! She could protect herself from all the half sisters that her father sired and that had survived her assassination attempts.
The unfamiliar sounds and smells around her brought her awareness closer to consciousness. There was a voice calling her and a very bright light was shinning above her. She remembered she had a headache, but when was that? She also had a distinct feeling that a long time had passed. However, from when to when? What yesterday was she measuring this time with? She wanted to shake her head to rid herself of the buzzing that was tickling her inner ear but her head held immobile. With that realization, Captain Zohra fought a sudden feeling of panic. Instinct had her wanting to fight what was happening to her.
"It's all right to feel threatened. You don't know where you are. But just wait a little bit longer until you're completely awake before you move, otherwise you will land flat on your face," the soft voice explained.
Captain Zohra well disciplined in all her roles held herself still, taking in the sounds, smells, and pattern on the ceiling and sorting them with previous memories. Where was she and who was she? Sgt. Major JG, a member of the Black Rose…no…she is a Captain…Captain Zohra of the Sisters of Hekate's clan, a Shield Maiden to Athena's warriors, and bonded to….her sight filled with the image of Cadet Lady Harriet Montran and her flowing orange tresses, with beaded side bangs and eyes that lit up when she laughed.
The restraining mechanisms released moments after her vision cleared and the buzzing in her ears stopped. Slowly she sat up with the assistance of a woman dressed in the mantle of the Sister House on Media, a healer's clan.
"How many fingers do I have here?" the voice asked.
"One," she replied without appearing to glance at the hand held up.
Why does my head feel sore?
"Very good." The woman stepped away and the other figure that was in the corner stepped forward.
"I am Lady Crystal of Triton, Lady Zohra."
"Lady. Not a title that fits me," she replied hoarsely. She could not stop the sides of her lips curling up at the image of another Lady who fit the title. "I'm a soldier not a socialite or politician."
"As you wish. Your late father's will has been read and he has named his offspring, making them official holders of titles, lands and funds. He had quite an empire to leave behind that has not been seized by law enforcement agencies as illegally gained. Apparently, he took his parental responsibilities of leaving something useful for his offspring seriously. Your adopted mother, Aglauros will more than likely talk to you about it…but as your physician…it was left to me to decide whether to bring it up to you. I understand you warrior types can be rather defensive on issues you do not like to face."
The observation was true but it was said in dry humor, which Zohra would have appreciated were she not on the receiving end. She remained silent.
That son-of-a-dickhead! He couldn't just leave with us thinking him a real asshole for not acknowledging our mothers and us while he was alive! He had to go and do this! Lady! He left me a damn title! Inside she let the anger seethe until she thought of Sgt. Vanster. Goddess Athena, won't this be a drop of peppers in the sweat sauce.
"We removed a small chip that your sister Lady Varina had ordered implanted…it is believed to have something to do with controlling your emotional response to your sister Varina, and to your father."
Zohra nodded. So, that's why my head hurts. "Where am I?" Zohra shifted the subject hoping it would settle her stomach.
"On Merker's Outpost as the guest of the Guardian of Mer's Portal. Your stomach is upset. It will feel that way for but a moment. A bit of the aftereffect of the subliminal programming."
Captain Zohra rubbed her forehead again. "Mer? I wasn't aware the portals had names."
"For very good reason. Knowing a name gives one power. There are many who are not receptive to the knowledge that they exist. Or those like Alan Fermin who wish to either possess a portal or destroy it. Whatever change he creates here will set up a vibration in all the other portals. We don't know what that will do, for no one has damaged a portal since a Guardianship has been assembled to watch over them."
"I remember being here before."
"Not here, but in a room similar to this one. It was where you had the chip implanted. Lord Chaney had been attempting to dull the influence of the chip with a drug. The intention was for the two to develop a symbiotic relationship, thereby neutralizing each other. It did to a degree, but we are not really sure what the entire intention of the chip was or why he was inclined to interfere with Lady Varina's actions."
Lady Crystal waited to see if Zohra had something to say, but her patient remained silent.
Lord Chaney was damned possessive. He didn't like to share. He probably was pissed she messed with one of his soldiers but…why not remove it from me?
"It is being studied now, and when the results are in, you shall be notified. Now, would you like to eat? Your sisters should be arriving soon and I am sure you will have little time for such things after their arrival."
Captain Zohra had not realized she was hungry since moments before, food would have been the last thing she wanted. "Yes."
Another woman appeared and led her out the door. Captain Zohra did not look back as she stepped out of the room that gave her the shivers.
"Where are we on Merker's Outpost?" Zohra asked her new guide.
"Near the portal, Captain Zohra." The other noticed Zohra shudder. "The energy from the portal is what kept you strong for the process of extraction."
"The energy from the portal?"
"Yes. What do you know about the portals?"
"They are doorways to other planets that have like portals and only a few can pass through."
Her companion laughed as she pointed to a table that already had dishes and plates of food on them. Captain Zohra's stomach growled in appreciation of the menu.
"Actually, many can pass through the portals, just as you had when you were younger. It does not take much to prepare oneself for the passage. Only those that have fallen below the sixth harmonic level would not be able to enter the portal without harming themselves."
Captain Zohra was filling her plate with food as she listened. Sixth level and below were usually people who did harm to others with intent. That would be her. She paused momentarily trying to recall the rest of the information she had on the portals. "Sixth level and below…are usually people who do harm to others intentionally, right?" She got a nod in agreement. "Is it possible for a person around the sixth level to become a guardian?" That was the part she was puzzled about with the captain. He would not have said he could become guardian if he did not believe it.
"You mean Captain Miller from the Black Rose?" she guessed correctly.
"Yes."
"We found a harmonics synt
hesizer in his clothing. The attempt would have killed him. The energies in the portal are very complex dynamical systems not just one octave. As one interacts with the portal it would be changing too quickly for a synthetic harmonizer to adapt, for the portal is a living and self-organizing structure and the harmonizer is not."
"What would have happened with those that would be standing outside of the portal?"
"They would have perished. The portal would have emitted a vibration their living cells would not have been able to sustain or adjust to."
Captain Zohra finished eating in silence as she thought about her fellow soldiers. The one time she had been in a portal was an indescribable experience. She was embraced in an energy field of living matter. As she moved along through the portal, she witnessed a breathtaking beauty of the flashing planets and stars that passed by, something that could be witnessed in a ship but there was a bulkhead between you and space. In the portal, it was so much more intimate. When she had arrived at her destination, she was disorientated but excited. Never before had she experienced such a trip and it was her last for she was being prepped for her role as an undercover agent for Neboths Vine, which required her to lower her energy level to fit in with the Spartans.