Sara and Cevit Ion ran across the garden. “They’re coming!”
Cevit Ion had Ahstam with him, who looked worried. Our former 7th Galaxy Minister looked gray, not the sunny yellow he should have in his skin.
Ahstam was not the old, bald healer I saw clones of in Rainbow. This man had the same pale blue eyes but short brown curls.
A lady ran behind them. I hadn’t seen her!
I felt it, too. Telepathy isn’t limited by distance. I thought our Dosilian problems were over! This was an army!
An armed ship orbited, and my Collective targeted it. Most were on that ship, but Cevit Ion knew exactly where I needed to build pressure in a containment. The ship exploded! People saw this explosion in Oshfah, Areon Ye~ and Ry Pethe with shock! Areon saw it as a white streak across their blue sky and progs ported them underground. Our progs ported everyone into Ye~ Burial Chambers.
This surprised the Dosilians and they couldn’t track them.
Sara and I dropped dozens of ‘em in a group. Stragglers ran, but we picked them off.
None went to other worlds of Alb from that ship. This is personal!
Everyone felt that. Suma ran to Sara. “Are you okay?”
“Okay? That was a ship full of Dosilians! No, I’m not okay!” She cried and Cevit Ion held her.
“Love, let us go rest—”
“I can’t! We have to watch, Kia!” Her deep blue eyes had that terrorized look.
I put a hand on her shoulder, careful not to pull her brown hair. “I’m watching. You can watch from bed while you rest. Want us to go with you?” We all had rooms off a hall with a view of those beautiful gardens. She looked like she hadn’t slept.
A nod, and we ported to their room. They had a nine-sided bed with orange-yellow covers that matched her frilly dress and his tunic and pants. Ahstam wore the same color under his white robes and so did the lady.
Suma came with us. “Kia, can you watch for a bit? Biehshah can stay up for days, but Sara can’t.”
Had I been up for days? We usually slept and woke up kind of on my old schedule, and I felt just as tired. The date was Monday, Jan 31. But, last time I checked, it was Friday, Jan 21!
“Kia sleeps as she did on Earth, but it doesn’t rest her.” He picked me up and put me in our leiwege. Biehshah sleep on hard beds. Usually a hard bed is good for my back, but I tried one of these and it really helped. Ir bent the white mattress just right to hold me sitting up.
“It doesn’t? That’s a problem.” Her brown eyes filled.
“I’m going to be tired. Our selves in the bubble are still fighting, and that’s affecting all of us. You look tired, too, Suma.”
“I miss my husband! We can have our pets, but not our husbands?” Then she flinched.
Cevit Ion put a shaking hand on her shoulder. “Bring <mark>Ni’olmai</mark>. You need him. I am most sorry I nae mentioned this earlier. He helps you fight.”
“I’m worried! Jarfus left when Dromie did, and he didn’t come back. Did he go to rescue slaves, and died there?” She sobbed.
All the Zheien sighed and it rumbled. “We can nae know.”
“Everywhere Jarfus goes, troops die in large numbers! I see it.” Sara put her head on Cevit Ion’s shoulder. “Rentappenen wants me dead. He doesn’t want Pirad to know that he’s losing. He’s nearly out of materials to make clones, so he wants <mark>Pirad’s</mark> supply worlds. Novas! He’s looking for <mark>Dromie’s</mark> world!”
I busted out laughing! “Novas? You sound like Danger Service. ‘Nova! Look at that, Jim!’ They look up and a star explodes like fireworks. Then, another star explodes. ‘Novas!!’ they chorus.”
Sara made her voice British and deep like that announcer. “‘And this is how Danger Service invented a new slang expression used by gazillions across the galaxies! ‘Novas’!” She laughed.
Cevit Ion used the same voice. “‘Now, our intrepid explorers, Diplomat Dangerous and Diplomat Extraneous, travel on missions to save the universe! They go to Tasmania where they look up in the sky. ‘Novas!!’
They go to <mark>Bismainia</mark>. There are two novas in the sky there, too. Both diplomats point at it. ‘Novas!!’ People look up and point as well. ‘Novas!!’
World after world, these two brave diplomats get people to look up at the starry <mark>nightttime</mark> sky. People on them look up and say, ‘Novas!!’
Finally, the novas are gone from the sky. Still, mission after mission, these two diplomats, after their weary day of negotiation, look up at the sky and point. ‘Novas!!’
Leader <mark>Sigourney</mark> Of <mark>Ziazmania</mark> looks up. ‘I don’t see anything. What are you two trying to do, psychological warfare?!’
‘No, we’re just remembering the two novas that were in the sky on our last mission.’
‘Where was that?’
‘<mark>Xasmania</mark>, in the 7th.’
Leader <mark>Sigourney</mark> scoffs at them. ‘We are in the 3rd Galaxy. We haven’t had a star to nova in <mark>15oo</mark> of our years—what?’
He looks up at the nighttime sky and gasps. A star explodes in blue and green light.
‘Wait for it,’ says Dangerous.
A second star novas in red and green! Leader <mark>Sigourney</mark> gasps!
‘Novas!!’ chorus Dangerous and Extraneous.
‘Novas!!’ exclaims Leader <mark>Sigourney</mark>. He gasps again. ‘Now you have me saying it! Novas!! Novas!!’
Sara giggled, then got her announcer voice again. “‘And by a severe case of coincidence, Dangerous and Extraneous went on their 149-treaty tour of 14 galaxies, and in each one, there were two novas visible in the night sky. So eventful was this tour, that every world in the Alliance learned to say ‘novas!’ And, they soon taught the Zheien!’
The scene changes to the peaceful Zheien world of <mark>Zheienmainia</mark>, Capital Of The Zheien where King <mark>Ishmainia</mark> sits on his throne of sand. [It’s a mound in the middle of nine different colored cubes. The camera zooms in to his eye which looks up. Then it zooms out to show an old king in red-violet robes with long, silver curls.
An orange Zheien startles and leads the old king away. A young man with blonde curls strides over to the mound and sits. Sand flies up in a cloud! People cough.
A caption reads KING <mark>MAREL’MAINIA</mark> RETIRED. THIS IS <mark>ISHMAINIA</mark>, HIS SON.
The camera zooms in on his deep blue eye, which looks up, then zooms suddenly out to reveal his extra-surprised face, then zooms up to the sky where two stars nova! ‘Novas!!’
Two purple Thordes diplomats frown at him. ‘<mark>Aww</mark>, you beat us to it! Novas!!’
‘Ejis nae! Should I hit the ‘rewind’ button?’ He waves.
The entire scene replays, but this time, Dangerous and Extraneous gasp and point up. ‘Nova!’ says Dangerous. ‘Nova!’ says Extraneous. The camera zooms in on both of them as the second nova happens and they both point up and exclaim, ‘Novas!!’
‘Now, will you sign with me on this Occasion Of The Twin Novas? I wish to commemorate this Treaty between us with a <mark>Proclaimation</mark> Of The Twin Novas, and compel all of my Zheien peoples everywhere to use the expression, ‘Novas!!’ for extreme surprise!’This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Dangerous looks at Extraneous, who shakes his head, vigorously! But Dangerous smiles at the King. ‘I think this provision is unnecessary. Look!’ People are pointing up and shouting, ‘Novas!!’
The king flashes a wise smile. ‘But, my kingdom expects a provision with which to proclaim it! I must add this Proclamation because my people wish it. I share a mind link with every one of them, wherever they might be, and all are in agreement!’
Dangerous looks at Extraneous, who has a very smug expression. He shrugs and says, ‘Okay, I’ll sign it and so will Extraneous. This treaty will be the culmination of two years’ work!’
Just then, Emperor <mark>Evilus</mark> strides into the scene and kicks up dust from the King’s mound.”
Sara looked at Cevit Ion, who used the creaky <mark>Evilus</mark> voice. “‘Now, I will object to this treaty! No one will ever say, ‘Novas!’, because—’
‘You just said it! I heard you say the word, ‘Novas!’ Diplomat Dangerous points at Emperor <mark>Evilus</mark>, who looks around.
‘I didn’t say it! I object to its use!’ He points at a minister, who stands up.
‘I say we have 3000 witnesses in this meeting, and our mind link has gazillions, who heard you use the expression, ‘Novas!’ I rest my case.’ He sits, and a cloud of dust obscures the scene.
<mark>Evilus</mark> paces, and dust follows him around in a circle. ‘I suppose I had to say it to address the issue, but I object to its use!’
King <mark>Ishmainia</mark> jumps up and follows him in a circle. One by one, all of his council does the same, imitating his wide gestures. ‘But, you used it, so I must object to your objection! If you use the word, you cannot object to it.’
‘But, I have to say it so you know what I’m talking about, don’t I?’
‘Nae! We all have telepathy, including you!’
‘I don’t have telepathy! I lost it fighting…’ He whirls, and dust rises so we barely see anyone. ‘Him!’
‘Who? The dust is terrible today, ejis nae!’
‘Can’t you just use your telepathy to look?’
‘Nae, I would violate your privacy to do so!’
An exaggerated male sigh came from the cloud. ‘Just wait for the dust to settle. Nobody move!’
‘You can nae order my people nae to move! Please, speak politely.’
Another loud male sigh stirs up even more dust. ‘Please. Nobody move!’
‘That was still rude. Please, use a polite tone.’
An even louder male sigh happens. ‘Please. Don’t move. Just don’t.’
‘Thank you, <mark>Evilus</mark>.’
‘That’s Emperor <mark>Evilus</mark>!!’
‘O, I am very sorry. I thought us friends. Emperor <mark>Evilus</mark>, thank you.’
‘<mark>Mwhahaahaa</mark>! Thank you.’ More dust rises.
Finally, the dust clears and he is still pointing at Dangerous. ‘There. You see? He did it! He hurt me and now my telepathy doesn’t work!’ A lightning bolt goes from his eyes to Dangerous and he falls on the sand.
Dangerous groans. ‘You just used it on me! Ow!!’
‘That was a coincidence! Maybe sometimes it works.’ A lightning bolt comes from his eyes and hits Extraneous in the arm.
‘Ha, ha, you missed—’
Another lightning bolt hits Extraneous and he falls down. ‘Oh! Ow!’
Black robed men grab <mark>Evilus</mark>. ‘Now you are going to the Galactic Police Fortress!’
‘Oh, boy, I always wanted to see your secret facility! Is this a tour?’
‘Yes, it is a tour! A never-ending tour!’
‘Good, I’ll learn all your secrets—wait a minute. A never-ending tour? But that means—’
‘Yes! You will not leave. Nae ever.’
<mark>Evilus</mark> gets a horrified look. ‘But I claim Provision 27!’
The Ministers look at each other with very confused looks.
King <mark>Ishmainia</mark> waves up the treaty. ‘Very well. Sign this, then they can take you.’
‘But-but I have protection! I do!’
‘Provision 27 states that you have protection until you sign. Sign the treaty, please.”
<mark>Evilus</mark> takes a quill off the king’s hat and scribbles his name. ‘There! Now I have protection! You won’t get me!’ He waves and two men bring in a blue swirl painted on cardboard and spin it. Clicks are loud.
The black robes grab his arms before he can jump in. ‘We got you. Come to our secret prison now.’ They jump into the portal with him and knock the cardboard swirl down, then vanish. The cardboard swirl is still on the sand. One of the ministers sweeps sand on it with a sheepish grin.
‘Now we may sign and enjoy a festival—’
Male <mark>deepvoiced</mark> crying makes them look around. ‘<mark>Noooooooooooo</mark>!’ fades away.
Another male voice echoes. ‘Nae worry. Even prisoners get festival pastries.’
‘Really? Can I watch Danger Service on cable <mark>tv</mark>?’
‘We have holos of it.’
‘Okay, take me to my cell.’
The echoes fade.
Everyone in the huge crowd signs the treaty and cheers! The cheers are ‘Novas!! Novas!! Novas!!’
Sara giggled. “I love that!”
I laughed. “What’s that one called? I’ll have to put it on my <mark>watchlist</mark>!”
“Novas <mark>Redeux</mark>, but if you start from the beginning, it’s still this season.”
“Oh, it’s new Danger Service?” But the episodes I remember, that’s future Danger Service, not now.
Sara looked sad. “I don’t know if they’ll ever make the Danger Service episodes we remember. They’re doing new ones.”
“Pirad collected memories of many Earthans who enjoyed it.” Cevit Ion laughed. “I think he can make them into what we remember. Many diplomats watched.”
“Yeah, Zheien have memories like elephants! They’ll remember every detail! Did you watch all of them, <mark>Cev</mark>?”
He looked confused. “Which?”
“Oh.” She showed us memories of a documentary she watched about elephants once.
The narrator was British. Same accent as the one on Danger Service? “Elephants need large amounts of water. They must travel long distances to find it, but the matriarch remembers where the herd found water, over a period of 60 years. She leads her troupe to a water hole that still has water in it even in this drought.”Cevit Ion laughed. “I enjoyed <mark>Oahsah’s</mark> elephant, Samantha, so! But I nae knew much of them. MarKu has many. His orange sand reminds them of their home, as do trees near Fig. Environs are nae as hot there as once they were, but elephants suffered in the heat also. Goes negotiated for all rescued elephants to come to him. Keepers are happy to keep them safe from poachers, and many injured ones benefit from lower gravity. Those that are healthy can have their native habitats and progs make them able to coexist with people. Containments keep them from roads and homes. Now all Earth’s elephants have telepathy to make their needs known. Many wish to work with them and this gives them opportunities—”
Sara’s gasp stopped him. “Becky found one on Elshar Zheiea! My clones aren’t—they got them all. Pirad has their bodies in Kirnonos’ Lab.”
“You have to think about something else!” Suma trembled.
A portal brought her husband to the bed. He’s <mark>Ishah</mark> now? But I saw him when we first came. It feels so weird when there’s a conflict between the two sets of memories. He used to just have <mark>tri-toed</mark> feet. Now his hands have three, flat fingers like an extra Zheien finger.
His blue eyes turned dark. “You remember me differently. Am I the same, otherwise?”
“Yes, of course you are!” Why’s he asking me?
Suma laughed. “Neal, you’re better! You didn’t get hurt as badly in this future. Stop worrying!”
“I want to please you, Suma.”
“You do please me!”
Cevit Ion took his hand. “My son, look at my memories of you. They are like. Contact with <mark>Soskannans</mark> and <mark>Imwa</mark> did injure you, but nae as they did in your other future. You mind is well.”
<mark>Ni’olmai</mark> sighed, and his eyes went lighter, and so did Cevit Ion’s. “Thank you, Cevit Ion.”
“I wish all of you to call me <mark>Cev</mark>. We are friends. I have nae Cube, so perhaps I should bow to you who are Councillors.”
<mark>Ni’olmai</mark> shook his blond head and his curls flew around. “I guess I’m just half a Councillor because I share my wife’s Cube, but we are all in this fight. You help Sara as Ryee helped Adia in the other future. All of you can call me Neal. I like having an Earthan name, too.” He smiled and his eyes went light.
“I guess my name’s too short for a <mark>shortname</mark>!” I laughed.
“And I won’t be Sue or May!” Suma laughed, too. Waved a hand down. Two clones of her appeared! “I’ll be Sue! You can be May. Let’s go comfort people!”
The other of her startled and smiled. “May suits me! <mark>Cominnng</mark>!” They ran out.
“I gotta watch those stray thoughts!”
“Dear, we needed them. Many are crying because the attack frightened them so much!”
Deb came and sat on the bed with Greg, Briahh, Constance and <mark>baby</mark> Lizzie, who slept in her arms.
Deb startled as a <mark>baby</mark> appeared in hers! “Hi, Mama!”
“<mark>Enora</mark>! Oh, have a snack!” She poured a blue-green milkshake down her. <mark>Ty’nirrhans</mark> drink things like we do, with different ingredients.
She smiled. “That was good. I miss you. Can’t you come to the festival with us? Granny misses you, too, and Granddaddy, and Great-Granny and Great-Granddaddy, too. He’s not as busy now learning Zheien healing, ‘cause he can do just as well as the Zheien, now. He earned his Master Healer robes!”
“He did? That’s—”
<mark>Enora</mark> startled. “The bad people are here! I have to go—”
“No! Stay here!” Sara grabbed her arm.
“Who are—oh, Sara! You taught me to see ‘em. There!” I saw where she looked, and a man got dark eyes and fell! Healers dived for him, then cried.
Sara dropped two more, and I got a fourth! Then I fried another ship going for Elshar Zheiea, and another. That one almost made the atmosphere of Escet Vu, and they all saw the explosion. The one going for Elshar Zheiea wasn’t close enough, so they saw a shooting star.