Ascension Discovery

by Amy Proebstel

  “That’s going to take a while,” scoffed Chris, “what with the museum and all.”

  “That’s exactly what Elder Vargen thought, too,” Shemalla agreed. “Because of the museum, he has assigned Tualans to the Roswell case ever since it opened to make sure that all traces of Tuala remain hidden.

  “Of course, when I heard you mention Tuala, you can imagine how startled I became.” She looked around the room at her three guests to emphasize her position.

  Diane nodded and raised her eyebrows expectantly for Shemalla to continue.

  “Anyway, I was stationed in this position when my predecessor reached the end of his work contract and requested to be returned to Tuala. During my briefing in Tuala, I was made to understand that the Roswell incident is not common knowledge on Tuala and Elder Vargen would like it to remain that way. When I left, I had to tell my family I was going to Earth to study Earth’s technology, which, in a sense, is true.”

  “When is your assignment over?” Amanda could not resist asking.

  “Not for another twenty-two years.”

  “Wow, that’s a long time,” Diane gasped. “Didn’t you ever want to have a family?”

  “Oh, I can still have a family when I go back.”

  “Won’t you be too old to start a family by the time you go back?” Diane was now more than a little confused.

  “That’s the wonderful thing about this assignment, when I go back I’ll only have aged thirty-seven months: one month for every year spent here, which was also negotiated in my contract,” she said happily. “Elder Vargen will excuse the rest of my work life because of my service here.”

  “So you’re saying the time difference is not set in stone?” Chris inquired with interest.

  “Oh, not at all,” Shemalla replied with surprise. “The time difference varies for everyone depending on either what is previously agreed upon if they enter the gate using the control of an Elder or depending on what they are thinking about when they transfer through the gate unassisted. Some people control their shift to go forward or back in time depending on what they are trying to accomplish.

  “Teenagers who are trying to perform verifiable acts for their rights of passage are lucky since they have both a strong talisman in their birth crystal as well as a strong desire to return to their friends, their focus is on a specific time and place so they tend to return to a time almost immediately after they left.

  “You can see why the Elders would want to try to curb the Tualans from shifting into Earth and leaving mischief in their wake. Imagine a Tualan going back in time and trying to teach the people of Earth advanced techniques before the foundation of understanding was put into place. This would create havoc.

  “Or imagine a Tualan going into the future to try to steal technological secrets and bring them back to Tuala. This, too, would create an unfair advantage and could possibly create unrest in Tuala where the technology could be misused to the detriment of the people.

  “Because of the dangers Tualans could bring to both Earth and Tuala, the strongest gates between the two worlds are all protected by an Elder of Tuala. However, the gates on Earth do not have the same protection other than the simple fact that people of Earth do not know there is someplace to which they can navigate at those locations. Also, people from Earth do not know what words to say or what talismans to carry to create a safe passage between the worlds. Without that specific knowledge, the gates are relatively harmless to Earth’s people.”

  Amanda shivered at the thought of being lost between the worlds. She realized her engagement ring probably had acted as her talisman, and she silently thanked Nealand for her safe passage even if she would not spend the rest of her life with him. Amanda glanced at her father to see if he were going to pursue this line of questioning. She knew he could go on for a very long time just to satisfy his curiosity for both new ideas and unfamiliar technology.

  He gave her a small smile and a slight shrug of his shoulders and motioned for Amanda to ask the next question. Trying to turn the conversation back to the current situation, Amanda asked, “Are you able to communicate with your family while you’re here?”

  “Yes, but rarely. I have to be very careful what I communicate about since the amount of time I’m here isn’t the same as what happens in Tuala.”

  “So what do you do? Write? Talk through crystals? What?” Amanda was beginning to be as curious as her father.

  “I can write through my patil,” she said offhandedly all the while wondering if they would know the significance of a patil.

  “Really? How does your patil work through the gate?” Amanda asked with amazement.

  “Elder Vargen arranged it. I don’t know exactly how it works myself,” she said as she shrugged her shoulders. Seeing that Amanda showed no desire to ask about what a patil was demonstrated she was already familiar with the technology. “Now, may I ask you how you know so much about Tuala even though you claim to live in Florida?”

  Chris and Diane both shifted their gaze to Amanda as she looked at them. “I accidentally spent ten months there even though I was missing from Earth for fourteen months. Your explanation about the time differences explains that anomaly. While I was staying in Tuala, I also discovered that my mother’s sister, Barbara, was living in the Port of Cresdon. I didn’t find out she was my aunt until after I managed to return to Earth with a letter from her for me to give to her family.”

  Too late, Amanda remembered that her aunt would be in danger of being taken by the Elders if any Tualan knew of her existence. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and held out her hands beseechingly toward Shemalla and murmured, “Please don’t tell Elder Vargen about my aunt or her husband. She’s been a good Tualan citizen for over twenty years. I don’t want either of them being punished for my not keeping her secret!”

  “Oh,” Shemalla exclaimed and shook her head as she realized Amanda’s concern. “Please don’t worry about me telling. I’ve never agreed with the practice of holding Earth’s people captive for questioning when we Tualans regularly come to Earth to learn things.”

  Shemalla looked at Amanda and considered her next statement before she hesitantly said, “You were very fortunate to survive the passages there and back through the gate without preparation or protection. Tell me, how did you accidentally end up in Tuala?”

  Relief spread over Amanda’s face, and she slowly raised her gaze to look at Shemalla again. She took a deep breath through her nose and answered, “Somehow, the yacht I was in was transported through the gate. My fiancé and I found ourselves suddenly in a massive storm with high seas, thunder, and lightning. I don’t really know or understand how the transfer happened since I was knocked out on the floor after I split my head open on a table. I was found and held captive for several weeks by a madman named Petre MacVeen…”

  “Petre!” Shemalla gasped, “I’ve heard tales about him.”

  “It seems as though everyone in Tuala has heard of him!” Amanda exclaimed with amazement.

  “There aren’t that many master deceptors born on Tuala. He has infamously used his gifts for mischief and personal gain instead of for the good of all. Normally, a person with that status would seek employment in either government, counseling, or teaching. In any of those positions, they would be able to convince people to do good things with their lives with the least amount of resistance. But I digress, go on with your story please,” Shemalla prompted with a sense of dread as dire thoughts of what had probably happened to Amanda while being held by the notorious Petre MacVeen.

  Shemalla speculated more about the girl’s time alone with Petre as Amanda continued her story. Petre was not known for respecting women, and to have an unsuspecting and injured woman alone on his water craft for weeks, Shemalla shivered with ominous predictions about Amanda’s journey.

  “Well after several weeks on his boat, I jumped overboard and got rescued by a passing ship. I still didn’t know at that time that I was not on Earth anymore. I found out whe
n my Aunt Barbara told me after I got a job at the Port of Cresdon. Her husband knew there was something about me which reminded him of her, and he had her come and talk to me.

  “Everything started to make more sense then. I had to move to a safe house because Petre was searching for me, claiming that I was his wife, and he wanted me back. I moved to a city named Kirma with a really nice family that my Aunt Barbara knew. Several months later, I went hiking with Bryon, and I got caught in an avalanche and somehow ended up back on Earth.”

  “Wow, that’s amazing,” Shemalla began. She did not have any reason to disbelieve Amanda’s story since Amanda knew the names of so many people and places in Tuala. What she still did not know was why they had come to Roswell. With her curiosity piqued she had to ask, “So what brought you to the museum?”

  “That was my idea,” volunteered Chris. “Amanda needs to go back to Tuala, and we’re trying to figure out how to make it happen.”

  Shemalla turned to look at Amanda again as she asked, “Why do you need to go back? Is it to get your Aunt?”

  “Not exactly; although, I’d like to be able to tell her that we’re related and to let her know that her family is happy to know she’s safe.”

  “So if it’s not for your Aunt, why do you need to go back?”

  “I didn’t know if I should share everything with you, but I guess since you’ve been so honest with us, it’s only fair I tell you everything,” she started and waited for her parents to nod their approval. Once received, she continued, “I need to go back to get my babies.”

  Shemalla just stared at her. She did not know what to say.

  Concerned with Shemalla’s silence, Amanda asked, “Can you help me get back to Tuala?”

  “I…,” Shemalla paused and shook her head in concerned amazement and started again, “I don’t know. Give me a few days to see what I can arrange.”

  Chapter Seven

  “I’M CONCERNED ABOUT Amanda’s accounting of her own demise. I think we should put someone in her room on suicide watch.” Dr. Gascon looked up from the latest stack of notes given to him from Dr. Medin.

  “I don’t think that will be necessary. Amanda seems to be handling the situation. She has been discussing her time with her parents, and that shows me she is creating a support group for herself.” Jasmine Medin felt conflicted about her decision to give Dr. Gascon the latest session notes. The more she worked with her patient, Amanda, the more convinced she became that the young woman had experienced something extraordinary. Of course, she would never be able to tell Dr. Gascon her true feelings or he would take the case away from her.

  “I also don’t like her saying that Nealand has found another girlfriend and is denying that the children are his. These are classic signs of displaced feelings. She is hiding her guilt in his disappearance by creating a scenario where she is the wronged party and is, thereby, justified in keeping him out of her life. The Taivas family is paying good money for us to figure out what Amanda knows about their son’s disappearance. We need to do more to get answers for them.”

  Jasmine kept her thoughts to herself regarding the Taivas family’s money. She felt Dr. Gascon was more impressed with the amount of money the family had paid to take Amanda’s case than he was in getting to the truth of the matter. There was also the worry about Dr. Gascon’s interest in Amanda’s story in particular. Usually, he only took cursory notice of the patients except when he thought they may be able to increase his status in the field of psychiatry.

  Amanda’s story was too consistent to be a complete fabrication. Each person Amanda came into contact with had individual personalities and desires to help her. A mentally ill patient was not capable of creating such an elaborate setting while also maintaining continuity with their tale. Usually, it was as though the patient was explaining a dream where disjointed parts made sense at the time but when it was retold it did not make sense in the least.

  “I think we’re making progress. She’s only been here for ten days. I think given a little more time she will come to terms with what has happened to her, and she’ll be able to tell us everything we need to know.” Jasmine still could not forget the hypnosis session she had done with Amanda in her room before she had been medicated. It had been a risk going against Dr. Gascon’s orders, but one she felt had given her greater insight into Amanda’s journey.

  “Just so, I’d like you to push her a little harder during your sessions. We need to get to the truth as soon as we can.”

  “I’ll do everything I can. I’m meeting with her this afternoon.”

  “Well, it’s too bad I won’t be able to attend. I have a patient consult at Memorial Hospital just after lunch.”

  Jasmine could feel her pleasure bubbling up at the idea of Dr. Gascon being out of the building during her session with Amanda. This was just what she had been hoping for since she first began meeting with the young woman. Scheming ideas began to form in her head as she maintained an expression of neutrality.

  “I think we’re at a good point with Amanda since she is actively seeking a way back to Tuala. Maybe we can find out more about Nealand.”

  “I hope you’re right. I’ll read your notes when I get back into the office tomorrow morning. Good day, Dr. Medin.”

  Jasmine stood and replied, “Good day, Dr. Gascon.” She turned and left the office. Without missing a beat, Jasmine walked down to the nurse’s station and spoke with the attending nurse, “I’m going to be meeting with the patient in room 426 at 12:30 pm. I’d like to get her medicine dosage and take it with me so I can make sure it’s administered at the proper time without interruption during her session.”

  She could tell she sounded authoritative enough as the nurse nodded her head and immediately turned to gather the cup which had already been made ready for each room. Jasmine held out her hand and took the white paper cup containing three blue pills.

  “Thank you. I’ll be bringing the patient with me as I’m heading to my office right now.”

  She turned and walked confidently away from the desk and around the corner to get to Amanda’s room. Once she reached the right room, she briefly tapped on the door and waited for the request to enter.

  “Hi, Amanda. Would you mind coming to my office right now?”

  “Dr. Medin! I wasn’t expecting you until after lunch. Is everything alright?”

  “Absolutely. Let’s go to my office and we can talk freely, okay?”

  Amanda stood up from the bed in the middle of the room. She did not have anything personal in the room nor did she have any clothes to change into so she was ready immediately. Her curiosity was piqued, and she had many questions to ask since their unorthodox session had ended abruptly.

  They marched to Dr. Medin’s office, and Amanda was surprised when the doctor locked the door before she took her seat across from the brown, leather couch. For the first time, Amanda noticed the dreaded pills in the doctor’s hand. She had thought something good might come from this meeting, but now she was not so sure.

  Jasmine saw where Amanda had been looking and rapidly reassured her, “Don’t worry. I took these from the nurse’s station so they wouldn’t interrupt us to dispense your medication. I told them I’d give it to you at the proper time.” She balled up the paper cup with the pills still inside it and lobbed it across her office where it made a perfect arc into the metal wastebasket.

  “I don’t think you’ll be taking today’s dosage. I’d like your mind to be clear during our session if that’s okay with you?”

  Amanda could hardly believe what she had just witnessed. She thought all of the doctors were of one accord when it came to medicating the patients. Obviously, she had been mistaken. For the first time in over a week, Amanda felt as though she could breathe freely. Dr. Medin was clearly on her side, which was a good thing since she had so many questions.

  “I have a question for you, Dr. Medin.”

  Jasmine could see a change come over Amanda as she realized she had someone on her side.
She smiled reassuringly at Amanda and said, “Feel free to ask me anything.”

  “Out of all the times you and I have met, I hadn’t remembered anything about what was discussed except when you hypnotized me in my room. What was different about that time?”

  Jasmine looked down at her now-folded hands and sighed. The only way to maintain trust was to be honest with Amanda, “At the insistence of Dr. Gascon I’ve given you a post-hypnotic suggestion to forget what we have discussed at each meeting except the one in your room. I lost track of time and had to end the session abruptly when the attendant came to give you your pills. It’s against the rules to treat patients in their rooms so I couldn’t let him see you hypnotized.”

  Amanda had not expected a truthful answer and sat staring at the doctor as she processed the information. Not only had she admitted to keeping information from her she had also made herself vulnerable by sharing she had broken the rules. Amanda was not sure if she should be mad or relieved. Finally, she asked, “If you had paid attention to the time, would you have given me the post-hypnotic suggestion to forget?”

  It was a moment before Jasmine answered as she thought over the question. “I don’t believe I would have. I think you’ll make better progress if you can remember what we’ve discussed. If you like, I can give you a post-hypnotic suggestion in our session today which will negate any future suggestions. You see, when Dr. Gascon is here, he will be expecting me to be sure to adhere to his rules. I’d like you to continue to remember. Would you like me to do that for you?”

  “Absolutely! I’m desperate to remember everything.”

  “Okay sit back and we’ll do that right now. Dr. Gascon has said he’ll be out of the office for the rest of the afternoon, but just in case…”

  Amanda positioned herself on the couch so she was stretched out and as comfortable as possible. She took a deep breath and relaxed even more with the realization she would not be seeing Dr. Gascon that afternoon. She was unaccountably relieved at this latest news.