by Mikayla Lane
“Are you doing all right?” Deanna whispered as she cuddled against his chest and smothered another yawn.
“Of course. I’m just a little tired and a lot hungry,” he admitted.
“Traditional Terran food is also provided at the Welcoming Center. There is also a Dranarian chef who will gladly help introduce you the local tri-world foods,” Tryne called out with a grin at Haruki.
Ainsley giggled from his shoulder.
“I think he heard you were hungry. I’m starving too,” she whispered then yawned.
Haruki sighed in relief when the automated voice let them know they’d arrived at their destination. He waited until the humans had all exited the ship before he stood, carrying Ainsley with one arm and helped Deanna to her feet with the other.
Deanna gladly took his hand and stepped out of the ship. She sucked in a startled breath at the tropical paradise in front of them.
“It looks just like a Caribbean resort,” she whispered in awe.
Haruki just nodded his head in agreement as he tried to map the new surroundings in his mind. As he sent out a wave of energy, he sensed the Dranovians that appeared to be guarding the perimeter of the area.
Small lights dotted a stone path that led to a large four-story building that was surrounded by lush trees and plants. As they made their way along the trail, Haruki saw that the building was also off the ground and offered a clear view of a vast, ocean-like body of water.
“Oh! Is that an ocean?” Deanna asked. As did several others.
Ainsley turned in Haruki’s arms so she could see it and took a deep breath.
“It doesn’t smell like the ocean,” Ainsley observed.
“It’s Lake Xipitoni. It’s one of the largest on Dranar and has tides the way that your oceans do but none of the salt,” Tryne explained as he gestured to an escalator that began descending from one of the pillars.
“I was wondering how the hell they got in those homes and buildings back in the forest!” Harry said with a laugh.
“That’s so slick,” Dog agreed.
“I have to know how they do that,” one of the scientists whispered as he walked zombie-like towards the pillar.
They headed up the escalator and were greeted at the top by a dozen humans all dressed in the same blue tunics and pants. Behind them were another dozen beast species dressed in beige tunics and pants. One human man in his mid-30s stepped away from the others and smiled at them.
“I’m Jensen Barnes from Charlotte, North Carolina. I disappeared from Brown Mountain in 1956, when I was 22 years old while tracking the mystery lights. I know now that it was the portal I was taken through, just like all the humans in blue behind me,” he said gesturing to the others.
“How do you look so young?” Harry asked in wonder.
Jensen and the other humans chuckled.
“Advanced science and medicine,” Jensen admitted as he gestured to those in the beige tunics. “The people behind us are the Dranarians and native to this planet. They are friends, mentors and will start by putting all of you through cellular regeneration and healing.”
Everyone erupted in fear and curiosity, and Tryne whistled loudly to get them to quiet down.
“This isn’t optional. You do carry potential microbes that can wreck havoc on our worlds and our unique citizens. This will take 30 seconds, and you will see the benefits instantly,” Tryne explained, but no one seemed to be comforted by his words.
Suddenly Dog snorted and stepped forward with a grin. He turned back to the others and shook his head at them.
“Don’t be fools. I’ve seen what they can do and let me tell you, if I only get a few more years of being able to walk pain free around this amazing world, then it’s worth it,” he said then turned to Jensen with his arms thrown wide. “Bring it on!”
Jensen laughed and slapped Dog on the shoulder.
“You and I are going to be good friends. Hold still for 30 seconds,” Jensen said as he stepped back from Dog and a shimmering column of light came down and encircled him.
Dog ran his hands through the light and turned to the frightened scientists behind him.
“It doesn’t hurt at all,” he said in wonder. “It feels like someone is filling my insides with little bubbles.”
“Oh!” Deanna gasped and pointed at Dog. “Look at his hair.”
Dog’s grey head of closely cropped hair was now a gleaming black. The wrinkles that lined his eyes and forehead were gone and in their place was smooth skin. Even the dark brown of his eyes seemed to shine from within.
“What?” Dog asked with a grin just as the shimmering column disappeared.
“Damn, I don’t remember you ever being that handsome. It’s gotta be a trick. We don’t call you ugly Dog for nothing,” Harry teased, amazed at the transformation that happened in front of his eyes.
“How is that possible?” one man asked.
“We rejuvenate from a cellular level while repairing any genetic defects or anomalies that prevent you from reaching your full health potential,” a tall woman in beige replied.
“Hell, if it’s good enough for that ugly mug then it’s good enough for me,” Harry joked as he hugged Dog then took his place.
“Do I have to do that?” Ainsley whispered.
“No, honey. That’s only for the humans to make them healthy again. We have beasts for that,” Haruki explained.
“That is very true,” Tryne agreed. “Now come with me while I explain the layout to you and the security measures.”
Haruki let Ainsley slide out of his arms and take the hand not holding Deanna’s as they followed Tryne to a large desk area near the escalator. Tryne moved behind the desk and tapped his fingers across, causing it to light up before he smiled at the three of them.
“This will be the first time we have a Prime, Dranovian, and a hybrid staying in the Welcoming Center so I’m going to go over all the security measures and basics with you,” Tryne said.
“Thank you. I appreciate that,” Haruki replied, grateful the man was so considerate.
“Everything runs on energy so your beast can operate anything in here. The first two floors are common areas,” Tryne explained as he pulled up a map of the building and surrounding area. “Video, music and book libraries, dining rooms, medical facility, shops, tour bookings and training centers.”
“Tour bookings?” Deanna asked in surprise.
“Yeah, that was an added touch of Helena’s,” Tryne said with a chuckle. “Some of our humans find it easier to venture out into new places with a group. Especially our more dangerous areas where we don’t recommend they go.”
“You don’t think they should be there but set up tours?” Haruki asked.
“The tours are planned by us, and we provide escorts and security to and from the area. We found that alleviating their curiosity prevents them from rushing into a dangerous situation to see for themselves. That lesson was well-learned from Helena and many others before and after her,” Tryne replied with a laugh.
“We are kind of stubborn like that,” Deanna admitted.
“That’s an understatement,” Tryne muttered under his breath before pointing to the next two floors. “Floor three is solely living apartments. The walls in between the apartments are retractable, so I’m giving you the corner three rooms closest to the escalator so you can freshen up or rest a moment. The fourth floor is observation, aerial transportation and dining.”
“I don’t think we’ll be here long enough for the apartments, but thank you,” Haruki said, not wanting to be there longer than they had to.
As interesting as the place was, Haruki wasn’t sure he wanted to remain here while the situation at home, with his brothers, was still unresolved. If he and his brothers were really allowed to come back when they wanted to, he would love to see and learn more about the place later.
“One step at a time,” Tryne said, then pointed to the outer areas of the building. “Here are the external recreation centers. There is boat
ing on the lake, hiking along the shore and swimming. Meditation and reflection areas dot the forest paths, and volleyball is at the beach.”
“You have volleyball?” Ainsley’s voice reflected her shock.
“Yes, many humans have left their mark on this center in an effort to help those who come after them adjust better,” Tryne told her with a smile.
Then Tryne motioned to a darker area on the map that surrounded the whole place including a great distance into the lake.
“This outer perimeter is patrolled by the Order for the protection of the humans. If you want to travel, land or aerial transport is provided. Human, Dranovian, and beast bound staff the facility at all times and can answer any questions,” Tryne looked specifically at Haruki. “Only a Dranovian or their family members can land on a Talunaha that contains a portal. The one to Terra is on Macadar. Tell any transport vehicle to take you there and it will. You know how to reach the portal from the top.”
“Are you going somewhere? What’s going on? Why do you think we’re going to be here a while?” Haruki demanded as he turned his attention inward.
“Mikal? What the hell is going on? Are you guys all right?” Haruki demanded through the shengari’.
“Dad?” Ainsley asked, wondering what was wrong and why his mood had changed.
“Calm down,” Tryne said, holding his hands up. “Whether you’re here for another hour or come back and stay a few days, you need to know how to get to and from the portal to your world. I don’t think you’re ready to go to the wrong one and end up on another Dranovian world you aren’t prepared for. We have some . . . pretty scary looking brethren if you aren’t expecting them.”
“What?” Haruki whispered. He was pretty sure he heard Tryne wrong.
“You honestly didn’t think we only had a portal to Terra, did you? All Dranovian worlds have Talunaha’s to the others. You just happened to be lucky enough to activate the one to us,” Tryne explained with a grin.
“Macadar, right?” Deanna asked, then repeated. “Macadar takes us home.” She damn sure wanted to remember that.
Tryne laughed and nodded his head at her.
“That’s right. Macadar takes you home. At some point, you may want to check out the other worlds, but I really wouldn’t recommend it until you adapt a little more to ours first,” Tryne suggested.
“Dranovians can travel the portals to all the other worlds? Can their kids go too?” Ainsley asked.
Tryne leaned down to look at Ainsley.
“Because of who we are and the unique energy that we have, even our words have power. So when your Dad told you that he was adopting you, his words created an energy imprint on you that tells us that you’re one of ours,” Tryne explained, surprising even Haruki who had never heard of such a thing before.
“Can you see it? Where is it?” Ainsley asked excitedly.
“Only a Dranovian can see it, but it’s a small mark under your ear,” Tryne said, brushing his finger over the spot. “It shimmers with energy, and when you’re in a crowd of people, we can still see it as a halo around you.”
“Is that true?” Ainsley asked, turning to Haruki to answer.
“I honestly don’t know honey,” Haruki replied, at a loss about the truth of it. “I don’t see a mark, though.”
He looked intently at Ainsley’s neck and saw no such shimmering energy symbol like Tryne was speaking about. He glared at the man, concerned that he was lying to his daughter.
“It is the truth,” Tryne argued. “You wouldn’t see it on your own child or family member but you would on another. Wait for just a second, and I can prove it.”
Tryne looked around the room, and moments later a tall blond man walked over to them, and Haruki smothered his gasp when he saw a shimmering triangle under his left ear.
“That’s incredible,” Haruki whispered.
Tryne just laughed and waved the man back to where he was helping with the humans.
“That’s what the rest of us see on your daughter,” he said with a satisfied smirk.
“Did you see it, Dad?” Ainsley asked, her eyes hopeful.
“Yeah, honey, I really did see it,” Haruki answered, still trying to process it.
“I really do belong now, don’t I?” Ainsley asked as tears shimmered in her lovely blue eyes.
“Oh!” Deanna whispered as a tear slid down her cheek, and she pulled the girl into a hug.
Haruki hugged both of his girls close and kissed the tops of their heads.
“You will always belong to me,” he whispered.
A thought occurred to him, and he looked at Tryne curiously.
“How come we’ve never seen this at home? My brothers would have said something if they’d seen it. Mikal has an adopted daughter as well, and we’ve never seen it on her either,” Haruki said, his confusion evident in his tone.
“The same reason you don’t see it on your daughter. It’s a family thing. The mark is to let other Dranovians know to protect your family. You wouldn’t see it on your brother’s child because you’ve adopted her in the same way that he did, you don’t need the mark to know she’s family and needs your protection. You will see only the marks of those outside of your family,” Tryne explained.
“That’s incredible,” Haruki repeated. “How do we not know all of this?”
“Alderic says you were the first to activate a Talunaha and a portal. You can’t know what no one was there to teach. We will help you to learn your power and your place on Terra. Once you have a Sotier and a regimen of training and learning, you will do fine,” Tryne assured Haruki as he slapped him on the back.
Chapter Nineteen
Haruki paced the spacious living area of the apartment that he had said he wouldn’t need. He assumed they’d be going home when he heard back from Mikal that they were having problems at the mountain with Mike’s men.
Haruki’s first reaction was to go back and help his brothers, but Mikal had assured him that Alderic was doing a hell of a job and that Deanna and Ainsley would be safer staying on Dranar. Mikal had also asked him to learn as much as he could so they could have a meeting about everything when he returned.
The problem with that was Haruki felt like his brain was exploding from all the things he was learning and he was exhausted. Under the guise of giving them some privacy and food, Tryne had ushered them upstairs and showed them how to use the food duplicator.
It hadn’t been long before Ainsley was asleep on the table next to Deanna and Haruki had carried her to one of the bedrooms and laid her on the bed. Deanna covered her with the blankets and lay beside Ainsley before she looked up at Haruki.
“I’ll stay with her,” Deanna whispered and covered a yawn.
Haruki smiled as he leaned down and kissed her cheek.
“Get some rest. I’ll be in the next room,” he whispered and left them to go back to Tryne who was relaxing in an overstuffed chair.
He was still pacing the room when Tryne cleared his throat, drawing Haruki’s attention from his own thoughts.
“I know you’re worried about everything, but it’s all going to be OK. Alderic called for a backup team, and they’re working with your brothers to secure your Talunaha. Once it’s secured, Alderic will teach them how to keep it hidden,” Tryne said, hoping to make the pacing man feel better.
“You sent more people from here to Earth?” Haruki asked surprised Mikal hadn’t mentioned it when they spoke.
Tryne nodded his head.
“Two dozen of our best power workers have been there for hours now. Alderic said something about magnifying the Tezarians abilities to create a convincing show. He was also a little pissed that they were being shot at and growled about taking a bunch of nasty humans out,” Tryne said with a grin.
Haruki continued pacing again as he thought about it and figured they would need more skilled people to help with the illusion. He expected his brothers to go through a crash course and didn’t think of them sending help from Dranar.
“Would it help if you asked questions?” Tryne prodded, trying to help ease Haruki’s apprehension.
Haruki moved to the couch and threw himself into it, trying to relax.
“I’m just not sure what to think about anything right now. It’s been a hell of a few days for me,” he admitted.
“Didn’t your parents have any idea what you were? Didn’t they help you?” Tryne couldn’t help but ask and wished he hadn’t when Haruki flinched. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“No! It’s OK,” Haruki replied, taking a deep breath. “I was ten when my mom started to go rogue. My father and I tried to ignore it and pretend she wasn’t getting worse every day but I came home from fishing one day and found her standing over my father. She’d stabbed him so many times he was almost decapitated. It was the first time I ever expulsed a beast and killed the host. I had no idea I was different until that moment.”
“By the Gods!” Tryne whispered as he scrubbed his hand down his face. “I am so sorry. I can’t imagine such a thing. How did you find your brothers?”
Tryne was hoping that shifting the conversation from the horrific events would help.
“I didn’t find them,” Haruki said with a snort. “My adopted father found me. I walked four days to a forest at the bottom of Mt. Fuji and was going to kill myself with my dad’s sword when my adopted father and three of my brothers found me. I was pretty shocked to learn they were like me, even though none of us really knew what we were.”
“Damn, I really wish I hadn’t said anything,” Tryne muttered, feeling sick at Haruki’s past.
“It was a long time ago. I have healed considerably since then because of my adopted family, but I thank you for your sympathy,” Haruki said, not liking the pity he felt from Tryne.
“So all you knew of our people was from the Valendrans and Tezarians?” Tryne asked, wondering how the hell Haruki learned as much as he had about his power.
“Yeah, we found out we’re not really liked by them and scare the hell out of their beasts. Naturally, we’ve hidden from them as much as possible,” Haruki admitted with a slight grin.
