Tish felt some of the confusion lift. She remembered Aaron in her home, but in Sanguillen form. She had imagined that day would come eventually. Tish had expected to be repulsed by his appearance, and angry at him for leaving her behind months ago. And not telling her sooner what he really was, what his whole family was. Instead, she felt so connected to him still. She had always been in love with him she realized. Even when they were little. He was her soul mate and nothing was going to change that. Not vampires, not aliens, not freaky huge birds, not....
Staring at her mother she remembered the eyes of the ape. The ape was her mother. And the large winged creature was her dad. His clothes had shredded when he changed into that beast, presumably to protect her from the vampire in the house. Did that always happen when he changed? She imagined he would have to wear different clothes if he knew he needed to go all alien on someone's ass. Then she remembered the night at the hospital. She had never seen her father in cargo shorts and a baggy t-shirt before. That was how he had gotten to the hospital so quick. He literally flew there.
As many pieces of the puzzle that were now fitting together, there were even more bombarding her mind that made absolutely no sense. Her parents were aliens, and somehow she had known all along. Well, not really knew. It was more like an instinct that gets triggered during trauma. That's why the suppressed memories were coming back, she imagined.
"You weren't supposed to know about any of this until your eighteenth birthday," Pam told her daughter. "We have been preparing for years for that day to come, and to welcome you into the real world. I'm so sorry that you had to find out like this, but I'm glad that you will finally know the truth. Honey, we are not from this world."
Though Tish had figured that much out herself it was still shocking to hear her mother say it. Her parents were aliens. She should be blown away by the mere suggestion of it, but instead she accepted it as if it were common knowledge. "Then where are you from?"
"We dear," Pam said softly. "We are from another planet."
Tish tried to comprehend, but it wasn't easy to shake all the science fiction that Hollywood had fed her over the years. "You mean, you are from the same planet as the vampires?"
"Yes. And no." Pam leaned onto the table with an expression that a mother would show a small child when teaching it something important. Tish knew that she was that small child. "We are all Kamilians. We are all from the same home world. But none of us are really vampires, or Sanguillens. Only Kamilians that lived a life on that planet at some point in their life can change back into Sanguillen form. I, for example, cannot."
Tish leaned back away from her mother, afraid that she could change into some beast instantly and bite her on the nose. Her nose was already sore. "So, you and dad, Aaron and his parents, and Thomas are all aliens. Who else? Is there anybody else I know that could change into some monster right in front of me?"
Pam smiled patiently. Perhaps it was best that Charlie wasn't here. "We are not monsters, sweetheart. Though the movies and TV shows paint us as monsters, we are just people like everybody else. We are Kamilians. We can change into the form of any life that we have already experienced. We can also take in someone's DNA and process it with our bodies to take their form. That's how we first started, many centuries ago. Now, everything is very organized and controlled by the home world."
Pam pushed the tablet aside as she continued. "And yes, the Vohs and Thomas are Kamilians. So is everyone you know at Silver Silhouette. In fact the whole company's primary purpose is to provide entertainment for the home world. But before we discuss all that, it's important that you know who else is a Kamilian."
"Oh my God! Are you going to tell me Susan is an alien, too?"
"No, dear. Susan is not a Kamilian."
"Are you sure? I don't want to find out on a sleepover when she tries to steal my DNA," Tish responded, surprised by her own attempt at humor considering the circumstances.
"I'm absolutely certain, Tish. Susan is not one of us. We would know. It's our responsibility to keep track of all us. There is a whole department assigned to it at work."
Tish took a deep breath as she considered who else could be an alien. "Is it the President?"
With one eyebrow raised Pam answered, "Well, actually yes. But that is not what I'm trying to tell you. There are many celebrities, CEOs, politicians around the world that are not originally human. You will be provided a full list of famous people on your birthday. What I need you to...."
"What does my birthday have to do with anything?" Tish interrupted.
"We all get the great revelation on our eighteenth birthday. Unless, of course, something traumatic happens first and triggers your memories." Pam reached across the table to hold Tish's hand. Her daughter pulled away at first, then consented after studying the softness in her mother's eyes. "What you need to know now is that you are also a Kamilian. You are an alien, too. Just like us you are from another world."
Tish could not fathom it. She pulled her hand away. She was appalled that her mother would say such a thing. Well, the woman that she had thought all these years was her mother. Worse yet, though, deep in her soul she knew it was true. "But that can't be," she said, pushing her chair away from the table in case she needed to flee what she already knew was the truth. "I remember growing up as a human. I remember things from when I was real little. Did you people put those memories in my head?"
"Please relax, Tish," Pam told her daughter. "There is no reason to get upset. And the answer to that question is no. You did grow up as a human. We all did. Your memories are true. We didn't put anything inside your head. You began life here as a baby, much like the real humans. It's very important to our culture to experience each new life form as they themselves would. To grow up as a human, to learn everything about their world just like they do. That's why we wait until the eighteenth birthday for the great reveal. Knowing that you have always been a Kamilian cannot take away your memories as a human. And you will have many more great experiences on this planet during your human life."
Tish sat in silence, letting it all sink in. For the first time, letting the memories flow, released from some hidden nook in her brain. She knew everything that her mother just told her to be true. It was still very scary, but undeniable. Well, she didn't know the President of the United States was an alien. But with all things considered now, it was not that surprising. It was actually a shame that Susan was not one also. Tish had to continue lying to her best friend. That was something she had badly hoped would someday come to an end.
"Are any of my other friends?" Tish finally asked.
"No," Pam replied. "Just Aaron. When it looked like his parents would be successful we had considered that the two of you might eventually become a couple. Unfortunately, the Vohs had some business trouble. That's why they went rogue."
"I don't think I fully understand that part," Tish said, pulling her chair back to the table.
"Well, you know how we have been on you about choosing whether to be famous or work behind the scenes?" Tish nodded. "Well, that is actually a Kamilian thing here on earth that started about a hundred years ago. If you choose to go for being famous, but don't make it, you risk being deported back to the home world. There is a chance that you could choose another planet again, but you can never come back to earth. Some Kamilians can't accept that. You see, out of all the worlds that we exist on, earth is by far the most popular. It's not easy to get assigned here. Most have to do something exceptional on another planet before they can be considered for Earth. For some reason, Kamilians that have lived as Sanguillens have the most difficulty accepting deportation. I don't know why. But that is the reason why there are more supposed vampire sightings on earth than the other creatures that Kamilians could become."
Tish mulled that over while her mother waited. "What other types of aliens can we turn into?"
"Well," Pam replied, "we can only turn into species that we have lived as before, as I stated earlier. I can turn into one of the Mo
neake, for instance. The ape like creature that you saw me as last night. And I can be an Ursulan, which is much harder to describe. Your father has lived as four different species in the past, but for some reason he only reverts back to the Magavi. That's the scary huge bird you saw. It's probably because it is his most intimidating form. He used it a lot when he led the rogue unit. That was before he was selected for President of Silver Silhouette. But there are many other forms that can be taken by Kamilians if they lived as those species. Many myths on earth come from humans seeing us in other forms. The Moneake, for example, are what humans call Bigfoot or Sasquatch. And this creature known as Licans are what is known here as werewolves. Fortunately, we don't have any of those at Silver Silhouette. They are even worse than the Sanguillen."
"What about me?" Tish asked.
Pam smiled, "You were a Moneake like me. To my knowledge that is the only other world you have been on. It is extremely rare to score a life on earth with just one planet under your belt, but you did an incredible thing on Bior, the Moneake world." Tish wanted to hear more about that but Pam said, "I'm sorry, I can't tell you anymore about that right now. I wasn't supposed to mention it at all."
Tish tried her hardest to remember what she had done in that lifetime, but there were only brief visions of the planet that she could not fully comprehend. Houses over a hundred feet above the planet surface, attached to trees. No, they were made out of or into the trees themselves. She felt an overwhelming respect for all trees and plant life in that instant. Perhaps she worshiped trees on that planet. She would have to wait to learn more. In the mean time she needed to find out more about Aaron.
"So, Aaron and his parents are going back to their home world? Excuse me, our home world?" Despite knowing the truth it was still hard to fathom. It was more like remembering an old black and white TV show that you really, really enjoyed many years ago.
Pam was hesitant to answer. "Well, that is your father's department. But my understanding is that only Stan and Vicki are confirmed for deportation. Aaron might not have to go. He is under eighteen, so he has not chosen his life course yet. That means he has not failed on earth. His only crime is taking Sanguillen form in front of others, and exposing details of the 'Great Reveal' to someone under age, you. There is a chance that he could be pardoned of these crimes since he was obviously coerced by his parents. The problem is that he is very close to them, and was their child on two other planets before this one. He may choose to leave."
Tish wasn't sure if he would or not, but the realization that she was in competition for his affection was troubling, even if it was only with his parents. Their love had just recently been reconfirmed, but his love for his parents might overrule since they have been together much longer. "So, Aaron can be their child again on another planet?"
"That is a decision that will not be made very soon," Pam replied. "The Vohs will be deported, after they are caught, and sent to the home world. Whatever the powers that be decide there will determine whether or not they can be assigned to another planet. The Sanguillen world is not popular among our kind, and they do sometimes allow Kamilians to live a second term there. If Aaron decides to leave earth there is no guarantee that they will be reunited. Many times rogues are not permitted to leave the home world ever again."
Tish gave it some thought as Pam prepared sandwiches and iced tea, placing them on the table so they could continue their discussion. Perhaps Aaron would choose to stay here with her after all. Maybe their love still had a chance. It was heart wrenching to consider the options. Giving more thought to what her life would be like without Aaron she began to think about her own life choice.
"If I chose to go after fame I risk the possibility of being deported, too. Is that right?"
"Yes," Pam answered cautiously. It was not right to influence a Kamilian's decision. "But the chance of your failure is slim to none, really, considering your past."
"What do you mean?" Tish asked. "What about my past?"
Pam regretted that comment. "That's something that I am not at liberty to speak about at this time. In fact, I've already said too much. I think its best that we wait for your father to decide what else can be said. All of this should have waited for your eighteenth birthday. It's unfair to you to reveal too much at this time."
Tish ate her sandwich in silence. Apparently, much was expected of her on earth. She could only sense that she may have been successful as a Moneake. It was hard to isolate mentally because of the rush of emotion that came back to her when she tried to remember that world. She could vaguely picture loved ones there, people she cared for so much that she would have given her life for them. Perhaps she did. Tish was not sure. What she was sure of was her lack of any confidence to achieve greatness on earth. Fame and fortune did not appear to be any more reachable with her new understanding of the world. If anything, fear of failure was much greater.
28 - What Am I Supposed to Do Now?
"I don't understand!" Susan shouted, stomping her foot on the floor of the bedroom like a child having a tantrum. "We're supposed to go on to college together! And be best friends for the rest of our lives. Have I done something to upset you?"
Susan was starting to have serious doubts about who Tish really was. Had she been this person all along, or had she changed since the horrific attack at the lodge? She was not sure, but her father's admonition to be wary of her was starting to gain merit.
"No, Susan," Tish answered, lifting herself off Susan's bed to try to make physical contact with her closest friend. But Susan pulled away in anger. Tish continued, "I can't actually explain it in detail. And I'm very sorry about that. But I didn't want to hide this from you. You know I have been struggling with this decision for a long time now."
"Yeah, I do," Susan answered. "But I don't see why you can't still go on to college? Can't you start off working part time at your father's company? We can both go to college nearby and you could go to work after school each day."
It touched Tish's heart to see how hard Susan was fighting for her to go to college with her. She too wanted to stay close after high school graduation, but university just didn't make sense anymore. Her decision to work behind the scenes removed any need for additional education. Tish felt bad for her best friend, but found that after all the aching her heart had endured over the last few months this was something she was going to have to just get through without tears.
"Maybe I can take a few classes," she conceded. She would say almost anything at this point to make Susan less angry. But Susan was hesitant to accept this concession. "All my training for work will be provided on the job. It will be specialized and give me all the skills I need for work much faster than college. But what I do in my spare time will still be mostly up to me." She wasn't actually sure about that part. "But I'd rather spend it with you than sitting in some university. Why don't you go to school during the day while I'm working, and we can spend our evenings and weekends together?"
Susan finally felt defeated and collapsed onto the bed on her back, arms and legs spread wide like she had been violently knocked down. She closed her eyes and mumbled something about vampires under her breath. Tish laid down beside her with her neck on Susan's arm, resting her nose on the girl's shoulder. She could smell the ever present floral scent of the girl's perfume. It had a relaxing effect. The contact warmed Susan to the point that she did not want to fight anymore. She pulled her arm around Tish and rested her face against Tish's head.
"I don't even want to go on to college if you're not going to be there," Susan whimpered. "What's the point? My parents will be pissed for sure, but maybe I can come work with you at Silver Silhouette?"
Tish had not anticipated that turn in the conversation. Of course, it was not possible. Her mother had told her that only Kamilians worked at the company. Imagine trying to keep all this alien stuff a secret from one employee. That's not something that her father would even consider, Tish was certain. But how to explain it to Susan? After an unusually long
pause Tish finally said, "I don't think so."
Susan lifted her head and turned to face Tish, their faces just inches away since her arm was trapped beneath Tish's head. "Am I not good enough to get the same job as you?" Tish couldn't really tell if Susan was seriously mad. She sat up as Susan stared at her awaiting her reply.
Geez, what was it going to take to get through this one without letting something slip? Tish nearly stuttered, "No, that's not it. It's just that, well, to my understanding the company only hires relatives of its employees. And they rarely have openings."
Susan looked even angrier at the answer. "I think you are bullshitting me. Why don't you want me to come work with you?"
"It's not that, I promise. It's really like I said..." Tish's phone rang, the ringtone indicating it was her mother who was supposed to pick her up any minute. She had to take the call. Susan waited impatiently as Tish debated something with her mother in whispers that she couldn't hear well enough to make any sense. She began compiling a list of Tish's offenses against her recently and was seriously considering spouting them out. When the phone call was done Tish turned to her and said, "I have to go. Give me a hug?"
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