“Unbeknown to us, Vicktor’s hatred for the Elders had consumed him. His new plan was to create an even larger device to expose the planet’s entire populace to the energy, essentially creating a new and powerful race in his own image. The device worked to that effect, changing anyone or anything it came in contact with. We were too late to realize his true intentions and that his madness had also jump-started catastrophic events within the planet’s core itself. The device was unstable and could not be stopped, eventually becoming a ticking time bomb that would destroy the planet and all its inhabitants.”

  “All hope was lost, or so we thought, until the foretelling of the chosen one. You see, soon after, we discovered that even when a normal being from Etheus was exposed, they still only possessed limited abilities. But it was the unborn children still in their mothers’ womb who held the true power. As plans were made to leave for Earth, we ensured these unborn children were kept safe and hidden from the Chirac along with their mothers. They were evacuated first and each assigned a guardian.”

  “The plan worked, except Vicktor found out that your mother was also pregnant with child. His child. He wanted you for himself and came after her with a vengeance, very nearly killing her along with his best friend, Robert, who was powerless to stop him. Near death, your mother tried to reason with him, using the most powerful weapon in the universe at her disposal: love.”

  “In the end, it was his inner struggle with what he’d become and his love for your mother that won out. He disappeared and was never seen again. It was believed he had perished along with the planet, but now we know he is very much alive. And one thing is for sure. He still wants you.”

  Chapter 45

  So it was true. Vicktor was my father. A brilliant scientist who’d gone mad after an invention turned his brain into clam chowder. All the years of wondering where my real family was and why I’d been given up for adoption, and now, I knew the truth. I wasn’t alone anymore. No matter how crazed and disillusioned he was, Vicktor was still my father. A fact that was going to take some serious getting used to and maybe even a few years of therapy.

  “Are you ready to meet your mother?” Ms. Parkman asked.

  I turned and looked around the room, both confused and anxious at the same time.

  “I thought my mother was dead? I was told she died during childbirth.”

  “Death is a relative term, Charlie. Tonight is the night for revelations. Open the box.”

  I opened the black velvet-lined box gently and beheld an elegant silver chain with a stunning heart-shaped sapphire pendant resting inside.

  “Place it around your neck.”

  I took the pendant from the box and did as she instructed.

  “Now, grasp the stone with your thumb and forefinger then close your eyes.”

  As soon as I did, I felt a sudden whoosh, sort of like being in an elevator that shoots straight to the top floor of a skyscraper at top speed. Nick would have probably loved the sensation, but it made my stomach queasier than ever before. I opened my eyes slowly and looked around me. I wasn’t in the mansion anymore. There were no walls or floor that I could see; although I could feel some type of hardened surface underneath my feet. A thick cloudy haze, similar to the smoky substance from a fog machine used at rock concerts or sporting events covered everything. Perhaps what one might envision heaven to look like?

  “Hello, Charlie,” I heard a soft voice say. A voice I’d heard before.

  I turned around and saw a beautiful woman garnished in a white silk robe standing before me. Her wavy blonde hair flowed down past her shoulders and to the small of her back. She had deep blue eyes and a wonderful smile. She was beautiful.

  And she was my mother.

  “Hello son. My name is Calista.”

  My response got stuck somewhere between my stomach and my voice box. All I could manage was a feeble wave of my hand as if I were a shy kid meeting a distant relative for the first time. And that seemed pretty accurate, all things considered.

  I was extremely nervous. I had dreamed of one day finally meeting my mother, but not like this. Not in heaven! Not in the clouds! Was I dreaming again?

  “I know this is hard to comprehend, son,” she said taking a step closer to me. “How can I be standing in front of you now if I died years ago? Am I real? Are you dreaming?”

  She moved steadily closer and reached her hand out to my face. On instinct, I jumped backwards stumbling on my own two feet and falling on my butt.

  She laughed softly.

  “It’s OK, son. It’s alright,” she said in a soothing tone.

  I rose to my feet, embarrassed and ashamed.

  She reached out again, and this time I stood fast. I felt her soft touch on my cheek and closed my eyes. Tears began to swell and roll down my face.

  “Mom,” I said finally as I hugged her tightly, never wanting to let go.

  Chapter 46

  “So how can this be?” I asked, finally loosening my grip on her small waist. Reluctantly, I might add.

  “This is sort of like your own private sanctuary. I exist here in this time and place. Anytime you wish to see me, you can visit me here. Time does not exist for me, so next we meet, it will seem to me as though you had just left. I am neither dead nor alive.

  “But how is that possible?” I asked. I was still utterly confused.

  “The necklace. When I gave birth to you, I knew I would not survive to see you grow up. So, I decided to transfer my essence into the pendant you wear around your neck. It was the only way I could ensure that one day I would see my son again. You now have the ability to call upon me anytime you want.”

  “So how did you know it would work?”

  “I didn’t. But, I believed. I had Ms. Parkman, as you know her, oversee the process and ensure that you received the pendant once you were of age. Her real name is Leerva, and she is your guardian, just as all the special children of Etheus have an assigned guardian. She has watched over you faithfully for years. And through her, so have I. I’ve watched my son grow into a wonderful young man, and I am so very proud of you,” she said. Color rushed to her cheeks, and she smiled radiantly.

  “So wait; how do you know what happens in the outside world?”

  “As I mentioned, I can see bits and pieces through your guardian, Ms. Parkman. But, as you can probably tell, I know what you know. I see what you see. All of my essence wasn’t just transferred into the pendant. A part of it was imprinted to you. Do you recall how sometimes you may have a funny feeling about something or feel a certain way, as though maybe you should go in this direction or that? That is me. Sort of like the angel on your shoulder or your conscience.”

  So my mom was my own personal MapQuest. I couldn’t decide if that was downright cool or sort of creepy.

  “Don’t worry; I can’t do it all the time. Just mainly when you are in moments of great distress.”

  That was reassuring. I had feelings for a girl who could read and feel my thoughts along with a mother who constantly gave me directions in life. I wasn’t feeling very independent all of a sudden.

  “So I take it you know that Vicktor is back,” I said. I couldn’t bear to say the words my father or dad out loud for fear of profuse vomiting. All the color disappeared from my mother’s face at the very mention of his name.

  “Yes,” she said quietly, wringing her hands together. “I knew he would find a way and survive. I am so sorry you have to deal with this, Charlie.”

  “What am I supposed to do? I mean, a truck load of family drama was just dumped in my lap, and I’m expected to just shake it off and move forward like nothing happened. Plus, I’m supposed to face him again? This is ridiculous.”

  “I know, and I wish there were some other way. But, if he is allowed to finish the Orion device, the same fate that befell Etheus will happen on Earth. Deep down you know this. You alone can stop him.”

  There it was again, the whole lone gunman thing. I never wanted to be John Wayne and have the abi
lity or desire to save the planet by myself. Heck, even he needed some help every now and then. And, if my last face-off with Vicktor was any indication, I would probably need a small army.

  “But what if I fail? The only way to stop him is by force, not by reasoning, and I can’t beat him. He is ten times stronger than me.”

  “He is only stronger than you because you believe him to be. You have proven to be very resilient throughout the years, my son, never giving in even when things seemed hopeless. Well, things are pretty hopeless right now, I know. But you won’t give up. You will find a way. And I will be there to support you.”

  Her words of encouragement made me feel a little better. The fact that I didn’t have to walk this road alone was truly a blessing in disguise.

  “You should be getting back now, Charlie,” she said, her voice wavering as though she might cry any moment. But she didn’t. I think it was more for me than for herself, holding back the tears that so desperately wanted to be released. She knew she had to be strong for her son’s sake once more.

  “I will come back soon, mom,” I said, taking her hands into mine.

  “Just remember, he is your father. He still has a soul somewhere beneath those layers of hatred. I was able to reach him before. Maybe you can as well.”

  She kissed me softly on the cheek, and I came to the realization that she still loved him and probably always would. Then, I felt myself falling down; down through the endless layers of haze.

  Chapter 47

  Before I realized it, I was back in the living room. Arthur and Kara were gone, but Ms. Parkman was still there, waiting patiently for my return. Now that I knew she was my guardian, I definitely saw her in a much different light.

  “Did you see your mother?” she asked calmly, setting the Healthy Lifestyles magazine she was reading on the coffee table.

  “Yes. How long have I been gone?”

  “Maybe an hour. Why do you ask?”

  “Because it felt much longer,” I said. Not that it mattered to me. I’ve always been infatuated with the concept of my real mom being out there somewhere, missing her and wanting to meet her. But now that I knew she was out there for sure, I missed her even more.

  “Well now you can see her anytime you wish. I’m sorry I had to keep all this from you, but it was her wish to do so until you were ready.”

  “It’s alright. I don’t blame you. And thanks for watching over me all these years. My mom thanks you, too.”

  She smiled, and as her eyes flashed in reminiscence, I saw a softer side of her I’d never witnessed before.

  “I loved your mom as though she were my own daughter. Seeing you grow into a man is all the gratitude I need. You are destined for great things. Here’s the box for the necklace.” She handed me the wooden box. “Anytime you wish to see your mother just close your eyes, grip the pendant tightly, and hold on for the ride. It’s as simple as that. You should go get some rest now. It’s been a long day for you.”

  “OK. Thank you again,” I said sincerely as I headed for my room. “See you in the morning.”

  I was tired, but I didn’t know if I’d be able to sleep. I was still wired and on an emotional high. I felt a surge of raw energy coursing inside me that I hadn’t felt before. A confidence in myself that until now had been severely lacking. I knew who I was now, and I was surrounded by people who cared for my safety and well-being. It was an amazing feeling.

  I flung open my bedroom door and face planted into my pillow, still fully clothed. I didn’t care. Nothing could bring me down.

  Chapter 48

  I woke the next morning feeling relaxed and refreshed. Today marked the start of a new beginning. As I got dressed, I even whistled to the tune of my favorite song. I couldn’t remember a time when I’d felt so rejuvenated.

  Still whistling as I left my room, I noticed Kara coming toward me and stopped abruptly. For starters, I wasn’t very good at whistling and didn’t want to make a fool of myself. Not that I hadn’t already.

  “Hey Charlie,” she said beaming brightly. She had the cutest little dimples when she smiled.

  “Hey Kara, you OK?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine. I just have a few bumps and bruises, but nothing too serious. Thanks for everything. I don’t remember much, but Nick told me how you found us.”

  “It was nothing,” I said humbly. You actually led me right to you guys.”

  “Oh?” she said, arching her eyebrows.

  “Yeah, you called out to me with your mind and I heard you; that’s all.”

  “Well, thanks anyway,” she said, touching my arm lightly. “You’re a lifesaver.”

  “I don’t know about all that,” I remarked shyly. Then, I had a thought.

  “Do you know why we can hear each other’s thoughts?”

  Her eyes dropped to the floor before she answered.

  “I don’t know. I can’t explain it. Weird huh?”

  I nodded in agreement, but my spidey senses were definitely tingling. Why did I all of a sudden feel she knew more than she was letting on? It was a mystery I would have to get to the bottom of.

  “My dad wanted me to come get you. He wants to discuss our next move.”

  “OK,” I replied. “After you.”

  I followed her to the secret room near the back of the mansion. As we entered I noticed things were just as busy as before. We walked over to the conference table. Attendance was sadly low without Michael or Jason present. Also, Carter and Price who I couldn’t wait to cross paths with again.

  I slid in next to Robert.

  “How are you feeling?” I asked.

  He touched his midsection gingerly and grimaced, then flashed a weak smile.

  “I won’t be tying my own shoes for quite a while, but I’m going to be fine. I owe you one kid.”

  Arthur interrupted impatiently, his wooden pipe dangling from the corner of his mouth.

  “OK, we need to get down to business. Have we made any progress in discovering the Chirac’s whereabouts?”

  “No sir,” A young, petite woman with straight black hair and glasses spoke up. She had a serious demeanor and fingered an electronic data pad in front of her. She could have easily been mistaken for a schoolteacher grading midterm papers. “We haven’t been able to pick up anything that would tell us where they could be. We’ve drawn a blank.”

  “That’s not acceptable. We have to find them, and soon. I don’t have to remind everyone here what’s at stake.”

  “I don’t think we have to worry about finding them,” I said. “Vicktor told me when I was ready I would know how to contact him.”

  “And just how are you going to do that?” Arthur asked. He made no attempt to mask his skepticism.

  “I don’t know yet,” I admitted. I had no idea how I would do it. It wasn’t like he’d given me instructions or drew me a map for crying out loud.

  “I was hoping someone here would maybe have some insight or an idea.”

  “Well aside from picking up the phone and calling him directly, I don’t have a clue what he meant by telling you that,” Arthur said curtly. He took a puff of his pipe. “It’s probably some type of ploy intended to mislead you.”

  “Well, I’m all you got. I’m the key to this whole thing, which you guys love to constantly remind me. And from what I understand, you don’t have any other leads, so maybe stepping out on a limb wouldn’t be such a bad idea. Oh, and by the way, I don’t appreciate your condescending tone or blowing me off so quickly either,” I snapped.

  I couldn’t take his snide remarks or cynicism anymore. I pushed my chair back from the table and stormed out of the room. I don’t know what came over me, but I was fed up. I didn’t have the stomach to sit there and listen to Arthur anymore. I had missing friends, and he acted as though they were employees that were let go and could easily be replaced. I was upset to no end. He seemed like such a nice guy when we first met, but now, he was just another inconsiderate jerk.

  Chapter 49

  ?
??Charlie!”

  I spun around to see Robert hobbling down the hallway after me, clutching his side.

  “Hey, wait up!”

  I stopped reluctantly. Jeez, what was he going to say? More of the same? And I was having such a good day.

  “What’s going on?” he asked. “What’s got you so worked up?”

  “I can’t sit here and listen to this crap anymore. I’m going after my friends, with or without Arthur’s help.”

  “Calm down, Charlie. We’re all in this together. Now, there has to be a reason why Vicktor would say you’d be able to contact him when you were ready. What we have to do is figure out how.”

  I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. At least Robert was being sensible.

  “I have no idea what he meant. I wish I knew.”

  “Well, what we have to do is explore all options. If I know Vicktor, he always has a plan and nothing can be overlooked. Even the smallest detail.”

  “So you and Vicktor were friends?”

  There was a lengthy pause before he answered, and I wondered if I might have overstepped.

  “That was a long time ago. We were like brothers once. He never understood how I didn’t see things the way he did. The rejection by the Elders was something he took very personally. I blame myself for not seeing it coming. I failed your father. I promised I wouldn’t fail you as well, but last night, I did. I won’t let that happen again. I know you’re anxious to save your friends, and I would love nothing more than to see them safe, but I don’t think you’re ready to face Vicktor again just yet. I can almost guarantee he won’t be so generous next time.”

  “How do you know that? I admit, I wasn’t ready before, but I really believe I can stop him now.”

  “And why is that? What’s so different this time around?”

  I didn’t know what to say to convince him. Maybe I didn’t know exactly why myself. But I did feel ready. Deep inside, I knew I could do it this time. I just couldn’t put the why into words. Luckily, I didn’t have to. I heard a familiar voice ring out in my defense.

 
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