Sock It To Me

by Jo Tannah

The only sign of surprise on Sands’ face was a raised eyebrow. “Who are you and why are you here?”

  Jared’s mouth tightened briefly at the thinly veiled challenge. “I am Jared. I come from Morewen. I was sent here by my leaders to relay a message to your people.”

  “And what is that message?”

  “I apologize, my orders were to speak only to your world leaders. Rest assured, it is good news.”

  “Well, you see, Jared, is it?” At Jared’s nod, Sands continued. “You have to tell me first. In this world, we go through a process and that means if you don’t talk to me, you can’t talk to any of my leaders.”

  Jared gave the colonel an indulgent smile. “That is true, Colonel. Unfortunately, I cannot relate to you my message. You see, your security level is not high enough.”

  Sands’ eyes narrowed and his mouth thinned to a grim line, but Benjamin saw there was no anger in them when one corner of Sands’ lip briefly curl in amusement. He heaved a sigh of relief when Sands turned on his heel and left the tent without saying a word.

  “What happens next?” Jared asked, turning to Benjamin.

  “We wait.”

  Benjamin and Jared waited two hours and in that time, Benjamin learned more about Jared’s world, Morewen.

  “So you mean to say that Morewen is here on Earth?”

  “Yes, but in another dimension.”

  Benjamin suspected as much, but sitting there, talking to Jared about it was both exciting and frightening at the same time.

  “If we’re on the same planet, how come you don’t have metal like we do?”

  Jared shrugged. “It is what it is. Different dimensions, different worlds. Take for example, Epsilon. They mostly have metals. The people thrive because my world and others like us provide them with the food that allows them to exist. They, in return, provide us with the resources that we need for our technologies that allow us to exist. The relationship between worlds is one of trade based on mutual respect.”

  “Why is it only now your leaders have chosen to reach out to us?”

  Jared took a deep breath and sighed as he shook his head. “We had attempted to reach out for centuries but gave up on the prospect. Your world is highly volatile, plus your people confuse us. You speak words you do not mean and if someone does not agree, you turn violent. Even among yourselves, you are at war. If not in deed, in conviction and speech. It has only been in the past eighty years that your world began to affect Morewen, and, despite our hesitance, we can no longer avoid making contact. Two years ago, our world leaders met and made a decision to send an ambassador to speak to your leaders on their behalf.”

  Benjamin opened his mouth to ask more questions when a noise outside the tent distracted him. He looked up when the colonel entered the tent moments later, followed by Professor Maxwell. He and Jared rose to greet him. Benjamin introduced the professor to Jared.

  “The president has instructed me to take our guest through the barricade safely, so you can speak to them,” Maxwell said, not wasting any time.

  Jared took a step back. “I apologize, Professor Maxwell. I mean no disrespect, but I cannot leave this area. If I do, I will never be able to return to my world.”

  “Then how do you propose to speak to the president? All our equipment have been rendered useless here except our cell phones and that scanner for some reason. I can’t have you speak to the president over the phone—it would be disrespectful. No, you need to speak with him face-to-face.”

  “I understand,” Jared said. He tilted his head to the side. “Will you allow me to communicate with my people so they can make the necessary adjustments to make it possible for your leaders to speak with me?”

  “Do I have any other choice?” Maxwell said.

  “Yes, of course, you do,” Jared said. “You can ask your leaders to come here, but it would still be difficult for your equipment to function properly without my people making the corrections.”

  Maxwell turned and signaled to Sands. “Assist him however you can, Colonel.”

  Saturday, 4:00 p.m.

  It took twenty-four hours of preparation before Jared confirmed that his leaders were ready to talk with all of Earth’s ruling presidents, prime ministers, and royal personages. During that time, he told Benjamin of his home world. He talked about his family, especially his niece. He showed Benjamin a three-dimensional image of two men and a young girl of about twelve years.

  Benjamin looked at the happy family. “They’re married?”

  “Yes, fifteen years, now. Sabine will turn eleven in two months.”

  “You have gay marriage in your world, too?”

  Jared’s lips curled up into a soft smile. The wistful look on his face grabbed at Benjamin’s heartstrings. “After the great war, so many families were left broken. Our leaders deemed it necessary that if we were to survive as a people, we had to accept anyone and everyone who needed each other.”

  “How long ago was this?”

  “That war ended two thousand years ago.”

  “Did your people have a difficult time adjusting to the new standards?” Benjamin said, his eyes still on the happy family.

  “On the contrary, the proclamation only made the norm official. It had to be done because many of the refugees of that time came from different worlds and cultures.” Jared met Benjamin’s gaze, making him feel conscious of whatever was seen in his eyes. “Hopefully, things will change here in your world. You just have to be patient.” Jared took Benjamin’s hand and gripped it tight briefly.

  Benjamin did not say a word when Jared closed the image and pocketed inside his robes.

  Sunday

  It was eight in the morning on the third day, and Jared stood before a bank of monitors showing each of the world leaders’ stern faces. The preparations to make that possible had been difficult, but when the leaders heard they would be speaking with Morewen’s ambassador, their curiosity got the better of them.

  Sands signaled the communications had gone live, and Jared shot Benjamin a reassuring smile before facing the camera again. He opened a prepared speech, one that had been written by Morewen’s governing body. He had told Benjamin the night before, that once he’d read the message, his duties would come to an end. What happens next was up to the leaders to discuss among themselves.

  “Greetings, leaders of Earth,” he began. “Our representative, Jared of the Seven Suns, reads to you our combined message. Jared is Morewen’s ambassador. He volunteered to reach out to your world with the full knowledge he does so in danger to his life.”

  Benjamin smiled when there was no mention of Brina. Maybe the leaders knew her life would be in danger should his government find out.

  “Our message,” Jared continued, “is simple. Morewen and her people wish to thank your world and people for all of the support you have extended us through the years. Without your support, our people would have died, exposed to the elements from the three hundred years’ war with the Marxians.”

  Benjamin’s eyes bulged at the revelation. He looked at the monitors and saw the surprise on the leaders faces as well.

  “We were in sore need of food and clothing and despaired,” Jared said. “Your world, your people, you extended a helping hand. After eighty years of unfailing support, it is now our turn to give you ours. With Jared is the formula to the cure for all forms of viral diseases. This, we willingly and freely give to you. It may be of little value to our worlds as these organisms are harmless to our people, but we are aware of the constant struggle your people suffer because of it. Please accept our heartfelt gratitude for all that you have done.”

  Jared stopped speaking and looked to see the astounded faces of Earth’s leaders. He looked at Benjamin, whose eyes were full of tears. He folded the sheet of paper he’d been reading from and looked at the camera.

  “I can only now stay for another hour, after which, I have to go back to my world. I hope you forgive us for taking so long to deliver our gift.” He turned to Sands and Dr. Max
well. He took off the necklace from where the large pendant around his neck hung and with a bow, handed it over. Maxwell took it from him with visibly shaking hands.

  “Sirs,” Jared said, turning back to the speechless leaders on the monitors. “The gift has been delivered. Instructions on the formulation for the cure have been written in the English language for easy access to all of your world’s scientists.”

  Maxwell looked at the pendant in his hand and turned to his president. “Mr. President, what are your instructions?”

  Sunday, 10:00 a.m.

  Benjamin walked with Jared to the portal. As their shoulders brushed, Benjamin could not help himself. He turned and embraced Jared. Jared didn’t hesitate, he wrapped his arms tight around his waist. Benjamin didn’t want Jared to go and tightened his arms even more. He leaned his forehead against Jared’s shoulder. A minute passed before he loosened his hold and took a step back.

  “I have to go, Benjamin. Thank you for being my friend.,” Jared said. His eyes flicked to the side indicating Brina was communicating with him before turning back to Benjamin, his lips curled in a soft smile. “Brina says she owes you her life.”

  Benjamin looked down at the ground, unable to keep the tears at bay. “I don’t know how to thank you for risking your life coming here,” he said. “When I was called in, I thought I was going to face an enemy. Instead, I’ve found a true friend. What you have given us, my world, it’s going to save billions of lives. I don’t know how to thank you.”

  Jared ran a finger down his cheek. “That you accepted my word without questions is thanks enough, Benjamin. We took the risk of asking for you, hoping for an understanding liaison between our worlds. If they had sent someone else, I and Brina would most probably not be going home to our families.”

  “Will I see you again?” Benjamin couldn’t help asking.

  “I did not tell your people, but now that a portal has been opened between our worlds, it is no longer an impossibility.” A clang resounded from within the gateway and Jared turned to look at it before turning once more to Benjamin. “I will see you again, Benjamin Abrams. Sooner than you think.” With those words, Jared dropped a kiss on the startled Benjamin’s mouth. Lifting his head, Jared smiled down at Benjamin before quickly turning away. With long strides, he strode toward the portal that had begun to dim.

  “Wait, I never did ask,” Benjamin called out.

  Still walking away, Jared looked over his shoulder. “Ask what?”

  “What was it we were supposed to have given your world that saved your people from exposure to the elements? You never did specify what it was.”

  Jared grinned wide, walking backward into the portal. As his figure began to fade, he flung his arms wide open, sending his robes to flap open. “You sent us socks. Millions of them.”

  Benjamin could only gape after the man. Before Jared completely faded from sight, he raised fingers to his lips before waving them in a salute.

  “I can’t wait to see you again tomorrow, Benjamin Abrams. We’re going to have a good time together.”

  About the Author

  I am a wife, mother and blogger by day, and a writer by night. It can be difficult, to say the least, but it is a challenge that keeps me on my toes.

  I grew up listening to folktales my father and nannies told, either to entertain us children or to send home a message. I kept these stories with me, recording them in my journal. One day, while going through a long forgotten box, I found my old journal. Reading over the stories of romance, science fiction and horror I had taken time to put to paper, I realized that these were tales I never met in my readings.

  The tales I write are fictional but all of them are based on what I grew up with and still dream about. That they have an M/M twist is simply for my pleasure. And I hope, yours as well.

  Website: http://www.jotannah.com/

  Twitter: @JoTannah