Pax takes my hand. “Does this relate at all to what Sheriff Green said yesterday? That something is wrong with the world and we have to fix it. Why us? And how?”
Sequoia sits down and her husband speaks, “Each of you has been genetically altered by the Star People in hopes that, together, you would be able to fulfill the ancient prophecy depicted by the symbols around the tetrahedron. You have gifts that will be necessary to complete your task, should you agree to take it on. The time and date of your birth is what made it clear to them that you four are the ones written about.”
“Finally,” Jewel says. “I’ve asked this a few times already. Why are our birthdays so important?”
Storm’s aunt answers, “You were born during the Grand Stellium in Taurus.”
“So what is that, and why is it important that we were born at that time?” asks Pax.
“The Grand Stellium occurs when the five inner planets and the sun and moon all gather in the sign of Taurus. It happens once every five hundred years. The constellation Taurus hosts the star cluster we know as the Pleiades. We Cherokee have always believed we are descendants of Star People whose original home was in the Pleiades.”
“But we were born on different dates,” I protest.
“You were also born in different time zones,” she explains. “You and Pax were born minutes apart on May 2, Pacific Time. Storm was born on May 2, Central Time, and Jewel on May 3, Eastern Time. In fact, you were all born just minutes apart.”
We look at each other in disbelief. We’re almost exactly the same age.
Pax looks at Storm and asks, “Aren’t you and your family Christians? Don’t you believe that God created mankind?”
Storm gives his aunt a pleading look, but she makes no move to answer. He looks relieved when Wolf speaks up, “Yes, we are, and we do believe that God is the Creator of the universe and everything and everyone in it. That includes the Star People, the reptilian aliens, the Watchers and every other sentient race. We also believe Creator planted the artifacts on other planets as well as Earth in order to keep everything working in harmony. It’s quite possible that the artifacts started to decline when Adam and Eve were tossed out of Eden and trouble began. The problem we have now is that we’ve reached a critical point and we’re in imminent danger.”
“Would the great flood have been a result of the same kind of imminent danger? With the exception of Noah and his family, everyone was wiped out.” Pax has a great many interests, but I didn’t know the Bible is one of them.
Sequoia explains, “According to our legends which speak of the great flood that covered the earth, a Cherokee family was also saved from the waters. We believe the Bible is true, but that more truth exists than can be contained in one book.”
Pax is persistent in his line of questioning. “If the artifacts malfunctioned and caused the flood, then who fixed them that time?”
“Perhaps God released the Great Flood, just as the Bible says. Perhaps the artifacts had nothing to do with those events. There is no mention of them in the Bible, so there is no way to know. Mysteries abound in every culture. The prophecy is one of them, and all we know is that you four fit the description of the ones chosen to save the world this time.”
“I have one last question, and then we really have to go. How does Jesus relate to the artifacts? He came to save the world, didn’t he?”
“Pax, Jesus came to save the people of the world. The artifacts are the living organs of the planet. It’s a different kind of salvation altogether,” Storm’s uncle answers.
I feel Pax’s satisfaction and send it out to the others. We may not sleep tonight, but it won’t be for lack of answers. We rise and get ready to leave.
“Wait a minute,” Jewel raises her voice for our attention. “Who are the Watchers?’
“You will meet them next weekend,” Sequoia assures us. “For now, concentrate on school and, Jewel, look at Marla without your glasses and tell us what you see.”
It seems there’s at least one answer we won’t be getting tonight.
THIRTEEN
PAXTON HUNTER FLETCHER
Why did I feel the need to push for Storm’s aunt and uncle to somehow reconcile Christianity and Cherokee beliefs? I’m not sure what I believe. The first time I met Pastor John in his office at school, he challenged me to read the Bible. I did, but it raised more questions than it answered. Now that I know about the artifacts, I can’t think of anything in the Bible that’s relevant to our role in fixing them. How will that even be possible, and is God interested in helping us do it? That is, if he exists.
Sky and I arrive at home without incident. The house is dark with the exception of the porch light. Our parents must have gone to bed. Tomorrow will come too soon for me. I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.
~~~~~
“Good morning!” Sky’s enthusiasm makes me want to dive under the covers.
“It’s too early, Sky,” I complain, just like every other school morning.
My living alarm clock pulls the pillow out from under my head and hits me with it. I toss the covers off and pretend I’m about to grab her, and she runs out of my room laughing. I wonder if other sisters are as annoying as mine.
We usually ride to school in my car, but after breakfast Sky says, “I’ll take my Mini today, Pax. You go ahead in your car.”
I get in my SUV and follow her red Mini Cooper all the way to the school parking lot. Who knew I’d be watching out for alien attacks in the backwoods of North Carolina? I thought we’d die of boredom here after our life in Stanford. Turns out, a little boredom would be nice.
We park our cars next to each other and I walk her into the building and then look for Storm.
“Haven’t you learned your lesson yet?” Storm’s raised voice rises above a commotion in the hallway where he and Max growl like two mad dogs. Max’s rough friends surround them, talking trash. Marla clutches several books and leans against a locker just outside the circle. She looks amused, until the books fly out of her arms and take aim for her boyfriend’s head.
“Stop,” I yell. “He’s not worth it, Storm!”
The books drop just shy of Max’s red face. The other boys disburse as soon as they spot the flying books. I can smell Storm’s anger and Max’s fear even with my scent guard up. Max turns and glares at me. He picks up Marla’s books, grabs her hand and marches down the hall. I catch a whiff of Marla’s strange and unpleasant odor, made more distasteful by her too-sweet perfume.
“What was that about?” I ask my friend. Storm’s eyes look dangerous. I’m glad Sky isn’t here to feel the darkness in him.
“Nothing. He was born a jerk and he’ll die one.” He mumbles something about getting to class and walks off. His leg must be feeling a lot better. I don’t even detect a limp.
I shrug and head to my Physics class, the only one I share with Jewel. The thought of her lifts my spirits.
She sits in the row in front of me, two desks to the right, and smiles as I walk past to my desk. I picture the vivid turquoise of her eyes, now hidden behind her glasses. She bends her head over an open book and I watch, fascinated, as a wave of shiny black hair drapes to hide the soft contour of her cheek. Her scent, the trace I can smell with the scent guard up, is citrus and spice with a hint of honeysuckle, and my body responds. Not good. I really need to back off. She’s interested in Storm.
Class is predictably boring since I learned it all in eighth grade. I’m taking an online course in quantum physics through my parents’ university. Now that’s an interesting field of study. My mind wanders to the artifacts. Do they fit into the laws of physics or are they more aligned with quantum mechanics? I can hardly wait to meet the Watchers on Saturday. Hopefully, they’ll answer some questions.
~~~~~
Lunch is the highlight of every day here, and not only because the food is actually good. I enjoy spending the time with Storm and the girls. It seems everyone’s noticed that we sit in the same area every day bec
ause they now leave one table by the windows free for us. A small school has its benefits.
Sky and Jewel chat about their plan to go shopping after school. Storm is mostly silent except when I ask him about his interests. His silences feel awkward, so I’m willing to draw him out even though I have no interest in motorcycles or hunting. We can’t talk about the artifacts or aliens, but there is one thing we all need to know, and Jewel holds the key.
“Did you get a look at Marla?” Storm asks, keeping his voice too low to be overheard.
“I haven’t seen her yet today,” she answers quietly. “She isn’t in the lunchroom. Maybe I’ll spot her when Sky and I go into town later. I’m as eager as you are to find out whether she’s human or not.”
Jewel taps on her fitness monitor when she thinks no one is looking. I notice every move she makes and until now, I had assumed she was checking her steps or calories burned. This time she barely glances at it, turns her face toward the window and the corner of her mouth turns up in an almost-smile. Again without looking at it, she presses it and rejoins the conversation with Sky. I’ll have to watch more closely. Something is up with that wristband.
The bell rings and we quickly clean up and go our separate ways.
FOURTEEN
Storm has some errands to run after school and I’m eager to get to the gym and work out. Kids mill around the cars; some talk and laugh, others argue and a few couples cling to each other and kiss as if no one else is around. Some walk with heads down, wearing an air of solitude. I wonder what color Jewel would see in their auras.
I see her and my sister jabbering about something while they fold into Sky’s red Mini. She loves that tiny car. I hop into my SUV and drive home.
“Hey Pax,” Mom shouts from the kitchen as soon as I walk in. “Dad’s waiting for you in the gym. Want something to eat first?”
“Later, Mom.” I head to my room to change into shorts and a t-shirt. The layout of our house is similar to Jewel’s, but we have more bedrooms, and aren’t sitting on the edge of a cliff. However, there are secret stairs into a reinforced basement, and our office is the same size as the one Jewel’s parents have. Mom and Dad keep their equipment in the office. Mom monitors seismic activity and geophysical changes and Dad keeps track of climate change and weather events.
We have a full gym where Jewel’s parents’ laboratory is located in her house. It’s fully stocked with equipment and training mats, showers and changing rooms. The four of us keep our karate gi there for a quick change if we decide to work on our katas. Sky calls them dance moves, but the movements are designed to mimic different fight scenarios. Dad’s already there practicing katas, and so I change into my gi.
Dad has earned the Samurai title Renshi, which means ‘Polished Master,’ with the rank of Roku Dan or sixth degree black belt. He’s been our trainer in Shotokan Karate since Sky and I were little. Mom and Sky both earned black belts and can hold their own in any hand-to-hand combat. Sky quit training because she couldn’t get past the empathy she felt for her opponent. Every match left her depressed and wrung out.
Storm comes by a couple of hours later. Mom leads him to the gym where Dad and I are sparring and he watches until we’re finished. “Is that Shotokan?” he asks.
“You’re familiar with it?” Dad wipes his face on a towel and approaches him. “Are you interested in karate?”
“I’ve been training with Hunter Smith at Anikawi MMA. He owns the hunt shop in town.”
“I’ve seen his operation,” Dad says. “Mixed martial arts. I’d love to spar with you sometime. See how the two disciplines fare against each other. What level have you accomplished?”
“Third degree black belt,” he puffs his chest out and I half expect him to beat it like a gorilla. He doesn’t and I say nothing.
Dad continues, “In Shotokan, we call achievement levels Dans. You’ve achieved San Dan. Congratulations. That is quite an accomplishment. Pax will be testing for Yon Dan, or fourth degree, in January. You two should be pretty evenly matched.”
I have to ask, “Do you use your telekinetic ability to get the advantage over your opponent?” As soon as the question has left my mouth I regret it. I should have known better. Storm stiffens and Dad looks outraged. One of the first things taught in karate is to act honorably in every situation. Without honor, the discipline is reduced to a street brawl.
“Do you think for a moment, son, that any tricks wouldn’t be noticed?” Dad says before Storm can answer. “Are you questioning Storm’s honor?”
“Forgive me, Storm,” I apologize.
“Don’t sweat it,” Storm is gracious. “During training and competition, it’s all me and none of my gift, as you call it. If I have to fight for my life or defend someone else, all rules are off and I’ll use every trick I know. It’s why I chose mixed martial arts in the first place. I’m going to kill the things that killed my parents.”
Dad pales and I feel a little sick at his pronouncement. The pungent smell of bloodlust reminds me that I’ve let my scent guard down a little too much. I feel my own desire to hunt and kill rising and it dawns on me that Storm is an Alpha male, a powerful leader and motivator. If he decides to go after Jewel, I’ll have to fight him for her.
What am I thinking? Am I laying claim to her? Since my nose acts like a dog’s and I can smell pheromones, perhaps I’ve picked up on something she feels for me. Before I convince myself that she’s my mate, I stop and remember we’re humans, not dogs. She can choose anyone she wants.
Mom has supper ready when we’ve showered and changed. Sky and Jewel have finished whatever they were doing in town and join us. Jewel isn’t wearing her glasses and I’m drawn in by the brilliance of her eyes. They’re the color of Caribbean shallows around the islands.
“I’m glad the four of you are here together,” Dad says after we’ve polished off Mom’s chicken and dumplings. “I’ve had keys made to the house and I’m giving you the code for the basement. We have a fully stocked gym that you need to make use of, and I will be honored to be your trainer. We don’t know what you might face in this quest of yours, and it’s best to be prepared.”
Jewel says what we’re all thinking, “We haven’t accepted the challenge yet.”
“Nevertheless,” Dad continues. “Whether you do or don’t accept it, the training will help you to survive whatever happens. If we’re near the end of the world, you’ll need it as long as you’re alive. Your choice might give this old planet a fresh start if you’re successful. You’ll need training for that, as well.”
Jewel and Storm speak at the same time, “Thank you, Mr. Fletcher.” They share a smile and Sky shoots me a look. She feels the burn of jealousy taking me over and pushes peace toward me. I take it gratefully.
“Please call Coral and me by our first names, and I’m sure that Charles and Analiese and Wolf and Sequoia will feel the same. Since all you kids are in this together, we need to feel and act like family.
“However, when we train, you should call me Sensei. Respect is intrinsic in karate.”
“We saw Max and Marla downtown,” Sky announces. “Jewel got a good look at her without the glasses.”
“What did you see? Is she human?” I ask.
Jewel closes her eyes and I get the impression she’s gathering herself to deliver the news. We hold our breath until we can’t any longer.
“She’s neither human nor reptilian,” she finally says. “She’s both.”
“A reptilian hybrid. I’d heard of others,” Dad’s voice trails off. He clenches his jaw and his eyes have a steely glint. His voice sounds determined when he says, “Unfortunately, the stakes have gone up. The attacks will escalate, and you need to be prepared. You should be training here every day. When it’s time, I pray you’ll be ready.”
“We haven’t decided….”
Dad interrupts Jewel, “You may not have a choice.”
FIFTEEN
We meet at our house after supper every day. Thanks to Pastor John’
s rescheduling of our classes, we each have a free period in the afternoon to get our homework done. He knows we’ll need to make a decision very soon.
Jewel is the novice, but masters the first few katas easily. Under Dad’s training, she soon feels confident and eager to advance. I admire her determination, especially when she winces in pain, or I catch her limping when she doesn’t think anyone’s watching. She’s beautiful and tough, and I know I’m not the only one who’s noticing her.
The rest of us use the strength training equipment, run the indoor track or spar on the mats. The days pass quickly, and tomorrow we meet the Watchers.
Since our folks have been tight-lipped about the mysterious Watchers, each of us has tried to find out more using online searches. Most sites referred to them as fallen angels or demons. One site named many of them and listed what they taught humans about astronomy, astrology and earth sciences. Are we about to meet angelic beings, or giant Nephilim?
~~~~~
I wake up before my alarm-clock of a sister gets up. I could turn the tables on her, but I’m a nice guy and choose to shower and shave instead. We should look our best if we’re going to meet angels.
Mom and Dad decline to come with us. They want to hear all about it, but Sequoia had asked that we four be the only ones with her today. Sky and I take my car and meet the others at the sacred stomping grounds. It surprises me how much trust the Cherokee are putting in us when we haven’t decided to cooperate yet.
Sequoia is dressed in jeans and cowboy boots. She wears a Native American beaded doeskin tunic with a belt of silver coins wrapped around her waist. Her long dark hair is in a single braid, woven with leather straps, that hangs down her back. Storm is dressed in black, as usual. The rest of us look nice, and I’m eager to get going.
Terra's Call (TetraSphere Book 1) Page 5
