E:A Vol 3 Ch 14—December 3, 2119

Victoria collapsed on the enormous floor-covering mattress in their bedroom in their island home on the Rayth homeworld. It was Sunday evening. Zy’nayth had gone to work at the Chancellery after their Sunday Service on Terra 2 while Victoria and the kids put groceries away and then set about entertaining the dogs.

“I spent most of the day helping the kids set up the agility course for the dogs in the backyard. I should have purchased a third set. I was all over the island scavenging items we could use for it,” she told her husband as he settled beside her.

“The children seemed to have enjoyed today’s adventure and you did a good job with the little course,” he replied.

“I had a lot of help. I think half of the villagers were willing to find items we could use. That tunnel was part of some art piece one of them was working on,” she laughed. “He said he wasn’t much of an artist, so the dogs could have it.”

“They enjoy having the dogs here. We do not often have pets on this island. A few cats are around, but it has been years since I have seen a dog.”

“This is a stupid question,” she said rolling onto her side, propping her head up on her hand, “but is that a Rayth thing? Do they just not like pets or dogs?”

“No, it is not a Rayth thing,” he replied. “Many Rayth have pets. I do not know why the villagers here do not.”

“Maybe Baxter and Celeste will prompt them to get more pets here,” she said as she started to get to her feet.

Zy’nayth chuckled, “Or they will remind them as to why they do not have pets.”

Victoria smiled, “Nah. They’re good dogs. Okay, I’m gonna take a shower and change into my jammies.”

“When you are done, I would like us to spend a little more time in prayer. I am still quite upset about what my parents did to me. And, of course, I want to pray that this idea of Becket’s works and that the enhancements have peaked. I do not want issues to deal with and worry over regarding my children…our children.”

“Of course, sweetie,” she said and kissed his cheek. “I’ll be quick.”

Zy’nayth had opened the ceiling iris and was sitting cross-legged in the center of the floor-covering mattress reading his Bible by the time Victoria finished with her shower and joined him.

“That view never gets old,” she smiled as she looked up through the opened iris. “Beautiful.”

“I love the stars,” he replied with a smile.

“And our daughter has your love for them.”

“I know, though I do think she is just attracted to anything that sparkles.”

“Probably,” she said as she took his hands into her own. “Want me to start?”

“If you would,” he said as he turned towards her closed his eyes.

Victoria prayed for his anger to leave him and that he’d remember the love his parents had for him and for their people. She prayed that he’d remember that if he had not been the subject of this experiment, he would not have lived as long as he had, they would not have met and had two wonderful children; Mik’kenna would not have had near-fatal disease that led Becket to find the cure, readily available on Earth and which had already saved many female Rayth lives. She prayed that he’d remember that without the experiments on him, and his long life, they would not now be Christians—and the Gospel wouldn’t yet be spreading through the Andromeda galaxy. When she prayed that last, Zy’nayth squeezed her hands. She could feel him becoming emotional, but she kept praying, finishing by thanking God for the two furry additions to the family and for their safety, and for David’s safety as he continued his investigation on the Terra 2 explosion.

Zy’nayth then prayed, thanking God for his wife, his salvation, and for the realization of what those experiments had led to. That was all he could get out before he began to weep. He collapsed into his wife’s arms and sobbed. “I am so selfish. I was so angry about how they could do this to an unborn child…to me…I did not see God’s hand in it. I should have. I should have known that He…”

“Ssh. What you were told was pretty traumatic. It’s okay.” She held him close and when he settled, she gave the command to turn out the lights then they crawled under the blankets. He nestled back into her arms, closed his eyes and after a few tears soaked her pajama top, he fell asleep. Victoria continued to pray over him until she, too, fell asleep.

December 6, 2119

Becket and Victoria came walking into Ja’val’s lab, each carrying one of the twins. The kids’ heads turned this way and that to see everything their little eyes could see. They were quite curious and had that sense of adventure and wonder that their father had. They wanted to see everything.

“Daddy!” Ky’nayth was the first to see him across the lab. Becket let the kids run ahead and get swept up by their father.

“There you are!” Zy’nayth smiled and walked over, taking a twin into each arm, giving them kisses. “Are you two ready for your tests today?”

“No want needle,” Mik’kenna said, her mouth in a pout. “Needle hurd.”

“I do not want any needles either,” Zy’nayth told his daughter, “but I am afraid they are necessary. I am quite confident that Uncle Becket and Uncle First Science,” he said using the title since Ja’val had four of his commanders and officers there to help with the tests, “will be as gentle with you and your brother as they can.”

Mik’kenna could only frown, “I no want hurded.”

“We’ll do our best to be very gentle and not hurt such a delicate little girl,” Ja’val smiled. “Now, first things first, we’ll go through some non-physical tests, like vision and hearing, then we’ll do the physical tests like running, lifting, etc. We have water, so if you’re thirsty, ask.”

“No needle poke?” Ky’nayth asked.

“We’re going to do that first to get it out of the way. Get the worst over with right at the start, okay?” Ja’val smiled.

“Or no do it. That best,” Mik’kenna said with a nod and crossed her arms to emphasize her point. “No needle. Kay? Tank ooh. Daddy, I go home now.”

“If you left, that wouldn’t help us to help you and your daddy and your brother. We need all the information we can get on you guys. It’s very important to our research,” Ja’val said.

“Well, ‘kay. But no hurded me.”

“We’ll do our best, sweetheart. Now, I’ve got those two seats ready for you and your brother. Pick one and we’ll get started. We’ll do Mommy and Daddy’s last,” he said. Victoria stood by Ky’nayth while Zy’nayth stood by his daughter, offering comfort, both knowing how much the kids hated having blood drawn.

“If you prefer Uncle Becket or your Mom, I don’t mind,” Ja’val said as he prepped Mik’kenna’s arm.

“No. Just ‘memmer I del-ee-kit.”

“I remember. And look Uncle Becket brought over these teeny tiny needles just for you guys.”

Both kids looked at the needles. “He use dem ‘fore,” Ky’nayth said. “Sissy, ‘memmer, they no hurded.”

“I no sure,” Mik’kenna said then squeezed her blue eyes shut as she made a fist as she was told.

“Okay, honey, gonna feel a little pinch,” Ja’val said as he slid the needle in. Immediately the blood flowed down the small tube into the attached vial. “I need four vials, sweetheart, you’re doing good. There’s one. Perfect. Does it hurt?”

Without opening her eyes, she shook her head.

“Good. Breathe honey,” he smiled, “relax…there…good girl.”

In the seat beside her, Becket was just as gently talking to Ky’nayth and telling him how well things were going with his own blood draw. It took less than three minutes and they were done. Victoria put on the little bandages, while the doctors marked the vials and put them aside for later testing.

Then Zy’nayth and Victoria sat in the chairs.

“Why Mommy?” Ky’nayth asked. “She not Rayth.”

“She’s one of our baseline patients,” Becket said. “I have twenty five humans that are going through this on Terra 2. Your mother volunteered. Besides, she’ll be here with you guys every time, so she may as well go through the tests herself.”

“Oh. It family thing!” Ky’nayth said and took Victoria’s free hand, while Mik’kenna did the same with her father, each offering their parents their own little bit of comfort.

Everything went as smoothly for the parents and two minutes later, they were done.

“Pessure,” Mik’kenna said pointing to the cotton ball on Zy’nayth’s arm. “Keep pessure on, Daddy.”

“I am putting pressure on in, sweetheart.”

“Dat top beeding,” she nodded knowingly, repeating what Uncle Becket had told her on previous blood draws.

Becket checked the site, wiped it clean then put on a bandage. “You’re good to go. Okay, if everyone’s ready, we’ll start with vision, hearing, telepathy. Follow your uncle,” he pointed to Ja’val. “Victoria, you’re up first.”

Victoria went into separate booths and put the headphones on as instructed. There were elements of the test that were done almost exactly as they’d been done on Earth, but a few other things she’d never dreamed of. Apparently, Rayth could see far more of the spectrum than humans. No wonder her husband never tripped over the kids’ toys in the middle of the night. He could see them.

“For a human, perfect,” Becket said to her as she came out of the booth. “Hearing and vision both great.”

“Telepathy was a big zero, though,” Ja’val grinned.

“I could have told you that,” she smiled.

“Gentlemen, if you’d be so kind as to step out for a few minutes,” Ja’val said to his fellow scientists, “you know I have to perform the tests on the High Chancellor alone. Becket, you and Victoria as well, please.” Becket had been told he’d have to leave, but only because Ja’val and Zy’nayth didn’t want the Rayth scientists to believe that Becket was privy to the most secret abilities of the leader of their race. Once Zy’nayth and Ja’val had explained to Becket why the doctor would have to leave, Victoria said that despite being Zy’nayth’s wife, she was human, and she didn’t want to raise anyone’s ire, more than it already was, so she volunteered to leave as well. Zy’nayth told her that she didn’t have to, but she insisted and said it was the right thing to do. Until they were certain that the rebellion was shut down, she’d do her best, wherever possible, to be “just a human” and follow Rayth protocols regarding humans.

Once the six of them left, Ja’val initiated all of the security barriers around the room. The twins sat up in the tall chairs and watched their father as he was put through the tests. Zy’nayth’s took a bit longer than Victoria’s due to testing his telepathic abilities, such as sending and receiving “verbal” and visual messages, the distance he could send or receive, his ability to get into an unguarded mind as well as a guarded one.

When he came out of his booth, Ja’val was smiling. “As expected, above average on everything. I don’t even know how to test the limits of your telepathy,” the First Science Commander said. “The fact that you tapped into the guard’s mind at the entrance down by the outer gate of the property and was able to read his mind from in here…”

“Do not let that get around,” Zy’nayth said. He looked at his children, “Please do not tell anyone of my telepathic abilities.”

“I no tell. It super special secret,” Ky’nayth said and Mik’kenna nodded her agreement.

Mik’kenna was up next and while she was getting set up in the booth, Ja’val had released the security barrier around the room and contacted the others that they could return.

“I no wike dis,” Mik’kenna said from the small booth. “Tuffy in here. Dark. Daddy, I no wike. Daddy!”

“I am right outside, sweetheart. It must be dark for some of the tests. I am right next to the door. And here comes Mommy and your brother. We are all right here.”

“Take a few deep breaths,” Victoria said, “long, slow, deep. There’s nothing to be scared of. You saw me and Daddy in there. We were just fine.”

“Oh. Dat right. Kay. Ready.”

One of the commanders began the tests. Vision first, so they could adjust the lights afterwards to ease Mik’kenna’s fear. Then hearing. “Slightly above average on both vision and hearing than other Rayth her age, nothing that jumps out as extraordinary,” Ja’val said, then he tapped the intercom into her booths. “Mik’kenna we are going to test your telepathy. First, I would like you to send me an image of anything you want.”

“I only do with Daddy ‘fore.”

“I know, sweetheart, but let’s try it with me, okay?”

“Kay,” she said, closing her eyes tight to concentrate.

Ja’val smiled, “I see…a dog…Celeste.”

“Ess!” she cheered. “Suhwest! I lub Suhwest!”

“Now I am going to send you an image. Tell me what it is,” Ja’val said.

Mik’kenna closed her eyes again. After a couple of seconds, she tilted her head. “It Mommy kitchy on Earf. I see ‘tove and sink.”

“That’s right, very good. Now just try to send me a phrase, like you were talking to me, but only with your mind.”

This was harder for her. Pictures were easy to see in her head and project. Words were harder to send without an image to accompany it. It was just as hard for Ja’val who could, without thinking, pick up the girl’s thoughts. He had to concentrate on keeping his mind out of hers.

“I like red,” he said after a couple of minutes.

“Ees!” Mik’kenna said. Then Ja’val reversed it, sending her a phrase, which was much easier. It didn’t rely on the receiver to have telepathic abilities. He could have sent the same message to Becket who had zero telepathic ability. Mik’kenna easily received and repeated the message.

“Okay this is gonna be really hard,” Ja’val said, “I’m going to think of something, I’ll have an image in the forefront of my mind. I want you to see if you can get in and see it.”

“I no know how. I no do this ‘fore.”

“Just try to see if you can see anything in my head. I’m going to tell you when to try. We’ll do it several times. I will start with all of my mental barriers in place to see if you can get past them. Then, if you can’t, I’ll drop some of the barriers and you can try again. Don’t worry. If you can’t break through, that’s quite all right. There aren’t many Rayth who can get past my barriers.”

“Kay. I try best.”

“I’m ready,” Ja’val said as he brought the image to mind and focused on it alone. After several minutes Mik’kenna said she couldn’t see anything. Ja’val lowered some of his defenses, again and again. Finally, his mind was open to her completely.

“I think it make you happy, but I no see what it is,” she said.

“That’s very good. Most kids your age can’t even get that much. I think Daddy will need to teach you a bit on how to hone that talent. One last test, it’s the reverse of what we just did. This is to check your telepathic defenses. I want you to picture something in your mind, and not let me figure it out.”

“Uncle First Science,” she said, exasperated, “I no know how do dat. I only two!”

“I know, sweetheart, these are baseline tests. And all Rayth do have some natural defensive abilities if someone is sneaking around in their minds. So though you may not be intentionally blocking me, your natural defense should kick in a little.”

“Kay.”

“Think of something and try to keep me from figuring it out.”

She closed her eyes, furrowed her little eyebrows. “Kay. Ready.”

“Red crayon,” he replied a moment later.

“Dat no fair,” she said. “I no know what do! Daddy! I only two! Tell dem!”

“Mik’kenna,” Zy’nayth said, his rough, grumbly voice surprisingly soft and calming, “sweetheart, we do not expect you to be able to. As your uncle said, this is to see what you can and cannot do so that when we test you later, we can compare where you started and where you are at and how much you have improved. You have done your best and that is all that we ask.”

“Sweetheart,” Ja’val said, “there were minimal defensive measures, completely typical for your age if you have telepathic abilities. That is very good. This tells me that yes, you will have some telepathic abilities as you get older. You will learn how to use them. However, what was not normal, and I mean this in a good way,” he turned and looked at Zy’nayth, “the push back from her instinctive defenses was strong. Much stronger than what I’d even expect from a teenager. It just was not cohesive enough to stop anything.”

“So I ‘kay?” the girl asked.

“Love,” Becket said as he opened the door to the booth and took off her headphones, “you’re perfect.” He helped her out then helped her brother in. “Out of curiosity,” he asked Ja’val, “how far did you get in trying to figure out what the High Chancellor was hiding?”

Ja’val roared with laughter. “I couldn’t even tell if I was in his head; half the time I thought I was in yours. I’m good, one of the best Rayth telepaths, but this guy…I don’t ask what he can do, and part of me doesn’t want to know, though, really, I do because…well, I’m curious that way. We all know he’s quite gifted in the area, but not even I know how far his abilities can take him. I have what I need for the tests, that’s all I can tell you.”

“Do good Bubby!” Mik’kenna said as she closed the booth door after Becket came out.

“I try, Sissy.”

“Bubby and Sissy?” Becket asked.

“Started a couple of weeks ago. Brother and sister. I think it’s adorable,” Victoria said.

When they finished with Ky’nayth, Ja’val said that his vision and hearing were above that of Mik’kenna’s. But her telepathic abilities were higher than her brother’s. “The percentage difference is minute, and under normal settings, we’d say they were equal, but we’re dealing with extraordinary circumstances and children, so we have to note any even minor difference.”

“Water and bathroom break, then we move onto the physical tests,” Becket said as they went up a few floors to something like a gymnasium.

Most of the tests comprised pushing against various panels that would measure force and weight of specific muscle groups, right and left of the body. Becket wanted to include typical Earth tests, actual lifting of weights, and such, so those instruments were brought over to the Science Lab, and the Rayth tech was moved to Terra 2 for the human tests. Speed, strength, reflexes, endurance and other factors were all tested and documented.

Victoria collapsed on the sofa. “I’m beat. Zy, you cook dinner.”

“I can make toast,” he said, completely unfazed by the tests they’d spent the afternoon taking. “Shower up, we shall go to the mess hall on Terra 2.”

The kids were thrilled and each ran to a different bathroom. “I will expect a leg massage tonight. I’ve never run like that in my entire life,” Victoria said.

Despite complaints, the food from the mess hall was exceptionally good, but the food was generally bland so that those with sensitive tastes wouldn’t be put out. The kids, however, didn’t care. They liked the novelty of being able to pick out what they wanted from several selections.

Afterwards, Zy’nayth suggested a walk on the mainland beach. Part of him wanted to see where the explosion had happened, but he had something else in mind as well. The twins insisted that they bridge back to their island home to get Baxter and Celeste, which Zy’nayth allowed, then the family began walking along the beach, coming to a stop near where the farmland began, then turned around and headed back to the dock. As they made their return approach, Be’atta joined them. She had Kol’non, John, Janice, Chris and Alessa, Vince, Kaven, Becket and Amelia, and David in tow. They walked on to the dock itself where Lutia and Ja’val were sitting. Everyone joined them.

“Okay, I rounded everyone up,” Be’atta said, looking at Victoria, “what’s going on?”

“What? I don’t know,” Victoria said then looked at her husband.

“This was not my doing,” he said.

“It was mine,” Lutia said, her smile beaming. “I’ve been wanting to say something all week.”

“You’re pregnant?” John guessed.

“Yes!” she nearly screeched. “Two months.”

“Becket, it’s totally not fair that you know about these wonderful things before me,” Victoria grinned.

“Sorry, love,” he smiled.

Congratulations were expressed then Ja’val spoke up. “And, to add to this wonderful news, I think we can get the serum to work on the High Chancellor. My preliminary simulations are all positive.”

“Really?” Zy’nayth asked, shocked, both that the simulations were in his favor, but also because having spent most of the day with Ja’val, nothing had been mentioned.

“Yes. However, we still need a lot of prayer and I still have a lot of simulations to run. I’m also trying to work out the numbers on whether or not the progressiveness of these enhancements have peaked. As I said those were prelim simulations. There’s much left to do, but given that those tests were all, or mostly all negative before, this is good news. Then, High Chancellor, I need to run tests to see how your body will handle the dosage of the serum required. That is something which concerns me.”

“How much stronger is the dosage?” Victoria asked.

Ja’val sighed, “Two hundred and seventy-five times the normal dose.”

Amelia’s eyes went wide, “I don’t know anything about medicine, but that sounds…uh, huge.”

“He’s a huge guy,” Chris grinned.

“It will pose problems,” Becket said, “but we need to find out what those problems will be, how bad they’ll be, and what we can do about them. As First Science said, we still need lots of prayer on this.”

“Haven’t stopped,” Kaven said.

“So is there any other good news? Say, perhaps, some nuptials,” John said looking at Kol’non and Be’atta then Becket and Amelia.

“Don’t put them on the spot,” Lutia said, “that’s not nice.”

“Well, I thought this good news might get infectious. But I know those two have a difficult situation,” he said with a nod to Be’atta and Kol’non. “And I think Becket’s just dragging his feet.”

“John, don’t,” Lutia said sternly. “He’s been quite busy with my husband on this serum. Hours on end when he’s not on duty in the infirmary.”

John turned to Becket, “I know, I’m just giving you a hard time. I’m sorry.”

Becket smiled, “Don’t worry about it. Lia and I have been talking about marriage; I’m still praying about it. I am quite in love with this pretty lady. I just want to get this serum project laid to rest so that she’s not marrying someone who’s never home.”

“I told him I wouldn’t mind,” Amelia replied with a smile.

“Yes you would. You don’t like it now,” Becket said and kissed her cheek.

“Okay, enough of this mushy talk,” Kaven said, “let’s get a game going. Volleyball anyone?”

“I think the big guy’s all for it,” Chris said.

“I am not,” Zy’nayth smiled. “Go have fun.”

Ja’val and Lutia stayed with Victoria and Zy’nayth. Both the High Chancellor and his wife had questions about the simulations. But Lutia stopped them after a few minutes and told them that they were supposed to be having a family outing, not talking shop.

As night fell, Zy’nayth announced that he, too, had a surprise. When it was dark, fireworks began going off overhead. Ky’nayth and Mik’kenna had never seen them before and after the initial scare, they began laughing and clapping. Mik’kenna called them “plody tars” and was entranced until the show was over. The puppies, however, were not happy at all. Even surrounded by their guardians, they whimpered and cowered at the loud bangs and booms.

“So did you two have a fun time today?” Victoria asked as she and Zy’nayth helped them into their pajamas.

“Ess!” Mik’kenna exclaimed.

“Me too! We has one ‘morrow?” Ky’nayth asked.

“I am afraid we go back to the island tomorrow,” Zy’nayth said.

The kids were prayed over, tucked into their beds with their puppies by their sides, then Victoria and Zy’nayth retired to their own room.

“I told you Becket and Ja’val would figure your serum problem out,” Victoria said as she curled up on the bed.

“There is still much to be done before we can truly say the problem is solved.”

“Maybe, but I still believe that it’s solved.” She smiled, “And soon there’ll be two more little ones on Terra 2. Did Ja’val tell you before today?”

“He did. He was too excited to wait.”

“You and Becket are both keeping secrets from me. I’m not sure I like this.”

“You cannot blame Ja’val for telling me. I have never seen him so excited, he was going to burst if he did not tell someone.”

“I’m just teasing. I’m so happy for them. One little human baby and one little Rayth baby. It’s good that they’ll be born so close together.” She laughed, “Chris and Ja’val as daddies. That’s going to be fun.”

“I think our children will enjoy having them around.”

“They will. You know, they’ve never seen a baby or anyone even near their age.”

“It will prove to be interesting,” Zy’nayth said and drew his wife into his arms. “I wish we could have another little one or two.”

“We didn’t think we could have Ky and Kenna. Though if we don’t have more soon, I’ll be too old.”

“I can rejuvenate your system, keep you young.”

“You mentioned that before. So you can keep me this age?”

“Yes. Each time I heal you, I revitalize your system. Not on purpose, it is simply how our energy works. So when you had that cold a couple of months ago, and I healed you, you probably gained about three months. Or lost, depending on how you look at it.”

Victoria looked into his silver eyes and caressed his cheek. “I don’t know what I want to do. People would pay billions to look young and live for centuries. I don’t mind the looking young part, but…I don’t know if I could handle living as long as you have. You’ve only shared just a snippet of your ten-thousand years with me and there’s so much sorrow. To live longer than my friends…I just don’t know how I’d handle it.” She sighed, rolled on her back, but then she smiled, “However, I don’t want to leave you any time soon. I don’t want to leave my babies. There’s so much we can still do. If we can figure out how you’re able to heal people, and develop something human doctors can use, we could do a lot of good back on Earth.”

“But it could also disrupt the natural order of things. Your planet is already overcrowded. If you did not allow life to come to its natural end, imagine how much worse things would be. Rayth have settled many worlds. We have room to grow. Earth does not yet have the capabilities to establish space colonies.”

“We have the bridge portal.”

Zy’nayth let out a groan. “Given of what little I have observed of your world, I would not want that lack of regard for a planet, or for others, to spread in this galaxy. The pollution alone.” He shook his head, “Your people have not even solved that tiny problem.” He stopped and sighed, “Forgive me, I am being quite judgmental of your people.”

“What you said was true, though,” she said, then switched back to their original discussion. “Zy, if you could change, I mean, if you had the choice to not live as long as you have, would you?”

“I would not have met you. I would not have had Ky’nayth and Mik’kenna. I would not have been able to help my people if I had died younger.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“I am what I am. I have fought to stay alive. I guess that speaks for itself.”

“We all fight to stay alive,” she said.

“You do not need to make a decision right now,” he said. “We will pray about it and you can think about it. And to give you a more direct answer, yes, I want you to be with me as long as possible. But I do not want you to be unhappy in an attempt to make me happy. I will take whatever years God gives me with you.”

Victoria was smiling though tears were in her eyes. “I love you, High Chancellor.”