Answering Ascension

by Amy Proebstel

  Once she was satisfied the room was empty, she tentatively stepped inside. Most of the equipment had been removed; however, the chair to which she had been strapped was a prominent feature in the corner. She shivered with the recollection of being involuntarily strapped to the chair before having electroshock therapy administered.

  She pulled her stare away from the chair and began to methodically search the room for any clues. She opened the empty cupboards and drawers without any success. It was a relief, really, since it meant they could get out of the creepy room. She could not get over the sense of being watched the whole time they were in there.

  Diane had stood in the doorway, making sure nobody shut them in the room. She watched as Amanda searched everywhere and was glad when she was done.

  “Let’s get out of here,” Amanda said as she marched past her mother to head back to the elevator. She punched the elevator call button and was even further relieved when the doors immediately opened. Amanda stepped in first and waited for her mother to join her. She pressed the button for the fourth floor and did not breathe until the doors clunked solidly shut on the view of the basement corridor.

  She let out her breath loudly and said, “I had to get that over with first. I’m glad it’s over now.”

  “Was that room like you remembered?” Diane asked.

  “Exactly like my memory. Of course, there was more equipment, but the chair was the same,” Amanda replied and shivered again.

  “I’m sorry, Amanda. I don’t know what this is all about but seems like you had some pretty scary dreams while I was sitting with you at the hospital. If I had known, I would have tried to comfort you more.” Diane felt helpless to help her daughter through this venture.

  “It’s enough that you’re here with me now, Mom. I’m really thankful not to be doing this alone,” she said as she reached over and hugged her mom with one arm over her mother’s shoulders.

  “Me, too,” Diane agreed.

  The elevator door opened to a well-lit corridor. The two of them stepped out and looked first one direction and then the other. Amanda could see the nurse’s station and thought it was as good of a place to begin as any. She walked confidently toward the desk until a powerful force hit her and stopped her dead in her tracks.

  Diane bumped into Amanda since she had stopped so suddenly. “What is it, Amanda? What’s wrong?” She looked around them with wide eyes, anticipating danger from any direction.

  “Don’t you feel that, Mom?” Amanda whispered.

  “Feel what?” Diane demanded.

  “That power! It’s so strong! How can you not feel that, Mom?” Amanda turned her body until she was facing the direction where the pull felt the strongest. She began walking slowly to keep her senses trained on the source of the energy reaching out to her.

  Diane trailed after her daughter. She could see Amanda was concentrating intently and did not want to disturb her concentration with unnecessary questions. She smiled at herself because she knew if Chris had been there, he would have been seeking answers to a million questions and talking non-stop.

  Amanda stopped walking when she came to a patient room. She looked up and almost laughed when she saw it was room 426. The very room from her dreams. With a small push, the door slowly swung open to show the small cot still in place on the far wall and the small table next to it. She had spent so many hours sitting on that very bed. She had also relearned how to use her crystal on that last fateful day.

  Amanda took a couple of steps into the room. She turned around to say something to her mother when her attention was caught by the comic strips taped to the wall. It had been a small detail she had written about in her journal, but now it seemed important. The facility did not have any decoration whatsoever. These comics had no place on the wall. She reached up and pulled them from off of the wall.

  “What do you have there, Amanda? Is it a clue?” Diane asked as she came up beside her daughter to see what she had found. “Comics?” she asked with a puzzled expression. She looked back at where they had been taped to the wall and gasped out loud. She pointed to the hole in the wall, but could not manage to say a single word.

  Amanda looked over to where her mother was pointing and could not believe what she was seeing. Inside the wall was one of the missing samaras. She stepped forward and reached in and took hold of the samara.

  As soon as her skin came in contact with the ancient crystal, Amanda began to see visions. There were too many of them going by too fast to be able to really understand what she was seeing. By instinct, she concentrated her own crystal’s power to try to direct the flow of information. Several minutes passed as Amanda stood transfixed by the samara. Finally, the trance dissipated.

  Amanda turned and looked at her mother with wide eyes, “I know now what I have to do next!”

  Follow Amanda’s amazing adventures in

  ASCENSION SEEKERS.

  People

  Ahn – / ah n / – Husband of Barla. Father of Gravin and Rasa. Harbor Master at the Port of Cresdon in Thulen. Former shipping captain.

  Alena – / ah leyn a / – Born Ab 26, 3417. Maiden name: Bellen. Marriage Date: Tishri 16, 3436. Wife of Bryon. Mother of Justan and Kyelon. Adoptive mother to Jena and Juila. Trained as a wise-woman.

  Amanda – / uh man duh / – means ‘beloved.’ Born September 28, 1972, in Florida. Maiden name: Covington. Daughter of Chris and Diane. Wife of Riccan. Mother of Juila and Jena. Cousin to Gravin and Rasa. Former fiancé of Nealand.

  Andera – / an dair uh / – Born Tishri 12, 3439. Daughter of Zeka. Betrothed to Justan. First-daughter of Bryon and Alena.

  Andy Brun – / an dee broohn / – Neighbor friend of Riccan’s on Earth. Involved in rock throwing trouble.

  Angie – / an jee / – Nealand’s new girlfriend.

  Barla – / bahr luh / – Born January 21, 1945, in Wisconsin. Maiden name: Silnack. Formerly known as Barbara. Sister of Diane. Aunt of Amanda. Wife of Ahn. Mother of Gravin and Rasa. Raised Jena and Juila until they were six anons old.

  Behn – / ben / – Earth Surname: Wilson. Triplet brother to Valentina and Jon. Sent to Earth by mother from Tuala when he was eight anons old. Tall with brown hair and brown eyes.

  Bistea – / bis tee uh / – Vendor at the marketplace in Kirma. Patient of Alena’s.

  Bryon – / brahy uh n / – Born Heshvan 2, 3416, in Kirma. Surname: Kesh. Marriage Date: Tishri 16, 3436. Husband of Alena. Father of Justan and Kyelon. Former adoptive father to Jena and Juila. Manager of Kirma Shipping and Receiving.

  Celia – / see lee uh / – Surname: Scamp. Gypsy family who stayed with Thomas Rockwood in France around 1800. Wife to Sampson. Mother of a sick daughter who received help from Thomas.

  Ceren – / sair in / – Born approximately 3412. Adopted son of Ahn and Barla. Works at the Port of Cresdon for Captain Ahn.

  Chelesa – / chuh lay suh / – Wife of Elder Debbon. Mother of Willian.

  Chris – / kris / – Surname: Covington. Husband of Diane. Father of Amanda and two other daughters.

  Cleon – / klee on / – Transport operator at Kirma Shipping and Receiving.

  Copa – / kohp uh / – Wise-woman for the district of Desio. Person who healed Ninan. She helped Amanda escape from Elder Vargen and found a home for Jena and Juila.

  Corva – / kor vuh / – Foster child of Ahn and Barla. Her parents died in a house fire.

  Crysta – / kris tuh / – Head maid at Elder Debbon’s estate.

  Daven – / dav uhn / – Surname: Stel. Son of Edwin and Murisa. Husband of Nena. Father of Riccan. Brother of Sanda, Stina, Phen, Zuna, Rucen. Student of Jehoban. Elder whose base of power is on Pantano.

  Debbon – / deb uhn / – Elder whose base of power is on Elder Isle. Husband of Chelesa. Father of Willian.

  Denana – / day naw nuh / – Employee in the Engineering Department at Telepod Engineering Company.

  Diane – / dahy an / – Born October 1, 1947. Maiden name: Silnack. Sister of Barbara and Saul. Wife of Chr
is. Mother of Amanda and two other daughters.

  Dr. Flores – / flohr ez / – The doctor treating Amanda in the hospital in Cancun.

  Edwin – / ed win / – Surname: Stel. Husband of Murisa. Father of Daven, Sanda, Stina, Phen, Zuna, Rucen. Rucen died in a telepod accident when he was just twenty-two. Engineer at the Roswell Museum. Started a Construction Supply Company on Tuala. Started a Consulting Business when they moved to Acaim when Daven was six.

  Ela Nena – / eluh nay nuh / – Married name: Dunless. Wife of Teden Dunless. Executive VP of Customer Operations at Telepod Engineering Company. Riccan’s boss.

  Ellen – / el uh n / – Mother of Barla, Saul, and Diane. Maiden name: Hill. Married name: Silnack.

  Farmer Joe – Washington asparagus farmer and former owner of the outhouse used by Riccan for senior prank.

  Fordin – / ford in / – Former seaman friend of Ninan. Confidant of Ninan’s dealings with Petre.

  Frasnia – / fraz nee uh / – Secretary at Kirma Shipping and Receiving.

  Gatson – / gat suh n / – Personal body guard for Elder Debbon. Main home is on the Elder’s Islet at the seat of power.

  Gilora – / gil or uh / – Employee at Telepod Engineering Company under Riccan. Interviewer of Amanda.

  Gravin – / gra vin / – Born Elul 30, 3421, in Port of Cresdon. Son of Ahn and Barla. Brother of Rasa. First cousin of Amanda.

  Grobin – / grow bin / – Leader of the Roanoke Colony in Tuala.

  Gwenda – / gwen duh / – Employee at Telepod Engineering Company under Riccan. Interviewer of Amanda.

  Hashma – / hash muh / – A prostitute at the Lookout Tavern. Filed a sexual assault lawsuit against Petre. Mother of Petre’s child.

  Issyn – / ih sin / – Shipping captain who rescued Amanda from swimming. Friend of Captain Ahn. Main port of call is Port of Cresdon.

  Jasmine Medin, MD – / med in / – Doctor at Cannon Memorial Asylum under Dr. Stephen Gascon.

  Jehoban – / juh ho ban / – Means ‘of all the people’ who is the creator of everything. Earth equivalent: God.

  Jena – / jen uh / – Born Iyar 22, 3443, in Kirma. Daughter of Amanda and Riccan. Twin sister of Juila. First-daughter of Elder Debbon and Chelesa. Betrothed to Willian.

  Jenny – / jen ee / – A dance team member from Amanda’s high school.

  Jern – / jurn / – A trusted friend of Bryon’s.

  Jesisca – / jes is kuh / – The name given to Amanda from Petre.

  Jessa – / jes uh / – The name given to Elder Debbon from Petre for Jena’s mother.

  Jessica Taivas – / jes i kuh tay vuhs / – Wife of Nealand Taivas Sr. Mother of Nealand Taivas Jr.

  Jon – / jawn / – Earth Surname: Wilson. Triplet brother to Behn and Valentina. Sent to Earth by mother from Tuala when he was eight anons old. Leaner and slightly shorter than Behn. Brown hair and blue eyes. Quiet by nature.

  Jonan – / jawn uhn / – Bullying neighbor of Ahn and Barla.

  Jose – / hohz ey / – Mexican man who found Amanda on the beach in Cancun.

  Juila – / joo ee luh / – Born Iyar 22, 3443, in Kirma. Daughter of Amanda and Riccan. Twin sister of Jena.

  Justan – / juhs tan / – Born Elul 21, 3439, in Kirma. Surname: Kesh. Son of Bryon and Alena. Betrothed to Andera. Brother of Kyelon.

  Kanekoa – / kan eh koh uh / – Person who sells her house to Ninan in Kirma.

  Kendon – / ken duhn / – Employee at Telepod Engineering Company under Riccan. Interviewer of Amanda.

  Kenen – / ken un / – Manager of the telepod crystal quarry in Beewa.

  Kiya – / kahy uh / – A wise-woman in training with Alena.

  Kyelon – / kahyl on / – Born Tishri 30, 3440, in Kirma. Surname: Kesh. Son of Bryon and Alena. Brother of Justan.

  Lana – / law nuh / – Maiden name: Gurdin. Receptionist at Telepod Engineering Company in Durseni.

  Lillia – / lil ee uh / – A Tualan who gave a crystal skull to Maria’s family in Campeche, Mexico. Girlfriend of Lucinden. Keeper of the master samara.

  Lindon – / lin duhn / – A friend of Bryon’s who took him to Earth as a teenager.

  Lucinden – / loo sin den / – One of the original angels of Jehoban. He confronted Jehoban for rule of the people and Jehoban banned him and his followers to Tuala.

  Luke – / lük / – Surname: Thompson. Friend of Behn, Jon, and Ryan. Very athletic.

  Maria – / mah ree ah / – The keeper of the crystal skull in Campeche, Mexico.

  Mary – Riccan’s housekeeper. Cleans every Friday.

  Melba – / mel buh / – Head house maid for Elder Daven. Lives in Pantano.

  Miorlen – / mee ohr len / – Legal advisor for Elder Debbon.

  Mosan – / mow san / – The second-in-command in the Roanoke Colony in Tuala.

  Murisa – / m yur ih sah / – Born in Tuala. Employee of Elder Vargen sent to work in the Roswell Museum in 1947. Wife of Earthborn Edwin Stel. Mother of Daven, Sanda, Stina, Phen, Zuna, Rucen. Grandmother of Riccan.

  Nealand Taivas – / neel uh nd tay vuhs / – Son of Nealand Taivas Sr. and Jessica Taivas. Former fiancé of Amanda. Also known as Neal.

  Nealand Taivas Sr. – / neel uh nd tay vuhs / – Husband of Jessica. Father of Nealand Jr.

  Nena – / nay nuh / – Married name: Stel. Wife of Daven. Mother of Riccan. Occupation: Teacher. Lives in Pantano.

  Ninan – / nahyn un / – Surname: Tigua. Unemployed seaman. Worked undercover for Petre to locate Jesisca. Traveled to Kirma to look for Jesisca. Works for Bryon at Kirma Shipping and Receiving. Address: Thursto Block 43-3, Kirma.

  Nurse Bota – / boht uh / – The nurse who took care of Amanda in the hospital in Cancun.

  Petre – / pee ter / – Surname: MacVeen. Formerly known as Petren, lost social status and forced to lose the honorific ‘n’ at the end of his name. Wears a black onyx ring showing his status as a Master Deceptor. First person on Tuala to encounter Amanda. Kidnapped Jena and sold her to Elder Debbon under the guise of a betrothal agreement.

  Phen – / fen / – Surname: Stel. Son of Edwin and Murisa. Brother of Daven, Sanda, Stina, Zuna, Rucen.

  Rasa – / rah sah / – Born Tishri 5, 3423, in Port of Cresdon. Daughter of Ahn and Barla. Sister of Gravin. First cousin of Amanda. Student of Jehoban.

  Riccan – / rik an / – Surname: Stel. Son of Elder Daven and Nena. Husband of Amanda. Great nephew of Roderick. Chief Engineer at the Telepod Engineering Company. Popular racer of telepods.

  Roderick – / rod eh rick / – Surname: Rockwood. Great uncle to Riccan.

  Rualin – / roo ahl in / – A business associate of Petre.

  Rucen – / roo ken / – Surname: Stel. Son of Edwin and Murisa. Brother of Daven, Sanda, Stina, Phen, Zuna. Died in a telepod accident at the age of 22.

  Ryan – / rī ən / – Surname: Perino. Friend of Behn, Jon, and Luke. Very athletic.

  Sampson – / samp sun / – Surname: Scamp. Gypsy family who stayed with Thomas Rockwood in France around 1800. Husband to Celia. Father of a sick daughter who received help from Thomas. Giver of the crystal skull to Thomas.

  Sanda – / san duh / – Surname: Stel. Daughter of Edwin and Murisa. Sister of Daven, Stina, Phen, Zuna, Rucen.

  Saul – / sawl / – Born in Wisconsin. Brother of Barla and Diane.

  Shemalla – / shem al uh / – Maiden Name: Paramasivam. Born in Pantano. Employee at the UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell, New Mexico. Apprentice to Elder Vargen.

  Sherry – / sher ee / – Amanda’s best friend from high school.

  Sofia – / so fee uh / – Surname: Castillo. Her family moves to Florida from Argentina in 1993. First friend of Jena and Juila on Earth.

  Stavin – / stav in / – A boyhood friend of Bryon’s.

  Stephen Gascon, MD – / gas cuhn / – Director at Cannon Memorial Asylum.

  Stina – / stee nuh / – Surname: Stel. Daughter of Edwin and Murisa. Sister of Daven, Sanda, Phen, Zuna, Rucen.

  Sydney – / sid nee / – F
ather of Barla, Saul, and Diane. Surname: Silnack.

  Tana – / tan uh / – Next-door-neighbor of Bryon and Alena in Kirma. Caretaker of Justan, Andera, and Kyelon.

  Teden – / ted en / – Surname: Dunless. Husband of Ela Nena. Accounting Manager at Telepod Engineering Company.

  Thomas – / tom uhs / – Surname: Rockwood. Born in France in 1776. Great-grandfather to Roderick. Recipient of the crystal scull in trade in 1800 from a gypsy family.

  Valentina – / val ehn tee nuh / – Earth Surname: Wilson. Triplet sister to Behn and Jon. Sent to Earth by mother from Tuala when she was eight anons old. Tall with blonde hair and brown eyes.

  Vargen – / vahr guh n / – Elder. Co-founder of the Old Soul Engineering Facility.

  Vinia – / vin ee yuh / – Mother of Behn, Valentina, and Jon. Member of the Roanoke Colony.

  Watchers – / woch er / – Spoken of in the history of the crystal skulls.

  Willian – / wil yan / – Son of Elder Debbon and Chelesa. Betrothed to Jena.

  Zeka – / zee kah / – Daughter of Bryon’s father’s business partner. Mother of Andera.

  Zuna – / zoo nuh / – Surname: Stel. Daughter of Edwin and Murisa. Sister of Daven, Sanda, Stina, Phen, Rucen.

  Places

  Acaim – / uh kām / – Island where Jehoban lives. Earth equivalent: Jamaica.

  Ascension Gate – / ə sen SHən ɡāt / – A link between the levels of reality, most of the Gates are set between Earth and Tuala. Where the ley lines intersect, the elemental energy is the strongest, creating a vortex of plasma power where a person can control movement between Tuala and Earth.

  Beewa – / be wuh / – Location where telepod crystals are mined. Earth equivalent: Merida, Mexico.

  Cannon Memorial Asylum – Located in North Carolina. Built in 1962 and shut down in 1999.

  Cerid – / sair id / – Location of creditors issuing a death and dismemberment order against Petre. Earth equivalent: Corpus Christi, Texas.

  Chapel of the Bells – Located in Reno, Nevada, where Riccan and Amanda were married.