The Solar Flare

by Laura E. Collins

  “Go on Ava, you and James try it,” Emma suggested playfully.

  Ava glanced at her and then James and simply said “I’m not much of a dancer really,” which was actually the truth.

  “Nonsense, it’s so easy . . .”

  “Emma, if she doesn’t want to, she doesn’t have to,” James said softly, rescuing Ava from her persistence.

  Ava thought for a moment. It did look like fun. “Well, I guess I could try. . .” She didn’t know what possessed her to agree, but she set down her glass, burying the base in the sand so that it would stay upright, and stood up. “But don’t blame me if your feet have bruises on them tomorrow,” she said seriously. Everyone laughed as James set down his guitar and approached Ava.

  “Just follow my lead, it’s simple,” he assured her as he took one of her hands in his and placed his other hand on her back. Ava almost jumped, sensing the energy connect between them as he began to move, drawing her closer. After a few tense moments she remembered the step repetition and kept a better pace with him, breaking eye contact with him occasionally to watch her bare feet move below her, trying not to step on his toes.

  After a short while Blayke stopped playing and everyone sat back down, the fire light dancing upon their faces.

  “It’s been a while since you’ve done a concert,” Melanie observed.

  “It has,” Blayke replied, “here I mean.”

  “Why don’t you do another one soon? The people would love it!”

  “I don’t see why we couldn’t,” James offered.

  “I can look for a date,” Lizeth suggested. “And you could come Ava, it would be fantastic! All of the proceeds we earn go to support the local charities and the further development and exploration of Sphene.”

  “Oh, that’s very nice,” Ava replied, sounding as amazed as she was. But then, what did 300-something year old Asterions need with more money anyway? Nothing as far as Ava could tell by her living experiences with them. Through further discussion, Ava learned that Geodesic’s profits were mostly donated back to the charities of the particular station the group performed on at the time, save for travel expenses, re-fueling and re-stocking of their ship. A fact Ava was surprised and pleased to hear. The group continued to converse more on the details of the proposed concert before, couple by couple they left, leaving Ava alone with James on the beach.

  It was well after dark and James played a slow, gentle melody on his guitar while Ava listened, enjoying the peaceful breeze, inhaling the fresh seaside air and staring up at the twinkling stars.

  “Penny for your thoughts?” He asked after a few minutes, while continuing to play, looking down at his guitar.

  “I was just thinking that it is so peaceful here.”

  “Yes, it is now. We had to work hard for our peace. Sustainable planets such as this are hard to come by.”

  “Are there many other Asterions that have become human out there . . . besides the ones that I’ve met?”

  “Yes,” was his simple answer.

  “Where are they?”

  “They are everywhere and anywhere. You may have even run across some of them and not have even known it. Though, they are few and far between by human standards.”

  “I guess you are right,” she replied thoughtfully.

  “You would know now if it happened again.”

  “How?”

  “You are very perceptive to our energy. That’s what overwhelmed you on my ship. Even now I can feel it, I can sense our connection. We’ve never encountered another human who could sense Asterions like you do.”

  “Do all of you have special abilities?” She wanted to change the subject. However, her interest was piqued now, especially since he was opening up to her and apparently relaxed, continuing to strum his guitar.

  “Not all of us.”

  “Why?”

  “Depends on a lot of things . . . what the Asterion was like before the transformation, the qualities of the human the Asterion inhabits, it just depends on the mix.”

  “Do you know . . . right away I mean, once the transition is complete?”

  James raised an eyebrow, amused by her statement. “Definitely not . . . I guess it’s something you stumble across by accident. For instance, I didn’t know I had telekinesis until I had been human for twenty some years. I remember I wanted my keys one day and I couldn’t remember where I’d left them. Then, suddenly they came flying at me . . . scared the shit out of me actually,” he laughed at the memory. She laughed nervously with him.

  “Do many Asterions have the power of telekinesis?”

  “No. I can think of maybe two others.”

  “And Wesley was one of them?”

  He nodded.

  “Who is the other one?”

  “I think that’s a story for another day,” he replied casually at her, pausing in his current song to take a sip of wine, then resuming it again. “It’s a nice ability to have . . . we make wonderful magicians,” he said with a smirk.

  She laughed at the thought. “I can imagine. Wesley can heal people and teleport also. Do you have the same skills?”

  “No.” He looked thoughtful, almost envious for a moment.

  “Do you have any other abilities then?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, what are they?” She persisted.

  “I hope I never have to show you,” was his mysterious reply.

  Ava chewed this new information over in her mind and decided to ask him more about himself. “James, when we were on Earth, why did Draves call you a priest?”

  He stopped playing the guitar, gazed up at her and took another sip of wine, setting the instrument down. “I wasn’t sure if you’d heard that comment or not with everything going on,” he said softly.

  After she didn’t say anything he continued. “Draves was hearing our thoughts; a terrible ability to have. He couldn’t turn it off. The constant commotion going on probably drove him mad . . . he wanted to die. But, to answer your question, he was referring to the human whose body I took.”

  “Will you tell me about it?”

  “If you wish,” he replied softly, gazing at her. Ava felt warmed, yet slightly uncomfortable by the friendship that seemed to be growing between them. “In the beginning we, Robinson and I, were one entity. But we are like fire and ice, we don’t mix well together. Our energy is fairly compatible, but it is our essence that drove us apart. Once I was free of him I wanted to be as far away from him as possible . . . so, naturally, we both unintentionally ended up on Earth,” he chuckled and shook his head.

  “Anyway, I sensed his transformation and decided to see for myself what he had become. It made sense. I decided then that I also wanted to assume a human life and be able to act physically upon my desires. After a few years of wandering around, I heard some beautiful piano music one evening.”

  Ava listened as he continued. “I went in closer to see who was playing and it was this man,” he held up his hand towards himself. “I observed him for several months. Not because I thought I would have a chance to become him. He was young and fairly healthy, not a likely candidate for sudden unexplained death. I studied him because I was fascinated at how he was a master of his instruments. I discovered that he was a third year seminary student who loved mainly two things, God and music. I learned a great appreciation for music from him. I knew that one day I wanted that talent as well. To make a long story short, he was finishing up his studies at the library late one evening and when he was walking back to his dorm he was attacked.”

  “He had no money, no worldly possessions, . . . nothing. All he had was this,” his voice waivered with emotion as he lifted his cross out from underneath his shirt to show Ava. “He had no idea how to defend himself. His assailants became angry when they discovered they had jumped someone for nothing and they stabbed him and slashed him several times over his torso.” He unbuttoned his shirt and sat up straight so Ava could see the now very faint well-healed scars catching the light from the flames.
Ava gasped, she hadn’t noticed them before, but then, she had never stared at his chest before either. She tried not to notice but she could not help but appreciate his toned and well defined chest and abdomen. She pushed those thoughts away as he continued.

  “They took the cross and fled, leaving him to die alone in the dark. He didn’t deserve it, . . . it was so sad,” he looked down and Ava could feel his emotions in the energy undulating, almost snapping around them. “It was then that I knew it was my time. After his last dying breath, I found my way in. I could heal him for the most part, but I was very lucky. One of his instructors found me and called an ambulance. I was taken to a nearby hospital and coaxed into a recovery. No one questioned why I couldn’t hardly speak, or know how to move. They thought I was him and chalked it all up to the attack. After the physical therapy was over, I was taken back to his room in the dorms. I wanted to find the people who had done this to him so I set out to do just that. It took me some time to locate them and although I was not very powerful back then, I was stronger than the average human.”

  He paused, taking a sip of his wine, effectively emptying the glass. “Imagine their surprise when they saw me,” he smiled bitterly. “I’m not proud of what I did, Ava, and I’m not saying it was the right thing to do, but I rid the world of those two murderers and got his cross back. It felt like justice to me. They killed a very innocent man. After that I went back to his room, ignoring all of his friends, packed up the few things he had that I could use and left. I never looked back.”

  “So that’s why Draves called you that? That and because you wear a lot of black?”

  “I meant it when I said I was no priest. Wherever his spirit is now, he’s probably damning me to Hell for all of the things I have done with his body,” James laughed softly, although his eyes betrayed the sadness he felt, even after all of this time.

  “I have another question,” she asked hesitantly.

  “Fire away,” he replied casually.

  “You said you chose him. But, as an Asterion, you could have chosen to be a woman, or . . . even an animal if you wanted.”

  “I suppose so. Though, I don’t think being an animal would have served me much of a purpose, unless I was trying to hide from someone.”

  “Then how did you know you were . . . male?”

  “None of us know really. When we were . . . created if you will, we have no gender. But as an essence we have sort of a yin and yang effect with our matches. Equal parts, a choice of human body has nothing to do with it initially. A certain kind of energy matches with a certain kind of energy. For example, what would two magnets of the same polarity do if they are held up together?”

  “They oppose one another.”

  “And if you take two magnets of the opposite polarity?”

  “They attract one another.”

  “Exactly. That is the simplest way I can explain our energy. This is what draws me to you.”

  “I see.” She had to admit that his explanation did shed some more light on the situation. He seemed to be waiting patiently for her to ask another question. She decided to change gears onto a new topic.

  “Do you believe in God?” She watched as his eyes grew wide, surprised by her question. He did not hesitate to respond.

  “Ava, you are the only proof I need to know that God does exist,” he said enthusiastically and smiled at her. Accepting that answer she moved on.

  “Are there other aliens out there?”

  He laughed out loud, shaking his head. “We are the aliens, where have you been?” He teased her and then paused. “Yes, there are creatures out there, but not what you would expect. Nothing from a gruesome science fiction movie where they abduct you, do horrible things to you, and then set you free . . . at least not that I’ve seen yet. No, it’s more like small forms of alien plant and animal life. You’ve eaten a lot of it already,” he looked satisfied with his explanation. “Melanie and some of the others are in the process of categorizing and studying it,” he gestured towards the ocean that forever pushed towards them wave after wave. “There are animals, fish, and marine life out there and on land, though we have not identified all of them yet. By the way, that reminds me. When you have your swimming lesson with Emma, stick to the shallows here . . . just in case.”

  Ava looked horrified for a moment. “I can do that . . . I have one other question.” He nodded.

  “Are you disappointed that I am human?”

  James again looked surprised, and then thoughtful for a few moments before he replied. “I think my biggest fear, being what I am, was that I would never know you. Now, if I ever meet my end someday, at least I know that I am never leaving a potential mate alone, searching for me. It brings me a sense of peace.”

  Ava thought about this for a minute, almost clenching her hands at her side, thinking about his comment, acutely aware that he was studying her.

  “Have you ever had a relationship with someone special?”

  “I thought you didn’t have any more questions this evening,” he looked down at the sand.

  “You don’t have to tell me. . .”

  “No . . . it’s okay. I want you to know whatever you want to know about me. Yes, I’ve had a few relationships here and there with human women. It’s not considered very acceptable, or . . . proper if you will, by other Asterions. ”

  “Did they know what you were?” Ava was intrigued with curiosity.

  “Most didn’t, one did. But . . . she has been gone for a very long time now.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay Ava, I loved all of them, but it’s not the same as what I feel for you. Our lives are long and complicated. . . I’m not perfect. I’ve killed people, I’ve taken every drug known to man just to try and see what it felt like, seen everything that there is to see, and done everything that there is to do in this universe so far.” His openness surprised Ava. Wesley had never been that frank with her about his life. He continued to talk. “And if Robinson never admitted to you any of these things . . . then he’s lying . . . or perhaps just very boring,” he said with a smirk.

  “So you sleep around and take drugs like all of the popular musicians?” Ava raised an eyebrow.

  “Of course not Ava. The drugs didn’t touch me . . . and I don’t like smoke. I don’t have many relationships with women because it’s complicated. I could only be with the ones who didn’t know for a few years before leaving them, before they realized I didn’t age, and it was extremely sad for me when the woman who did know passed away.”

  “I see.” She didn’t know what else to say, she was still trying to digest everything that had been said.

  James noticed Ava’s quiet mood and continued; “you know you can ask me anything right?” She nodded, taking a final sip of her wine. “Come, the fire is burning down let’s go inside, it’s getting late.” He collected his glass and slung his guitar over his shoulder, rose, and offered Ava his other hand. She looked up at his handsome face and decided to take his hand. The energy flowed from him, engulfing her. It felt warm and not at all imposing as they walked up the beach, back towards the house.

  Chapter 22: Lessons

  “You’re gonna have to hit much harder than that if you want to defend yourself.”

  Ava was standing with her fists up in the “guard” position, scowling at Blayke, who had a grin on his face. Today was the second day of self defense lesions and Ava was wearing black gym shorts and a black and white sports bra brandishing puffy black boxing gloves. She had been trying futilely to beat him down. Emma stood with her, wearing her own similar attire, except her gloves were red. So far they appraised Ava’s blocking skills to be satisfactory, however her defensive blows were weak in comparison.

  “Again,” Emma commanded.

  Ava once again began her assault jabbing at Blayke’s curved punch mitts, moving as he moved, trying to not let him escape. She was very aware of James’ watchful and amused expression from across the room. He had recently arrived to pick
her up. The sweat poured down her flushed cheeks, her trainers on the other hand, scarcely showed any sign that this was any sort of exertion at all. There weren’t many people in the gym at this hour; it was nearly nine o’clock at night. Between the swimming, driving, weight training, and self defense lessons there hardly seemed to be enough hours in the day. But then, this is what she had asked for; knowledge and distraction, and she got it.

  “All right, enough for one day,” Emma pronounced as Ava leaned over on her knees, breathing heavily. Blayke removed the mitts then tossed a towel at her and she wiped the sweat off of her face.

  “Good job keeping pace with him,” Emma commented.

  “I just follow the buzz,” Ava replied, her breathing starting to come down.

  “The buzz?”

  “You know . . . your energy.”

  “You can feel us?”

  “Yeah, all of you. You each have a slightly different edge.”

  “Why didn’t you tell us?” Emma exclaimed, exchanging glances with Blayke.

  “I thought you knew.”

  “No! This is great though! It could be a definite advantage for you in a fight.”

  “I never thought about that.”

  “Yes, especially if you are faced with an Asterion adversary.”

  “I thought all humans could sense you if you didn’t conceal your energy?”

  “They usually don’t, but even as quiet as we keep it . . . you can? You are a rare breed Ms. Amherst,” Emma joked. “We should find some way to test your ability,” she continued. Then it looked as though an idea sparked into her mind. Ava let it drop as she excused herself to go back to the locker room.

  “I’ll get my things and be with you in a few minutes,” she said to James as he drew near. He nodded and turned to talk to his friends as she left.

  Ava pressed her thumb on the plate of the steel locker door and it unlocked, giving her access to her things. As she began to undo her hand wraps someone began to speak to her.