...“With your superior reflexes and augmented strength, how do you justify hitting a person who does not have your powers?”
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6291
“First of all, I would say you are stretching the truth by claiming I acted contrary to Cherinian beliefs. What you are speaking of is part of the rules my father has imposed on Cherinians and no Cherinian has the right to impose his own rules on others. If he wishes to live that way, good luck to him, but his wishes do not bind all of us.
As for your claim that I used my superior strength, are you insinuating that just because a man is weaker than me he has the right to insult my wife and me?”
Within hours it made headlines all over the world as editors and other so-called specialists analysed his statements. They all worried whether it means they augur a change in the relationship between Normals and Cherinians - and as for the reactions they demanded of their governments, they were extreme in three different directions, sometimes by the same media corporation. Within a day the same headlines made it to another five realities. All realities worried at this first serious sign of trouble between father and son.
Michael spent the next few weeks with the look of a son who has been chastised by his father and behaved himself, devoting himself to helping Normals. Governments sighed with relief and treated him as our golden boy, praising him.
We had two parties for Cherine’s birthday. The one was public with Cherinians from many realities plus our government officials. She appeared as a woman of about twenty and impressed everyone with her ready smile and cheerful nature. She can be devastatingly charming when she decides to as an adult, and many alt Cherinians quietly made comments that indicated they are seeing their own Cherines in a new light.
At the private party, only family, close friends and those who’d been with at the Haven-R were invited. Here Cherine turned up as an eight year old and played with all the kids, running and screaming, filling Robbie’s heart. At some moment that she was close to Michael, he grabbed her and placed her on his lap, squeezing her too tightly, reaching into her heart with his. She felt his hidden tears in the background and stared at him with serious eyes.
Very softly she said to him, “Your father and I and all your family will always know that you love us Michael. Just don’t allow our public anger to blind you to our love.”
“I’m going to hurt you so much mother. You’ll wonder, how could my son do that, has a part of him turned bad.”
She put her little hands to his face and kissed him. “Maybe I’ll have to, it will not mean I have.” He grinned at her answer and then stared over her head at Robbie, his dark eyes trying to hide his sadness.
Robbie reached across and ruffled his hair. “As your mother said, always only love. Michael, be a child and play with your mother, we all need some extra happy memories.”
The next day Robbie and Michael talked in privacy and we sensed Michael planned something (from the emoting of his four companions) and that Robbie asked him to wait for the coming anniversary.
We found out the next day, from the newspapers, that Michael bought himself a three storey house in London, in Earls Court. He had drawn from the Cherinian fund that we use for helping children, millions of pounds to pay for it. Robbie waited a day and then made a statement that the funds had been drawn temporarily and he’d replaced the money from our family funds. Everyone who knows us, knows that we do not keep that kind of money and guessed Robbie must have borrowed it from Eddie.
It became known that Michael spent over five million pounds on decorating and furnishing his new home, which was deliberately excessive, and the media was filled with speculation about this new development. This was when they first started calling him Prince Michael, heir to Robbie.
6292
Not long after this, Michael made a new friend. He is son of a Russian tycoon who made his money when he’d taken over the State petroleum company. They are fabulously wealthy. Nikolai is a Cherinian, but he was not linked by any of us. When we quietly checked on him we found out that an employee of his had linked him.
Michael had taken Ahnì to a casino and he’d gambled away all his cash. He was morosely watching the table when Nikolai introduced himself. “You are Michael Teller?”
“Yes.”
“With your powers you cannot win?”
“The casino have employed Cherinian croupiers and they’re blocking any attempts to influence the ball.”
He laughed. “With your powers you cannot best them? Then join me for a drink.” As with many who’ve grown up surrounded by immense wealth and power, Nikolai could be very charming when he wanted to and Michael was soon seen with him nearly every day. Ahnì started off being reserved, her sensitivity warning her, but she forced herself to emote friendliness and Michael pretended not to notice Nikolai flirting with her.
One evening, a group of them were eating at a private club and Nikolai was seated next to Ahnì. Under the table he placed his hand on her thigh as he talked to her. Suddenly he felt a force grip his arm painfully. He struggled to use his powers to free himself but failed. Michael whispered to him, “Do not test me Nikolai, nobody touches my Ahnì.” Nikolai apologised, but Michael sensed that he was pleased by the evidence of Michael’s power.
Gradually Nikolai introduced Michael to an inner group of Elite friends who were all immensely wealthy and Cherinians - amazingly. Some of the wealthiest are executives in corporations, able to award themselves huge bonuses every year. Hettie quietly checked up on them and she warned us she suspects they are mainly using their Cherinian gifts to increase their wealth and power base.
“I did not need to check on them to have the same suspicions.” Robbie leant back, eyes half closed. “Is there any likelihood they’ll find out you checked on them?”
“A small chance.”
“We’ll have to take it to the next level then.”
Robbie spent nearly a week as the void, checking on them. As he became aware of them using their powers to influence an outcome to their benefit he used his knowledge to reverse their chances, costing them huge amounts of money and even making one of their deals turn sour so badly that it became public knowledge. They grew increasingly angry as they felt a Cherinian power thwarting them, but they guessed it was Robbie and kept their anger to themselves, pulling back from further deals that needed their Cherinian powers to succeed.
Nikolai, Steven, Paul, Margaret and Ivan spent as much time as they could with Michael and his group, making it clearer day by day that they considered Michael their leader. They not only know he is psychically stronger than them, they also need him as their shield should Robbie take an interest in their activities again. They began to give Michael a cut in all their deals and it was less than a month later when Michael no longer needed to drain Cherinian funds, wealthy in his own right.
Michael must have said the right things, for they brought into their circle others who also expressed dissatisfaction and used what they considered logical arguments against Robbie’s restrictions. We could not ‘watch’ Michael psychically, for the others might have sense us doing so and it would have weakened his standing with them, but luckily it is fairly safe to share from Ahní.
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It does not seem to affect Michael’s standing that Ahnì continued jumping to Freddie to spend time with her family. They even suggested she bring her father to meet them and highlighted for her, from the tellings, instances of Robbie treating Allan badly and claimed they will show him that he is worth ten Roberts.
Ahnì needs her times in Freddie, for she has to live with the evil day by day, non-stop, sensing their thoughts and emoting and having to pretend she is in agreement with them while they only sicken her. When she senses Michael thinking the same way as them and has to listen to him agreeing with them, even though he does so more cautiously, she grows afraid and her spirit wilts. We do all we can to build her up and speak with admiration of the difficult roles they have to play.
As if we did not have enough to worry about, a secret message was sent to me from the Chinese. If I agree to visit them, despite the United Nations, and agree to become an honorary Chinese, they will pass over to me full control of Tibet - and I will be free to do as I wish, giving them full independence if it is what pleases me.
All our political advisors, from Hettie, Bruce, to all our alien politicians, advised me to regretfully refuse, pointing out that I have to respect the decision by the United Nations. We did not receive any answer to that, so I could not estimate the damage.
Robbie decided we all need a day or two in the sun to play and forget our worries and insisted we join him and Athia in Dar. I would venture that this is one of the best ideas he’s had recently. The moment we arrived the staff rushed to welcome us, the big happy smile on John’s face cheering us up. Tables were set up for us on the white sand, next to the waves so that we can run for a dip and return to sip at our cold drinks.
Although lobsters and tiger prawns are rare now and very expensive, they filled our tables with more than we could eat (not rare because they are over-fished anymore, but because the trawling boats have been refused permission to trawl for a number of years, in the hope it gives the lobsters and prawns time to multiply - and it is reported that within three years their populations have already grown too large). For those who preferred a steak, John grilled them for us, each one exactly as the person eating it prefers.
Robbie got carried away by our girlish laughter and pleading, joined us, running after us and even going for a swim. We knew that the main reason he came into the water was for secret caresses of our little bodies and we made certain that each of us had her turn. It is strange when he does it without becoming aroused. No erection does not mean anything, for it is his time when it is perfect for him to be adoring us and our childish bodies and yet, the truth is, we each still feel a secret disappointment that our bodies did not titillate him.
The hotel rarely has many guests now, so there were bungalows available for us to sleep in. If I’ve understood what is going on, after Hettie invested heavily, the government bought back the hotel and controls the number of guests so that we more or less have the place to ourselves, the only guests being those allowed as a political favour or for exorbitant fees. It does mean we tend to move further up the beach where we can be alone. If anyone thinks of getting nosy, John runs interference for us.
Robbie had arranged picnic baskets and once we were out of sight, a sled came skimming over the waves and hovered for us to jump aboard. We all sat with our feet dangling as it sped off along the coast, away from Dar. Robbie was being mysterious, not allowing us to peek in his mind so we guessed it was a surprise. It had to be for Robbie to be up and about by four in the morning.
Just as the tip of the sun cleared the horizon, our sled rose into the air and moving a few metres inland hid behind some thorn trees. Excited we saw some giraffes walking to the beach. We could hardly believe our eyes when they walked into the sea. Then some zebra followed in and then other animals. Although it looked as if they were frolicking, we assumed the reason they’ve acquired this strange habit is for the purpose of ridding themselves of parasites. Maybe ticks, fleas and such things do not like salt water. Obviously the talk with the American businessman, many years ago, must have stuck in Robbie's mind.
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When we’d had our fill of watching animals, the sled shot off towards Sadani. Before arriving there, it sank onto a beach that was close to a small river outlet. Robbie grinned. “If you want to swim in the nude, the closest person is hours away. Have fun.”
The tide was out and we found some spectacular seashells. Careful not to distress their occupants we admired the shapes, colours and designs, marvelling at the way nature seems to love using geometric designs and shapes.
We noticed that Empathia did not stay by Robbie, so we casually strayed away, allowing him time alone with Cherine. He played with her, in the water and on the beach and then they went to lie on some towels. I would not dare to say they had sex, it was a loving that affected their hearts more than their bodies and left them needing to touch each other while she lay in his arms and talked. We may all be Michael’s mothers, but the pain Cherine has to endure is deeper than ours and Robbie is wise enough to know that only his love is able to warm her heart, giving her the strength to carry on hoping.
We ended up staying a second night and after breakfast the next morning we all hugged Empathia and jumped back to our home in Athens. We sensed that Empathia did not really need the tenderness he emoted, her body alive to his every touch, but she realised that Robbie needed to be that way and she let go of her own needs and the day was gentle and beautiful for both of them.
The next day five of us went to Athia while Robbie visited Hettie to discuss strategies, sign some papers and meet a few of the alien leaders. After that he left his body in Freddie and becoming the void checked on Michael and his friends. When he saw that Michael is clearly establishing himself as their leader he left them alone and used the remaining hours to help a few children, taking one man to our prison reality. When he returned to Athia she sensed him and quickly rid herself of her clothing and lay on him for her warmth, weight and love to comfort him.
We celebrated Empathia’s birthday (10 years old) in Rome and then danced that night at Apostolis. For the anniversary of Robbie and Cherine we had a party in Freddie and Michael came. We showed our pleasure at seeing all four of them and later on Michael walked with Cherine.
“Mother, I waited for this day. Tomorrow I am leaving for another reality.”
“Are you going to hurt anyone?”
“No, not yet. Mother, don’t ask me again. It is bad enough when it has to be done without you suffering from before.”
She pulled at his hand for him to stop walking. “Michael, you think you can do whatever is necessary because you have to, without it changing you. I want you to make me a promise and mean it. The day you find yourself hurting someone without needing to, return to us. We don’t need you to protect us forever, not if it costs us our son. Return to fight besides your father and your family and we will be strong enough.”
“The day I do that mother, I will stop being a Cherinian. How could I then return?”
It is not just Cherine’s face, when she turns fierce, her mind seems to scorch, blazing like a sun in ours. Michael nearly took a step back when she fiercely told him, “Do not ever say that. Do not ever consider becoming an Ipohin or else we are all lost.”
We were not surprised when a Robert and Cherine arrived a few days later, distraught. Here is the reason. Michael and Ahnì with Simito, (in a Terran body) and Zenon, jumped to the reality of the other half of our Robbie, where RT is. Robert sensed them and jumped to welcome them. They had a pleasant supper and after Robert prevailed on Michael to call him if he needs anything, they parted.
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The next day Michael floated above a choppy sea, beyond territorial waters, opposite the Skeleton Coast. He concentrated and soon small stones rose, settling in his hands. When he estimated he had about one hundred million dollars worth of uncut diamonds he jumped to Dubai, where he sold them. With forty million in his bank account he purchased shares. Within five weeks he was worth well over a billion. He reinvested almost all of it and he made the news.
Robert and Cherine went to visit him. “You have not acted honourably - nothing like a Cherinian should. Michael, it grieves me, but I must demand you transfer the money you made to a charity of your choice and leave our world.”
“I am the charity of my choice. As for leaving, I was not aware this reality is yours! Are you claiming it?”
“I am accepted as leader of all Cherinians here.”
“Not accepted by all, Robert, and certainly not by me. No Cherinian is a subject of any other.”
They ended up having a verbal fight and Robert left, defeated by his inability to act against the son of our Robbie and Cherine. Michael and his companions went to a coffee shop frequented by a number of reporters and he loudly complained to his companions about Robert, asking who did he think he is demanding they leave. He gave enough details for the journalists to overhear the causes of their fight and that Robert lost the argument.
Michael stayed in that reality long enough to double his fortune, invest it again and then, after loudly proclaiming his intention to jump to other realities to create similar fortunes, they left.
“I need to know how we should react next time. He is your son and therefore, ours also. How do we fight him?”
“I can’t tell you Robert, I can’t tell any Robert and Cherine. You must each do as you see fit for your reality.”
“Perhaps each of us should only discipline those of our reality?”
“Sam?”
“That would not work. They’ll quickly realise what is happening and only do as they wish in other realities. There is also the point Michael made. No Robert has ever claimed sovereignty over his reality, but any such action or discipline of non-outsiders only would be a de facto declaration.”
“It is not clear - are you are saying we should fight Michael?”
I shook my head. “You are the only Robert strong enough to do so, the rest would lose. Robert, are you going to explain to the governments of your Earth?”
He wiped his face, as all Roberts do when they are upset. “I don’t know. If I do not protect them, what is the point?”
Our Cherine grabbed his hand, her voice fierce. “Even if you do not attack, it is your responsibility to protect Normals and the Cherinians who are not corrupt.”
“Be careful,” I warned, this warning for Cherine also, “do not allow this to turn into an open declaration of war. That must not happen unless they take over countries or kill. We must use our gifts to thwart them, erode any power bases they form, where they make money dishonestly cause them to lose the same amount or more. What they earn fairly, we must not touch.”
Alki gave a tight grin. “A sort of financial guerrilla warfare? Us Greeks, that is how we perform best, for centuries that is how life has been for us.”
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Robbie put his hand on that of Alki, but spoke to all. “Be careful you never damage what’s theirs or earned fairly or else they’ll have the right to reciprocate. We only destroy what they use their gifts to unfairly earn.”
I laughed, almost contradicting what I’d just said. “That gives them the right to destroy you and our alien partners.”
“No Samantha, what we earned comes from technology of our partners, not our gifts. We also do not use it for ourselves.”
“They might claim we are splitting hairs.”
Today Michael came to Freddie secretly. He spoke with Robbie privately, went to a guest room and lying on the bed went to the void. Solomon created another body for him and he took it over. In every way the new body looks the same as his real body. He looked down at himself as Robbie prepared to place it in stasis and smiled. “I’m good looking!”
With hearts hammering we waited while Michael went into the past to lead the attack on us, Robbie remaining the void. When his soul returned, Robbie released his body and Michael groaned. “I’d thought it would be instant and pain-free.”
“I doubt there was time for your body to feel any pain, what you felt is the way your mind translated the destruction of your body.”
He nodded at Themi, “If you say so. I don’t have time to talk, I must leave.”
While everyone was dealing with their emotions, I put my arms around Samuel’s waist. “Will you allow us to thank you now?” When he nodded he was crowded by so many I had to rise into the air to get out.
We hardly see Robbie anymore, unless we happen to be the ones travelling with him. He had us all move back into Freddie while he jumps to all the friendly Hettie and Eddie couples. From each he collects provisions to keep us going for three years. After so many years we have become quite efficient list-makers so they should be comprehensive. The first delivery Robbie placed in our stores. All subsequent deliveries he first placed within stasis, slowing down time to the point that one day passes for every twelve and three quarter years. As each further delivery is acquired in the future we will place it at the end of our list, using the oldest first. This way we should carry with us between forty to fifty years of provisions - extended well beyond that if we make heavy use of our food machines and continue growing our own vegetables and fruit.
After long debates we have decided we have to warn the Normals of our reality of what is likely to occur over the next decades. We decided not to do so through the United Nations (since they basically are a Cabal tool), only including the Secretary General (we had to, Hettie said) and asked that all the leaders visit us in Freddie. Some of them arrived with security or other Ministers of their government, so we kept them apart from their leaders. The meeting took place within a Treehouse hall with the aliens monitoring for any spy equipment.
Robbie took the stand. He stared at them for a moment, deep in thought. “I hope you all feel you know us well enough by now to extend a certain degree of trust and faith in us. We have arrived at a crossroads where our present decisions will influence the future.” As he then explained, he walked up and down, gesturing like a Greek as he spoke with passion. First he explained the rules he formulated for Cherinians over the years and only once they had asked their questions and understood, did he tell them about our present crisis.
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He stopped walking and stared at his family, preparing himself for the big lie. “My family and I have been studied by thousands of experts in various fields - I include the aliens, for we are just as much an enigma to them as we are to everyone else. I feel they have wasted more effort and resources on trying to understand why my daughters are locked into our family circle, becoming my wives, than is justified. All they needed to understand was one person: me. The same needs that drive me do not extend to any sons I have. This is partly because of me, but also because, as Cherinian males, they need to be the head of their own family unit.
As you know, I have a son. It was only to be expected that those who wish to break our rules would elect or choose a leader and that they would concentrate on drawing my son into their group. Michael has joined them as their leader.”
He had to stop speaking as the room filled with voices shouting, many of them angry with us. He left the podium to sit with Cherine and us and Eddie took his place. He raised his hands, calling for quiet until there was silence.
“You should not need to be Cherinians to have the empathy to understand how Robert, Cherine and their family feel. For them also a dream is dying, but, far worse, they suffer the pain of losing someone they deeply love. Consider for a moment how they feel having to do battle against their son and brother. Michael astutely attacked in the past, before he was born, hoping to catch Robert by surprise. Logic should have warned them they would fail, how else could Michael be conceived? During that battle Michael was temporarily killed. I was in Freddie when it happened and I tell you, our victory was a pyrrhic victory, for it nearly destroyed the family. Thanks to Samantha they found a way to face the future with determination and the will to win, but they carry a terrible pain within them. Please do not add to their pain by blaming and attacking them, stand by them - as they are standing by you.
Robert has embarrassed and angered many of you because of his strong belief that governments should treat their citizens as responsible adults. Here is your revenge.” He gave a smile to show he was not being literal. “For the duration of this crisis, we ask that all you learn here is kept a secret. Not only from your people in general, but also from your own governments. Each of you should choose a very small group of people you trust, only confiding in them our decisions and strategies. If your country has elections and you are not voted in, then only confide in the person who takes your position...if they are not allied to Michael and the Ipohin.
If you become part of the struggle openly, then the Ipohin will feel free to attack you. You must appear to be neutral. The Ipohin will break your laws, pretend you do not notice and do all you can to keep the public unaware. Cherinians will be doing all they can to reverse whatever happened and if anybody is killed, they will be brought back.”
Hours later Sparklers took on Terran bodies to bring food, for the talks lasted until morning, our healers helping to energise their bodies. A lot of explaining was needed for them to understand not only the dangers, but why we have to act the way we will. At first they could not understand why we do not attack the Ipohin directly and either kill them or block their powers. That needed explanations that were too theoretical and based on emotional reasons for many of them, but Themi did the best he could.
What we were asking was not practical in most cases. Presidents and Prime Ministers do not make decisions on their own, they need their Senate or Parliament to agree to or ratify their decisions. We did not want them declaring an emergency or martial law. It meant they would have to act illegally in many cases, using a small group to exert pressure on other departments and their judicial system.
We could not even promise them the help of all those who remain Cherinians, for how can we know with a high degree of certainty how they will think a day from today. We could feel those who are part of the Cabal and/or the Elite are troubled, for they have understood they must not confide the truth in those who control them - and it frightens them.
Robbie feels bitter about us creating a secret government within their governments, leaving all Normals exposed to being manipulated by a secret dictatorship. Reassuring him by pointing out that it is already so in nearly every country if not all, does not make him feel any better about it. We may be piling up problems for the future, but we cannot do otherwise.
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It was agreed that the leaders will stay in direct contact with the alien leaders and when we returned a dejected and disillusioned (and very frightened) group of men and women, our alien friends promised they will do all within their powers to help boost them and make them feel they are a part of the Cherinian fight for all life. From the way the Chinese Premier stared at me, at least the Chinese now understand why I refused them.
The next day we had an official meeting of the Freddie Cherinians, Freddie and Vincent joining us also. Robbie pointed out to everyone that as long as we remain visible targets, we are limited in what we can do without provoking a full scale war. He wants us to disappear.
We’ve lived with the dread of the years of exile for so long, fear was a lump of lead in our stomachs. It is terrible when you can see ahead towards the inevitable and there is nothing you can do to stop it happening. We argued, not because we felt there was any real reason, nor that there was any hope. We argued on behalf of those who still need us, the world of Kiris, of Efineh and dozens more. How can we abandon the Meéjeiran, Qkwesinitie, the Muyzith, Eqkee, Orgg and Jeskine and so many more? What of the Wirms? What of our friends among them? How will they feel, we have all grown so close to them and they to us. What of our friends on this world?
Robbie sat patiently, his eyes stern if anyone tried to stop the arguments and pleas, determined to hear our pain, even if it cauterises his heart. What stopped everyone was the sight and emoting of Cherine. She alone sat without speaking, the fire gone, looking more like a tiny broken doll than our Cherine. If she could have, she would have died, for the load of guilt she’d assumed for herself was too heavy for her. Silently we all stared at Robbie and Cherine, wondering why he did not pull her onto his lap.
Maria brought Robbie a cup of coffee but he ignored it and I could not help wondering whether the way all of Freddie feels right now has confused her instincts. Robbie turned to look at me and with a big grin he drank his coffee.
“I am puzzled by all of you. I’d love to go through your minds one by one to find out what you foresee for us. A Freddie hiding in the Haven-R, me skulking around like an antartis (guerrilla fighter), striking and running? I want to know from all of you, what will help us survive?”
It is not that others never have answers at times like these, they wait for one of the family to answer, feeling what Robbie wants. Irene asked in a small voice, “Our dreams?”
“Ahh!” His face lit up. “Our dreams. Is sundering the dreams of the Ipohin our dream?”
We let Robyn speak for us. “No, it is our dream to make all humans Cherinians. To stop all suffering.”
“Close enough my love.” He sat straighter, his eyes now on our alien friends who looked worried. “If we have to skulk and fight to survive, then we do so. I prefer we continue fighting the fight that has filled our hearts with dreams. We have to take precautions, plan instead of jumping about impulsively - though it may be safer not to, you may decide. If we only concentrate all our energies on the Ipohin, even should we win, we will have lost, for in many small ways we will have become like them. Every time a small part of our dream comes true, we win by remaining the Cherinians we are.”
Christós asked, “And you expect us to remain Cherinians with only you taking all the risks?”
For the first time Cherine gave a tiny smile, her eyes fixed on his face. Robbie pulled a face, exaggerated dismay on his face. “Oh Christós, what have you done! Feel her, now my sweet Cherine plans on fighting all our battles for me.” He threw up his hands. “Oh no, feel them, all my loves now - even all my friends. What is left for me to do?”
Cherine ended up in his lap, sharing it with Tseri as they gave each other secret little grins. Perikli threw up his hands as he laughed. “Nothing changes him!” Kirra and Karra moved as one on to his lap and hugged him. He looked down at them and turned pensive. “Why does human nature always destroy what is so beautiful?”
Dimitri pointed at Luigi and then at Jade. “It is the price we pay so as to have poets and artists.” I did not agree with him at that moment, but as I thought about it, I decided it is almost a fair trade off.
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“When are we leaving? Do we have time to see our friends or family one more time?”
Robbie nodded. “Yes, there is. Do not tell them we are leaving, nobody outside of Freddie must know.”
That night Robbie split himself, one for every two of us. It was not a night for making love, mostly for just being held with love so that we recover and grow strong.
Robbie called for the elders of the Wirms, their matriarchs. He explained our problem. “Should your people feel that we are in the wrong, we must have a way to prevent you betraying us by wishing others to Freddie or the reality we are in. What would bind you, however you feel in the future?”
“We stay in our system?”
“No, you are loved too much for us to ask that. Can you impose a condition that only our friends may wish themselves to us? They must never help others to find us, not even the Sparklers. In return we promise never to ask of our Wirm friends for help against those we fight.”
“Robbie, could a Wirm be tortured and forced to betray us?”
“We do not fear death Samantha.”
“They could torture your souls.”
“Any creature that would do that cannot make us wish to find you.”
I tried to hide my pain. “I hope it never comes to that. I trust them dad.”
“Of course, we all do.”
Solomon came for a last visit with a question. “We do not see how it is we could consider you opposed to the laws of Cherinians. Your prophecy about us must have been wrong on this point.”
“I do not know the how or why, but it will happen.” We all hugged Solomon, exchanging love before he left.
Not long after Solomon left, an alternate Robert jumped to us. He did not ask questions and left as soon as he’d given us a copy of a statement handed to the press in all the realities he knows of. This is a copy of the text:
Announcement by Michael Teller
As son of Robert and Cherine Teller and out of the respect any son owes his parents, I have kept quiet, keeping my opinions to myself for years now, despite my growing disquiet.
During this time I’ve thought deeply and come to the conclusion that my family are right when they claim that all life is one family. Due to my love for all life, I am impelled to speak my thoughts openly now, in the hope that I can help spark a debate that will force my father to re-examine his beliefs - which he has laid down as rules for all Cherinians.
Let us begin with the validity of the rules he has imposed. I am amazed that my father, who demands of us that we do not act like sheep and take responsibility for our own lives, has succumbed to the same weakness all politicians do by making rules and enforcing them - for our own good, he says.
He claims that we are not all equal and that we should expect of each person only the best they are capable of. Yet, he demands that those who are more talented or are stronger, do not use their abilities to unduly benefit themselves. In other words, if I am physically stronger and a group of us are trying to lift a heavy load, should I only raise the same weight the weakest among us does? No, he expects me to use all my strength to benefit others but, if, to keep that strength I need to eat more than the others, then I am being selfish if I do, acting against the interests of everyone else.
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My father makes rules that apply to others, but not to him or our family. I refuse to be a part of that kind of hypocrisy. He says, if you are a Cherinian, limit the children you have or we will end up starving and without space to move, but not only does he have more children than anyone else, he creates even more!
Please do not consider anything I say as a criticism against my mothers. There is not one of them I do not treasure and love, but they too are his victims. I suppose, in the final analysis, you could say that my father is also a victim of his own fears and blindness.
With the coming of the Cherinians, a new age has dawned. Those who take on the responsibilities that their powers impose on them should also benefit accordingly. Yes, we should and must help the weak and try to minimise their pain, but we would be just as shortsighted as my father is being if we do not acknowledge that we will always give prime consideration to those we love.
As of today I declare my wife, a small group of friends and myself free of the rules and restrictions imposed by my father, Robert Teller. We will follow our own rules, in accordance with our own beliefs and good conscience. All Cherinians are welcome to join us.
I make one final gesture out of the love I feel for my family, for the sake of my mothers. The reality I come from, that which Arthur calls the Prime Reality, will remain under the rule of my father. Any Cherinian who does not agree to abide under his rules must leave for a different reality and they are welcome to join us. My decision stands, whether he and my family remain there or not. We expect he will try to interfere in our realities, but we undertake not to ever retaliate by attacking him in his own reality.
We appeal to all other Roberts, Cherines and their families. Do not oppose us, live your lives according to the wishes of my father, if you so desire, and we will not attack you. Interfere and fight us and we will destroy you.
I hope you enjoy reading this story of fantasy, adventure and love - and should some of it be true for our reality, I hope you will love our Cherine.
Αλέξανδρος Ζήνον Ευσταθίου
(Alexander Zenon Eustace)- posted: 6th April, 2020
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