Godschild Covenant: Return of Nibiru

by Marshall Masters

  Anthony slapped his forehead. “Tanya!” She glanced at him with an annoyed look. “You knew you were pregnant and you came on this mission, and worse yet, you didn't tell me. Excuse me for being the last to know."

  Tanya held her head high. “This is not the time to argue, Anthony,” she replied hoping to mask her embarrassment.

  “You bet your sweet ass we're not going to argue!” With that, Anthony scooped her up in his arms. “You're the one who said that we talk too much, so not another word. Our family is going to Godschild and that is that."

  Tanya looked into JALA.DEE's soft blue-green eyes.

  “I myself have had eighteen children by three different husbands, and my youngest, JALA.TRAC,” she pointed to her ship, “was born in this very ship while I was on an archeological assignment.” She wiggled her nose with a loving smile. “You'll be just fine, dear, and we have wonderful medical facilities on Godschild for you and your babies."

  Tanya winked at her with a glowing smile, and wrapping her arms around Anthony's neck, kissed him on the cheek. “I know. I know. Shut up and tee off.” Anthony chuckled and kissed her as John-Pierre and Dr. Boole finished carrying the last of the baggage into the ship.

  Anthony began walking up the ramp with Tanya still in his arms and turned back towards Vigo. “By the way, dear old dad, you're not going to do that crazy slice and dice thing you were talking about with De Bono, are you?"

  “Nah, I was just rattling his cage,” Vigo replied humorously. “We'll stay in touch, and I'll see you within the year or so. Now get going."

  “Vigo, be good to Ann-Marie,” Tanya called out as they disappeared into the ship.

  Vigo leaned over and kissed JALA.DEE softly on the cheek. “Say hello to JALA.TRAC for me."

  JALA.DEE blushed and nodded as she followed Anthony and Tanya up the ramp.

  Vigo walked back to the remaining members of the group and stood next to General Hennicker and Ann-Marie.

  They watched in silence as the ship began to hum loudly, withdrawing the ramp until it meshed seamlessly back into the hull. A moment later, the ship lifted straight up above their heads, hovered for brief moment, and shot straight up into the early morning light as Ann-Marie drew close to Vigo. “Do you really think he knew you were bullshitting him back there?"

  “Who knows, my dear? But I do know this. Three of the people I love the most are on that flying pie tin, and as long as that miserable shit De Bono draws breath they'll never be able to walk the Earth in peace."

  “So is Clyde in the market for a Bonnie?” Ann-Marie teased.

  “Well, Bonnie my love, somebody's got to drive the getaway car."

  * * * *

  THE THREE-DAY TRIP to Godschild on SHEM.GADOK had been comfortable and informative. During the trip, JALA.DEE had given each of them their own medallion and taught them how to use them.

  Shortly after leaving the solar system, she fashioned the interior of SHEM.GADOK into a small replica of one of the homes on Godschild, which featured large rooms with tall, domed ceilings, exquisite marble floors and wide, airy arches leading to red-tiled patios. Reminiscent of Mediterranean architecture, the homes were airy and comfortable.

  During their meals, she told them stories about the race that had created Godschild. According to the ancient records left behind, they were a small, humanoid race with dimpled, gray skin. She expressed the feeling that they had intentionally built the homes to accommodate taller races and that the material used to construct the homes was stronger than anything she had ever seen during all her adventures—even stronger than that the Friends used to construct the homes on their own home world.

  It amazed everyone how she could change the interior of SHEM.GADOK with a simple touch from a compartmentalized configuration into a single dining room complete with warm meals and delicious wines.

  While Tanya and Anthony spent most of the trip sleeping and preoccupied with one another, JALA.DEE chose to spend her time with Dr. Boole. They examined Russell's medical records together, and after learning what she needed to know about human physiology from the doctor, she personally examined Russell at great length. When Dr. Boole chose to rest, she spent the remainder of her time with John-Pierre. Curious about the events that shaped his life and his moment of profound change in the silo she came to feel a new appreciation for Anthony's powers, and in time, she and John-Pierre bonded in a mutually enjoyable relationship.

  On the third day, Boole provided JALA.DEE with a small sample of Russell's blood. She placed the tube filled with blood next to the interior wall of SHEM.GADOK and pushed it in. A moment later, the tube appeared from out of the wall, completely empty of its contents.

  On the evening of the third day, the group took their meal together, as had become their custom, and it was then that JALA.DEE announced a surprising finding. She had isolated the Mystery Gene and after she explained its significance Anthony immediately realized why De Bono had gone to such great lengths to keep Russell alive and apart from his father.

  IT HAD BEEN a week since JALA.DEE and her passengers had arrived, and the whole city was now filled with the hopeful talk of Russell's recovery from his coma.

  JALA.TRAC sat alongside Lucinda Chavez and Timmy Watkins on the garden path leading past the home of Anthony and Tanya. Further down the walk, was the main boulevard of Godschild City and its gentle shoreline. Shortly after his arrival, Anthony had found a private moment to explain Connie Chavez's last days and to give her medallion to her only child, Lucinda.

  Holding her mother's medallion in her hand, she wept as Timmy held her. JALA.TRAC sat patiently; waiting in silence for the question he knew would come.

  Lucinda kissed the medallion, “This is all I have to remember her. I know everyone hopes for Russell's recovery but as I was bringing a basket of fruit to the house I overheard the doctor telling Anthony he'll most likely never recover and that he'll just waste away. JALA.TRAC, we've all suffered so much. Why is it that with all your wonderful technology you cannot save Russell. Why must the innocents die so terribly?"

  This was the question he had awaited. “Lucinda, even with all our technology we, too, eventually die. Granted we can live to be many hundreds of your years, but eventually our own bodies cease to accept our own regenerative therapies and we cross over, too, just like you. This is the way of things."

  “But you haven't lost your mother,” Lucinda said in a low, guilt-tinged voice.

  JALA.TRAC shifted himself to face her. “I was hoping you could help me with that, Lucinda, because my mother is dying."

  Timmy gasped. “Mother Dee is dying?"

  “You will be a young man, Timmy, when that time comes, but yes, she is dying. This is because her body can no longer accept the regenerative therapy, created for us by our ancestors. I'm hoping, Lucinda, that you could help me prepare by sharing your feelings and thoughts with me."

  “But you are so much wiser than me,” Lucinda said with astonishment.

  He took her hand and smiled sadly. “In love, we are all equals."

  “Have you talked about this with your mother, JALA.TRAC?” Timmy asked.

  “We've talked about it several times,” he admitted. “I am not troubled by the fact that she will cross over. We all do eventually, and then we go onto other things. The difference is that I wonder what my life will become without her presence."

  “You'll feel an emptiness that nothing can fill,” Lucinda replied in a hushed voice. “You'll also feel pride in her and what she has accomplished. Sometimes, I feel my mother standing next to me giving me love and encouragement. Do your people feel the same things?"

  “That and more."

  Just at the moment, a flash of light caught Timmy's eye and he looked up into the sky. “It's SHEM.GADOK,” he exclaimed. JALA.DEE and John-Pierre are back,” he exclaimed pointing to the approaching ship.

  “She has brought it,” JALA.TRAC whispered under his breath.

  * * * *

  TANYA SAT DOWN next to Anthony alongsid
e Russell's bed holding a small tray with a variety of hot dishes made of vegetables freshly picked that morning in the city's communal garden. “You've got to eat something, honey. Please, won't you?"

  Sitting across the bed, Dr. Boole said, “she's right, Anthony. You haven't eaten since yesterday."

  Anthony pushed the tray aside. “I'm sorry, but I just can't."

  Boole turned away to look out the large open archway leading out to the patio. Upon their arrival on Godschild, he had tried a new therapy for brain cell regeneration to repair the damage that had been caused by the butt of the Syrian Peacekeeper's rifle. It had not only failed, but now, Russell's EKG was showing a slow, steady decline. Saddened by the fact that he had, with the best of intentions, made things worse, his sense of guilt haunted him.

  Tanya slowly put her arm around Anthony and laid her head on his shoulder. “Then perhaps our only hope now is JALA.DEE. When Lucinda brought me your food, she told me that she and John-Pierre returned an hour ago and that she'll be here soon. I know she told us not to put too much hope in her plan, but maybe this is all we have left now."

  “I tried and tried, but I can't see him in the garden,” he said flatly, as he laid his forehead upon his son's arm. “Oh, Tanya, I'm afraid we're losing him. Maybe it already happened and we're just trying to breathe life back into the empty shell of his body."

  “We can't give up hope,” Tanya replied kissing him gently on the back of his neck. “Not while there is one last chance."

  * * * *

  A HEAVY-HEARTED STREAM of solemn children and adults followed JALA.DEE and JALA.TRAC up the path to the new home of Anthony and Tanya. Leading the procession like a proud flag bearer was John-Pierre, holding an odd-looking plant. Shaped like a large artichoke, its long narrow petals were white and layered one upon the other like the feathers of a bird. Each petal was delicately crisscrossed with gold colored veins that feathered out to form blue edges.

  Lucinda met them at the front door of the house. “Mother Dee, we are happy to see you."

  “Thank you, Lucinda; we have come to help Russell."

  “Our prayers are with you,” she replied as she stood aside.

  While JALA.DEE and her son followed John-Pierre into the house, the other Indigo children, along with their parents, streamed around the sides of the home onto the large adjoining patio to begin their prayer vigil.

  They entered the large family room adjoining the patio and could see Anthony slumped over Russell's bed in a light fitful sleep as Boole monitored the boy's vital signs on his webpad.

  JALA.DEE's first words were to Tanya, who had risen to greet them. “I see you have not rested well and that you need to take nourishment. I understand your grief, but one must always tend to life, and your unborn children depend upon you."

  Tanya nodded sadly as JALA.DEE walked to Anthony's side. She placed her hand on his shoulder and waited patiently as he awakened.

  “Mother Dee,” Anthony said wiping the fitful sleep from his eyes. “I don't think he's with us anymore."

  “Until now, I have not said anything, but from your first day aboard SHEM.GADOK, I knew that your son's condition was worsening. That is why I left shortly after bringing you here and why I asked John-Pierre to come with me on a very special mission."

  “Before you left on your special mission, you told us not to place great hope in what you could do,” Anthony replied. “Is there a reason now to hope?"

  “Yes,” she replied calmly as she pointed to the strange looking plant that Durand was holding. “John-Pierre is holding what we call a Hadedalo Plant. It comes from our home world and it was genetically engineered millennia ago by our ancients. To this day, we use it to regenerate own bodies until they finally mature to a point where the plant no longer has any effect. For humans, the Hadedalo is very poisonous. However, this particular Hadedalo plant is a rare mutation that lacks the potency we need to regenerate our bodies, but it may help your son, thanks to his special genetic makeup."

  “I don't understand,” Boole admitted.

  “Do you remember during the last day of our trip here to Godschild that I told you about Russell's special gene? The Mystery Gene, as it is known by a few on your planet?"

  “Yes, I remember that,” Tanya replied.

  “I couldn't tell all of you then, but now that we were able to retrieve this extremely rare Hadedalo, I can tell you that there is hope, as well as consequences. But first, I want you to give thanks to John-Pierre for helping us. Normally, I would have harvested this plant myself but I am no longer as agile as I once was. So you must thank John-Pierre, who risked his life with a very dangerous climb."

  “It was a walk in the park,” John-Pierre said with a blush.

  “You're being too modest,” JALA.DEE replied. “You gave me a terrible fright when that ledge gave way.” John-Pierre shrugged.

  Dr. Boole pushed his webpad aside and said. “Mother Dee, you mentioned consequences. What would those be?"

  “We have never tried this with a human, but the Mystery Gene which is so uncommon in your race is part of everyone like me, and it is what triggers the regenerative properties of Hadedalo. If his body does succumb to the toxic properties of the plant, Russell's unique genetic makeup should trigger the plant's regenerative properties. If it works, the Hadedalo will completely heal the boy giving him a longer and healthier life expectancy than most humans. But there are other consequences."

  Anthony rose up from his chair and stood erect. “Assuming it doesn't kill him, what are they?"

  “There are two that concern me very much,” JALA.DEE replied with a troubled look. “His powers of precognition will become more advanced and this can be a dangerous thing if one is not spiritually ready for such things. Great care must be taken to mentor him well as he grows, so that his gift does not drive him to insanity. That last consequence and the one that troubles me most is that the Hadedalo Plant will change his genetic makeup forever. While his sexual abilities will be fully developed with strong and fertile sperm, no human ova will accept them. Young Russell will never be able to have children of his own."

  Anthony looked at JALA.DEE, then to Tanya. “What do you think?"

  Tanya placed a hand on her tummy and said, “It breaks my heart that if he survives, he will never be able to have children of his own. He'll just have to adopt. I say, do it!"

  Anthony slowly stood up and walked over to John Pierre, held out his hands and accepted the Hadedalo from him. He studied the plant carefully as he caressed its soft pedals. “Jim, tell me honestly. What are his chances?"

  Boole's head dropped as he sighed. “At his present rate of decline, your son will be brain dead within a few days, a week at most. If you're going to do anything, do it now."

  Anthony searched Tanya's eyes as a tear began to run down her cheek. “He's my son too Anthony. Just shut up and tee off.” He laughed for the first time since their arrival.

  He turned to JALA.DEE. “How long will it take before we know?"

  “If it works, he'll regain consciousness after moonrise tonight, and after a few days, his recovery will be complete. That is, if it works."

  “What do we do next?"

  “You must all leave the house. This is a sacred ceremony, and my son and I must be left alone with the boy."

  “As you wish, Mother Dee,” Anthony replied with hopeful eyes. “We shall leave you now."

  * * * *

  FOLLOWING THE HADEDALO ceremony, Boole continued monitoring Russell's progress, and by mid-afternoon, the boy's vital signs had improved. Likewise, his brain activity was becoming stronger, and JALA.DEE instructed him to remove the feeding tube she had used to pass a small, continuously trickling flow of Hadedalo juice into the boy's stomach.

  The trend was hopeful and continued through the remainder of the afternoon and through to the beginning of the moonrise as the twin moons of Godschild cast their enchanting blue white light on the city.

  As long moonbeams began to stretch across the gen
tle waters of the Godschild sea, everyone in the room held their breath in suspense as Russell's eyes began to flutter.

  Anthony pressed his open palms against the sides of Russell's head and began kissing him and repeating the words, “Wake up, son. Come to me, son. I love you so very much."

  Russell's eyes opened slowly for the first time. “I can't see,” he said weakly.

  “It's OK Russell,” Anthony said gratefully as Tanya wiped his eyes with a damp cloth. “Give your eyes a moment to adjust. Things will clear up."

  “Will I see the moons tonight?” Russell asked.

  Anthony looked at Tanya with amazement. The boy had used the plural form, as though he knew, but did he? “Yes, you will,” Anthony replied.

  “May I,” Boole asked, as he stepped in to manage the boy's recovery. Anthony and Tanya stood aside and hugged each other as he tended to the recovering boy.

  Standing together off to the side, JALA.TRAC leaned towards his mother, projecting his thoughts to her for a fitting celebration. JALA.DEE smiled, and unnoticed by all, they silently made their way out onto the balcony where they were greeted by a large crowd of well wishers. A cheer began to rise up and JALA.DEE held out her hands to show that everyone still needed to be quiet.

  Mindful of the needs of everyone waiting outside, she accepted a tall wax candle in a handmade wicker holder from Jenny Watkins, and then held it out to her mother, Helen. She turned to pass it along to JALA.TRAC and noticed that he was deep in thought, holding his medallion to his temple. She held a finger to her lips, “Shhh.... Everyone. Quiet, now, until they come out.” They all waited in silence, maintaining their prayer vigil for nearly forty minutes till JALA.DEE gestured for them to light their candles.

  By the time that the large patio was dotted with dozens of candles, Boole happily announced that most of Russell's sight had returned. “Anthony, I think it's time for you to show him the moons,” he said with a satisfied smile.

  Anthony nodded gratefully and folded back the bed cover. Gently slipping his hands under Russell's body, he cradled the boy in his arms and lifted him up while Tanya simultaneously cradled his head.