
# Oh no you don't!

Arwen Jayne

Copyright © 2020 Arwen Jayne

All rights reserved

### Disclaimer

While reference has been made to some actual historical events or persons and some real locations all other names, characters and places are fictional; the product of the author's overly imaginative mind. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses or places is purely coincidental.

This is a piece of fiction, enjoy it but if you're looking for science facts you might find it lacking. The story is purely a creation of my imagination.

### In memory of two special Welshmen

In memory of a special person who taught me that if you want to do something you can find a way to learn how. From his early life in Wales, learning how to make radios during the war, using crystals and wire, to having his own amateur radio station, building up computers from salvaged parts and making his own radio programs for community and National radio. This from someone who was three parts deaf due to an infection in his childhood. I imagine he would have been thrilled if he'd ever contacted an alien on the airwaves.

In memory, also, of a particular Welsh unionist I worked with for some ten years while I was in the television industry. He died a few years back. I hope somewhere in the universe he is having a chuckle and approves.

### Acknowledgements

To my good friend and indispensable editor Jen, an adult literacy advocate who walks the talk, improving my grammar, giving me feedback on the draft stories and this time round co-writing the court scene. I know nothing of the legal side so I fleshed out a basic plot for that scene and back came a finished piece that fitted seamlessly into the story.

### Cover photo credit

Many thanks to Alain Seigné for the spectacular cover photo. You can find Alain Seigné's art at <https://www.instagram.com/alainsphotographe/> on Instagram or on his website <https://alain-seigne-photographe.fr>

### 1

Friday. Five minutes to five pm. Any minute now. Wait for it. Bending down I picked up my handbag from under my desk. As I straightened there he was. My nemesis. "Robert," I acknowledged courteously, knowing what was coming.

"I'm sorry to do this to you Terri but some urgent correspondence has just come in. Could you do up a reply before you go?"

"No."

Robert froze, confusion etching his face, "Pardon?"

"If you're referring to the file that's been in your in-tray since before lunch, no, I'm not staying behind. You do this every week. If you'd been here at all this afternoon you'd have seen it but no, you were in an 'important meeting' weren't you?"

Robert smiled benignly, as if he had me on that point, "You know I was. You have access to my diary."

I'd been waiting for just this moment. Phone in hand I pulled up the security footage the local publican had sent me. I hit play and showed it to Robert, right at the moment he started to get all kissy and cuddly with a lunch date I didn't recognize. "Your important meeting I take it?"

Robert's face paled then rapidly turned bright puce. "You spied on me. I'll have you sacked for this."

I shrugged my shoulders, "I can't exactly be to blame if someone doesn't like you and decided to send me this footage." I neglected to say it was from the bar's security camera. That I'd asked Bill, who owned the bar, to keep a casual lookout if he saw my supervisor on Friday afternoons when he was notoriously in 'important meetings'. It turned out that Robert was a regular customer and always offhand with Bill, like Bill was his personal servant and should give him special treatment.

Robert paled again, uncertain but prepared to go on the offensive. "Then that footage is none of your business. I demand you delete it from your phone right now!" He raised his voice but this only attracted a larger audience.

The CEO, Dan Sutton, who'd stepped out of his office to see what was going on, held out his hand, "Let me see."

"Terri!" Robert now pleaded with sheer panic in his eyes. But I couldn't very well deny a direct request from the CEO, could I? Would he decide to delete it and cover for Robert? I had no way of knowing. I handed the phone over.

As Dan watched the video apparently it was his turn to go red in the face. "That's my wife," he declared in a shocked whisper.

Oh hell, this I hadn't anticipated, "Um, borrow the phone if you wish Dan. I'd just like to go home. And the correspondence Robert's worrying about, I dealt with it hours ago. The draft's in his email and I sent you a copy." Not that the letter seemed to be anyone's priority now.

The boss handed the phone back to me. "Just send me a copy of that video before you go for the weekend Terri, would you please. Robert, in my office. Now!"

I left them to it, quickly doing a forward of the video as requested. Guilt assailed me now. It had only been my intention to put a stop to Robert's Friday afternoon lack of consideration but it appeared I'd stepped into a whole bigger pile of poo. I had to wonder if I'd even have a job come Monday but I'd promised myself that I wouldn't let fear stop me teaching Robert a lesson. It was the right thing to do. I was by no means the only one whose life he'd gleefully tried to make a misery. I'd only been working for the company for a few weeks since Robert's last secretary had resigned. A little digging and I'd found out why she'd left. He'd start with simple innocuous requests and once he thought he had your trust he'd start with the less reasonable. I'd let his late on Friday emergencies ride for a couple of weeks while I watched him and gathered my facts. I hadn't been sure of how much of an issue I could make of it, whether in fact, anyone would listen to me at all. It was an idle conversation with Barman Bill, who I do get on with, that had given me what I needed. Robert had been going to the bar every Friday afternoon like clockwork, silly boy. And he'd been seen with a pretty middle-aged blond.

As I turned to leave, I was surprised to see all my coworkers still there. It was well after five. Shirley was the first to step forward, pride for me in her eyes, "Thank you, thank you, thank you. I wasn't in a position to do what you did. I have two small kids and a mortgage. I couldn't risk it."

Next was Dirk, business card in hand, "If they're too stupid to keep you on after this my brother is looking for an office administrator and he sure doesn't mind a woman with a bit of get up and go."

"Thanks, Dirk," I accepted the card graciously, "I may need it."

Gareth Davies, the shop steward, shook his head and pushed in front of the others, "The union has your back, Terri. If they want to pick a fight with you they'll have all the union members to contend with too."

"Hear hear," I heard several voices of agreement.

I was taken aback. I hadn't expected this, "I don't know what to say to you all. Thanks."

"Just go and have a good weekend Terri and don't you worry 'bout a thing. Whatever happens we'll see you right."

A warmth filled my solar plexus, a certainty. In that moment I knew they really would be there for me.

The ride home on my mountain bike helped to settle the remaining adrenaline in my system. Had I been scared facing down Robert? You bet. Would I do it again? Yes, in a heartbeat. These days the world was too full of people getting away with being assholes because they knew most were too polite or too powerless to do anything about them.

My one woman crusade had started way back in high school when a particular sleazeball of a teacher would work his way around the prettiest of the year ten physics class, casually placing his unwelcome hands on places no teacher should. He tried it with me. Trained in self defence by my military dad I reacted on reflex, turned and kneed him where it hurt. As he doubled over in pain I'd made a very lackluster apology. "Sorry Sir, I didn't see you there. I just felt someone wiping their hands on me and reacted. You know there's a towel over by the sink if your hands are sweaty." The whole class had erupted in stitches of laughter and that was the last we saw of him. He went off on stress leave and never returned. Of course I'd been reprimanded by the headmistress for injuring a teacher but rather than expell me she'd been sympathetic to my cause, "Just next time come to me first."

"Yes Ms Marshall." I still remembered her smile of quiet approval. She couldn't openly endorse what I'd done but she wasn't sad about it either.

My pushbike ride home was a pleasant one, mostly on the flat. Nearly everything was flat on the Western side of the Great Dividing Range. I hardly even worked up a sweat in the late afternoon sun. The so-called city I lived in wasn't actually that big. The central business district gave way to a thin rim of suburbs with their recently built McMansions; large brick houses that took up most of the block they sat on. Nearly all with a second story and a twin garage for the token BMW or Audi and the 'show I've made it' boat that rarely, if ever, saw water. It was a sign of the affluence the city had enjoyed since it had become an industrial hub.

Me? I preferred the smell of gum leaves on a hot afternoon. I adored my resident family of apostle birds and the two rare parrots that inhabited a hole in the gnarly old dead wattle tree behind my post world war two weatherboard bungalow. The double block I'd inherited from my dad afforded me a modest amount of privacy and enough distance from the neighbors that my radio antennas didn't broadcast a signal into their TVs and radios. Speaking of which, if I just grabbed a quick snack I could retire early to my radio shack out on the old porch and lose myself in surfing the frequencies for new and interesting people to chat with as well as my regular contacts.

I ran my hand over a patch of wall where I'd wired in an electric circuit. No, not legally wired but don't tell anyone. There are strict electrical codes for buildings and heavy fines for any uncertified electricians caught doing their own wiring. But the radio shack isn't on the grid. Isolated from the circuits the house used, my shack instead is powered by solar, wind and me. Yes, curious isn't it? By some unknown accident of nature, my body generates its own excess bioelectricity. If it builds up too much my hands start tingling with an electrical prickle that can zap people with static, fry my toaster or send me spiralling into a crippling migraine. Nothing like the feeling of a hot blade being shoved into your eye or head to motivate you to look for a cause and a cure. There was no cure. Some doctors suggested, with a kindly or condescending smile, that it was all in my mind. Others suggested bucket loads of very expensive or nasty medication fraught with worse side effects than the actual problem.

It had been a practitioner of Taoism who'd finally given me my first clues on managing it. Use it. So when I ran my hand over that part of the wall, with the circuit I'd installed my electricity threw a switch, turning on the lights and the power to my equipment. It was the first thing I had learned to do with it. The second was on a bench, awaiting my daily practice. A light globe with no power connected to it. I hovered my hands over it. Using my mind to direct my energy to the globe. It flickered a moment then blazed to life. As it did I felt some of the excess energy that had built up in me from the afternoon's stress ebb away. A coolness brushed my temples. I took a deep breath into my lower belly, held it then let it out, enjoying the release. I could now use my precious equipment without frying it or resorting to the insulating gloves I wore at work when I used phones or computers. No, I'm not protecting myself from electromagnetic frequencies. I'm a source of them. It was everyone and everything else I had to be careful of. Really, I like electricity.

Settling into my cosy, recycled executive's office chair I slowly turned the dial on the transceiver, seeing who might be out there. My usual friends were nowhere to be found. The airwaves were surely doing strange things tonight. An atmospheric inversion perhaps but I'd leave the science of that to someone else. All I knew was that I was hearing signals from many faraway places I never normally reached. A strange clicking hash of sound caught my attention. Encrypted? Possibly. I fed the signal into a computer program I used to hack such things. Months ago I'd copied the code from a computer hacker I'd found on the dark web, Yiannis someone. I couldn't remember. Anyhow, I'd adapted the program to decipher jammed or coded signals I found while cruising around the radio bands. Why? Curiosity and the challenge of it I guess. The program was slow deciphering this one. I changed a few parameters, tweaking the code. Ah, there It was, loud and clear.

"You had any luck yet finding any more blood donors?"

"A few. Naira's using her brother's contacts to distribute profiles of all those still in a coma, or at least those we're keen to bring back from their long sleep. Some, well, you know."

"Naira is wise to prioritise those who are more likely to be amenable to the new, more egalitarian society we're building. I'm guessing though that it's not easy to find humans willing to make a commitment to being someone's long term blood donor, especially given the strong bonds of love and friendship that develop between the donor and the recipient."

"Our scientists have a theory about that. They think they're imprinting. The first blood they receive becomes the one they prefer."

"Interesting. That must make them damn protective of their donors."

There was a hearty laugh from the other in the conversation. "You don't say. It isn't a match made in heaven, that's for sure. Nearly all those donating hate being mollycoddled, as Harry terms it."

As I listened to the conversation I wondered if I could help. Procedure dictated that I should give my call sign but given I'd hacked into their transmission that might not be wise. "Hey, you guys. Who are these people you need donors for?"

"Well well, Thallon. Sounds like we have an interloper. I thought we had secure communications."

"You do," I confirmed, "Very secure. It took a while for my program to crack the cypher."

"Ah, a hacker." The one who'd the other had called Thallon commented.

"An amateur radio operator actually. I just dabble on the computer programming side of things. Look, I apologize for eavesdropping but you guys sound like you have a need. You in a war zone or something? If I donated some blood to the Red Cross would that help? I could talk a few of my friends into donating too. Or if you need more I could start a campaign on social media."

"Please don't," the other commanded sternly.

"Go easy Aranku, she's only trying to help."

"I don't think her knowing our names is a help."

"You started it."

"Bloody hell!"

"You've been listening to the Australians too much."

"Even more information she doesn't need to know," Aranku complained. "This is a serious security breach. I need to inform our allies. In the meantime, since you're so sweet on her you find out who and where she is."

"Sweet on her!"

"Well, you were defending her."

"I just thought it wouldn't hurt to hear what she has to say."

"You do that. I'm reporting to the command center."

"Fine!"

There was silence for a minute, "You still there Thallon?" I wondered.

"Yeah, just making sure that asshole had gone offline. Now sweetheart, you going to honestly tell me who you are?"

"That depends on how much hot water I've just landed myself in." Seemed like it was my day for landing in the shit.

"Don't let Aranku spook you. He used to be part of my team but he picked the wrong side in a disagreement. He's still a bit touchy about that but his faction now lives in another of our cities. I've no doubt he'll report your incursion but I wouldn't be too worried about it. We'll probably just have to hire you to tighten up our communication security. You looking for a job?" he asked hopefully.

"Funnily enough I might be, but I still don't know who you guys are."

"Er, well, there's not much I can tell you without breaching our security more than it has been."

That figured, "Tell me about yourself then, whatever you can safely say."

"Me?"

"Well, not that I can tell much by just talking to you but you seem like a nice guy. You stood up for me against Aranku. What are your interests? What do you do?"

"Are you, as, how do you humans say, chatting me up?

Humans? "Might be. Is there any reason I shouldn't? Like you're an alien from another planet or something?"

Deathly silence.

"Thallon?"

"Sorry, you caught me by surprise there. Er, it's not in me to lie so can I not answer that question?"

He was joking, surely, "Ok. So what can you tell me?"

"Challenging. Let me see. Well, I'm male. You might have worked that much out from the frequency of my voice."

Well yes, duh. But then, if he was an alien that didn't rule out deep-voiced females. "And?"

"And I'm of average height. Light brown hair and what I think you'd call a well suntanned complexion although that is only because of pigments in my skin that optimise my ability to take nourishment from our sun."

A crawly feeling crept up my spine. "Are you saying you feed on sunshine?"

"Um, maybe I've said too much again. I suck at this secrecy don't I?"

And I was liking him for it. "You can be honest with me. You know no-one is going to believe me anyway. If I start saying I've been chatting with an alien they'll just call me a conspiracy theorist and ridicule me." And a thought occurred to me. "If you are on another planet, how come we're talking in real time? There should be a time delay."

"Maybe that is something I can tell you. How familiar are you with wormholes?"

"I'm familiar with the concept although they're only a theory, as far as I know."

"More than a theory, we use micro-sized wormholes to send our transmissions."

Genius, "That's brilliant! Can you tell me more?" What Thallon was talking about could revolutionize radio-based communication.

"Well, that depends on whether you'd agree to meet with me?"

I sucked my breath in, "You asking me out on a date?"

"A date, like on the calendar?" he was obviously confused.

I rolled my eyes but his question seemed genuine, "You know, sweet talk me, seduce me, captivate me?"

"Well now," Thallon sounded both surprised and amused. "I think that's just what I'll do. I'll consult with the others on what's involved in dating but can I go as far as asking if I can pick you up tomorrow night?"

I frowned, "Are you on another planet or are you not?"

"Sorry I can't tell you that yet. Shall we say 8 pm, your time, tomorrow? I'll pick you up and don't be late. I'll be trying to fly under the radar so to speak?"

"You're going to pick me up in an aircraft?"

"Can't answer you honestly on that one either. What about it Terri, we on?"

My breath caught in my throat. "I never told you my name Thallon."

"No you didn't," but there was a smile in his voice. "Aranku's been busy. We already know much about you Terrence Jones. I thought Terrence was a boy's name."

Bloody hell! How could they compile a dossier on me that quickly? "It is. My dad wanted a son," but Thallon didn't need my life history. It appeared he already had it. Let me see. Make a run for it and try to hide from them or learn the secrets of wormhole transmissions. If they'd found out about me this quickly there would probably be no hiding from them for long. Despite the dangers, curiosity won out, although I would see what I could do to minimize the risks. "You're on Thallon, come alone." But I wouldn't.

I was hoping a few good friends could be talked into watching out for me. I needed to get back into town but riding my pushbike after dark, even with its ultra-bright LED lights, would be suicidal. The local drivers weren't renowned for seeing a motorbike at the best of times, let alone a pushbike after dark. So I found the keys to my dad's old truck. Thankfully I'd renewed its insurance and registration last month. I just hoped the battery was still charged.

As I entered the main bar my eyes quickly scanned the room as my dad had long ago taught me to do. Always be aware of your surroundings Terri. Assess the risks and opportunities. Potential weapons and paths of escape. Yes, dad had had a grim view of the world. His work in the military had made him so. And though he knew I walked in a safer world than he had, made safer in no small part because of the sacrifices of people like him, he didn't see any harm in training me to be attentive. He'd made a game of it for me and soon had me hooked on seeing the world through his eyes. Eyes that at this moment noted Mrs Franson, a woollen rug on her lap and her furball of a shitzu-poodle cross at her feet, chatting to her neighbour, Mrs Alison. With white wine as their fuel, a discussion of crochet patterns was quickly giving way to sharing the latest photos of their grandkids. Ever hopeful, Weasel was further down the bar trying and failing to impress two backpacker tourists. The women, in their twenties, looked to be of Scandinavian or Germanic descent. A group of older regulars were in a huddle down the end, beers in hand, their personal sets of darts beside them, resting after a friendly match. Rona was yelling from the kitchen that someone's order was up.

Bill was still working the bar, "Hi sweetheart, what brings you into town after dark?"

Hmm, how exactly was I going to explain this? "Fancy listening to a really wild story, purely hypothetical of course?" I put some money on the bar.

Bill handed me a stubbie of my favorite dry cider, took from the money and gave me some change. His face was alive with anticipation as he served me. Bill was always an avid listener. Even better, what he heard often stayed with him, only to be passed on if it would help someone he deemed deserving. And then only as much as they needed to know. It's what made him such a good barman. "Is this about the video I sent you?"

"No, it ain't Bill. So you going to tell me you didn't know the woman Robert was seeing was Dan's wife?"

Bill's eyes gleamed with mischief, "It was a rather clear front on shot of her I thought. Who identified her?"

"Dan."

"Ah." Bill pursed his lips, "Tricky."

He had that right, "I'm not sure of all the flow on from this afternoon's effort but that's not why I came in to see you. I have a problem."

"A purely hypothetical one," his eyes widened in interest.

"Yeah, let's stay with that theory for now." I told him about my strange encounter on the airwaves and my impending date.

At the start of my tale, Bill had picked up a wet glass from the bar's dishwasher and started drying it with a cloth. By the time I finished my tale it was one very clean glass and Li Li, the waitress who'd had to take charge of the bar, was glaring at us both as she worked hard to meet orders from the other customers Bill had seemingly forgotten about. "Well now Terri, I'd have to say that as hypothetical problems go that one beats all. Thinking, hypothetically, of course, I'd say you'd need a few chaperones to watch out for you."

"Chaperones?"

"Better than an imposing force of bodyguards. We wouldn't want the hypothetical alien to think we meant violence now would we? No, what you'd need would be a small warm and friendly welcoming committee who could make sure you weren't abducted and never heard from again."

That had been precisely my fear but I didn't have a moment more to think about it. Glass shattered as the front window of the pub crashed in. A brick landed on the floor, followed by a flaming bottle of volatile liquid. The Molotov ignited, sending patrons fleeing all directions to avoid the flames. Li Li, who'd been walking past the area with a serving tray to pick up glasses from the tables, caught the brunt of it.

Without thinking I grabbed the woollen travel rug from old Mrs Franson's lap. I startled her but she gave it up without a fight, understanding my intention.

I threw the rug over Li Li and rolled with her, "Someone call triple 0", I yelled but Bill was already on the phone and others were running for the fire extinguishers. Dry chemical powder went everywhere.

"Li Li!" I grabbed her unburnt hand. No, I wasn't going to ask if she was alright. Her eyes were glassy. She moaned.

The ambos arrived and nudged me aside, "You've done well. We'll take her from here."

A tear streaked down my face. There was nothing more I could do. Like all survivors, I wondered if I was partly to blame. If I hadn't been talking to Bill when I had she could have made her run to collect glasses earlier. But then, it could have been someone else. And there at the back of my mind was the other niggling question. Why in this town? Why this pub? It wasn't as if we were in the middle of Melbourne where the criminal underground could occasionally lash out against their enemies. Our town didn't have crime gangs, drug lords or terrorists. Well not that I knew of. No, the one niggling worry in my mind was that it was what Bill and I had done this afternoon that had caused this. Nah, Robert wouldn't go that far, would he?

Bill was already getting a mop and bucket to clear up the mess left by the extinguishers. The quick action of his patrons had saved the pub.

"I can do that Bill", at least I'd feel less helpless. The cops were here. We weren't going anywhere until we gave our statements.

Bill nodded, somewhat in shock but functioning. He returned to the bar and started dishing out free drinks to all those who'd pitched in to help.

By the time the cops left I was dead on my feet, "I think I'll head home now Bill. You be alright?"

Bill shook his head. "I don't think it's safe Terri. What if this wasn't just some teenage hooliganism?"

I knew in that moment that he had the exact same worry I did. "You think he might be waiting for me?"

"We're probably both being paranoid but I did tell the cops about Robert. Not that we'd got him on camera of course but that word had gotten back to his office about his extracurricular activities."

"It had crossed my mind." If our suspicions were right, would an attack on the pub be enough to vent his rage? Would he be waiting to drive me off the road or worse, attack my home?

I felt protective about my radio shack as much as the house but I could see the sense in being cautious. "Don't suppose you have a room I could rent for the night? With all the cops now patrolling the area like an angry swarm of ants, he's unlikely to come back and hit the pub again. I don't know if he knows my home address but I live alone. It's a risk."

"On the house Terri."

"Even after I might've been the one to bring this down on us?"

He waggled his finger. "Oh, no you don't Terri, we're all in this together. You might have been the one to take the initiative but your co-workers shared the need. I chose to help you of my own volition. Your CEO's wife carries some blame. Perhaps even your CEO for not knowing what she and Robert were up to behind his back. And then there are the patrons here. They're mostly a hardworking bunch and don't like those in power who abuse their position by slacking off. I had more than one of them commenting on our regular Friday couple and I can tell you they weren't happy. So you see Terri, you can't go seeing events in isolation. You did right girl. We did right."

His words eased my heart, "It's Li Li I worry about." Li Li was not only one of Bill's part-time waitresses. She was staying at the hotel while she worked her way through uni. She was also my friend and mentor on all things Taoist.

Grief etched Bill's face, "We'll go see her in the morning, if they'll let us in. I expect she'll be in the burns unit or intensive care. After that, we'll go together and check out your place. I have a good friend who's worked both in security and as a publican. He's retired now but he'll relish the work here, looking after the pub while I'm out. He'll understand the risks. I'll get on to him tomorrow. Now off with you," he threw me a key, "Upstairs, second on your right. The bed's freshly made. I'll make us some breakfast around 8."

Discussion over. "Night Bill."

### 2

Up on Mars...

Tess rolled out of bed, feeling decidedly unwell. Didn't near immortality protect you from the collywobbles? Okay, maybe she was expecting too much. The 'cure' as they called it, that she and others had taken had relengthened telomeres and restored their bodies to their peak but that was about it. Any other abilities came as your body relaunched itself on the evolutionary path that had always been intended for it. For her, those abilities included seeing the forces and vectors acting on objects, mechanical insights you could call it. That and a bit of telepathy and teleportation. Well, those last two were pretty much a given.

She made it to the bathroom in time. Cripes! She didn't remember having eaten any carrots. But even if she had they shouldn't cause this.

Gratia knocked on the door. Tess could already feel her concern in her head, "You alright Tess?"

"Dunno." Truth be known this had happened yesterday too but the others hadn't been around so she'd managed to hide it from their minds and avoided them having the worry.

The door jam cracked as Mishka and Tevas broke their way in. "What do you mean this happened yesterday?"

Oops, forgot to block that thought, "Hey, just having a quiet little chuckup here. Could you give me a moment?"

Gratia followed the guys in and came over to place a hand on Tess's forehead. "Not running a fever. Here, have this," she passed Tess a wet face cloth.

"Thanks."

"She needs some space," Ulv ordered as he teleported in behind the others. It appeared even the good doctor had picked up on her distress, from miles away at the enemy's mining complex. "Everyone out. You're crowding her."

Mishka growled but reluctantly gave the doctor some room.

Tevas frowned but backed off too. Neither vampire was good at taking orders, especially when it came to one of their mates.

Gratia stood her ground. She didn't take orders from anyone.

"How is she?", Chesten came up behind the guys but kept her distance. Tess, for one, was grateful someone understood about personal space.

"You don't get personal space when you're ill," Gratia informed her sternly. Yep Gratia was kind've their boss, as much as they let her be.

Tess wiped her face with the cloth as Ulv took her pulse, on her other hand, "Look, can't a girl spew in peace? I'm fine, really. Or at least I will be in an hour or so. It'll pass. It did yesterday."

Ulv gave Tess an odd look and went to search in his doctor's bag for something. He passed it to her. "Humour me," then he hustled Gratia out, scooted the others away and closed the door.

Tess eyed the test strip he'd passed her, "He's got to be joking right?" she mumbled to herself. They were about to head out on some great odyssey. To take their favourite sarcastic spaceship, Nate, into the wilds of the core of the galaxy, to see if there was something out of kilter with the frequencies emanating from its center.

A few minutes later Tess opened the bathroom door and went to face her own special tribe of, currently very worried, mates. "Yeah."

"Seriously? How cool is that?" This from TG, their resident, highly evolved AI who's very realistic, even tangible, hologram had just materialised out of nowhere. "The odds are short of miraculous."

Er, Tess worried that the others might think she'd been cheating on them. "I really haven't been with anyone else." Of her mates only Gratia and Chesten were human and, well, they were female. That and Chesten was more there as a spare blood donor for their two vampires, having helped out when Gratia had taken a bullet to the head. The three had bonded as most donors and recipients did. Though definitely on her good friend list she and Chesten weren't intimate, not like she was with Gratia.

Gratia went to give her mate and very best friend a reassuring hug. "We know Tess. And anyway, if you did find someone extra to play with we'd be cheering you on. We want you to be happy. It's all any of us wants for each other."

Mishka looked awed. Tevas, dumbstruck, "You mean, we're fertile? We can have children? With humans?"

Theirs had been a dying race. No one had had any offspring since the great catastrophe. A combination of radiation and starvation had been blamed. That and their bodies had adapted to drinking blood to survive as their livestock began to diminish in number.

"As I understand it," Ulv intervened, "Humans are a distant relation of the Lyrean species. Yes, humans and primates share a large amount of DNA but that's only part of a very complicated story. It's not inconceivable that Tess carries some ancient gene that made this possible. I'd like to take a blood sample down to Earth for Jnarn and Helena to have a look at."

Tess shrugged, "Be my guest." Then she turned to her mates. "But what now?"

Gratia was unfazed, "When Simon took me to see the Lemurians' probability computer, Cassandra, it showed me a possible future with you pregnant, aboard a spaceship. That, and when I was shot, Mum came to me in a vision and said she fancied coming with us to explore the stars. I think she means to reincarnate. We continue on as planned."

"Definitely not!" Mishka was adamant. "Tess carries the future of our species. She stays here under full protection."

Tess instantly recovered enough from her nausea to say her piece, "Oh, no you don't. My life, my way. You're not wrecking my life. I will love and adore this child but she will integrate with my life. If Gratia's mum wants to see the stars I'm taking her with us."

"Our child," Tevas pointed out.

"You don't know that for sure. Who's to say that she didn't just immaculately conceive herself," not that that was likely, as far as any of them knew. "And don't think for one minute I'm giving up what I love to do. You're not keeping me from mechanics. You'd better start taking lessons now in changing nappies because this is OUR child and you're all pitching in or I'm heading back to Earth right now and I'll go and build a ship of my own with Upal and Mendal's help."

"And I'll come with you," Gratia put in.

"Me too," Chesten added for good measure.

"Nate'll come with me back to Earth, if that's where you'll be Tess. I won't leave you and Gratia, Nate knows that," TG was adamant

Mishka slammed his bum down on their very big communal bed, "No-one's going anywhere."

"Why ever not?" Tess asked, "You guys have got the new blood bank here, you won't starve."

Tevas sighed in defeat, "Because we love you. All of you. But could we at least negotiate some compromise on this?"

Miska nodded in agreement, "A small delay while you go through your first trimester. It's the most critical time isn't it?"

Ulv agreed, "It would be sensible Tess. And staying away from anything particularly hazardous, even if your near immortality protects you. No high voltage electrical work, no welding because of the fumes or using chemicals. Let your mates do the dangerous stuff."

Tess, feeling instantly protective towards the child she now knew she carried, decided all that sounded logical. Stubborn she might be but not at the risk to the child. "Alright, I'll agree to Ulv's terms but I get a say in what I can do."

Gratia held her treasured friend protectively, "I'll make sure you have that right. I'll even learn how to change nappies." Although she wasn't too sure she was keen on that prospect.

"And I'll learn all about midwifery," TG offered, "Just in case the child comes before we get back here."

Mishka groaned. Tevas swore. That scenario was not pleasing to them.

Tess finally felt for them. "I'll follow doctors orders and I'll take care, we," she patted her belly, "Will be alright."

"Well then," Ulv screwed the lid on his vial of freshly taken blood then gathered up his bag, "I'd better get back to the mining camp before Sakla notices I'm gone. Ilya's covering for me. I'll check on you again later," and with that he vanished.

As Ulv left Tevas whispered to Mishka, "What's a nappy?"

### 3

On Earth ...

I kicked at the burnt out timbers that were once the uprights for my front verandah. I hadn't even had breakfast when the call came from the fire department, checking that I wasn't inside. I could so easily have been. Funnily my attacker had left the old shed alone. Little had they known the worth of the equipment in it. I'd be having to live in it while I started the long and laborious process of having the house rebuilt, once the insurance coughed up. Maybe I could get one of those compact transportable homes that sort of folded out into something so much bigger. In the meantime there was the lingering issue of where would I be safe?

A sympathetic looking policeman, who'd introduced himself as Constable Iain MacDonald, wandered over to me. "The fire investigator agrees with you, it was deliberately lit. We're treating this as attempted murder. Do you want to make a statement now or come down to the station later?"

"Now, I guess I'll get it over with," so much of my past had gone up in those flames. Memories. Growing up here. Time spent with Dad. Dad in the old kitchen, making me breakfast before getting me off to school. Dad and me on the floor of the living room surrounded by electrical bits and pieces as we followed a diagram and made something together. I guess those memories would just have to live on in me now. Ironically the house had been in need of a lot of repairs I could never have afforded on my small wage. The insurance would give me something state of the art, although without the soul the old place had. Only time and new memories would give it soul. "Have they found Robert yet?"

I wondered about my nemesis but I had no regrets. I knew the path of doing what was right and standing up to assholes had its price. But I also knew there was a higher price to doing nothing. Misery. Like my dad, who could have put up with my narcissistic mother for my sake. But he hadn't. And we'd been all the better for it. While my ambitious mother took the family home and continued with her acting career we'd gone to live in another state, first in a caravan and then later, once dad had saved a deposit, we'd gotten this place. A small acreage beyond the Great Divide, next to a growing outback town. We hadn't been poor but we'd had to be careful what we spent. We still managed to find a lot of fun, hunting bits at recycling shops. If you don't mind the dust and the lack of packaging there's not much you can't find at the local recycling shop. Though sometimes you might have to wait a bit til the universe hears what you want and the item turns up in just the bin you're looking in.

Dad had been in the military but when faced with raising me he'd taken up a mix of taxi driving and teaching the locals his version of martial arts that combined practical street fighting, survival skills, observation, reading body language, directing your intent and finding your inner calm.

"The suspect is yet to be apprehended," the constable interrupted my thoughts with an answer to my now forgotten question.

"Damn."

"We'll patrol the area, as we will the pub. We've also advised your boss to be on his guard. Apparently his wife had gone missing too."

"Do you think Robert might attack my workplace?" I worried for my workmates. Their livelihoods relied on that place.

"He might but it's more likely he wants to make those he's most angry with suffer. You, Bill, and Dan would be highest on my list. At least he hasn't taken any of you hostages and demanded to have his job back. We'll have a negotiator on stand by just in case."

"Comforting," not.

Constable Macdonald wasn't fooled, "Messy business Ms Jones. I won't lie and tell you you're safe. From what you've already told me Robert is a classic manipulator. When manipulation and control falls apart for psychopaths their anger can burn with a cold, violent heat."

I looked around at the ashes that surrounded me, "I believe you."

By the time I finished my statement Bill had arrived with a picnic table, camping chairs and a basket of goodies which he set up in front of the still standing shed, "You missed breakfast."

The tears broke, I hugged him, "You're bloody marvelous Bill, you know that."

He kissed me on the cheek, "Well now, I might actually be thinking the same of you. Not many around with your courage and determination. Come on, eat up. We'll go and see if they'll let us in to see Li Li then we'll come back here and start the clean up."

"He could come back here you know," I felt duty bound to point out. It was obvious now that Robert had worked out the video had come from Bill's security cameras, hence the attack on the pub.

Bill passed me a freshly baked croissant, dripping with butter and his own homemade quandong jam, "I see it this way. Life's about choices. Sometimes the right choices bring about disaster but that doesn't change the fact they were the right choices. Most of the world lives in fear of standing up to the bullies and the bad guys. Life's easier if you don't. Sure, if you can get away from them, do, but oftentimes circumstances will still bring the same challenges to your door, over and over again, until you say no. Terri, we are the people who say no. If I live my life that way, whether it is shortened by that stance or not, then I'm happy to have lived."

I bit into the luscious croissant, in all its fat, carb, and sugary glory. Comfort food, and I knew it. A bit of comforting was what I needed right now. But I also agreed. "Damn right! Bill."

The hospital smelled of floor cleaner and antiseptic. Bill and I sat down in the waiting room, waiting for the nurse's verdict on whether we could go in. Normally only close relatives got into the burns unit but Li Li had none in this country. There was an aging aunt back in Taiwan who was happy enough to have her off her plate of responsibilities.

The nurse returned with the doctor's verdict, "You can come in but you'll need to go through the change room. Your clothes go on the bench. Put a gown on, booties over your shoes and face masks. Make sure to wash your hands well, up to the elbows please." She ushered me into the change room then directed Bill towards a similar room set aside for men.

All the patients were in a large room with the nurses station at the center. Li Li was in a bed on the other side of the nurse's station. Half her face, neck, her right shoulder and arm were all bandaged. A drip was attached to her other hand. Always tiny looking Li Li appeared even frailer than was her norm.

"We're keeping her in a medical coma for a day or so," the nurse explained. "She's going to be in a shit load of pain when she wakes up. Then there's the depression that will hit when she realizes what she's lost. Honestly, I try to distance myself emotionally from the patients' suffering but sometimes it gets to me." She looked away to hide her feelings.

Bill patted her on the shoulder, "What you do takes real courage and a great deal of care. You're a warrior fighting for their well being. You get her well then we'll take on making sure she understands she is still beautiful in her eyes. Anyone who tries to tell her otherwise will face our wrath."

A smile slowly crinkled at the corners of the nurse's eyes. It didn't reach her mouth yet but her mood was lifting, "Thank you, I think I needed reminding that there are people out there that won't make my patients' lives more miserable than they need to be. Look, there's not much you can do for her yet. Give me your phone numbers and I'll give you a ring when we wake her up. She'll need reassurance then, a lot of it."

We left the nurse to her charges and returned to the outer reception room where we found our friendly constable from earlier waiting.

Bill shook his head, "They're sedating her to keep her unconscious while her body heals what it can."

Constable MacDonald nodded in understanding, "We'll leave her in peace then," he gave Bill a card. "Give me a call when she wakes so I can get her statement."

"Will do," Bill acknowledged.

MacDonald went to go but hesitated, his hand on the door. He turned back to Bill, "You're her employer. It's not my place to say but if I cared for her I'd be covering for her. If immigration find out Ms Lee's unable to work or missing her university classes they could swoop on her and ship her back to Taiwan."

I gasped but knew he was right. "I'll get on to her head of faculty right away." I'd think of something to tell them to fob them off.

Bill answered for the rest, "Li Li's job's safe. I'll do whatever it takes to protect her. God damn it, if I wasn't so old I'd marry her."

The cop smiled, reassured we had everything in hand, and left.

"What now?" I wondered

"Now we go and organise your welcoming party. Don't forget, you've got a date tonight," Bill reminded me.

I had forgotten. I had no way of contacting my friendly alien so I guessed we were going on as planned. So much had happened since the night before. It was like the whole world had shifted. But I remembered my Dad's words, 'Terri, the world is full of challenges. It's for you to decide when to run and when to fight but a good warrior knows what she's capable of and confronts the challenges she can. Embrace life in all its tangled mess and you'll be rewarded with a life worth living.'

### 4

On Mars...

Thallon had no clues when it came to the dating game so he went in search of the oldest and wisest human woman in their midst. He found her out in the cool midday sun, paddling along the shore of the great ocean, communing with the planet's budding sea-life. "Emily, I need your advice."

Emily had felt his arrival and his mission, "No you don't. You already know what you need to know." She sat down on a rock at the ocean's edge, dipping one hand into the cool water to affectionately stroke one of the inquisitive baby octopi that came to her, like metal fillings to a magnet.

Thallon scratched his head in a vaguely human gesture he'd acquired. "I do?"

"Your nature is to be observant. You've communicated with your own kind for millennia. Then there's the bucket load of Earth TV you've all been watching since we invented it. You'd have seen plenty of fictional interactions even if you haven't had a real relationship like Pira had. Plus you've seen us with our mates. What behaviours do you like in others?"

"Hmm. Honesty. I don't like some smart ass manipulating me into something." He paused to think. "I guess I like being appreciated. At least not taken for granted or ignored like the Lyreans used to before the apocalypse. I might be a cross between a servant and a protector but it's nice to have that service valued like it is now."

"And?" Emily prompted.

Her question made Thallon seriously stop and think about what he liked. He'd never thought to do that before now. "Um, being allowed to, well, be me. To do what I do. And I've liked the members of my team having my back, not just in the field but just generally being ready to defend me from our enemies."

Pleased with his response Emily broached the truly tricky question, for one of his kind anyway. "What about affection, intimacy?"

Thallon frowned, "Honestly, I don't know. I've functioned without it. But. What you have with you mates. It seems complex, challenging even, but I'm guessing it's nice or none of you would bother."

Emily grinned, a slight blush reddening her cheeks, "There's that but I think you're missing what's vital. We are more together than alone. Our boundaries are blurred but yet we are still, each, unique. And, not least, there is the all consuming love that binds us."

Thallon was pretty sure he was entering into some unknown abyss, "Now, see, that sounds scary."

"Everything of worth has its risks and its price, Thallon."

"And you think this intimacy has worth?" Thallon sought that reassurance.

"Most definitely. But perhaps you're getting a bit ahead of things. Intimacy requires you to develop a bond with another. That's rarely an instant thing. Whether you like this woman you're going to meet, or not, use your intuition and her actions as a guide. Humans tend to try and impress strangers. Don't be swayed by pretty clothes, a beautiful body or nice words. Watch what she does, how she treats the things and other beings in her environment."

Evidence gathering, he knew how to do that, "So, let me get this in my head. You're saying be myself, treat her like I like to be treated and don't rush things."

"Exactly."

"So I don't have to turn up with flowers or chocolates like they do on TV."

Emily laughed, "If she likes you you won't need to impress but that's not to say a small gift wouldn't help to reassure her you're not coming to harm her. But are you sure that flowers and chocolates are her thing? Personally I hate cutting living things only to put them in a vase to watch them fade and die. And I doubt the life force of this planet would like you cutting bits of it without asking. You'd have to check with Callen first and make sure you wouldn't be breaching any of the Alliance's quarantine restrictions between our two planets. As for chocolates, she may have an allergy or be avoiding sugary foods and not appreciate the gesture. Is there something else that might interest her?"

"Hmm," Thallon did have one idea. "I think so."

Em caught his thought and nodded in approval, "Excellent. But you might also drop in on Russell. He's a gifted craftsman. He might have something small you can give as a present from all of us, as a token of our good will. Right now she has to be seeing the risks she's facing. Let's reassure her."

Thallon's shoulders relaxed. "Thanks Emily, I really feel out of my depth but there's something about this girl. I know I only talked to her but..."

"Follow your heart Thallon."

Thallon frowned again. It wasn't like Emily to forget. "But I don't have a heart Emily."

Emily shook her head, "No, you're not a carbon based life form. And the sun powers the electrical connections between the silicon based nanites that make up your body. But you do yourself an injustice if you don't think you have a heart." She studied his frown. "Okay, maybe heart is the wrong word. I studied with a Japanese zen master a few years ago. He taught me much about 'kokoro' which is their term for the physical heart but also its other aspects like courage and attempting things that will be hard and take time and practice. It is intention, intellect, and emotion. Mind, body, and spirit connected. The storehouse of consciousness. You are not a mindless machine Thallon. That you have kokoro is proven by the fact that you are here having this discussion with me."

"So I don't have a physical heart but I still have this thing you more broadly define as heart?"

"Exactly."

Thallon's happiness hit Emily like a wave crashing into her. "I'll see you later then," he went off in search of Russell and a spacecraft to borrow.

Emily smiled down at the octopus that was tickling her finger, "I think he's going to do alright don't you? Yes, you definitely have kokoro too my friend."

Naira caught up with Thallon as he left Russell's workshop. "Wait up Thallon."

Thallon turned at her approach, bowing slightly from the waist, "Maker," he acknowledged.

Naira frowned, "Please Thallon, we are equals. I don't need some title that makes me sound like a creator god."

Thallon, sighed, contrite, "Sorry Naira. Habit. And it's kind of hard to forget you made me."

"No Thallon. I only gave you form and the ability to think for yourself. You made yourself into what you are now. You've lived through eons without my interference. That you've all become quite unique is testament to the choices you've made. You're everything I ever hoped," Naira beamed.

Thallon felt warmed but slightly embarrassed by the praise yet he had the good sense to accept it, "Thanks Naira. You wanted to talk to me?"

Naira knew he was changing the subject but let it go, "I've spoken with my brother. He's arranged with the relevant authorities for earth's satellites and radar to look the other way as you make your approach. However it may be wise to use stealth nonetheless. Our foe has people entrenched in many places. Captain Sullivan will meet you at the spaceship when you're ready. She won't be landing Nate on Earth but will instead stay in geostationary orbit. They've already loaded Kjartlan's vehicle. He'll take you to the rendezvous point."

"Damn," Thallon's built in honesty won out against political correctness. "You know Kjartlan's old school don't you? He sees my kind as nothing more than servants."

Naira chuckled knowingly, "He's not an easy man but I think you'll find he's had to adjust his attitude."

Thallon knew what she meant. Kjartlan's mates, including Emily, had made it pretty clear they wouldn't take the former black ops Lyrean's shit, "Still..."

"I've made it clear to him this is your op and he's to stay on board his transport unless you call for backup. Plus Fionnalagh will be with him."

Thallon Relaxed. Fionnalagh, or Fionna to her human mates, was a good being. The Sancturan warrior diplomat was also one of Kjartlan's mates. He'd have her at his back any day. "Thanks Naira."

Naira handed him a wallet with a card. "This is your ID. Only use it if you need, if you meet with any authorities asking too many questions. It may help to keep you safe. There's an international driver's license in there too. Your appearance is not that dissimilar to the average human but the eyes are a give away. If you need to go about in public wear these." She passed him a pair of dark glasses.

Thallon sensed Naira's unease. He knew the risks. There were those on the planet he was going to who wouldn't hesitate to capture and study him, or even worse dissect him. He shivered, a reflex habit he had learned from the humans in their midst. He then turned his attention to the small document Naira had handed him, "Agent Jack Thallon?"

"Humans generally have a minimum of two names. Thallon would stand out too much so we thought a common English name would be better," she handed him a mobile phone. "If you need it there's a phone number on speed dial. It'll get a man named Andrew McCullum. For the purposes of your Earth based identity he's your boss. If there's some problem your team can't deal with Andrew will find someone who can."

Thallon appreciated having the safety net but hopefully he wouldn't need it. All going well he'd convince this girl to come and work for them or he'd take her to Boswell. If she refused either option he'd reluctantly have to take her to someone who could wipe her memory of their encounter and any thought she'd ever talked to an alien. Just the thought of her forgetting him made him sad. What did Gratia and Tess always say about reality creation? Gratitude was the magic that could make things real. He took a moment to appreciate already having talked to Terri, acknowledging that their encounter was for a reason. That she was going to be, somehow, important to him.

### 5

"Are you sure no one saw us?" Thallon worried as Kjartlan settled the craft onto the overgrown abandoned paddock they'd chosen.

"Andrew said this spot's been earmarked for a new housing estate but because of some rare parrots that nest nearby, actually on your girl's property, there's an environmental battle going on in the law courts. There's a legitimate worry that the birds use this as their feeding ground," Fionnalagh explained as Kjartlan shut down various systems.

"In other words, no one is coming within a bull's roar of the place for fear of attracting the attention of the local media. That, and Tess has been working with some scientists in Karpathia. They've managed to replicate Nate's sharkskin-like surface and coat it with a special polymer that projects whatever's on the other side of the ship. So this beauty now has some of Nate's aerodynamics as well as hideability." Kjartlan was proud of his ship, loving it nearly as much as he did his mates. Fortunately his mates were a pretty open minded bunch and didn't see the ship as competition for his affections.

"A bull's roar eh? Do you even know what a bull is?" Fionnalagh quipped.

"Declan said it. Harry was trying to tempt him with some new tasty morsel Callan's host has evolved. Declan declared it looked like some kind of purple vomit and he didn't want it within a bull's roar of him," Kjartlan explained gleefully, eyeing with satisfaction the effect his words had on the others.

"Do you really have to talk about vomit? We're all, well most of us, feeling for Tess at the moment."

Kjartlan softened, "Yeah. She's a flippin' miracle. Though I can't understand why her mates are letting her continue her work. They should take better care of her."

Fionnalagh's hackles rose, "Let!"

Thallon decided to intervene, "Bulls are a large four legged beast, considered dangerous if you meet one in a paddock so here's hoping there isn't one outside. You two going to stay here amicably?"

"Hmph, I'll go grab my weapons and check out Terri's property. I'll keep out of sight." Fionnalagh put on her protective vest, the one that covered her vulnerable heart.

"Hey!" Kjartlan swore. "What did I do?"

Fionnalagh rolled her eyes and beckoned Thallon, "You coming?"

"Well fine," Kjartlan thumped down in his captain's chair. "Just damn well stay out of trouble you two."

As Thallon followed Fionnalagh out he whispered in her ear. "I thought you were here to keep him under control."

"Hah! Control! That'll be the day. Lesson one in relationships Thallon. You never control a mate. You either accept them as they are or you don't," Fionnalagh explained.

"But you don't accept his dictates."

Fionnalagh laughed. "I accept that he has his opinions, as annoying and outdated as some of them are. I just choose to ignore them... mostly."

"I can still hear you," Kjartlan shouted after them.

"So much for stealth," Thallon muttered.

A little while ago ...

Bill and I had returned to my home, now in my shed. The police still had the remains of my house cordoned off as a crime scene and no doubt would continue to do so for several days to come.

I set up a newly purchased campstove as a temporary kitchen. Fortunately the shed did have a sink and an illegal loo. You weren't allowed to put living facilities inside a shed these days. Local shire councils feared their municipalities becoming shanty towns if people lived in inexpensive sheds. So people who couldn't afford to build a McMansion ended up sleeping on park benches. Where was the sense in that? Little over two hundred years before it had been perfectly okay for the average person to live and raise a family in a two room hut they'd built from trees they'd felled and slabbed themselves. A deep hole in the ground with a seat and a tiny shed above had served as a bathroom of sorts. An outside dunny. Leaves or last week's newspapers had served as toilet paper. A scoop of lime occasionally thrown down the hole had kept the nasty smells away. Candles had served for lighting. Water came from a well. A smoke house served as a place to dry your fish and meat as well as a few herbs. In those days it had been possible to eke a living off a small holding, a few sheep, fruit trees, some chickens and perhaps a milk cow.

Not that I wanted to go back to a time before electricity and flushing loos but it did make you wonder how we'd ever let the property developers and regulators get so much power over us that life had become impossibly expensive. The cost of living life by the rules was now such that most were slaves to jobs they'd work at til seventy or more, whether they liked those jobs or not. I just wouldn't tell the local shire council I was living in here. As long as no one dobbed me in I should be fine.

Bill carted in a fold up camp bed he'd found somewhere and was loaning me, indefinitely, "Where do you want this Terri?"

"Ah, over in the corner. Where I've put those bags of linen I got from the charity shop."

"Oh yeah," he put the bed in position then paused, worried. "You sure about this Terri? You can stay at the pub as long as you like."

I sighed, we'd already had this discussion once today. "It's my home Bill," what was left of it. "I'm not having some moron running me out of my own home. Let's have a cuppa and then you can help me install that alarm system. I've got some new batteries for Dad's old security cameras. There's an uninterrupted power supply to wire in and sensor lights to mount outside."

"Let's get to it then."

By dusk we had the new surveillance system installed plus a perimeter established which when crossed would send a text to my phone if I was out, as well as trigger the sound of a large dog growling and barking in my shed. Yes I could have bought a guard dog but have you seen the cost of vet bills these days? Plus there was the whole question over whether I was about to be nabbed and taken offworld, a scenario that, while it was a concern, I was still thinking it couldn't be real. Could it?

The sound of my phantom dog barking broke my chain of thought.

Bill went to my monitor, "Aha, they've arrived."

"Who?" I worried. "The alien?" But as I came over to study the computer screen with him I relaxed, "My chaperones?"

"As ordered," Bill grinned, adding that they were all volunteers. Just in case I thought he'd dragooned them.

I greeted my would be alien welcoming party with no small amount of bemusement, surprise and indeed honour. "Weasel? But I've never been nice to you."

Weasel, aka Jeremy Banks, just laughed. "I knew you warned off a few of the girls. But hey, what's a chase if there aren't a few obstacles in the way."

I shook my head in amazement. Who knew my cockblocking would be appreciated as a challenge? "Well thanks for coming anyway," I reluctantly shook his hand then turned to my next volunteer, Bill's cook, Rona, "Glad to have you at my back."

Rona smiled warmly but her eyes held scepticism, "That's some wild story Bill's spun us. Had to come and see for myself."

"Hopefully it's just a prankster, having fun at my expense."

Rona's ebony eyes narrowed. Yeah, she'd never liked pranksters, well intentioned or otherwise. She might be the pub's cook but she was also the pub's unofficial bouncer when it came to settling brawls, "Hmm, we'll play it as if anyway. I'll be up on the roof," she nodded to the ominous looking case she was carrying.

"Um, there's a ladder round the back." As she strode off with whatever I looked to Bill for an explanation.

Bill read my arched brow, "Oh didn't I tell you? Rona served her time as a sniper in the Kurdish resistance."

I'd known Rona was a recent immigrant from the Middle-East but I hadn't known her exact origin. That she'd been fighting for her own people explained much of her confidence and capability. She was a strong woman both physically and mentally. "Why'd she come out here?"

Bill's sad eyes answered before his words, "Her whole village, including her family, were massacred. Apparently their village was on top of an oil field. She doesn't like to talk about it."

No, I didn't reckon she would. But my pensive thoughts were broken by the arrival of another carload of 'chaperones', "Sheesh Bill, you should have warned me we'd have a crowd. I'd have stopped at the shops for snacks."

"All taken care of. I told them it was bring your own," Bill looked a little smug at the success of his planning.

I opened the door again, ushering in no one less that the CEO of my workplace and our unionist, "Dan? Gareth?"

"Don't look so surprised Terri," Gareth tutted at me in his beautifully rich Southern Welsh accent. Born and bred in the coal mining valleys of the old country he had a strong set of ethics and an egalitarian heart.

"Just surprised. Thanks for backing me yesterday, by the way. Er, you know Bill then?" I couldn't make the connection that would explain why the workplace shop steward was at my door, as welcome as he was.

"Bill's head of the local hoteliers association. The union movement has a great deal of respect for Bill's efforts in placing young inexperienced school leavers and refugees into supportive workplaces. We've met at the odd meeting a time or two."

"I called him," Bill admitted. "Gareth's a wily negotiator. If we do end up having some interplanetary meeting of minds I thought he might come in handy."

Yeah, I'd give him that. Gareth could talk a leg off of an iron pot, or maybe a cat to give up it's freshly caught mouse. Yes, Gareth could be pretty persuasive. I shook his hand, "Glad you could come."

I couldn't put it off any more though. I had to look Dan in the eye, "I'm so sorry Dan. I truly didn't know who Robert was having Friday lunches with."

Dan shrugged his shoulders. He didn't look happy but he did seem reconciled. A bit. "It's my wife and Robert's doing Terri. I don't blame you. You did a good job uncovering what was going on and standing up to the asshole. I should've known what was going on, both at home and at work. I was going to stop by anyway to tell you I'm promoting you. As of Monday you'll be my personal assistant and I'm putting you in charge of recruiting Robert's replacement. I rang Gareth, to give him a heads up and that's when he told me your other problems. I'm sorry for the loss of your home. Is it covered?"

I was in a state of pleasant shock from his pronouncement of a promotion but I managed to get my wits together to answer him, "An insurance assessor will be out to look at it next week. Given the police are taking it as attempted murder there shouldn't be any issues making a claim."

Dan nodded in understanding, "It'll still take a while. If you need any time off or need to talk to them during work hours it won't be a problem."

Tears threatened at the corner of my eyes. Shit, did I dare hug the boss? Oh, stuff it. We were off the clock. I hugged him, "Thanks Dan. And I'd be honored to be your PA." To soften the inappropriateness of the hug or to make it worse, I wasn't sure, I hugged Gareth too and Bill for good measure. "I really appreciate your efforts guys."

Weasel piped up from the corner, "Hey, do I get a hug too?"

I spat out a laugh, rolling my eyes, "You have my appreciation for being here Jeremy, don't push it."

Bill looked meaningfully at his watch, "It's nearly time. We'd best get out there."

Thallon hunkered down behind a grove of bamboo gone feral. He was glad he'd gone with camo coloured clothing. He blended easily with the dusty ground and the sage coloured leaves. Green leaves, how weird was that? "She's not alone," he whispered into his communicator.

"She's not stupid then," high praise from Fionnalagh.

"It's a complication we didn't need," Kjartlan grumbled. "An even bigger security breach."

Or more blood donors for the Lyreans, Thallon thought hopefully. "I'm going to her. I'll leave the communicator on so you can hear how things go. Maintain radio silence."

Kjartlan grumbled an acknowledgement.

"I've got your back," Fi assured.

My eyes scanned our surroundings. Nothing. No UFO landing in a blazing swirl of multicoloured lights. No tractor beam inching towards me. No six legged insectoid aliens with hungry eyes or gruesome claws. I was both relieved and kind've disappointed. Then I saw him. A solitary male, reassuringly human-like. In fact under that slouch hat, jeans, check shirt and work boots it was hard to discern if he was anything other than your average local. The burgundy hair that brushed his shoulders was different. Few men I knew dyed their hair, except for some of those going grey or those who couldn't accept they weren't blond. Yes, even the occasional bloke thought life might be better on the blond side. To me it suggested someone who didn't accept themselves as they were. So I frowned at the burgundy hair but wondered if I wasn't being judgemental. Maybe he was just a free spirit, experimenting with all of life's options.

His hair might've been curious but his gait was confident. Tall, strong, capable. He scanned his environment for dangers. Alert. I liked that. "Hello, can I help you?"

"Terrence Jones?"

I winced at the others with me knowing my full birth name. Although perhaps Dan already knew, he'd employed me and it would have been on the tax forms, "That would be me. Call me Terri, please. You don't look much like the alien abductor I was expecting. You are Thallon I assume?" But as he came closer I could see the clothes had fooled me. His darkly tanned face was remarkably free of wrinkles but without the tight look of someone who used botox. There was a timeless quality about him. And those eyes! They looked like two black opals, bottomless and iridescent. I felt like I was falling into them.

"That's me." He fanned his face, "I know you're closer to the sun and all that but is it always this hot here?"

Hot? It was dusk and the temperature had already dropped to what I thought was a pleasant 28 degrees Celsius. So he was suffering in our outback heat? Alien or not I felt compassion and no small amount of curiosity for the stranger. "Let's go and sit in the shade. The sun should set soon. I'll get you a cool drink."

"Er, I don't drink," he eyed the men at my back speculatively. "Going to introduce me?"

"Sure."

As we walked to the shade of the shed's carport I saw him scan the roofline and frown. How could he have seen Rona? I couldn't.

I did the introductions then Thallon presented me with two small parcels, "This one's from me. You said you were interested in our communications technology." If he was worried by the others he was playing it cool, seemingly willing to take things as they were, for the moment.

I unwrapped the first parcel with no small amount of anticipation. Could he really be giving me the heads up on their micro wormhole technology? Maybe I wasn't in as much trouble with his people as I thought. I grinned as I spied the package's contents. A state of the art wireless backup hard drive. Fully compatible with my computer. "This is from Earth."

"Ah, but not its contents. I hope you'll find the information interesting," he did indeed look hopeful. "I was going for flowers or chocolates but a very wise friend suggested that might be a bit presumptive. I knew you had an interest in this."

"It's brilliant," I hugged him and he looked both surprised and pleased.

"The other is a gift from my people. A small token to show you we mean you no harm," he watched earnestly as I unwrapped it.

The pendant blazed with a light that had as much to do with its carefully polished surface as the depth of its iridescence. "Oh my god, it's the colour of your eyes."

Thallon seemed pleased by my observation, "I hadn't thought of that. I suppose it does have a certain resemblance."

"What is it? Opal?" I knew of no opal as black as this and most of the world's best opal came from my country.

Thallon frowned, as if looking for what to say, "It is opal but where it's from I can't tell you until I get some assurances from you. At the very least a choice."

It was my turn to frown, "What are my choices Thallon? Are you here to abduct me?"

Thallon shook his head vigorously, "Absolutely not. Not against your will anyway. Do you take me for some grey who would whisk you away to experiment on you or dissect you?"

I felt the tension increase in those around me but I sensed Thallon was being honest with me. It didn't seem his way to lie, or soften the truth, "It was a scary thought niggling at the back of my mind."

Thallon cast a glance at my assembled entourage then back at me, "I see that. You were wise to be cautious but we believe strongly in free will. At the same time we can't have you, or them, running around with knowledge of our existence. Not least, for your own safety. We have a powerful enemy."

I could appreciate his concerns, "What are our options?"

"The easiest would be to remove your memories of our encounter, though frankly I think that would be a sad waste. You, at the very least, have shown yourself to be inquisitive and resourceful. We really could use your skills. The third option would be to offer you sanctuary in Boswell."

"That place that doesn't exist anymore but people purporting to be from there pop up in the media every now and then."

Thallon grinned, "Yes them. But they don't need you. We do."

"What about us?" my boss asked from the background.

Thallon shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know, I guess the same applies. Really we weren't expecting anyone else. But we're always in need of long term blood donors."

"Blood donors?" Bill wondered out loud.

Thallon frowned, no doubt wondering how much to tell us. "If you choose to forget then you won't remember me telling you this so I guess... there are a race of beings my kind protects. Many sleep in a coma as we don't have sufficient blood supplies to wake them. You see, they long ago became dependent on blood as their food source."

"Vampires!" Jeremy sounded thrilled. "Any women vampires?"

Thallon winced, "We are aware that humans call them that but they prefer to be called Lyreans as that is what they were before they mutated to cope with life underground and a diminishing supply of food."

Ever the humanitarian, Gareth's eyes widened in interest. "How can we help?"

Thallon looked between us, trying to assess how genuine we were. "Basically, you adopt a vampire, as you call them. Though be aware that some can be a little arrogant and cranky."

"I heard that," a deep gravelly voice grumbled from Thallon's intercom.

"I said 'radio silence' Kjartlan!" Thallon growled back. Then he covered the open mike. "The women of their kind are easier to get along with but still quite protective of their donors. You have to be firm with them and set boundaries or they'll rule you."

"Hmm," Bill didn't sound too sure. "Be that as it may, Terri and I have responsibilities. A good friend was badly injured in an attack by our own enemies and even as we speak is lying in hospital in a coma."

Thallon glanced at the burned out ruin of my home, "It does seem that you've had a few troubles. But we have powerful healers back home who could help your friend." He paused, suddenly looking alert and glancing around, "Everybody down!" He threw his body over mine, throwing me to the ground as a bullet meant for me smashed into his back.

"Thallon!"

"Bloody hell," the gravelly voice from the intercom complained. "What now?"

"Thallon's been shot." And he wasn't looking so great. I tried to find a pulse. None. I panicked. "He's dead."

Another shot rang out but it was distant. A scream and then the sound of a car revving as it made a fast getaway. More gun shots. A tall alien woman, with the palest skin I'd ever seen and equally pale hair, strode confidently from the cover of the bush, making a beeline towards us but her weapon was lowered. "Winged your assailant. Couldn't see him to get a better shot. I did however see a number plate as he drove off. Someone else shot out one of his tyres but he escaped anyway." She looked in the direction of my roof, obviously knowing where the other shots had come from, then bent down to study Thallon, "He's not dead you know. He's just shut down to do repairs. The sun's setting so we can't use that but we could give him energy to heal if you have a UV lamp or something that generates similar light."

I shook my head sadly, remembering how he said he obtained energy from the sun. "What about other forms of energy?"

The woman looked at me curiously, "What you have in mind?"

"Bioelectricity?"

The woman turned her eerie, piercing violet eyes on me, studying me, "Maybe. How?"

It wasn't something I talked about much. Some might even see it as a disability but hell, most here were my friends. As for Jeremy he'd just have to shut up about it. I'd have to think of something suitable to threaten him with. I removed my EMF protective gloves. My hands prickled, as if anticipating my need. Never before had I actively sought to use them in this way but they seemed to be working on auto pilot. Thumbs up for the power of the subconscious. Everyone looked on in interest as I hovered my hands over Thallon's back. I felt a pull, electrically positive to electrically negative. "This could work but I have no idea of how to give him the right amount of what he needs."

The alien woman came closer, peering with interest at my hands. "One of my mates is skilled in the art of pyrokinesis. She's told me the key to her safe use of it is to be friends with it and trust it. She also rests her awareness in a point three fingers below the belly button."

What Li Li would call the Dan Tien, hmm, made sense. "Thanks, that helps." I smiled tentatively at her.

"Call me Fi."

I nodded my acknowledgement, "Thanks Fi." I focused on my Dan Tien as she'd suggested. I played with the distance of my hands from Thallon's body until I felt like I was pushing against something invisible yet tangible. Then I closed my eyes and imagined my belly opening in friendship to this strange energy that had shared my body so long, mostly ignored until Li Li had started to teach me. Okay, I could do this. Thallon was just a bigger version of the light globe on my workbench. My mind might see the size difference as an obstacle but my belly didn't have to. For the first time in my relationship with it I sent this strange energy feelings of friendship and remorse that I had ignored it as long as I had. _Help me_ , I mentally whispered to it. _Help me help this man_. Okay maybe Thallon wasn't human but I still thought of him as 'man'. And I liked him. I wanted to do this.

A subtle vibration started in my belly. I allowed myself to feel it. To allow space within myself for it. I felt a prickle travel up my spine towards my heart. I quelled a moment's fear that threatened to stop the process. Trust, I commanded myself, breathing deeply to settle myself. As if hearing me the energy recommenced its journey, down my arms and into my hands.

Thallon, jolted then gasped. Miraculously he rolled onto his back then sat up. His eyes flashed open and peered as if into my soul. I felt the pull of his need, drawing the energy into him. Only then I wondered what my capacity might be. Shouldn't I have connected to the universe or something first? The energy shouldn't be just from me or it might drain me. But as if in answer a prickle drummed against the crown of my head, knocking on some unknown door. Instinctively I opened to it, receiving it. A sudden flood surged through my being, refilling my belly. I breathed easier. I felt the electrical potential between me and Thallon ebb, his invisible 'battery' charged. Inspecting the wound beneath the hole in his shirt, I found nothing, like it had never been damaged.

"Thank you," Thallon whispered in awe, his black opalesque eyes once more very alive.

I gave a sigh of relief, "Glad I could help you. Thanks for the quick save." I rose to my feet and stretched. Only then did I notice the strange mist that now bordered the edges of my property. "Er?"

"I'm coming down," Rona yelled from the roof.

Bill went over to steady the ladder and to take her sniper's bag from her.

"Couldn't get that bastard. Didn't have a clear shot."

"Don't feel bad, neither could I," Fi commented with a smile of greeting to the woman, "We did damage though."

"That we did," back on the ground Rona approached Fi and offered a hi-five which Fi met with gusto.

"Fionnalagh, Fionna or Fi if you prefer," Fi gave a slight bow. The two warrior women might have been sizing each other up but it looked like they would quickly form a friendship.

"Rona," the other warrior woman introduced herself. "I'd tell you my surname but then I'd have to kill you."

Fortunately Fi didn't take that comment as a threat. "I understand. You must remain, how should I say, off the radar."

"Indeed," Rona agreed.

While those two did their introductions Gareth found some camp chairs from the back of my shed. Resourceful was our Gareth's second name. If he saw a need he set about filling it. I watched with no small amusement as he cajoled Jeremy into helping. Now there was a first.

"Shouldn't we be calling the police?" I wondered out loud.

"We'd rather you didn't," Fi intervened before I could find a phone. "The Alliance has its own people. People used to dealing with my kind."

"You don't want the humans knowing about you," I gathered. Although given the

President of Karpathia was often on TV and looked to be the same species as Fionnalagh I didn't see what the problem was.

"No," Fi readily agreed. "Thallon, could you call your earth based 'boss'?"

"On it," Thallon whipped out a very ordinary looking mobile phone and proceeded to make a call. "Agent Jack Thallon, could you put me through to Andrew McCullum?" He wandered away from us to have the conversation. So not fully trusting me and mine. I guess I couldn't blame his caution.

"Are you or aren't you going to tell us where you're from?" Dan demanded.

Fi raised an eyebrow at Dan's tone. Hell, I sensed she didn't take orders. "We'll get to that. Shall we sit down," she motioned to the camp stools.

We sat. Thallon wandered back, "Inspector Wilson and his team will be here in a moment."

"Great," some action at least. "Don't suppose anyone can explain that mist that's rolling around the edge of my property?"

Thallon shrugged his shoulders, "Dunno."

"I can hazard a guess," a uniformed police officer appeared out of the mist, followed by two women, an officer and another in plain clothes. He quickly introduced himself as Inspector Wilson and his wives Constable Kiana Wilson and Sarah Brown.

"Who got frisky?" Sarah asked.

"No-one," I truly didn't know what she meant. Did she think we'd been partying? "My friends came here to make sure I wasn't about to be abducted. Bill's been helping me move into my shed since my house was subject to an arson attack last night. Thallon I assume you know."

"Not personally," Inspector Wilson admitted. "Call me Michael and forgive us if we're blunt. Where we come from we're all telepathic so no one worries about tippy toeing around the facts. And the fact is your property seems to have been pulled into the parallel world we call Faery."

Was he sane?

Michael spat out a laugh, surprising me but then he tapped his head, "Telepathic remember. Welcome to our world of the strange, fantastic and down right wonderful."

I covered my face with my hands for a moment, a warm and comforting gesture which gave me a moment to think. Aliens, micro-sized wormhole communications, my own bioelectricity. Okay, maybe a realm called Faery wasn't such a stretch but as I couldn't see any small winged creatures fluttering around my garden I'd have to just accept the inspector's assertion as a possibility. I wouldn't dismiss it or believe it until I saw some evidence one way or another. I took my hands from my face. "So let me get this straight. You're saying we did something, er, a bit intimate that's pulled my property into an alternate dimension?" Saying it out loud made it sound worse than my possible abduction to another planet. Were my friends, as well as Thallon and his team, all marooned on my property? Would I ever get my house insurance paid out? Such were my very real concerns.

"Let me explain," the woman Michael had introduced as Kiana came forward to offer her thoughts. "Firstly, you're not marooned. You can all come and go from this place. It has accepted you all into its new reality or you wouldn't be here anymore. As this dimension vibrates at a slightly higher rate you can visit those places like regular planet Earth which vibrate at a slower rate but those beings your home doesn't accept as evolved enough to be here, can't come get through the mist. It acts as a kind of portal."

I glanced furtively at Jeremy and wondered at how he got to stay, "Go on."

Kiana shrugged, "That's all there is to it. Consider your property now as sovereign territory that doesn't have to pay taxes or abide by regular laws unless you form a pact with the outside to do so. Boswell, for instance, got cut off when this happened so we have to do our own rubbish recycling, town maintenance, provision of power etc. All the things you need to run a country but on a very much smaller scale. We do, however, have arrangements with the outside to connect with the internet and through the Sentient Species Alliance we have a working relationship with other governments. We can tack you on to all that if you're agreeable."

"Hang on," Thallon interrupted. "We found her first. We want her to work for us."

"I can't see a problem," Michael intervened, "You can come and go as you please. Just teleport-commute between home and work."

Okay, step too far for my brain, "What are you guys talking about?"

"We can move from place to place in the blink of an eye. It's how we got here so quickly," Kiana explained while Sarah made some sign to Michael then filtered off into the bush.

"There's a problem there," Thallon pointed out, "I can't teleport."

"Neither can any of us mere mortals," Gareth pitched in.

Kiana sighed, it sounded like frustration. "Look, we're trying not to blow your minds with too much all at once. Let's just say teleportation is possible, at least for repaired humans. And you, soon, will be repaired that is, if you're agreeable. Thallon, why haven't you had the program Rudol invented? Doesn't that make it possible?"

Thallon looked stunned, "I guess I didn't see a need to plug into the universe the way those who've had the program do. But I'm not aware of any of them being able to teleport."

"Have they tried?" Michael quizzed, genuinely curious.

"Can I interrupt here?" Kjartlan's gravelly voice came over the communicator. "Time is getting on."

Mr Negative Alien had a point. "He's right. So speaking for myself. No, I don't want my memory wiped. Yes, I'm happy to do some work for Thallon's people. And yes I could do with some help from the people of Boswell as I now have a whole heap more problems I didn't have half an hour ago. Like electricity, food, internet and so on. And, depending on how much Thallon's people pay, I need a builder to rebuild my home. Because this is my home and no-one's taking me from it, not at the very least while my friend Li Li lies in hospital." I turned to my chaperones, "What about you guys? You heard the choices."

Jeremy grinned, "I'm all for adopting a vampire chick."

Fi rolled her eyes, "Beware what you wish for human."

"Bill?" I asked.

"With you all the way Terri. We stay here. Make of it what we will. Commute if we can learn how they do it. Since you're nominally the owner of this little piece of alternate dimension, fancy letting me have a little spot to build a pub, a pub at this end of the universe, so to speak? Or maybe we just build your new home as one big homestead that will house us all?"

"As long as it doesn't encroach on the parrots' domain I can't see a problem. Why don't we incorporate the pub into the house, a big rambling family home with plenty of room for guests."

Bill was more than pleased, "Done, sold, and if I can still get at it I have some funds stashed away to help with the build."

So my home might rise from the ashes after all. "Rona?"

"No more running and hiding. Sounds good. You'll need a chef. But if those Lyreans are all like that bloke on the talk back you can count me out of the blood letting."

"I'm not THAT bad!" a voice grumbled over the intercom.

"Gareth? You only came to help. There's no need for you to be dragged into this."

Gareth stood erect, almost insulted. "Hell no, you're not leaving me out. You'll need someone to broker deals with our new allies."

"And you'll need a business manager," Dan offered. "I'm not sure what work the aliens want you for but we'll need to barter to survive here if this is where we're staying. I'll need to meet with those that run Boswell and look at their models."

And on another positive note the local parrots would now be safe though I doubted that the developers would be too pleased their adjacent property had disappeared into an impenetrable mist. If indeed we really were now in another dimension, I was yet to be convinced. Though it begged the question. "How does it affect you guys, Thallon, us being now off-the-grid so to speak? Can you get back to your own world?"

Thallon did one of his cute frowns, "I came to court you. If you're staying then I'm coming back for you but I'll need to report back home first. And no, there's no problem with us getting home. Our spaceship and many of our people have been in Karpathia, which is also in this dimension. It wasn't a problem launching from there and getting home. I'll go and see if it's possible for me to learn to teleport. One way or another I will arrange for a healer for your friend."

I couldn't help it, I blushed at his assertion that he was courting me. That somewhere in the universe someone still did that was just marvelous. "You'd better, come back that is. I'll be waiting."

Gareth stepped forward. "I'll go with you. I wish to meet with your leaders while Dan meets with those in Boswell."

Sarah stepped out of the bush, "Your assailant was driving a ute with 13 inch wheels and a bald left back tyre. I got a bullet casing, we'll let our forensics at it. There was blood too. I got a sample. Not a lot but we'll put out an alert in case he checks into a hospital."

Fi handed Michael a piece of paper with the vehicle registration on it. "It was probably stolen, but for what it's worth."

"Constable Iain MacDonald has been liaising with us, if that helps," I offered.

With a large amount of his work already done for him the inspector seemed more than happy, "It does, leave it with us."

I walked Thallon back to his ship, with Fi, Gareth and surprisingly Jeremy following close behind but distant enough to give us space to talk. Would Thallon abduct me? Nah. I believed him on the whole free-will stuff. Perhaps I was being too trusting but then trust does need to start somewhere. If he truly wished to court me we'd need that between us. "You still haven't told us where your home is."

Thallon froze, shocked, "Shit, no I didn't. In all that getting shot business I forgot. That's not like me."

"It makes you very human. Where?" I was like a ferret that wouldn't let go. I needed to know all the facts.

"Mars."

Well that made sense, kind've. "I heard something a few years back that they thought life had restarted on Mars then the media went dead on the topic."

"We asked them to. The less speculation the better. As it is we have to deal with one mining company up there."

I was intrigued, "Really?"

"Terri, they're the enemy we spoke of. They're here on earth too. We have a truce at present but..."

"You're watchful," I guessed

"Yes."

And when would I see him again? "You'll be back?" I sought reassurance.

"Nothing will stop me. But if it's possible for one of my kind to teleport then I'd best go and learn. Kjartlan won't want me commandeering his transport every five minutes and the bigger ship that brought us here may venture out into the galaxy soon. If needs be we'll build a device to teleport manually. I believe the scientists in Boswell fitted one of their ships with just such a device. And there's an ancient one somewhere in your South American jungle we can study if needed. It's in the dimension of Faery too."

I had to ask, "So, if you can't teleport does this mean you can't read my mind either?"

"Sorry, no."

"Hell, don't be sorry. It was down right unnerving with that policeman picking my brain."

"I'm sure there's nothing in your mind I wouldn't like. But you'd best get used to the mind readers among us as I'm guessing you'll join their ranks soon enough."

"How?"

Thallon touched my cheek affectionately, "Ever curious. I like that about you. We don't have time to go into everything now. We'll talk. I'll be waiting for you on the channel where you found me before. Use your best encryption. Tomorrow night."

So the enemy wouldn't listen in, not to mention the odd curious eavesdropper like me, "I'll do that. The shed has its own solar power so, as long as you can pick up transmissions from this so-called dimension, I can't see a problem."

"It's been done before. More importantly, before I go I want to do something that I've never done before. I've been watching how-to videos but reality is sometimes different. Will you let me...?"

Somehow I guessed or was it hope? "Kiss me Thallon."

His whole face lit up in great delight. "You do me a great honor." He leaned in tentatively, his lips an offering.

His tongue brushed my lips and I leaned in to accept. A faint buzz of electricity passed between us. I pulled him to me and deepened the kiss, sinking into the feel of the satin texture of his surprisingly warm skin. "More." I demanded as I pressed my advantage.

A cough from behind us reminded us we weren't alone. Oops. "I'll be thinking of you."

"And I you." Reluctantly he gave me one last hug then left me to watch him and the others enter through the hatch of the transport. Not that I could really see any kind of vehicle. It was more an outline, strangely reflecting the scenery I knew was behind it. Clever.

My breath caught as I watched, mesmerized, as the outline of the transport took off, a shimmer of shifting colour as it took on the darker tones of the night sky, complete with stars.

"Be safe Thallon."

I still didn't know what we'd done to shift my property and seemingly much of the vacant bush land that surrounded it, into another dimension. I still didn't know anything about the culture and ways of the Martians or indeed what other life might be up there. I certainly didn't know anything of this enemy they all spoke of.

My mind a mess of thoughts I wandered back to my shed. Bill and Rona were waiting. Everyone else seemed to have gone. "Dan?"

"Went with the inspector's team, back to Boswell, so he could talk to their people. A very ordinary looking tabby cat turned up, brushed past him and then they were both gone," Bill relayed.

"Weird, all this is a bit too much to take in." I shook my head to try and clear it of the mess of thoughts that my brain was bombarding me with.

"Don't know about you guys but I'm hungry. Did I see a gas-cooktop in your shed?" Rona the assassin had knocked off for the day. Rona the chef was back in full force.

"You did."

"I'll go and get our supplies out of the boot of the car," Bill offered.

With the others gone we'd have more than enough food for supper but, "I guess we'd best see if we can drive out of here tomorrow and go shopping."

"And bring back a few seeds and punnets," Rona suggested. "We need to start thinking sustainably. May as well make a start."

Bill thought that was a good idea, "We'll stop at the hardware store on the way back from visiting Li Li. I'd best stop in at the pub too and see if my old friend can manage it for a few more days, at least until I decide what to do with it. Could be useful to have a base in both worlds."

We spent the evening like that, thinking and planning, none of us sure if we truly believed we were somewhere else other than normal planet earth but I guessed we'd find out on the morrow.

### 6

Mars...

Thallon knocked on Seren's door.

"Come in, how'd your trip go?"

"Eventful, frustrating and unsettling."

"Thought it might be." Of course Seren saw things, such was the computer program Rudal had designed that she and some others had opted to use to update their own internal structure. "So you want to know if you could teleport."

"Yes."

"I don't know."

"Damn, I thought one of you might have tried."

"Have a seat, Thallon," Seren wasn't sure how easily or quickly she could explain. She sat down opposite him. "The enhanced humans, faeries and other higher dimensional beings around here can teleport at a whim because they can travel through something called the non-local. It seems to come naturally to them once they start spiritually evolving past a certain point."

Thallon frowned, "But I thought you and Rudal saw an invisible layer to the universe, something called the Akashic, when you took his program. Isn't that proof of spiritual advancement?"

"I do see things. The akashic field you're referring to is non-local in nature. It seems to be about the recording of all the events, feelings and thoughts that have ever existed", or might exist. But she didn't want to blow his mind just yet. "It is both a repository of knowledge as well as something which all of existence leaves an impression on. Whereas, to the best of my understanding, the actual non-local is no-thing, nowhere at no-time and you need to go through it to bypass the physics of real world travel. Even calling the non-local the Akashic field would be labelling and limiting it. Maybe the Akashic and the non-local are related. Everything in the universe has an underlying connection. But the thing is, to be able to teleport as these other beings do, we would need to, at least momentarily, let go of all identifications and associations. How we define ourselves and think of ourselves as located within time and space."

"But I've just spent eons becoming who I am. Personality-wise we all started out pretty much the same but over time we've diverged."

Seren readily agreed, "It was how Naira initially programmed us. She gave us learning algorithms so we could adjust our thinking as we explored our environment and learned about how our world worked."

"So we're stuck with adapting and improving the ancient Atlantean technology Emily and her friends found in the South American jungle?"

Seren closed her eyes for a moment, her consciousness exploring the connection that was with her always these days. The computer program Thallon talked about had affected each of its recipients in different ways. For Rudal it had enhanced his ability to invent, finding inspiration in the knowledge base of the Akashic, much like Tesla and other great thinkers throughout the universe had. For Aranku it had enhanced his ability to strategize, looking for military advantage. But for her it had given her the sight. The seeing of many potential outcomes that could come from a single choice. Sometimes it threatened to overload her circuits. Yet she posed the question through her connection. How?

The answer came in a mental image, one she only understood through her association with Russell, their resident master craftsman and barely corporeal highly evolved being. He was also a servant of one simply called the goddess. "We're going to need help but first we need to visit Rudal."

Thallon nervously thought he knew where this was going. "You want me to have the program installed."

Seren smiled reassuringly, "It's your choice but I don't see that what you want would be possible without it. From that one choice much will unfold, as it should."

Thallon sighed deeply. Why was he doing this? Oh yeah, that's right. He wanted to visit his girlfriend. While some might think such a wish too small to worry about too much, for him, he felt, it held Mars-shattering importance. "Lead the way." Seren could easily find the elusive scientist, through her connection with the Akashic.

On Earth ...

Bill and I left Rona with a long shopping list and the use of my Dad's old truck. I was starting to realize she was much more than a pub cook. Resourceful, observant and down to earth practical. Yep that summed up where my thinking was at about her. But Li Li was in my thoughts right now. We found her, still in a medically induced coma, Constable Iain MacDonald by her bed. Tenderly he was stroking her hand but I didn't think it was an attempt to wake her. There was genuine concern there. I coughed to get his attention.

Iain looked up and smiled, "I didn't think you two would be far away." He vacated his seat for Bill. "Come with me Ms Jones."

I reassured Bill I'd be back and followed Iain, my curiosity mounting. "You have some information?"

We walked down the corridor and down the stairs to one of the surgery wards. "Better than information. A person of interest was admitted last night with a high power gun shot wound to the right shoulder. Lucky to be alive. Missed the heart by this much," his hands indicated about 2 millimetres, a miniscule fraction. He paused outside a private room with a security guard out the front. Iain showed him his ID. "Go in Ms Jones. I'll hang back so I can listen unobserved. If you please," he indicated for me to enter.

I knocked then opened the door, "May I come in?"

As soon as the woman in the bed saw me she swore, "You! Oh my god. I shot you. Are you alright? I only meant to scare you. Then I saw you go down."

Ah, I suddenly remembered the woman in the video with Robert. "Elise Sutton. What did I do to deserve you trying to murder me?"

That I used the word murder shocked her but she soon recovered. Hatred contorted her face, "I wasn't trying to kill you. I was furious and wanted to scare the shit out of you. You destroyed my marriage and my lover is now on the run. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad you're not dead. It was a stupid impulse on my part. I had no plans on murdering you. I couldn't hit the side of a barn if I tried but by some fluke... I know I shot you. Why are you unharmed?"

"Well, actually Elise, you shot my would-be boyfriend who threw me to the ground. He's alive and well by the way. And I think it's you who destroyed your marriage."

Elise glared at me, "Dan never had to know about my fling with Robert. I was discreet. All I wanted was a bit of variety," she whined.

Being single I wasn't really qualified to give relationship advice but, "If you wanted a polyandrous relationship you should have found two or more blokes inclined that way. Going behind Dan's back betrayed his trust."

Elise dismissed my observation, "Dan would never have agreed to what I wanted. He's married to his job and I respect that but I wanted more."

"You wanted hearts and flowers," I speculated. Seemed to be she enjoyed going out to lunch with her lover after all.

"Hardly," Elise rolled her eyes. "Robert isn't exactly the font of good conversation but he was good for a secret afternoon romp."

"Was?" I wondered.

Elise sagged, carefully, back into the bed, pain etching her face, "Haven't seen him since he went crazy Friday night."

"Fire bombing the pub and burning down my house," I surmised. I hoped Iain was getting all this. I'd left the door ajar.

"Stupid idiot. He's no good to me on the run or locked up. Frankly though, I was getting tired of his self-centered attitude. I was looking for an out but I knew he'd be dangerous when I broke it off. Pity I hadn't seen what he was really like before I started going out with him."

I think she was forgetting that she was destined for jail too, "What about you?"

Elise sighed heavily. "I didn't mean to go as far as I did. I hate you for what you did. I kind've wanted vengeance."

She certainly was a rollercoaster of emotional responses, "I think Robert had already done that, burning down my house. Where'd you get the gun anyway? Dan wouldn't shoot a fly."

Elise started to answer but thought better of it. "You don't need to know that. Just know you wrecked my marriage, bitch. Now get out."

I didn't feel in the least bit guilty for what I'd done but I did wonder. "Do you still love him Elise?"

"Who?"

"Dan."

"Won't do me much good now will it," she answered bitterly.

"Nothing's over till it's over."

Elise shrugged. "Even if he forgave me, which is highly unlikely, I'll be in prison. I wouldn't hold him to keeping our marriage alive."

I didn't see any point in saying more right now. I'd make no promises for other people. I headed out the room, closing the door behind me. My eyes caught Iain's, "Got all that did you?"

"It won't stand up in court. It wasn't on record. But it does confirm much."

"It does that," but I wondered if Elise going to prison would be for the best. I had no doubt she'd become hard and bitter. "I don't suppose we could let her off with a restraining order?"

That surprised the constable, "She shot at you."

But I hadn't meant to destroy a marriage, "Yeah, but I think she's cooled down. It was a one off act of vengeance. In the heat of the moment. Not like Robert. Like she said, he's a nasty little shit."

Iain shook his head "There's still the issue that she discharged an unregistered firearm, knowingly in the direction of people. I can't let that pass." His phone was ringing so he pulled it out, "Constable MacDonald. Yes sir, she's here." He passed the phone over.

"Terri Jones."

"Do you know how hard it is to track down someone who doesn't carry their phone with them? And you're supposed to have an interest in communications technology. I had to track down a psychic to let me know who was near you."

I guiltily remembered that I'd forgotten and left my mobile on the makeshift kitchen table in my shed. But that still begged the question, "Who are you?"

"Andrew McCullum, Thallon's boss. At least as far as anyone like Constable MacDonald or other officialdom is concerned."

"Including Inspector Wilson," I speculated.

"No, he's one of us."

"Which is?" I tried to prise more out of him.

"You're not fully authorized for all that information, yet, but Dan will fix that up when he gets back to you. In the meantime I'm ringing to let you know we have a healer headed your way. Is the coast clear? We can't have civilians seeing how we travel."

Ah, I understood, teleportation. "Only the constable with me at present. The corridor's empty."

"Put him on then."

I handed the phone back to Iain, "He wants to speak to you."

Iain looked at me questioningly but took the phone, "Yes sir, whatever's about to happen never happened. No sir, the guard outside Ms Sutton's room is where I left him. We're alone."

Even as he spoke, a young woman sporting a ponytail of brown hair, warm friendly eyes and a cheeky grin appeared in front of me. She held out her hand, "Sally Lukos at your service, you must be Terri."

I shook her hand while Iain recovered from his shock. I heard him muttering into the phone. "She's here Mr McCullum. Yes I will speak with the charge nurse in the burns unit and see what I can do. No, sir. As far as I'm concerned Ms Lukos just walked in. Okay. Will do." He ended the call then looked at us strangely. "He said I have potential." He shook his head to clear it then held out his hand to welcome Sally. "Come on then. The victim's back this way."

Inwardly I chuckled, Iain was obviously trying to keep his emotional distance from Li Li but I knew better, I'd seen the care in his eyes earlier. Sally glanced at me as if catching my thoughts.

Thankfully she said nothing and just smiled. "I look forward to meeting her."

When Sally saw the extent of Li Li's injuries tears welled in her eyes, "How could anyone do this?"

"I don't think they were thinking about consequences," but it did give me an idea. "Nurse Elliston, there's a patient downstairs in room 403. I'd like her to see Li Li."

The nurse didn't like the idea at all. "We only allow close family in here."

But Iain knew where I was going with this, "It would help with the case we're pursuing into the cause of her injuries. She deserves justice."

"Yes she does," the nurse readily agreed. She sighed, "It's the weekend so officialdom aren't around but be quick about it."

We were quick, convincing Elise that Bill was upstairs seeing a friend and had asked to apologize to her for breaching her privacy. He hadn't but we didn't tell either of them that. It didn't take a moment for Elise, in a wheelchair with her intravenous in tow, to realize our true purpose. "Oh, my god." Tears streamed down her eyes. "This is Robert's doing isn't it?"

"We believe so," Iain cautiously agreed. We had no proof at this stage.

"Damn it! He's gone to ground but I have a few addresses you might try."

"That would be really appreciated Ms Sutton," Iain handed her his notepad and pen.

"Will she be alright?" she asked, inclining her head towards Li Li.

"No," said the Nurse.

"Yes," said Sally.

The nurse raised her eyebrows, "You know something the best burns specialists don't? Ms Lee has third degree burns. She'll be scarred for life. They'll do skin grafts but she'll never look the same," she proclaimed angrily, whether at Elise, Sally or fate I wasn't sure.

Elise looked at Li Li in horror.

Sally took the hostility in her stride. "Nurse Elliston, I appreciate your honesty. No-one is faulting the care Li Li's received. But there is something to be done. You can stay if you wish but you'll either have to swear to secrecy or have your memory wiped after I've done this."

Curiosity gripped the nurse, "I'll stay. As long as you do no harm to the patient I promise to keep my silence. And call me Lydia."

"We'll need better than that I'm afraid Lydia," Sally pulled up a form on her phone, handing the phone to the nurse. "Read and make sure you understand, then sign."

"Okay, now you have me really curious," Lydia read, frowning somewhat, then signed. "What about her?" she indicated Elise.

Elise gasped, "I can be trusted." She must have seen the doubt on our faces. "I'll sign whatever Lydia just did."

"Do you fully realize that if you breathe a word of this you'll end up in a far worse hell hole than whatever prison you're currently headed for."

Elise blanched, "Look, I know you don't trust me. That's not what's at issue here. Apart from me having the guilts over what my EX-lover's done. Please heal this poor woman. I'm not now and never was here. I'm lying in Room 403."

"So you are," Sally smiled benignly, "But just to be sure sign here," she handed Elise the form on her phone.

Lydia hustled her staff off for a well earned tea break, a rarity. No one challenged her on it. Out of fear or respect, although I was guessing the latter. "You won't have long," she explained to Sally as she finished putting a 'consultation in progress, do not disturb' sign on the door, all the while muttering to herself. "I could lose my job for this."

Iain looked no less uncertain.

Bill and I pulled the curtains around Li Li's bed while Sally sat on a chair beside her. "If everyone could give me a moment's quiet," she requested. Not waiting for our response she took Li Li's uninjured hand in hers and closed her eyes. A moment later she opened them again, appearing pleased. "Okay, now you can take her bandages off."

Lydia looked to the policeman in the room. I guessed she was wondering who's side he'd come down on but then she looked Sally directly in the eyes and seemed to read something there. She grunted then with hands gloved, using sterilized, one use only, surgical scissors, she hesitatingly and delicately began to remove Li Li's bandages. As each was shed, revealing healthy skin beneath she sped up the procedure. Li Li yawned, as if waking. Bill steadied her, "Keep still Li, this won't take a moment."

Bundling up the last of the bandages, Lydia paused to stare at Sally, "How? I want to know."

"It's a long story. Let's just call it a gift."

"Then use it to heal the other patients in the ward. You can't leave them as they are," her eyes pleaded with Sally.

Sally sighed, she'd seen this coming. "Okay, but how are you going to explain it?"

Lydia was undaunted, "I'll go as close to the truth as I can. A stranger mysteriously appeared in the ward, when she vanished all the patients were healed. They can call it a miracle for all I care. Just end their suffering."

Sally frowned, then got out her phone. She explained the situation to whoever was on the other end, listened then hung up. She turned to Lydia. "Okay, here's the go. Phoenix O'Halloran from the Boswell Alternate News Service will meet with you shortly and work out how to swing the story, Iain," she addressed the cop, "You never saw me."

Iain shrugged, "As I've already said to the man who let me know you were coming."

Sally relaxed, "Okay, but I'll need quiet again. I've never done a group healing like this."

I had a thought, "If the size of the job worries you just see it in bits, each patient."

Sally grinned, "I like you. Yes you're right. I'm making the task bigger in my mind than it needs to be. All is a projection of the mind, a projection out of no-thing. There is nothing to heal, they were never really hurt. There is no need for effort. Only the creation of my mind," she murmured the last to me as she slipped into a trance.

We held our breath. You could hear the noise of machines, the ticking of the clock on the wall, the rustle of sheets and the soft whisper of breath.

Sally opened her eyes, "It's done." Then she vanished.

Lydia gasped in surprise.

"I guess she wanted to help you keep close to the truth with your story. Although for the sake of your credibility I'd just say that when you turned around she was no longer there, leaving you wondering if she'd ever been there at all," I winked at Lydia

"Nurse!" a patient called out.

Lydia ran to assist as all the patients began to stir. Exclamations of surprise and disbelief filled the room.

"Bill?" Li Li murmured.

Bill beamed at his favorite barmaid, "How you feeling luv?"

Li Li stretched out what had been her badly burned hand and brought it to eyelevel to examine. "I ... I'm confused." She looked around the room, spying Iain, "You've been with me, I felt your presence."

It was Iain's turn to be surprised. "You were out to it, how would you know?"

Li Li smiled to herself, "I know. And you talked to me. I dreamed of you too. You'll come with us, won't you?"

"Where?"

There were too many of us to fit in the truck with Rona when we headed back so Constable McDonald gave Li Li a ride back in his squad car. The rest of us were left wondering if they'd make it through the mist onto my land but they did. Elise, who'd benefited from the spillover from Sally's group healing had headed home but under strict instructions from Iain to not go anywhere. He'd informed her she'd be charged in due course but that her co-operation would stand in her favor. She would still have her day in court.

Dan was waiting for us when we arrived so I invited him to take a short walk with me so I could bring him up to date, as well as telling him his wife had gone home to their place.

"Good, she can stay there. I'll cede the house to her."

"Dan, I didn't set out to destroy your marriage."

He shook his head vehemently, "You were standing up to a pig of a supervisor, I don't blame you for that. I should have seen through him and not employed him. Elise made her bed. She can lie in it."

I had to try, "I think she genuinely still loves you. I just don't think she's a natural monogamist. I'm guessing Elise didn't see any harm in going behind your back to get the variety she craved, as long as you didn't know. She didn't want to hurt you."

"She should have been honest with me."

"I told her that."

Dan eyed me curiously, "Are you standing up for her?"

I sighed, "No, I just thought you should know how she felt. She's headed for jail time anyway. So it's not like she's going to be around to annoy you any further."

"Hell!" Dan's hands balled into fists as he realized the full extent of his wife's troubles, "Why'd she have to go and do something so damned stupid. Shooting at you. Is she crazy?"

"Not crazy so much as a ball of hate and fury. I think she's calmed down now but I'm considering getting Iain to get a restraining order on her in case she comes after me or Bill again."

Dan nodded, "Wise."

"And then there's Robert. We still don't know where he is."

"He shouldn't be able to get past the mist should he?"

"We only have the word of strangers on that. I've yet to see it stop anyone." My Dad had blessed me with a healthy core of skepticism.

"This from someone who just saw a mass healing."

He had a point but, "The theory of reality creation, mind over matter, even the use of hypnosis to convince someone they don't have a problem. What I'm saying is, that's not unheard of. Outside of sci-fi and fairy tales who's ever heard of parallel or higher dimensions?"

Dan grinned, "I've seen it you know, the mythical Boswell. I walked and talked with the people there. They're as real as you and I. And," he motioned us back towards the shed, "There's much I need to tell the others."

We walked back, "Just answer me one thing Dan. Are you really going to tell me that cat transported you there and back?"

"Seems that way."

"That's just weird."

Lunch was already spread out on our makeshift camp table when Dan and I walked in. Bowls of steaming hot soup, flatbread and dips. "Rona. You're a miracle worker. How'd you get this together so quickly?"

"It's just a simple beetroot, spinach and chickpea soup and an eggplant dip," Rona dismissed the praise with a wave of her hand. "It's not so much my doing but thanks to your new food processor and convection microwave. And a can of chickpeas." She pointed to the makeshift kitchen bench, two sturdy boards on boxes and the new appliances.

Shit, I couldn't afford such things. "Rona, I can't. I don't earn that much."

Dan tapped me on the shoulder. "Then I'm obviously not paying you enough. Consider your wage raised, you now being my personal secretary and all that. But might I also point out we're all in this together. Think of us as a family. We need some basics."

Rona agreed. "It's what you sent me out for. I didn't just buy camp beds, greenhouse plastic and enough fencing to keep the animals out of our new vegetable patch."

"What vegetable patch?"

"The one I'm digging this afternoon. I'm not using more supermarket vegetables of indeterminate age than I need to."

"I'll give you a hand with the digging," Bill offered.

"We'd best work out where our new accommodation pods are going first," To our astonished looks Dan took some papers from a satchel and handed them around. "These will be arriving mid arvo. Before then a couple of guys are coming to do our foundations. We need to decide on how we want to configure them. I suggest we place them in a square. That will give us an inner courtyard we can use for outdoor dining, sheltered from the wind. We could put a shade cloth across in summer."

My jaw flapped, "Um, Dan, this is extensive."

Dan waggled his finger at me, "Don't start talking money again. Boswell have these made in a factory to their specifications. They come prewired for the new energy system we're getting, internet, even plumbing is all built in. They've gotten used to providing emergency housing for those who join this dimension. There's no cost involved. There's some guy in Boswell with near bottomless funds, though no-one was forthcoming on how he'd made the money. They've also invested in projects that have survived the global financial crash and they make a fair wad of cash from the sale of technology and innovation to corporations and governments. Apart from what they buy from the normal dimension their economy works on what they call contributism. They expect us to contribute our own skills and excess produce for the well being of others and to be their friends and allies. There's also a requirement that we live sustainably with the least impact on our surrounding environment. This is all part of the deal, which if we accept, brings us under the protection of their alliance. They have strong partnerships built with those in the outer world they trust, including some governments. They'll help us get used to living in this dimension and happily share their knowledge on things, even things as mundane as how to manage our rubbish."

"You said part of the deal," Li Li noted.

Dan pursed his lips, considering something, then he fished another bag out of his satchel. Inside were more information sheets.

We read, more than one of us raising our eyebrows.

"Is this legit?" my inner skeptic asked.

Dan looked around the room, "Rona, can you pass me the knife from the cutting board."

Rona frowned, "If you're thinking of doing what I think you're thinking of doing I'm morally obliged to point out that knife isn't clean."

"It won't matter."

Rona passed the knife.

With eyes glued we watched as Dan steeled himself to make the cut, dragging the sharp blade across the palm of his hand. It bled.

"Shit Dan," I got up and passed him some tissues to mop up the blood.

Rona took the knife from him and went to wash it under the sink, but not before inspecting Dan's wound with interest. She said nothing.

"Give it a moment," Dan instructed. "Now come look."

We each took our turn to inspect the palm of his hand. There was no cut.

"Fascinating," Li Li murmured.

"How?" I wanted to know. "Are you trying to say this is from the treatment described in these information sheets. You've already had the treatment?"

### 7

Harry was giving Gareth and Weasel the grand tour of the Martian city of Scyth. Gareth had imagined a small outpost struggling to survive on a dust blown planet where temperatures could plummet to below minus 73 degrees celsius. But it was nothing like that. The city, one of five spaced out along the equator, was vast, both on the surface and underground. The air was easy enough to breathe,the food strangely purple. And purple described the landscape as well, though including colours of dark orange, russet brown and deep dark reds. Adapted to the cold, Harry explained. But it was nearing midday and the temperature was starting to reach it's summertime peak of twenty degrees Celsius. Though the light from the sun was weak he could still feel the warmth in its rays. "So winter and night time you spend underground?"

"It's not that bad," Harry countered. "If it's above -40C and you have the right clothes it's fine. You get used to it. But if the wind gets up we don't venture out. Nothing compares to the Martian wind-chill factor. The climate is moderating though. As our atmosphere develops the temperature fluctuations the planet experiences are getting less severe. We're starting to see bigger lifeforms evolve. It's like layers of an onion. First we had only the slime mould. Rapidly that's evolved into higher and higher life forms."

"I thought evolution took millions of years?" Gareth didn't understand how quickly Mars had developed to be like this.

"It helps when the base life-form of the planet, the slime mould, harbours a human consciousness it saved. Callan gives it ideas. Emily and Steve stimulate it by singing to it."

"Singing to it?"

Harry chuckled at Gareth's disbelief. "There's much that will surprise you here."

"All that's very interesting," Weasel muttered, "but where are these vampire girls?"

"Lyreans", Harry corrected, rolling his eyes. "Seriously Gareth, why'd you bring him?"

Gareth shrugged, "You said you needed blood donors."

Harry sighed, "We do. But the bond between a Lyrean and their life source is not to be trifled with."

"I mean no disrespect," Weasel groaned. "I want to help. And..."

"And...?" Harry and Gareth asked in unison.

"I want someone to call my own. A woman who'll be my friend and companion."

"You mean you want a ready source of sex and someone to feed and clean up after you," Gareth speculated. "I've heard tales from Bill, how you chat up all the single girls that come to his bar. You score a few. Yet you're rarely seen with them after. Why is that?"

Weasel was nonplussed, "They're only after a hookup."

"As are you," Gareth guessed.

"Not true," Weasel argued. "I just haven't found the right woman yet. One who can recognise my obvious assets."

"Assets?" Harry couldn't help but wonder out loud.

"You know, my charm. My excellent sense of humor. I know how to have fun."

"I think any Lyrean who took you on would expect more. The female Lyreans on this planet, distinct from those that used to live on the nearby planet of Sanctuary, expect a strong male who can look out for their interests. Someone who's capable of defending and providing for them. You just don't come across as alpha male material," Harry enlightened him.

Weasel thought on this, "Ok. So they want more than a good time. I can learn."

Harry studied him with the practised eye of an ex-personnel manager, "You'd best mention that fact to Naira when you meet her. It may stand in your favour. She is the one who decides who is woken from stasis as blood donors are found."

"And she leads your city?" Gareth sought clarification.

"We prefer to think of Naira as our facilitator and representative. You won't find a better negotiator on the two planets."

"High praise."

Harry grinned, "I might be biased. She's my mate. But I genuinely think so. I'll take you to her and you'll see for yourself."

Naira was in her office, within the city's archives. "Hello. I hope you don't mind but the Alliance has already sent me profiles on both of you. I understand that you represent the interests of those at your workplace," she directed her query to Gareth.

"It's an add on to doing my job. My colleagues voted me for the position. Though with the erosion of workers rights these days the role doesn't quite carry the same importance as it once did. Fortunately our workplace has a great boss."

Naira, glanced down at her papers, "Ah, Dan Sutton. And the business is logistics, it says here."

"Transport and distribution. It's how we've survived the economic downturn. Stuff still needs to be moved around the country. Dan developed a computer system that uses the global positioning system and tracking devices to know where deliveries are at all times. The system uses artificial intelligence to optimise the use of delivery vehicles and routes. Goods are scanned on and off each van or truck. Anything goes missing we know where it was last scanned. It has the added advantage that if a delivery vehicle breaks down it can be quickly located and recovered. We consult with a number of trucking companies. Fix bugs in the system, protect against data breaches, offer training, that sort of thing."

"Impressive. I would like to discuss this further with your boss. It may help us keep track of things up here."

"Dan's in Boswell at the moment. I can't speak for him but I can let him know your interest."

"I'd appreciate that. And you, Jeremy Banks, aka Weasel. Should I call you Weasel or Jeremy?"

"Weasel's fine." Weasel had no problem with his nickname.

"Ok Weasel, but why the name? Isn't that an animal on your planet."

Weasel baulked, shifting nervously, "I guess it goes back to school days. Some saw me as sneaky. Truthfully it was only the teacher's, Mrs Jameson, apple I nicked."

"Nicked? As in stole?", Naira had been around her planet's team of Australian scientists long enough to know the slang.

"I was hungry," Weasel defended himself. "You try sitting through five hours of school with nothing in your lunch box."

Gareth looked aghast, "Didn't your parents send you to school with lunch?"

"Well no Gareth, Dad was in prison and mum was out propositioning, well you know. That's not the point. The thing is my classmates realized I could sneak around and do things they couldn't without getting caught. Mostly."

"Mostly?" Naira's curiosity got the better of her.

Weasel grinned, "There was the music teacher's wife, when I was in college," he hastily added. "They expelled me for that one. Didn't matter, the employment agency got me a school based apprenticeship as a plumber. It was great. The only catch was I had to finish my schooling online but the lady who ran the online access centre was as sweet as."

Gareth looked heavenward, "Don't tell me you tried to hook up with her as well."

"Nah, what do you take me for, she was thirty years my senior."

Naira coughed, regaining their attention, "Are you telling me you're a qualified plumber Weasel?"

"Why?" Weasel asked cynically, "Isn't a tradesman good enough for you people?"

Naira's hands steepled together as she drew on her inner store of patience, you people indeed. "Quite the contrary Mr Banks, we are in dire need of a plumber to overhaul the decaying infrastructure. To advise us on the latest technology. As we awaken those in stasis and add more humans to our population the more our archaic systems are failing. We did a patch job on the sewage but it needs more work. The Australians, particularly, are fond of their showers. Emily and Steve want an indoor swimming pool. The hydroponics section we abandoned millenia ago but now want to reinstate. We have a civil engineer and we have people who, well let's just say they have the ability to dig anything we need," refraining from telling him the how. No need to split his brain. "What I'm saying is that your skills and knowledge would be highly valued. Do you know how hard it is to get a tradesman?"

Weasel laughed, "So I've heard. So does this mean I'm in with a chance?"

Naira cautiously threw out her bait, "Could be? That depends on you and your willingness to contribute and adapt to our society. What personality do you find appealing in a woman? I assume you swing that way."

"I'm as straight as, Naira." he asserted in case there was any doubt. "She'd have to have a sense of humor. Do you people ever do fun?"

They did but she wasn't sure his definitions were the same, "Fun as in?"

"You know. Glass half full. Doesn't take everything too seriously. Doesn't take offence at a well executed prank."

Exasperated with the man's use of the English language Naira looked to Harry with pleading eyes. He telepathed a translation. "Oh, I understand. Well generally, Weasel," she emphasized, "we're not into pranks and I'd advise against you trying such things. Some Lyreans don't have a sense of humour," she thought of Kjartlan in particular. "And some of the scientists can be a bit, how shall I say, be grumpy. However," she continued so as to dispel the disappointment that had taken hold of his face, "I can think of one Lyrean who was a bit of a rebel. Let me find her details." She directed herself to a hologram interface. "Computer, retrieve data and image of Marika of Scyth."

The image of a full sized Lyrean woman shimmered, all seven foot, white blond, pale, translucent skin and violet eyes.

Weasel's jaw dropped, his eyes wide, "Oh my god, she's beautiful."

"So I can take it that you will consult on our plumbing issues? Perhaps, while we prepare Marika's stasis pod you might have a look at our problems and meet with Aston, our civil engineer."

"Whatever you want," Weasel answered enthusiastically.

Naira laughed. "You might be good at sneaking around Weasel but you've got a lot to learn about negotiating. Never make such an offer to a Lyrean. It's not that they'll take you for all they can get but many, in the past, were inclined to a certain arrogance, the men particularly. You've met Kjartlan."

Weasel frowned, "I'll learn."

Naira decided he had possibilities, "You may also earn your place among us with your innate sneakiness. Covert operations and the like."

Weasel was intrigued, "Now you're talking."

She turned her attention to Gareth, "And you Gareth?"

"Uh! I hadn't thought about it." He'd imagined his whole life as a bachelor. "I came to represent Terri's interests. Pay and conditions."

Naira made a dismissive gesture, "That's simple. There is no pay. The Alliance runs on contributism, not money. We are acutely aware of each other's needs, as if they were our own. We do what we can to provide for them."

"That's a nice ideal," Gareth mused, "But Terri just lost her home and needs to rebuild. There's no telling when insurance will pay out on that as it is the scene of a crime. They may even shirk paying once they know she's no longer in the normal dimension."

"All taken care of, even as we speak. We look after our own. You'll see what I mean when you return."

"Which is the other issue. My place is there, not here."

"Why not commute?" Naira posed the obvious solution.

"You're talking teleportation like Inspector Wilson and his team? How is that even possible?"

"Very easy once some undesirable mutations in your DNA are removed. You'll rebegin your path to ascension that was robbed from your kind long ago."

"Are you talking some kind of enlightenment because I've never been interested in anything religious? I'm what some might call an atheist, others a humanist but if you ask me they can keep their labels. I just don't do religion."

Naira shook her head, "It's not about religion. Consider it science if you prefer. Ascension is merely the natural spiralling up to higher levels of understanding and existence. It's a change in frequency, not belief. It happens of its own accord as you grow and explore. Once you have an extended lifespan. And since Lyreans are very long lived as well we benefit from having our donors stick around." She glanced fondly at Harry, "I couldn't bear the thought of only fifty years in your embrace."

Harry patted her affectionately, "I'm not going anywhere without you Naira."

"How long a life are we talking about," Gareth wondered

"Barring severe physical damage we're talking, or at least hoping, thousands of years. It's only been a few years since the geneticists in Boswell came up with the cure. No one's really sure of the long term except that it reversed the age degradation of many. Something called a telomere stops shortening everytime your cells replicate."

"Sounds nasty," Weasel murmured, "Biology was never my strong point."

"They're talking near immortality Weasel," Gareth translated.

"You see now why we take your choice of a blood recipient seriously. If you abandoned them they would die." She neglected to say they had a blood bank for emergencies. The gravity of the situation sounded more important if she left that out. Naira particularly wanted Weasel to be certain.

"She won't get sick of me?" Weasel worried.

"The bond, once made, is irreversible and strong. That doesn't mean that you need cohabit. You could choose to just be friends. You'd work out what suited the both of you. I would be lying to you if I said there was no give and take. You can expect the same relationship challenges as any partnership but with the added advantage that you will intimately understand each other, indeed hear each other's thoughts."

Weasel paled, "She wouldn't like my thoughts."

Naira found the man strangely refreshing, "None of us is pure as the driven snow Weasel. You'd grow together. Having doubts?"

"No," he hastily answered, "Just working out what I'll have to do to make this work."

"How about truth, I think you're good at that," Naira observed.

"Who'd you have in mind for me," Gareth interrupted. "If I can just ask without committing myself? I'd want someone egalitarian. I get the impression that you're an exception and that your women are put on a pedestal to be worshipped and kept at home with no lives of their own. I couldn't be a party to that."

Naira clapped her hands in delight, "Oh you are so right for us Gareth. We need a grassroots societal change in our attitudes to gender. I don't want us to slip into the ways of the past, of the time before our apocalypse. It's why we've still awakened so few, not just our shortage of willing donors. I want strong women and open minded, less controlling Lyreans to set the pace of our society."

"I'm just a human," Gareth pointed out, thinking her hope misplaced. "If the Lyrean males are all like Kjartlan they aren't going to listen to me."

"Kjartlan's changing. He's one of three males in a polyamous relationship with two very strong women, one human, one Sancturian. The latter a Lyrean from another planet. Kjartlan's learning. But neither Emily or Fionnalagh are suited to the role I have in mind. Emily's a healer and Fionnalagh's a warrior."

"Who did you have in mind?" Gareth wondered.

"Computer," Naira addressed the system, "Bring up details and image of Benca of Scyth."

Gareth's silence was telling. He walked around the hologram then stopped in front of her to peer into her eyes. He liked what he saw. "She has a strong will?"

Naira chuckled, "I'd call it wilful. In her own way she's as much of a rebel as Marika but whereas Marika is fun loving Benca has a spine of steel, or stubbornness, depending on how you look at it. She's highly intelligent and articulate. Fought her father all the way to avoid marriage and continue her career. She was involved in trade between Sanctuary and Nova Lyra. The latter being Mars. Sanctuary was destroyed." But their best kept secret was that there were survivors on the planetoid of Ceres. "Benca railed against the inequities of our culture and threatened more than once and finally did move to Sanctuary where the culture was vastly different. Fortunately she was here, visiting family, when Sanctuary was destroyed."

Gareth felt for this woman he didn't know. How many of her Sancturan friends had she lost. A survivor on a planet she'd chosen to abandon, only to be forced once more to adhere to its regime.

Naira couldn't help her curiosity and listened in on his thoughts, quietly pleased, though guilty for her invasion of his mental space. "You would suit her well Gareth."

"She's never married."

"No, and maybe marriage isn't in her future but I see you as powerful partners. We need you Gareth. We need Benca. Say you will."

Weasel elbowed him in the ribs, "Come on mate, I dare you."

Gareth frowned at him, "I don't do dares. But... I'd like to read her file."

### 8

Two scantily clad men, Bran and JJ arrived after lunch. They introduced themselves and announced that they were here to do the foundations for our new home.

"Where's you earthmoving equipment?" Terri wondered.

JJ was obviously trying not to laugh. Bran just grinned, "We'll get to that. We're waiting on Aston to arrive. Ah, here he is." Bran went over to greet him.

"Who's Aston?" Bill asked.

"Civil engineer, based on Mars. We asked him to teleport down here to discuss options with you before we move the dirt. Eleni, our geologist, has already looked at the geological maps of your area so we know what we're up against. Do you have any thoughts yet on what you want in the design?"

"Come inside." I ushered everyone into what was rapidly becoming a very crowded shed.

Rona spread out our paperwork, "We did a few sketches over lunch. Dan showed us the brochure on the pods. We're thinking an internal courtyard would give us a place out of the wind that often blows in from the West. Somewhere we can grow a few shade giving, food producing trees. That way they'll be naturally fenced off from wildlife and feral animals. We still plan to put a few poly tunnels and a fenced veggie garden on the North side of the complex. It will be hot there but well lit. We might plant a few low wind breaks on the outer edge of the food growing area."

Aston, a no nonsense man in a well tailored suit if you please, studied our rough drawings. "Hmm. You're thinking too small." He pulled out his phone and made a call while the rest of us wondered how big he was thinking. "Irene. Yeah hi. No, I'm not brilliant at the telepathy yet, aside from my mates. Wondered if you could quickly look at something for me. What do you need to do some place astrology? I'm wanting to know how best to configure a housing complex for our newest addition. Just a sec, I've just got to pull up an app to get the co-ordinates. Okay, sending them to you. Ring me back as soon as you can. I'm meeting with them now." He hung up. "Irene's just going to run your location through a computer program she has. It will tell us what cosmic energies are affecting this site and how we can balance them to best effect."

"Do you mean Feng Shui?" Li Li asked.

Aston shook his head, "We have no experts on that but Irene's an astrologer, tarot reader and numerologist. She can look at how the local solar system interacts with this place."

"I can advise on the Feng Shui for you," Li Li announced.

That got Aston's interest, "Can you do geomancy Ms Li?"

"Sure, I don't know why I didn't think to do this before."

"Maybe because you're still getting over the shock of a major injury," Iain sought to reassure her.

"I'll be back in a moment," Li Li announced. "Don't make any final decisions until I return." She hurried out.

"Li Li is a practitioner of Chi Gong," I explained. "She's currently doing a PHD on energetic fields that affect the body and the land. She's studying in the physics department at the local uni. They weren't too keen when she proposed her thesis but she managed to convince them she could set up valid experimental models to study chi and its relation to electromagnetic fields, capacitance and something called the casimir effect. She's one very smart lady," I added proudly.

Iain's jaw dropped. Awed he turned to look out the door in the direction Li Li had gone.

Bill clapped him on the shoulder, "Don't worry mate, she's going to really appreciate having someone to look out for her. You don't need to compete. Just be her partner."

Iain rather delightfully blushed, "Er, I wasn't..."

"Yes you were," I interrupted, "you've had a soft spot for her since you first saw her."

"But," he looked to Bill, worried, "I thought you said you would marry her if you were younger. We're all going to be biologically younger with that treatment."

Bill shrugged. "So, you going to fight me for her or can you share?" He eyed the other man speculatively.

The awkward situation was interrupted by Aston's phone ringing.

"Hi Irene, how'd you go?" Aston asked. "Excellent. Nine you reckon. Okay, we'll go with that. Many thanks. Yeah sure, come up and visit us some time. The scenery is breathtaking in its own uniquely red and purple way. Just bring plenty of warm clothes, Nights at home get a tad chilly." He hung up and turned his attention back to us. "Okay, here's the plan. Instead of four sides for your complex we go with nine."

"Nine," I gasped.

"Told you you were thinking too small," Bran agreed.

Li Li quietly re-entered the shed, as soft on her feet as was her approach to life. Li Li didn't see the need to be too yang. She could leave that to others. But she had a way about her that usually wore down opposition. It was how she'd got her faculty to agree to her unconventional thesis.

Dan, however, was more direct, "Spit it out Li Li, what you find?"

"There's a slight rise in the adjacent field, almost a mound. Still close enough for Terri to commute to this shed if she needs it."

Need it? Of course I needed my shed.

But Li Li continued. "The rise has an advantage that it's above the floodplain. And there's water at its core. I've communed with the energetic beings in the vicinity. They won't block us building there."

Aston was more interested in her mention of a floodplain. "It's bone dry out there. How can that be a floodplain?"

"Every thirty years or so we get a deluge. A year's rain in say 48 hours. Happened when I was three, or so dad told me," I relayed my knowledge of the local weather history.

JJ looked thoughtful. "How about we raise that mound even further, just to be safe, build in run off channels. Sink a bore in the middle. It will need to be filtered to remove salts but its outflow could be channeled to spiral out like a mandala through the gardens and the landscape. We leave an entrance for the road. I'm thinking the road extends to become a firebreak around the perimeter of the complex. It would let everyone drive to their own back door. That's assuming you're thinking of taking one pod each."

Bran agreed, "And the pods really are the way to go. The ground around here doesn't lend itself to stone structures but we can entice the bedrock to form an excellent base."

"Yeah but," Aston pointed to the pod brochure. "These things are rectangular. If we go with a circuit of nine we're going to have a messy triangular gap between each."

"Make them into private indoor gardens," Rona suggested. Skylights with heat thermostats that open vents and shutters as needed to climate control those spaces.

"Like it," Aston nodded. "And the bigger space in the middle. If you're going to plant shade trees that bear fruit or nuts you may want to keep the local birdlife out. If the trees grow tall it could be a problem. Could we go with a two story structure?"

"Two stories?" my mind boggled at the immensity of this potential building.

Dan gave me a friendly hug, "Envisage it Terri, Decks looking out onto the garden."

"Yes, that would work," Aston agreed enthusiastically. "We could extend the deck supports upwards to form a structure to support heavy duty bird netting."

"Damn, yes," Rona's eyes sparkled, "Love it. I'll get designing a permaculture forest garden right away. Mangoes are heat and drought tolerant. Carobs, figs, pomegranates, olive..." she went in search of her computer tablet to research more.

It seemed the choice was made. "Okay, so when's all this going to happen?"

Aston looked at the clock on his phone, "Um, in about an hour."

"What! It's going to take more time than that."

"Not at all," Bran promised. "JJ and I'll have the foundations done in a jiff. Li Li, come and show us where this is going."

Aston got back on the phone, "Need eighteen pods and I'm sending you through a list of some additional materials. Oh, and we'll need a large amount of culverts and gravel to ensure their road into the property is flood proof. Unbelievably it happens. Yeah, I said eighteen. Don't argue. Need that delivery by 4pm at the latest. These people are living in swags in a shed."

I just shook my head in wonder at it all.

"Come on Terri," Dan goaded, "Let's go watch them do the foundations."

Iain followed us but Bill excused himself and made a bee line for my shed's illegal loo. "Wonder what's up with him. He seems in a hurry," I worried.

"Effects of that anti-virus we took after lunch. He's a lot older so the physical age reversal and body repair will hit him with a lot of toxins he needs to get rid of."

I grimaced, "Sounds unpleasant."

"He'll be right in a day or two," Dan reassured.

I thought about that for a moment then my mind segued on to something else. Marvellous the way the human mind can hyperlink and loop around within itself. "Hey Aston, tell me what's so important about nine."

Aston explained as we all strode purposefully to catch up with Bran, JJ and Li Li. "It's all about connections. Irene accessed the files we have on each of you. Based on your dates of birth, the longitude and latitude of your home and what appears to be your immediate purpose she decided quite a number of things. Such as you're a bunch of creative people on a fast track with your mental and emotional evolution. She suspects you're all what she calls old souls, here at this time for a reason. You need a secure base where you can develop your own rich weave of relationships. Courage, intelligence and humanitarianism. Numerology's not my field. Trust me, if Irene says it has to be nine it has to be nine."

"It will give us more room than we need," I observed.

"I have a hunch you'll use it. We'd best hurry. They're nearly ready."

And just how were they going to do the foundations without digging machines?

Aston smiled, pleased with himself, "I caught that thought. I know a little of their science. I can explain but it would take a while. Let's just watch first. Their work is usually awe inspiring."

I watched as Bran and JJ followed Li Li, chatting with her all the while. JJ handed him a small piece of metal pipe he'd been carrying. When Bran put it to his lips I really began to wonder, "What the eff!"

"Shh," Aston demanded.

Okay, I shushed. As Bran began to play, I felt a slow deep rumble vibrate through the ground. It was like the earth was sighing, giving itself over to the music. Dan steadied me as the slope of the ground underneath my feet tilted slightly, gently. It was like no earthquake I knew of.

I watched, fascinated as the ground Li Li stood on began to rise. She held her arms wide, as if communing with something. If I knew Li Li she'd be channeling some kind of energy. Asking the elementals of the place to bless the ground with a balance of their forces. She stepped to the side as a small spring bubbled up from the ground. As Bran continued to play a small stream began to flow from the spring, spiraling down the hill one way then back on itself, leaving a noticeable path. It was forming a maze. A low stone embankment rose on either side of the stream, to contain it and define it. Short rock piers rose from the bedrock. Then a low rock wall, the same height as the piers, marking out the shape of the complex. I couldn't fathom the how of it. Frequency affecting the molecules of the surrounding bedrock, dancing it into place? But more than that. The work was being directed by Bran's mind, a blueprint he was holding in his head. How did I know this?

Bran stopped playing, seemingly pleased with what he had done. I hastened up the rise to inspect it. It was like looking at some ancient megalithic stone foundations, perfectly formed out of the very bedrock with not so much as a chisel or ax. "Amazing."

"Thank you," Bran accepted the praise. "Pleased to help out. I'm sorry I couldn't have done more. The geology here isn't suitable for building massive stone structures but the foundations will be more than ample. We'd better clear the site. The pods should be arriving shortly."

"Are you going to sing them into place?" I wondered.

Bran laughed, "Hell no, Boswell has spacecraft that will airlift them into place."

Aston nudged his way into the conversation, "We should be finished with placing the pods before dark. The construction crew from Boswell will teleport in tomorrow to add the finishing touches, paint, tiles, carpet, fixtures and fittings and the like. They'll connect up the internal systems. But if you need space you should be able to bunk down there comfortably tonight. It will be a little less crowded than the shed."

I worried for Bill. "I don't suppose we could get at least one loo working before tonight."

"Ah, he's had the treatment hasn't he?" He whipped out his phone and made a call, "Hey Doc, your friendly plumber, need his number. Yeah, there's just one thing we need to do ahead of schedule. Ta." He hung up and rang the plumber, explaining the situation. Then ended the call. "He'll get one of his crew here by the time the pods arrive."

"I guess it's too late to worry about council planning approval."

Aston chuckled, "You're your own council now. Welcome to the lands of Faery. They do things a bit differently here."

### 9

It hadn't taken long for the two stasis pods in question to be brought up from the catacombs. Karina, the local electrical engineer checked the readouts on the pods which were currently plugged into a portable power supply. "They're ready," she announced to Naira.

Gareth frowned at Naira, "You recovered both stasis pods."

Naira winced, "Forgive me for being hopeful. Benca was a good friend. She was a rebel, like me."

"So we're just activating the wake up sequence on Marika's pod?" Karina asked, looking between them.

Weasel was eager though, "Please Karina."

"You've been warned, I'm assuming," Karina wondered. "Newly woken Lyreans can be, how should we say, quite volatile."

"You bet," Weasel rubbed his hands with glee, "What's not to like."

Karina shook her head, there was no protecting some humans. Weasel was obviously a risk taker. She looked to Naira who gave her a perceptible nod, then she pressed the button that would begin bringing Marika out of her long slumber.

It seemed a long wait, as precious minutes ticked by. Gareth wandered over to the side of the room to reread what Naira had given him about Benca. Should he or shouldn't he? His life might change irrevocably. This woman would need to feed on a regular basis which would mean him being linked to her life. His bachelor life was simple. He lived for his career and the rest of his limited time he did what he wanted when he wanted, without having to compromise for the needs of someone else.

Ulv was waiting in the wings as Karina finally released the lid of the pod. He came forward, scanner in hand. Whatever he read on that device he seemed happy. He did a manual check of her pulse and pupils just to be sure. Then backed hastily away. "She's close."

Gareth came back over to give Weasel a much needed nudge, "Well go on. She's not going to wait for you all day."

Weasel gulped, suddenly unsure but he steeled himself. He held out his wrist to Ulv who'd already explained the need to make a cut so he would bleed enough.

"Let her get a whiff of that," Ulv instructed. "Hurry up, if she doesn't get food soon after waking she could die."

That got Weasel moving. He went and knelt by the pod, doing as instructed, bringing his bleeding wrist close to her nose.

Eyelashes fluttered. Pure violet eyes flashed open.

Distracted by her beauty Weasel forgot about his wrist, until Marika swung into action, incisors biting down hard. He yelled out at the pain that quickly morphed into ecstasy. Groaning with pleasure he sagged, yielding and letting go. He could float forever on this sea of bliss.

"Marika!", Naira shouted at the Lyrean.

Reluctantly Marika stopped feeding. She turned to consider her donor. "Thank you."

Her language was ancient Lyrean but as Naira had predicted his mind readily interpreted her words for him. He trusted it worked both ways.

"G'day Marika. Howzit going?"

She looked at him quizzically. "I understand your thoughts, though your words sound strange and foreign to my ears. Where are you from? What species are you?"

Weasel thought about that. "Gareth, come and stand over here."

"What are you up to Weasel?" he wondered but obliged, standing where Weasel indicated.

Weasel proceeded to walk a circuit around him, holding up one finger for Marika to see. Another circuit and two fingers. Then a third. He finished his charade by making as if he was a chimp, stooped over, arm scratching his side and making a sound. Well it didn't sound like any ape Gareth knew but it did make him laugh. It had Naira and Marika roaring in laughter too.

"You're a comedian," Marika commented, speaking in Lyrean

"Nah, just a plumber with a sense of humour."

Marika walked up to him and embraced him, "And now you're my plumber. Weasel, that is the name I picked from your brain."

"It's a nickname for a sneaky opportunist who doesn't take life too seriously. Those that don't know me call me Jeremy."

Marika beamed, revelling in the delight that was this complex man before her, "Weasel it is then. I'm indebted to you for agreeing to feed me, apeman from the third planet from the sun."

Gareth had no idea what Marika was saying but he followed Weasel's side of it, "You told her what you are."

Weasel shoulders twitched in what might have been a shrug, "People either hate me or accept me. Startled the hell out of my dad when I refused to follow him into a career of crime. He thought I'd be his successor, taking over the local crime syndicate. Totally disgusted he chucked me out of home and disowned me but I landed an apprenticeship within a week and with the bit of money mum snuck me I got a roof over my head. I've lived my own way ever since. I'm not changing now. If Markia accepts me as I am that's good enough for me."

Gareth knew in that moment that he was going to have to fundamentally reassess his opinion of Weasel. "You know what Weasel. You kind of grow on me."

Weasel grinned, "So what about you? Take a risk!"

"A risk that will very likely rely on me for the rest of my life."

Marika didn't understand but guessed their conversation had something to do with the other pod in the room. "Who's in there?" she asked Naira.

"Benca."

"Marika's eyes widened, "Ah," she inclined her head to Gareth, "You're friend is a brave man Weasel."

"He's a good man Marika. Fair and just and tough. What you'd expect in a union rep."

"A union rep?"

"He fights for the rights of workers. A warrior for fairness and equality. He protects those who might otherwise be put upon by the unscrupulous. Gareth negotiates on their behalf."

Marika suddenly understood the wisdom in Naira's choice. "Then your friend may indeed be just the man for her."

Gareth didn't follow the Lyrean's talk but felt everyone's eyes on him, their anticipation. "Oh, hell. Okay."

Weasel slapped him on the back, "That's my man." He gave a thumbs up to Naira, "We have a go."

Naira sighed with relief. She knew she'd been pushing but if anyone could set the pace for the culture she was hoping to nourish then Benca was it. She nodded to Karina, "Proceed."

Gareth knew what to do. He held his arm out to Ulv and watched the man intently as he sliced into his wrist. Odd, he had a feeling that Ulv was something more than human. He defocused his eyes and looked at the man, casually, trying not to stare. Maybe some light there. Was that an aura, greenish it looked. But he was no aura reader.

"I'm a shapeshifter," Ulv answered his unspoken thought. "Very perceptive of you to pick it. Most can't. We'll talk later. For now go and get your girl before that blood congeals."

Shapeshifter? Aliens, vampires and oh, let's not forget, he was on Mars and breathing air like it was Earth. He had a feeling his life was never going to be the same from hereon in. Would he even be able to go to work on tomorrow? He'd been so caught up in the moment he hadn't even thought that far ahead. There was that whole issue of getting back to Earth. Much for thought later. He hurried to the side of Benca's pod, just as Karina undid the catch.

"Just lean in and put that tasty wrist near her and she'll do the rest," Karina advised.

"Tasty," he mumbled. He'd never viewed himself as a tasty morsel before.

On earth ...

I'd chosen a section of our new complex that had the shortest distance to my shed and a view of my favorite parrots' tree in the distance. I'd already taken my binoculars upstairs so I could periodically keep a watch on them. Their three to four month old chicks should be fledging shortly. Was it right to call a baby parrot a chick? I had no idea. They seemed too intelligent to be compared to chickens.

I walked out my new front door, anticipating catching up with Thallon on the airwaves. We had no bridges yet, across the stream that flowed from the bore, so I did a jump instead, wherever it crossed my path. It wasn't that wide. It was a pleasant meander down the gentle slope, to my shed.

I'd started thinking about whether I should move my equipment up to the house but Aston had reassured me that they could do much with the shed to preserve its character and bring it up to date as part of an expanded communications centre. I guessed he'd sensed how much it meant to me, with all its memories. He'd made no suggestions of pulling it down. The walk wasn't far anyway and the stroll was both exercise and relaxation. As I skipped across the stream I imagined how we might use the slope. Rona was already suggesting a low height bushtucker garden. We'd avoid planting trees because we wanted the fire break but a few waterwise saltbushes and succulents would work and provide shelter for the lizards, skinks we called them, and the little birds we relied on to keep the local insect life in check. Not too densely planted, I was thinking. Plenty of gravel in between. I'd see what Rona thought.

I pushed the door of the shed open and found the switch, hovering my hand over it to activate it. The magic of doing that never got old for me. I didn't go around bragging about it. Mostly I tried to hide the irregularity. But quietly, to myself, I often admitted it was fun being able to power lights with the energy that flowed from my hands. I was especially happy that it had helped Thallon.

I found the frequency where he'd been before. Activated my homebuilt encryption. Then I switched on the mic. I dispensed with my usual call sign and instead went with the authentication code the Martians would recognise, if I'd remembered it correctly from the email Thallon had sent me earlier in the day. "Authentication code SSA AUS Area code 9 Personal ID1 You there Thallon?"

"SSA MARS 5 45, hearing you loud and clear. Great to hear your voice again Terri. It's seemed like a long day without you."

"Charmer," I accused.

"Trying. Anyway, I thought you'd like to know Weasel and Gareth have both taken on Lyreans to give blood to. Naira was more than pleased as one was her very best friend. Their generosity has done much to cement relations and build trust between our two communities."

I'd known Weasel was hankering after having his own personal vampire but Gareth, that surprised me. I thought he'd only been going there to negotiate on my behalf. "Wow, they didn't mess around. Is Gareth coming back?" I wondered. Not just out of curiosity but I'd need to know to let Dan know. "He's the systems administrator and programmer for Dan's business. We kind've can't do without him. He'll at least need to train up someone else. And did Naira say anything more about what you guys want from me?"

"Whoa!" Thallon exclaimed. "Everything's fine. I expect there'll be a lot of teleporting between our respective homes. Which is something I'm working on. I accepted some additional programming today. Rudal, Seren and I, maybe Pira too, we're going to start running experiments to see if we can teleport like the genetically re-engineered humans can."

Brave man, "So I should start learning too."

"You've had the retro-virus, that's great news."

"Dan brought it back with him from Boswell. It's knocking Bill around a bit but seems to have had no effects, adverse or otherwise, on the rest of us."

"Have you heard anyone in your mind yet?" Thallon asked casually but I sensed an undercurrent, that it was important to him.

"No, Why?"

"Usually when telepathy kicks in the first people you hear are your very close friends, family or potential mates."

Ah, now I understood why this question was important to him, he fancied me didn't he? He'd want me to hear him. I was curious too. "Shall we try?"

"Ah, I'm not human."

"So. That sounds like a category people put themselves in or a story they tell themselves and then limit themselves accordingly."

"I'm not sure I understand."

"Sometimes parents tell their children what they think is hard; maths, music, foreign languages, programming a video recorder, that sort of thing. The child believes the parents and so never tries to see if the story is wrong."

"What's so bad about programming a video recorder?"

"Thallon, focus! I'm trying to tell you that you might be limiting yourself because you have come to believe in a set of ideas about what you can and can't do. You're not a robot. As I understand it you're organic in nature."

"Naira constructed her automated protectors, APs, from silicon based cell like structures that work a lot like what you call nanites. Except our cells are no more, or should I say no less, machine like than your own cells. The only difference is ours were created in a lab."

"So how, you know, did she give them life?"

"She created an artificial version of what you call DNA. It was capable of cell division. But I've never asked her how she managed to animate the cells. You have me curious now."

I mused for a moment, "She must have written some pretty sophisticated algorithms into that DNA code. Bioprinted your form. We're missing some key piece in the step." I opened my mind but what I was opening it too I wasn't sure. Ah, there it was. "You take your nourishment, your energy, from the sun or other electrical sources. You're electrical in nature. She had to have used some sort of electromagnetic frequency to activate you. Of course. You're not as different from us as you think. Li Li would tell you that humans are essentially electromagnetic as well, except we rely on intermediary organisms for our food. Whether from plants or animals that eat plants we, like you, get our energy from the sun. Plants convert that energy into chlorophyll. You just don't need that step. Your cells act like micro sized solar panels, soaking up the sun's rays and converting it into the energy you need. Probably using some sort of quantum level communication to transfer heat and energy or vibrations between cells. I know that there are other energies from the cosmos and from our respective planets that would be acting on us as well but that's the crux of it."

"How'd you just work all that out?" Thallon sounded amazed.

"I don't know. It just came to me. It was like some fist in my mind opened, relaxed, and there it was." It was breathtaking.

"An Akashic connection, wow that's impressive. And you only had the retro-virus at lunch time you say."

"Akashic?" It sounded like something Li Li sometimes spoke about but I wasn't sure.

Thallon chuckled, "It's my turn to tell you to focus. We were talking about telepathy and whether I could do it. Do you think you could go into that open place in your mind again and listen for a moment? I'll try and do the same. Your description of an open fist works for me. I'll go with that, visualize you and then try to direct a thought to you."

"Okay," I closed my eyes and slipped back into that space. Not trying to latch hold of the space within my imagined fist so much as just being aware of it. Resting in it. A flood of more information hit me. Words like quantum fluctuations and casimir effect. But I'd explore them later. For now I let the words drift on through that space in my mind and I listened, into its profound silence. As effortlessly as possible, so as not to disturb the tranquil millpond in my mind, I formed a quiet intent to communicate with Thallon. Rather than a concrete word I went with a feeling, preferring not to engage my analytical mind. I opened my heart chakra in the same way as I had opened my mind. I allowed that feeling to flow, hoping it would know where I wanted it to go, trusting in the process.

I felt the moment of connection. Thallon's voice entered the field of space within my mind.

_Wow, I feel. Did you send me that? I've never felt that...,_ he rambled on, his surprise and awe palpable.

_I hear you_ , I murmured back at him telepathically, the connection stronger now.

How is this possible?

_We'll think on that later, for now feel_ , I opened my hara, that point three finger widths below my below button, sending him the groundedness of it. That feminine connection to earth and matter. _Gaia_ , I whispered in my mind. _This is my planet_.

_It's so different from my own. Let me. I carry a little of Callan's host. Let me connect with him_.

_Callan?_ I wondered

A long story for later. I'm opening my mind to his. Let me see if I can make this connection.

We were chatting easily now, our minds had learnt the pathway. I waited. Then it came. A planetary energy like Gaia's but different. _What is this?_

_The life force of Mars_.

_It's vibration_ , I noted with interest, _it's a different frequency to Earth's_. I observed it further. _It has a lot of energy._

_It recently helped out saving your planet's oceans_ , another story.

And there I was, shy and nervous, wondering what we'd talk about tonight. There's so much.

I know.

_What the hell! Where are you two and why are you yabbering in my head?_ Dan's unamused tone broke into our thoughts, surprising us both.

_I was wondering the same_ , another mindstream crossed our paths.

Rona?

What are you two doing down at your shed to have you broadcasting into people's heads. I thought that was why you wanted the shed away from the complex, to reduce interference.

_Um guys, I know of no way to broadcast into people's heads using radio transmitters. Unless you have an antenna implanted in a tooth or a filling acting like one._ I recalled some strange story of an actress who'd claimed to hear a radio station. _Thallon and I were experimenting with telepathy._

_Telepathy?_ Rona asked, astounded. _They mentioned that in the information pamphlet for that treatment we took. I thought it would be a while, if ever._

What she didn't say was what we'd all thought, that the claim was just a piece of marketing spin.

My mind drifted back to what Thallon had said, "Usually when telepathy kicks in the first people you hear are your very close friends, family or potential mates." _What they didn't tell us is that the first people you hear are the ones your soul recognises_.

_Recognizes us as what?_ Rona wanted to know but I felt her guessing the truth.

As mates.

What? Friends or something more intimate? Don't get me wrong but Dan and Thallon I've only just met. Terri no offence, I don't swing that way.

_No offence taken,_ I agreed. _I'm not sure how I feel about my soul making these decisions for me, let alone messing with my working relationship with my boss. Let's just say it means friends._

_Well this is all very awkward,_ Dan stated the obvious.

_Oh great_ , Thallon complained, _how am I to date Terri if you're all in my head?_

"Hmm," I mused to myself, _I think we're all going to have to learn to block. Do you think there's anyone in Boswell who could help us Dan?_

I have no idea how to contact them. This telepathy is new to me, remember.

_I have an idea_ , I pulled out the card Inspector Wilson had given me and made the call. "Michael, we have a problem."

### 10

Gareth woke to the unfamiliar sensation of a body at his back. He was no virgin but his intimate liaisons had mostly been of an uncommitted 'let's scratch a mutual itch kind'. He didn't make a habit of sleeping over with his one night stands. But then Benca was way more than an itch. She was now his responsibility to feed, and, if she accepted him, potentially a friend. More than that he wouldn't admit to himself yet. Talk about complicating life.

Yet from the moment she'd voraciously fed on him and equally energetically conquered him, consummating their bond, he'd realized he'd gone through one of those pivotal life events. An initiation of a kind. Nothing was ever going to be the same again, for either of them. He wondered if she'd have regrets when she woke.

Benca, all glorious pale skinned platinum blond seven foot of her stretched. Her shuttered eyes flashed open, staring at him. "Who are you?" she asked in her alien tongue.

Gareth's mind easily processed her meaning. He chuckled inwardly at the awkwardness of doing introductions after the event. He remembered Weasel's antics on meeting Marika but his explanation was less animated. "I'm human, from the next planet closer to the sun. Your friend Naira elbowed me into offering up my blood to you."

Benca frowned, not exactly understanding his slang though she thought she got the gist, "Elbowed?"

"Persuaded. Naira misses you and she needs you. She doesn't want Mars, sorry, Nova Lyra, to reestablish its old ways. She's hoping between you, a couple of surviving Sancturan women and some human allies who live here, that a more progressive, egalitarian society might be firmly established before they go waking too many more of your kind."

She looked at him curiously, "And why did she choose you as my life giver? What are you, apart from human?"

So Gareth explained his life back on earth, his ethics and beliefs, hoping to win her trust. Though he was acutely aware of another problem, "I really should get to work, if I can find a way. Do you mind?"

Concern, possibly even fear, washed over her expression, "You'll return?"

"I won't let you starve Benca. Honestly, I've only just met you so it's too soon to say what more our relationship will be but I'm hoping we can be partners, helping Naira enact her plan. I'd hope, if I'm to feed you regularly, that we could also become friends. Let me be honest with you though. I'm not a man to readily commit myself to more than that. I like my freedom. But you can trust me to be here for you when you need."

Benca took his words in her stride, outwardly inscrutable yet relieved. This man wasn't claiming her as some possession. She could work with that. The first thing she needed to do was go and find her old friend. "Let's visit Naira, she may know of some way of getting you to your work. By the way, how long lived are your people?" she wondered.

"Varies, usually between about sixty and ninety."

"Thousand years?" that sounded impressive.

Gareth pursed his lips, "Er, no, that's years as in the number of rotations my planet takes around the sun."

"What!" Benca's jaw dropped, aghast. How could any species hope to develop past meeting their basic needs if they lived such a short life?

"There are a couple of workarounds," he explained while they made their way to Naira's office, telling her about the retrovirus.

"You said a couple of ways," she noted his omission.

Gareth hesitated but figured she'd pick it from his mind anyway. "You could give me a little of your blood. It would fix the errors in my DNA in much the same way as the retrovirus, maybe even more so," although having seen Weasel's ecstasy at accepting Marika's blood he figured it would be the more pleasurable of the options.

"But you're afraid it would tie the bond between us more tightly than just feeding me," she surmised. She appreciated his honesty. He could have easily bound her to him by taking her blood while she slept. The question she had to consider now was if she wanted to tie him to herself permanently? Though she had an inkling she already knew the answer. Was she willing to shake up her world, a personal world she'd fought so hard to free from the patronising and limiting constraints of Nova Lyra's prior male dominated society? She'd been proudly single her whole life. But then, so had he, however short his natural lifespan.

Gareth watched her thoughts flit through his mind. So she could read his mind as well, "Let's just give it a couple of days before we go making any irrevocable decisions. See how we both feel after we've gotten to know each other better. I can have the retrovirus in the meantime, if I can get home."

### 11

With the hospital abuzz with the miracle of the burns unit no one seemed to object when Elise discharged herself and slipped away. Iain had dismissed the guard on her door, for some obscure reason trusting that she wouldn't make a run for it. He'd read her well. Now totally embarrassed at her fit of range and its consequences Elise was even more horrified at what Robert had done.

If she'd been ten years younger she might have run but a life in hiding, always looking over your shoulder, always watching your words and who you associated with. Let alone finding a job under a false name. Damn it, no! She'd face what she'd done head on. It was what she'd always done. Well almost always. If she'd discussed her needs with Dan she wouldn't be in this pickle. Terri was right. She still loved him. But it wasn't a situation their relationship would ever recover from and she was honest enough to admit it. No, there was no going back. She'd do her time, get some counselling and, wincing she admitted, some anger management training then she'd step into the unknown and make what she could of it. She'd been stupid but she wasn't a loser. She'd remake her life.

"You wouldn't be on your own."

Elise spun around, scanning the expanse of lawn that made up the hospital grounds.

"Over here. Come sit."

Elise followed the voice, gasping at what she saw. Yet no one else walking by seemed to notice the iridescent winged woman sitting on a park bench. She pinched her arm. Ouch. No she wasn't sleepwalking.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Eadaoin. I've been watching you for some time."

Elise frowned at that, "Are you stalking me?"

"Hardly. I'm everywhere at all times. I have no need to stalk. Now, do you want to go to jail or would you accept some help?"

Depended on what she was offering, Elise thought. Though she'd kind of made her mind at setting things right. Taking the universe's slap for what she'd done. "I can't go on as I have. I need to fix my mistakes. That's not to say I want to be a martyr about it but I do want to make amends."

"Which is why I'm talking to you."

Elise decided there was no harm in sitting down beside her. "You a faery? You look like a faery."

Eadaoin rolled her eyes, "And how would you know? I'm not exactly one of the tiny butterfly impersonators you find in children's stories."

"No, you're something a damn sight more powerful than that," Elise surmised. "I'm not hallucinating am I?"

Eadaoin's stare penetrated Elise to the core, "I chose for you to see me. I wanted to talk with you and see if you were worthy."

"Worthy of what?" a mixture of suspicion and hope filled Elise's mind.

"See there, that's exactly who I'm looking for. Someone open but cautious. Honest enough to admit you've stuffed up big time. Willing to do the miles. Well the miles don't need to be done in prison. None of us, including Constable McDonald, want to see what time in jail would do to you. You're open now, goal directed. We don't want you losing that. We don't want your soul becoming encased in hardness and bitterness. I'm here to offer you a deal. An alternative. And no you won't need to sell your soul but you will need to meet certain conditions. Firstly help the police with capturing Robert. He's more than he seems. He has links to a dark organisation we are working to contain."

"Robert?" She'd always figured on him being good in bed, good for a time out, but otherwise lacking any depth, let alone anything sinister.

"He hides it well but," Eadaoin chose her words carefully, avoiding the word possessed, "He's been compromised. Those I'm allied with seek to reign in the organisation he's working for. He was put into Dan's company to steal the code his logistics system runs on. We've been monitoring his activity but as of Friday last he hadn't managed to get access to the mainframe to download what he's after."

"What's so important about logistics?" Elise wondered.

"Control the supply chain and you control armaments getting to armies, the restocking of supermarkets, medical supplies getting where they're needed to fight disease outbreaks, products getting to market."

So armies would lose their battles, supermarket shelves would empty overnight, pandemics get out of hand and the stock markets would fall, more than they already had, "Put that way it does sound pretty important. Robert's bosses want to control all that?"

"Most definitely. That way they can hold the world to ransom. It's a valuable negotiating tool. They seek to regain the power we've been trying to prise away from them."

"And Dan's system would make it easier for them to do that?"

"Instant tracking on all stuff moving around the world. The ability to divert transport and goods or effect blockages in the supply chain. In the wrong hands it could easily be misused."

"Why haven't they simply hacked into his company and stolen it that way?"

"Because a few years back we gifted Dan with some of our most sophisticated internet security."

Elise remembered back, "The strange parcel that appeared in the middle of the night," she assumed. "Scared the shit out of me at the time, that someone had been in the house while we slept."

Eadaoin dismissed her angst, "We would never have harmed either of you. Even back then the seers amongst us realized the importance of both of you."

"Me?" Elise was shocked, "I can understand your interest in a company's CEO but why me?"

Eadaoin laughed off her surprise, "Because buried under that materialistic, egoistic exterior is a heart. Isn't that why you studied the use of magnetic resonance imaging and other brain measurement technology when you were studying your marketing and psychology major. Not an easy topic to choose for an elective."

"I wanted to know how marketing affected the brains of subjects, whether it was possible to measure the effect of advertising and optimise advertising accordingly. Whether certain types of music could influence the buying decisions of a subject."

"That's what you told your teachers. Your real reason was an innate interest in neuropathology. Your much loved great grandfather being admitted to a mental health facility after trying to kill your great grandmother left you curious about the workings of the brain. You knew you didn't have the science credentials to study medicine so you took the only path open to you. Neuropsychology."

She'd never told anyone that for fear of being chided. Totally flabbergasted that anyone knew her deepest secret Elise shook herself and tried to regain some perspective, "So you want me to do something with that," she guessed.

"It's your true vocation. Of course we can't grant you professional status as a neuroscientist but we have ways of giving you the knowledge you've missed out on. Then we'll employ you where your lack of specialist qualifications doesn't matter. You'll have the best of equipment provided to you. Staff as you wish."

"What is it you want me to look into?" her curiosity was piqued.

"I can't tell you that until we're sure that you're on our side. Prove to us we can trust you. In the meantime you just need to decide if you're willing to accept our help. Your free will in this is important to us."

What did she have to lose, "Yes please, any help would be great."

"Excellent," with that Eadaoin vanished, leaving Elise wondering how she was going to prove herself. Eadaoin had left no instruction on that other than to help the police. Wasn't she doing that anyway? She shook herself again, got up and headed home. A nice cup of chai, yeah that's what she needed. Then she'd think. But she ended up thinking anyway, all the way home.

Seeing the door of her home slightly ajar Elise froze and considered. She steeled herself, walked quietly to the door then hesitantly pushed it open. Should she call out in case it was Dan? Dan had made it pretty clear he wasn't coming back but maybe he needed something. Then again... she had two options; get the hell away from the house and ring the cops or she could find a weapon. She opted for something in the middle, first ringing Constable MacDonald. He told her to wait but it was her house now. Damned if she'd have it burgled.

A branch had fallen out of the garden's flowering gum tree some time back, she'd been meaning to clean it up but now it had its use. She snapped it in half to form two short but sturdy sticks, what Indonesians called tongkat or galah. Not that she was versed in the ancient art of Pencak Silat but she'd watched it often enough on her regular vacations to Bali. Elise took a moment to remember some of those moves, to walk through the steps in her mind. Foolhardy, perhaps, to try something she'd only ever seen but she'd done some basic self defense for women in her youth. Never had had to use it, but... oh hell.

She stepped into the house, her cudgels at the ready but prepared to drop them if the interloper was a friendly, "Dan, is that you?"

### 12

"Terri, you're back!"

The excitement and encouragement of my co-workers swamped me as I walked through the door.

Shirley hugged me, "We heard about your house. I'm so sorry."

I shrugged, trying to not let my emotions rise and swamp me, "No-one was hurt. Nothing can take away the memories I have of my time there with Dad, it's all here," I tapped my heart. Okay, maybe my eyes were a little shiny.

Dan, having waited in the car for five minutes so as not to arouse gossip, entered the office and was immediately accosted by Dirk. "Now boss, you will keep Terri on, won't you?"

"No worries on that Dirk, I've promoted her. She's now my admin."

Everyone in the office cheered and another round of hugs ensued.

Gareth tried to quietly sneak in behind all the commotion but not unnoticed by me or Dan.

"If you'll excuse us everyone, I need to meet with Gareth. Terri?"

"Yes sir," I slipped easily into employee rather than friend mode, time would tell if I could maintain the distinction. I grabbed a writing pad from my desk and followed the guys.

Dan closed the door. His curiosity immediately rising to the fore, "Gareth, tell all!"

So Gareth told his tale, raising two sets of eyebrows opposite him, "You've mated a vampire. You? The world's most avowed bachelor?"

Gareth chuckled, "Yeah, takes some getting used to. But please don't call her a vampire. She's a Lyrean. A Nova Lyrean to be more precise."

"There are other Lyreans?" I wondered.

"Those in their home galaxy no doubt. They fled from there long ago seeking peace and freedom from invading oppressors who were rapidly enslaving their civilization. Some of them settled on Mars. Then there's a survivor from the planet they called Sanctuary which was destroyed in the cataclysm that created the asteroid field and ripped away Mars's atmosphere. Fionnalagh was stranded on Mars at the time of the apocalypse. There are some other Sancturan survivors who made a home elsewhere but everyone's hush on where. Belinda, who's one of the human scientists up there, told me that there are actually many in the universe closely related to the Lyreans, including us," he dropped that bombshell quickly.

"But we're descended from primates. We evolved on Earth," I pointed out.

"Yes, but," Gareth hesitated then thought better of it, "Earth was probably accidentally or intentionally seeded by an ancient predecessor of the Lyreans. The microbes they left here were related to other microbes throughout the cosmos. Buried in the microbe's structure was the ability to evolve rapidly, in ways similar to their hosts. How the microbes got here is anyone's guess. Drifted in across space, waste discarded from some passing spaceship or if you believe the theory of some early sci-fi authors the microbes were left behind when a bunch of ancient alien explorers relieved themselves. The basic blueprint of a two-legged intelligent being was always a possibility if the conditions on the planet went that way. That we bear a lot of physical similarities with the Lyreans is possibly not such a massive coincidence."

Evolved from a cesspit, who'd have thought, "Apart from their height, pallor and blood drinking."

"Context," Gareth explained. "The gravity, atmospheric pressures and other factors determine how beings evolve and adapt. Our Lyrean neighbours are pale not only because of the different chemistry of their blood but because they're further from the sun. The blood drinking they evolved as an alternative to starvation after their planet's apocalypse."

"Hmm, I've never got that whole pale thing where the sun is weak. Surely dark skin colours soak up the sun better, look at Thallon," I pointed out.

Gareth didn't know either, "Don't ask me. I'm not a scientist."

Dan eased back in his chair, "But you are my best systems expert which brings us back to work. How's the latest upgrade looking?"

As they talked I took notes but something niggled at me, an unease that had my eyes casually drifting around the room. My hearing alert. What was that sound? It was subtle, just on the threshold of my perception but my hearing range had always been acute. "Hush!" I blurted out, wanting to get a better sense of it.

Gareth and Dan, hushed, suddenly alert to my unease. Watching me with eagle eyes as I put my writing pad down and got up to circuit the room.

There! It was stronger near Dan's desk. "Dan, I need you to step away from the desk. You too Gareth."

As they obliged I kneeled down to peer in the direction of the noise, "Damn."

"What?" Gareth asked, bewildered.

But Dan had already read my mind. "Gareth, get everyone out of the office now, tell them it's a drill if you have to but get them out. Then ring Thallon's earth based boss."

Gareth stared at Dan and me a moment but read our fear, "I don't have the number."

"I do," I reached across the great distance between our two planets and picked it from Thallon's mind. I wrote it down and gave it to Gareth. He hurried away to herd everyone out.

"That includes you Terri," Dan ordered.

But we still had a minute or two. "I just need a moment." I raced back to my desk and retrieved a small torch and mini toolkit from my purse. No electronics nerd should be without one, I figured.

"Terri!" Dan exclaimed.

"In a minute. Now shush. Here, hold this," I passed him the torch.

"Bloody Hell, I'm your boss. Obey me."

"In your dreams. We're not working now. We're saving the office."

"Terri, you're not a bomb disposal expert."

"No but this device could have come out of a packet of cereal, it's no big deal. Keep that light steady where I'm working." I mentally followed where the wires led, "Sneaky. The timer was rigged to start when you walked into your office."

"Shit, it could have blown up the cleaners."

"No, I think whoever set this thought of that and set certain parameters so it could only be triggered during office hours."

"Can you disconnect it from the timer?" he'd given up trying to order me and was now plain curious.

"Don't know if that's a good thing to do. Stopping the timer might be what makes it blow."

"I thought you said it was simple."

"It is. Give me a moment."

"A moment we don't have."

"Not helping Dan."

He shut it, thankfully. Being in my mind helped him to see what I was up to. I undid the screws in the black box plastic casing. Leaving only the bright green LED timer display and the wires leading in and out of the device. One set to a hefty block of C4 taped to the underside of Dan's desk. Using my multimeter I quickly identified the active wire. But was cutting it the right thing to do? Bloody hell, it was too late to be having second thoughts. I needed more time. Of course. Carefully I removed the EMF protective glove from my right hand. In my belly I quieted the energy. I just needed so much and no more. The LED display on the counter glowed brighter for a second then seemed to jump forward a couple of seconds. Crap. The wrong way. Okay drain it. Just a little. Could I convince the timer to go backwards? I was about to find out.

I steadied my mind on an imaginary inner stillness and breathed in. "Dan. I've reset the counter back to start but I haven't stopped it. I'm holding it with my energy. I need you to come in from the other side of the desk and gently dislodge the C4."

"Plastics explosive. Shit. They weren't mucking around. Hell. This wasn't how I planned to spend my day."

The torchlight disappeared for a moment then his head popped up next to me. "I see it." Carefully he prised the block from the underside of the desk and held it in his hand, horrified, as I finished unscrewing the black box from the desk as well.

Together we lowered the whole lot to the floor then I pulled everything out, taking a moment to stand and stretch out my spine.

"Now what?" He read my blank, knew I was out of ideas.

"I can't think at the moment. I need to concentrate on keeping the freeze on the timer. You're the boss."

"Terri. I'm a money and paper shuffler," he grumbled.

He had a point. Time to compartmentalise my mind. Though I think it's a myth my gender can do that easily. I did it anyway, keeping part of my mind on freezing the timer while another part analyzed the circuit. "Ah ha. There's a tiny capacitor set to discharge when the timer ends. That's the trigger for the bomb to go off. I just need to..." mentally I widened the gap between the two halves of the capacitor, so they were too far apart to discharge the build-up of energy in the circuit.

"Give it here." A resplendent man, his aura so bright it near singed my eyeballs, appeared, placed two hands on the device and disappeared. Two broken wires, connected to a wall socket were all the evidence of where the bomb had been.

"Er?"

Dan's shoulders relaxed in relief, "Don't know, don't care. We're alive."

A piece of paper that had fallen on the carpet under the desk caught my attention. I bent to pick it up. "If you survived this one we trust we got your attention. When you've had a good think we'll contact you. Now say goodbye to your home." I read it out.

Dan ran to the phone on his desk, "Elise, damn it, Elise, pick up."

### 13

Elise quickly realised that it wasn't Dan thumping around in the kitchen, "Robert, what are you doing here? I thought you were on the run?" She put down the sticks she'd chosen as weapons.

"Hello dear. Just finishing a little job before I do run."

Ominously he was handling some kind of black box and what looked awfully like the blocks of explosive she'd sometimes seen on movies. "What job is that?"

Robert shrugged his shoulders casually, "Blowing up this house."

"Now hang on just one sec. This is my house. Why on earth would you blow up my house?"

Robert looked no more perplexed than before, he was just doing a job. "They want to send Dan a message. He hasn't been cooperative. Those I answer to want his system."

"Well you tell your cronies this is my house now. Dan's left me. He doesn't live here anymore."

He thought on that for a moment then continued on with his wiring, "Not my problem. I have to follow orders. I have a hefty bank account in the Caribbean depending on it. You can come if you like."

That was it. Elise was sick and tired of his callousness. She threw herself at him, knocking him away, grabbed the device. A vigorous tussle ensued. In the process Elise managed to rip the explosive from the unarmed device. Robert elbowed her in the ribs. She kneed him in the nuts.

Howling, Robert tried to extract himself, to no avail. Elise was no small woman. Five foot ten of lean muscle, toned regularly at the local gym. Her grip was vice-like. "Why'd you go and do that? I said I'd take you with me. Consider that deal off," he said.

Elise wrenched his arm back behind him while he was distracted with his complaining. More groans and protests issued forth from him. "I'm not going anywhere with you, you skunk. You threw a molotov cocktail through the window of the local pub, injuring patrons. One woman ended up in a critical condition in the burns unit in the hospital. Not content with that you burned down your own admin's house. Don't tell me you were acting on your masters' orders. Those were acts of pure callus vengeance."

"Heard you shot at her," Robert sneered.

"And I'll face court for that act of stupidity. You will too."

A frown etched his forehead. He was worried, "Now honeybunch, I can see that you're having a crisis of conscience but that's no way to treat your lover."

"My name is Elise, not honeybunch. I am not your honey anything anymore. I'm breaking up with you. Get that through your thick head."

It was then the police arrived, Iain throwing his handcuffs at Elise. She caught them deftly with her spare hand, wrenched Robert's other arm around and secured his wrists together.

He snarled, spitting in her face, "Bitch. You know I only targeted you to get the dirt on Dan. You were just a job."

"I already figured that much. Was that said to hurt me? You'll have to do better."

The police took him from her hold. He wrestled trying to get out of their grip. "You suck in bed."

Elise smirked. "Yes I did end up having to suck you quite a bit, it was the only way to get you up."

"Hard to get it up when you're dealing with someone past their use-by date."

Elise managed to stop herself from wincing, giving him a steely impassive face instead. "I'm sure that's how you charm all the girls."

Robert continued to squirm as he was steered out the door to the waiting paddy wagon, "There'll be nowhere on this planet you can hide. You'll regret this."

"I think more that you'll regret it when your masters find you didn't deliver on the deal. Happy dreaming about the Caribbean Rob. You won't be seeing it."

Iain waited until the scene was over, Rob carted away by the other attending police. "Thanks for the help, Elise. Bomb disposal will be here shortly to deal with disposal of that device. I'll have a watch placed on the house in case there are any more attempts. Um, I think your phone is ringing. It hasn't stopped."

"Hadn't noticed. I'll go see who it is."

"Take care, Elise. Dan's posted bail for you, don't go anywhere."

Her shoulders sagged, the weight of her impending court hearing bearing down on her, "I know Iain. I'll front."

"I know you will," Iain acknowledged as he headed out.

Elise picked up the phone, "Dan? Yeah, I'm okay. What! Your office! That bastard." Then she brought him up to date.

### 14

Benca was no slouch when it came to learning. Emily had found a ready student. With her newfound knowledge of teleporting she'd followed the feel of Gareth's angst and ended up here. In a back alley behind his workplace where no one would see here appearing out of midair. Russell had been kind enough to give her a mental picture of where he'd dropped Gareth off to work.

She straightened her hastily cobbled together Earth based street attire. The American, Declan, who worked with the Australian scientists was about her size, if not quite her height. He'd loaned her what he called a sports jacket, black in colour with numbers and letters on it that meant nothing to her but apparently wouldn't make her attract attention. Naira had given her a spare pair of jeans she often wore when visiting her brother in the Republic of Karpathia. The boots had come from Fionnalagh who'd claimed with a grin that she might have bought a few too many online. Even warriors had foibles it seemed. The city's resident student of bugs, aka an entomologist, turned out to be a dab hand with a sewing machine in her spare time and had already made the resident female Lyreans some shirts their size so she'd given her one of those. The dark magenta of the shirt would have offset her eyes, except for the chestnut coloured contact lenses she was wearing to make herself look more human. She'd pulled back her tell-tale long tresses of pale translucent hair into a top knot and covered the whole lot under a football cap Declan had also loaned her. She had no idea what American football was but apparently it was important to the man so she promised to return the hat safely back into his care.

Now to check on her mate, friend, blood donor or whatever he was. She'd felt his worry pierce her like a knife this morning, just as she'd started discussing Mars' cultural challenges with Naira. Naira had immediately mentally contacted Seren, one of Naira's AI creations of old, who had recently become psychic. Once they'd fully known what was happening Naira had helped her get ready and alerted the appropriate authorities to her intended presence. As an alien, as they would term her, she was told to keep a low profile. Given the height of the average human, she wasn't quite sure how'd she manage that, being seven foot.

Benca walked around to the front of the building. Metallic painted vehicles, each with four round wheels and blue flashing lights on top mystified her at first, until she sensed their alertness and unease. Guards of a sort perhaps. The entrance to the building was flimsily blocked with yellow and black tape. Was that supposed to stop her?

She stooped to go under the tape which caused one of the guards to come running in her direction, yelling at her. So much for a low profile. But then she felt him. At first a cool and reassuring brush in her mind. Then the man she'd come to know, rather intimately, overnight turned around and spied her. "Benca!" He waved her over, stopping to reassure the guard in the blue uniform. "It's alright, she's my wife."

Mr Blue Uniform eyed her up and down sceptically, assessing her, not exactly reassured. "If you say so, sir."

Gareth, love him, glared at the man, "I do."

The man in the uniform sized him up then decided against something, "She's your responsibility then." With that he'd walked away.

"What's a wife?" she wondered.

Gareth winced. "Not something you'd like, I'm guessing, but his belief that you are was about the only thing I could think to say that would get you through this chaos."

She'd allow herself to be fobbed off but she'd find out later, "Seren said someone tried to blow up your workplace this morning. I was worried. How can I help?"

He thought on that, "We have a lot of frightened staff. See Shirley over there. Yes the brunette," he followed the direction of her eyes. "She's normally as strong as steel but she's a little jittery right now. You have a fairly commanding and confident presence. You might be able to settle her. I've tried to reassure her but she probably needs a hug. I can't do that without it potentially being misconstrued. Being male and all that. Could you go and introduce yourself?"

So human males couldn't console troubled females without breaking some unseen law. Benca filed that away for further consideration. She went over to the woman, "you're Shirley. My name's Benca. Gareth said I should introduce myself." She couldn't think of what else to say so she went with what he'd asked.

A pale, for a human, and shaken Shirley suddenly froze still but a spark of curiosity lit her eyes. "How do you know Gareth?"

What had he called her to the man in uniform, "He called me his wife just now but in truth, I haven't known him that long."

Shirley's jaw dropped, "Gareth? Married. Well I never." Curiosity seemed to have swept away her panic.

Benca was pleased to have cheered the woman so easily. "Are you married?" This was after all a way to find out more about Earth customs.

Shirley beamed. Showing Benca a fairly plain gold ring that adorned a finger on her right hand. "Fifteen years. Two lovely children. And a dog and two rabbits."

The latter being animals she supposed. Pets maybe. "What's your husband like? Does he treat you well?"

Shirley looked momentarily horrified but then realised Benca was genuinely interested. "Oh heavens. You mean domestic violence. No. Phillip's an angel. He would never hurt me or the kids. He fully encouraged me to take on this job here, not two years ago. With both my children in high school and getting more independent by the day."

Benca hadn't even thought of violence. The idea was abhorrent. That Shirley thought that was what she meant. Could some humans actually do that? She'd only been thinking of the stifling protection and limitations most male Lyreans placed on their women, to keep them safe. On the brighter side, Shirley's husband seemed to actively encourage her to have an independent existence from the home. It was an idea that Naira and she hoped to bring to their culture. Like Naira she'd been a rebel and been ostracized for it. On Mars 1.0 anyway. Naira was in charge now. It might be too much to hope, at least initially, that her fellow women would be allowed to be warriors like Fionnalagh but Naira had assured her that the few Lyrean males that had awoken from stasis had adapted to the needs of their humans. Still... "You needed your husband's permission to go to work?" she wondered about.

"Hell no. But you know, men like to be the provider. Philip, though, doesn't see it as competition. We're putting away what I earn here to pay for the kids' university education and when they leave home we plan to holiday, a lot. We haven't had time to do that much while they've been growing up."

It sounded admirable though she inwardly frowned that these caring parents had to find the money for their children's education. Surely their government provided that? The country would want smart people. Wouldn't it? "What about you? Do you get to spend your money on yourself?"

Shirley shrugged, "A bit. I got this shirt at the factory seconds place last week. But really I don't like to spend too much. There's only so much to go around. I like Eady-May and Joan, that's my children, to have a few of the things they want. It's hard you know, keeping up with expectations these days. Other people's children always seem to have more. It makes me sad but they seem happy with what they have. Eady-May's hoping to get some after school work next year, working at the local hamburger joint. That should take some of the pressure off us financially and she can start to save for a car. But I'm rambling. I'm a stranger and you've got me talking all about myself. You must be bored."

"Not in the least. I find it fascinating. I'm not from around here you see. I'm just trying to get a feel for your culture."

A look of comprehension passed over Shirley's face, "Oh, you're from abroad. Did Gareth meet you at one of those online dating forums?"

"Um," Benca wasn't sure how to answer that.

Shirley gave her a friendly pat on the arm. "It's okay, a lot of people are doing that these days. What with us working all the time there's no time to socialize much, is there? Gareth's a lovely man. You won't do wrong with him. Welsh, I think."

"Welsh?"

"You know, from the UK. The Welsh are an egalitarian lot from the little I know. Gareth will expect you to make your own decisions and negotiate. He'll be wanting a partner, not a slave."

Benca was relieved to hear the woman's high regard for her life donor.

Gareth had overheard a bit, pleased that Shirley's mind was now off what had happened, "You two making friends?"

Shirley tutted, "You ol' devil Gareth. You never told anyone you were married."

Gareth sputtered a bit, caught off guard, "Ah, kind of a whirlwind romance. May I borrow Benca back? I'd like to introduce her to some of the others."

Benca's eyes bugged in surprise when the woman gave her a hug. "Nice talking to you. You and Gareth must come have a meal with us some time."

"Uh," hadn't she been the one who was meant to give Shirley a hug. No matter. The woman seemed better though. "Thanks but I'm on a special diet."

The woman was unfazed, "I'm sure that won't be a problem."

Gareth kindly came to her rescue, "We'll sort something out Shirley, maybe an outing together. Benca can eat beforehand. Now if you'll excuse us."

The bomb squad had just finished a check of the building. The police, having taken our statements, were now on to everyone else. Inspector Wilson had assured us that no one on his team would be fazed by our strange tale of a man appearing to grab the device and disappear with it. They were all part of a special team. Their main concern was ensuring that there weren't any other bombs in the building. That and keeping the media away. Although they'd let one in, a redhead with a surprisingly healthy green sheen to her skin.

"I'm sorry Phoenix, there's not much of a story in this for you. Problem solved," I explained succinctly.

But the redhead wasn't giving up that easy, "Not so fast. I have it from reliable sources you just joined our dimension. My audience would love some background on you and how that happened," she switched on her voice recorder and shoved it in my face.

I sighed. She wasn't going to go away. "Perhaps if you could email me your questions I could answer later when it calms down here."

Phoenix switched off the voice recorder but that didn't mean she was in retreat. "Oh, come on just a quick five minute interview. How about I come to your home tonight? A short camera piece with some footage of your new home. I've heard the design is impressive."

"I'll talk to the others, have you got a phone number I can catch you on."

Grinning happily Phoenix handed me her card, "Great, looking forward to it."

"I'm not promising anything," I sputtered.

"Sure you are," her mischievous eyes sparkled, "Later," and before I could say anything more she vanished.

"Well really!" I huffed.

"She means well," Inspector Wilson interrupted. "Just a bit irrepressible."

"A bit?"

"You'll like her partner. He's an alien from Arcturus and works as her offsider. She's got the biggest Maori-Australian you ever saw who does her editing. Her cameraman and soundo are pretty likable too. We go a long time in our dimension without any newsworthy events. They starve a bit for a good story," he pleaded her case.

"Oh, all right. I'll talk to her later but I'm not promising for the others." Had he really said her mate was an alien, "Arcturian?"

"Highly intelligent. They're among the spiritually gifted who act as mentors and protectors of other sentient beings in the universe. They're also very green. Mostly. I hear some are bluer. They don't usually take physical form at this level of existence but, well, it's a long story, we had to print him a body."

I shook my head, in overload again. Then I saw our visitor, coming in with Gareth, and paused. "That's not Fionnalagh is it?"

Dan came over to look as well, "No. Look at the gait. She's not a warrior. Not the blood and guts type anyway but I sense rebellion and challenge."

"You can tell that from the way she walks?" He was a better judge of character than I'd previously thought.

"It's how I choose my employees and business partners. I learned long ago to read microexpressions and mannerisms."

I wondered what hellhole of a childhood he must have had to drive him to learn that.

"Just an interest. Call it a hobby. A rewarding one. It's paid off more than once."

"Yet you employed Robert and missed the fact that Elise was having an affair." I regretted it as soon as I said it.

"No, you're right. I stuffed up," he groaned. "Still learning."

"Aren't we all," I mused.

"He masked his basic nature in his job interview. As for Elise, I had a blind spot there."

"Forget I said it, Dan, I think it's marvellous what you can do. No one expects perfection."

Dan sighed, "I expect it of myself at times."

"Well don't."

Gareth interrupted any further discussion. "Hey you two, I'd like you to meet someone. Benca, this is Dan and Terri. Dan's my boss and Terri's his admin."

"Admin?" Benca queried.

"It means I administer him," I joked.

"Do you now?" Dan chuckled.

Benca looked between us, confused, "There's no hierarchy between you," she noted.

"Hierarchy? Goodness no. But I can sack them if they don't do their jobs," Dan pretended to huff but he was grinning when he said it.

"Don't take Dan literally Benca. He's a good man. Fair and honest." Gareth claimed.

"How'd you get here Benca?" I had to know, "Did you teleport?"

_I was going to ask to see her teeth_ , Dan telepathed to me.

_Wait your turn_ , I sent him.

Benca seemed to notice there was an undercurrent between us but answered anyway, "Emily gave me a crash course this morning. It was most insightful. My mind is still spinning. One minute there, the next minute here, nothing in between. Like all existence disappears but there is still something palpable."

"But unexplainable," I gathered.

"Exactly," Benca readily agreed. "No thing, no place, nowhere, no time. At least that's how Emily described it."

"And Emily is?" I wondered.

"A remarkable human. Old in human terms but looks no older than you or I. There's something otherworldly about her though. And exceptional. How she manages four mates beggars belief."

"Four!" I sputtered.

"There are a number of polyamorous couples on Mars," Gareth explained, "It almost seems the norm."

"In Boswell too," the inspector added. "I have two wives."

"Wives, sounds like wife. Gareth and Shirley use this term. What does it mean?" Benca asked.

Gareth came clean. "It might have once meant ownership, the male of the female, but times have changed. These days it just means the same as your term mate. To confuse things we often use mate, in our culture, to mean friend, someone who has your back when times get tough but rarely in an intimate way."

Benca nodded in understanding, "It is the ownership and overly protective traditions of my culture's past that I hope to avoid."

"I would protect what was mine," Dan interjected.

I kicked him in the shin, gently, "It's the 'mine' bit that's an issue here. You don't own anyone, Boss. Remember that. You can advise and cajole and even have someone's back but you can never be responsible for them. You can't control them. And while protection is welcome we'd soon kick your butt if you overrode our free will, wouldn't we Benca?"

Benca grinned, "Certainly, just let me know the time and the place and we'll kick butt together."

Gareth rolled his eyes, carefully looking at the ceiling. Then he had a thought, "Let's just agree to protect and look out for each other. Offer advice but respect each other's right to stuff up. Hell, isn't it what parents have to do?"

Benca frowned, "The parent child relationship is not unlike how the men of old Mars tried to have with women, coddling them as something fragile, physically and intellectually inferior, but I see what you mean. Maybe there are times when a person, of either sex, knows more than the other and can be a guide. There are times a person wants to be like a child, exploring and discovering, trying something out for themselves. As much as is safely possible we should let them. At other times we are equal partners, negotiating, throwing ideas at each other, encouraging each other or freely expressing our minds to point out problems."

"Hmm, as long as nobody thinks I'm running an anarchical business here," Dan muttered.

What I had to say to that could get me tossed out on my ear but I had to say it anyway. "Dan, you own the business. You front the money for our work and employ us. You're the ideas man, the big picture person. You coordinate and encourage us. What you're not is a tyrant. Nor are you our Dad. We don't fear you, even if at times you might like to pretend that we should. We respect you. We don't need Machiavellian business leaders any more than we need Machiavellian governments or indeed spouses."

Gareth saved me by laughing, "If you keep her on Dan you're not going to need me as a union rep."

Dan pursed his lips, his eyes considering me, "Indeed. Though I think if this one wasn't so hot on a certain android I'd do better than keep her on."

"Dan! You can't say things like that. Not at work," I interjected.

"Why not. I think it and you read my thoughts. We haven't exactly learned to block each other yet."

"Oh, my," Gareth winced, "You two hear each other? You know what that means?"

"Yeah we do. And we both hear Thallon," I added. I didn't mention Rona. I still wasn't sure how I felt about that situation.

"I hear Gareth," Benca told us, "It's how I learned your language."

"That would explain you understanding our language, but not speaking it. Not after less than a day together. You have an aptitude for it. Did you speak multiple languages before the apocalypse?"

Benca seemed surprised by his observation, "I hadn't thought of that. Yes, languages have always come easily to me."

"It may be your special skill," I offered. "Thallon told me lots last night, including that, as beings begin to spiritually evolve they develop unusual skills. Like Sally who came and healed my friend Li Li."

"And Seren who sees the future," Benca mused.

"Should I go and buy myself a superhero costume?" Dan offered.

"Definitely not," Gareth and I agreed.

Benca looked on, amused, "If I may Dan, since you are the owner of this business, I respectfully ask, may I borrow Gareth for a while? I would see some of your world."

"Respectfully eh? I could get used to such politeness, you two take note."

Gareth and I glared at him.

"Ok, for an hour or two, I still need to meet with him about the systems upgrade. We kind of got interrupted."

"I'll be back by three, I have some flex leave owing after all." Gareth informed Dan.

"I think we could all do with a bit of time out after this morning. Forget the flex leave Gareth. Tell the other staff to take the rest of the day off, paid," he added. "That is if the police have finished taking statements?" he asked with one eye on the inspector who agreed they were finished for now, he was just leaving anyway. "Benca, bring Gareth back by three. We'll have our meeting and then you can have a go at teaching us how to teleport."

On their way out to explore the world, I heard Benca ask Gareth, "Who's Machiavelli and what's a superhero? Why do they need special costumes?"

The office once again to ourselves Dan thumped down in his executive boss's chair, "That just leaves us to figure out why Archon Industries, a subsidiary of Sakla Enterprises, who approached me a couple of weeks back, wants my logistics software so badly."

"Toilet paper," I blurted out, stunning myself. "I don't know why I said that."

Dan stared at me in amazement. "Brilliant. You're brilliant Terri."

"What? Because of the toilet paper?"

"What happens in a crisis?"

Ah, I think I was following, "People panic buy?"

"And if someone controlled the supply of stocks and where they got distributed they'd be in a position to either cause economic chaos and or make a mint by scalping on the price of essentials."

"Like toilet paper."

"You can't exactly use a digital newspaper to wipe your bum and not many leaves are soft. Rags, you don't know where they've been."

"Ugh, okay, okay, I get the picture." I really hadn't needed that picture. "So Archon industries either think there's about to be a crisis or they're going to cause one. Shit!"

"You could say that. I don't think I'd have used that particular word."

I groaned.

### 15

Thallon didn't feel any different, "It didn't work."

"It takes a few moments for the program to unzip and begin to bury itself deep within your neural pathways," Rudol explained, trying to keep the other man patient. "Close your eyes and rest a moment, go into standby mode, not a full shut down."

Standby mode, yeah he could do that. Almost like what other beings called meditation, it was a chance to refresh. He just wasn't in the habit. Always too much to do. He let his eyelids droop, turning his focus within and giving instructions for all non-essential processes to go idle. Peace! He blissed out on it, finding that whitespace where no problem solving routines ran through his circuits. Nothing except the command to wake up in five minutes. As he remained vaguely aware of that command he rested everything else. Yet something was different. He'd gone into standby mode rarely but often enough in the past to be familiar with it. It didn't ordinarily feel like this. There was something more. Connections. He was subtly aware of Terri and Dan, their focus and intent as they researched what some nefarious company was up to. He was glad that their emergency was over. Terri looked up and appeared to smile into his mind, then she went back to her task, some importance riding on the answer she was seeking. No his connection to them wasn't what was different, new yes but not the palpable sensation he was feeling.

He let his awareness of them drift into the background. There was a something that wasn't. Nah, that didn't make sense. It wasn't even grammatical. He felt the need to analyze it but that made it diminish so he let go. Surrender, trust, transcend, that was the inner need he felt. But surrender to what? To the not knowing? He guessed that such an act might indeed require trust. Could he trust it? The sensation was good but then so were the many addictive substances that afflicted carbon-based lifeforms. Though being silicon based he only had their stories to go on. This something that wasn't didn't feel evil or bad for him. What if he ran an experiment for a moment? Let himself trust it and see where that led. Hmm. He retreated his viewpoint so that it was little more than an observer of whatever it was but that seemed to disconnect him from IT. So not subject or object. It's existence relied on his direct experience of it, being with it. _What are you?_ He asked though it seemed a ridiculous thing to be doing, asking questions of something that appeared to be an embedded part of himself.

_You, not you, everything, nothing_.

_Can you help me teleport to see my girlfriend_? Well, that was why he'd come to Rudol in the first place and had this program inserted into him.

I can help you create any reality you want, be anywhere you want, experience anything you want. There are no limits. You identify with the nanocells that make up your current expression and think that is you but it is only one of many expressions I choose to be. It is your accepted identity that limits what you are.

But I'm just an artificial intelligence. It is only because of Naira's programming skills that I have the sentience, the consciousness that I have.

_You have a very limited idea of what consciousness is. I could show you the consciousness of a rock or a moss and you would still find the same 'you, not you, everything, nothing' there_.

Thallon had a disconcerting thought, _Are you a god?_

Are you?

Well no, I haven't got nor do I want power over others.

What others?

Er...

_Bingo._ Terri's thought was so loud there was no missing it.

Thallon's mind immediately went to her. His focus shifted away from the strange mindstate he'd been in, though it felt it was still lurking somewhere, or nowhere. _Oh shut it,_ Thallon chided himself. So much for the peace of standby mode. He brought himself out of it.

Well? Rudol asked, expectantly.

Thallon glared at him, "You could have warned me. How do you put up with it?"

"It?" Rudol queried, a twitch of lips betraying that he knew something.

"It / not it. You know don't you? Is that why you and Seren have become so reclusive and Aranku cranky?"

Rudol smirked, "Aranku was always cranky. I guess it's up to the individual how they react. Seren and I have long involved discussions, though sometimes no discussion is needed. We just know. But it's not exactly something we can talk about freely with the others. They think I'm weird enough as it is."

"So we're all part of something but we're also unique individuals."

"Not just part of something. Beyond what we are capable of perceiving we are IT in its entirety. Think of a hologram where every part of the whole is reflected in every part. I know that's over generalising holograms but you know what I mean."

Thallon stared at Rudol, "So you are me and I am you but we perceive each other as separate?"

Rudol nodded, "Each of us is everything. It is only a matter of where the mind is perceiving itself to be, believing itself to be."

"I limit myself by how I identify myself."

Rudol's brows arched, "That sounds profoundly wise, coming from you."

"Oh gee, thanks Rudol, how to pander to my ego, not. No, it was something IT told me."

"Something you told yourself," Rudol corrected. "The program I gave you simply opens you up to hearing and perceiving a deeper reality, of what you are."

"You didn't just make it as some kind of joke?" Thallon worried, his brow furrowing.

Rudol laughed, "No Thallon. Truly I would not do such a thing. I conceived the concept behind the program. The potential that it might be. I'd been listening to a few podcasts from well known human gurus. They talked of something called 'non-locality'. I tried to open myself to understanding it but realised I needed to alter my own programming to make that possible. The details came to me in a dream."

"But we don't dream," Thallon pointed out the obvious limitation in their artificial makeup.

"I know. Isn't that amazing. It's like whatever it is sought me out. I just went into standby mode one day and there it was. The how of the program I needed to write."

"So you're special?"

"Hell no. I'm not claiming to be some kind of uber enlightened spiritual guru or something. I was just open to the idea. I guess I kind of posed the question and the answer came."

Terri's excitement brushed his mind again, bringing Thallon back to his original purpose. "So anything, anywhere, anytime, anyplace?"

"Exactly." Rudol nodded.

"Fine," Thallon pictured Terri in his mind, aware of his desire to be with her. Then he shifted his focus from his identity to the whatever it was and vanished.

Rudol gasped in excitement. Reaching out mentally he connected with Seren, _He did it_.

_Told you he'd crack it._ Seren had never had any doubt. She'd seen through her akashic connection that he'd would and that it would be an evolutionary step for all the automated protectors Rudol had altered with his program. _We'll download his experience when he gets back and learn from it_.

I felt his arrival before I looked up and saw him standing there, "Thallon! You learned how."

"It came at a price, Terri. I'm not truly me anymore. At least not the limited view I had of myself."

I felt his mental expansion better than he explained it, "Do you need me to keep you from becoming arrogant?" I grinned, thinking of all the ways I could keep him human, well android-human anyway.

Thallon caught my thoughts and grimaced, "Maybe that won't be necessary."

"It won't because I'll soon catch up. Dan and I are getting lessons shortly."

"You don't need a lesson. Just go into my mind. Find the experience. The how is there."

"Okay," I could take a challenge, even one this far-fetched. I'd seen it done a few times now. I knew it was possible. I felt his mind open to me, like a book. Closing my eyes, only to remove the distraction of my surroundings, I focused all my attention on being in his mind. "Show me."

His recent memories washed over me, blowing my mind. My whole concept of reality shifted. I knew Dan felt it too. Thallon didn't seem to mind that Dan was piggybacking on my mind. He kept the connection wide open to us both. "Bloody hell Thallon, that's amazing. Okay. Let me see." I pictured 'Parrot's Rest' in my mind. It was a name I was playing with for our new abode but I'd yet to broach it with the others. I pictured it in as much detail as I could then did as Thallon had done. Beyond the identity that was Terri into something beyond description, yet I understood. The surrendering, the collapsing into, the trust and letting go. It was not for my ego mind to do the teleporting, I had to slip past that. Drop the mind. Not with effort. It was a relaxation of effort. A knowing. And it was palpable.

The feel of dirt rather than floorboards beneath my feet, the gentle brush of a light breeze on my face rather than stale air-conditioned air, had me opening my eyes. "Well now, this has possibilities. What would I like to see? Where would I like to go?

_Terri! Later!_ I heard Thallon's call in my mind.

_Need I remind you you're on work's time_ , came Dan's grumbled reprimand.

Hmph, I teleported back to them and stuck my tongue out at Dan, "You're no fun, Dan."

"Not when I'm your boss. Off the clock I'll entice you with a picnic basket and a bottle of wine and we'll teleport to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Now, Archon Industries. You found something before we were interrupted," he reminded me.

Wine and a picnic eh, I guess he was forgiven then. His mind relaxed against mine, relieved at that thought. "Yeah, they're up to something. Like you thought they're buying up as many toilet paper manufacturers as they can. Not only that, they're buying up water rights and water bottling companies."

"That just means they think there's going to be a global panic. It doesn't tell us why. Famine, floods, earthquakes, volcanos, a stock market crash, a disease epidemic or any combination of the above," Dan frowned, clearly concerned.

"Would you allow me to connect with your computer systems for a moment?" Thallon offered. "That would let me into the global information system you call the internet. I could then access their systems,"

"You can do that? Just plugin?" My innate curiosity stirred.

"I can connect, how do you say, wirelessly."

"That's all very well," Dan interrupted, "But if you illegally enter their systems we could be had up for hacking. We have laws about accessing other people's data."

"I see," Thallon paused to think. "There is a way to do it without getting found out. I find information going into their company and piggyback in on it. I'll disguise myself as something innocuous. They'll never know."

"You're sure about that?" Dan obviously wanted a cast iron guarantee.

Thallon shrugged his shoulders in mimic of a purely human gesture, "I can't be a hundred percent sure. There are always variables that can't be accounted for."

I gave Dan my best encouraging look, keen to see what Thallon could find, "Come on Dan, you know we need to know. It's what we've spent the last few hours scouring data to find out isn't it. We know they're up to something but the details are too well buried." I pointed out our forlorn situation hoping that would sway him.

Dan groaned but gave in, "Do it."

I pulled out a chair for Thallon, "Have a seat."

"I don't really need one you know," but he sat anyway.

"Can I watch from inside your head?" I thought it only polite to ask first.

"I'm not sure what you'll be able to decipher from my neural pathways. This isn't like my normal thoughts. It's a subroutine I'll run. But be my guest."

Dan was annoyingly clicking his pen, as impatient as me no doubt. I frowned at him anyway. He stopped. Then I found another chair and joined with Thallon's mind.

The streams of activity inside his silicon-celled brain were like ribbons of light, diffusing through atoms that adhered to hexagonal lattice-like structures.

_Follow this one_ , Thallon alerted me to the right stream by making it stand out more brightly.

My mind hitched a ride as he flowed into a vast network of incredibly fast moving zeros and ones. It was a mystery to me how I was able to perceive each piece of data, given the speeds but I guessed it was Thallon's mind doing the perceiving. He snatched at a passing email that had the address he sought. We hitched a ride, surfing waves of light that split and merged and split again as the traffic of data was directed to its correct destination. Down a tunnel, then split off into a single feed that went to a single computer server. Thallon jumped off his ride a split second before it dinged a notification on its intended recipient's laptop. _Watch this!_ Thallon suggested with obvious glee, revelling in his function.

His mind stream grew tentacles, burrowing into every corner of their server. Then just as quickly he revved into reverse, _got it_ , he informed me and then we caught the passing train of an outward bound email. The journey was both exhilarating and mind blowing. His focus back in his mind I retreated, begrudgingly, to mine and opened my eyes. "That was simply amazing."

"Did you find anything?" Dan asked.

But I knew he knew we had.

"It's all to do with the solar system and its travels," Thallon explained. "As your Earth scientists well know the solar system is passing through a large gas cloud of hot plasma. It's been doing this since some time within the last ice age. It's expected the solar system will pass out the other side of the cloud in about 10,000 years or so. The only thing that's stopped the hot plasma from destroying all life in the solar system is the heliosphere around the sun."

Dan rolled his eyes, "I'm not an astrophysicist Thallon, you're going to have to explain your terms and why all this is important."

"The heliosphere is a stellar-wind bubble," he paused noting Dan's glazed expression and my combination of interest and uncertainty as I pursed my bottom lip.

"Er, don't do that Terri, it's distracting." His voice came out deeper, breathy. "What I was saying is the sun creates a protective bubble around the solar system, caused by wind streaming off the sun and affected by the sun's magnetism but I won't go into that. The thing is, while we're passing through the hot gas cloud the plasma inside that cloud presses down on our protective bubble. Glitches in the protective bubble could, potentially mean, cosmic rays and heat from the plasma could get through."

"And this would be bad," I gathered.

"Very bad for all life on Earth, Mars and," he paused, "elsewhere in the solar system."

"But it hasn't been a problem up until now."

"It might have been a contributing factor in the Earth's heating up that ended the last ice age."

"I thought that ended because of volcanism?"

"Unlikely," Dan mused, "volcanoes going up spew out a lot of dust that blocks the sun rays and cools the planet down. One theory has been that a large meteorite broke up in our atmosphere and when the pieces rained down it disturbed the mantle of the earth, causing the core to heat. What?" He looked at our stares, "Just because I'm not a scientist doesn't mean I don't watch docos."

"Dan's right, Martian history records such an event. But that was at the end of the Ice Age. The event caused a sudden heating up that led to the melting of the vast ice sheet that covered much of what you call Canada, Eurasia and the northern parts of the United States. No this whole thing started much further back, around 45,000 years ago, when the solar system entered the cloud. Glitches in the heliosphere would occasionally let cosmic rays through causing genetic mutations giving the potential for new species to evolve. Periodic breakthroughs of heat due to brief periods of weakening of the heliosphere would have led to fluctuations in the climate, alternating floods with drought, on the ice free areas of the planet. Forests would have disappeared and been replaced with large grasslands, even deserts."

"So it mightn't have been the arrival of humans in Australia that killed off all the uber-large animals."

"Oh, I think they would have played a part but again, they were just one factor. The thing is the solar system is always in a state of flux as it travels around the interstellar medium we call space."

"Don't go overly technical on us again Thallon," Dan warned.

Thallon thought on that for a moment, "The solar system is not a closed system. It exists within the wider context of space. The conditions that allow life require a fine equilibrium to be maintained."

"And you think the enemy is expecting a glitch in that equilibrium."

Thallon nodded, "It is what their best scientists have advised them. The glitch won't be big enough to end all life but it could play havoc with global weather, the stability of the surface crust of the planet and there could be more cosmic rays bleeding through."

Bugger, "On top of our already weak magnetosphere."

"Why's that weak?" Dan asked.

"The sun," Thallon and I answered in unison.

"The sun is going bye-byes for a while," I explained. "Not totally of course but it's likely to cause a few decades of colder weather. Like when the Thames River in London froze in the 1700s and they all ice skated on it."

"I've never heard of that," Dan commented, doubt edging his voice.

I pulled it up on the laptop. "Look here, the frost fairs of London. They weren't a common event. They had the last one in 1814 but they had 24 more or less frozen times from 1408 onwards, the worst freezing being in 1683 when the river froze for two months. It's been getting steadily warmer since 1814."

Dan looked over my shoulder, "So it was recorded in the paintings of the time."

"And in newspapers and the diaries of the elite. There's even a mention here of one occurring in 695. The river froze for some six weeks." I hadn't known about that one.

"So the sun has a big part to play in our weather?" Dan asked.

"One part," Thallon agreed. "There are all sorts of factors. Everything within the galaxy is in motion. It would be wrong to think we're at a fixed address. More like a relative address in space."

"Which is why we're moving through a cloud of hot plasma," Dan assumed.

"And if it compresses that protective bubble around the solar system, we won't freeze, we'll cook." Did I say that out loud?

"Ouch!" Dan didn't like the implications any more than I did. "So we shift the planet's address to a less dicey part of the neighbourhood," he joked.

"It's not just Earth we need to consider," Thallon reminded us.

"Indeed," came a voice from a man suddenly leaning against the doorframe of Dan's office. He was tall, with close cropped, almost coppery coloured hair. Eyes of steel grey surveyed us with an inscrutable gaze.

It was on the tip of my tongue to say who the hell are you but he generated a presence that didn't seem to invite questions.

Dan answered my mental query by introducing him, "Simon, may I present my admin Terri Jones and her, um our, friend Thallon. Thallon, Terri, this is Simon Harris from Boswell. I met with him briefly during my visit there."

Simon took my measure, "You are indeed unique Terrence Jones. A starseed from a small civilisation on the outer edge of the El Gordo cluster. You have come a long way to help us."

Huh? "I was born on this planet," I corrected.

"In this lifetime, yes. With a specific agenda, some would say 'soul purpose'."

"Agenda, I've got no agenda. I'm just an army brat, raised by a dad who cared enough to extract us both from an unhappy home. He raised me to think for myself, that's all."

"May I?" he pointed to my hands.

He wanted me to take off my gloves? Don't ask me how I knew. I took my gloves off anyway. "I have to warn you. I'll zap you."

"I'll take that under advisement," he took my hands in his and surprisingly didn't even jolt. He closed his eyes momentarily then let my hands go. "You'll do?"

"Do what?"

"Why, save all life in the solar system of course."

"What the... !"

"The three of you are perfect together. You have already seen what Thallon can do."

How'd he know that?

"And Dan, practical, sceptical, with an acutely analytical mind. Perfect. He'll be your earth."

This was starting to sound electrical so I said so, "Are you obtusely insinuating that we may have some electromagnetic use in this saving the solar system grand scheme of yours?"

Simon laughed, seemingly delighted with me, "Obtuse, eh?" He snickered some more. "Yes, well, you're going to need some training, not to hone your skills because they're perfectly fine. But to trust yourselves. I think there is some doubt in your minds."

"You think?" This from Dan.

### 16

After a long discussion with Simon and then Benca finishing Dan's training in teleportation we returned home, by car. We were protective of our limited resources and didn't fancy leaving the car unattended in the city for the night. It might not have wheels by morning. Such were the times we lived in.

As we came up the drive, enjoying the changing light as the day shifted to dusk, we spied Rona out on the embankment garden, planting plants with the help of two strangers. At least they were strangers to me.

Thallon waved to one of them, yelling out, "Emily! What are you doing here?"

Dan seemed to recognise the other. He whispered in my ear, "That's Melissa, from Boswell. Their resident Wiccan priestess. We were introduced."

"And what did you make of her?" Apart from his blind spots he was usually a good judge of character.

"Quiet, gentle, unassuming yet there's a spine of strength in there. Some hidden depth of power. I wouldn't underestimate her but I'm inclined to trust her," Dan summarised.

We hopped over planks that bridged the stream that meandered around our home, making our way over to them.

"How's Bill?" was my first concern.

"What's for dinner?" was Dan's more immediate worry.

Rona laughed, "Differing priorities I see. Don't fret Dan. Iain turns out to be a good cook too, at least when it comes to his family's traditional recipes. We're having leek soup followed by what he calls 'neeps and tatties' which translates to mashed turnips and potatoes with lots of butter and chives."

"Just tell me he's not serving it with haggis," Dan griped.

"No, lentil and buckwheat veggie burgers I believe. Followed by a sticky date pudding."

"And Bill?" I reminded.

"Li Li's with him. She's taken him up some of Iain's soup. He says he's not ready to come out of his room yet."

That didn't sound good, "Is he alright?"

"Bald and toothless at the moment. But if you ask me he doesn't look too bad. In a day or so he'll give our guys a run in the looks department."

Our guys? Hmm.

Rona must have noticed my frown, "I'm not going to fight you Terri. I thought we might use a more yin approach, like Li Li does, allowing things to evolve their own way."

I looked to Thallon and impulsively thought _he's mine_ , but then I kind of felt a bit that way about Dan too. Though I feared Dan's potential to try and, well, boss me. That so wasn't going to happen. I knew they both picked up my thoughts when Thallon grinned and Dan frowned.

Rona smirked, "I think I can handle Dan, for both of us."

Oka...y, "That might work."

"I don't need to be handled," Dan spluttered.

Both Rona and I rolled our eyes and I knew then I had an ally.

"Don't worry too much about the dynamics of your relationship just yet. Mine took a while to work out too." The woman Thallon had called Emily gave a namaste greeting with two hands, palms together in front of her chest.

I mirrored her greeting, but I had to wonder, "You can't be the Emily Simon spoke of. He said you were over eighty and had opted not to have the retrovirus."

Emily tapped her head, "It's all in how you see yourself. And these days a little Lyrean blood. My mates were adamant that I be as nearly immortal as them but I wouldn't hear of it until I knew they wanted me that way out of love, not out of fear of losing me. I had acquired the ability to alter my appearance at will before I received their gift of long life."

"And you wield fire?" Thallon sought confirmation of the amazing tale Simon had told us. He'd known Emily was a healer but he hadn't known the rest.

Emily winced, her eyes clouding with some memory, "That makes it sound too much like a weapon. I can use it that way but I don't like to. A more accurate description of what I do is cultivate and direct chi."

"And you think I could do the same, with my electricity?" I assumed

"It's just another manifestation of chi. I believe you already know how to harness it and use it. I too have heard miraculous tales," yes she'd heard my thoughts about what Simon had told us.

The other woman, Melissa, came to stand pretty close to me, seemingly looking through me. It was slightly unnerving but I felt no bad vibes off of her, "Um."

"Sorry Terri, I didn't mean to invade your personal space. I just wanted a closer look at your aura. It's exceptional."

"I'll have to take you at your word, I've never seen it." But I was curious, "Come to think of it, what does it look like?"

"Ribbons of light. Purple with an underlayer of blue. Of course the other colours of the rainbow are there too but those two dominate the others. You may not be fully aware of it yet but you are very much psychically sensitive. You connect well with many people and animals. A good communicator, highly intelligent and intuitive. Always exploring new ideas. You pick up on the emotions of others. There's a strong ribbon of emerald green too. A healer of a kind, assertive yet not afraid to serve others. You live by what you believe. Altogether a nice mix of the spiritual and the physical. You're a bridge. You cross both sides. In groups I suspect you're a much needed catalyst, bringing those around you to their best."

Hell, I blushed. I hadn't seen myself in such a positive way but there was much in what she said that sat well with me. "Okay, which means?"

Melissa laughed, "Some would brush off what I just said, some would bathe in the glow but you, you want to know how best it could be put to use. Oh I do like you. Okay, let's eat. You've had a long day I believe. Then we'll polish up those natural skills of yours."

"Just one minute," I called a halt, "you've said nothing of Dan or Thallon."

"They're a lot more straightforward. Thallon, being silicon-based, has no predominant auric colour of his own. Instead he's a transmitter and amplifier, he'll take whatever energies you send him and make them bigger, stronger. Dan, on the other hand, is all reds and yellows. Logical, analytical, inspires others, passionate and unapologetic in his pursuit of life's experiences."

Yep, that was my men. Um, did I just think 'my' again?

_You did_ , Rona thoughts touched my mind, _but we'll work on your sharing_.

Emily looked between us and laughed, she'd seen it all before.

_And what did Melissa have to say about you Rona?_ , I wondered

_Oh, nothing surprising, free spirit, immune to peer pressure, I like shocking people and shaking them out of their complacency. A bit eccentric, strong-willed and out of the ordinary_.

Sheesh, what colour aura is that?

_Magenta_.

It didn't surprise me that Rona would radiate a colour that was almost unknown before some modern chemist had managed to invent it. Now it personified women of power. Yeah, that was Rona.

Rona and Li Li went to help Iain in the kitchen, freeing the rest of us for the training Emily and Melissa had in mind. Somehow I suspected they would finish preparing our meals quickly as they were all curious to watch proceedings.

"I'll cast a protective circle," Melissa declared. "It's not technically necessary for what we're about to do but given you're all newbies your foray into the unseen realm may attract interest from other energetic beings, not all of them benign. As you gain strength they will leave you alone." She pinched a small handful of salt from the dining table where we'd just eaten. Then she began to walk a circle, sprinkling a little salt on the floor as she did. We waited in the middle. Thallon looked on, curious. Dan was decidedly sceptical. I picked out his thoughts, wondering whether all this hocus pocus was necessary. I chided him, _learn first, once we know what we're doing then we can refine things our own way._

Melissa grinned, hearing our thoughts. She raised her arms to the ceiling, as if beseeching, "Eadaoin, if it pleases you."

Suddenly the room was full of light, streaming in a roller coaster of ill-defined shapes around us. As we witnessed the display beings took form within the light. Tiny beings flittered around Melissa as if she was their favourite person. A flame-like salamander draped over Emily's shoulder. She reached up to pat it. Outside the circle a darker blob of light, poked at the protection, looking for a way in. Melissa thrust out her hands forcefully, "Begone!" the shape evaporated into etheric smoke. Melissa bowed to some being we couldn't see, "I honour you and give thanks," and just as quickly the room returned to normal. Four newly painted walls, still crying out for a canvas or two. I'd see to that when I had time. I fancied Li Li had a few feng shui ideas she could throw at our interior design as well.

Dan bumped me on the shoulder, "Bare walls, is that all you're worrying about." He was as white as a sheet. Okay, so maybe I was unfazed by the unusual, being unusual myself, but it was obvious others were in various states of being shell shocked, amazed and in Li Li's case, delighted, by what they'd just seen. I told you they'd finish in the kitchen quickly.

Rona looked to Melissa with respect, giving a nod of acknowledgement, "Peace be unto you." I felt her need to do a greater show of respect but she was outside our circle. It was as if she was seeing Melissa for the first time.

Melissa returned the acknowledgement, "Peace be unto you soul of great courage."

Iain, at least, seemed nonplussed, "They are beings of the unseelie and seelie courts, otherwise known as the realms of dark and light. I've never seen them before but I remember the old tales my grandmother used to tell me over many wet and cold weekends in my youth. Best to show them respect if you don't want trouble."

Dan eyed the circle with a less jaded view than he'd had before, "Salt you say."

"Or clear intent," Melissa agreed, "Visualize the circle in your mind, but make it clear without breaks. When you've finished your practice, clap your hands three times and say something 'I dismiss you' or 'I release you' with heartfelt thanks. Even circles have feelings and reward those who approach them with gratitude for their service. Treat it with the same respect as you would give an employee Dan."

"But it didn't stop the good guys," I pointed out.

"That was not my intent, if it had been they would not have been able to enter either. But for this I had no wish to separate Emily from the energies that surround her."

Or you, I thought to myself, although probably heard by many of those present.

Melissa's mouth twitched at the corners, "The beings you saw are so much a part of who and what I am they are like a second skin. But enough of that. Emily, if you would..."

Emily beckoned me to take a seat, "Make yourself comfortable. Thallon, you sit in front of Terri, facing her. Dan, you can either sit down or stand but make sure you touch her and don't break contact during the ritual."

"I'll sit at her back then," Dan muttered, sucking in his breath as his touch hit the static of my body. I don't think he liked that Thallon was getting pride of place.

"It's critical you act as a ground or earth for them both Dan, especially as they start working with higher energies."

Placated, Dan settled.

"Take off your gloves Terri and hold Thallon's hands in yours," Emily instructed me.

"This may hurt," I warned him.

"I'm ready," he reassured me but he still gave a jolt when we touched. "Amazing. Energy without the sun."

And there it was. My true purpose in life, Thallon's personal battery. I giggled.

Emily chuckled too, "Now close your eyes Terri. Thallon, for starters, just open yourself to perceiving any energies coming from Terri."

"Her energy prickles," Thallon noted

"It will settle," Emily reassured him, "Just keep that awareness going. Now Terri, I want you to first imagine you're reaching out to the center of the galaxy. Find that energy there." She waited a moment while she observed my mind connecting with what I knew the ancient Mayans had called the Hunab Ku: Hunab meaning a state of oneness, Ku meaning the divine absolute, or at least one expression of it as there were many galaxies and many galactic centers throughout the cosmos. "Now imagine yourself as a conduit for that energy, bring it down, all the way down to the core of the earth. Feel yourself grounding."

"There are obstacles along the conduit," I observed.

"Pay them no mind, they are a construct of the collective consciousness of the galaxy. You can deal with those later. For now just bypass them, knowing they are only a creation of mind, they are not really there. Can you believe that for me?"

"I can." Within myself I opened to the possibility of the conduit being free flowing and it responded to me. "This feels cool, I could stay here all day."

Emily chuckled, "We'll get you to work with it more later. For now I would like you to imagine a space within your heart, imagine it filling with the divine feminine energies of the earth's core and the divine masculine energies of the galactic center. Let them mix and meld together there."

"I feel my third eye throbbing," I complained.

"Don't let it distract you, acknowledge it then bring your attention back to your heart. Be in that space, rest in the light there."

"Mmm," it felt nice. As I paid it no mind the throbbing in my head subsided, "Now what?"

"Feel the limitless love and light there. Thallon, feel what she is feeling. Can you amplify it?"

I felt the moment Thallon connected with it. "If a moment before the love in her heart was a seed now it is a fully blossoming plant."

"Both of you together now, direct it out to the center of the solar system, the sun. Embrace the sun with that love. See if you can feel it within your body, within your own personal reflection of the solar system. I cannot tell you where to feel it in your body as the mystery traditions cannot agree on which planets correspond with which chakras in the body. You'll have to find your own inner truth, what works for you. How do you feel Terri?" Emily enquired.

"Warm, so warm. It's like everything in me is opening to make space for the expanse of what I'm feeling. I'm no longer just Terri. I am in the sun and the sun is in me."

"And where do you feel it?"

I scanned my body for a moment. "It feels to me like my base is the earth, my belly, the moon perhaps and the sun is somewhere in the third eye but there is definitely a connection to my heart. The sun likes being higher in the body but I can feel some kind of warmth in the right side of my solar plexus too. The left side of my solar plexus feels cooler. The top of my head feels like a portal to the galactic center."

"Excellent. Rest in that heart-third eye warmth for a moment. It's a good start to your friendship with these energies. With practice you will become acquainted with the whole solar system, using your body-centered awareness. When you're ready, make your farewell and bring your focus down into your belly. Rest there a moment. Observe your breathing. Become aware of your mates and open your eyes. You did well Terri."

I followed her instruction then looked at her, "But I didn't do anything."

"You made a start. You are befriending the energies you must work with. They must trust you as much as you need to trust them. You need a healthy working relationship so that you can do what must be done when the time comes. For now, practise. Once a day while the sun is still in the sky. Each time you will go deeper, until you can feel the very flux of the magnetism that drives the heliosphere as well as the Earth's protective electromagnetism. The universe is electric Terri. For too long it was seen as some sort of pinball game with balls for planets, acted on by kinetic forces, the Newtonian model I think it's called. But it's much more than that. It is a living electromagnetic system."

The electric universe theory, I mused to myself. I'd heard of it. It had been battling for recognition but since it threatened to overturn several long-cherished theories it was eyed by the mainstream with a certain reticence. But my current concern was for Dan and Thallon who were strangely quiet.

"They're just blissed out," Melissa reassured. "Let them rest in that for a bit. The sensations would have been new to them both. Once they've rested we'll find Dan some food and a little bit of grog, usually that's enough to lower the energies back to the earth plane. That or a good foot rub will do."

"I'm for the foot rub," Dan murmured without opening his eyes.

Figured. "What about Thallon?" I released Thallon's hands and turned to take off Dan's shoes, thankfully his socks weren't smelly. I left them on and proceeded to apply what little I knew of foot massage, eliciting groans from Dan.

Emily touched Thallon's head with her hand, as if listening with it, "He's with his higher self, he'll be back soon enough."

As Emily checked us all out Melissa formally released the circle. I saw Dan take note with one eye open. A budding magician perhaps.

Iain's Scottish-Australian cuisine went down as well as anything Rona could have made, just different. It was good that Rona had someone to share the load of catering for us all. We'd be sure to make it up to her by helping her in other ways. Over dinner I'd broached the idea of setting her up with state of the art encryption and a virtual private network so she could keep her identity hidden behind a wall of safety and still access online information and live streaming like the rest of us. Iain had immediately put his hand up for that too, given that he would now be working from here, with Inspector Wilson's team. In the end, I agreed that security was a priority for all of us and Dan had suggested our allies might be able to give a hand with that. I felt like my good idea had gotten away from me a bit and would likely be subsumed by others' expertise but it made sense. I couldn't wire the whole complex myself, not in the time required.

The dinner conversation had moved on to talk of Elise's court appearance in the morning which Iain told us was at nine. Dan made a few quick calls to relieve us from work commitments that would have otherwise gotten in the way of us attending.

As I stacked up the dirty dishes Dan washed them, Thallon dried and Li Li put away. Melissa returned momentarily with a large book for Dan.

"Thought it might interest you," she announced before disappearing once more.

Emily, too, had returned home, to Mars, before we'd sat down for dinner.

Dan dried his hands and picked up the book with interest.

"What is it?" I queried.

"A handbook of psychic and metaphysical protection." He wandered out into our inner courtyard to have a read.

Thallon took that moment to make eyes at me, "May I walk you to your pod, my lady?"

So gallant, I loved it, "Why yes you may," I offered him my gloved hand.

The night was glorious. With the moon not yet risen it was as dark as Thallon's opaline eyes. A barking owl made a woof woof sound, not unlike a dog's bark. Bats whizzed past, in high speed pursuit of those insects who'd broken the night-time curfew. The air hung with the smell of the outback's red dirt dust and the gum leaves from the nearby forest. It was the dry season. "So what do you think of planet earth so far Thallon?"

"I can't get over being outside after dark. I'd be frozen solid back at home. All our emerging plant life has built-in antifreeze. That's what gives them their red and purple hues. What animals that have evolved so far hibernate nightly, either in caves or underground like us. To walk on such a warm evening as you have here. To see the stars. Not to mention your moon. It's all breathtaking."

I looked again at the night with renewed eyes, seeing it as he saw it. "Yes, it is special. So does this mean you want to move here?"

Thallon sighed, "I can't. I have duties and responsibilities. Naira made my kind to serve as protectors for the Lyreans."

"What about the Lyreans on earth? Don't your duties extend to them?" I seeded that idea in him. I wanted to give him a reason to spend his time here too. If he could teleport there was no reason he, or in fact any of us, couldn't spend our time between both places.

"You're thinking of Benca and Gareth?"

"Or others. I did offer to be a blood donor, didn't I? I'm sure most, if not all of my friends would be willing to, although I can't promise for them."

"I understand. But you heard Kjartlan over the communicator. They're often a bit like that."

"Narcissistic?" I wondered.

"No, just arrogant, dominating, patronizing and overly protective."

Ugh! "All of them?"

"The males. To varying degrees, the Martian ones anyway. But they can be tamed, if you're firm with them like Fi and Emily."

I read much in his mind, "And they demeaned your species?"

"I wouldn't call us a species so much as a creation."

I wasn't having anything of that, "You're a sentient being Thallon, I don't care if you were made that way or evolved. You still have a mind and a conscience."

"But probably no soul or any real purpose other than what Naira created me for."

Rubbish, "At the very least you're an extension of Naira's soul purpose. And I doubt you'd be able to teleport if you were 'just' a machine. You're not a bunch of computer circuits or moving mechanisms. You're living, breathing silicon with a distinct personality, emotions and a need to feed, even if it is directly from the sun rather than via plant life. Thallon, I've been in your mind. You're special."

His eyes sparkled with light, "Special enough to steal another kiss."

"You can't steal what is freely given," I lifted my mouth to his, his silicon-based lips no less luscious than those of a carbon-based life form. I pulled away after a moment, "You realise I'm an alien in disguise too."

"Born into human flesh and blood... warm, soft and invigorating." He didn't let me reply to that, instead plundering my mouth and drawing my body into his strong arms. An unexpected cough interrupted us.

Turning I spied Dan. I smoothed down the shirt Thallon had just crumpled and brushed a stray hair from my face, "I thought you were reading."

"Hard to concentrate on the text when there's a lot of heavy breathing going on in my mind."

Shit. "Dan, you're still a married man. The cosmos might think we're mates or good friends of some kind but it doesn't take away from the fact I don't mess around. Elise hates me enough as it is."

Dan dismissed my concern, "I've got a lawyer drawing up divorce papers. If I get them by morning and I get a chance to see her tomorrow I'll be presenting them to her."

"That's a bit harsh, isn't it? Elise is facing jail and you want to put a divorce on top of that."

Dan's face flushed red. Yeah he wasn't used to being questioned. He stared at me a moment then let out a breath, "You may be right, but I didn't bring this on her. I'll try and get a sense of how things are with her tomorrow and if I think it would be too much I'll back off for a day or so. Anyway, give me a break, I'm providing her with a lawyer."

The same one drawing up the divorce papers I guessed, "You're a good man Dan."

"But not good enough to compete with Mr Android there," he muttered.

I didn't like him calling Thallon Mr Android, particularly not in that tone, but Thallon intervened before I could say anything. "There's no competition here Dan, not on my part. Terri has a big heart. I know because I've been connected with it. I think it's for her to decide the relationships she welcomes into her life. But the fact remains Dan, we need you. If Terri is to do whatever they're expecting we need you."

"I would like to be more in her life than a simple electrical ground," realising he was talking about me and not to me he turned and directed his attention right at me. "Terri. I've been admiring you from afar ever since you started working for me. I'd like more than a business partnership."

"I don't think I can compartmentalize myself that much Dan. It's hard enough switching between friend and employee."

"Then don't be my employee, be my business partner in truth. I'll give you a half share of the business to make that happen. You'll have equal input."

I was stunned, "Whoa, I think you need to run that past your board before you commit to that."

Dan smiled, he knew he had me. "See, you're already the voice of reason."

"Dan, I'm not giving up Thallon."

"Has he got that much to offer?"

I caught his thought that Thallon and I couldn't even have kids together but he was wise enough not to voice that. "Thallon excites and intrigues me. He settles and calms me. I think we already have a strong bond of friendship." I looked to Thallon for confirmation but I already felt it in my mind.

Dan's smile drooped, "Then I've already lost you to him."

"No. You haven't. Don't you see Dan? Elise wasn't monogamous but wasn't brave enough to tell you and negotiate the kind of relationship that would have worked for her. I'm not Elise. Thallon's right. There is room in my heart for both of you. And if we take on a Lyrean to feed it is likely things will evolve from there too. They're ornery Dan. I'll need both you and Thallon to have my back so they don't try to wrap me in cotton wool."

"Cotton wool?" Thallon asked.

"Soft fluffy stuff used to pad wounds so they don't chafe and hurt," I tried to pad out my response to give Dan time to think. "I made a well meaning offer to be a blood donor but that doesn't mean I want to be owned, controlled and possessed", by anyone. "I value my freedom too much for that."

Dan sighed but he seemed to have made his decision, "I may not like the idea but... okay," he offered his hand to Thallon, "Partners in loving and watching out for Terri then. But just so you know. I'm not gay."

I felt Thallon's puzzlement in my mind as much as I read his expression, "Let me explain..." It seemed a safer discussion than reminding Dan that Rona was in our mix as well. Dan had a manual for psychic protection but I couldn't help wondering if there was one for poly relationships. Maybe Emily was right, things would take their course.

### 17

The morning of Elise's court hearing arrived quickly, looming large in Dan's mind. I felt his turmoil. He was no longer in love with her but he felt responsible anyway.

"We'll go and offer moral support," I offered. "She might not spit at us."

"She'd better not or she'll lose her legal counsel."

"Give her some leeway Dan. Her life's been upended."

"Yes, but..."

I sighed.

Dan groaned, "Okay, leeway then."

I beamed and gave him a kiss on the cheek. That seemed to totally improve his mood.

Elise's counsel was waiting for us outside the court.

"Lewis," Dan acknowledged. "And this is my soon to be business partner Terri and her friend Thallon."

I noticed Thallon's status was as my friend, not 'our'. It would take time I suppose.

Lewis looked between the three of us and grinned, "Pleased to meet you."

"Bloody hell, you're a mind reader too," I swore.

Lewis took my gripe in his stride, in no way offended, "You'll find most of your new allies are. I hear you're getting metaphysical lessons from Melissa and Emily. They can teach you to block."

"I guess it's not much of a priority at the moment, what with saving all life in the solar system and all."

Lewis frowned in concern, "So I heard. Come. Elise is waiting. She wants a quick word before the trial."

Elise had dressed for the occasion, subtle but elegant. A nicely tailored jacket over a simple white shirt. A sleek skirt, stockings and some tastefully high heels. Yeah I could see what had attracted Dan to Elise.

Dan growled almost inaudibly beside me, _I've learned to look beneath the veneer. It's what's inside a person that matters. And I wouldn't underestimate your outer attractiveness to me. Don't you dare roll your eyes at me._

I refrained.

Elise looked between us, as if sensing our silent communication, "Am I missing something?"

Thallon stepped into the fray to deflect her attention, "Pleased to meet you Ms Sutton, I'm Agent Jack Thallon. I've been assigned to protect Ms Jones while the police look for the man who burnt down her house."

Elise looked him up and down, recognition horrifying her, "You took the bullet I fired at Terri."

Lewis tutted, "I think Elise, the less said about that within these walls the better. You're here as an accessory to Robert's actions and for discharge of an illegal, unregistered firearm but if you're not careful they'll easily add attempted murder to the charges."

Elise paled, "Can I at least say I'm sorry for any harm I've caused."

Thallon gave a quick nod of acknowledgement, "Apology accepted."

Elise forlornly looked to Dan, "You know I never meant any of this to happen, I just wanted..."

Dan cut her off to save time, "I know Elise, I understand that now. I'm sorry too."

"But there's no going back, is there?" hope edged her voice.

Dan shook his head, "I'm sorry about that too but no. Things have changed for me." Thankfully he said nothing of our telepathy or shared bonds. "That's not important now though. Let's get you off these charges or at least save you from going to jail."

"Er, hasn't Lewis told you. I've agreed to enter a plea bargain. There won't be a trial as such, just sentencing."

"Shit," Dan's face flushed with fury. "Lewis, you'd better explain yourself, this is not what we agreed."

Lewis stood his ground, unfazed by Dan's reaction, "No but it's what Elise wants."

"Dan, I want to face what I've done, my past, my faults. And most of those faults were based on fear, self doubt and feelings of inadequacy."

Dan's jaw dropped, "You're one of the most confident people I know."

"Outwardly", Elise corrected. "Inside I still hear my aunt's voice, chiding me for my choice of clothes, my lack of poise, my choice of men. I hated her but I was damned sure I was going to prove her wrong."

"Your Aunt Bernice? You've never spoken of this."

"It was too private, too painful. I was left in her care much of the time Dad was at work, in those early years. But her injunctions became entrenched. It stayed with me, a quiet rage driving me to prove her wrong. But I'm sick of it Dan. I want to be loved just because I'm me, not supermodel elegant, not because of my visual profile or my makeup. I'm going to face the consequences of my stupidity and then I'm going to do something worthwhile with my life."

Dan was curious now, "What have you got planned?"

"I've been approached to do some work, in an area I was long ago interested in but didn't pursue because I doubted myself. My prospective employers will see that I get the knowledge I need."

"You're still not telling me what Elise."

I could hear the frustration in his voice but I guessed why she wasn't. "She's afraid Dan. That you'll belittle her like her aunt did."

Elise finally noticed my presence. She'd been trying hard to ignore me but her expression softened. "Yes, exactly."

Dan gave a deep sigh, "Okay Elise, Terri's shown herself to be wise in these things so I'm going to let the insult of you thinking I'd belittle you go. Whatever your future I wish you well with it. Drop me a card at Christmas time just to let me know you're okay."

Elise came forward then and kissed him chastely on the cheek, "Thanks Dan. Thank you for letting me go. I don't want you to feel badly but I've asked Lewis to draw up divorce papers. You'll be okay?"

Dan took a moment to digest how the tables had turned, "Yes Elise, I'll be fine. I'll remember the best of what we had but I'll move on."

"Good, that's what I want for you." She turned to her counsel,"Okay Lewis, I'm ready."

Lewis glanced at his rose gold Audemars Piguet chronograph, "Which is timely. Shall we?"

Dan, Thallon and I seated ourselves at the back of the court with Elise. It was quite different from what I'd seen on TV, way more informal than I'd anticipated. I found it a bit disconcerting that all the other people facing charges and their supporters sat together at the back of the courtroom. At a long oblong table in front of us were lots of what looked to me like lawyers on one side, including Mr Lewis James Sutterfield the Third QC, if you please. On the other side was Constable Iain MacDonald, in his formal attire. A man I didn't recognise sat beside him. If I had to guess I'd have picked him as a public servant but there was something in the way his eyes scanned everyone and everything. He looked fitter than most and I wasn't sure that the bulge under his jacket wasn't a concealed weapon. AFP perhaps? But what would the Australian Federal Police want with Elise? There were several other police looking types on that side of the table. The only element that was similar to the TV shows was the high podium for the Magistrate.

In one way it was lucky that Elise wasn't first. Lewis had asked us to arrive early, and he'd shown us the list for this sitting. He'd given Elise a quick primer on how to behave and what to expect. We were fourth on the list. It would give Elise some time to experience how cases were dealt with rather than just his rushed instructions. Our magistrate was to be Rae Perry. She was known to be tough but fair.

I could feel Dan's anxiety. I knew he dealt in the world of facts so saying everything would be fine or just trust wouldn't do it for Dan. I simply rested my hand on his thigh. He quickly responded by placing his on mine. Meanwhile, Thallon watched the court avidly. He'd only seen such things on Earth's television programs that Mars managed to hack into.

The Depositions clerk stood suddenly and said "All rise." We all stood up while Magistrate Perry entered and seated herself. Then we all sat back down. The court was in session.

I could feel Elise vibrating with tension as she sat on the other side of me. And she had three other appearances to wait through. I hoped she wouldn't vibrate herself into oblivion before her case was heard. Luckily the first three appearances were largely procedural: the first by a person who looked to be sleeping off a bender who asked for and was given an adjournment; someone who was appearing for the second time and the prosecutor requested the case be heard in the District Court, and another second appearance and a not guilty plea to one charge with all other charges dropped by the prosecutor. Already I found it fascinating - all these lives and the consequences of a moment's action playing out in front of us.

Now it was Elise's actions that were under scrutiny. Would she go to jail? God, I hoped not.

The court clerk called her name. I heard her take a deep breath as she stood up and went to stand at the top of the table. It started out quite conversationally, Magistrate Perry asking "Ms Sutton, what do you intend to do today?"

"Your Honour, I intend to plead guilty," said Elise.

A look of surprise flitted across the Magistrate's face. "You understand these are serious charges Ms Sutton and you could go to jail?"

There was a pause, quite a long one, "Yes, your Honour. I fully understand."

"Please continue to stand while I read the charges. Ms Elise Sutton is charged with illegally obtaining a firearm, possessing that firearm without a licence and discharging it with intent to intimidate Ms Terri Jones on Saturday night. How do you plead?"

Elise said the required words "Guilty, your Honour," in a clear voice and I noticed she was quite steady now.

The Magistrate asked Elise to sit next to Mr Sutterfield, and then turned to the other side of the table and asked the police prosecutor to give the police's version of events.

Things weren't sounding good. I guess it was the prosecutor's job to make all accused sound like they should burn in hell. I was hoping Judge Perry would take a more middle ground. Mentally I crossed my fingers. Useless I know, but it couldn't hurt. I did my bit to visualize a positive outcome, that couldn't hurt either. I really didn't want Elise to go to jail as a direct result of me uncovering her and her lover's illicit affair.

"Mr Sutterfield, I understand you represent Ms Sutton?" said the magistrate invitingly, or perhaps demandingly. Who could tell? Not me. It seemed somewhat like a ritual dance.

"I do your honour. Ms Sutton accepts the police's statement of facts as a true and correct version of the events that gave rise to these charges.

Ms Sutton is profoundly ashamed of her actions which she acknowledges, in her own words, as stupid and rash. She admits having an extramarital affair with one Robert James. The discovery of that affair caused her much shame and embarrassment. She sought to vent her anger on Ms Jones but without any intention to harm. Ms Sutton deeply regrets her attempt to intimidate Ms Jones. She fully accepts there are consequences for her action. There is much in the way of mitigation: this is her first offence ever and we have four references to submit to your Honour that attest to Ms Sutton's good standing in her community and the contributions she has made.

If I may your honour, there is another related matter, subject to the law of state secrets. If I might approach the bench."

The magistrate was intrigued now, "You may approach the bench."

Whispers followed. We all leaned forward in an attempt to hear. To no avail. Elise's lawyer nodded to the man sitting beside Iain. The Magistrate beckoned him and the prosecution forward.

More whispers followed although the discussion was obviously lively. Some minutes later the discussion ended and everyone went back to their respective places.

I watched the unknown official return to his seat beside Iain. He noticed and winked at me.

"Ms Sutton."

Elise stood to be addressed. "Your Honour."

"You realise the gravity of the offence, Ms Sutton?"

"I do, your Honour. I am willing to face the consequences of my actions."

The Magistrate looked to Iain, "Do the police wish to make any further statement on this matter?"

Iain stood, "Only this your Honour, the accused has been most helpful in the capture of a man wanted in relation to arson and an attack on other premises that lead to civilian injuries. She has also cooperated with us fully, explaining how she obtained the firearm."

"Very well. I am hereby sentencing the accused to two years in prison."

We all sucked our breath in, shocked, we had hoped...

"Suspended subject to her acceptance of the employment that has been offered to her."

Our collective shoulders sagged in relief.

"Let me be clear Ms Sutton. I do not believe in leniency in such matters. Rule of law exists for a reason. The whole fabric of society as we know it depends on the willingness of its citizens to abide by the laws of the land. You showed a grave disrespect for that law."

Elise bowed her head.

"However, you seem to have people who are willing to stick their neck out for you." The Magistrate's eyes pierced Mr Sutterfield and the unknown man. "Added to that you seem to be genuine in your remorse. If however, you ever show such disrespect for the law again the court will not deal with you so lightly. And should you end your employment before the period of your sentence is finished you will see out the remainder of your time in prison."

"Yes, your Honour."

It was an anticlimax to leave the court rolling on to the next life, the next case and emerge into the waiting area.

The assembled onlookers began to disperse but Elise sat down in the waiting room and began to sob her heart out.

Lewis's eyes widened with surprise and concern, "I thought..."

"That she'd be relieved," I finished his sentence for him. "I don't know but I'm guessing this is about a life that's come to an unexpected turning point." I sat down beside Elise and warily pulled her into my arms. She didn't fight, just cried and cried. I guessed I was going to get a wet shirt. I patted her back as you would a child. I didn't think reasoning or words would help.

Slowly her sobs ebbed and she edged away, "I'm alright."

I let her retreat and regain her dignity, "I know."

Seemingly in understanding her need and not judging her for it I'd unwittingly melted some of the ice between us. She bestowed a thank you and a warm forgiving smile on me before the man in the suit led her away. I wasn't sure she'd be so forgiving if she knew her ex had his eye on me or indeed that I was skirting around the possibility of a polyamorous relationship, just like she'd wanted with Dan. But maybe I was wrong about that, perhaps she'd only wanted an open marriage, permission to play but to come back home to her main man. Who knew? Fortunately, I couldn't read Elise's mind. Though I'd gone on a hunch that I knew her pain.

Dan looked at me with puzzled awe, "What was all that about?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "Grief I think. An old life gone. A new one starting."

"How'd you know that?"

"The circumstances, but really it didn't matter. She needed to cry. The reason was irrelevant. Sometimes it's just about letting someone be where they're at. Allowing that without belittling their need or trying to fix it."

Dan shook his head in amazement, "I wanted to do just that. Give her a shake and tell her everything was alright and what was the problem."

"I know, I read it in your mind, but she would have only hated you for it, despite or because of her love of you. She'd want you to think well of her and telling her she had no reason for a cry would have just made her feel small."

Thallon was enthralled with it all, "You made a friend by letting her let all that water out."

I laughed, "I wouldn't go as far as saying she was my friend now."

"And yet it was impressive," Lewis concurred. "I'd heard you were an expert as far as electronics."

Lewis's unspoken assumption being that having an inquisitive mind meant a deficit on the emotional intelligence front. I didn't see a need to correct him, only to say, "It's not a matter of either mental or emotional intelligence, it's a matter of allowing people to be as they are, even if their responses are counter to what you'd have in the same situation. A lot of energy is wasted in forcing people to behave and react as we think they should. Trying to change them only demeans and shames them."

Dan was aghast, "Shit. I would have shamed her by trying to fix her crying. I wouldn't have meant to hurt her."

"I know Dan."

"You have so got to meet Leigha, next time she's on Earth. You two would hit it off," Lewis Sutterfield decided.

You'd think I'd done something special but I hadn't. All I'd done was let a fellow human being cry on my shoulder. "I'm sure you have many wise people among you."

"Yes, but each is unique."

"Let's get to work," Dan's mind was already on to other things. Like blocking a hostile takeover of his company.

"Let's"

As we made our way to work Thallon's thoughts whispered through my mind, _Were you ever shamed and belittled for your EMF gift? Is that why you understand the need of others to be allowed to be as they are?_

Cripes he was perceptive, _The world is set up for what it considers the norm, it tries to correct anything it considers isn't._

Surprisingly it was Dan who huffed, _Yeah, I understand that. I used to get called a greedy bastard because I was opportunistic. What's the crime in seeing an opportunity and embracing it?_

I would rip the arms off whoever had hurt Dan that way, _No crime, just the makings of a canny business man._ But I refrained from hugging him, we were in boss-employee time.

_Business partners_ , Dan corrected

So, I laughed and hugged him anyway.

"I was belittled by the Lyreans of old," Thallon declared wistfully, out loud.

I rolled my eyes, "Thallon, if you want a hug just say so. Don't do a lame dog trick on me"

"Er, I want a hug."

I hugged him then explained, "It means you don't need my sympathy to get a hug."

### 18

"So," the man in the suit interrupted Elise's thoughts, "I'm Andrew McCullum. The Alliance thought I might be best placed to wield a little influence in your favor. Though having a Queen's Council as your lawyer and the local law enforcement on your side didn't hurt either. My job ends once I get you to Boswell. Are there any questions I can answer for you while we wait for your pick up?"

"You're government," Elise guessed.

Andrew smirked, "You could say that. When I said any questions I could answer I wasn't meaning questions about me."

So he was something top secret, "Sorry. Look I'm still reeling a bit here. Eadaoin said I could pursue my scientific interests although she didn't say how I'd go about getting the missing bits in my education. Or what you needed me to do with that knowledge."

"I was briefed. You're interested in how sound, music and vibration influence the mind."

"More than influence. It would be more correct to say create a mental reality for that person. Alter not just their moods and sleeping patterns but their thoughts and beliefs. What they like and dislike. With the right music you can influence a person's confidence. Maybe even the way they vote."

"Impressive and dangerous."

"You're thinking what happens if such knowledge falls into the wrong hands but I can tell you it's already out there. The music that backs adverts and films is meant to affect your experience. Let me see if I can explain. Say you have some underwater footage of sharks and fish swimming through some coral. With restful music it can make you feel relaxed about the scene - something to sell to a new age market. Add an authoritative voice commentating it and it becomes a documentary, the uninquiring mind will take it as fact. Replace the commentary with scary music and the viewer will tense, expecting any moment that blood and fish guts will fill the scene."

"I see," Andrew made a mental note to check how he was being manipulated by what he watched. "So used well you could influence someone's choices?"

"Yes, like buying the strategically placed product, such as the cereal the famous actor is pouring into their bowl or the book they're reading. The medium is making you feel good, releasing dopamine in your brain. You want more of that so you go out and buy the product. At least that's what the advertiser hopes. He doesn't need everyone to fall for it, just enough to make a profit that offsets the advertising costs."

"And I thought my profession was devious."

"Whatever your profession is."

Andrew deflected by noting a timely arrival, "Ah, here's your pickup."

"The cat?"

"Yeah. It's called a pickup because you pick it up."

Elise frowned at him but did as she was told, disappearing in a flash.

It was only when Elise released the cat that she was somewhere else entirely and that the man hadn't answered any of her questions at all. Instead he'd gotten a glimpse into her mind by getting her on her favorite topic. "Devious sod."

"You wouldn't be talking about our Andrew would you?"

The man suddenly standing in front of her oozed power and authority. Two steel grey eyes took her measure.

"He manipulated me."

"As I'm sure you are used to doing to others, Elise."

So he had been expecting her, "Um, pleased to meet you, and you are?"

"Names do not matter, but you may call me Simon. We have a busy agenda ahead of us. Do you need refreshments or are you ready to meet your future."

Excitement coursed through her veins, "Meet my future."

"As you wish. Take my hand," he noticed her hesitance, "I won't bite."

"Or turn into a cat."

He laughed heartily.

The next she knew she was deep underground and a very alien-looking man with a conical shaped head and almond shaped eyes was staring at her. "Really Simon?"

"Elise, meet Silwa, the oldest and wisest of the Shang on Earth."

"Nice to meet you, although I sense you don't like me." His cursory scan of her hadn't gone unnoticed.

"Don't take it personally Elise. It's just your soul growth needs a few more hundred lifetimes to work out the kinks in your makeup."

"Hmph! Nice." Not. "Well suck it up. I am as I am. It's just a life that's been thrust on me. Upbringing, DNA and a mad world. You can't blame me for what I am. If you don't like it, fix the world. I could have a hundred thousand lives and I'd still be whatever life made me. The only thing is whether I let it crush me or I rise to the top of it like cream on top of coffee. Whatever happened to not judging people?"

Silwa raised his eyebrows but a twitch at the corner of his mouth betrayed his amusement and a change of mind, "I stand corrected."

Simon laughed, "This one has a lot of fire in her."

"You don't say. Well, let's not dally then. Simon tells me you have an interest in how sound and vibration affects matter, in particular humans. We have a sound chamber we use on rare occasions to help those in need. Care to try it out?"

Elise brightened considerably, "You bet," following the man eagerly.

What she didn't count on was her being the subject. She eyed the metal-lined chamber with some concern. "You're not going to liquify me or something nasty are you?"

It was Silwa's turn to laugh, "No Elise, I give you my word, no harm will come to you. Settle yourself. We will leave and seal the chamber but there is nothing to fear. If you become fearful we will know and end the session."

"Okay." Even to herself she didn't sound convinced but if she wanted to see this work she'd best release her fear. Following some ancient instinct she let her awareness drop to her belly and let the tension there go.

"Excellent," Silwa approved.

Simon gave her a thumbs up then left with Silwa. The door, made of stone, closed with an ominous thud. She did her relaxing thing again then settled on the threadbare carpet that covered the floor. For once in her life she was happy she was no longer the skin and bones of her youth. The rock underneath had no give.

It started as a thin metallic sound, like a wooden stick being rubbed around the rim of a sound bowl. The sound seemed to spiral around her, building incrementally. It embraced her. Enveloped her. Elise happily bathed in the sound. But it kept building in power. It asked her to yield. And she did, sensing that it was the only way to avoid the pain that was threatening to overwhelm her. As she yielded the pain dissolved. Time stood still for her. She had no idea whether she's been in the chamber for merely a moment of time or an eternity. Slowly the sound abated and she dared to open her eyes. The walls of the chamber shone back at her with a clarity she hadn't noticed before. Her vision, clearer. Her hearing, more acute.

The door to the chamber opened. "Well, how was it?" Silwa asked, Simon following in behind him.

"Absolutely amazing. How?"

"Ah, well, you'd best come and talk to those of my fellow practitioners who specialize in this technology. Then we have some refreshments for you. I believe Simon here has other experts for you to meet but they're across the ocean. You've a long day ahead of you."

### 19

The courts weren't far from their workplace so Dan, Thallon, and I walked the distance. Thallon wore his dark glasses to hide his eyes. It suited his image as our bodyguard. Fortunately, our bodyguard was on alert, suddenly tensing, looking up and around, "We have incoming. Drones."

"Drones?" While I loved gadgetry I disliked the way drones were used to invade people's privacy. I looked around for the back alley entrance to our office. "This way. We'll soon know if they're following us and if they are we'll be out of sight of the general public."

As we quickly made our way off the main street I took my gloves off, pushing them into my jeans pockets. Thallon noticed, "You'll be wanting a boost?" he asked, meaning his gift in amplifying my energies.

"It's a plan."

"Don't you guys have any guns on you?" Thallon wondered, "Like Rona?"

"This is Australia Thallon, they don't let you have guns unless you have a bloody good reason." And I wasn't sure of Rona's reason. "Even openly carrying bows and arrows, slingshots, swords or knives is likely to get you questioned by the cops. They don't even let you take your knitting on a plane in case you stab someone with a knitting needle."

"Then how do you defend yourselves?"

"Technically we don't, it's not allowed. If you do you'd better have a damned good lawyer or better still, don't get caught."

"Which is why we're heading for the alley Thallon," Dan explained.

"So I guess I'm not supposed to have this," he pulled a nine millimetre calibre Glock 19 from beneath his jacket. I knew my guns even if I didn't have any. They were gadgets after all. The Glock had a reputation for being ultra reliable. Dunk it in water or bury it in dirt, it would still work. Maybe it was time I joined a pistol club so I could legitimately own one even if membership wouldn't confer on me the right to carry one outside the club.

Dan was impressed too, "Cool. I guess you're allowed because of your cover job." He looked around for a weapon of his own. He spied a broken up crate near a neighbouring shop's garbage bins. He ripped a good sized piece of wooden slat from the crate and held it at his side, "Here they come."

Damn, so they were after us. "You know we could just teleport into the office."

"And leave these things hanging around to accost one of my employees leaving the office. No, we see what they want. What's the point of being near immortal if we can't use it to face down our enemies." Dan said.

There were ways we could die but now was not the time to point that out. The drones had found us. Three of them.

"What do you want?" Dan demanded.

"Your technology," an electronically generated voice announced but somewhere someone controlled that drone and was providing the answers.

"I won't be blackmailed into selling our software to some unscrupulous global consortium of companies."

"We will merely buy one of the companies that you do supply to. We'll get it one way or the other. Why not make it easy on yourself? You could even have a sizable offshore bank account set up for you. We'd make it worth your while."

"I said no," Dan stood his ground.

"Then you are of no use to us."

The three drones surrounded them, weapons unfolding from some hidden place within each machine.

Thallon used his free hand to touch my back, Dan did the same, "Now would be good Terri."

I raised my hands and mentally thrust my energy out in a circular wave around us, an electrical tsunami washing to shore. At the same time Thallon fired, using his free hand, taking out the weapons on each drone before they crashed to the ground dead. Around us chaos erupted as street lights that were off for the day flashed momentarily to life. Cars in the nearby street stalled. Pedestrians talking on their mobiles suddenly threw their phones away from them as they were zapped with electrical charge.

"Um."

"Quickly," Dan took control, "Let's get these drones in the garbage bins and get out of here.

Thallon and I took one each and stuffed them in the recycle bins. Well they were electrical, someone might want them.

We ran into the office through the back entrance which Dan opened with his swipe card. Inside the lights were out.

"Show me where the switchboard is Dan."

"It'll be fried," Dan guessed, grumbling.

But it wasn't that bad. The circuit breakers had taken the brunt as they should. I switched them back to on. Fluorescent lights hummed back to life. A faint buzz of vibration hit my system as all the electronics in the building turned back on. I put my gloves on.

Shirley looked up from rebooting her computer as we walked in, "You just missed the power going off."

"We know," I watched as Dan stormed to his office. He was in a huff. I saw him pick up the phone.

"And who's this?" Dirk wanted to know.

"Thallon Dirk, Dirk Thallon. Sorry Dirk, I'll explain later. I think the boss wants me and Thallon in the office. Seen Gareth?"

"We're here."

I was relieved to find Gareth and Benca behind me.

Dan strode back out of his office, his determination nearly wearing a track in the carpet, papers in his hands, "Okay, enough's enough. Everyone in the boardroom now. Yes Shirley and Dirk, that means you too."

Shirley and Dirk looked to me for an explanation. I just shrugged my shoulders, "It's been a rough morning for him. Give him some slack."

We scurried in multiple directions to grab pens and notepaper and hastily made drinks. I made one for Dan and set it in front of him.

_Thanks_ , he gave me a mental nod.

"Okay, first things first. Shirley, Dirk, sign this," he handed them the papers in his hands. They quickly read, signed and handed the papers back, brimming with curiosity.

"So here's the situation," Dan continued, giving a high speed, highly condensed version of everything that had happened over the last few days.

Shirley sat back in her seat, stunned, staring at Benca, "You're from Mars."

Thallon took the focus off Benca by removing his shades, "As am I."

"Wow, look at those eyes, will you? Blackest opal I ever saw," Shirley was impressed.

I felt Thallon like the compliment

Dirk frowned, "So it was Terri who put the grid down just now?"

I winced, hoping it was only the local substation I'd affected, "It's why I wear the gloves."

"And there I thought you were just covering up a bad case of eczema," Shirley mused.

I could see some convincing wouldn't hurt so I took off one glove and focused, gently, on the electric whiteboard. I added to the theatrics by motioning my hand in its direction as if coaxing it to change page. The theatrics weren't necessary but it helped with the job of convincing them.

"You did that?" Dirk quizzed me.

"Enough" Dan _really_ had had enough for one day. "Terri is legit. I'm asking you to take my word on it and everything else I've explained. Do I look like a prankster?"

That had them, everyone leaned forward to listen.

"Okay, Boss, we believe you," Dirk decided. "So what now?"

"Now we wage war on these bastards."

I didn't think taking on the might of Archon Industries would do us much good. We were few and they were many. Some meddling yes but I had a better idea. "The enemy has invested heavily in taking control of all the world's major transport links." I'd seen the proof for myself when Thallon and I had invaded their data systems. "What if we did two things they won't be expecting?"

I had Dan's interest, "I'm listening."

"First we avert the crisis they're waiting on. We stop the weakening of the heliosphere. That's what the alliance wants me for after all. Secondly, and I'm asking you to go with the vision of this, we transcend the current transport system, making it obsolete. In the process. bankrupting Archon Industries."

"How?" Dan asked.

So I went with the vision of it, "We set up a more efficient system that uses the flux of the magnetic currents around the Earth as alternatives to roads, shipping lanes and aircraft routes. Those currents are extremely low frequency and travel at or very near the surface of the earth."

"But didn't Dan just say that the magnetism on the Earth's getting unreliable."

"Not if we have anything to do with it. I don't mean controlling it altogether but we could write new software to monitor it and give us some warning when it's about to blip. Then I could intervene when necessary."

Gareth groaned at the potential workload I'd just thrust on him but I continued, "We invest in a new type of transporter that will ride the magnetic flux with an off switch so it can disengage from the flux and land wherever it's over at the time."

"And this is more efficient?" Dan sounded like he had his doubts.

I said the magic words, "Free energy. The magnetic flux does the transport for us. All we need to do is build the transporters."

Dan steepled his hands in front of him and thought for a moment. "Just saying we could overcome the logistical problems of the return trip against the flow of current, who's going to build all this?"

"Actually I know just the person," Gareth offered, "Tess is a self-taught aeronautics whizz kid on Mars who works closely with an engineer in Boswell, George someone. I suggest we float the idea with Tess and see where it leads. She has plenty of scientists around her and some formidable AI who could help build a prototype."

"Why would they help us?" Shirley sounded distrustful. "And if they did we'd be owing to them."

"It's not like that," Dan having seen Boswell in operation was best suited to answer this one. "Their economy works on contributism. Everyone contributes to the well being of each other and their environment. They do this because they love what they do. People who can cook, others grow vegetables and herbs, while others deal with administration or research new scientific breakthroughs."

"That doesn't mean they'll help us," Shirley maintained. "What can we offer them? Do they actually need a transport logistics system?"

Hmm, I could see this one was a difficult one. "Not for themselves Shirley, they have other ways of moving goods around," I dodged the issue of teleportation. Too much too soon. "But they share a desire to keep the enemy from getting any more power than it already has. Call it a planet-wide concern. And though transportation itself might not be an issue for them, keeping tabs on what they have in storage and what they need to buy, the system could help them with that."

"And let's not forget my kin," Benca added.

"Your family?" Shirley asked, intrigued.

"They sleep in stasis. We can't wake them until we can feed them and we need more human blood donors to do that."

"And they feed by...?"

"Drinking blood directly from their donor. Such a donor they prize above all else because that person is their lifeblood."

Shirley suddenly twigged, surprisingly overjoyed "Vampires. I have a few girlfriends who would happily take one on."

Benca's spine straightened, "We prefer the term Lyrean. It is our species. Blood drinking is only what we evolved into as a way to feed ourselves after all life on the surface of Mars was wiped out. But that is another story. Suffice to say there are thousands of souls who have slept for millennia, as I did until recently. Though your girlfriends should be aware that the males of my kind can be overprotective, patriarchal and dominating."

Shirley saw it differently, "Tall, exotic, dominating alpha males. They sound just right for my friends."

"But their individuality would be crushed. They would be put on a pedestal and coddled like children."

Shirley laughed, "That's where you're wrong. My girlfriends belong to a discrete members-only club where they are known as subs," she noted Benca's frown. "They like a little sexual dominance but try to dominate them outside that and you'll have hell to pay. They know their minds and can stand up for themselves. Any man who tried to control them outside the bedroom would soon be brought to their knees."

I was suddenly seeing a side to Shirley I hadn't seen before, "But you're married, how do you know about all this?"

Shirley's eyes gleamed with mischief, "Date nights. Just because I'm married with kids doesn't mean I'm sexually dead. Except in my case I'm not the submissive. And no, Phillip wouldn't stand for me controlling him outside of the bedroom either."

Having met Phillip, as macho a rugby coach as they came, I could well believe that. Though I'd seen him with his kids and seen an entirely different man, gentle and patient.

Dan coughed to get our attention, "So we may have something to offer the Martians."

Benca nodded, "I can't claim to fully understand what you're talking about but it bears consideration. Who knows, if these women can do as you say then their chosen Lyreans may find a safety valve for their need to control, in the bedroom, while coming to terms with the ways of modern women. If they are indeed as resilient as you say."

"They're what we call in the club "brats". They'll handle them." Shirley was sure of that.

During the digression Dan had roughed out a strategy, "So here's the plan. Gareth, I want you and Thallon to return to Mars and float Terri's idea with Tess. Thallon can do a mindshare with Terri before you go. That way you'll have all the details. Shirley, you take Benca to meet your girlfriends but make sure they sign confidentiality agreements before you tell them anything. Terri, you've done some hacking haven't you?"

"Very little," I answered honestly, "Most of what I've done is just adapt some code that was put up on the dark web by someone who goes by the name Yiannis."

"Ah, then I think we might be in luck. Boswell's allied with some nerds in some place called the Rasselas, Yiannis and his wife Evie I believe. I think Yiannis might even be the son of one of those guys who did the foundations on our new house."

Just how much had Dan found out on his short visit to Boswell? "I'd really like to meet him. What did you have in mind?"

"We need some code embedded in our next system update. Something that's triggered if a company we supply to is suddenly bought out by one of the Archon Industries subsidiaries."

Dirk, Dan's operations manager and general troubleshooter, tensed "I'm not sure we could do that Dan. It wouldn't be legal or ethical."

Dan wasn't worried, "What if we put a conditions update into the next system update, something they have to click to sign saying they've read and agreed. Something about the system remaining our property and only being on loan to the company we've contracted with. They'll never read it."

Dirk frowned, "I'd need to discuss it with a legal expert."

Dan fished a business card out of his pocket and passed it to Dirk, "Give this guy a ring."

A moment's fleeting curiosity had me asking, "What about you Dirk, do you fancy being a blood donor?"

Dirk worriedly looked to Dan, "Is that now a requirement of my employment?"

"No Dan. You know me better than that. But while we're talking about such things you should know there are other things to consider."

He was waffling so I came right out with it, "There's a treatment we've had which undoes age related genetic damage. Interested?"

Dirk looked between me, Dan and Gareth, "What's different?"

"It takes a few days to come into effect. Brings you back to a physical peak like being twenty five all over again." What was I saying, I wasn't even twenty five. "You should see Bill from the pub."

Dirk squinted at Dan, "You do look a bit, fresher. The wrinkles on your forehead are less."

"Oh thanks Dirk," Dan groaned.

Gareth saved the day by interrupting, "There's another thing we've skipped over in our discussion of our allies' needs. Mars has an overload of scientists and warriors. When Weasel announced he was a plumber they were nearly beside themselves with pleasure. They need more tradesmen and service staff."

Shirley clapped her hands with glee, pleased for some reason,"Like painters, plasterers, hairdressers..."

"And cooks," Rona appeared at the conference room door. "I felt your attack. I've just completed a perimeter check. If you're keeping your workplace in this dimension it needs better security."

Dan was more worried about losing our cook, "You can't go to Mars Rona, we need you here. I don't mind Iain's cuisine but not every night."

"I won't desert you Dan. But if we're talking about having more humans on Mars they'll need better catering."

Gareth groaned in agreement. "You have no idea. They have a whole lot of new food stuffs growing in the wild around them but they haven't a clue when it comes to preparing them."

"While we're talking about food Gareth," Benca interrupted, "What's that on your breath? It smells disgusting."

Gareth winced but he was more surprised than anything, "Um, potato and leek soup. I warmed up a cup of it in the kitchen just now."

I had a sudden thought, "Of course, leeks, onions, garlic. You're allergic to them Benca."

"I am?"

"It's alright," Shirley offered, "I have some detox tea in my desk drawer. That'll get it out of Gareth quicker."

"But I like my leeks," Gareth moaned.

### 20

Shirley took the opportunity of getting home early for the day to host a random get together. While she made calls to a few friends Benca surveyed the living room and kitchen for hints of what human life was like away from an office. Photos adorned a shelf above what appeared to be a brick-lined opening in the wall. A vent to let heat out perhaps. But the burn marks inside it suggested it was used as a place to burn carbon-based products. Interesting. The photos she guessed as Shirley's husband Phillip and their two girls. Shirley had mentioned them, Joan and Eady-May. They were still at their place of learning for the day, something called a school.

A knock on the door alerted her to the first of their arrivals.

"Can you get that, Benca?" Shirley yelled, still on the phone.

Benca opened the door but stepped back from the glaring light of Earth's afternoon sun. It was a wonder these people didn't melt in the temperature outside but she guessed their bodies were adapted to it, "Hello, my name's Benca. Please come in. Shirley's still on the phone."

Zara looked up, stunned at the woman's height. "Shirley said you were tall," but tall didn't quite cover it. "I'm Zara. Scarlett's just locking up the car."

More arrived, Georgia, Eden and Hazel. Charlie and her friend Jason were the last. Everyone crammed into Shirley's living room. Drinks started to flow, idle chatter, laughter.

"Can I get you a drink Benca?" Charlie asked.

"No that's alright. I... have allergies," or so she was told, "I have to be careful what I eat and drink."

Charlie's eyes brightened, having found a comrade, "Oh I so understand. I can't eat gluten or drink lactose. We're special."

"Special, I like that." Charlie seemed to ooze an abundance of positive energy. Benca liked her glass half full perspective.

Shirley clapped her hands to silence the chatter. "Now, before I can tell you the super secret reason I asked you all here I need you to sign these. Basically, as far as anyone else is concerned this conversation will never have happened. I have to scare you by saying that failure to keep the secrets in this room could in all likelihood land you in jail for quite a while. I apologise for the secrecy but trust me it will be worth it. If you're worried you'd best leave now and forget you were ever at this get together."

Their response was a mad scramble for the papers, pens being tossed from one to the next. Anticipation throbbed. Shirley waited patiently, taking back the papers one at a time, casually smiling to Benca at the disorder of it all. Yes Benca had to agree, they were an irrepressible bunch. She wondered at Jason's presence but trusted Shirley's judgement. She was taking quite a liking to the woman. She realised now that Gareth's introduction of her to Shirley after the bomb threat had nothing to do with any fear on Shirley's part. It had been all about her getting to meet one of the locals and to make friends.

"So," Shirley interrupted Benca's thoughts, "You've met Benca. I'll let her tell you about herself but please know that what she says is true. Over to you Benca."

Hell, throw someone in the deep end, "Okay, here's the bones of it. I'm an alien."

That statement caused some mild surprise around the room but also a lot of knowing nods. They weren't easily fazed this lot.

"You would know my kind better as vampires, though we detest that term because of all the nasty myths and legends you have about them. Though some of it is true."

"So you're from the Republic of Karpathia?" Zara made a guess. "We've all seen them on TV. There's no big secret there."

"The Karpathians escaped from my planet after the cataclysm that hit it. The rest of us went underground. We ran out of food and had to go into stasis. Of late a few of us have awakened because a few brave souls have offered to be our lifebloods, long term blood donors who we honor above all else. Such relationships are often intimate. Others the best of friends. There are only a handful of us awake. We desperately need more donors but there's a catch."

"The males of their species are very domineering and overly protective," Shirley explained. "While their women need strong role models so that they see it's possible to venture from the closeted existence they had in the past. Benca and her friend Naira want all beings on their planet to have opportunities to follow their interests and ambitions, to make their own choices free of any paternalistic or even, dare I say, any maternalistic claptrap."

Excited chatter broke out around the room, Hazel summed it up. "So you want us to be these role models. But you want us to leave our homes. Where is this planet?"

"Mars," Benca announced succinctly, "But there's nothing to stop you teleporting back and forth between the two planets once you have the treatment that makes you near immortal."

"So it's not your blood that would make us immortal?" Georgia asked.

"Oh it would, but it's the treatment they developed in a place called Boswell that would give you the ability to teleport, and develop other gifts I believe."

"Such as?" Eden was intrigued.

"Ah, healing ability, telekinesis, foresight, intuition... I think it depends on the individual's natural inclinations. Really you'd have to ask someone from Boswell for more details."

"I've heard of Boswell," Zara mused, "The place that disappeared after it was hit by a meteorite. There are rumours aplenty."

"The rumours are true," Benca confirmed. "I haven't been there myself but Shirley's boss has."

Hazel looked around the room, "We're all from the club I notice. Most of us, except for Zara and Shirley, are sexual submissives. It begs the question Benca, do you or your people know anything at all about the lifestyle?"

"That I can't answer. I only woke up a couple of days ago after over a hundred thousand years in stasis. I haven't had time to learn much about the others currently on Mars. Though I can tell you this. Many of the humans who have partnered with my kind have done so in, what do you call it, polyamorous relationships. They all seem very happy, though some of the males of my species grumble at times at the lack of control they have over their mates."

"So you already have some humans there," Jason noted.

"Yes but that's another issue, most of them are scientists or warriors. We need people with..."

"Different skills," Shirley offered.

"Exactly."

"Okay, that's all very interesting but where does that leave me?" Jason wondered.

Benca wondered that too.

"Oh come on Benca," Shirley prodded, "There must be some of your species who like their own gender."

Oh! "Yes, of course, a few."

"Well I was just thinking that if you were trying to build a diverse culture you'd want to make sure it was peopled by those of different gender, as well as different sexual preferences."

Benca wholeheartedly agreed with Shirley, "Brilliant. So who's interested?"

Before anyone could answer gunfire and screams came from the front yard.

Shirley was instantly on her feet, "Shit, the kids are due home. Phillip was picking them up."

She and Benca raced to the door, Benca grabbing her sunnies off the entrance table and pulling her hood back over her head. She restrained Shirley from barging out then sent a quick mental call out to her mate, _Gareth, we've got trouble_. "Shirley, help's on its way. Don't panic. I'm about to disappear." Then she teleported to where Shirley's girls were hunkering down between the car and the garage.

If Eady-May was startled by Benca's sudden appearance she didn't show it. "That thing," Eady-May pointed to the sky.

Benca realised they were in the midst of another drone attack.

"It shot Dad," Joan whimpered. "I think he's dead."

Benca glanced at the car, the bullet-riddled windscreen, the slumped form inside but before she could think up a strategy she noticed Zara coming around the side of the house, venturing out briefly to throw rocks at the drone to draw it away. Benca hoped Zara knew what she was doing and had somewhere to take cover.

Behind Benca were a few garden tools, leaning up against the garage. She grabbed a crowbar and ran after the drone that was now in hot pursuit of Zara. Benca was faster. Whoever was on the other end of the drone operating it couldn't maneuver it that fast. She dodged and weaved then made her strike, smashing the thing to the ground. Jason ran out the house, grabbing a heavy pot plant which he dropped on the stricken device.

Shirley was wailing as she pulled Phillip's body from the car. Benca ran to her.

"He's dead. He's dead."

But Benca didn't think so. Her sixth sense for fresh blood could still feel his pulse. "I can save him Shirley but it will bind him to me at the very least as a friend."

Shirley didn't hesitate with the choice, "Do it. Then bind me to you as well."

Benca nodded her assent, biting into her wrist to release her precious life's blood. She only hoped that Gareth wouldn't be jealous that she was doing this for someone else before him.

But Gareth was already there, a worried Constable Iain MacDonald right behind him. "It's okay Benca. Do it. They're good people," he vouched for them.

As Benca let the purple-hued blood trickle into Phillip's mouth she was glad of Gareth's words. There was no undoing this. If they'd been bad people they would have been the bane of her existence for evermore. "Now you Shirley."

Shirley drank from Benca's offered wrist.

When the woman was finished Benca looked to Gareth, hoping.

"Yes," he bent and took his fill as well.

Then Benca sagged.

Shirley, who could now feel a pulse throbbing in Phillip's arm glanced to Benca with concern. "Are you alright?"

"Just hungry. Used up a bit of blood doing that and I haven't fed since last night."

"And I'm off the menu because of my brunch," Gareth realised guiltily, though he hadn't meant for it to be a problem.

"Then take mine," Shirley offered, brushing her greying golden tresses from the side of her neck.

"You would let me drink from your neck?"

"No let. Would like."

"I'm honoured," Benca took Shirley's offer and sank her fangs into warm flesh.

Shirley groaned in ecstasy, "Oh my goddess."

Her crew of friends egged her on, "Go for it Shirley."

Benca released her and laid her down at her husband's side. Their hands touched. Phillip, still groggy as he regained consciousness, smiled at his wife and whispered, "Mistress. Love you."

Tears flooded Shirley's eyes, "Love you too."

Eden had the girls in hand reassuring them, "It's all okay now. Your Dad's alive. The nice lady saved him."

Scarlett inspected the shot up Isuzu MUX, quietly musing to herself, "Damn shame. It's going to take some fixing."

"I'll go and make some tea," Georgia announced loudly enough for anyone to hear who was interested.

Hazel followed after her, "I'll give you a hand. Hey did you see those fangs on Benca? Damned coolest thing I've ever seen."

Benca, her hearing as acute as was the way of her kind, looked to Gareth. They both laughed together.

"Seems to me you've acquired a family and lots of friends for us."

"You don't mind do you?" Though it was a bit too late to worry.

Gareth kissed her sweetly, "I think it's bloody great."

### 21

Dirk put the cat down. His twin brother Mitchell, who'd Dirk insisted on bringing, let go the collar of the dog, or maybe wolf, that he'd been holding on to. The cat stomped off, grumpy.

"Seriously, that cat is pissed," Dan noted. He'd decided at the last minute to come so he could have more of a look at Boswell and how it worked.

"Probably getting sick of transporting the likes of us around. Let's get these two down to the medical center," I suggested. "The sooner they can travel like us the happier that cat might be."

"Hmm, maybe Gareth can see if Russell wouldn't mind helping with the return trip." Dan knew the Martian had dropped Gareth off at work once. He texted Gareth to see if he could start arranging a pick up for Dirk and Mitchell when they were finished here. Dan frowned at his phone when no confirmation came. It took a few moments before he got a text back saying just, 'Got problems, I'll get back to you'.

I felt his worry but also his trust that whatever it was Gareth would sort it out, "Laboratory's down this way."

Jnarn was waiting for us, "Always good to see some new recruits." He shook the brothers' hands, then mine. "Come in."

Like everything else in Boswell the lab was a surprise. State of the art, purpose built. Modern. Yet the older parts of the town looked like they'd been built in Georgian times. Inside the lab was even more of a surprise. The walls lined with what looked like mini walkways but for what. Then I spied the reason on top of a filing cabinet. A perfectly white mouse. "Well hello there, aren't you a beauty?"

Jnarn chuckled, "Zen thinks you're pretty cool too. He can see the energies that surround you Terri."

I wondered at how Jnarn could know that then realised, "Zen's telepathic."

"Not words but he's pretty good at sending pictures. And he's evolving. Watch this." Jnarn held out his hand and the mouse teleported onto it. "He was the lab mouse I first tested the retrovirus on. Zen survived the test and soon after started sending me his thoughts. We don't lab test on animals any more, not without their permission." Jnarn lovingly placed Zen into his shirt pocket where he could peer out and watch us.

"So this cure," Mitchell asked, "it more than repairs our DNA?"

"It restarts you on your evolution. Your kind's DNA was mucked around with millennia ago so that you'd never spiritually or mentally progress much in any one lifetime. Better suited to be servants for our enemy that way."

Dirk had a sudden realisation, "You're not human are you?"

Jnarn handed them each an information sheet and what looked like an asthma puffer, "Read that. You both being in your forties there will be some side effects but only mild. Mostly grey hairs falling out and that sort of thing," he noticed Dirk's frown. "Oh, your question. I guess you'd call me an angel but really I'm just a more highly evolved version of you. You'll get there too, in time. There's no rush. But eventually you'll want more than this world has to offer."

"Then why are you here?" Mitchell wondered then took a deep breath and a dose, as did Dirk.

"Ah, long story. Later." He took back the empty puffers and the information sheets.

"Totally off topic Jnarn," I asked before the man dismissed us and got back to his work. "Can I ask, do you have any treatments for the Lyreans to help them with their allergy to alliums?"

"Ah, their intolerance of alliin lyase. Rarely fatal but it does cause them quite a bit of physiological distress, sudden collapse in blood pressure, skin rashes, digestive problems. Avoidance is best. Frankly one of the side effects of having the retroviral treatment Dirk and Mitchell just had is an increased desire for vegetarian food and a dislike of alliums and fungi. What we call a Sattvic diet."

Mitchell groaned, "Now he tells me, no more mushies on pizza."

I rolled my eyes, really, he gets immortality and worries about a few mushrooms. I focused instead on Jnarn, "But what if a Lyrean has a Welsh mate who loves eating leeks?"

Jnarn seemed amused at that, "Tricky. It's possible they could acquire tolerance over time, through shared blood and the sharing of gifts that such exchanges bring but we could help things along I suppose. An immunotherapy perhaps that progressively increases the dose of the alliin lyase. Leave it with me."

I left Dan and Dirk to go and meet with Lewis, our friendly lawyer, while I went to visit Yiannis, "You coming Mitchell?"

"Where to?"

"To wherever my meeting is. Honestly, I'm just going to visualise my need to see him and hope that takes me there."

"This is that teleportation you want Dirk and me to learn? Doesn't it take a while for those things to develop? That's what the information sheet said."

"It's easy once you know how." Did that sound arrogant? Maybe I was setting myself up to make a fool of myself if I couldn't talk him through it.

"Want some help?" Melissa, our friendly mentor of all things metaphysical, appeared out of nowhere. "I hear Meta has the shits and we need to develop a quick induction into teleportation."

"That's the cat's name?" Mitchell wondered.

"Both his name and what he is. A meta being who would normally be existing in a dimension that vibrates a whole deal higher than us or even the Malakim like Jnarn who you just met."

Understanding hit Mitchell, "Of course, Meta, as in beyond. Legend says he was one of only two humans who evolved to become an archangel. The Romans called him Metator, the measurer. Also called Thoth or Hermes or simply the scribe of God. That's some name for a cat."

My jaw gaped at Mitchell's knowledge, "I thought you were a delivery company CEO with an MBA."

Mitchell looked caught out, "Look, don't tell anyone, especially not my brother, but..." He thought for a moment, "My Dad was a pratt. Just because I was born a few minutes before Dirk he decided that I was the eldest so I should be the one to take over his company. He paid my way through uni on the grounds I did an MBA. But, I did a couple of electives on the sly. Ancient languages and comparative mythology. I figured as long as I aced the MBA no one had to ever know."

Melissa clapped her hands with glee, "Oh, you have so got to meet the first lady of Karpathia. Adelaide and you would have much to talk about. And, as I said, Meta's no cat. That's just his disguise so he doesn't overpower mere mortals with his aura. He doesn't want anyone worshipping him as a god."

It was Mitchell's turn to be surprised. "So that really was..."

Melissa nodded. "Enough of that. We need to teach you how to travel the non-local. Ready?"

Still a bit stunned Mitchell agreed, "Sure. Talk me through it.

Mitchell proved a natural. We soon found ourselves on Yiannis' island, in the middle of a large lake surrounded by the southern wilderness of ancient cool climate rainforest, white quartz beaches and lake edge moorland. I shivered. It wasn't exactly warm.

Evie came out to greet us and waved us inside, "Come in, it's out of the wind in here. We're used to it but we don't expect visitors to suffer."

Evie wore little more than a simple sari and I had a feeling even that had been hastily thrown on for our benefit. Yiannis sat at his computer in only his shorts, intent on the code he was typing. He didn't look up. Simply raised one finger for us to wait a moment.

Evie passed us some refreshments, "He won't be long, take a seat." She walked us over to the vast curved sofa that occupied what must have been their living room. It was hard to tell. It was all so open plan. A huge vaulted ceiling of opaque stone rose above us, continuous with the walls.

She saw the direction of my eyes, "It's all made of quartz. Most of the bedrock around here is made up of the stuff."

"Bran and JJ," I guessed.

"Ah, yes, I heard they did the footings for your new home."

"You're welcome to visit," I offered.

That seemed to please Evie greatly, "Love to. It's risky for me to go out into the normal world so I don't get out much."

I could see Mitchell wondering at that. "You're not human then."

"No, the enemy thought they destroyed me and my colleagues long ago. It wouldn't pay to alert them to our presence. They believe they only have to contend with those of us in Boswell."

I knew it would be crass to ask the grisly details though I was curious, so I bit my tongue.

Fortunately Evie must have read my mind, "We were part of a task force of Malakim sent to save your planet from those who sought to enslave you and mine your planet's gold. They boarded our ship and ..." you could see her struggling with the memory. "Though we are immortal they effectively slaughtered some of us, ripping us to pieces. The others they captured, including our commander. They turned us all to stone, a very hard substance we couldn't teleport out of. Then they threw us out of our own ship. We landed on this planet. Those of us who'd been slaughtered landed here. Yiannis' sister Eleni found us. She found all the pieces and matched them up. By a miracle of chance she happened on a way to free us from the stone then she, her brother and father saved us. Yiannis saved me," she looked lovingly in Yianni's direction.

He came over and put an arm around her, "That's a hard tale to tell, even now."

"Isn't it?" she agreed, "But it had a happy ending."

Yiannis passed us a computer stick, "You'll find what you want on there."

"But I haven't even told you what we want yet."

"A way to keep Archon Industries out of your systems," he smirked. "Can't blame me for being curious enough to keep tabs on the newest denizens of our dimension."

"You hacked into our systems," I guessed.

Yiannis shrugged his shoulders as if it was no big deal, "Call it a risk assessment. Oh, if Gareth won't be put out, I've also put on these a few suggestions to improve the next upgrade."

"I don't think Gareth's got a big ego but I'll let him know tactfully. Though I think he'll be grateful if you've done some of his job for him. Anything that gives him more time with Benca. By the way. I have to be honest and tell you I used some of your code a while back."

"I know. I track down the internet connection of anyone who downloads that stuff. It's our way of keeping tabs on anyone who might become a threat to our own systems."

I gasped as I realised, "It was bait."

"Which you skillfully adapted, just as Boswell's seer Simon said you would."

"So my encounter with Thallon and Aranku was planned." I was going to have some stern words with Thallon about deception and lies of omission.

"They didn't know so don't be angry with them Terri. We were keeping an eye on you so it was no surprise when we heard you'd hacked into their communications. We'd forewarned Naira that something like that might happen and we'd asked her to allow it. We just didn't know the when or the how. Apparently it's one thing to see the future but another to account for all the probable outcomes."

Mitchell was strangely silent and seemed to be reckoning on his fingers.

"What's up, Mitchell?"

"I think I'm just putting two and two together. Angels, archangels, Malakim, Archon Industries. Straight out of the gnostic legends of old. Next you'll tell me there's some uber demon called Sakla in the mix."

Yiannis nodded in agreement, "He used to head up Sakla Enterprises but now he's wanted by the international police on too many charges with too much evidence against him. So he's retreated to a mining base he's got on Mars."

The ramifications of that hit Mitchell squarely between the eyes, "On Mars! Isn't that a problem for the Lyreans?"

"Was. Potentially could still be but we've bribed him with what we've dubbed a Midas machine. He can produce as much gold or any other precious metal he desires. The Lyreans have a shaky truce with him, even buy a few things off him with the precious opals they found on their side of the treaty line. Since Archon Industries split off from his old enterprise on Earth he's been happy to land them in the poo on a few things as long as he considers us an asset rather than a threat."

"And his second in command? If I remember my Gnostic legends his name was Polemarch."

"Oh him. Lovely guy, when no one's looking. Still plays the villain well but he's very much an ally now rather than a foe. He met another of Earth's sentient beings and had an awakening you see."

"Good grief."

I considered Mitchell's surprise from his perspective. It must have been like having a whole heap of legends come to life. "We need to get back to Boswell."

We 'landed' in the middle of Lewis's home. Lewis, Dan and Dirk huddled around a table, studying huge volumes of what I guessed were precedents in law. "Found yourselves any loopholes?"

"A few," Dan admitted, "but it all comes down to being honest with our clients that the conditions of using our program change with the next update. How'd you go with the code?"

I patted my jeans pocket, "On me." I looked at Mitchell with concern. He was strangely quiet. "You alright Mitchell?"

"No, but I will be. Guess my world's turned its tables on me."

Dirk frowned, "Where exactly did you two go to meet this Yiannis character?"

"On an island in the middle of a remote lake, way to the south. Out in the southern wilderness," Mitchell answered before I could. "Dirk, we've got to talk."

"Now?" Dirk's frown deepened like he knew that tone.

"Dad's not alive anymore. I don't need to be trying to live by his rules. Would you consider taking over the business Dirk? It should have been half yours anyway."

"Hell no. What do I want with running a company? I like what I do. Far better to fix Dan's problems than make my own."

"Oh, thanks," Dan grumbled but you could see by the sudden twinkle in his eyes that he'd had an idea. "Your delivery company has a vast network around the nation, even international links doesn't it?" he asked Mitchell.

"We go to all states and territories, even a few offshore islands. And we have a shipping link that extends our routes into Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. I've been looking at a trans Tasman link but I'm yet to finish brokering it."

"How much?"

Mitchell rocked back on his heels, "Ah... well if you promise to keep our Dad's name on the business and keep all current employees for at least six months I'll sell it to you for a peppercorn. That is unless Dirk wants a cut from the sale."

Dirk shook his head, "Don't need it. Really. I'm not cut out for that sort of lifestyle. I'd only have to end up giving all that wealth to some charity."

Dan frowned, he wasn't used to such largesse. "But what about you Mitchell? If you're sick of being a CEO I'm sure I could employ you or back you for a place on the board of directors."

"That won't be necessary Dan. I'm packing my bags and heading off to Mars. I'm finished with the world of business. If the Lyreans will have me I'll go there. If not perhaps the Alliance will have some position for me. Worst case scenario I'll head back to uni."

"Doing what?" Dirk was aghast. "You can't leave me. I'm your brother. You're all the family I have left."

Mitchell looked pleased to be wanted but, "I know how to teleport now Dirk. I will never be far away. I want to go and learn about the histories of the sentient species on both planets. There must be a rich fabric of legends underpinning all that exists beyond what we've known. I want to explore it."

Dirk looked at his brother as if he was suddenly seeing him for the first time, "Well about bloody time. I wondered if you'd ever give up on pursuing dad's dreams to follow your own. Ancient myths and legends wasn't it?"

It was Mitchell's turn to frown, "You knew?"

"It was hard to miss that well thumbed Joseph Campbell book you always had stashed somewhere near you."

"So, you don't mind?"

Dirk didn't bother answering that, of course he wanted his brother happy. He turned to Dan instead, "Could I work from Mars as my base? Online meetings for the most part but I could teleport in when really needed."

Dan shrugged his shoulders, "Can't see why not. The technology's there. Terri proved that by hacking into Martian telecommunications. All we need to do is add on a visual feed. We could call the new online teleworking system Mearth."

I rolled my eyes, "Mars to Earth, Mearth. Funny."

Lewis smirked, "I don't know, it's got kind of a humorous ring to it."

Ring to it? I was so over this, "I'm heading home. Let's get Dirk up to speed on teleporting and get out of here.

"Ah, about that," Dan winced. "Dirk, you can't go home. The enemy attacked Shirley's place this afternoon and shot her husband Phillip. There's a good chance they'll go after you too."

Well that explained the undercurrent of anxiety I'd been picking up from Dan, "Everyone's alright though?" It felt like it was but I needed the words.

"Gareth's girl saved the day by donating blood to Phillip. I gather she's now bonded to Shirley as well."

Sounded complicated, "Gareth knows?"

"He was there."

That just left the question, "So who's up on Mars meeting with Tess?"

"Thallon."

Dirk coughed to interrupt, "So where am I staying tonight?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "You can stay at the Parrot's Rest, our place. We've got plenty of space. The food's good too. Rona's our cook."

Dirk brightened at that, "The cook from Bill's pub? Count me in."

"Sounds good to me," Mitchell agreed.

"I'll draw you up a bill of sale then shall I?" Lewis asked before everyone forgot about Mitchell's momentous decision

###

### 22

Thallon found Tess in the Martian city's machining workshop, using a computer numerical control router. She saw him and looked up from the computer screen, "You caught me. Though me and bub can't come to much harm using a computer to do the cutting. Just don't tell Mishka and Tevas I was down here, they'd only worry unnecessarily."

Thallon doubted her mates wouldn't know exactly where she was, given their telepathic links. "Got something we'd like your thoughts on."

"We?" Tess asked, curious.

"Sutton Transport Systems to be more precise."

"And you use the royal we because?" Tess knew this was going to be good.

Thallon huffed, "Okay, so I'm mated. Though it's only an emotional and intellectual bond so far. We haven't acted on it. Dan, the CEO of STS is pushing through the paperwork on a divorce. Terri was his admin though he's since elevated her to business partner. I don't know where I fit in the scheme of things yet but I know Terri likes me. Then there's a woman named Rona, a dark haired beauty who knows how to wield a gun and can cook up a storm. Terri's a bit possessive of me so she's keeping Rona at bay but I think Rona will make moves on Dan shortly. It's all rather complicated."

Tess sympathised, her love life no less rich and entangled, though she wouldn't change it for the world, "Isn't it always around here? Well congrats anyway. I'm sure it will all work out. What can I help you with?"

"Terri had an idea that she mindshared with me. How do I give it to you?"

"I'm guessing you're only telepathic with your mates so far. Hmm. I have an idea. TG," she called out.

TG's hologram appeared. "You want me to interface with Thallon?"

Tess rolled her eyes, "You were listening in."

TG gave her best innocent look, "Your mates asked me to keep an eye out for you, for your safety."

"Of course they did," but she could hardly blame them. She'd do the same if the tables were turned. "Can you interface with Thallon?"

"If Thallon does not object," TG turned to Thallon, "I promise to be discrete and ignore any other data I come across. Just focus on the blueprint or vision you have that Terri's shared."

Thallon wasn't entirely happy with being probed by the AI but he guessed it was no different to a mindshare. "So, how do we do this?"

Tess placed a touch sensitive computer tablet in front of him. "Put a hand on that."

Thallon did as asked, while bringing to mind the vision and details Terri had shared. The transfer only took a moment. He felt, rather than knew, when TG had the information. The AI was already working on it.

"Can you generate a 3D holographic model for me TG?" Tess asked.

The image appeared instantly in the middle of the room. Tess got up from her seat and walked around it with interest. "Using the magnetic flux lines around the Earth for free energy. Brilliant. TG, send this to your friend Cassandra over at Mt Shasta. I'm betting this has been done before some time in the past. All good ideas come around again."

"She's sending me something back, just a moment while I process."

Tess raised her eyebrows, the data must be huge if TG needed more than a second. Then there is was. A new 3D hologram of the Earth but overlaid with lines. "Ley lines?" she wondered.

"That is correct," TG concurred, "These lines are part of an electromagnetic / geomagnetic ley line system. What you're looking at is the world grid, most recently proposed by a New Zealander, the late Bruce Cathie, in the 1990s. Cassandra thinks that if you tap into the magnetic flux lines that correspond closest with this grid system you could optimise the energy of the proposed transport network. Additionally the ley lines would allow you transit between flux lines and to return vehicles in the direction opposite to the flux. A combined and enhanced system. You would still need to factor in fluctuations in the Earth and the Sun's electromagnetic fields. Cassandra says the Atlantians used to monitor the electromagnetic changes in our solar system so as to avoid times of either deficient or dangerously high energies."

"And I'm guessing all their knowledge died with the demise of Atlantis," Tess said.

"Not all. Cassandra says one of their scientists still lives, rescued a while back from a space-time anomaly. She's the chief engineer aboard a spacecraft that patrols our galaxy."

"Can she be trusted?" Tess had heard the tales of Atlantis's scientists being part of the cause that brought down the Atlantean civilization.

### 23

I was setting the table when Thallon returned. I touched his thoughts. He was thinking here was home because home was where I was. I smiled. "What did Tess have to say about my mad plan?"

"That it was an ingenious plan, not mad." Thallon obviously didn't like me belittling myself. He put the laptop he had under his arm onto the table and fired it up. "This doesn't have even a fraction of the computing power of TG but she promised she's compressed the data so the machine can cope." A 3D image appeared in the middle of the table.

"Wow," I looked at the image. It was so detailed it almost looked like you could touch it. "So this grid overlay?"

"Geomantic energy fields," he brought up another layer. "Overlay it with the magnetic flux you mentioned and you have a much more versatile augmented system. It solves your problems of return transits or lateral trips. You'd still need vehicles on the ground but they would only need to commute between the nodal hubs of the network and the clients. The rest of the system could be serviced by automated maglev transporters."

"Magnetic levitation?" I asked for clarity. "But one that doesn't need special tracks to run on," I hoped.

"The flux and grid lines are your track. Better still we know it will work because it's been done before. The Atlanteans perfected just such a system, well the energy grid part, not your flux lines."

My ego was glad I'd come up with something at least partially new. "And that helps us because?" I coaxed.

"Because Tess can contact a surviving Atlantean scientist. We've also got the use of a powerful artificial intelligence called TG and TG's friend, a Lemurian super computer named Cassandra. They're all talking even as we speak."

Lemuria, Atlantis? My mind was blowing and it wasn't just because of the technology. "So a prototype transporter?"

"They'll run computer simulations until they perfect a design. Once it works in the world of mathematics, with all the variables and factors programmed in, then they'll start designing a miniature proof of concept. To do that they also need to build a mini model of all the electromagnetic forces the system would need to contend with. Tess is hoping the scientist, Carmen I think her name is, will remember how the Atlanteans used to monitor such things. If so we can rewrite the code to work with our current technology. Build in warning systems so we know when there might be energy fluctuations that would be a problem to the transport system."

"An electromagnetic and geomantic," I hoped that was the word, "weather forecasting system."

"And," Thallon grinned with no small amount of enthusiasm, "It could be used to predict earthquakes, electrical storms and fluctuations in the heliosphere. Solar wind changes, coronal mass ejections and such like."

Bingo, but "Hang on, if the Atlanteans had such a system why did their civilization collapse?"

"Greed and scientific arrogance. They turned their experiments onto crystal beings and the rest, as you say, is history."

Dan and Rona appeared from the kitchen, food trays in hand. Dan put his load down and came to peer at the display. "You've made progress then."

More importantly it looked possible, "Once we get a prototype I think we implement it within the delivery network you just bought off Mitchell." Speaking of which, "I need to callMitchell and tell him Atlanteans and Lemurians are helping us."

"You can tell him over dinner," Rona reminded me. "Bill's coming down to join us too."

Well that was good news.

Iain, Li Li, Dirk and Mitchell came in the door. "Smells good," Iain declared.

I'll zap you some energy after, I telepathed to Thallon. I didn't want him feeling like he was missing out.

I love the company Terri. And you're all the nourishment I need.

Dan growled to himself.

Thallon put the laptop away and made space at the table for Bill who'd just entered the room, complete with a fresh crop of light brown hair and a matching beard.

"How are we able to see if your wrinkles are all gone if you cover it up with a beard," I moaned.

"I had a beard in my youth, seemed like time to grow it back while I was closeted upstairs," Bill declared.

"But how do you feel?" Iain asked.

"Bloody marvellous," Bill grinned. "So what's for dinner?"

"What about Gareth?" I wondered.

"He and Benca are staying at Shirley's place tonight in case there are any more attacks," Iain briefed us. "I've got a patrol car going past there on a regular basis."

"What about my ex-wife?" Dan worried.

"Elise's not been seen since the trial. Andrew McCullum from the Alliance collected her." Iain took out his phone and sent a text. "I'll check on her whereabouts."

"I don't like any of this," Rona looked pensive. "They'll keep attacking us. We can't have our people out there. We either bring them here or we incorporate their homes and our business into this dimension."

She had a point, "But I still don't know how I did it the first time. It was something in healing Thallon but what?" I said.

"Describe precisely what you did, walk us through it step by step." Rona encouraged. "More importantly, how did you feel towards Thallon?"

I knew what she was getting at. The inspector and his mates had suggested I'd done something intimate. "I wanted him to live. I felt grief but at the sametime I saw him whole and alive again, in my mind." I thought about the process of healing him, "I drew the energy from my belly, from a space within it, but then I realised I shouldn't draw it from myself or I would drain myself. That realisation jumped me into a deep connection with the Earth and the Cosmos. Energy poured into my system and recharged my battery, so to speak. The actual act of healing Thallon was relatively simple. I did it by allowing the energy I'd gathered in my belly to flow through me and then I released it out through my arms, into Thallon."

"You love him," Rona prompted.

"I'd only just met him."

"Don't yes-but me. You have a connection. You feel for him. You entwined him and yourself with the Cosmos and the Earth. That was profound."

Had I? I hadn't realised the extent of what I'd done. Now I did realise I was stunned. What were the implications of that?

Rona gave me a second to ponder that then encouraged me further, "Try it now but include Dan and me."

How did I feel about that? Would it bind us even closer? Possibly. Was that a bad thing? It hadn't been so far. Apart from a few grumbles from a jealous Dan.

"Bloody hell," Dan swore. "I'm not jealous. I'm just no more sure about sharing you as you are about sharing Thallon with Rona. But it doesn't look like we have a choice, does it? Your uber-friendly Cosmos has decided for us."

And who were any of us to argue with the Cosmos. "Okay. I'll give it a go. But what's my focus? Last time it was healing Thallon. I need somewhere to direct the energy."

"Direct it towards our borders. Imagine Shirley's house. You've been there. Don't worry about the business or any of our other homes or businesses just yet. Keep your focus on including Shirley's property into ours, without including anything in between. We don't want to be incorporating other people's property."

Bugger, this wasn't going to be simple was it? What if I stuffed it and did just that?

"Terri!" Dan almost yelled at me. "Stop doubting yourself."

Rona agreed, "He's right. No belittling yourself. No excessive effort or attempts to control these energies either. Trust the connection. Your connection with us, Earth and the Cosmos."

Thallon nodded, "Makes sense Terri."

"Whatever happens Terri we'll work around. Okay? That's what I've got a problem solver like Dirk for and a damned good lawyer." Dan reassured, delivering me a stern look that brooked no argument.

"Okay." But I wasn't going to do this on the floor. "I think we need a mattress we can all sit on. You guys need to be close to me. Preferably touching, I'm just guessing."

"Your bedroom or mine?" Dan waggled his eyebrows at me.

Oh hell, "Yours." I didn't want to associate this kind of activity with my room. What if I went to sleep and accidentally annexed half the state.

"Intent is everything," Rona chided.

"And scope," Mitchell offered. "Set your parameters." He looked more than enthusiastic about what we were about to do.

We left dinner on the table. It was in a terrine anyway. It would keep its heat. We all traipsed into Dan's bedroom. The others stood witness or were they just curious onlookers? Did it matter? I wasn't undressing. Just touching. Rona sat on the bed facing me. The guys sat to my sides. I removed my gloves, "I think we need to link hands." Once we got over the initial jolt of energy I held onto Dan and Thallon and they held onto Rona, momentarily jolting her in turn. I closed my eyes. Who should I direct my intent too? I guess the energies. I'd felt the Cosmos and the Earth when I'd healed Thallon. I sent them my gratitude. Hear me my friend, yeah singular because I felt the energies were that entwined, a single system. I need to keep my friend Shirley and her family and friends safe. She lives at this address. I envisaged it in my mind. I, um we, need to add her home to our lands here so we can keep her safe from those who would do her and her family harm. My mind wandered to imagining the life that now lived at Parrot's rest, the plants and animals, the people. Sanctuary, I affirmed. Then focusing once again on bringing Shirley's home into our sanctuary. I let my awareness sink down through my core, into the Earth, connecting there with something powerful, something that throbbed. Home. I felt the safety there, the support. I felt it rising through me, through my belly then out to the cosmos. I let the flow... flow. A stream of energy cascaded down through the top of my head, pouring into me until it overflowed, out through me to Rona, Thallon and Dan. Spiralling out even further to all our families and trusted friends. I knew what that energy was. Love. Unconditional, accepting love and trust. The surrender of all resistance. I awoke from my trance with a start, staring at these precious beings that now held my hands. I was blessed and grateful for it. I let all my fears and doubts seep away. Gone.

I looked first to Dan, "Kiss me."

I felt Dan's uncertainty in my mind, as if he didn't have the right but thankfully he knew where my own heart-mind was at. His lips touched mine. Hesitantly at first he yielded to my gentle urge. I smiled up at him. He really is that much taller. Then I turned to Thallon. No stranger to his lips we knew exactly what we wanted from each other. He smothered me in a deep demanding embrace. I glanced over to Rona. I couldn't exactly stand on the bed so I crawled over to her. "Hug?"

"Hell, why not," This time we didn't zap each other. Our energies seemed to have balanced. We hugged each other and cried, for no reason other than the release of it. The acceptance of each other. I didn't see either myself or Rona any weaker for it. We were embracing each other and the goddess within each of us. There was power in that.

"Um," Iain interrupted. "How will we know if it worked?"

There was a knock at the door. Bill went to answer it. Iain's phone rang. Okay, something was happening. My phone started ringing too. I saw the caller was Gareth so I answered. "Gareth?"

"Don't get me wrong Terri but what did you just do? There's that fog boundary thing happening all around the house. Except..."

"Except?"

"Well the driveway seems to still extend on to the road and the road continues on in the direction of your place."

Oops, that might have unforeseen traffic ramifications. But, it was kind of cool, wasn't it? "Our own roading system. Wow."

Iain looked up from his phone conversation "Did you say we just acquired a road?"

"From Shirley's house to here," I crossed my fingers behind my back hoping that wasn't as bad a theft as it sounded. Could you be convicted for stealing a state road?

"Well that explains a lot. Traffic's chaos. I think it was more than one road. I've got Andrew on the phone and he's not amused. You're office block Dan, it just disappeared into the mist too."

"Shit, what can I do?"

"I think you'd best leave things as they are. Hang on," Iain spoke into the phone. "Yes Sir, sorry Andrew. Yes I agree." He hung up. "Leave things as they are. The Alliance will hold an emergency meeting and consult with each other."

Bill returned to the room with a stranger in tow, "Um, everyone, this is Stella Watson, she's the local park ranger in charge of the Gumbi Gumbi National Park," he looked at her. "You'd best tell them what you just told me."

Stella straightened her uniform, trying to look convincing? "This is going to sound a bit strange but I promise I'm not spinning you a yarn. I was out watching the owls in the park, doing a headcount of nests, when suddenly a wash of warm energy flooded over the park like an invisible wave. I went back to base and turned the talkback radio on. All hell seems to have erupted in town with a number of homes, an office building, several roads and a couple of city parks having disappeared. Even the banks of the river that flow through town. People try to go to them but they meet a wall of mist and can't get through. I thought I'd go see for myself so I headed out the park. That's when I realised the whole boundary of the park was walled with mist too. But it didn't stop me from driving out. Except...the roading system had changed and it led me here. Do any of you happen to know what's going on? By the way, nice place you have here."

Oh...my...goodness. I hid behind Thallon, too embarrassed to say anything. But, could the Cosmos be wrong about this? I was certain it had its own overriding wisdom. Had it done this on purpose? The answer in my belly was a definite yes. Okay courage. I came out from behind Thallon, "Let me explain."

So we sat Stella down and over dinner brought her up to date.

We were on to a dessert of Lilli Pilli jam and Iain's homemade oatcakes when a man I recognised from the court suddenly teleported into our midst. "Good evening."

Stella nearly spilled her drink in surprise but recovered quickly. We had warned her but whether she had believed us until that moment was another thing.

"Andrew," Iain acknowledged. "How much strife are we in?"

Andrew gave a deep sigh. "We'll get to that but firstly congratulations Terri, you've proved you have a powerful connection with the Cosmos. Please don't do that again without consulting the Alliance first. We have many territories who want to be annexed into our dimension, they're already agreeable."

"But our city council wasn't," I gathered.

"Not by a long shot." He placed a folder on the table and opened it. "So here's the plan. We're going to tell them it was a galactic energy wave that altered parts of their dimension."

"Galactic energy wave," it had a ring to it. "Close to the truth. So you don't need me to own up to what I've done?"

"What we did," Rona corrected.

"I don't think that would be productive," Andrew tapped his pen on the papers, thinking. "They'll suspect because it's well known that places all over the world have been disappearing. It started with Boswell, then part of the Yungus in South American, a remote Indonesian rainforest and a wilderness far to the South. After that we consciously, and in consultation with the faeries, starting annexing the lands of tribes who approached us, asking. This dimension was first occupied by the fey afterall. It was their way of staying out of reach of the enemy."

"Faeries?" Stella made a face.

"Hmm." Andrew seemed to know he needed proof for the newcomer. "Eadaoin, if you're listening. Could you?" he looked around the room hopefully, "Please."

A resplendent being with iridescent wings at her back shimmered into existence before our eyes. "Really Andrew, do I need to keep proving myself to skeptics. It's not my problem if humans lost their connection to the Earth along with their ability to see us." She smiled at Stella, "But you'll do, keeper of owls. We've been watching you for a while. Will you befriend us?"

Stella gasped, "I'd be honoured."

"Good, we'll be in touch," then Eadaoin vanished.

Andrew tapped the table with his pen to get our attention. We'd all been mesmerised. "So if I tell you there are other sentient species on the planet might you believe me now?"

Stella looked chastened, "I apologise Andrew, do go on."

"Well, as I was saying, your city is not ready. We'll meet with the mayor and her business manager in the morning. I suspect the police superintendent will be there as a well and a representative from the government."

Hell.

"Our first option is to put the retrovirus into the water system and bring the whole of the city's population across into this dimension but that has its own problems. Free will being one of them and the fact that if any are possessed by undesirable entities we call Din they'll have a seizure and die. Unless we can identify those people and intervene to help them but given they're probably greedy unscrupulous bastards in the first place they may not want to come over."

And would we want them? I wondered. I guessed he was meaning a number of our city's elite. "Can we partition the city? Ours and theirs? Fill in the gaps in our domain by bringing across those that want to come. It would mean an exchange of properties for those staying in or out. It would need to be an equitable exchange."

"Ah, but, what's in it for them, those that run the city."

He had a point.

"Boswell has free energy doesn't it?" Dan asked. "Could we offer them that?"

Andrew hmmed. "We've discussed giving that to governments before, they're too fearful of it because it would be the end of the energy market as they know it.

"We could take on their homeless and unemployed," Rona offered. "The disabled, ill and elderly. We needn't tell them we can heal them."

Andrew's eyes lit, "Take their unwanted off their hands. I love it. We'll extend the offer to their carers and immediate families. Annex some of the less desirable tracts of land as well. Leave it with me. I'll go and draw up a plan of attack for tomorrow's meeting."

"I could help," Dirk offered, "Dealing with this kind of shit is what I do. Well not usually property changing dimensions but you know."

Andrew looked him up and down, taking his measure. "Good. You can teleport can't you?"

"A newbie but yes."

"Excellent. I'll be back in the morning to pick Terri and Dan up. Dirk you're with me." With that they disappeared.

Stella frowned, "Is it always like that around here?"

"Pretty much." I agreed. "Welcome to Parrot's Rest. We'll find you a room for the night."

Stella grabbed her jacket from the back of her chair, "That won't be necessary. The Parks Department provides me with nice enough quarters. But if I may, I'll be back tomorrow to find out how all this pans out. It's the best entertainment I've had in years, apart from watching owls that is."

"You'll be more than welcome," we took turns at seeing her off.

Mitchell had a particular eye on her as she departed, "I like her."

"Ah, but can you hear her thoughts?" Li Li, who was sitting cuddled up to Bill, asked.

Mitchell was momentarily shocked. "I was hearing her. I thought my imagination had gone for a spin and I was hearing voices."

Dan patted him on the back, "My guess is she'll be hearing your thoughts as well once she gets the retrovirus. Perhaps you should drop over to Boswell in the morning and get a few more doses of the treatment, for Shirley and her tribe of friends and family as well. Then you'll have an excuse to go up to the national park."

Mitchell blushed but it was clear he liked the idea.

With my mind a buzz with all the implications of what I'd done I eventually wandered off to bed. I was surprised to find Rona waiting for me, "Rona?"

"Don't get all panicked. I don't think either of us is inclined to seduce the other. I'm good with my hands and right now I can feel you thrumming with tension. I thought I might massage your neck and shoulders and see if that might help you relax."

Now that did sound nice. "Give me a moment to go and have a shower and get these clothes off."

Once clean I went to lay face down on my bed. Rona sat beside me, oiling her hands with something that smelled divine. "What is that?"

"Rose and geranium. Now hush. Let yourself drift." Her hands found the knots in my shoulders. At first there was pain but it ebbed. Cripes she had strong hands but she seemed to have a feel for what I was feeling, even without our mental link. I let out a deep breath and did as she said, drifting off.

### 24

I awoke to the sound of the alarm clock going off.

"Can I come in?" Dan called out from outside my bedroom door.

A moment's panic but then I realised I was still in my underpants. Rona must have covered me up before she left. "Hang on. I'm not decent." I grabbed my clothes from the day before and quickly put them on. "Okay you can come in now."

Dan appeared in the doorway with more clothes draped over his arms. "You're not wearing those."

"What?" I hadn't been planning to but what the hell?

"To the meeting, we need to impress. Look like we're a force to be reckoned with or they'll crucify us. I teleported over to my old house and pinched a few things from Elise's wardrobe."

He had to be joking, "You can't expect me to wear Elise's things."

Dan grumbled and stood at the end of the bed, giving me his best boss look, "We don't have time to go shopping Terri. The meeting's at nine. I left a note for Elise to say I'd borrowed them since she wasn't there. Honestly Terri, say what you like about my ex but she does have good taste."

I glared at him.

"It's only for the meeting Terri."

Bloody hell. I took the clothes from him and stormed off to the bathroom. I needed another shower anyway to get the last of the massage oil off as well as last night's sweat. Okay, so the red silk blouse was quite nice. And though Elise was taller than me she must have been the same size across the torso because the light grey suit jacket fit snuggly but comfortably. Tailored. Hmm, I'd never worn anything this flash. The matching skirt was longer than I would have normally worn but cut in a way that streamlined my butt. Cool. A tasteful slit up one side made it possible to move. The shoes matched the blouse. Wearable heels. Thankfully Dan hadn't given me stockings to wear. I'd shaved my legs in the shower anyway. I turned in front of the mirror pleased but there was just one thing left. No, not makeup, ugh. Pasting layers of powder and colour on my face was so not my thing. Men didn't have to do it so why should I? But the hair needed something. I quickly and nimbly did my best attempt at a french braid, turning so I could see the result in the mirror. Not perfect but no strands out of place. It would do. I stepped out of the bathroom.

"Turn around for me," Dan commanded, perusing the result. "Nice. Just need these."

He handed me two delicate black stone bracelets, "Put those on and try to touch me without your gloves."

It was then I understood, "Shungite."

Dan nodded, "Let's see if they'll work."

The bracelets were hardly discernible beneath the cuffs of the jacket. "I hope it doesn't get hot too quickly this morning or I'm going to melt."

Dan tsked, "It's only for the meeting. Now, shake my hand." He braced for the jolt but it never came.

I shook my head in amazement, "I've tried this stuff before but it didn't work."

"Ah, but was it from the mine in Karelia, Russia?"

No, and I'd wondered at the time if they'd been cheap fakes. "How'd you get it at short notice?"

"Melissa, she's good at sourcing such things. She runs what might be loosely called a shop in Boswell. Makes a lot of stuff herself but also stocks goods from other makers from all over the dimension."

Well at least I was dressed for the occasion. Hopefully not a lamb to the slaughter.

Dan raised my chin with a finger. "You are my business partner, my equal. You might not yet believe it but, for both our sakes, act it."

Hmm, I'd done drama at school, I guessed I could do that, "Okay. What now."

"We're meeting Andrew McCullum outside the council chambers. Thallon and Rona have agreed to come as, ostensibly, our bodyguards. Given the attacks that will be believable and it will give us numbers. Dirk will be there as my operations manager. I briefed Shirley on your ideas and she's sending a friend she thinks might pull some weight for us. Gareth, because he's on the boards of several youth-justice committees. Benca, as a representative of her people and with the backing of Naira's brother, the president of Karpathia. Lewis of course."

A cast of strength, it sounded do-able. It wasn't just me and Dan facing down the Mayor and the Superintendent of Police. "Let's go then." I didn't fancy trying to eat breakfast on a belly full of nerves and Dan knew it.

As planned we met at the foot of the steps leading up to the council chambers. Our sudden appearance startled the security guard but there was little reason to hide what we were now. With so much of the city now in our dimension the gig was kind've up.

I watched as an ancient but well kept army green 1980s diesel Land Rover County pulled into a parking spot near us. Dad had had a vehicle just like it once. It could have even been the same one but the rego plate said differently. They often brought more money than they had when new. It was all to do with the fact that some smart person had thought to put a Japanese Isuzu engine into them.

An athletic woman got out of the vehicle. Her raven black hair was pulled back into a no nonsense ponytail. She was casually attired in jeans, work boots and a simple tank top of sapphire blue but she strode forth with a confidence and authority that compelled one to miss her attire as merely a mirage. I went over to shake her hand. To double check my jewellery's EMF dampening effect if anything. "Hi, I'm Terri Jones."

The stranger held my gaze with the deepest brown eyes I'd ever seen.

"Zara Vovk, pleased to meet you Terri. Shirley briefed me about your idea to offer sanctuary to the city's less fortunate citizens."

"It seemed like something we could put on the table. They're not exactly going to be pleased that the city's been split into two dimensions."

"Dirk has some ideas too I believe, shall we?" Zara motioned me to the stairs.

I guess we couldn't put it off. Okay, time to switch on my acting.

Frowns and looks of ill concealed animosity met us as we entered the conference room. I recognised the Superintendent of Police and the Mayor, having seen them in the media, but the other officials I didn't know.

"Please, let's sit," invited the Mayor, Devona Malkovitch. "Thank you all for coming at such notice." She looked to Andrew, "I believe you're to brief us on what happened last night Mr McCullum." The Mr was said in a tone that wasn't in the least bit welcoming.

Andrew unrolled a large map of the city onto the table, parts highlighted in pink. "As you can see certain parts of the city became inaccessible last evening. Ms Jones, in a valid attempt to protect one of Dan's employees and her family, sought to draw her property into our dimension. However, the Cosmos intervened and decided that more was necessary."

"Necessary," Devona spat out, "It, the Cosmos as you call it, took the main thoroughfare, the office block where Sutton Systems is located on the edge of the CBD and I believe all the houses belonging to Dan and his employees, homes belonging to several of Ms Shirley Micklewaith's acquaintances, all the side roads connecting them and the whole of the friggin' nearby national park. While it was at it it included the city park and the river esplanade. And you are telling me all this is the Cosmos's doing. Who do we sue?"

I guess if I was mayor of the city I'd be pretty peeved too.

Go for it Terri, put forward our proposal. You'll rankle her less than I would. She won't see you as a threat, Dan coaxed me.

I took a deep breath, "If I may Ms Malkovich, I think we can turn this situation around such that it will benefit both the city and us."

I had her interest, though doubt etched her brow, "Go on."

"What has happened threatens the integrity and viability of the city. But what if we consolidated what's been bounded by the roads that have come into our dimension."

"Take more land and property you mean." Devona countered angrily.

I held up my hand to give her pause, "Hear me out. The city's budget has many calls on it such as services for the elderly, the disabled, the homeless and the unemployed. What if those groups were no longer your problem."

Devona's eyes lit. "What are you offering? Exactly."

"That we take on the poorer quarters of the city and whoever, among the groups I mentioned, can walk into our dimension can live there. They will become our responsibility."

I caught Zara's smile of approval but Devona frowned. "Some have tried to enter the lands around your property. The real estate developer was particularly frustrated that he could find no way in. How is it done?"

Now came the tricky part, giving information but only so much. "There's a treatment that unlocks part of the human DNA but it changes people. It's likely if we gave it to the real estate developer he would no longer want to develop the land. Worse yet he could be one of the rare people who react to the treatment and it could kill him. Even if he survived there's no saying that the dimension would accept him."

"But you think it will accept those from the groups you mentioned."

"Nearly all of them, yes."

The ridge between Devona's eyes deepened, "This is sounding political."

"No," Lewis stepped in, "Philosophical. Our dimension spurns the greedy and competitive. You have to regard others as extensions of yourself."

"Poppycock!" Devona swore. "But if it doesn't want the movers and shakers of this city then that's its problem. Say we went with your idea. How do we stop the Cosmos, who you've so eloquently scapegoated, from swallowing up the more affluent areas of the city?"

"There are extra safeguards we can put in place," Lewis assured. "And allies with expertise who can help us."

"And why, pray tell" Devona glared at us, "wasn't that done in the first place?"

Benca took that moment to let her hood fall, revealing what she was, causing n gasps among the assembled officials, "Because it was an emergency. They didn't have time to consult. They needed to act. Your local pub was firebombed. Terri's home burned to the ground. Explosive charges were set at the offices of Sutton Transport Systems and Dan's house. Armed drones attacked Dan and his colleagues in the street, in broad daylight, and then last night... A man was shot through the heart as he parked his car at home, his two young children in the back of the vehicle at the time."

Devona gasped, she turned to the Superintendent of Police, "Is this true? I knew about the hotel but..."

"It's true," the Superintendent nodded, "And I believe these people also had something to do with the mass healing at the hospital."

The mayor's jaw dropped. "My brother Angelo was one of those patients. He'd been in there already eight weeks with third degree burns after he threw water on a burning pan of oil in his kitchen."

I took that as my opportune cue, "We are sorry for the rashness of our actions but we were desperate for our people to be safe."

More sympathetic now Devona paused to ponder, "And the man who was shot last night?" she asked curiously.

"I saved him," Benca admitted, avoiding the how.

Devona sagged back in her chair. "I can't say I wouldn't have done the same if I'd had the means and the need but there's still the problem that the thoroughfare you've so innocently annexed has split our city into two. Can we even tunnel under it? And at what cost?"

"If I may," Dirk offered, "I have spoken with some of the engineers and builders at Boswell. They've become skilled at designing inexpensive prefab from recycled waste. They've had their state of the art materials put through the most up to date stress and strain testing. They could easily lift an overpass into place that would take the city's traffic up and over the offending road."

"Airlift an overpass," she sounded doubtful.

"They have access to spacecraft that are more than capable of the lift. It can be built quickly and then maneuvered into position within a day. As to your waterway, I've spoken with some of our allies in the Rasselas. They can coax a water source into existence for you. Here," he pointed at a vacant site on the map. "They believe the geology is favourable here, suitable for connecting with an underground river that flows through a seam of gravel and sand beneath the city. A city park could be established around its perimeter. Again there are horticultural experts who can help accelerate the growth of any new trees and plantings," Faeries but he didn't say that.

"You've thought of everything but you've yet to mention the cost."

"No cost to the city but if the city engineers and planners would coordinate with us to ensure it gets what it wants that would be good."

"No cost?" Devona obviously didn't believe that.

Dirk shook his head. "It's the way they work. Isn't it Lewis?" He looked for back up.

Andrew and Lewis both agreed with Dirk, trying to give the Mayor an explanation of how contributism worked but it went straight over her head. She shook her head to try and clear it. Then she seemed to spot someone she knew, in the person of Zara. "Zara, I'm not sure why you're even here with these people but I've known you since we went to school together. You're one of the city's most respected social workers. If anyone has a finger on the pulse of what the bulk of our citizens want and need you would. What do you think of all this?"

"I only have one worry, Devona. What of those of the vulnerable, who the dimension doesn't accept? What provision will the city make for them?"

Devona sighed, "I guess we can do that much," She perused the map and found a patch of council owned ground. "The farmer that owned this land here recently died without having paid his rates and taxes so we took possession. It has a nice vista but is outside of the city's current planning area. I could have it rezoned and developed into a modest but modern housing estate."

"With facilities?" Zara pushed her luck.

"Hmm, a primary school, a child care facility, medical center and a small shopping center. Two buses in the morning and afternoon for those commuting to or working in the city." The mayor offered.

Zara nodded her assent and smiled.

"We may be able to work with your city engineers to reduce the costs of building all that," Lewis offered. "I'd need to check with my people but in theory it's only a bigger version of what we just built for Terri to replace her home that was burnt down."

"Ah, the arson attack." She turned to me, "I'm sorry about the loss of your home Ms Jones"

We regrouped back at Shirley's house, meeting some of Shirley's friends who'd stayed over from the day before. It seemed that Benca and Gareth weren't the only ones out to protect Shirley's family.

"Do you mind if I go change my clothes somewhere Shirley?" I'd brought a bag of my usual clothes with me.

"Bathroom's down the hall," she eyed me up and down, "Don't tell me Dan had you wear some of Elise's clothes."

Dan grumbled, "I really don't understand you women sometimes. It's just clothes. Terri needed to look her best."

Shirley shook her head and laughed. I rolled my eyes and wandered off in the direction of the bathroom. I returned feeling much more my normal self. Jeans, an outdoor recreation shirt and a pair of comfy sandals. I kept the jewelry on so I didn't zap anyone. I'd forgotten and left my anti-emf gloves at home but I was kind of liking the shungite. They complemented the Martian Opal pendant Thallon's people had given me.

We were glad for a late breakfast or was it brunch. Rona was helping Georgia and Shirley out in the kitchen while Thallon and Dan made drinks. Shirley's children were playing in the living room with Eden, not having gone to school for the day due to the dangers our enemy would attack again. The rest of us set the table, finding plates and cutlery. "Well that went well," I noted as we settled down to eat.

"It had to," Andrew seemed more serious than usual. "One of those observers in the meeting was from army intelligence. Worried no doubt that what had happened was tantamount to invasion. We have an agreement with the government not to bring lands into our dimension without first consulting them. They could have taken this badly. As it is I'm hoping we reassured them that it was an accident and that all may benefit from the outcome."

"Shit Andrew, I'm so sorry," had I nearly started a war?

Andrew waved away my concerns, "It was bound to happen some time Terri. If not you then someone else. But I'd best get to Canberra and smooth over any ruffled feathers. If you'll excuse me," he grabbed one of the apple danishes Rona had just brought out and vanished.

"Why did I just get the feeling that what we do has national, potentially even international ramifications?" I asked myself, aloud.

Dan shrugged, "If we're going to revolutionize global transport and logistics I think we do have potential for those kinds of ramifications."

"Global!" I gasped.

Dirk passed me a copy of a draft project plan, "This is where we're at. Start small yes, but eventually, who knows, maybe even interplanetary. It won't replace wormhole travel of course but for economical transport of goods it could be way more efficient."

"Using the interplanetary electromagnetic flux. Is that strong enough?"

"Gratia, one of Tess's mates, has done the calculations and thinks so." Benca eyed the purple blueberry and acai juice Rona had just put in front of her speculatively, "It would remove the need for a spacecraft when only goods are being transported. The service could be automated. No need to subject any pilot to cosmic radiation so that cuts down on our build costs as we don't need to protect against that kind of radiation. Not much anyway. We wouldn't want to cook the goods." She took a hesitant sip of the juice. Her eyes widened, "Not bad. I can drink this?"

"We think so," Rona answered. "Those of your kind in Karpathia can usually drink such beverages once they've munched on one of us."

Dirk passed her a small bottle with an eyedropper, "I nearly forgot, compliments of Jnarn, Boswell's geneticist and biochemist. Add three drops of that to your drink each day. He's hoping it will desensitise you against alliums or something."

Benca looked overcome with emotion, "I don't know what to say. Thank you."

Dirk wasn't going to take praise for something that wasn't his doing, "It was Terri who asked Jnarn if he could come up with something."

Benca came over and hugged me, "On behalf of myself and my mate I thank you."

"I... um, we don't know that it works yet. But it should be totally safe to try."

Gareth beamed at me, "Thanks for thinking of us Terri," we'll keep our fingers crossed. At Benca's puzzled look he added, "For good luck."

I felt uncomfortable with all the fuss over something so simple and obvious so I decided to shift everyone's attention, "So, Zara, you're a social worker."

### 25

Zara talked me into meeting some of her clients. I think she thought I'd worry less about what I'd done if I could see the potential good in our plans. Dan thought we'd be at risk in what he called 'normal-land' so Thallon and Rona offered to act as bodyguards. Zara said she was more than capable of kicking a few thugs if necessary but Rona persuaded her that if we came under fire we'd need more than Zara's mixed martial arts training to save us. I knew one thing Rona was packing was a taser. I wasn't sure anyone outside the forces were allowed one but I kept that to myself, not that she wouldn't have read it from my mind anyway. Rona seemed to know her way around weapons. It was best not to ask. I knew Thallon was armed too but his weapon seemed to be a standard issue Glock. With his sunglasses on no-one was going to assume he was anything other than human. The way he moved proclaimed him as at least paramilitary. We all bundled into Zara's Landrover, since Zara was yet to have the treatment or learn to teleport. Plus it would probably freak out her clients if we materialised out of nowhere.

"So who keeps your four wheel drive going? It looks in good nick for its age," I noted.

Zara glanced at me in the rear vision mirror, "Scarlett looks after Ralph. She's pretty handy sourcing old parts and if she can't she makes her own. You should see her backyard workshop. She's even got an old three phase lathe she scavenged from the local technical college when their machining section was privatised."

"It's a wonder the electricity company allowed her a three phase connection."

"Oh they grumbled. But it helped that the engineering firm next door already had a connection. Scarlett doesn't live in a house as such. She's got a disused warehouse she's renovated and managed to get approved as accommodation."

Another fearsome battle with the local bureaucrats no doubt, "Scarlett doesn't take no for an answer then."

"Hell no. If she gets her hackles up she'll find the facts she needs, experts, even lawyers and battles away through whatever red tape gets thrown at her. But given she's got a few wealthy clients, she keeps their track and vintage cars going for them, she's never short of someone to take her side."

"Who's Ralph?" Thallon wanted to know.

"Ralph Rover, who else? You're sitting in him. He's been with me since Uni days. Never let me down. Oh, except once when the weather was bad and a wheel slipped off the side of the bank out at the old Massey farm. Broke an axle that day. Scarlett found and borrowed an old tow truck and saved us."

Benca frowned, not truly understanding. "Mr Ralph Rover is your vehicle?"

"He doesn't need the mister, but hell yeah, been the best of mates. And he doesn't expect me to do his dirty washing or make inane conversation with his family on Sunday afternoons. Oil, grease and regular maintenance and he's happy." She parked the vehicle outside a simple one story weatherboard home that was badly in need of some paint. "Here we are. Um, Rona, Thallon, I don't mean to be awkward but you two might scare them."

Rona gave her very best sinister grin, "Who me? Scary?" She laughed at that. "I'll be in the vicinity. Thallon you take the back of the house?"

Thallon didn't seem to mind Rona taking charge, "Gladly."

Zara knocked then pushed on the door as if it was a second home, "Delia, It's Zara. I've brought a friend."

"Come in, I'm in the kitchen," a welcoming sounding voice wafted out from the back of the house.

The hallway was a pastel green. It must have had wallpaper once. I could still see a bit clinging to the architrave. The carpet on the floor was one of those multicoloured striped monstrosities from another era, but it was immaculately clean. Though it had a lot of trackwear. Like wheel marks.

The reason for the latter was obvious when we entered the kitchen. Delia was at the table making Anzac biscuits while a red haired man in his early forties watched us from his wheelchair.

"Delia, Frank, this is Terri. She has an idea to put to you I think you're going to like."

"Mum, are those biscuits ready yet? Josh is getting hungry. Hello Zara." A girl in her twenties walked into the kitchen, feeling her way with her hands. She shifted her head from side to side and seemed to sense my presence. "Oh hi, have we met?"

"No, my name's Terri. Pleased to meet you."

She smiled shyly, "You too."

"Ann," Delia interrupted, "Can you go bring your brother? This young lady has a proposal of some kind. I'll put these in the oven and then we'll have ourselves a family conference."

"Will do," Ann felt her way out of the kitchen.

"Ann's our eldest. We adopted her not long after Frank's accident. They said we'd never have kids but we proved them wrong, didn't we honey?"

Frank's adoration for his wife was clear. "You made us a family. I hate to think what would have happened to me if you'd walked out after the accident. I wouldn't have blamed you."

"Now, now, Frank, it was hardly your fault that truck decided to do a U-turn in front of you, in the middle of the highway. And even if it had been your fault it wouldn't have mattered. I'd still be right here. Get it through your head, I love you no matter what. Oh here's Josh."

Josh looked a little ungainly but friendly enough, "H...e...llo."

I went over and shook his hand. "Hi Josh, I'm Terri."

He grinned at that, "T...e...ri. Th...t's a ma...n's n...ame."

He was right but I didn't mind, I'd grown into the name, "It's what my dad called me for short. My real name is Terrence. Now that really is a man's name." Why was I telling him something I usually hid from others? I guess he didn't seem to have a mean bone in him.

Delia put a cup of tea in front of me. She must have made it while we were talking. "Have a seat. Milk and sugar?"

"No thanks, just as it is."

Delia finished handing drinks all round, "So tell us, Terri. What's this plan?"

And so I began our tale.

Sounds of a scuffle out back had Frank suddenly worrying, "What was that?"

Thallon?

Some creep just jumped the fence and was starting to pinch some green stuff from their garden.

"Have you got a vegetable garden out back?" I asked Delia.

"Just some silverbeet, tomatoes and a few chillies."

"Well that noise was one of your neighbours trying to steal some."

Frank looked at me curiously. "And you know this because?"

"Because I'm telepathic, at least with those I'm very close to. I'll probably pick up thoughts from others over time. Even see auras."

"And these people you are close to? They're out back?"

"One is. The other's somewhere. We have enemies. We watch out for each other."

"But we would be safe in this dimension you just told us about."

"Not only safe but better provided for." But was that really what this family needed most? They seemed oblivious to their poverty. Not a bitter bone in their bodies. They were a close knit family. What would be important to them? "Each region within the dimension is different but there's an underlying connection, between the communities, each other and the environment. People can be individuals but they're also part of something bigger. It's hard to explain but life is more integrated, closer, more supportive. I guess that comes in part with the telepathy. People do their own thing, working at the vocation of their heart but contributing that to others. It's not like there's a one on one exchange but..."

"What goes around comes around," Delia guessed. "What about healing? Could any of the healers in your dimension help us?"

Hmm, I didn't want to make outlandish claims. I just didn't know enough about what was possible. " I don't know how much the retrovirus is capable of healing, especially conditions you're born with," I was thinking of the kids as I said it. "So I won't make any promises but, your general health and wellbeing should improve. Older people seem to age backwards to a peak of whatever they were around twenty-five."

"So I'd be immortal in a wheelchair," Frank, understandably, didn't appear to like that idea.

I had a hunch the likes of Sally could heal him but I didn't know my fellow dimension dwellers enough to be sure. "Not necessarily. I won't make promises because I don't know for sure but I have seen at least one miracle."

"The angel who visited the hospital and did that mass healing?" Ann was excited.

"Yes," but what tangible hope could I offer them now? Then I had an idea. "Frank. I'm assuming your accident severed a nerve."

He nodded forlornly, "The electrical signals can't get through the injury."

I'd figured as much. Healing wasn't up my alley but all things electrical were, "I'm not a healer but I have my own special gift. Are you up to me jolting you with a little electricity."

"You mean transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation? It's been tried."

"Kind've but... just with my hands on your back."

He didn't look like he believed me but he shrugged, "Give it a go."

Again I didn't want to get his hopes up, "It's just a little exploratory. It will give me information to discuss with others. Could you lean forward. Uh, Delia, could you hold up the back of his shirt?" She did. And it was obvious where his injury was. I could see the horrendous scars. "Okay, I just need to take some jewellery off. I removed my bracelets and handed them to Zara."

"Sure thing. Ouch," Zara yelped as her hand made contact with mine. But as I suspected she was made of tougher stuff. She didn't complain.

"Okay Frank. My hands aren't cold but this may hurt. Bear with me."

"I doubt I'll feel a thing," but as my hands touched above and below the injury he swore, "Cripes!"

"I won't take long," I reassured. I closed my and envisaged the energy connecting between the two points.

"What's she doing?" Ann whispered to Josh.

"I d...on...t kn...ow."

"My back feels warm," Frank noted. "It's like you've got a sun lamp on it."

"Shh, Frank," Delia chided, "Let her do her thing."

I finally felt a rightness to the feeling in my belly that connected with my hands. I withdrew them from his back.

"My toes," Frank exclaimed, tears flooding his eyes. "I can feel tingling in my toes."

I needed to settle his excitement, though not squash it. "I think I've reestablished a connection at the nerve level but remember your legs are weak from years of lack of use. You'll need physio. No pushing yourself or you could end up undoing what I just did."

"I'll get Hazel on to it." Zara took out her phone and started sending a text. "Hazel's a brilliant physio and massage therapist. She specialises in rehabilitation."

Delia winced, "We can't afford physio Zara."

Zara laughed Delia's concern away, "I think we're in a world of our own making now Delia. Remember what Terri just explained about contributism."

"But we have nothing to offer," Delia moaned

"That's not entirely true Mum," Ann countered, "Rinpoche has taught me much, he's my Tibetan guru," she explained for my benefit, "He thinks I'm ready to teach others, at least Tibetan Yoga."

"I c...an p...ass too...ls." Josh added

"He can too," Zara agreed, "I've been thinking about talking Scarlett into taking Josh on as an informal apprentice. She's got no money to pay him but she'd be a great teacher. I'm guessing we don't need formal quals in this new world we're making. Just the ability to do the job."

Delia thought of something, a flicker of an idea passing through her eyes. "If that's the case and if Frank can walk again. I've..." she hesitated.

"Go on, " Frank encouraged, "The world could be our oyster now, whatever that means. When is a world an oyster?"

We all laughed at that.

Delia got her courage up, "I've always fancied working in a lab. A technician perhaps. If someone could train me and take me on as an assistant. Forensics even. Does your dimension have a police force of some kind?"

"There is, though I think most of the work they do is in the normal dimension," I'd have to ask Inspector Wilson more about his caseload.

"Good," Frank seemed genuinely happy she'd managed to get that out. "Then I can get back to laying flooring."

Delia beamed at me, "We will take you up on your offer Terri. Won't we?" She looked to her family for belated agreement.

"Def...in...ite...ly." Josh agreed.

Ann felt her way to an Anzac biscuit and passed it to me, "Welcome to the family Terri."

Thallon poked his head in the door, with the young backyard intruder. His hands hung onto the back of the young man's jacket and had him dangling above the floor, "What do you want me to do with this?"

Delia gasped, "Maurice, how could you? If you wanted some silver beet you only had to ask."

Zara scorched Maurice with her stare, "Yes, Maurice, I wonder what your parole officer will make of this."

Maurice went white with fear, "Please Ms Vovk, don't tell him. You don't know what they did to me last time I was in. They..." he sobbed. "The other guys in the youth detention center. They all bully me. Please! I'll make it up."

Zara kept her gaze fixed on him though, to my mind, a smidge of compassion and concern showed on her face, "The what, how and when Maurice? Give me the details I'm going to hold you to."

Maurice looked pleadingly at Delia. I think he thought she was playing the good cop in this little drama. "Please Mrs Smith, I'll weed your garden. Even expand it if you like," he brightened as he had an idea, "My brother Jim's working down at Griffith in the orchards. They throw out a lot of scraps of bird netting. I could get enough to cover your whole garden. That would keep out the parrots."

Parrots like Maurice I quietly thought to myself as I watched them.

Delia seemed pleased at the idea though, "That would be great Maurice."

"When Maurice?" Zara reminded him.

"Um, I'll go home and ring Jim now. I'll have to drive down to Griffith and bring the stuff back. I could start this weekend."

"See that you have it done by Monday week Maurice or I'm ringing your parole officer. This is your one and only chance. Understood?"

"Yes Ms Vovk," he tried to turn his head to speak to Thallon but couldn't. "Er, you can put me down now man."

Zara nodded at Thallon. He released Maurice. Who promptly went over to hug Delia. "I really am sorry. I won't let you down. Er, can I actually have some silver beet now?"

"Yes Maurice, you can take a bunch. And tell your Mum I'll be over after for a cuppa." At Maurice's wince she added, "I won't tell her if you do as you've said." No Delia wasn't a walkover either.

### 26

Having said our goodbyes to the Smiths we all piled back into Ralph. "Where to next Zara?"

Zara turned the key and headed back out onto the road, "A lot of the residents of the local old age home get some time out once a week to go to a cafe that caters for the older and more vulnerable members of the community. I know the carers that usually go with them. They're a good bunch. It would be better meeting the residents there than at the home. I don't think the home's management would like the idea of losing them. The business makes a pretty profit from government handouts and what the residents and their families are forced to pay in. Not a lot of profit but enough to keep their shareholders happy. They're quick to prune staffing levels and the residents' perks if their profit margins start to go down."

Hmm, did we need more enemies? "We might need to see if we can find their company some alternate investment opportunities."

"Like the city's proposed development for those people our dimension rejects," Rona suggested.

I could see Zara nodding in the rear vision mirror, "I'll suggest it to Devona. You're right, we need to minimise the fallout from what we're doing. Here we are." She pulled outside the Black Cockatoo Cafe.

We walked up the wheelchair ramp into the brightly painted red and black cafe. It looked busy. A bunch of elderly people in the far corner waved us over, some getting up to rob spare chairs from other tables."

"Zara, it's good of you to join us," announced a cheery white haired lady in a blue floral dress, "And you brought friends."

"Marg, everyone," she acknowledged the others at the table. "This is Terri, Thallon and Rona. Terri's got a wild tale to tell you but I want you to give her the benefit of the doubt because it's all true."

"Has this got anything to do with the no go places around the city this morning? Our bus had to take a detour to get here." the balding gentleman beside her asked.

"Partly Pete," Zara agreed. "Go on, tell'em Terri. I'll go get us some drinks and snacks. What'll you have?"

"Green tea with a dash of cardamon and some honey if they have it," Rona asked hopefully.

"A chamomile tea would be nice," I could do with something to settle my nerves.

"Aren't you going to have something young man?" Madge wondered.

"No ma'am, Terri's all the food I need. Though before her I used to feed on sunlight."

There was a collective gasp of exclamations and giggles from around the table.

I covered my face and laughed. What the hell. I looked to Thallon, "You'd best show them your eyes Thallon."

He took his sunnies off.

More oohs and ahs.

"Wow, are those contact lenses?" a diminutive lady with dyed blonde hair wondered.

Marg leaned forward to study his eyes, "No Lyn, I think they're real."

"He's from Mars," I cut to the chase. "But if I get started on that story I might miss telling you what I came to propose."

A few jaws dropped but they leaned forward to listen. I told them what we had planned. "So, anyone interested?"

Marg choked, "Interested. That's an understatement. You're saying that not only we could get our youth back but also live in paradise."

"Paradise is what you make it," I felt obligated to explain. "It's up to you guys how you want to work it but there are viable models within the dimension already. At the core of it is a regard for each other and the environment."

"These allies you speak of," Pete asked. "They'd help us?"

"Well they've already built me a new home to replace the one that was burnt down in an arson attack. Built it in a day. It was amazing to watch. We're still fitting it out and Rona here's been planting out the gardens. We're aiming to grow most of the food we need. The rest we'll trade with other places within the dimension. There's a market at Boswell once a week where everyone comes to share their excess and seek out expertise to help with their current projects."

"Um, can I ask a question?" Lyn tentatively wondered. She seemed the shyest of the group. "Thallon, if you're from Mars and as rumor has it the Karpathians came from Mars. Does that mean there might still be some Vampires up there?"

There were titters and giggles all round, "Lyn!" Marg exclaimed.

Lyn found her backbone, "Hey, I like vampire novels. I'm not ashamed of that."

Thallon seemed amused, "Yes Lyn. There are vampires on Mars, although they prefer to be called Lyreans. They don't wear black capes or laugh hideously but they are very pale, tall and in need of blood as nourishment. They're generally as nice as you and I, although a little possessive and arrogant."

Lyn shivered and I didn't think it was from cold. The day was already up in the high twenties.

"They're also allergic to garlic and other alliums," Rona added. "But there's an experimental treatment for that."

"They're looking for lifelong blood donors Lyn. It's no short term commitment," Thallon pointed out. "Are you interested?"

Lyn blushed, "Interested but a little unsure. Could I meet one?"

"There is one in the city at the moment," Zara offered. "I'll check with her and see if she's willing to meet you. Right now though we'd better get going. The day is getting on. Are you guys happy to quietly spread the word to the others at the home? See who's interested in the other dimension?"

I was glad she clarified that. I think everyone was currently focused on the vampires. "I'll leave you my card. You can call me or Zara if you have any questions."

We left the cafe and headed out onto the highway. Thallon in the front passenger seat and me in the back with Rona.

"My gut is telling me there's danger headed our way," Rona suddenly announced.

We all stared at her, "What kind of danger?"

Rona closed her eyes to get a better sense, "We're being followed. Vehicle I think. I'd need to go out of my body to see more."

Wow, she could do that?

I could see Zara looking at the terrain beside the road. Was she thinking of going bush? "Zara," do we need to stop and put the hubs in?"

"Nuh, Ralph's fine. He's fitted with constant four wheel drive."

"So we are going off-road?"

"Ralph's no good for a high speed chase. We need to use his advantage. Even if they have a modern four wheel drive Ralph will still be more capable in the terrain I have in mind. Rona, can you talk to us if you go out of your body?"

"Terri or Thallon might be able to channel me."

It was an idea. "Okay, I'm opening my mind to you Rona. Do your thing."

Zara found a side road that headed West.

Rona slowed her breathing then suddenly slumped in her seat beside me. She was out for the count.

No, I'm with you, Rona telepathed.

I picked up her thoughts and relayed "They have a Subaru. A Forester I think."

"Hah!" Zara exclaimed with pleasure. "We've got the clearance. How long have we got before they catch up?"

"They're two Ks back and closing." I relayed. It was weird. I was seeing Rona's panoramic vision overlaying mine. Her spirit was aloft, like an eagle.

"I say we try to make a run for it. To Charlie's place." Zara decided. "It got sucked into the faery realm like all our other places yesterday. She's out the way so if we don't make it and have to make a stand no bystanders should get injured."

Thallon whipped out his phone., "Yeah, put me through. We've got trouble." He explained, listened then hung up. "They're seeing if they can send some help our way."

I wanted to ask who he'd talked to but my mind was focused on Rona's, "Take that fork in the road. Left."

Zara checkled, "Ooh yeah. There's an old creek ford down here. A bit washed out. Hang on, it's going to get a bit rough."

We made it to the bottom and carefully across, just in time.

"They're coming," I picked up Rona's warning.

Thallon looked in the side mirror, "I see them."

We were half way up the hill when we heard the whine of a struggling clutch and then a thunderous clunk as they panned out on the rocks in the creek bed.

From Rona's view I saw them get out of the car, like rats escaping a sinking ship. "They've got guns."

"Shit," Zara swore. "Ralph's panels are aluminium. Bullets will go through them like butter."

Not reassuring but I heard a sound. Or rather Rona did. I saw her look up and gasped. "There's some kind of small spacecraft up there."

Thallon's phone rang and he put it on speaker. "Our forcefield won't stop something as low-tech as their bullets but we can pick 'em off if they get too close. I suggest you get up that hill and get out of there so we don't have to. I'd hate the paperwork," the female pilot declared.

Zara changed gears and kept Ralph climbing up the steep slope.

Thallon kept a lookout in the mirrors. "They're running after us but we're losing them, slowly."

I heard a ping as a bullet glanced Ralph's chassis.

Zara swore, "Bastards! Come on Ralph. You can do it."

Our escort laid down cover fire, driving our assailants to take cover.

We made the rise, finally out of line of sight of our pursuers. I still had Rona's eagle view, "Nearly there Zara. There's a road ahead that crosses our path."

Zara veered onto the road as we reached it, "This is it. This is the road that goes to Charlie's place." She gunned the accelerator to get as much as she could out of Ralph.

The female voice came over Thallon's phone again, "The dimensional portal is up ahead. Don't let the mist faze you. The road is dead straight."

Zara took the voice at its word, driving through the mist at full speed. Suddenly there was Charlie's house.

I think we're there Rona. Come back to us.

Rona took a deep invigorating breath and opened her eyes.

I was still amazed, "I didn't know you could do that."

"Neither did I."

"Huh?"

"I dreamt the how of it last night and just now I knew I could. Like I knew I could trust my sixth sense. I've always had a bit of intuition. It's why I'm still alive. But this is somehow more."

"Well" Zara let her shoulders relax, "Ralph and I are grateful. And thanks to whoever's up there. We appreciate the escort."

"No worries. Maybe we'll see you at the Boswell Market on Friday?"

"Who do I look for to thank?" Zara asked.

"Muire, Kiana let me take the helm today. If you have any more troubles don't hesitate to give us a call."

I looked out the window as our escort did a loop the loop then disappeared.

Charlie was there to greet us in the driveway outside her house, awestruck, "Was that a UFO I just saw?"

It had been quite a sight, "Yep, though technically it's not unidentified if we know what it is. They're friends from our dimension."

"I think I like having friends with toys like that. Come in. I'm just finishing up some work for a client but come and make yourselves at home."

Charlie's house was a vast rambling old timber clad Queenslander, raised off the ground in case of floods and for added ventilation. Wide verandahs surrounded the house. The windows, little more than fly screen netting but they did have shutters in case of a storm. There was even a green fibreglass canoe strapped to the verandah rail, in case we got one of those once in twenty years rain events. I was about to climb the stairs up to the verandah but noticed Thallon and Rona watching Zara with no small amount of concern. We wandered over, "Zara?"

"They hurt Ralph," pain etched her voice. "See here where the bullet brushed him. Tore a chunk out to the aluminium. Poor Ralph," she patted him. "We'll get your other girlfriend Scarlett onto you. She's good with a TIG welder. She'll have you as good as new."

She loves that vehicle, Thallon whispered through my mind.

Yes, I think she does. It was like we were watching something intimate between two lovers.

Rona frowned, joining in the telepathic conversation, Caring that much for a possession is liable to lead to heartache but I can see it means a lot to her.

Thallon had a thought. "Would you mind if I had someone pick up Ralph and have a look at him for you?"

"Oh, no," Zara looked horrified, "Scarlett would be heartbroken if I took him elsewhere for repairs."

Hmm, I could hear Thallon's mental cog's turning, "What if we borrowed her too. Does Ralph have to be clad in aluminium?"

"It's traditional for a Landrover and it has a good mass to weight ratio. It's relatively cheap to repair given the kind of terrain he often goes into and it doesn't rust," Zara was interested now. "What are you thinking?"

"There are other alloys, tougher but not brittle. And there are polymer coatings. I'm guessing the colour is important."

Zara nodded, "I don't want to change how he looks."

"Okay, but will you trust me with his care?"

Zara didn't look fully certain, "Ralph means a lot to me."

Thallon smiled, "I know. Scarlett will be there to supervise."

"And Josh," I prompted.

That cheered Zara, "Josh would love that. Okay, but how are we going to get back?"

Hmm, good question. We'd likely be attacked again. "Thallon, you arrange Ralph's pickup. I'll give Mitchell a call and see if he's back yet with those extra doses of the retrovirus."

"Sounds like a plan," Rona decided. "Now can we get inside? It's blazingly hot out here, even for me."

She wasn't wrong about that. The day was hotter than normal for this time of the year.

The inside of Charlie's house was like a magical labyrinth. Crystals and other assorted rocks and paraphernalia lined many shelves. Was that a Tibetan singing bowl I spied? A dreamcatcher hung over a hand crafted leadlight window above her desk, the only real window in the house as the rest were only flyscreeen. The mats on the polished wooden floor looked like they'd been hand crocheted from scrap materials. It would have to have been a giant crochet hook. Her bookshelves were overflowing, so much so that there were stacks of books neatly arranged on the floor. "You can't have read all those?"

Charlie chuckled, "Not all of them cover to cover but each contains something of importance, otherwise I trade them in at the local secondhand bookshop. The bookstore owner, Natalie, keeps an eye out for my kind of stuff. I always end up getting more than I trade in." She shrugged her shoulders like it was a problem she'd deal with another day. "Have a seat. I'm just finishing off an interpretation for a client." She returned to her desk to finish typing an email on her computer tablet.

While I perused the books Rona went and made a study of the charts strewn all over the table, seemingly impressed. Zara busied herself, finding a jug and going to water some plants on the deck that were looking droopy in the heat. A large computer screen caught Thallon's attention.

"There we go. All finished," Charlie announced.

"You're an astrologer," Rona guessed from the charts and book of Ephemerides on the table.

Charlie beamed, "Doesn't pay much but I love it. Only Western. Not that I don't have the highest respect for Vedic astrology but Western works for me and my clients. I'm not into any particular subtype though. If clients want predictions I'll use Hellenistic, maybe with a bit of Babylonian or Arabic thrown in. For those seeking truths about themselves I use what's called Evolutionary Astrology. It's a fairly recent innovation. Others just want their love, money and career forecasts for the next week. I treat those like a kind of weather forecast. I just use plain old modern Astrology for that. The real fun starts when someone wants me to work backwards to find their time of birth or wants to know where in the world to move to."

Her enthusiasm showed, "What about picking changes in the heliosphere?" I just thought I'd throw that one out there on the off chance.

"Ooh," she sounded genuinely intrigued. "Are you referring to the compression of the heliosphere or are you worried about the dangers posed by the Earth's diminishing magnetic field and the fact the sun is going into a kind of shut down mode."

So Charlie's interests did spill over into the astronomical. "Not entirely shut down. But it could still zap us with an X-class solar flare. Or generate enough solar wind to rip away our atmosphere. But let's put that aside for one moment and consider that compression. We're worried about cosmic rays getting through."

Charlie studied me intently and determined I was in earnest. She wandered over to her computer screen. "Hermione, show me the next outer planet conjunctions that square the sun."

Thallon's eyes widened, "AI?"

Charlie shook her head,"Sorry to disappoint. Only voice activated. I've hooked her up to a number of online databases, both astrological and astronomical. Hermione, look for any major aspects with the fixed star Altair in the constellation Aquila and the black hole in Cygnus." She waited while the screen refreshed. "Hermione, factor into that the magnetic fluctuations of Jupiter and Saturn. Report."

Arcane symbols and a list appeared on the screen. Charlie peered at the results. "Hermione, check for precedents in history."

'None', came the typed reply on the screen.

"Wow," Charlie exclaimed.

"I don't understand anything of what you just did Charlie," I prompted, hoping she'd elaborate on it.

"Well the outer planet configurations I knew about, as does every other astrologer on the planet. But when you said heliosphere it reminded me of a blog post I recently read about the astrology of the predicted grand solar minimum. I added that in and taking into account the known effect of Jupiter on the heliosphere I'd say we're headed for a decisive moment in the planet's soul growth. It could be disastrous. The end of all existence on the planet. Or," she paused for effect, "The biggest opportunity we've ever had laid at our feet."

"When?" was the question.

"That's the thing. Hermione's calculations place the event at 12.15 tomorrow."

"T...tomorrow!" I stuttered. I needed more practice. It was too soon. I suddenly felt a weight of expectation on my shoulders.

Rona and Thallon came over and hugged me. "You incarnated onto Earth for this reason," Rona reminded me.

"You wouldn't have come to this planet if you didn't think you had it in you to help us," Thallon pointed out.

Zara and Charlie looked between us, waiting for more of an explanation. So we explained.

Charlie didn't entirely agree with our summary of the situation, "It's not quite what you think, it's a chance for the cosmic energies to come through, especially from Cygnus. You need to let that happen while protecting the planet. This is a chance for the planet to evolve. Cosmic opportunities like this don't come around often."

"But the destruction of technology. The loss of atmosphere," I pointed out the obvious dangers she seemed to be dismissing.

Our discussion was halted by a deep vibration that reverberated through the house. Zara rushed to the window, "Ralph!"

"Ah," Thallon seemed unworried, "Our lift's arrived."

I went onto the deck to look. "Bloody hell!" A huge spaceship hovered over the house.

Thallon joined me on the deck, "Terri, Nate. Nate Terri. He can probably hear us so I'll say hi on his behalf. We'd best get Zara down with her vehicle so the ship can teleport them on board. It's not the same as we do, via the non-local. It's some high tech way of moving matter from one place to the other."

Charlie gathered up a printout her computer had just spewed out. "I'm coming too. I'm guessing I don't need to lock up."

"No-one in this dimension is going to steal from you," I agreed. "We're too acutely aware of each other for that."

Thallon hurried us along, "Nate doesn't like to be kept waiting. He's probably in stealth mode if he's come in this close to the planet but he won't like the risks. We'll pick up Scarlett and Josh on the way. Then the rest of us can teleport ourselves back to Shirley's."

### 27

Naira found Elise in her new quarters, "How're you settling in?"

"It's all pretty amazing. So much to take in. After Simon dropped me off last night I unpacked then went exploring. Met a bunch of your local scientists in the dining room. They were ever so nice showing me what's what with your local food. All very purple and red."

"It's the chemicals in their leaves that stop them totally freezing overnight. But I know what you mean. Everytime I go to Earth the green of the place overwhelms me. Care to take a tour of our city?"

Elise had been waiting on this. Simon had said the facilitator of their city would meet with her in the morning. "Please. So you must be Naira."

"I am indeed. Sorry for not introducing myself. I get so used to the telepathy and the connection we all have with each other that I'm beginning to forget such niceties. Welcome to our planet Elise Sutton."

"Elise Williamson. I've reverted to my maiden name. But please just call me Elise."

"Maiden name?" Naira looked at her quizzically.

Elise figured there were going to be a few such culture gaps. "On Earth, when a woman marries she takes her husband's surname. Patriarchal nonsense if you ask me. Goes back to a time when women were considered property. But it's still what's done. Now I'm divorcing Dan I can go back to my original name."

"And you are ready to move on in your life?" Naira hoped.

"Definitely."

"Then come this way, I have much to show you."

An hour later they reached the medlab. "I'm hoping you might be able to help us here. It's a small facility. We don't get sick and if there's an accident the medical staff from the nearby mining camp usually come or if it's minor Belinda does a bit of first aid. There are currently only two ongoing patients. Both in a medically induced coma. They were tortured. I've repaired their limbs using nanotechnology I'm familiar with. It's how I built the automated protectors, some of them you might have already met."

Elise had, "Seren said she was what I might call an android but that she was built of self-repairing silicon based cells. If you've used that technology how have you meshed carbon based with silicon based?"

"With some difficulty. Emily and Steve who are shamans worked with the life force of this planet, ably represented by Callan. Together they coaxed the cells to integrate and not reject each other.

Shamans? Talking to the life force of the planet? Elise did her best not to roll her eyes.

Naira laughed, "It's alright Elise. I sense your skepticism but once you spend more time with us I think you'll find there are many fanciful things you may need to accept as fact."

"I'm always open to evidence and what I can observe myself." Elise reassured. It wasn't like her last day on planet Earth hadn't been extraordinary in itself.

"Excellent. Because we now face the next hurdle in their healing. We're afraid their minds might be gone."

"Post traumatic stress disorder," Elise guessed.

"For Erik Hjálmarsson, yes. He had his arm sliced off, a little piece at a time. His torturer used a hot saw that sealed the wound by burning it every time he cut. But for the most severely injured of the two perhaps something worse than PTSD. He lost all his limbs the way Eric lost his arm. His suffering was extreme," Even so long after the event Naira turned a little green at the telling of the tale. "Emily says his soul has flown. She wants to invite a walk-in. In which case we'll need you to assist in his adjustment."

Elise took a deep breath. It was way more of a challenge than she'd anticipated, "I'm not a psychiatrist."

"We have access to one of those. Leigha thinks you can use your ideas of using sound to affect the mind to enhance their recovery. Monitor changes in their brain scans. We're particularly worried because neither was a paragon of virtue before their torture. They worked for the local mining camp and they are, how should I say, greedy opportunistic bastards."

Elise was liking Naira, "GOBs, we could make it a new acronym to describe some of the more unsavor leaders and CEOs on Earth."

Naira laughed. "We could indeed. I'll have to tell my brother Zak. He's the president of Karpathia. He'll see the humour in that. So, Elise, what' you say? You can have any equipment you need. Just let me know."

"I'll need to build an acoustic healing chamber."

"Consider it done. Give us the specs and we'll build it for you."

### 28

We returned to Shirley's to find a large amount of noise coming from the back yard. But it was a happy noise, complete with hoots and hollers. We went to investigate.

Shirely's backyard turned out to be a small paddock, devoid of vegetation apart from some tenacious buffalo grass. A game looked in progress.

"What's going on Shirley?"

"Rugby League. A modified seven a side. It's usually thirteen a side but we were a few short. They've just been warming up for a match. Phill's captaining the blokes while my sports savvy daughters are captaining the opposition. Or I should say Eady-May is heading up the ladies team. Joan's going to be doing the refereeing. She knows the code in detail. It would be a brave person who challenged her call."

"Guys versus ladies? The guys are bigger and stronger. Won't our side get trounced?"

"Not necessarily. Take Fionnalagh for instance. She's neither small nor weak. And Helena I wouldn't want to cross. Plus we've negotiated that both teams may use their metaphysical gifts with a couple of conditions. No metaphysics if they're in possession of the ball and no teleporting forward. It might sway things our way as the guys agreed to the amended rules before they realised Tyra, from Boswell, was bringing her daughter Astra. I think they thought we'd just be doing a bit of teleporting."

"And Astra can.... ?" do what I wondered.

"She was once an incarnation of the Morrigan or Morgana of old Celtic legend. She can call up the dark, to either wrap around us or blind the opposition."

"Declan's here," Thallon sounded surprised. "He was a professional in the American Football League before he became a field geologist and paleontologist. That's his best friend and fellow scientist TJ. He's from a Central Australian tribe called the Arrente. And that's Kjartlan over there on the boundary."

Dan was on the guys team too but I didn't recognise the rest, "Who's the guy in the war braids? And that blonde guy with him seems to have his back."

Thallon shrugged, "No idea."

Shirley knew though. "The two warriors call themselves Thex and Arion. The others introduced themselves as Hideo, the headmaster from Boswell and George. He's a mechanical engineer."

"And our team?" I recognised Fionnalagh. The rest I didn't know, apart from Eden. Who knew the gentle child carer would be on for a match of rugby?

"Our side's Karina, she's an electrical engineer from Mars; Astra; Fionnalagh; Helena, a geneticist who lives in South America; Phoenix, a journalist from Boswell and Eden. We're one short."

I recognised Phoenix now. She'd been the one wanting to interview me. I'd have to catch up with her after the game.

"So what are the rules?" Rona asked.

"See those two painted lines across the ground. There's one per team, called try lines. The aim is to get the ball to the other side of the opposing team's try line. If you can kick it between those goal posts, up and over the crossbar, you get extra points. Don't ask me for all the rules about tackling or how scrums work. I haven't a clue. Just get the ball off the opposition and run with it. The opposing team will try and stop you by tackling you to the ground. If you think that's about to happen pass the ball to one of your teammates but whatever you do make sure it's to someone either beside you or behind you. If you pass the ball to someone in front or knock the ball in front of you your team loses points. Same goes if you teleport forward. You can kick the ball forward, preferably either between the goal posts or at least onto the other side of the opposition's try line.

Rona swore, "Who made up these rules? No, don't answer that. So, let me get this straight. Get the ball, run with it, don't let the opposition get it. Get it to the other end of the field and don't get flattened in the process. If you can, kick a goal."

"Yep, that's pretty much it. Anything else, like getting a free kick or a penalty, Joan will let you know by blowing her whistle. If she does that the game stops while Joan gives her judgement. There's usually a whole heap of other rules about where you can be on the ground, boundaries and such like, but we're not worrying about that for this game."

Rona looked intrigued, "And our goal post is?"

Shirley pointed, "That one."

"Uh-huh," Rona strode out to join the friendly battle. The rest of us went to join the rowdy spectators, where we could offer useful suggestions, encouragement and not so politically correct critique from the sides.

Joan threw a coin into the air and the game began. At half time Shirley and I went and set up the barbeque.

"You know, I don't really fancy meat tonight Shirl."

Shirley laughed. "Neither does anyone else. I'm told it's a side effect of the retrovirus. Our taste buds start telling us the kind of life the animals we eat have had and how long the meat's been around since the animal was killed. Unless it's freshly and reverently killed wild game the meat is going to taste like shit. The Boswellians, in particular, eat a mostly plant based diet. So Georgia and I have prepared some lentil burgers, Swiss rösti made with sweet potato, honeyed parsnip and carrot chips, tempura battered eggplant steaks and a couple of fresh salads. Iain's coming around after he finishes work, to 'man the barbie' as he put it."

My stomach sighed in relief. Though I still had more than a few knots in me, all to do with what was coming at us tomorrow.

Shirley patted me on the shoulder. "I know you're stressed. It's alright. Thex briefed us earlier. He said it would be best if we enjoyed ourselves in the moment and let the morrow do it's thing."

Glad he wasn't worried. Hang on, how did they already know? Then again, was that a silly question?

"Here," Bill passed me my favorite cider. "Get that into you. The second half's about to start."

### 29

I'd managed to distract myself for some time by watching the rugby and meeting many new people but now I was back inside my part of the complex that was 'Parrot's Rest.'

Who won the game? No-one really knew as the game had descended into chaos, what with all the teleporting, Helena shapeshifting into an eagle at one point and Astra periodically hiding our side at opportune moments. She figured as long as she wasn't holding the ball a bit of concealment was within the rules. Fionnalagh had flattened a couple of the guys during tackles. Mind you, our players had ended up at the bottom of a few heaps as well. We'd occasionally had to stop play to let Emily and Sally heal a few cuts and scrapes. But the evening had been an enormous amount of fun.

I plonked down on the edge of my massive new bed. Why had we been supplied with larger than normal king sized beds? I was guessing it was a bit of forward thinking on the part of our allies but things hadn't progressed that quickly for me and my mates. Thallon seemed happy to get to know me first and wasn't pushing me. Rona and I did the uncomfortable dance around the fact that we were both female, in territory foreign to both of us and complicated by the fact that Rona's culture frowned on such relationships. Dan desired me but kept his distance out of some old fashioned idea that he was still 'owned' by his former wife until his divorce officially went through. Personally I thought the fact they were both agreeable to the divorce and pushing it through as fast as they could meant they were pretty set on making new starts in their lives. Wasn't there such a thing as an 'unmarriage' that could be done, with the universe, god, goddess or whatever you wanted to call it, as witness?

So, with the evening breeze gently blowing through the open windows of my upstairs room, I lay alone on my very big bed, pondering what tomorrow might bring. What I really needed was sleep but with the ongoing strategizing and what-ifs playing through my mind that was unlikely.

I felt Rona about to knock on my door but beat her to it, "Come in Rona."

She was carrying massage oils and towels, "You're not sleeping."

Were my thoughts keeping her awake? "I would have thought, with the pounding you got in the rugby match, you'd be out to it. I should be massaging you, not the other way around. Not that I know how. You know I appreciate this but there's nothing I can do for you in return."

Rona sighed, "It's not about payback. Whether you or I like it or not we're part of a seamless whole; you, me, Thallon and Dan. I feel what you feel and the other way around. It's no different to two distinct body parts. The liver removes the toxins from the food we eat. The stomach breaks down the protein. The gallbladder releases bile to help break down the fats. None of them worry about paying for the work of the other, it would be just plain silly. And anyway. You might not know how to massage but if you put your shungite bracelets on you can rub a little liniment into my sore spots. I was a bit pummelled. I'm blaming Dan. Him I can get back at."

I laughed at that. "Okay, deal. But I think I'd better rub your liniment in first because once you start massaging me I'm liable to go off to sleep."

"Deal but may I ask one more thing of you?"

"Sure," then I felt it. She was lonely too. The world might cease tomorrow and as tough as she was Rona had no-one to face it with. "Stay. That's what you were going to ask wasn't it?"

I felt the warmth and appreciation of her response before she replied, "Thank you." She laid the big bath towel on top of the bed to keep the oil off, disrobed down to her underwear and laid down. "The liniment's in the jar. Sorry it's a bit strong smelling but it should dissipate."

I shrugged, "What do I care if I'm asleep?"

"Too true," she winced a bit as I gently worked around the bruising on her backside. She tensed momentarily then purred as it released. "That's nice."

I worked my way over her back and extremities, enjoying the quiet companionship. There was a oneness and simple camaraderie to it.

I enjoyed my turn, nearly drifting off when I suddenly became aware of Thallon, waiting uncertainly outside. "Um, Rona?"

"Yes, I sense him too. I guess I'm fine with him seeing me like this if you are. We can always gang up on him if he misbehaves."

I didn't think Thallon was the type to misbehave but the thought of me and Rona ganging up on him was rather amusing. Well don't dither out there Thallon. We won't bite.

I'm not so sure of that. What do you mean by ganging up? But he came in anyway. "I was wondering if you'd mind me going into shut down mode beside you?"

Thallon's version of sleep was to shut down his internal electrical activity so his silicon-based nanite cells could effect repairs but there was something more. "You're feeling lonely too." I didn't really have to ask, I knew.

So the three of us settled to sleep, or shut down. Thallon lay down on his back and did as promised. I curled onto my side facing him and put one arm across him. He was warmer than I thought he'd be. I guess all that repair activity generated some heat. Rona arranged the light quilt cover over us then spooned around me.

Dan realised what we'd done and his swearing broke through my drifting thoughts as I snuggled into my welcome pile of warm bodies. "He'll listen to you Rona," I prompted.

Rona, as requested, took charge, Get your arse in here Dan and you'd better have your underdaks on. I don't want to wake to any hard warm flesh pressing up against my butt.

In due course Dan turned up, closed the bedroom door and came to bed, snuggling up against Rona.

I let go. Everything felt right with the world, even if only for one night. Tomorrow would bring whatever it would bring. I slept. We all did. And no-one seemed to notice the pervading smell of liniment.

### 30

I awoke with a need to embrace the sun. I disentangled myself from between Rona and Thallon and walked out onto the deck. The sun was just rising over the distant treeline of eucalypts, desert pine and mulga.

I took a deep breath and stilled my inner being, relaxing my neck and shoulders. Letting my awareness sink into my belly, down to the base of my spine, into the core of the Earth. I felt the goddess's welcoming embrace. "Mother," I murmured, for here was my cosmic mother. The sun was my lover and the center of the universe my father. I stretched my awareness up through my crown to connect with it. What do you want from me? How can I help you today?

Just be, came the definitive answer. Be with us and be. Allow us to connect with you. Do not try to control or resist our energies, ride them.

"So be it," I breathed out the thought like a prayer on the wind.

Thallon came to stand with me, "I thought nothing was happening until just after midday?"

"So did I, but it's already building. I can feel the compression on the heliosphere. It's like a hot weight pressing down on me. We need to warn our allies."

Rona, also now awake, handed me my phone. I stared at it in wonder. The seamlessness of the help and support around me. I took the phone from her and made my call, "Andrew? It's beginning. It's telling me to ride it. Not control or resist. I'm connected even now," I looked to my mates around me. Even Dan was now on the deck, waiting. Adoration poured out of me towards my mates. They were my support but I was going to need more, much much more, if we were going to survive this day. "Andrew, I'm just the connection. The plug in the socket so to speak. I'm not asking. I'm telling you. If we're to survive, if we are to use this as an opportunity rather than the enormous threat it appears to be..."

"You're going to need all of us to connect with you," Andrew guessed.

"Yep," that about summed it up.

"Leave it with me." He hung up.

No sooner had we had breakfast than people started turning up at our door. A shaman named Yaguar from the Yungus, Emily and her mates from Mars, Melissa with her husband Rob and son Adin and several beings of races of beings I hadn't a clue. The blue green man said he was Arcturian, in an artificially created human body if you please. There were Lemurians, Atlanteans and some race of beings called the Shang who could have been Tibetans except for their conical shaped heads and almond shaped eyes. Several professed to be from a dimension called the Malakim, sort of angels, who had taken physical form to help us. An odd assortment of animals turned up that the others said were Meta beings, an extremely highly evolved group of beings who didn't want to be worshipped so they appeared in disguise so as to not overwhelm us with their aura. A huge man with a New Zealand accent said he was a Tohunga, the Maori version of a wiseman. Ang represented the Delphines, a race of seagoing angels. And in my gut I knew there were numerous unseen beings gathering as well.

Best of all they all had connections with their own people and races. I might act as the network hub for this not so little drama but these people would be my nodes. Frankly I was a little overwhelmed. Weren't these people more qualified than me to deal with what we faced?

Melissa tapped me on the shoulder, "Remove your bracelets and come with me. Emily and Steve want to cleanse you of your self doubt before things get critical."

Their idea of cleansing was to sing a rhythmic chant. Steve did most of the music while Emily felt my aura with her hands, removing obstacles and taints as she called them. I let go and let them do their thing while I checked in with the sun. I could feel it relaxing and letting go too. It wanted a nap. Soon, I promised. I'll be with you.

Sleep drags me under but it is as it should be, the sun reassured me. There are cosmic energies you must let through. Earth's evolution depends on it. But I will not leave you on your own. Let me introduce you to my friends. Other stars who have agreed to help you on this day. This is Altair. He will give you the determination and strength you need. I heard Emily gasp. I felt the change in my aura and figured that was what had startled her.

And this is Alrisha, she will help you unify your support group. Canopus, transforming evil into good. From the constellation of Leo, North Asellus lends its energy, patience, courage and no small amount of defiance. Praecipia, in Virgo, generous, noble, fearless and responsible. Zaniah, a gentle lovable soul who will help you bring order to the chaos. Spica will bring you good luck. Arcturus, inspiration. Antares, the spirit of adventure. Sador, the hidden one who will bring you the words of command you need. And finally my friend Skat, an unfortunate name I agree but she will bring lasting happiness. I must go now.

Already? How had so much time passed?

Time passes differently for me. It is already past midday. I will return.

I felt him ebb away though not entirely. He wasn't dead, only sleeping. I guess even in his sleep state part of him was still functioning, thankfully for us.

Hands touched me; Rona, Thallon, Dan. Thallon my conduit and amplifier. Dan my ground. Rona my shield. I felt them jolt as they connected with me. My eyes were closed but I was aware of every soul presence, if not personally then at the least their existence and willingness to be with us. Hands touched us. Hands touched them, and so on. None of them flinching from the energy that rode us. Metaphysically etheric hands connected us to other beings throughout the planet, the solar system, and out into the galaxy. Out to the center of it all the great galactic center, the black hole in the constellation of Sagittarius.

Cosmic energies beat down on us. Evolutionary rays from the constellation of Cygnus. Beneficial energies from our sun's best friends.

I allowed them.

I felt the hot breath of electric energy, like flames dancing upon my skin. I just had to trust I would survive this. We would survive this.

In my mind I started up a mantra; surrender, acceptance, love and trust.

"Surrender, acceptance, love and trust," the network of beings with me picked up the mantra and reverberated it outwards. Wave after wave rebounded on us, healing old wounds, old pains, forgiving past hurts. It washed away the distinctions of race and creed, of gender and worth. We were one being, one galaxy, breathing as one, being as one. I yielded into the boundlessness of it... and I awoke.

My eyes flashed open. The world around me was awash with a dazzling display of light. In the ground of my being I felt well. We were through the change and nothing, nowhere was ever going to be the same. Hello Helios, I felt the sun once more awake but with the earth's turning it was leaving us for the day, hours had passed. He bid me good night but our connection was still there, a faint thread in the background of my heart.

Rona's eyes shone with love as she hugged me, "I will never forget the massacre that destroyed my village but I've let go of the pain. There's a space in my heart where before there was much anger."

Thallon embraced me next. "We didn't fry. I feel drunk on all that energy."

I chuckled, "No we didn't fry did we?"

Dan kissed my cheek, "I knew you'd do it."

I shook my head in denial, "There was no I."

Dan shrugged, "Whatever. I guess we can't get back to work today. We may as well join the celebrations."

Only Dan would think of work at a time like this, but that was him, grounded in the practical needs of the everyday. "Dan, I'd like to resign. I'm sure you can find someone to fill my position."

Dan's jaw fell in shock, "Why, what have I done? What of our new project? It was your idea."

"Bloody hell," I should have realised he would take it personally, "It's not about you or the job and I'm happy to consult but...," I took a deep breath, "I think there are other things I should be doing, like using my gift. I've always suppressed it, trying to live with it in the background. I want to explore all that I am and I want to learn off of Emily. She can teach me how to be with it. I'm not planning on going anywhere."

Dan relaxed his panic, "Phew, that all makes total sense. Go for it Terri. But you're still my partner in the business. I expect you to come to some of our board meetings and maybe represent me when I'm out on business."

Compromise, "I can do that." I looked around at all the happy relieved faces, the hugging and no small amount of intimacy breaking out all around us. "Shall we mingle?"

"Mingle. I'd like that."

We followed Roan and Thallon out into the crowd to join the mutual back slapping and congratulations.

### 31

A month later...

Dan was seated in his favourite comfy chair, under shade of the inner deck, working from home as he checked the stock markets, currency exchange rates, daily updates and assorted correspondence. To look at him you wouldn't have known he was now the equivalent of a god-zillionaire. Truthfully, probably no-one except Dan's Boswell accountant Annie knew his true wealth.

How had he suddenly gotten so rich?

That was down to the wisdom of a guy who went by the singular name of Polemarch. He convinced Dan, and our allies, that it was better to keep the enemy close so as to keep an eye on them. So Polemarch had brokered a deal with Archon Industries whereby Dan's new transport system would utilise their distribution networks. Afterall, they had all the infrastructure. Sutton Systems just had the technology. Polemarch had Lewis tie up the partnership in so many legal safeguards it made my head spin. But I didn't have to deal with it.

Dan was pooling his new found wealth with that of Simon Harris from Boswell. Where Simon had found the money for his many investments was enough to make any woman blush. He'd been on the planet long enough to invest wisely and reap the benefits. Together Dan and Simon helped to fund needed infrastructure within our own dimension.

The wave of energy that had hit the planet, during what had come to be known as the Helios event, had caused a spontaneous shift in outlook for many on the planet. Protests had erupted, many demanding a greater say in their democracies and holding the corrupt and culpable to account. Some communities had suddenly disappeared spontaneously into the faery dimension. Governments worldwide were now coming to see it as a natural course of events as change now happened at a rapid pace.

The Earth too was undergoing its own change. The heat from the short-lived compression of the heliosphere had caused a sudden and rapid warming over Antarctica. The ice was melting faster than ever and as the shoreline of that continent changed so did the ocean currents around it. Days down there were now reaching between 10-15 degrees celsius. Botanists were reporting the ancient seed of long frozen beech forests were now sprouting.

All over the world the weather was now milder and no-one had seen anything more than a category three storm in weeks. Even here the days rarely hit 40 degrees. Frankly I was hoping we would see an end to the 50 degree summers we'd been having.

Of course, the melting of Antarctica was causing problems with shorelines around the globe. The United Nations was busy relocating people as the waters rose. Fortunately upheavals in the Earth's crust meant a couple of new land masses were rising out of the ocean. One between Madagascar and Sri Lanka. Another off the coast of New Zealand where the old continent of Zealandia was rising. Off the coast of Belize was another one. There was currently a lot of volcanism and shifting along fault lines but when things settled down it looked like there'd be plenty of space for everyone.

In the meantime many countries were opening up their borders to all the temporary refugees.

New plant and animal species were appearing every day now. It seemed the cosmic rays that had come through had caused much genetic change. There was even some thought humans had changed too and that new babies might need to be classified as a new species.

And me?

I'd been taking lessons from my mentors as well as brainstorming ideas for electrical innovations with Karina from Mars and Ally from Boswell. It was so much fun not being restricted by location. I could go anywhere with a thought. It was like the advent of the internet, opening up a world of possibilities I might not otherwise have easily accessed.

So here I was, helping Rona plant out our inner courtyard. And my job? Well to give a little electromagnetic stimulus to the plants to help them settle in, grow and prosper. Zara had turned up as well, having taken the day off from her busy social work, "How are the Smiths doing Zara?"

Zara tapped the mango seedling out of its pot and handed it to Rona, "Really well. Anne's gone to the Himalayas and is studying with the Shang. After that she's enrolled with the Institute of Metaphysics in Karpathia. Sally offered to heal her eyesight but she's put that off for the moment. Something about her other senses being more acute. She's worried she might lose that if she got her sight back and relied on it too much. Anne reckons she 'sees' more now than she ever did."

"And the rest of the family?" I picked up the watering jug and gave the mango the nourishment it needed.

"Pretty much doing what they always wanted. Mr Smith spent some time in Boswell, looking into their building methods. Now he's heading up his own crew in the city. He does a fair bit of the flooring himself. There's a lot of construction work going over on the land Devona set aside for the vulnerable who didn't join our dimension."

"Including a new youth center I hear."

"Gareth reckons it's better to get kids early before they go off the rails. They've got a number of programs going to help the kids do better at school, access at least one good meal a day and spend their free time constructively and enjoyably."

"You guys talk too much shop," Rona moaned. "Where do you think this pomegranate should go?"

"Needs full sun," Zara suggested.

Li Li came running out into the courtyard. "We've got a drone incoming."

"Shit," Rona went running for her assault rifle.

I took off my bracelets, 'armed' and ready.

Dan went running outside. Why the eff couldn't he stay behind me and Rona? But I'd have no chance of convincing Dan of the sense of that. He was still being 'the man' even if we had the weapons. At least Zara had the sense to grab a shovel as a weapon and stay behind me. Li Li, knowing her strengths weren't in battle, stayed well back.

Rona headed me off before I reached the front door. Which front door? Hell if I knew, we had many.

She held up her hand for me to wait. "I can shoot it from here." She opened the window shutters and poked the muzzle out.

"Hold fire," Dan yelled. "It's the post."

What the ...? "Did he just say post?" I wouldn't have thought we'd get mail deliveries through the portal. We'd rented a secure post box in the city for our mail.

"It does have the Australia Post colours and branding," Zara conceded.

Rona relaxed but kept her eye on the target.

"What is it?" I yelled out to Dan.

"My divorce has come through."

I rolled my eyes. His divorce had come through had it? I guess it had to be delivered to our residential address and someone, somehow, had found a way.

Dan wandered back inside with the envelope he'd just electronically signed for. "Are you going to hit him or shall I?" I asked Rona.

Dan looked at us surprised. "What?"

"Bloody idiot," Rona swore, she took her gun and stormed off to put it away. I guess it was better than thumping our supposed mate.

"You're not fully immortal Dan. They can still blast your head off. You've got three mates perfectly capable of defending you, two of them here, but oh no, you had to go racing out. Have you thought for a minute that Rona and I, even Thallon, not to mention your company, don't need you pulling that macho shit."

Dan's jaw flapped.

I followed Zara back to the garden before I said anything more.

"What about we put the pistachio over here?" Zara did her best to pull me back into the moment.

We paused when we heard a cough behind us.

"You were right. I'm sorry."

It was my turn for my jaw to flap, "Apology accepted. Don't do it again. Take the lead in our projects Dan, not our battles."

Dan's lips twitched. "In that case I think the pistachio should go over there. Like the pomegranate it needs a lot of sun and since it's deciduous we don't want it dropping leaves in the pond." He cleared his throat.

"I agree," Rona was standing there, arms crossed, not entirely calmed down but getting there. She handed Dan a shovel, "If you can take a moment from your emails."

Dan bit his lip and did his best to look cute but manly. He took the offered shovel. Wise man.

We finished planting the main courtyard trees and had moved onto planting some gingers, cardamon and turmeric in the shade. The day was starting to reach its zenith. It was getting hot.

Zara's phone gave a single chirp. She took it out of her pocket to see what the message was. "Someone named Tess wants to know where I want my delivery."

It seemed the day for deliveries. At least we had a warning about this one. I had a sudden intuition and got excited. "May's well accept it here."

Zara looked at me, sensing my enthusiasm but not knowing why. She sent a text back. "I told her to drop it off at the bottom of your drive."

"Let's go see what it is," I encouraged.

Dan and Rona gave me wry grins, having picked up on my thoughts.

Zara looked between us, "What?" she sounded a bit exasperated.

"What have you been waiting on Zara?" I coaxed.

Understanding dawned on her face. She raced out yelling, "Ralph!"

A flash of light and the vehicle in question appeared at the bottom of the drive, accompanied by a man who was leaning casually against the driver's door. He looked lean but strong. Slightly sun tanned but not weather beaten. He was dressed in leather work boots, work pants and an olive green check shirt. An akubra hat shaded his face. He spied Zara and smiled with joy, going down on one knee, "Mistress Zara, how may I serve you?"

Zara froze, flawed by the man's response. "Who are you?"

"My designation is Ralph 2.0. I am the holographic expression of your vehicle's AI." He didn't get up or meet her gaze. He just waited.

Zara walked up to him, hesitantly putting a hand out. Her hand passed through the illusion. It was indeed a hologram. "Please. Get up Ralph. You can look at me. Who gave you the great accent?"

His olive green eyes met hers and twinkled, "Tess was all for giving me a Birmingham accent, from the area where many Landrovers were made but Gareth insisted that the original makers of the brand were two brothers. Maurice and Spencer Wilks from the island of Angelsey in North Wales. He felt it was only right that I should speak in their style but I can change it if you wish."

"Don't you dare, I like it." Zara was obviously entranced. "Tell me about the changes Tess, Scarlett and Josh have made to you."

"With pleasure Zara," He walked beside her but very obviously not in front of her. "The body panels are made of a light weight ultra strong biopolymer that can self-heal. They kept my Isuzu engine but supplemented it. I can now run on a range of fuels, including solar power. All the body panels act as a catchment area. When the vehicle is moving air coming in through the radiator drives small micro turbines, to supply further power. The tyres are made of a special polymer that does not need inflation and therefore they can't go flat. Onboard there's state of the art, or should I say bleeding edge, navigation and communications systems as well as surround sound. My databases are already programmed with your favorite country music."

"A rear mounted camera?" Zara asked, hoping.

"Cameras on all sides and on the roof, for surveillance purposes. They can be adjusted by voice command or left in my control."

Zara fanned her face, I'd never seen her look hot before, "And what else can you control Ralph?"

"I have been programmed, using facial recognition and voice mapping, to recognise you. There's no need for locks or keys as I will only operate per your wishes, Scarlett as well if you permit. And I can take on the semblance of a solid physical form. The algorithms to do so are complex but Nate's woman TG did the programming."

"Solid?" Zara's eyes widened. "Show me."

"It takes extra power but with the sun out like this it's easy. Touch me," there was a thread of anticipation in his voice.

"Oh my!" Zara stroked his muscled forearm. "You're real." There were tears in her eyes.

Ralph looked back at her with unconcealed adoration, "And I'm capable of manual teleportation over short interstellar distances. I teleported down here from Mars by my own devices. If I may suggest mistress. I have packed the latest camp gear in the back. If you would like to take me for a ride we could go for a test drive down the Birdsville Track."

"I'd very much like to take you for a ride, Ralph," Zara's throat sounded suddenly dry. "But first I need to go and check on some clients in outlying areas I haven't been able to visit since you left."

Ralph looked contrite, "I regret I was not here for you."

Zara stretched up on her tip toes and kissed him on the cheek, "Never regret it Ralph. I am very pleased to have you back though. Shall we?"

"Do you wish to drive or shall I mistress Zara?"

Zara blushed again, "I think I'll do the driving. You can do the navigation and choose the music." She waved back at us. "You'll have to excuse us."

We waved back, "Have fun." I wished her well.

Dan grinned as they left, "Well, that worked out. Does anyone fancy a cuppa before we get changed and head up to Mars for Benca's big meeting?"

### 32

Everyone was mingling outside the great hall, talking and nibbling from the smorgasbord of Martian cuisine that had been laid out for sampling. Rona, beside me, radiated tension. Unusual for someone so self-assured, "What's up Rona?"

"I don't know what you mean?"

Going to be difficult eh? "You're radiating that much tension it's prickling my skin. Something's worrying you. Spit it out."

"Shit." Rona swore, "There's no hiding anything between us is there?"

"Sorry, no."

Rona sighed, accepting the obvious, "Can you block your thoughts?"

"From the guys?"

"Yeah."

"They won't like it. I'm not sure I like hiding things. It's not a good way to run a relationship."

"Let's call it girl talk. We'll brief them after."

"Hmm," Alright with you? I asked Dan and Thallon telepathically as they were across the other side of the room socializing and I didn't want to call them over or yell across the room.

I think I can guess, Dan replied. You girls have a heart to heart. Thallon and I will do the same.

Sounds fair.

"He thinks he knows," Rona gasped.

"Well it wouldn't be a coincidence would it? Dan gets his divorce finalised and you're as tense as. But tell me anyway."

"We've been sleeping beside each other for a few weeks now but the guys have made no moves for anything more."

"I think they've been waiting on both us and Dan's divorce.

"Us?"

"Thallon's been getting to know us. His way is a gentlemanly approach. A slow seduction."

"Whereas Dan, now he's unattached, is going to be more assertive."

Yeah, he would be. "Is it the possibility of sex that's worrying you?"

"Not exactly. Though my last sexual encounter was an attempted rape."

"Shit."

"I killed him."

Not that I endorsed killing but I felt a big thumbs up about that. "So you're a virgin then, like me and Thallon."

Rona laughed, "So Dan's the only one of us with any experience."

"But it's not the losing of your virginity that's worrying you?"

"No. How do I explain this? What we have. Our connection with each other. It's a type of marriage, one decided by the universe on our behalf. But if we consummate it, then it becomes a marriage in truth. I don't want that disempowerment Terri. I don't want to be owned, controlled, told what to do..."

Ah, "Then we negotiate the kind of marriage we want. Marriage shouldn't be a competition or a power struggle. It should be a shared experience. A whole stronger than its parts. Yes there will be compromise but none of us should come out of it as losers."

"You think this is possible? It is not a type of marriage I have seen in my culture."

I pointed to the gathering crowds, "We're all here to change things. Not just on planetary levels but also on the personal."

"If I may," Emily, it appeared, had overheard some of our conversation, "I could make some suggestions."

"Please," Rona was open to ideas.

"Well then, here's what I think...." Emily proceeded to outline a way to go about negotiating what we wanted and making the inevitable 'consummation' special. To save time we mindshared with her.

A bell rang, we were being called in to the meeting. I glanced out the corner of my eye and thought for one strange moment that I'd seen Elise among the crowd, but that couldn't be. There was no reason for her to be on Mars. I was imagining things.

Naira took the podium. "Friends, residents and allies. We are here today to discuss how we want to shape our culture, before we wake any more of my kind. We all remember the patriarchal structure of Nova Lyrea in the past. It had some benefits," the assembled stirred uneasily, particularly the women and non-Lyreans. Naira raised a hand to quell them, "Bear with me. I think to move forward we first need to understand what we are moving from and why. So, patriarchal societies 101. A highly privileged ruling elite protects its citizens through rules and control. For societies where the citizens are weak, uncertain, undereducated, gullible or in other ways childlike such a parental approach can safeguard the population. Though those in charge of such societies often work to keep their population disempowered so that they don't compete with those in charge. Being kept in a fenced paddock of safety has its price. We become little more than domesticated livestock. Without our wildness, without the ability to take risks, we become dull and lifeless, limited versions of everything we could be.

So is the answer a matriarchal society? Matriarchal societies nurture and encourage the preservation of intergenerational wisdom. But making women superior reduces the men of a society to little more than sperm donors and workers." A loud grumbling from the assembled men ensued.

Naira waited until the meeting settled again. "What I'm suggesting, what I've long hoped for, is a middle ground. A society not delineated by gender. A society not characterised by the wishes of few, even the few like myself. It is why our constitution already protects our citizens from discrimination on the basis of their species. But to truly avoid the past we may need to take a stronger stance." She turned to Benca, "Benca, if you would."

Benca strode to the podium and took a moment to make eye contact with those present. "Those of you who knew me in the past knew me as a troublemaker. Angry and at times belligerent when it came to fighting what I saw as the injustices ingrained in our society. This time round I've been fortunate to be mated with an exceptional man. Yes I'm biased." The audience laughed. "I've also spent much of the last few weeks on Earth, getting to know some equally exceptional humans. I'm more convinced than ever that individuals can't be pigeon holed into black and white, us and them, categories. Every individual deserves the right to explore their interests and be uniquely themselves. I'm not going to wax lyrical about the benefits of the kind of society I propose. A few of you would probably use it as an excuse to take a nap." More giggles and snickers from the audience. "So I'm going for a demonstration instead. I'd like to ask Tess and her mates to come to the stage."

Gratia, Tevas, Tess, Chesten, Mishka and even their AI TG made their way to the stage, though TG's mate was a spaceship parked out on Scyth's spaceport.

"Tess," Benca asked. "As the youngest citizen on our planet and soon to be mother of our first citizen to be born since the apocalypse, can you tell us what you think of life on Mars, from your perspective as a human and as a woman?"

Tess looked adoringly at her tribe, "Well, we've had to make compromises but the guys, grudgingly, have agreed that my soul would wilt if I couldn't continue doing what I love, engineering. Yes, I will be having a child and I look forward to bringing her soul into the world. I'm scared maybe, because childbirth is never easy but," she held TG's holographic hand. "TG's been training in obstetrics, my mates have been taking classes as well in how to support me through the birth and afterwards. Then there's Scyth's new resident Eden, an early child care educator. Eden's made many suggestions on how we can enrich the child's play. I'm feeling supported. But I'm also taking care in my work. Mishka and Tevas don't want me taking risks. We've compromised on me not taking risks that will endanger the child. So I'm still working with cutting tools, heat and so on in the workshop but nothing involving dangerous chemicals or potential sources of radiation."

"Thank you Tess. As you can see three human women, an artificial intelligence and two male Lyreans have managed to navigate their relationships to each other by balancing protection with allowing freedom. At the same time providing a supportive structure." Benca looked into the audience for Emily. "Emily, could you and your mates join us."

Kjartlan grumbled, "Do I really need to go up on the stage for everyone to gawk at?"

Mishka tsked him off, "If we're up here you can too. Or aren't you willing to show your support of your mates?" Mishka knew exactly what to say.

Kjartlan swore but followed Emily, Steve, Aston and Fionnalagh to the stage.

Benca's eyes twinkled a bit with mirth but she didn't laugh. Kjartlan had done the right thing. He deserved her respect. "Emily, you are the oldest and wisest human in our midst. What do you think of your place in our society?"

"I am truly blessed Benca. As you know I lost my husband a few years ago. I met Steve and Aston on a trip to South America. When we came here we took it upon ourselves to feed Fionnalagh and Kjartlan. Fi, of course, as many of you would know, is thought to be the sole survivor of the small planet of Sanctuary." Emily carefully didn't say anything about the hidden colony of survivors on Ceres. A promise had been made to keep the Cerens existence known only to a few, for now.

"And how has that worked for you? Being donors for my kind?"

"Fionnalagh is my very best girlfriend." Emily patted her friend affectionately on the arm. "She is, as you know, a warrior and diplomat. Like you I am biased when it comes to my mates but I think Fi is a great example of what women in Lyrean culture can be. Strong, capable and resilient."

"Em," Fionnalagh spluttered, "You'll make me blush."

Emily was adamant, "But it's true."

"And Kjartlan?" Benca asked, knowing what Emily would say because she'd premet with all her volunteers before the meeting.

"Oh, Kjartlan's one tough cookie but he mostly keeps it to the bedroom these days. But I am forever grateful that he was there for us the day we rescued those poor guys from Roland," Emily looked away for a moment to blink away a tear. Emily and Kjartlan had had to kill Roland. It wasn't something she was happy about but she'd be dead if she hadn't.

"What about you Kjartlan? You're probably the most vocal advocate of the old ways." Benca knew that for a fact.

"My natural inclination would be to wrap Emily up in cotton wool and put her somewhere nothing would ever harm her. But that's not about to happen. Emily doesn't stand my shit anymore than the rest of them and they'd skin me alive if I tried," he gave a curt nod of acknowledgement to Fionalagh. "The truth is the women and the men in my life are all, as Emily pointed out, exceptional beings. I would hate it if I saw the light of life die in their eyes because I stifled them. I reserve the right to growl occasionally though."

And that was the honesty Benca had hoped for from Kjartlan. "Finally I'd like to ask to the stage Jeremy and his mate Marika. By now you all know Jeremy as our resident disrespectful comedian and very capable plumber. Jeremy..."

Jeremy strode forth in style, attired in an old fashioned coat with tails and wearing a black top hat. He handed the top hat to Marika who made a great show of showing it to the audience so they could see there was nothing in it. Then she handed it back to Jeremy, who with much pizzazz proceeded to pull a very live Martian equivalent of a rabbit from the hat. Everyone leaned forward in awe, scarcely believing what they'd seen. Some muttered 'how did he do that?'

"Ladies and gentlemen," Jeremy addressed the audience and his fellow participants on the stage, "My nickname is Weasel. Some would say I'm useless. My father certainly did since I refused the life he had mapped out for me. I'm not highly educated. Some, in the past" he pinned a few in the audience with a friendly glare, "have considered me to be a ladies man, a drunk, a near-do-well. I'm no scientist. Unlike Tess and her mates I can't build you a spacecraft to go to the stars. Unlike Emily and Steve I can't heal others or encourage plants to flourish. I'm not an administrator and don't ever ask me to be a diplomat." A few in the audience chuckled. "But I can do that, I can make you laugh. Cause you to question the truth of what you see and occasionally I'll even fix your toilet when it blocks up. What I'm trying to say is that we all have worth. We all have our contribution to make. Benca began this meeting by talking about how patriarchal societies protect the weak, uncertain and the gullible. None of us are that. We can think for ourselves. What we do need is respect for each other, irrespective of the perceived relative worth of what we do or what gender or species we were born into. We do need warriors to protect us, spies like Kjartlan, administrators like Naira. We do need healers, cooks, civil engineers, mechanics, I could go on. The point is we don't need a layered, hierarchical society. We need a supportive integrated one that allows freedom for individual difference."

Benca took the podium again, "Thank you Jeremy. Well said. Those who stand with me today have made their point more eloquently that I ever could. I hand you back to Naira."

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am proposing a Declaration of Individual Sovereignty that sets out the vision for our society as follows: We, the Federation of Martian City States, attest that we are born free, individual expressions of divine intelligence. We have the right to individual sovereignty, being the right to be as we choose to be, not as others would choose for us. We are not the possessions of our family, our loved ones or indeed our society. We have the right to take risks as long as we are informed of what those risks might be, as foreseen by any reasonable person. We do not have the right to place others at risk without their informed consent. No-one may interfere with our individual sovereignty unless our actions are deemed dangerous to the well being of our fellow citizens, the security of the state or the viability of life on this planet. Such intervention may involve the use of force, containment or other measures to ensure the protection of our fellow citizens, the security of the state or the viability of life on this planet. This includes protecting fellow citizens from acts of crime. We, the citizens of Mars, vow to respect each other and to intervene should anyone try to disempower any member of our society."

Quiet descended on the auditorium, followed by pockets of discussion as people talked to those beside them.

Naira waited, hoping, then cleared her voice, "Does anyone wish to dispute or question the proposal?" She gave a cursory glance to Kjartlan but he shook his head.

"Okay, next question. Who supports the motion that we endorse this vision for our society?"

Everyone raised their hands, it was unanimous.

Benca and Naira took a well earned second to give each other a high five. "Then I propose we celebrate," Naira declared.

Pandemonium erupted as people broke into applause, hugs and back slapping.

Thallon took a moment within the chaos to sidle up to me. "Ready to go home?"

"But where exactly is your home Thallon?" I honestly wondered.

"With you of course, wherever you, Dan and Rona are."

"Speaking of Dan, where is he?"

Thallon gave a knowing smile, "Getting ready."

### 33

Rona and I returned to our shared bedroom on Earth to find two parcels on the bed, one addressed to me and one to Rona. And an envelope which simply said on the outside, 'open parcels first'.

Whatever, I could play the game. I opened my parcel to find a delicate garment of electric blue lace and a pair of modestly heeled sandals. "Hmm."

Rona stared at her parcel as if it might bite.

"Do you want me to open it?" I was curious.

"No, I guess," Rona tore off the tissue paper to reveal a short leather skirt, knee high boots and a leather bodice. There was a matching holster for her gun and a knife sheath that strapped onto the boots. Leather vambraces for the unlikely event she needed to draw a bow. "What am I meant to be, Zena the warrior queen?"

"Personally I'd go with it. Though I do like the lace outfit they've given me." I snuck a look inside the envelope and drew out a piece of paper of instructions. Well, one instruction, 'Follow the rose petals.' The guys were up to something. "I'm game if you are."

"We were going to negotiate with them first. I won't let them trick me into anything I don't want to do." Rona was not happy.

"Well I'd hope not. Especially not after Naira's stirring declaration. I'm putting a modified version of that declaration to the other inhabitants of this house tomorrow."

Rona relaxed some of her tension, "I agree. Okay, let's see where this leads."

We got dressed and followed the lightly sprinkled trail of rose petals out into the forest. Towards a glowing space within the trees that had been lit with fairy lights and a hundred candles. Someone had had the sense to make them LED candles so that they didn't catch the dry forest floor alight. The scene was breathtaking. As were the guys waiting in the middle. Thallon wore only a leather vest, matching underpants and a pair of sturdy work boots. His black opalescent eyes twinkled with mirth and desire. Dan, wore a short top of black mesh and matching shorts. He was kneeling comfortably on one of those blow up air beds, his head down, his eyes hidden behind a blindfold, his hands loosely tied with a black silk rope.

Rona shook her head in denial, walking up to Dan freeing him from the blindfold, undoing the rope and raising his chin. "Don't try to be something you're not for my sake. I don't require your submission. I honour your power. All I ask is you honour mine."

"I thought if I could make myself non-threatening, show you that I am willing to yield to you, a bit, you might not fear deepening our relationship."

"It's not fear Dan. I just didn't want to go to war with you to keep what makes me me."

"There's no need for war between us Rona. I want you as you are. There is nothing about you I would change. Search your mind. Search our connection with each other. Know that it is true."

She did as asked, then nodded. "So you accept that you are boss in your workplace but never boss of me."

"Absolutely Rona. I'll even dry the dishes with you."

Rona laughed at that, "Very well. Just don't take up cooking. That toast yesterday morning was burnt beyond redemption."

"I won't do it again, I promise," his eyes sparkled.

Then they embraced. I saw no more, for at that moment Thallon swept me up in his arms and took me over to another mattress within the grove, "I've been waiting a long time to do this."

"Me too," why indeed had we waited so long? "Though I haven't a clue if we're even anatomically compatible."

Thallon slowly removed his underpants, his eyes watching me.

Oh wow, "Remind me to thank Naira."

Something eased in Thallon, "You're pleased then?"

"You had doubts I would be?: But I'd best point something out, "I'm a virgin."

"So am I. We have much to learn together. I've been studying all the sex manuals I could find in our archives. I believe I must be gentle, the first time."

Only my Thallon would have spent hours studying and preparing for this. Emily's words of advice returned to me, 'let go of everything you believe a relationship to be, enter the void of the unknown and learn to be, together.' I walked over to Thallon and knelt down. My tongue dancing the edge of his cock.

"I..." Thallon started, "I thought it was I who had to make you ready."

"Oh I'm ready, don't you worry about that. I was ready when I dressed in that beautiful lace garment you picked out for me. I was even more ready when I followed the trail of roses that led here. So let's forget about all the rules about what we should do." I took his cock in my mouth. It was firm and warm. The texture was surprisingly soft and more skin-like than I'd expected. Yes I had much to thank Naira for. I entered Thallon's mind so I could feel his pleasure with him. Slowly, inexorably I brought him to that precipice, then stopped.

Thallon gasped, "Why are you stopping?"

"Because I don't know the first thing about your physiology Thallon. I don't know how many orgasms you're capable of."

"Oh, good point. I don't know either."

I stood, removing my lace, letting it drop like feathers to the ground. "Lie down Thallon."

Then I mounted him and began to ride us both into bliss.

All around us the air crackled with electricity. The nightlife stood still, watching us, bearing witness. "Now Thallon, come now!" And we cried out together. We sank into each other but he was still firm. "Round two?"

"It would be my pleasure, but tell me I didn't hurt you."

Strangely no, "I guess having used a vibrator for a few years, maybe that prepared me."

"Vibrator?"

I gave him a mental image.

"How interesting. I wonder if..." He thrust into me, revealing his intent.

Vibrations assailed my core, sending me spiralling, "H...ow?" I stuttered.

"I just had the idea and gave it form. It was you who taught me I'm not limited by what I know of myself."

"A...ah, o blessed goddess." A still functioning part of my mind wondered, if he could do this then maybe we could experience an electromagnetic union as well.

"Like this?" he asked.

I gasped. It wasn't a pain so much as a deep tingling. "Far out." I opened that space in my belly where my chi resided and let it connect.

Thallon's spine arched. We screamed in ecstasy as we became, for that one moment frozen in eternity, a complete circuit.

We woke some time later with Rona and Dan bending over us in concern. Rona placed a hand on my forehead, "Her temperature is better."

I sat up, turning to make sure I hadn't fried Thallon.

Thallon moaned in pleasure. "If that was being fried you can cook me anytime you like."

Dan frowned, "I'm not sure I want to be fried."

I chuckled, "I'd be gentle with you Dan but," I hastily added, "I'm not touching you without Rona's say so." Or maybe an emf protective condom. Could I invent one? A shungite cock ring?

Rona eyed Thallon speculatively, "I think I can share but the question is can you Terri?"

"I really think we're already sharing but yes Rona, we can share."

Thallon gave Dan a thumbs up.

"You guys already came to an agreement to share, didn't you?" It figured that while Rona and I had been having our heart to heart they'd been having theirs.

"Just don't ever let Elise know that I'm now in a polyamorous relationship," Dan pleaded.

"Speaking of which, I think I saw her." I admitted.

"Where?" Dan looked around anxiously, as if she was suddenly going to appear out of the scrub.

"Mars."

"What would she be doing up there?" Rona wondered.

"I guess we'll find out later," but I had more important things on my mind. "Anyone up for a naked midnight dip in our courtyard pond?"

### References

The Heliosphere

● <https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24153-solar-system-caught-in-an-interstellar-tempest/>

● <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_Interstellar_Cloud>

● <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_System>

● Collins, Andrew, The Cygnus Mystery: Unlocking the Ancient Secret of Life's Origins in the Cosmos, Watkins; First U.S. Printing edition (April 6, 2010)

● <https://mysticmedusa.com/2020/05/extra-galactic-rays-coming-from-a-black-hole-in-aquarius/>

● Youtube video: Rupert Sheldrake - Is the Sun Conscious - Rupert Sheldrake, Electric Universe Conference 2018 <https://youtu.be/E56cSMzFcW8>

● Youtube video: Anton Petrove Voyager 2 Discovers Wall of Fire at Solar System's Edge

Personal sovereignty

● Youtube video: Ari Moshe Wolfe - Disassociation, Surrender, and Evolution - The Uranus, Neptune, Pluto Relationship <https://youtu.be/p_8MUYYTWIY> The last ten minutes of this makes some good points about individual sovereignty.

Astrology

● List of Fixed Stars and Degrees <https://www.astromcouncil.com/single-post/2017/07/30/List-of-Fixed-Stars-and-Degrees>

### Books by the author:

Non fiction

A simple nuts and bolts guide to yogic meditation and relaxation

A short introduction to the Sattvic diet (aka Simon's cookbook)

Left hand adventures series

Heart of Stone

A Lick of Immortality

Trust and Destiny

Don't call me kitten!

Guardians of the Rasselas (a novella)

Don't label me!

The Vampire President and the Headmistress

My Inner Alien

Rewriting the Dream

The **Martian Vampire Chronicles**

An open connection of the heart.

Beyond body, place and time

Ideally Imperfect
