Planet of Peace

by Jerry Belvo

  AI didn’t get the name, but I’m going to post an article telling star children to be aware of anyone trying to give shots or drawing blood. It’s important for everyone to know, that we’re here to help people. There’s no reason to have our abilities taken from us.@ Just then Helen entered the room to inquire about Jeff and found him ready to go back to work.

  Throughout the day they toured the facilities and inspected the records on the patients. Helen questioned some of the records as the diagnosis didn’t seem to fit the treatment or the cure that was recorded. Helen asked. AHow do you heal a patient with breast cancer merely through meditation?@ Jeff winked at Doctor Claire as if to say, >I understand.=

  ALet me show you the final X-rays,@ she volunteered.

  Helen examined the X-rays indicating the tumor had disappeared. AIt’s amazing. You didn’t operate or administer radiation?@ Claire shook her head. AYou should write this up in a medical journal so other doctors can use your technique. It’s literally amazing. I’ll have to tell Mr. Bell when we get back to Denver.@

  AI was thinking of writing a paper, but I want to experiment further before disclosing anything.@ That seemed to satisfy Helen and she gave her approval for the continuation of the funding to the clinic.

  *

  Back in Denver, late on Friday afternoon Jeff was driving his car downtown, and thought he would swing by Leslie Storm=s office to thank her for recommending the Bell Foundation to him. When he got there, the secretary asked him to sit in the waiting room as Mrs. Storm had clients in her office. Before long her door opened and out walked Jones and Cleaver. Jones spotted Jeff and spoke.

  AMr. Martin, how are you? I didn’t know you knew Mrs. Storm,@ he said, surprised to see him there.

  Cleaver greeted him with a handshake. AIt’s good to see you up and around.@

  Jeff was immediately suspicious. A big lump began to form in his throat. He said good-bye to the agents and walked into Leslie=s office unannounced. AYou betrayed me,@ he said loudly!

  He caught her off guard. Her face turned red and shock registered like she had seen a ghost. AJeff, what are you doing here?@

  AI came to thank you for getting me my job and found you talking to my enemies,@ he blurted out. AHow could you?@ He had never felt so angry. Losing his abilities caused him to express anger for the first time. It felt so foreign, so justified he thought, but definitely not him. He wasn’t brought up to be an angry person, but there it was, a whole new reality since losing his abilities. It felt so real, and he now understood how one person could hurt another. >How do people handle this rage= he wondered?

  AJeff, it=s not what it seems.@ She had never seen him like this and it scared her. AMaybe you should just leave,@ she said firmly, thinking she might need a security guard to help remove him.

  But, he turned and left the room on his own, furious that she was his betrayer. She caused him this pain. His drive home was all a blur.

  His mom was happy to see him but shocked by his anger. This wasn’t her son, her quiet unassuming boy. Jeff didn’t talk much but went straight to his bedroom lying down to meditate. Two hours later he came down the stairs and apologized to his mom for his actions. She took him to the patio offering him a glass of iced tea and fresh baked cookies. He told her about his trip to New York City, to the clinic and about meeting another star child. After he finished his cookies he remarked. AWho do you think I found coming out of Mrs. Storm=s office?@ He was trying to keep his temper under control.

  AI’ve no idea, Jeff. Who was it?@

  AJones and Cleaver, the two agents who abducted me were in her office. She betrayed me, Mom!@

  She sat quietly for a moment before speaking. ADon’t be too quick to accuse anyone until you know the whole story. There may be a logical explanation. At least give her the benefit of the doubt. She deserves that,@ his mom replied.

  Jeff hadn’t thought of that. Was she innocent? Could there be another reason they were in her office, or was this just another form for betrayal? He began to relax listening to his mom=s calming voice. She was such a kind soul, always giving everyone the benefit of the doubt.

  AThanks Mom, I feel better,@ he replied. AAll of a sudden I’m hungry. Can I help you get dinner ready?@

  ASure, your Dad should be home soon.@

  *

  He called Sarina after they ate, and left a message for her to return his call. Then he sat at his computer connecting to the internet, wanting to find the website Claire had mentioned early that day. There were only a few entries, but he found the site and thought he would try to communicate. He typed in a message. Bobby, This is Jeff, is this your web site? He hoped it was. He missed his friend and wanted to establish contact if nothing more than to know that Bobby was alright. The phone rang and Jeff logged off.

  AThis is Sarina. Did you have a good trip?@

  AIt was eventful. Wait till you hear what happened. Are you going to be home tonight,@ he asked?

  ANo, but tomorrow is Saturday and I’ll be free all day.@

  AWould you like to go for a hike in the mountains tomorrow,@ Jeff inquired?

  AThat would be great!@ She replied. ALet’s get an early start, and I’ll pack a lunch.@

  They talked for an hour. Finally she said she had to get ready for a date. AI’ll see you about nine tomorrow morning,@ she said.

  Jeff thought, >Sarina’s having a date, a real date? She has always hung around her friends. Is there a man in her life? I leave town for a few days and she accepts a date. That’s not like her.= All of a sudden the thought of her dating stirred up emotions he hadn’t experienced before. Yes, she could date. She didn’t owe him an explanation. Was he developing feelings for her? For the first time in his life he felt jealous, and he didn’t like the feeling. Then he thought of what his mom had said, >Things aren’t always what they seem,= and he felt better.

  His parents had gone out for the evening and Jeff had the house to himself. He raided the refrigerator and headed to his bedroom thinking he would meditate. He sat at his desk, eyes closed, and the first thought was about Sarina in the arms of another guy. Tension began to build in his throat and his chest felt hollow. It wasn’t that she couldn’t hug another man. He had always thought of her as a friend, and she certainly could do what she wanted, but still he didn’t like it. Was he afraid the same thing would happen to Sarina that happened to Bobby? That=s possible, he reasoned, but if she was going to hug anyone Jeff wanted it to be him. She was his friend. They always did things together. Were they still going to Bali together? Finally he came to the conclusion that she had to be out with some of her girl friends. What if, they went dancing? Without him there to be her dancing partner, she may be dancing with other guys. Maybe one of them would hit on her. This continued until the reasoning wore itself out and he once again thought of Dos.

  Jeff wanted to go to Dos but felt he couldn’t get there having lost his powers, his abilities. He had barely closed his eyes when he sensed John presence.

  AI thought I would come to you tonight. I sensed you wanted to contact me. What is the problem?@

  Jeff explained what had happened to him and how he was now feeling the emotions of earthlings. He explained how it bothered him and how sad he was to have lost his abilities. AWhat am I to do now,@ he inquired?

  AYou are to stay true to the Oracle. We’re preparing an answer for you. Be a little patient please.@

  AThank you so much. I needed to hear that. It nurtures me to think that the Oracle is aware of my plight.@ Jeff was now relaxed having forgotten the traumas of the day and wanted to ask a few questions. ACan you tell me what relationship this planet has to Dos? Why is the Earth so important to your planet?@

  AEarth is like a step-child. Thousands of years ago Dossian spirits started migrating to Earth so that we might bring civility to a primitive world. In essence they were the first star children. Sin
ce then, we instituted on Dos the Oracle way of governing our planet. We wish to establish a similar form of governing on Earth if possible. But it is more difficult than we thought. To begin with Dos has no moon to create discordant energy. Earth has a moon. As you now realize the moon is responsible for those feelings you have had recently, and before Earthlings can have an Oracle type government they have to come to terms with their feelings and learn to keep them under control. It may never happen, but if it doesn’t, your planet and your solar system are in for a bumpy ride. That’s why you are our last hope.@

  AAm I going to be able to travel back to Dos,@ Jeff asked?

  ANot right now,@ John explained, but we’ll come to you. AOne day you will again have the ability, but not right now.@ Jeff heard the front door open and his mom and dad talking. He lost his connection.

  *

  Sarina=s dad came to the door when Jeff rang the bell the next morning. AGood morning, Mr. Roberts,@ Jeff remarked. AIs Sarina ready to go hiking?@

  AI don’t think she’s moving to swiftly this morning. She got home a little late last night,@ he volunteered.

  Jeff thought, is there a conspiracy here designed to make me jealous? He didn’t like the idea but let it pass when Sarina entered the room carrying her jacket and a picnic basket. AI’m ready.@ She gave a big smile, her face slightly reddish, and a tired look creeping in around the edges.

  Whatever went on last night must have been something special, Jeff thought. Should he ask her now or wait until they had been hiking a while. She headed for the door and Jeff said, AWait for me,@ falling in behind her.

  AWe’ll take my car today,@ she remarked.

  There it was again, that independence she was displaying. He didn’t know if he liked it. He had always driven before. Why was she doing this? He could feel the tension rising within him. ASure,@ he answered.

  AYou always drive, Jeff. It’s time that I drove and gave you a break,@ she remarked, defusing his tension.

  He wanted to find out what went on last night. If she didn’t tell him he would be ticked off. She felt the tension building within him as he sat next to her. This was something she wasn’t used to as he was always so even tempered. But, she was determined to be an independent woman. She had to find out if their relationship was going anywhere, or if they were going to remain just friends. They drove in silence until they reached the foothills. It was Jeff who spoke first.

  ASarina,@ he tried to act casually. ADid you have a good time last night?@

  AYes, I enjoyed myself very much,@ she answered.

  It wasn’t going to be easy getting anything out of her. He knew she could leave him dangling any time by withholding information. Sitting behind the wheel, her eyes glued to the road, the car swayed back and forth as she took the curves like a race car driver. AYou can slow down a little if you like,@ he suggested, but she ignored his remark.

  Their first stop was in Conifer where they purchased soft drinks and chips. It was a bit chilly causing Jeff to reach for his jacket. A package fell out of the pocket, something he was intending to give to Sarina. She saw it fall exclaiming, AJeff you dropped something.@

  AOh, this is for you. I got it in New York City.@ He picked it up and handed it to her.

  AYou got me a present?@ She smiled, changing her mood.

  AYes, open it,@ he urged enthusiastically.

  Her eyes lit up. It’s a pair of dark sun glasses.@ She smiled reaching up to hug him. AThank you.@ She put them on tossing her hair back and throwing her old ones in the back seat. AThese are great! They shade my eyes really well, yet they are so different.@

  AYes,@ Jeff explained, AI needed a new pair after losing mine last week. Helen knew of this store that sold nothing but eye-glasses from all over the world. The place was huge. I had never seen so many glasses in one place. Your glasses are from France,@ he ventured.

  AWell, they are lovely,@ she said. They continued along Route 285 until they got to Grant, Colorado where she turned, heading up the mountain pass towards Georgetown. At the top she parked the car and they prepared to hike leaving the picnic basket in the car for later. Their moods had eased and they seemed once again to be good friends.

  The path led along the side of the valley, occasionally meandering through it. A stream came into view, turned and disappeared around a bend. Wildlife abounded and on the far side of the valley floor they saw a herd of elk grazing peacefully. There were few people this early in the day, and Jeff remembered the last time he and Sarina had been in the mountains. He had transported her to visit Bobby and Heidi at Red Feathers Lake.

  About a half hour up the trail they found a large rock to sit on in a clearing of aspen trees. They sat in silence soaking up the sun for a few minutes each waiting for the other to speak. Finally Jeff broke the ice. AThose glasses look great on you,@ he remarked.

  AThank you. They are very comfortable. It’s almost like not wearing any, they are so light.@ She answered back.

  ASarina,@ he paused clarifying his thoughts. AUp until a week ago my emotions ranged from pleasant to great. I never had to go below pleasant, never knew about unhappy, anger, or fear. I’d never been forced to feel them. When the agents from the AIA gave me that shot last week my world fell apart. Now I’m feeling the negative side of the pendulum for the first time in my life. I don’t like it, and want to go back to the way it was, but I don’t know if I ever will. I never felt anger or wanted to hit anyone before, until yesterday. I never experienced jealousy before, until you called last night not wanting to see me. All of a sudden I felt jealous; jealous that I would lose you like I lost Bobby to Heidi. Do you understand what I’m trying to say?@

  AYes, Jeff, welcome to the real world. This is the way it is for all of us, you’ll just have to get used to it.”

  ALosing my power to heal really bothers me. I enjoy helping people so much, and now I feel so useless.@

  She replied. AJeff, it’s not your abilities that define who you are. It’s your heart. I, too, have a confession to make. When you mentioned Julie to me the other day I got jealous because I thought you were dating someone else. You can, you know. We’re not going steady or anything.@

  She had never talked about her feelings for him before. They were good friends, and he often had taken her for granted. She was a woman, and women were supposed to be more emotional than men. He did tell her about Julie and suggested she call her. However, he wouldn’t have done that if he thought she might be jealous.

  AI called Julie like you said, and you were right, she is a fine human being. I went to visit her and learned a lot about star children from a woman=s perspective. Her children are adorable and she’s so afraid she will lose them. We sat in her living room while the kids were playing. They were displaying their special talents, not like your parents who wanted you to learn to do everything like other humans. They were tossing toys back and forth without using their hands, and moving around the room without their feet touching the floor. It was exciting. I could picture how it must have been on their home planet.@ Changing her tone for a moment, AJeff, I can understand why their father wants custody. He fears for their safety here, and doesn’t want them growing up like aliens. Their father wants them to learn everything like humans, and this is why Julie is so concerned.@

  Jeff had never realized how adaptable Sarina had been to his alien qualities. They didn’t seem to bother her at all. Having grown up around him she accepted him as just another person. AWhen did you go to see her,@ he inquired?

  ALast night. After Julie put the kids to bed we talked late, and I didn’t get home until three. Julie felt comfortable not having to guard every word she uttered for fear she would be found out, and I learned so much. We really have to go see her. I want you to experience what a star child family is like. You would feel at home.@

  Jeff sat quietly contemplating what she had said. He had been jealous of h
er all the while she was doing what he told her to do. ASarina, I have to apologize for doubting you, and for thinking you betrayed my trust. Please forgive me.@

  AOh, don’t think anything about it,@ she answered, leaning over and kissing him on the cheek.

  AWe did girl talk last night. You would have been bored. Julie has had to become independent because of her situation. She suggested I needed a little more independence. That’s why I wanted to drive today, to show you I can be on my own without needing a man around. Are you ready to continue on our hike,@ she inquired sliding off the rock?

  AYes,@ Jeff smiled enthusiastically, happily forgetting the events of the past week. On their next break Jeff told her about his trip to New York City and about Doctor Claire. They finished their hike, ate their picnic lunch and headed back to Denver mid-afternoon just as storm clouds appeared on the horizon.

  Jeff=s mom had left a note on the phone stand. It was from Leslie Storm, an apology of sorts, saying she wanted to talk to him. She was the last person he wanted to see, but she had been a friend and he owed her a chance to explain herself. He was certainly not going to divulge any information she could give to his antagonists. He would call her on Monday.

  An envelope was also waiting for him on the kitchen table. It contained his passport. Now he could go to Bali. He would tell her in the morning that it came. The trip was only ten days away.

  Chapter 12

  Monday morning, Jeff received a message at his office, marked urgent. The CEO of the Claudia Bell Foundation wanted to see him as soon as possible. Thelma, Mr. Bell=s secretary greeted him when he entered the Executive=s Suite. Jeff hoped he hadn’t done anything wrong.

  AHave a seat Mr. Martin and I’ll tell him you’re here,@ Thelma suggested disappearing into the CEO=s private office. She returned shortly to show him in. Joseph Bell was sitting at a large ornate mahogany desk placed squarely in the middle of the room. On his left, a floor to ceiling window exhibited a classic view of the Rocky Mountains with snow-capped peaks. He stood to greet Jeff as he entered.