She did not know what else to do. The only thing that seem right to her was to sing the Tua song of love. The words welled up from her heart and soul.
Shae-lah vah hii nah, ellah vii shiinah, jahmii vae sha-noh, Shae-lah vah Yah-vae!
The words and tune of the Kexxian song reverberated throughout the Gates of Light and Dark with out warning, and hurtled back a thousandfold, in rippling waves of power that nearly flung them back like the onset of a sudden maelstrom.
It took all of Naero’s strength and force of will to reach the astral tunnel.
And when she did, Zuon’s astral form broke down and dissolved completely. The Tringlen’s essence passed through the tunnel and carried its message into the Beyond.
Naero had one shining glimpse before the tunnel closed.
She perceived floating, shining orbs of light, as far as could be seen. Was that the Beyond, or just a small bit of it? Naero had witnessed something similar in orbit around lost Janosha years ago, when the bright spirits of the dead Tua had swarmed to her aid.
*
Naero returned to the Dimensional Council, and reported to Master Jo and Den that her mission with Zuon was complete. Brave Zuon of the Tringlens had carried their message into the Beyond. What good it would do, no one yet knew.
Who will receive such a message and what will they do with it, master?
He only smiled at first. Naero, a while back I would not have had an answer for you. But since that time, many profound things have come to light as we have sought further enlightenment concerning the Cosmic Prophecies. With you on the brink of becoming A Mystic Master yourself, you of all people have the right to know of these new developments.
He paused for moment. Naero simply stared back at him, waiting for him to divulge more information. She raised one eyebrow.
You will be happy to hear that at last, we have found lost Janosha, Naero. Others on the Dimensional Council know of it. The planet was not destroyed. I don’t know if it is even possible for it to be destroyed. You could have never done so.
She cried out and instinctively covered her mouth with both hands. At last she had confirmation that the planet’s disappearance had not been her fault in any way.
Where, master? How?
Janosha exists as it always has, but now it does so far away, beyond our reach, on the other side of our universe. It was moved there, just as quickly and as easily as you or I might move a cup from one end of a table to the other, by the unseen hands of beings so great, by comparison, we are but stupid, ignorant children–if that.
Naero blinked, and her eyes went wide. For the moment, she could not find her voice to speak.
Long ago, Naero, the first Spacer Mystics came to Janosha, sensing its great flows of Cosmic Power, even if they did not fully understand them. Such power did not exist there by accident. We met with the gentle Tua and made a pact with them to make use of their world as a training base for future Mystics.
In return, we would adapt their environment slightly and make their lives easier–not perfect–but easier. At first many observed the Tua and thought them fascinating, but once the effects of the Time Dilation were put in place, also first developed on Janosha, interest in such simple natives waned and then fell away completely.
Naero fidgeted and grew impatient. Sure, sure. What does that have to do with the entire planet disappearing and ending up somewhere else?
I’m getting to that Naero. At first we believed that we were the ones observing and testing the Tua. But as it turns out, it was quite the other way around. It was they who were observing and testing us.
I don’t understand, Master.
Master Jo sighed. Naero, the Tua we see in our universe here are simple, serene, and relatively insignificant. But they are mere veils, a small extension of the Tua used to watch, and observe, and test all who they come into contact with. Do you really think that it was an accident that they would encountered both us, and the enemy on Janosha? That was all meant to happen.
Naero thought on that. “What are the Tua, Master? When I was in trouble and could not help myself, they came to my aid. I saw them as orbs of light. When I had a peek into the Beyond for just an instant when Zuon passed through, I thought I saw such lights again.”
Naero, you grew closer to the Tua than anyone ever has. They accepted you as one of their own. You became one of them for a time. They love you as one of their own.
And I them, Naero said proudly. And I them. So, can we go to them and speak with them? Will they tell us anything we need to know.
Master Jo chuckled. No, Naero. The veils of flesh that live in our universe are as children. They collect information through their experiences and interactions with other sentients. We have no idea what they are on the other side. Nor whom they serve. Yet I think them to be among the most mighty of all the beings in the Beyond.
Naero remembered. The Tua only said that they served the Great Mystery of All Things, and that it was a power so great, that it was beyond all others, and could barely be named, let alone fully understood.
Naero drew her head up high. Master, I will never believe anything evil of the Tua. They are not capable of it, neither here, nor in the Beyond.
I did not say so, Naero. But they wield powers so great, that they can move an entire world half way across an universe, with but a thought.
Not even the ancient Kexx could do such a thing.
And that is not all. We took a survey among the Dimensional Council. There are Tua in all of the current universes that we know of. And to our knowledge and what records are available, Tua have existed in every universe in the past. They are more eternal than any race that has ever been known to exist. There is so much that we will never know about them.
And what do they know about us, Master? Think just how Master Vane treated them. How he and Hashiko abused and neglected them. What must they think of us?
That we are flawed and still growing and learning. Perhaps everything around us is a test of some kind, Naero. A test of many things, to see if we are worthy to survive.
Naero was sure now that it was just so. But if any race deserved to be greater than they were in the Beyond, it was the Tua.
The Tua might indeed be among the mightiest beings in the Beyond, but that does not help us in our here and now. Our Tua cannot solve our problems for us here.
They were never meant to, Master. They are not here to do things for us.
Yes, I agree with that as well. It is up to us. We must find the way. Now the time has come for us to return to Oorrii and our bodies there. We have been gone for a few days, thought it does not seem so to us.
Den returned with them. They centered themselves, and drifted back.
Naero opened her eyes. Her body was being sustained on a medbed in a guarded chamber, next to Master Jo. Den floated around, the same as he always did, without a physical body.
She and Master Jo did not feel weak, just slightly disoriented and stiff. All of that passed quickly, especially with a bit of directed healing and some stretching.
Within the hour, they were back to normal, whatever that was for Naero.
Her third and final year of Change Wisdom training was up in a few weeks, and the Time Dilation would end and kick them back into their universe to continue to defend it.
Master Jo asked her to follow him to the meditation gardens.
Naero focused and went through her thoughts and experiences, while Master Jo did his thing and popped about the way he usually did.
Naero, I want to observe you as you center yourself. Show me the harmony within you.
She did so, without question, without hesitation, quickly and easily, like slipping into her own flight togs. A golden, serene light enveloped her
It was Change Wisdom. Without question, this was clearly her way. Change Wisdom made everything else click together for her. She had almost been so busy trying to survive and thwart the enemy in the Astral Plane that she nearly missed it.
For the
first time in her life, she felt secure in what she was, and in what she was going to continue to become. Much of the fear that had held her back and crippled her was now gone.
And if she was a monster, then sobeit–she was mostly a good monster, and only her foes needed to beware of her increasing powers.
She had found her harmony, her center, her true balance point that somehow was insane enough to work for her. Naero Amashin Maeris had finally found her place in the universe, and she was comfortable in that. She knew who and what she was, imperfections and all.
What would come would come, and as always, she would roll with that and do her best. That was all that she or anyone else ever could do with what they had to work with.
She could question herself, and within reason, she could trust herself.
Master Jo laughed. Can’t you see, Naero? Just like Enlightened Change, you still exist, always on the edge of creation and destruction, success and failure.
Doesn’t everyone? You cannot achieve one without risking the other, Master.
How true, Naero. And you are definitely one of those who constantly dares great things, stumbles, falls, gets knocked down, and then rises up to push forward, and keep striving. I have great respect and affection for you, Naero. We still have a several weeks together, but I want you to take time to celebrate and enjoy yourself with your family, before you must leave here. As far as I am concerned, you have surpassed every test that I have given you, and went well beyond them.
From this moment forward, Naero Amashin Maeris, you will be a Mystic Master of your people, and, as I foresee–much, much more. Congratulations, Master Maeris.
I thought…there would be a ceremony of some kind.
There will be. But first know this.
Ice cold water suddenly exploded all around her as if under pressure.
I’ve been waiting to do that.
Naero gasped, shivered, and quickly struggled to warm and dry herself.
Then she booted Master Jo a couple of klicks away, as his golden shield orb auto-sealed around him.
Me too, she said through their link, shielding her eyes and watching Jo spin and sail away into the distance. Don’t make yourself into a big kickball, master. You’re just daring someone to eventually give you a wallop.
An actual ceremony and a banquet were held in her honor that evening, with all of her family and friends and the Mystics present.
Master Maeris made merry. Khai was very proud of her.
Two days later, Master Maeris went looking for Shetharra. Sharrah informed her that Khai had taken their daughter to visit with the High Master on Nezma.
When she transported there, she was directed to the Arena.
Inside, she spotted Khai, Master Jo, and many Mystics standing about observing a contest with great interest.
A contest pitting seven year old Shetharra against a multitude of red, blue, and yellow psyonic construct combatants.
Khai laughed and called out. “Are you ready, sweet girl?”
Shetharra flung her white-hot glowing hair back with a shake and took her offensive stance. She cocked her head and smiled her family’s trademark half-smile. Her blazing blue eyes sparkled.
“Bring it!” she cried.
The horde of constructs charged in.
Shetharra passed through them so fast, that few could follow her movements. She became a sweeping wave of white flame and overwhelmed the constructs nearly all at once.
Khai grinned. Everyone else but him and Naero stood aside, utterly astonished.
Master Jo was stammering when he turned to the child’s father.
“A prodigy like no other, a Cosmic savant unlike any the Mystics have even seen before. She must be brought to us for training. This is no accident that your child has appeared at this crucial time. Her powers are increasing constantly. She needs guidance.”
Naero cut right in. “She has it,” Naero said. “And she has the most important thing: love; the love of her family. That’s all she needs right now. Maybe when she’s ten or eleven, she’ll be ready for Mystic Training. I won’t have what happened to my Uncle Kean being inflicted on my daughter. She won’t be shaped and molded and groomed to be some kind of monster, weapon, or savior. She needs time to have a childhood and be a child.”
Khai went right over and stood beside his wife on the right, and crossed his powerful arms. “As the girl’s father, I am in complete agreement with my spouse. We have discussed this and made our decision, and it is final. No Mystic training. Not until the age of ten or eleven. Live with that.”
“Even if something happened to us,” Naero added. “Her guardians and our Clans will respect our wishes, and not allow it.”
With nothing left to take down, Shetharra came forward smiling, racing quickly toward her parents, squealing eagerly. “Papa, momma, did you see me? I really like this place. It’s fun. Did you see what I did? I beat them–I defeated them all. This place challenges me. I can do this!”
Khai swooped her up into his arms and kissed her on the top of her head. “You did very well, little one. We are very proud of you.
“Papa, Papa. Put me down. Momma, make him stop!”
Naero pulled her away and planted a few kisses of her own on her little duck, before setting her down on her bare feet.
Shetharra had been conceived in the core of a mighty star. Overall, Naero guessed that she was already invulnerable to most hi-tek weapons. Yet she was still gentle of heart, and did not even like to step on bugs.
“Well done,” Naero said. “One day you shall return to this place and find your own way, here, Shetharra. Yet today is not that day. We will find other challenges for you before then, my duck.”
Shetharra giggled. “I’m not a little duck any more. I am a brave warrior, fearless and bold, just like you and papa.”
Naero held out her arms. “Then come, my brave warrior. I have many surprises and adventures for you in the weeks to come. Sometimes you will go with your father or both of us. Today you will come with me. Would you like that?”
“Oh, yes, mama. I love going with you, just the two of us. What are we going to see and do today?”
Naero took her to go see the Tua.
It was slightly bittersweet to see Kali with her new mate, Yavar. They had a litter of three kits.
Shetharra seemed to feel at home among the Tua as well, and soon she was singing the Tua, Kexxian songs right along with Naero and their hosts.
These were among the same songs that Naero sang to her own children and taught to the nursery staff.
Shetharra laughed and giggled, as she stood still with her arms outstretched and the Tua kits climbed all over her, mewing and cooing, until they almost covered her completely.
Then the Tua parents would come by and pluck off their young.
Naero still did not know how the Tua parents could tell the fuzzy little things apart. Perhaps it was by scent, or some other way of knowing.
If Naero had remained Kali, she probably would have learned the trick to it by now. Yet she was glad that she had returned to her own self, her own children, and her own life. She was both complete and needed there.
During her training, she had switched their new son over to Sharrah for safe keeping. But it was Naero’s wish to always give natural birth to her children, if it was at all possible.
Sharrah liked sharing their children as Naero’s faithful nurse and surrogate. She had even requested the honor of giving birth to some of them at some point. Yet Naero tried to explain that she was still feeling very irrational and selfish about such motherly matters.
She owed that much to Sharrah. At some point she would relent. It was only right.
Naero and Khai were happy having their kids, and doubly happy having them well-cared for and protected, when a mission demanded that they be somewhere else, risking their lives and doing dangerous things that only they could do.
Both of them wanted a large family.
Naero shook herself and came ba
ck to being with her oldest daughter in the present, in the glory of a Tua village. The Tua rejoiced at the presence of two such mighty Halaena, and marveled at seeing a rare little one of such dazzling promise, and showered her with gifts and love.
Quite quickly, Naero and Shetharra were clothed in Tua fashion, and Naero felt no shame in being topless like the rest of the Tua women. She felt no shame for her body. She never would.
Adult Tua females had four breasts, two pairs over each other, small but ample and pert during their lives.
The Tua were very sensual, beautiful people, and sex for them was as natural as walking around and breathing.
Shetharra saw pair-bonded couples openly copulating as was the Tua way, and pointed it out to her mother. She thought it was both silly and funny.
Naero always tried to speak truth, and explained that this was just the Tua way of loving each other, but that even among them, such was only for mommies and daddies. Then she explained that among Spacers, their own people, sex was reserved for private times for mommies and daddies.
At her age, Shetharra nodded and seem to accept that. She even repeated words her mother told her. “Different ways for different peoples.”
The Tua women and girls in turn, were fascinated with Naero, not only because her breasts were somewhat larger, and very pretty, but mostly because she only had two. And she was not covered in fur, either.
Naero explained that the vast majority of human mothers did not have litters, and usually had one or at most two children at a time. But she did not get into how much longer Spacers lived than Tua, and they did not ask.
Yet even the Tua sensed the veiled greatness and shining love that was within little Shetharra, and they were drawn to her light and beauty like moths to a blazing white flame.
Naero had seldom seen the Tua revere or worship anything but the Great Mystery as they called it. But they came very close to bowing down to the child of light who laughed and danced among them.
Shetharra was indeed a wonder. She loved honestly and openly, with all her heart, and the Tua were akin to love itself.
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