“Yes, really. They’ll be here momentarily.”
Valerie appeared on Junior’s bridge, saw on the main screen the giant white ship approaching, and immediately recognized it. The Kosiev had its screens extended at full power and she could see all the weapons ports were energized and active. Two small ancient Searcher ships were also approaching at high speed, and they were also ready for combat.
“Junior, are you all right?”
“Yes, Mom, I’m fine.”
“Then why the distress beacon? I told you to never use it except in an emergency.”
“Father, you never told me I had a distress beacon.”
“I didn’t?”
“No, you did not.”
“Fly Girl, I could have sworn I gave him the speech about using the distress beacon.”
“Al, you missed giving him a lot of speeches.”
“Mom, Dad; I’ve missed you so much.”
‘How long have we been gone?”
“More than thirteen thousand years.”
Suddenly Jake and Valerie hear a thought, “How long did you say?”
Jake answered, “The Alexander Kosiev and the Gardner Family have been missing for more than thirteen thousand years. It is my guess that you decided to go because of the current situation the Realm is now facing.”
“Is the Realm at war?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Has Ulmerton been destroyed?”
“Just as you envisioned.”
“Will you join us on the Kosiev?”
“Give me the coordinates. I will be bringing the current Queen of the Realm with me.”
“By all means; we look forward to meeting her.”
Jake looked at Valerie, “Are you ready?”
“I’ve so looked forward to this moment, Jake, but we need to take one more person with us.”
Jake smiled and shrugged. Valerie hit her com, “Joe, please teleport to the coordinates I just sent you.”
“I was so hoping you wouldn’t forget me.”
Joe appeared on the bridge next to Valerie and stared wide-eyed at the main display.
Junior, if you’ll do the honors.”
Jake, Valerie, and Joe disappeared.
“What’s going on, Junior?”
“First things first, Dad. I need to get the two of you modernized. Sprig, is everything ready?”
“Yes, bring them in.”
“Sprig, you old wildflower. Is it really you?”
Sprig laughed, “Yes it is, Al. We need to update your armaments and control systems. Plan to be here about five days.”
The three small ships teleported away.
Joe, Valerie, and Jake arrived on a large bridge that dwarfed every ship they had ever boarded. Waiting for them were six people that came forward and offered hugs and handshakes. Joe recognized them. The muscular, short haired man had to be
Thomas Gardner, and the pretty blonde next to him had to be Danielle. A young man with blue eyes approached and shook his hand, “Hello, I’m Tommy Gardner and this is my wife Cassandra.”
Jake smiled and said, “Hi, I’m so pleased to meet you. I’m Jake Talant and this is my fiancee Valerie Gardner, the current Queen of the Stars Realm.”
The couple immediately smiled and bowed to Valerie.
“No! No! Please stand up! It is I that should be bowing to you.”
The other four Gardners came forward and introduced themselves, and Jake got his first look at Matthew and Melanie Gardner. He could see the resemblance between Cassandra and Matt. Their hair color was quite distinctive. Melanie was quite pretty.
He looked around and asked, “Aren’t some of you missing?”
The group looked at Jake and he continued, “Are Rose and Anglo here?”
Tag looked around and said, “Rose and Chris, as well as Anglo and Jenny, decided to live a normal life span after their thousand year rule ended. They moved out into the Realm and had their families.”
Jake noticed Danielle appeared sad. “I miss them.”
Tag said, “Why don’t we go to the conference room and sit down. I’m sure we all have questions we’d like to ask.”
Valerie said, “Lead the way. You have no idea how much I’ve anticipated this day.”
Danielle smiled and led the Gardners through a passageway that entered a long hallway. As they walked to the conference room, Jake whispered to Valerie, “I want you to be the spokesperson and allow me to be just an observer. Will you do that for me?”
Valerie looked at him with a huge smile and nodded. She was caught up in the moment.
Jake knew that two of the most powerful truth detectors were going to be in the room and he didn’t want to give too much away. He focused and felt his psychic power build.
After a hundred yards the group turned right into a spacious conference room. The Gardners took chairs and the three visitors sat across from them.
Tag looked around and said, “Why don’t we start, and then we’ll answer your questions.”
Valerie said, “That would be fine.”
“Tell me about the war the Realm is having currently.”
Valerie started telling them about the five years before she met Jake and how her sense of danger started increasing until she had a vision of what was coming. She told them about her search to find Jake, and then all the things that had happened since. Jake and Joe sat and listened. Joe would occasionally add a few details. Jake said nothing. He noticed that Danielle and Melanie would occasionally look at him, then look at each other. Jake knew they were taking a reading, but he was not giving them anything to read. He turned his attention back to Valerie.
The conference room door opened and Jake looked to see who was entering. A beautiful young woman stepped in and said, “I’m sorry I’m late.”
Joe stood up from his chair and stared at the vision entering the room. Melanie turned and said, “That’s ok, honey. Everyone, this is my daughter, AG.”
The young woman stepped forward, shook Jake’s hand, and hugged Valerie. She did not come around to Joe, but instead went to the other side of the table.
Joe was crushed. He could not take his eyes off AG. He tried, but just couldn’t do it. He wondered what was happening.
Jake watched AG take her seat and was worried. This young woman’s psychic power was equal or possibly even greater than his. Fortunately, she seemed to be watching Joe very carefully. Jake thought Matt had the highest psychic power of all the Gardners, but he sensed that this young woman was another order of magnitude stronger than her father.
Valerie finally finished bringing them up to date with the plan to move all the enslaved populations to the Algeans’ galaxy.
Tag looked around the table and said to Jake, “So you’re the super psychic of this time.”
Jake smiled, “It appears I am. Sometimes I wonder about that.”
Jake saw Danielle smile and nod to Melanie.
“What have you planned to do about removing the invaders?”
Jake tilted his head and said, “I was thinking you were going to help us with that issue. I was hoping you would have a weapon that would penetrate the hulls of their ships.”
Tag sighed and said, “We don’t have one now.”
Jake saw Valerie’s disappointment, but then Tag said something that shocked him.
“However, we think we know where to get one.”
Jake said, “Do tell?”
Valerie said, “I have some questions.”
Tag looked at her and said, “Go ahead.”
“Why did you disappear from the Realm?”
Tag started telling why as Danielle thought back and remembered the moment the decision was made.
Tag said, “Tell me about your vision.”
Matt sighed, “I think I should just show you mentally.”
Tag nodded, and Danielle entered Tag’s mind as Matt sent the vision. After a moment Tag blurted out, “That planet being destroyed is Ulmerton.”
Danielle s
aid, “Oh no!”
Matt nodded and said, “Yes it is. And none of our weapons have affected those ships. I also want you to see the universe those ships are from. My vision went there as soon as I looked at one of their ships using it.
Tag watched and he saw millions of planets being enslaved and consumed by the beings attacking the Stars Realm. The savagery of the attackers was unbelievable. Matt finished his vision and Tag turned to Rose, “Show me your vision.” Tag and Danielle saw that the two were virtually identical.
Danielle looked at Rose and asked, “When does this happen?”
Rose shook her head, “We don’t know, Mom. We sense that it is far in the future, but we don’t know how far. There is one part of the vision we have not shown you.”
Tag looked hard at Rose and said, “Why?”
Suddenly Tag and Danielle saw the vision of Tag, Tommy and Matt talking with three humans in the Kosiev’s conference room. “Does your vision also have this in it, Matt?”
Matt shook his head, “No, but it does have something similar.” Once more the vision of the conference room appeared but in this one Danielle, Melanie, Casandra, and a beautiful young woman were speaking with the same three humans. Danielle stared at the fourth female and said, “Matt, AG is in this vision.”
Matt sighed again and said, “She’s only eight now, but you’re right and she looks like she’s in her early twenties.”
Danielle thought a moment and said, “I’m bringing Tommy and Cassandra in on this.”
Tag looked at her and nodded.
Tommy and Cassandra stepped out of a teleport screen and saw the concerned expressions on the gathered group. Cassandra furrowed her brow and said, “What’s wrong?”
Danielle said, “Matt and Rose have had a vision.” She looked at Rose and said, “Show them what you’ve seen.”
Tag waited as Tommy and Cassandra were shown the two visions. He was worried. If this vision was not a possible vision but a real view of the future, then his family was going to be present when the events happened. If that event was far in the future, then every day was going to be spent being frightened and worried about the fate of the Realm.
Cassandra said, “I am not going to spend centuries waiting for this to happen. The thousand years I waited for Matt to come was almost more than I could bear. This feels like it is going to be longer than a thousand years.”
Tommy shook his head and said, “I feel the same way.”
Tag took a deep breath and said, “You have no choice.”
Everyone turned to him and Danielle said, “Why do you say that?”
“Because we are there! Do you think this is a choice we can make? This is a destiny that cannot be avoided. You know the power of these visions, and we are swept up in what is going to happen.”
The Gardners looked at each other and they saw that Tag was right. Cassandra said, “This isn’t fair. We’ve done our duty. Why must we suffer so long?”
Tag looked at Rose and said, “I didn’t see you in the vision. Do you know what that means?”
Rose gave a small frown and said, “Yes.”
Danielle said, “Rose, you can’t do that!”
Rose shook her head and said, “Mom, I’m aging. As soon as the war with the Demons ended, it began. My life expectancy was just long enough to take part in the battle. Chris and I agree that we want to live a full life and grow old together. I’m pretty certain there is a reason why I’m not there, and you are going to see that it’s important I live a normal life.”
Tag walked to Rose and took her in his arms, “I love you so much, Rose. I don’t want a life without you in it.”
Rose began crying, “I’m not going anywhere this time, Dad. Just make each moment that we have together count.”
Matt looked at Melanie and said, “I know what we’re going to do.”
Everyone looked at him and he thought so everyone could hear, “Alexander, have you been listening in on this?”
“Yes, I have, Matt. Fly Girl and Al are also here.”
Matt smiled, “Still nosey, aren’t you?”
Al laughed, “Nothing ever changes. What are you thinking, Matt?”
“Alex, if we enter your outer skin, how much time would pass for us while we are in there?”
The Alexander Kosiev pondered the question for a moment, “Basically, none.”
Tag thought about what Matt was saying, then he understood, “So, if all of us enter your skin, no time will pass for us no matter how long we are in there.”
“Tag, time does not exist in my outer layer.”
Danielle looked around and said, “Everyone sit down and let’s think about this.”
AG walked into the Gardner’s room and said, “I think I should be here.”
Melanie looked at her daughter and said, “You’ve been listening in again?”
“Of course, Mother. I’ve seen their visions and I know why I’m in it.”
That statement stunned everyone. Matt said, “Tell us why.”
“No, I’m won’t. It has no bearing on what you’re planning, and I’m not certain about what I sense. I’ll tell you when we emerge from the Kosiev.”
Danielle said, “So you’ve seen us?”
“Yes, I have, and you are going to enter the Kosievs’ skin in eleven years.”
Cassandra shook her head, “Why eleven years?”
“You saw what I look like in your visions. I’m nineteen in those visions and that’s eleven years from now. Besides, there is some work to do before we all disappear from the Realm. We must make sure the leadership is working and that the Realm is at peace.”
Melanie shook her head and Danielle said, “I felt the same way about Rose when she was eight. She was old for her age. Just like AG.”
“We’re going with you.”
Matt said, “How can you and Fly Girl leave? Are you taking Junior with you?”
“No, he has an education ahead of him and the Algeans and Atlas are going to have him for quite a long time. It won’t be much fun if all of you are gone. Alex, would you do one thing for us?”
“What is that, Al?”
“If Junior sends a distress signal, will you find him and make sure he’s all right?”
The Kosiev laughed in their minds and said, “Absolutely, and I’ll bump you out to check on him with me.”
Tag said, “What are you going to be doing, Alex?”
“Why, find a cozy little star and settle in for a nap.”
“How will you know when to awaken to bump us out?”
“Tommy, the vision shows you taking part in future events. Something will happen at the right time to make that happen. I could try to stay asleep through the visions and fail. You will be released at the right moment. It will happen just as you’ve seen, and nothing will prevent them from occurring. Do you doubt it?”
Tommy looked at Cassandra, remembering her vision about Matt, and shook his head, “No; we cannot escape our destiny.”
Matt looked around the room and said, “Tag, you will lead us in this venture.”
Tag began protesting, but Danielle put her hand over his mouth and said, “Shhhhh My Love. You are the Ultimate Warrior, and there is no one that can match your powers in that arena. This is another war, and you are the one best qualified to handle this.”
Tag looked around the room and saw that everyone agreed with Danielle. He looked at AG and said, “What do you think? You’re the strongest psychic here.”
“It’s a no brainer. You have to lead us.”
Tag took a deep breath and said, “Let’s plan how we’re going to leave the Stars Realm.”
AG said, “We’re not telling them anything. Just as we cannot bear waiting for this weight to fall, the Realm should be spared the foreknowledge of what’s coming.”
Matt said, “What are you suggesting?”
“Alexander will leave first, then we will just slide away from our assignments and disappear from the Realm. Do you see it happening any ot
her way?”
Tag asked, “Should we tell Sprig?”
AG said, “We tell no one. The Realm will have to stand on its own. There will be a period of peace and we shouldn’t be needed until that new enemy appears.”
Matt thought a moment and said, “We have been given a thousand years to rule our provinces. Are we going to forget that responsibility?”
Tag looked at AG and she shrugged, “We don’t all need to go at the same moment. It would probably work better if we left when our duties are fulfilled.”
Danielle said, “Then this war is going to be further than a thousand years in the future?”
AG nodded.
“How much longer?”
“Danielle, I’m not certain, but I must go eleven years from now and the rest of you will join me as soon as your duties allow.”
Danielle looked at Cassandra and asked, “Are you ok with this plan?”
Cassandra looked at Tommy and said, “Yes; sharing this with all of you will make it bearable. We have quite a few problems to solve in our province before we can slip away. I’m sure that is true for all of us.”
Melanie looked at AG and said, “I’m not certain I want to be away from you for a thousand years.”
“Then don’t, Mom. Find a replacement and join me. I’m sure that I’ll step into the skin and less than a moment later you’ll join me, no matter how long you wait to go.”
Matt smiled and said, “Remember, love. She’s going to live as long as we are. We have to look at this in the long view. We’ll have more than a million years with her, so you won’t be giving anything away.”
Melanie did a double take between Matt and Melanie and smiled, “You’re right. I keep forgetting.” She hugged AG and said, “We still have eleven years before you go. Like Rose said, we have to make the most of every day we have together.”
AG laughed, “That’s the spirit, Mom!”
Tag stood and said, “Are we all agreed on this course of action?”
Everyone nodded and The Kosiev said, “I’ll leave you my coordinates. I’m going to go now. I think it is better if we leave at different times so no one will notice.”
Danielle shook her head, “History will miss us. Someone is going to wonder where we went at some point in the future.”
Tommy said, “Everyone loves a good mystery. Let’s see if anyone figures it out.”
Finding keepers a-7 Page 30
