Lost – Meeting Cecil at apartment

Lost

Teaming Up

 

Here is a continuation of a series experiment I’m still fleshing out. A Cooperative prospector had chanced upon a gate that the Sadari had surreptitiously created in the Mori’te system, and ended up being shot down by the Sadari over Terra. This experiment picks up the story where she was gravely injured not just by the violence of the assault, but by chance here on Terra, and her rescue by a recluse with interesting abilities. Ultimately, the goal is to get home. It will, naturally, be an extremely circuitous route, with interference from the Order, from the Sadari, and from regular Terrans themselves. After many challenges, they arrive at at apartment building hoping to enlist the aid of a longtime friend of Travis.

The time period this story takes place would coincide with the timeline between Books 2 and 3 of the Crow series.

Bear in mind, as an experiment, this is a rough draft. Later on I may give it some editing love, but it’s still readable, so enjoy…


They hesitated briefly at the entrance to the apartment highrise. Travis glanced at Li’loa and adjusted the hood of her jacket. For once, he was thankful for the overcast weather. She reached up to help, and he noticed her gloves were not on. “You have to wear your gloves.”

She looked at him blankly. Remembering, he grabbed her hand and repeated himself.

“They feel funny on my hands.” Li’loa looked at her fingers. “I never liked gloves.”

“You don’t wear them back home?”

“Only for certain tasks.” She looked at him. “I avoided those tasks.”

Shaking his head, Travis returned his attention to the door of the apartment complex. The building was a modest, fifteen story apartment highrise owned by shareholders, some who resided there, others who sublet to other tenants. He used to live there. His best friend still lived there. “He’s going to freak when he meets you.”

Li’loa glanced furtively at him. “We really don’t need, I can just keep going.”

“No. Someone is after us and we need help.” Travis looked at her sternly. “Someone knows about you. Cecil can help.”

Li’loa shrugged. A human expression. 

Travis smiled, noting their similarities. She was not so alien after all. Even though she was. He keyed the door and ushered her in. There was no foyer or reception area. Just a hall to the bottom story apartments and the elevator. He pressed the up button at the elevator and waited patiently while Li’loa looked around curiously. “Not what you’re used to?”

“A few of our worlds construct like this. Only, more…” she hesitated. 

“More advanced.” Travis smirked. “Yeah, we’re still a bit primitive, aren’t we?”

Li’loa pursed her lips, and Travis laughed at her reaction. “Hey, we can’t do that plant thing you do. So, bricks, steel, and concrete for us.” The elevator dinged, opening. They dodged a resident leaving, Li’loa keeping her head down.

“5th floor.” Travis pointed. The panel was closer to Li’loa. She looked at it curiously. He was about to reach when she poked the button with the number five on it. “So, you can read, after all.”

“I saw it in your memory,” Li’loa said, looking nervous as the elevator started ascending. “Is this safe?”

“Almost no one dies in elevators nowadays.” Travis grinned. 

She looked sideways at him, frowning. “You’re mocking me.”

“No. Yes. Having a little fun at your expense.” Travis lightly hip-bumped her. She shook her head, grinning at his mirth. “You Terrans are odd.”

“That we are,” Travis said. The elevator stopped, opening to the fifth floor landing. “After you, m’lady.”

Li’loa peeked out the door down the hall, then exited and turned right. Travis followed her, letting her hand go to adjust his jacket. “That door.” 

She looked back at him. He pointed. “There.”

Li’loa grabbed the knob of a door and twisted. 

“No! The door next to it.” Travis caught up, trying to stop her. The door opened abruptly, revealing a middle-aged man dressed to go out. He flinched and took a step back.

“Sorry! Wrong door,” Travis said sheepishly, pulling Li’loa back and stepping between her and the man. “That one.” She nodded and grabbed the knob on the neighboring door. “No, you need to knock. They’re locked anyway.”

The man looked at them curiously, and Travis tried his best to block his view of Li’loa. “We’re guests here. Sorry.”

“You look familiar. Have we met?” The man adjusted his coat and closed the door behind him.

“I lived here a few years ago. Just visiting my old roommate.” Travis tried to smile disarmingly while Li’loa banged on the door. “No, just knock. Like this.” He knocked on the door. He glanced at the neighbor, laughing nervously. “She’s not from around here.”

“I can tell.” The man hesitated, looking at them oddly. Travis fidgeted, maintaining a smile he hoped was convincing.

“Travis!!!” 

Travis jerked and looked around at a slightly overweight man beaming from his open door. “Cecil. I’m so glad you’re home. Can we come in?” He pushed Li’loa into the apartment, glancing furtively at the neighbor. “Sorry to bother you, sir.” The man just stood there, staring at them.

Cecil closed the door behind them after waving at his neighbor. “Dude, you freaked Eliot out.”

“Yeah, about freaking out.” Travis took a breath. “You need to promise not to wig out, okay?”

“Huh?” Cecil took Travis’s jacket and draped it on the couch. 

Travis looked at Li’loa and nodded. She timidly pulled her hood back, then removed the jacket. Travis looked back at Cecil. “Her name is Li’loa.”

“Dude.” Cecil gaped, trying hard not to stare. “I’ve never seen… I thought I’d never…”

“You know about them?” Travis looked surprised.

“People with fur?” Cecil shook his head. “Just read about them. They’re on the news once in a while. There’s a word for it, but I can’t remember. I never thought I’d meet one. I can’t imagine how hard it’s been for you, with your condition.”

Travis opened his mouth, then closed it, looking at Li’loa. “Cecil, you might want to look closer.”

“What?” Cecil glanced at Travis. Travis nodded towards Li’loa.

Cecil sighed and returned his attention to Li’loa. “Sorry. He’s weird.” He stopped, at once transfixed by her eyes. “Um, I have coffee…” Blinking, he rubbed his eyes. Travis just grinned. Cecil looked at Travis. “I’m going to get coffee.” He seemed a little woozy.

“Yeah, her eyes do that to me, too.” Travis smirked. 

“Don’t be rude. She’s our guest,” Cecil stammered, trying hard to avoid staring at her.

“Gonna go down fighting, huh?” Travis crossed his arms. “Li’loa, do your mind thing.”

Li’loa just looked at him. Travis sighed and grabbed her hand. “Show him where you’re from.”

Li’loa nodded and reached for Cecil’s cheek. He looked at Travis questioningly, then his eyes got big. 

“What? What? You’re, what?” Cecil took a step back, waving his hands at something only he could see. 

Objects in the apartment seemed to tremble, and Travis looked around, amused. “I think he sees it now.”

Li’loa put her hand on his arm as she looked around. “What is happening?”

“It is hard for Terrans to see you because they don’t believe in you. So, he is having an epiphany.” Travis waved his free hand. Cecil was leaning on his couch, hyperventilating. The couch suddenly lifted from the floor, and Travis pushed it back down. “Come back to us, Cecil. You’re making a mess.”

“He is too big to be an Ordan.” Li’loa said, staring at the couch.

“Ordan?” Travis glanced at her. He saw what he would call a Dwarf in her thoughts.

“They move things like this.” She pointed at the couch.

“Really? That’s so cool.”

“Travis!” Cecil clutched his chest, gaping at Li’loa. “What, what?”

“Yeah. What.” Travis grinned. “You were getting coffee?”

“Shut up!” Cecil tried to calm down. “You’re, you. An… the…”

“What did you show him?” Travis raised a brow.

“My office on Dherring,” Li’loa said. 

“An office? He’s freaking over an office?” Travis held his hands out, then grabbed her hand again. “An office?”

“The Ordan on Dherring build similar to this. I thought he would appreciate it.”

“Show me.” Travis closed his eyes. His brows scrunched, and he shook his head, opening his eyes as he stared at Li’loa. “Holy shit. Just, wow. You weren’t kidding. We are primitive. Holy shit.”

“Did she do that mind thing to you?” Cecil pointed at her excitedly. “Did she show you?”

“Yeah. I thought she was going to show you her home. Trees and stuff.” Travis wiped his brow.

“What is she? Where is that?” Cecil started hyperventilating again.

“He asked me what I am?”

“You heard, huh?” Travis looked at her hand on his arm. “Touch him and tell him.”

Li’loa reached for Cecil’s hand. He flinched, but Travis looked at him sternly. Li’loa grasped his hand softly. “I’m sorry I have upset you.”

“What… she’s… you’re thinking to me?”

“I don’t know your language. Nor you mine,” Li’loa said. “I showed you where I work because you live here in this.” She waved her other hand around at the apartment. “We have cities there like this too.” 

“No. Not like this.” Cecil shook his head vigorously. “I’m… this… my…” He took in a breath. “My mind is blown. Just… we’re not alone. You’re real.”

Li’loa nodded. “You have never been alone. I am sorry if I have distressed you.”

Cecil laughed, looking at Travis. “She’s apologizing to me. An alien is apologizing to me.”

“I’m just an Elf,” Li’loa said.

“What, like Keebler? Lord of the Rings? I don’t think so,” Cecil said, touching the fur on her hand. “This is real. You’re really furry. Like, on purpose.”

“She has teeth too,” Travis said. Li’loa fidgeted, and Travis noticed. “Sorry, Li’loa, but you had to know this was going to happen.”

“You didn’t have a problem with me.”

“Yeah, I’m weird.”

“Oh, I so don’t have a problem with you,” Cecil gushed. “I’m… we’re not alone. You have no idea how paramount that is. How big this is.”

“How secret this needs to stay,” Travis said sternly.

“Hey, I’ll take it to my grave,” Cecil said flippantly. He sobered and looked down.

“You’re sick,” Li’loa said, looking concerned.

Cecil removed his knit cap, exposing a shiny scalp. “Cancer.”

“Shit. Dude!” Travis half stood up.

Cecil waved him back down. “Been doing chemo. Hopefully…”

“It’s not working,” Li’loa said. “I can smell it. I wasn’t sure.”

“Um…” Travis hesitated, not sure what to say.

“Alien. We’re talking about an alien.” Cecil waved his hand at Li’loa. “And lots of them?”

“We have over a thousand worlds in our society.” Li’loa squinted at him. She glanced at something in the air and waved her hand at it. Cecil and Travis looked at each other. “It’s actually nothing. This is killing you?”

“Nothing? It’s cancer,” Travis said, exasperated. He looked in the air, trying to see what Li’loa saw. She noticed.

“Here, touch this.” She held out a small brass cylinder. 

“What is… oh crap!” Travis gaped as he sat back on the couch. He looked around them in the air at a half dozen holographic representations of data. “Is that what you were…?” He waved his hand at one, then jerked back when the data moved.

“I’m not a physician, but I do have basic medical aid. For emergencies.” Li’loa moved the data back. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small brass patch. “There is an anomaly your defense system could not counter. Garbage collection seems to have broken down.” 

“What?” Cecil stared at her as she placed the patch on his neck. He glanced at Travis. “Garbage?”

“When cells misbehave.” Li’loa retrieved the patch and put it back in her pocket. The displays vanished, and she put the brass cylinder in her pocket, too. “There. You may feel stuffy for a few days, but that will clear up.”

“Did you just…” He felt his neck, staring at her. “Did you just do alien shit to me? What was that?”

Li’loa shrugged. “Just some basic corrections. Your defensive system should work much better now.”

“Defensive.” Cecil left the implied question hanging.

“Immune system?” Travis looked at Cecil’s neck. “Not a mark. What was that?”

“A deployment patch.” Li’loa sat back on the couch, looking at Cecil. “I’m sorry I have disrupted your day.”

“You healed me?”

“Yes.” Li’loa nodded. 

“Girl, I was dying. Stage four.” Cecil rubbed his neck again, trembling. “This has to be a dream.”

Li’loa fidgeted, then looked at Travis. “Is there somewhere I can void myself?”

“Void… oh, you have to pee?” Travis blinked. “I thought that was me.” He pointed. “Through that bedroom. Door is near the back.” He squinted at Cecil. “You never sublet? I’ve been gone for five years.”

Cecil shook his head, watching Li’loa walk briskly into Travis’s old bedroom. “I couldn’t find anyone like you.”

“There is no one like me.” Travis grinned. “Cancer. I’m so sorry you had to go through that alone.”

“Alien. I’m so sorry you got to…” Cecil started sarcastically, then stopped, looking at the ceiling. “How did you meet her, anyway?” Cecil pointed.

“Dolly found her.” Travis looked back into the bedroom. “Caught in a bear trap.”

“Ouch. Not the first encounter I would have wanted.” Cecil shook his head. “Dude, there is an alien peeing in my toilet!”

“There’s more happening here. She got shot down by another alien. And there are people here that are looking for her.” Travis sighed. “Not the first encounter anyone would have wanted.”

“Other aliens?” Cecil stood up. The couch abruptly floated to the ceiling, forcing Travis to jump off.

“Cecil. I hate it when you do that.” 

“I wasn’t touching it.” Cecil looked up. The couch lowered back to the floor. “I always had to touch it.”

“Really?” Travis poked the couch, then flinched at a knock on the door.

“Hold up,” Cecil said.

“Remember, she’s a secret.”

“Duh.” Cecil rolled his eyes as he looked out the peephole. He opened the door. “Mr. Coleman?” 

“Your neighbor? Eliot?” Travis sat up straight. “He’s not angry, is he?”

“Hardly.” Eliot walked in. “I knew I remembered you.” 

“How can we help you?” Cecil said, stepping back as another man walked in. 

“Definitely.” The new man nodded. 

“Thanks, Andy. I wasn’t sure. But now I am.” Eliot looked at Cecil. “You and I have something to discuss.” He squinted, then turned to face Travis. “And you too.”

“Discuss?” Travis glanced nervously at the bedroom.

“Yes. Nothing to be alarmed about.” Eliot looked at Andy, who promptly left the apartment. “I’ve been watching you for a…” He stopped, cocking his head. “Is Steven here?”

“Who?”

“Steven Crow. It feels like he is here.” He turned his head to the side, then walked into the bedroom. “Steven? I thought you went to the Sanctuary with Roland.”

“There’s no…” Travis started, then stopped when Eliot backed up slowly, gaping. 

“You’re real. You cannot be real.” 

Li’loa followed him out. 

“This cannot be. You’re just Steven’s fantasy. His coping method.” Eliot started sweating profusely, leaning on the couch. “What he said, it’s all real.”

Li’loa said something and Travis rushed to her, grabbing her hand. “He was not supposed to find me. He must forget.”

“Yes, he must. But…” Travis stopped. “No, no messing with his memories. Just, that’s not right.”

“You’re talking to her?” Eliot said, pointing. 

“She doesn’t know our language, but our thoughts have no language. Or something like that,” Travis said. “Just ideas.”

Eliot sat hard on the couch, gaping. “This is really happening.”

Cecil coughed. “Mr. Coleman, what did you want?”

Eliot glanced at Cecil, then sighed. “Sit down. You too, Travis.” He looked at Li’loa. 

“Her name is Li’loa,” Travis said, sitting down on the loveseat. Li’loa sat on the armrest, holding his hand. 

“You share thoughts. Or is she?”

“Huh?” Travis crinkled his brows.

“Some of us can share thoughts,” Eliot said. He scratched at his pants, clearly divided. “Okay, you’re not… normal. You’ve known that all your life. You too, Cecil.” Eliot nodded at Cecil, struggling to tear his eyes away from Li’loa. “How you two found each other is just amazing. I think we are attracted to each other.”

“We?”

“We are called Evos. We exhibit our identity in various ways,” Eliot said. “I can sense Evos. Andy is similar, but he also amplifies us.” 

“What, like mutants?” Cecil laughed. “Marvel might come knocking.”

“Nothing so cheeky as that.” Eliot grinned. He leaned forward. “Travis, what is your oddity?”

Travis grimaced, looking at Cecil. “Mr. Coleman…”

“Eliot. Please.”

“Eliot. I, um, I just…” Travis shrugged. “I feel people. And animals.”

Eliot sat back. “Feel people.”

“You know, but you want me to explain it.” 

“You really do feel people. Excellent. You’re an empath. Cecil?”

“I kinda move stuff. By touching it.”

“We all do.” Eliot grinned.

“No, I mean,” Cecil grimaced. The couch they were sitting on abruptly lifted to the ceiling, forcing Eliot to duck down. 

“Wow.” Eliot looked at Cecil, who was also ducked down. “That is potent.”

“Yeah. Um, but I don’t have to touch things anymore. I mean, I could make stuff jiggle, but now I can do this without touching.” The couch lowered to the floor.

“I can’t tell you how many times I woke up with my face on the ceiling. I had to put a lock on my bedroom door.” Travis grumbled. 

Cecil grinned. 

“It doesn’t seem to have disrupted your lives.” Eliot glanced at Travis.

Travis fidgeted. “It, people were too much for me. I moved away for a while. They’re just, too much. Like, a real mess. Li’loa here is a cakewalk compared to you guys.”

 “We can help with that.” Eliot nodded. “There’s an organization that can train you, help you control it. If it gets too bad, we can send you to a mission that will give you time to come to grips with it.” 

Travis raised his brows. “Mission. That Sanctuary place?”

“How’d you know about that?” Eliot sat up straight.

“You said you sent a Steven Crow there.” Travis waved his free hand. 

Eliot pursed his lips, returning his attention to Li’loa. “She feels like him. I thought he was here. Yes, I sent him there. He was having problems coping. But now that I am looking at… I may have made a mistake.” He leaned forward. “Asherah?”

Li’loa shook her head. Eliot looked at her hand grasping Travis’s. “You communicate through touch?”

She nodded.

“May I?” Eliot held his hand out. Li’loa glanced at Travis, then moved to sit next to Eliot. “Wow, you are incredible.”

“Thanks.” Li’loa smiled. 

Eliot almost flinched. “It’s true. It’s all true. I am just floored.”

“I did not mean to cause any trouble.” Li’loa said apologetically.

“Oh, dear. You have opened up a whole new reality for us.” Eliot patted her hand. He looked at Cecil and Travis. “We must keep her secret. We have seen how people react to us. She would suffer even worse.”

“Yeah, about that. She’s… not the only one,” Travis said. “She was shot down from space. And someone has been dogging us since we’ve been traveling.”

“Shot down?” Eliot looked at Li’loa. “By who?”

“The Sadari are here,” Li’loa said, somber. “We had been at war with them thousands of years ago.”

Eliot’s eyes got wide. “And they are here?”

Li’loa nodded. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I was just prospecting in the Mor’ite system and suddenly I was over Terra and being shot at.”

“Prospecting?” 

“A new cloud of asteroids had entered the system and our surveyors found useful mineral deposits in them. I am head of a team that extracts these minerals. I was going there to verify it and plan the extraction.”

“Head of…” Eliot shook his head. “You, how old are you? You can’t be over twenty years old.”

Li’loa closed her eyes briefly. “About a hundred and sixty of your years, I think. You’re right. I’m still quite young for the position I hold.”

“Young my ass.” Eliot laughed. “You are so special.”

Li’loa fidgeted. “Back home, I am not. I prefer it that way.”

Eliot looked at her for a moment, then nodded his head. “Sorry. You are right. We have had the same problem for hundreds of years.” He looked at Cecil. “This is a very unique situation. You said you can do more stuff than before?”

Cecil nodded. 

“Just after she arrived?” Eliot looked at Li’loa. “Are there pathogens we should be worried about?”

“She healed me. I think.” Cecil said. “I was… cancer. I have… had cancer.”

“How?”

“She has technology.”

“Just minor cleanup of his genetics, and a boost to his immune system,” Li’loa said. “We do that frequently.”

“We don’t,” Eliot said. “You may have amped him. Our boss would be interested in that.”

“Boss?” Cecil said. “I have a job.”

“Eyes Open. An oversight organization Evos started. You remain at your job. I’m still a psychologist, after all. But we are a family too, and look out for each other.” Eliot smiled. “You’re not alone.”

Travis looked at Li’loa. “Oh, we are indeed not alone.”

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Nadine Loren Interview

Interviewing

Nadine Loren

 

Nadine Loren is a character. You cannot get comfortable around her. She keeps you on your toes and does so ruthlessly. At the same time, she is a sweetheart. Nadine is Ambassador Ashley Loren’s mother, though she does not look like it. Not anymore. Cooperative medicine is miraculous. I look forward to seeing how I look when I hit the seventies.

I bumped into her at the Apartment Embassy, and she invited me to her house on Legracia. That was a nice change of pace. Normally I have to track them down and sit with them wherever they were to interview them. She preferred the comfort of her own home.

Her house is a houseboat that was plugged into an existing lake community on Legracia. Steven Crow brought her house from Seattle and just plopped it by a floating walkway, and the rest is history. Her neighbors live in trunk cavities of thick trees that grow from the lake bed. Some live on floating islands in living homes that look like tightly woven brambles sealed indoors with some sort of ceramic material. It was really nice touring them. Decks and walkways are thick mats of growing plants that float on the surface of the lake near the shore. They’re a little spongy, but still amazingly firm to walk on.

But I digress…

~ ~ ~

Nadine: They don’t have fleas, do they?

ME: [Looks at Ma’ya and Eve] Um…

Nadine: I don’t want fleas in my house.

Eve: [Looks at the fur on her arm and picks at it]

ME: I don’t think…

Nadine: Do they have collars?

ME: Flea collars?

Nadine: No, stupid. Turtle collars. What other collars would they wear?

ME: [Probably looking like a deer in the headlights] Um…

Nadine: [laughs so hard she doubles down] I did that to Steven. You greenhorns are just too easy.

ME: Um…

Nadine: In or out, your choice.

ME: In?

Nadine: [Waves us into her house] Don’t just stand there gawking then.

Ma’ya: [Places hand on Nadine’s cheek briefly] Peace to you, Nadine.

Nadine: Oh you are just so sweet. Peace to you too, honey.

ME: What did she show you?

Nadine: Nosey, much?

ME: I am a journalist.

Nadine: Yeah, that’s not a good thing in my book, twinkle-toes.

ME: I am not a pap, if that’s what you’re inferring.

Nadine: Same difference. Let’s get this over with.

ME: If you don’t want to do this, it’s okay.

Nadine: Ashley said I should. So…

ME: Wow. This house is amazing. Steven brought it here?

Nadine: Nice save. Yes.

ME: They even made your lights look like the originals.

Nadine: True.

ME: Stove? Ooh, one from Dherring. I love those.

Nadine: Why don’t you make yourself at home? I have a toilet too. Couch here. A firebox over there.

ME: [Ignores sarcasm] You still have your old fridge.

Nadine: Doesn’t get used much anymore. Unless I want chilled tea.

ME: Sure, I’d love a glass.

Nadine: You’re just a handful, you know that?

ME: Don’t get me started. No sugar, please.

Nadine: You two look like Bilomba flower tea girls, right?

Ma’ya: [looks at Eve] That is accurate. Eve is more familiar with Terran teas, however.

Nadine: Here you go, Mark. With ice.

ME: Thanks, hon.

Nadine: Hon?

ME: When in Rome, right? What was it like? The change from Earth to this?

Nadine: Not as radical as one would think. I still have my house.

ME: True. I bet that softened the blow.

Nadine: Here you go. And you, dear. Eve, right?

Eve: Yes ma’am.

Nadine: You are a cutie. No, Mark. It wasn’t as radical as I would have thought.

ME: It blew my mind. Sci-fi became reality.

Nadine: Sweetheart, I have lived in the age that went from barely flying to men walking the Moon. Captain Kirk’s communicator to our fancy smartphones. Landlines to wireless. Sci-fi has already become reality for me. This… this is just a continuation of that.

ME: Profound. I’ve been spoiled. So, being on an alien planet…

Nadine: I’ve been on several. Mark, George and I used to travel for a living. We’ve been to nearly every landmass on Earth. George even vine jumped on Vanuatu.

ME: Vine…

Nadine: They tie vines around your ankles and you jump off a rickety tower made of sticks. He face-planted in the dirt, but wasn’t hurt. We’ve lived the life. Coming here is just more of that. The people look different. But they’re still people.

ME: It actually looks rather domesticated here.

Nadine: I was tired when they brought me over. This was where I was going to get old and die. This house. This was the only reason I agreed to come. Bringing this here. Home, right? Now, I don’t know. This is the first time I’ve been back to this place in a month.

ME: Kinda like your home became a lot bigger.

Nadine: [laughs] Preach it, brotha. I’m a resident of wherever I go. Just pick a family to visit and stay a few nights. I feel like I got my youth back.

ME: You look it. You’re looking really good. Ashley showed me your Earthling pictures. Big change.

Nadine: Aren’t you sweet. But I’m already seeing someone.

ME: Engaged. Purely a platonic observation.

Nadine: Sure. They all say that. More tea?

ME: Um…

Nadine: Yeah. Um. Girls bring your cups and I’ll top them off.

Eve: I’m fine.

Nadine: Sweetheart, you sucked that down in a second flat. I know you want more.

Ma’ya: I’ll get hers.

ME: You seemed to like Mor’ite.

Nadine: They have a marvelous hot-pot there. Can’t remember what they call it, but it’s basically a hot-pot.

ME: Sure. Your fella must like it too. He’s a Leif?

Nadine: Nosy much, Gossip Gertie?

ME: Meh. It’s what I do. I am just… you seem to have found a new life here.

Nadine: Well, if you must know… too bad. Not your business. Here you go, Ma’ya. I put a little honey in Eve’s.

Ma’ya: I will try some too.

Nadine: Right here… yeah. That’s it. Native stingless bee honey.

ME: They have those here?

Nadine: Not quite like South America’s, but yep. Delicious honey. Stir this in.

ME: Thanks! Yum.

Nadine: When you travel, go native. You will be amazed at what you experience.

ME: I’ve done a bit of traveling.

Nadine: Hunkering down with locals in war-zones while bombs are dropping is not exactly the native experience, fella.

ME: Hey, I’ve been in the Cooperative for several months. It’s been an eye-opener, that’s for sure.

Nadine: Hmph, I think you need more time out in the field.

ME: Trying. Venda raids have restricted my travels a bit.

Nadine: Yeah, those are… I mean why? We have plenty of resources to go around. They’re not occupying. Just… terrorists. Just doesn’t make sense. Thought I escaped that when I left Earth.

ME: You and me, sister. It’s nuts. But you’re safe here, right?

Nadine: Nowhere is truly safe. But I feel better here. Small community on a well defended world.

ME: One can hope. But you’re not here much, are you?

Nadine: Sherry lets me tag along when she’s surveying accidents. She’s enjoying letting me gawk at all the new sites. And we stay with random families. Just invite ourselves in wherever we go. It’s their culture.

ME: Sherry. That’s an Earthling name.

Nadine: Consonants and vowels, cupcake. She’s a sweetie. When her responsibilities on the Council expire this year, we plan on doing even more traveling. It’s a whole new universe out there, Mark.

ME: I see an adventurous spirit breaking out there. Visiting worlds, staying with strangers.

Nadine: Adventurous? Try space-diving with me sometime, tenderfoot.

ME: Space…

Nadine: Skydiving, but from space. Full re-entry. It’s a blast.

ME: I think I’ll pass.

Nadine: Tenderfoot.

~ ~ ~

Well, she’s more intimidating in person than on paper. But wow, what a woman. I can imagine her putting on a pith hat and slogging through the jungles of the Congo. And she doesn’t take crap from anyone.

And no… I am still not going to space-dive. Just… no.

Who’s my next victim?

 

 

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Cole Deering Interview

Interviewing

Cole Deering

 

I’ve been wanting to sit down with Cole Deering for a while. But now that I’m here, I’m having second thoughts. His family was obliterated back on Earth by some bad guys who were after Steven Crow. The fella had a pretty severe breakdown because of that.

One of the things I find most curious about him is that he is now a product of the Cooperative penal system, if it can be called that. The Cooperative have no jails, and not really anything we would call crime. But they do have methods of handling bad decisions that help recuperate the perpetrator.

From what Steven told me, Cole tried to blow up the homestead on Earth and as many of the aliens as he could, then he tried to blow up the apartment building Steven had resided in that had become a command center for the aliens. Which explains why the apartment now sits on Endard. Sort of. He was a little fuzzy with the details.

In any case, Cole is a patient in the care of the Cooperative legal system and has taken up the task of helping to bring life to a dead planet. Rholling. The interview was anything but normal. We had a couple of unexpected guests. Eliot Coleman, psychologist from Earth, and… a Troll. Yes. A real life Troll.

~ ~ ~

ME: Cole, you’re hard to find. I hope I’m not catching you at a bad time.

Cole: Not at all. This way.

ME: Okay. Where are we going?

Cole: [points] I am helping that family.

ME: Should I come back?

Cole: No. You want to see what I do, right?

ME: Well, yeah. And chat with you.

Cole: Chat while we work. Grab that. [points at shovel]

ME: Okay. So, what are we doing?

Cole. The family has picked a spot. Can you get that too?

ME: This little tree?

Cole: That one. [points]

ME: No problem. Wow, this is so different from the Temple we came in.

Cole: We are working to plant a new Temple. But that’ll take at least a hundred years. Here, set the tree down there.

ME: Cool. So…

Cole: [pats my arm] Just chill. This family is donating their elder to us.

ME: Their what?

Cole: [points at an ornate, metal box] He’s in there. These are Leif.

ME: I thought they looked familiar. From Mori’te, right?

Cole: Yep. Now we wait.

ME: Can we chat?

Cole: Shhh. They are saying goodbye.

ME: [whispers] Sorry.

Cole: Okay, they’re ready. Give her that shovel. Yeah, her. Here. Step back a little.

ME: [grimaces] I have no idea what they’re doing.

Cole: Here. [kneels] Help pull the dirt away.

ME: [scoops grey, lifeless silt with hands] You know, it just occurred to me they have shovels. Aliens have shovels.

Cole: [smirks] I suppose you thought they just dug with tentacles or something?

ME: It’s just that, it’s so… so… domesticated. Earthling like.

Cole: Dirt is dirt, and moving it seems to require a universal set of requirements. Not so surprising after all. Pile it over here. Okay, sit back a little.

ME: The box… is that… that looks like compost. I thought it had ashes or something.

Cole: They don’t burn their dead, or pump them full of chemicals. Every species who have donated their loved ones to this project composts them first.

ME: Composted. It even smells like… humus.

Cole: [grins] It’s kinda neat seeing you discover this. I was the same way. My wife and daughter are over there, but they had already been cremated so, ashes. When I go, I’ll be composted like everyone here.

ME: They want me to help scoop?

Cole: Just do it. It is a sign of respect. Just don’t make a face.

ME: Actually, not my first rodeo. I’ve helped locals back home bury their dead. It’s just, I’ve never seen compost like this before.

Cole: Spread it like that. The trees roots spread out.

ME: We don’t want to go deeper?

Cole. The taproot goes down deep into the subsoil. It’s the shallow feeder roots that spread out and benefit from this. There. Okay, help her with the tree.

ME: It’s a pine tree. They have pine trees here too?

Cole: These are native to this planet. It took a lot of work bringing back specimens from collections. There, good. You got it. Just pat that down and let’s cover it up with the dirt.

ME: What keeps it from washing away?

Cole: Look around. We plant native grasses around the trees.

ME: Oh, cool. And shrubs over there. I thought Rolling was dead.

Cole. It is. We’re having to bring everything back. Microbes and all. I just recently convinced the Planet Builders to come to Rholling.

ME: The Trolls are here? Cool.

Cole: They have a Planet Builder working in the ocean, and one further inland. We’ve… this valley kinda started it.

ME: You planted all of these?

Cole: No. Some of the planets… Rholling was sort of a memorial for the past three thousand years. No one wanted to touch it. But a few started coming in and planting seeds with their loved ones. The valley gets flooded periodically so the soil is pretty decent here. Silt, but it holds life once it gets re-established. I came in a few months ago.

ME: I was going to ask you about your transition from vengeance to rehabilitating a planet.

Cole: Okay. Peace to you, and you. Mark, there are some things… peace to you. Thank you for your elder.

ME: Peace to you. Thanks. Wow. That’s kinda profound. I mean, not a tear. These people are so at peace with this.

Cole: No one ever dies to them. They live extremely long lives, then they send their life into the soil and continue living. But, Mark, you have to understand, have you ever lost anyone close to you to violent circumstances?

ME: No. I’ve seen it a lot, though.

Cole: You’ve peeked through a small window. Different people handle grief… differently. I… it utterly broke me. The only thing I wanted to do was leave life, and take those who did this with me.

ME: That I have actually seen a lot.

Cole: Steven stopped me. I don’t know how he did it. But rather than seeking revenge he saved me and they brought me here. Mark, this planet… this whole planet… this was my daughter and wife. Every person here, gone in an excruciatingly violent instant. And as pointlessly.

ME: You found kindred spirits.

Cole: You could say that. It gave me a new perspective. They brought me to this valley, and their response to their grief is this. All around you.

ME: But, wouldn’t they have done this at their homes?

Cole: Exactly. Each tree here is a person who should have been planted on their respective worlds. But they were brought here, to give life to this monument to their grief. And Mark, they included me in this project. Me. I wanted to kill them. I blamed them. I hated them. And even then, they included me.

ME: Your family, I cannot imagine them being anything but proud of you. I am, I had no idea what to expect. Not this.

Cole: I cannot express to you just how deeply I miss them. Every day. But yes, they would be happy for me. And I really love the work. I ran a landscaping and farm supply company back on Earth as well as a farm, so this is right up my alley. Hey, is that Eliot?

ME: What? Oh, it is! Eliot, I’ve been meaning to snag you for an interview.

Eliot: Not today, Mark. But soon. Cole?

Cole: Same as always.

Eliot: Do you want to take a walk with me for a bit?

Cole: Sure. I just need to finish up here. Mark, grab those shovels, please.

ME: These? Oh crap! Is that… that’s a Troll!

Cole: [looks] Last I checked. Rogan?

Rogan: Greetings, Master Cole. We have found more valleys for you.

Cole: Excellent! We’ve just about filled this one up. This is Mark Ellis.

Rogan: [hands prayerfully palm to palm in front of him, and deep bow] It is a great honor to meet you, Markellis.

Cole: Place your hands on both of his. Yeah, like that. It’s how they greet each other.

ME: I am just so happy to meet you. But, I’m just a journalist.

Rogan: You are friend of Steven. You are friend of Trolls.

ME: Ah. Yes, I’m Steven’s friend.

Cole: Trolls hold Steven in high esteem for saving Senin.

ME: [blank look for a second] Oh, the Faerie’s home. I am having trouble conceptualizing that. Steven saving it. Wasn’t it a molten ball of magma?

Cole: Don’t try. It’ll blow a fuse. I think we need to wind this down, though. Eliot wants to have a session with me, and Rogan needs to show me the other valleys.

ME: Thanks. Thank you for welcoming me here. I’m really touched. And Rogan. So… so good to meet you.

Rogan: Peace to you, Markellis.

ME: And peace to you.

~ ~ ~

Notably absent from the interview was Ma’ya and Eve. But they were there. Ma’ya was actually visiting a relative interned there, so they were having their moment of privacy while Cole introduced me to what he does.

I was a little nervous. I had no idea what to expect and was just blown away. And after the disastrous interview with Roland, I felt a little reticent to push forward. But Cole is a really down-to-earth guy. And amazing how serene he is. But out here among the trees, I guess it tends to leave a mark on you.

Most of Rholling is a dead, grey cinder with oily-looking oceans. But now that I’ve been here, I am seeing little spots of green starting to peek out of the lifeless soil, much like little ferns poking out of cooled lava-flows. I cannot wait to see how Rholling evolves over the next few decades.

Now, it’s off to find my next victim, so, peace!

 

 

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Roland Naber Interview

Interviewing

Roland Naber

 

Roland Naber is not exactly an expat, but he spent a lot of time here not long ago, and I bumped into him at the embassy. Sharon and I were there getting clearance to travel off-world for our respective projects. Roland showed up on his own quest. Then that Keratian dude and Elf lady showed up, and I had my own little entourage consisting of Eve and Ma’ya. It kinda turned into a shindig.

I really didn’t intend to interview him, but he had a few minutes and apparently likes to talk to people. And listen. For some reason, I really got chatty with him. But it was interesting, nevertheless.

~ ~ ~

ME: Today’s interview is on Endard at the Apartment Embassy with the notable Roland Naber, attaché to the White House and friend of Steven Crow. If I remember correctly, they were college buddies. You know, my fiancee and I were college buddies. We would sneak out of our dorms at night and swim in a neighboring apartment complex pool. It was fantastic. But I digress. Or maybe not. I mean, it’s really neat keeping up with your college buddies after you graduate, right?

Roland: [shrugs] This is new. Steven moved this here?

ME: The whole building, man. It’s absolutely crazy. This used to be just a grassy bluff overlooking the coast and bam, an apartment building from Terra. I am still trying to get the details about it though. Steven’s a bit shy. Doesn’t want to brag. But he moved the house of the ambassador’s mother to Legracia, and I think an entire naval fleet out into the bay there, so what’s a little apartment building? And by little I mean huge. What, fifteen stories? Plus underground garage?

Roland: They have an underground garage?

ME: Well, it’s sealed off now. From what I understand, Steven excavated a hole for the apartment to settle down into. Excavated, what, thirty feet of granite. I saw it too. You can go down there and put your hands on it where the ramp used to be. No more ramp, though. There are no roads here anyway. But it’s just mind-blowing. This part is new. Where we’re sitting used to be apartments, but they wanted a lobby, so…

Roland: I knew Steven had some skills, but wow. And a coffee bar?

ME: And tea. Oh, you got some already. All grown here. The Elves have a way to accelerate things. I watched one take a seedling to a full-sized tree in just minutes. Magic, man. Pure sorcery. The coffee is sublime. I think Jonah brought over his plants and they just went crazy with it here. The orchards are up in the mountains a bit further inland. We could go on a tour there if you want. The tea, I think that’s growing in Fahele on Syagria. But I’m sure they’re putting in new orchards on other worlds. But then, they have their own coffee and tea too. So, who knows, right?

Roland: Yeah, I thought Jonah was helping with the farm at Fahele. I didn’t know he had orchards here too.

ME: [shrugs] He is. But the coffee grows better here. Up in the mountains where it’s cooler. And it is, it gets chilly at night. Not frosty, but we enjoyed a campfire out in the mountains not too long ago. With the Williams. They’ve started growing grapes here too. I think they started harvesting this season. The coffee. Try some [points to the coffee bar].

Roland: Thanks. I’m more of a tea guy, myself. [holds up mug] So, what are you doing here?

ME: I’m kinda stuck here. I was selected to embed with the US delegation for the Tour, but got kinda naughty when the government insisted on restricting my work. So, I’m doing my journalist thing. Trying to get into the minds of the expats for starters. It’s what I do, you know. Kinda hard to just shut it off. I mean, I’m not on any payroll anymore but we don’t need money here anyway. I really like getting to know you guys, though.

Roland: So. The video thing, huh?

ME: Yeah. The video thing. Like, none of this would have reached the people back home. Can you imagine that? These wonderful worlds, and peoples, and cultures. The common people on Earth would not have seen a thing. They gave me a special camera. Like a cerebral camera thingie on my temples. The people here. But trying to convert that to something I could send back home was a bear. Steven helped, though. Fella is a genius. Like a super-nerd. Still, I’m sort of exiled here. Not that it really bothers me, but it is a little inconvenient when I want to visit with my family back on Earth. Hey, you work in the White House. Perhaps you can put in a good word for me?”

Roland: Yeah, I don’t have much influence over the DoJ. And by not much, I mean none at all.

ME: Bummer. My parents have visited us here. And Sharon’s. Her sister too. But we cannot go there, so it’s Christmas here on Endard. Oh, we could have Christmas on Niqua – their winters are phenomenal. You know, the world of the Camdyn? Wolfmen? [points to one in discussion with a Keratian guard] I don’t know why it bothers me, the arrest warrants. It’s just… oh, thanks, Sharon. Coffee. Yum.

Sharon: Anything for my favorite Public Enemy Number 1.

ME: See? That’s why. I think she likes it though. Me being naughty. She helped, anyway. But it still sort of grates on me that they would lock us up for releasing the video. It’s not like we released state secrets or anything.

Roland: I’m sorry. You definitely stomped on some big toes with that video. I never heard Secretary Stern cuss so much. It was like, my second day there too.

ME: Really? [laughs] Oh, that makes it worth it then. Damn, I’m so naughty. Hey Sharon, I made Wayne cuss. Wanna make out?

Sharon: [rolls eyes, sips coffee]

ME: [points] There’re my chaperones. I would have never thought I needed one but for this conflict. They’re supposed to make me legitimate so I don’t have my brains scrambled every time I travel to another world. That was… well, it didn’t exactly hurt, but man, my toenails felt it. You getting one? A chaperone?

Roland: [looking] She’s over there.

ME: Her? Oh crap, that’s the Elf who scrambled my nugget. Scared the crap outa me. Like literally almost. And that Keratian dude. Have you ever been gripped by one? Felt like a piece of industrial equipment. But her? Are you really hanging with her?

Roland: Lorei probably had good reason to scramble your nugget.

ME: Crap, she noticed me. Thanks a lot. I feel like I need a foil hat or something.

Ma’ya: She is my great-niece.

ME: Great-niece? Her? Can you say small universe? You may want to let her know I am just now not hearing colors. Seriously, I think she enjoyed it. He sure did. Making me squirm like that.

Roland: [grinning] So, when does the interview start?

Lorei: You ready? Steven’s on Syagria.

Roland: Yeah. Where do I put my tea?

Lorei: [points to the coffee bar]

ME: Wait, I had some questions. You just sat down. I haven’t had a chance to ask you hardly anything.

Roland: Dude, I think I was interviewing you.

Lorei: How’s your head?

ME: Backwards and inverted, thank you. Just, no. Don’t touch me.

Lorei: Don’t worry. Next time I will not have to look as deep.

ME: Huh?

Lorei: I just look for the memory of the first time I scanned you, or when you were previously scanned by someone else. Venda cannot do that, so it makes it easier. You, however, had never been scanned.

ME: Aileen sorta did.

Sharon: Are we still on?

Lorei: It’ll be a few days, Sharon. Have you interviewed Aileen yet?

Sharon: She was my first interview. I’d really like to interview a Troll though.

Lorei: Let me finish with Roland and I’ll help.

ME: Trolls? Now I’m double jealous. Roland, just a few more minutes?

Roland: Sorry, Mark. My ride is here.

Lorei: Steven will be there for a little while.

ME: Great. Steven told me you were one of his best friends in college.

Roland: More like his only friend. He kinda kept to himself.

ME: Really? He seems fairly gregarious now. It’s almost impossible to nail him down for a few minutes. He was like a social butterfly back when I was producing the video. I guess being his friend paid off, right?

Roland: Our relationship is not transactional, if that’s what you mean.

ME: No. No, bad choice of words. Knowing him was fortunate, however, right?

Roland: If you can say being sent to an alien world without warning fortunate, sure. I did get to come back and spend a few months here, though. But it wasn’t exactly a vacation. Steven was having a hard time.

ME: I’ve… yeah, he told me a little about that. How was it, being dumped in an alien environment?

Roland: It’s not really that alien. You know that. People are people, here. Just a lot more cultures. A LOT.

ME: No kidding. I’ve only been to a few worlds and met a handful of the species and haven’t scratched the surface. Sharon has been globe-trotting all over the place. It is so, the Cooperative is so unimaginably vast. I know you’re not officially an expat but have you considered moving here?

Roland: I have a large family back home. It is nice knowing we’re not alone, but I kinda want to stick around and help make things better for Earth.

ME: Profound. I’d considered that. Maybe I abandoned Earth or something, right? But now that I’m here, I could not imagine leaving this. I have family too. But it seems my family here is growing every day. Heck, I made a good impression on that Keratian the other day. He didn’t squish me.

Roland: [laughs] Well, there’s been talk that Steven might close the gates when they are done with the occupation on Earth. You may be stuck here for good.

ME: That would be hard for us. We’re having a blast here and are kinda exiled, but not… but having Earth completely, being cut off from Earth would suck. How are things back home?

Roland: Referring to Earth as home tells me you’re not quite committed as an expat, Mark. But things… they’re rough. Not dystopian rough, though. We’ve managed to keep society together through the war, but it is tough. Now everyone is blaming the aliens for that, and for the pandemic.

ME: Another pandemic? Am I that sheltered here?

Roland: You’ll never catch it. It seems expats and Evos are immune. But we’ve had confirmation of alien origin, so…

ME: No shit. Are they doing anything about it?

Roland: Stern is not a fan of the aliens so we’re pretty much on our own. But the Evos are working behind the scenes, so hopefully we’ll find a solution soon. The last pandemic was brutal. That makes this one even worse. People are just burned out, you know?

ME: Bad timing. Pandemic, war, a war here. I’m ready for some peace and quiet. That’s saying a lot since there was a time when I’d get bored if there were no conflicts to cover. The Venda here have been a serious annoyance.

Roland: Yeah, they mentioned that. How bad is it here?

ME: They’ve steered me away from hot-spots so I’m not entirely sure. I… you know I’m a wartime correspondent, right? But on Earth, you know what to expect. IEDs, bullets, RPGs, it’s all pretty much domesticated. But here, I have to admit, I’m a bit terrified at the idea of trying to get involved. The Venda have weapons we have never seen on Earth, and tactics that are just… are eons proven. These people are nothing to shake a stick at. Have you seen one? Scary. And they can look like you and me too. Even scarier. Okay, I’m babbling. I’ve been babbling a lot. Sorry. Evos. Tell us about them.

Roland: Nothing to tell. We try to keep a low profile on Earth.

ME: So, nothing?

Roland: Nothing.

ME: Right then. You have a meeting with Steven? Anything you can tell us about that?

Roland: Not much I can say there either. Sorry.

ME: Okay, here’s an easy one. Did she scramble your nugget too?

Roland: [glances at Lorei] No. She just found some memories that confirmed my identity.

ME: Well, I guess it’s just me then. I’ve been here for a while though. She could have found my memories.

Roland: She did. I guess she had to dig deeper. Or you ticked her off. She’s waving. So, are we finished?

ME: Yeah. This was impromptu and I feel like I could talk to you for hours, but if you have to go.

Roland: I have to go. Sorry.

ME: No, that’s okay. Don’t feel sorry for me and try to grace me with a few more minutes.

Roland: [stands up] Okay.

ME: Really? Figures.

Roland: [laughs] I really do have to go. It’s been great chatting with you. Let’s do it again sometime when things aren’t so tense.

ME: I agree. I find it easy talking to you for some reason.

Roland: I’ve heard that before. Must be my glowing personality.

~ ~ ~

Okay, that was a disaster. I am so embarrassed. My interviews are supposed to be like relaxed chatting, but this one was off the rails. I was going to delete this interview, but Sharon insisted I post it. It was annoying that she giggled the whole time she translated and transcribed the interview, however. Only later did I find out that Roland has special abilities. He’s an Evo, and his gift seems to be making peoples’ lips looser. Seriously, I’ve never jabbered like that for anyone. I wondered if the coffee had extra caffeine in it or something.

Good news. I got clearance to visit Rholling. There’s an expat living there I’ve been wanting to sit down with. So, until then, peace.

 

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Eve Interview

Interviewing

Eve

 

Guess what? Ma’ya is going to be my official chaperone. Along with her daughter Eve. That means I won’t have to get my brains scrambled again. Or as much. Seriously, it took a few days to stop tasting metal. Just in time for Ashley to introduce me to them at our dinner on Mor’ite.

On a side note, that dinner is exactly like the hot-pot Chinese restaurants back on Earth. We prepare our food items, many wrapped in dough, skewer them, then dunk them into a boiling broth. Every time I think I’m in an alien setting, I see yet another parallel. It’s uncanny.

I am not sure if I’m breaking protocol with my expat interview project, but I am adding Eve to the list. She’s not really Ma’ya’s daughter, but a clone created on Earth. She even sounds like an Earthling when she talks. It’s weird. She and Ma’ya could be twins, almost. But Eve has this Northwestern accent. It’s freaky listening to her speak. From what I understand, she just recently learned Elvish and Common too.

But, she’s been through a bit of trauma, so I’ll probably keep this interview on the light side.

~ ~ ~ 

ME: Hello, Eve.

Ma’ya: I’m Ma’ya.

ME: Are you sure?

Eve: [waves] We’re not that identical.

ME: [squints] Well, Ma’ya does not look a day over 1,500 years.

Ma’ya: Why thank you. I’m actually only a little over 300 years old.

ME: [gapes] But, Ashley said you were over 3,000 years old. Did he pull one on me?

Ma’ya: Pull what?

Eve: That’s a Terran saying for a joke or trick.

Ma’ya: Hmm. Pull one. I’ll have to remember that. But no. I was in stasis for a bit over 3,000 years.

ME: Oh. Like hibernation? For… wow, that’s a long time. So, you don’t remember any of it then?

Ma’ya: I remember every minute of it. There was a… the stasis pod was damaged. Steven became my buffer but we had to wait together for 3,000 years before we could escape the pod.

ME: [counts on fingers] Okay, you lost me. He’s, what, 20? Younger? I’ll just go with it. Eve. How are you doing?

Eve: [glances at Ma’ya – she did that a lot] Um, I’m doing well?

ME: Are you asking me?

Eve: [shakes head and looks down – something else she does a lot] Sorry. I think… fine. I’m doing fine.

ME: [grabs her hand] It’s okay, Eve. We’re just chatting, that’s all.

Eve: You’re jealous of your fiancée. Sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.

ME: [looks at hand] Reading me like a book. Yes. Yes, I am. But I am proud of her too. Her project is taking her to many worlds and she is meeting the most exotic creatures. Of course, I am now sitting in front of a couple myself, right? Anything else?

Eve: Sorry. I cannot help it. You can let go.

ME: From my understanding, I think that is what being an Elf is all about. Right?

Ma’ya: [nods]

ME: Your hands are amazing. I can feel the strength in those fingers.

Eve: Thank you. You can let go if you want.

ME: [lets go] I want you to feel at ease. It’s okay. Aileen read me pretty thoroughly already.

Eve: Sorry. I’m new to this. People back home… back on Earth… Terra… they, I was not allowed to touch them. Just Anna. She didn’t mind. The others had secrets, I guess.

ME: Eve, you have nothing to be sorry for. I find you fascinating. You sound so… Terran. Where did you grow up?

Eve: British Columbia. My father had an island off the coast.

ME: Father? I thought you were cloned.

Ma’ya: They apparently took a sample from me, then used a surrogate to give birth to her.

Eve: I met her. My surrogate. When I was running from bad people.

ME: So, not like they just built her in a lab, then? You were like, what, an egg donor?

Ma’ya: You can say that. I provided the material they used in an egg.

ME: Does that make her part human? Terran?

Ma’ya: Elvish genetics always dominate. The Terran genetics are discarded. So, she’s basically me. Just a lot younger.

Eve: I’m still me.

ME: Did they keep you caged or something?

Eve: No. No. They were my family. Especially Anna. My father was rarely there, but Anna raised me.

ME: Wow. Did you know? I mean, the fur is a dead giveaway, but, did you know you were an alien?”

Eve: [shakes head] No. I thought I had some sort of condition. That’s why people wore suits around me. Except Anna. But I never got that from her. Not until… until..

ME: It’s okay. Ashley clued me in on some of the details. She was killed.

Eve: She saved me. Got me away. I didn’t know she was shot. Not until it was too late. I tried to help her. To save her. She was the only mother I’d known.

ME: If this is too much, we can stop. I’m so sorry. I got the impression you were like some lab experiment that was caged up. But you, they were your family to you?

Eve: [nods] They were the only family I had known. They always treated me well. Not like some experiment. I mean, they did study me. They would take blood samples and give me tests. But, it was okay.

ME: I can tell this is a bit much. How about more benign questions. You and Ma’ya actually met. How awesome is that?

Eve: [shrugs] Lo’rel found me. I thought he was a monster at first, but he saved me. He had Ma’ya. Then, Steven…

ME: Yeah. Steven. So, it’s like you found your true mother.

Eve: I just wanted to be safe. To not… they killed Anna. She was my mother all my life. Ma’ya, I wasn’t expecting her. But I guess, yeah. She’s my mother too.

ME: Wow. I opened a can of worms here. I’m sorry.

Ma’ya: She is still coming to terms with who she is. Our bond is helping, but she is still quite shy. We are going to visit Steven soon. He seemed to help last time.

ME: So, he was like, the first Elf she had met?

Ma’ya: Yes. Then she met my great niece. And finally me. She is about to find out that she has a much larger family than she ever imagined. That is hard for her. She is so shy. Steven seems to relate, I think.

Eve: I’m… I’m glad to be normal. Finally. That helps.

ME: Oh, you are so incredibly normal, Eve.

~ ~ ~

I think I am going to like having these two as my chaperones. Eve is a character. She’s really withdrawn, but I can tell she’ll be a hoot once she opens up. And listening to her talk is just weird. Other Elves, when they speak English, they sound like, well, they’re from Ireland or something. That lilt. But she sounds like she would be home in California. And her Elvish sounds a bit odd too. Her mouth-muscles haven’t wrapped around that language yet. It will be neat to follow up with her in a few months to see how she’s progressed. Now, who gets to be my next victim?

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