Mystic Traveler by Alan Covington

Chapter 14
Where did I go
I can not see how the earth could have survived the first era.
The calculated mutations and accelerations should have tore the
planet apart by the end of the second era, at the latest.”
“Could it be that earth's station is older then the rest?” Grass
asks.
She jumps, “Oh Grass my apologies, I forgot all about you.
Old habits.”
“That is okay Mesuna, we have still been keeping track of
your work. It is quite impressive. Now what do you think of the
possibility of the older station?”
“Thank you Grass. I do not know. I have not worked with the
station in years. If I am correct its age and memory shouldn't have
a noticeable effect.”
“We were afraid of that. We did a few scenarios ourselves,
after we got the data back. We can not find the anomaly to
explain it either.”
“What about Althoos?” I ask.
“What about him?” Mesuna asks.
“He said he went to earth,” I say.
“That would not affect the programming. He got there after
the second era.” she says disappointed.
“If you don't mind, I never got to ask Althoos this. Why
would the station move itself? I hear you say that it is older, so I
doubt it would move on its own.”
“He is more then likely referring to tectonic movement,” she
says brushing away the concept.
“Then why couldn't he know were it was, when I asked? I'm
not great at geology, but I would figure with all the calculating
power, he could account for that.”
“He's right,” Grass says. “Althoos implied that the station was
porting or something.”
She looks at her desk and presses it a lot slower, “That can't
be, that old of a station does not have that capability,” she
continues pressing. “But he is right, it is transporting every
decade. This is not right.”
“I have scanned Althoos's memory, but he never went near the
device or transmitted to it. Should I bring him out of the
computer?” Grass asks.
Mesuna looks up. “As much as I hate that stubborn old man it
might help.”
Althoos slowly solidifies on the opposite side of the desk as
Mesuna. He shakes his head, “How am I here, this is not possible,
I'm dead.”
 “The how is not important right now,” I say bluntly, “My
planet may still be in danger and you may be able to help.”
He turns to face me with disgust on his face. “So get over
your stubbornness and help. If you don't,” I say and put out my
hand and imagine the floor rising to my hand. I twist it to make it
a swirl, then squeeze my hand and in my minds eye I see the
eternal stone turn to dust.
As I imagine it all I keep my eye on Althoos and see his eye
continue to widen till total fear covers his face. After I am done I
say, “This will be you, so both of you play nice. My family is in
your hands, got it?”
They both nod their heads slowly yes. I lay out my hand flat,
palm down and picture the ground normal. “Just page me if you
all need something from me. Computer port me to Peth.”
I see all four of them in what looks like a desert. As soon as I
see them I burst out laughing.
“Now that was an impressive bluff,” Grass says with
amazement.
“Hopefully it worked,” I return. “Did I return the floor?”
“Yes not even a sign of an anomaly. We are very impressed at
your quick learning of your talent.”
“That was more of a hope then a know, but it worked,” I say.
“Well it worked,” Grass says with respect.
“Um excuse us,” Peth says.
I look at Peth and notice they are all looking at us in shock.
“Oh sorry, I just scared the shit out of Althoos and Mesuna.”
Cliff leans forward in excitement, “How?”
“Well I can try it again and see if it works,” I say. I repeat
what I tried in the lab, then look down. A hole, like the one I saw
the first time I used the talent, is at my feet.
“Did it twirl too?” I ask.
Everyone's eyes are huge while they stare at the hole. They all
slowly nod. I stare ahead of me and tell the area to return with my
palm facing it.
I look back and see the desert is back to normal, “I told them
to play nice or that will be them,” I say and chuckle some more.
“But,” Peth blurts.
I look at Peth sincerely, “No I could never do that to someone,
but they don't know that. That is what a bluff is.
Both of them are extremely stubborn so they needed an
incentive to work together productively.
Granted there are other ways to do it. But I have found that
fear is the most effective. Clumsy and precarious, but effective.
I know you would disapprove Peth. But at this point I do not
have the patience for Althoos. He doesn't want to listen most of
the time.”
“I should disprove, but I think that will be the best
motivation,” Peth says.
 “The universe just froze in time. Peth agreed with me,” I say
sarcastically.
Everyone but Peth busted out laughing. “I do not see the
humor,” she says and we all laugh harder.
“What are they working on?” Peth asks.
I stifle my laughter. “It seems that Mesuna set a program on
all the forbidden planets that would accelerate evolution or
something.
Well she did this just after she got in the computer, so it has
been running for several millenia. Well it destroyed two of the
three, and now they are trying to figure out why earth survived.”
“Because of you,” Peth says calmly.
I swallow hard. “No this was done way before I came into the
picture.”
“They cannot find what prevented the destruction of earth can
they?” Peth asks unaffected by my rebuttal.
“No, they say everything points to earths destruction,” I say a
bit dazed.
“What is the only factor in earth that is different?” she asks
way to calm for my comfort.
“Well other then it isn't destroyed, I don't know,” I say
without a clue.
“You,” Peth states.
“What can I do?” I ask.
“Anything,” she points out.
No one says a word. She has a point, I am told I alter reality.
The only catch is I have no clue what I could possibly do. I am
one man, not a computer.
“The scientist want to see both Ben and Peth,” Grass says.
Next thing I know I am standing next to Peth facing the desk.
Althoos and Mesuna are looking at us from the other side.
“Peth is it?” Mesuna asks and Peth nods. “We would like to
hear your theory.”
“I do not understand how memory works,” Peth replies
uneasy.
“That is not the issue here. Grass says you may have a viable
theory. We are at a stand still, any new input may help.” Mesuna
says with the calmest voice I have ever heard from her.
“I see only one possible answer with my limited
understanding. Ben is the only thing that appears to be different
with all the forbidden planets.” She says with a shaky voice.
“Go on,” Mesuna says.
“Ben, I have heard can change what we see. He created
nothing out of something. It has also been said memory is unable
to change what he has done.
So the simplest answer is that Ben's presence and talent done
something to save the planet. In health it is the most obvious and
simplest answer that works. I just put that to use in this problem.”
“That is impossible,” blurts Althoos.
 Mesuna gives Althoos a dirty look then glances at me.
Althoos looks at me and freezes in fear.
“Perhaps not,” Mesuna says calmly and looks at Peth. “You
are right Peth, Ben is the only outstanding factor. I just do not see
him having the power to alter a whole planet.”
“Does he have to?” Peth asks regaining her normal
composure.
Mesuna looks at her strangely. I see Althoos about to speak
when Mesuna raises her finger in front of him, “Perhaps not. Can
you give us a moment young lady?” Mesuna asks and Peth nods. I
can swear they are talking without words.
Mesuna presses a few spots on the desk. I then see them
talking, but I can hear no sound.
I turn to Peth, “What are you getting me into?”
“Nothing more then you are all ready in to,” she says not
taking her eyes off of the scientist.
“Great now I am a planet saver too,” I blurt.
Peth looks at me with that 'will you shut up look, “No,” and
she turns back to the scientist. “You are a life saver, nothing more
nothing less.”
I stand in silence afraid of what trouble I will get into, if I
open my mouth again. I find it so strange how men can take on a
grizzly bear yelling the whole way. But a woman with, 'That look'
can make us meeker then a rabbit. Are we hard wired to be a
woman's puppet?
I have no clue how long we stood there, because I just thought
of how much trouble I would be in if I spoke or moved. But
finally they turned to us and Mesuna spoke.
“Althoos still thinks it is preposterous, but I see there is a
possibility to stabilize even the most unstable of mutations. The
only pliable solution requires four timed placements of a device.
These placements would require two very dangerous times of
the planets creation and the solar system. The other two are much
easier. The only problem is we do not have the understanding, nor
the protection to accomplish two dangerous placements.”
“But,” Mesuna looks at me. “You can do them all by mere
thought. I would ask you to help all the planets but they are gone,
so I don't see you them.”
“Are you sure?” Grass asks.
“Of course the stations are gone,” Althoos states.
“Did you check the last transitions of the other two planets?”
Grass asks calmly.
“Of course not, there is no need they were destroyed,”
Althoos retorts defiantly.
Mesuna's finger goes up in front of Althoos again. “I presume
you have Grass? Will you be so kind to inform us of your
findings.”
 “We would be delighted. The stations show no indications of
a catastrophic failure. That would have sent out a warning code to
avoid the area. We find no code.”
“Well it was so fast it didn't have time to send it,” Althoos
says still defiant. This time she gives him a look and I think I see
her eyes flash toward me. He freezes and slowly turns to us.
“The lack of the code is significant, but he is right, it could
have been destroyed before it sent.” Mesuna says.
“Do either of you recall the satellite stations put in orbit
around every sun, as a reference point?” Grass says with
confidence.
“I am impressed Grass, I had forgotten about them. What is
the last transmission indicated?”
“There is no last transmission, they are still transmitting,”
Grass says.
“How, they should be destroyed too,” Althoos says.
“How you ever got your position, I will never know Althoos.
You are dumber then Dark stone. Point taken Grass. I will figure
for all three planets,” Mesuna looks at me and walks around the
desk.
She holds out her hand. I withdraw my hand farther. She
smiles, “I have a permanent stop station on me, Ben. I will not be
affected by the unknown talents,” she extends her hand a little
farther.
I slowly take her hand waiting for her to scream. She doesn't
despite I have a grip on her hand. “I need to talk with you. If you
don't mind Grass,” I hear Peth's confidence and assurance in her
voice.
She leads me away from everyone. She grabs my other hand
in hers, and faces me directly. “I had no idea how much you
would help us.
You have exceeded mine and even Grass's. And he sees a lot
more then I can. What we ask of you is beyond anything that has
ever been tried. Just be assured that it will work, otherwise we
would not be here.
The only thing that cannot be predicted is what happens to
you. We cannot even fathom what you will go through. And no
one can go with you for support.”
“Peth was right Ben,” Grass says. “You will be leaving us. I
hope she is also right and you will return,” Grass's voice breaks
up like some of the many voices cut out and don't return.
“Remember that you are always welcome here. Not just as a
subject, but as a citizen as well. You are more like us then you
realize. Well then most not counting Althoos,” I had to smile on
her last comment.
So many things run through my head. Not one thought comes
into focus. All I can do is stare. I swear I can hear every person in
my head. Its worse then listening to all of Grass communicating.
 I try to just pick out anything that makes sense. Anything that
could resemble a conversation, or just one person talking. Then in
an instant there is not a sound in my head, not even my own
thoughts.
“Ben?” I hear Grass.
“Sorry I spaced,” I say and focus. Peth and Mesuna stand in
front of me. Both have concern in their eyes.
“Where did you go?” Grass asks.
“No where. I'm just standing here,” I respond coming back to
myself.
“You have been gone for several days. We thought all was
lost,” Grass says with concern.
I blink rapidly, “What do you mean. I thought I heard all of
you Grass, then you called my name.”
“Mesuna was talking to you then you appeared to port, but all
scans came up empty. You had vanished from the known
universe,” Grass sounds a bit panicked.
“What do you mean the known universe?” I ask.
“We did a scan of every known area of the universe that has
been explored in the computer. We even sent a few probes out to
help.”
“I don't know. I just remember Mesuna talking to me, then it
sounded like all of Grass was talking at once again. Then I heard
you holler my name through the computer.”
“Well you weren't here,” Peth says.
“We thought you had obliterated yourself,” Mesuna says.
I smile, “I see you still don't have tact Mesuna.”
Grass laughs, “Well he is still Ben.”
“Thanks I think,” I say. “Well what do we do now?”
“That is up to you Ben. Are you up to the task?” Grass asks.
“I guess it doesn't matter if I am or not, it needs done,” I say. I
don't have a clue how I am going to do this. I don't know
anything about space.
“He is not ready yet. We do not know what happened to him.
He needs the computer to check him. Health is important in
keeping him up to this task,” Peth says with sounds of disgust at
the word task.
“Point taken Peth, Scanning now,” Grass says.
After about a minute Grass says, “Um we have a problem,
Huston.”
“Who is Huston and what problem?” Peth asks.
“Huston is a place on earth, and we cannot scan him,” Grass
responds.
“Why can't you scan him?” Mesuna asks with a bit of
agitation.
“He's not there,” Grass says in confusion.
“Um hate to tell you this. But I am here,” I say a bit uncertain.
Mesuna touches my shoulder. “Is memory having problems? I
feel him,” she says.
 “All functions are working properly. The computer registers
him present, but a health scan registers nothing in the space,”
Grass explains.
“Could I be creating a field or something, messing up your
instruments?” I ask.
“That is a per say, but why only the health scan and not any
else?” Grass points out.
“Is there anything that could cause the same effect on anyone
else?” Peth asks.
Mesuna looks at Peth with a bit of excitement and fear.
“There is only one known recorded incident of this occurring.”
“Well don't keep us in the dark,” I say.
“We see no record of it ever happening,” Grass says.
“You would not have access to it,” Mesuna says.
“We have access to all information in the computer,” Grass
says adamant.
“I know, but the information is not in main. It is stored in a
separate location. Prior to the main, records were stored in storage
devices.
When the main was finished, all information from them was
transferred to main. The only ones not, were those of extreme
security risk.”
“So now I am a security risk?” I ask.
Mesuna looks at me shocked. “No of course not. But the file
was. It shows what happens when a life form and our technology
are bombarded with different types of cosmic rays.
There is one particle that is released at the creation of a star,
that interacts with a life form carrying one of our devices. It
makes the life form invulnerable to our technology.
In effect, this life form could do anything around our devices
and the device could not affect the life form. You can see the
security risk. Our protection would be useless, and we would be
vulnerable.” As she explains she gets more and more nervous.
“Can you explain the particle please? We have blocked the
computer from ever being able to get the information,” Grass
says.
“I do not recall its name, but the particle is one of the few that
interact with other particles on the tiniest level.
They are only noticeable up to one hundred thousand meters
from the surface of the sun, in creation. We ran into them once in
our explorations. They interact so violently and quickly with
matter, they never get any distance from the sun being created.
If I recall the file correctly, the life form only survived one
week after exposure. The life form was just in the corona mass at
ignition of the star. And that only created blank spots in a scan.
So for a full scan block, the person and device had to be close,
if not exactly in the center of the sun as it is created. That is where
you needed to be to put the device, to counter the evolution
program,” Mesuna says wide eyed.
 “Are you saying I already set the devices?” I ask.
“I can't say for sure, but Grass can you...” Mesuna is
interrupted by Grass.
“Already checking for created devices,” Grass says.
“Thank you Grass, but I doubt you will find any. Ben can you
hold my hands again?” Mesuna asks.
“Why?” I ask hesitantly.
“Because I didn't get around to telling you about one more
device that is needed, after the original four. It is the catalyst for
the other four,” Mesuna says.
“Okay,” I say holding out my hands, “But I don't see what it is
for.”
“A test,” she says and grabs my hands.
I hear all the voices again. I try to listen to just one voice, but
I can't focus on one. I try to just hear one word and all the voices
go silent.
“Ben?” I hear Grass's voice again.
“What now, a week?” I ask and focus my eyes on Mesuna and
Peth again, “And I am not holding your hands again Mesuna. In
fact I am not touching another persons hands. The voices are
annoying.”
Grass laughs, “No, only a few hours. And you are bound and
determined not to have a girlfriend aren't you?”
“No, I want a girlfriend but it will be a hands off deal.” I
smile.
Grass laughs, “Sure let them do all the work.”
I smile bigger, “That sounds really nice.”
Mesuna coughs, “Enough boys. Have you picked up the
satellites Grass?” Mesuna asks.
“Yes ma'am. As soon as he appeared. And that was ingenious
if we say so ourselves” Grass says.
“What did I miss this time?” I ask.
“The last time I said there was more to the four, I lied,”
Mesuna says.
I look at her angry, “Excuse me?”
“Please excuse my lie, but I had to make sure you did what I
suspected you have done,” Mesuna apologies.
“Apology accepted, I'm getting use to it here. Now, what was
it all about. I'm really getting tired of being in the dark here,” I
say. When I say dark I notice the room growing darker. Mesuna
and Peth look around.
I focus on light and the room goes back to normal, “Sorry
about that.”
They both look at me. Mesuna says, “Oh that was you. I asked
you to touch my hands while I focused on a scanning beacon in
each solar system.
I thought of the time frame as now. So the devices would not
be there the whole time of the previous devices. And the devices
were detected when you returned. We now have a way to monitor
the forbiddens for any further anomalies.
They are set so only Grass can access them. I didn't feel that
the information should be accessible by everyone. Some
information should always be locked.”
“So now what?” I ask.
“That is up to you. Everyone is in the city and finding their
place in there new lives. Tieth's brother is out of the computer and
trying to catch up.
The only thing that remains, grandfather. We did not port him
out so you can talk with him. We also did not know how to tell
him he can never return home.”
“Like I would know what to tell him,” I say. “I'm sure he
wants to go home. And that brings me to my family. They must
think I am dead.”
“I'm sorry Ben. I was desperate, and did not consider the
consequences. The fact that if it wasn't for you, I would have
killed three worlds,” Mesuna apologies.
“I'm sure in your position I would do the same,” I say.
“I doubt that Ben. You are one in a few,” Mesuna says.
“Either way, what is done is done. It can't be undone. Hm
where in the world did I hear that?” I go off in my own thoughts.
Grass clears their voice, “Ben, earth to Ben, what about your
grandfather?”
“Oh yeah, energize please,” I say.
My grandfather appears in front of me. His expression is that
of shock, “Who are you?”
“I'm your grandson,” I state plainly.
“Can't be, I don't have any grandchildren,” he states defiantly.
“Hate to drop the bombshell, but yes you do. You have two
grandsons and one grand daughter. It must have been several
years since you ported
You had a daughter, and she married. Your wife, my
grandmother, keeps, I think it is your stuff, in the attic on the
farm. Your talents were passed on to me.
Which ones you had, I don't know. I have disintegration,
earthquake, touch of fear, blink, transformation, and an unknown.
All of them a pain in the ass. Grass which ones does he have?”
“Transformation only,” Grass responds.
I look up at an angle, “If he only has one, then how did my
mom know about the others?”
“Because I told your grandmother of the others,” my
grandfather says.
I look at him strangely, “How did you know?”
“I seen them in use in a vision, before I disappeared,” he
states calmly.
“But how?” I ask confused.
“My unknown is precognition,” he states.
 I hear a squeal behind me, “But why didn't the validation
catch it?” Mesuna asks.
“It did,” Grass says.
“Then why didn't you say that?” Mesuna asks angrily.
“Because it is labeled as an unknown with a possibility. We
seen no reason to state a possibility. We figured it was better to
wait and see through elimination then assume only a possibility,”
Grass states tersely.
“Good point. Please excuse my outburst. I got excited,”
Mesuna says.
“Okay everyone, it is alright to be excited and all but the issue
at hand is my grandfather, not what a subject can do now. Or did I
miss hear Grass when they said the project is closed?”
“Apologies, you are right,” Mesuna says.
“The computer is Grass?” my grandfather asks.
“Well yes and no. Grass is part of the computer now. They are
the grass that is on the surface of the destination planet,” I say.
“So that is why the grass kept appearing in my visions. The
grass would cover a black sphere.”
“That would be Grass, hair on a ball,” I say and smile.
“Hey, we resent that,” Grass protest.
“Resent all you want, that is what you are. Grass on a big ball
in space,” I say smugly.
“Not fair,” Grass responds.
“You get use to it,” Peth says looking at my grandfather.
“I have seen something like this in a lot of my visions. I just
seen a shadow person and grass. But the one vision that bothers
me especially if you are the shadow, is where Grass says the
shadow doesn't exist,” my grandfather says curiously.
Mesuna and I exchange concern glances, “That is a result of
my unknown grandpa.”
“How so?” he asks.
“My unknown is to alter reality. I had to go in space in the
center of a sun. Well the result of that action makes me non
existent to the computer.”
“The sun?” he asks distressed.
“Long story. You can read it on the computer, I am sure,” I
say.
“I don't have time, we are to go home,” he says.
I look at him sadly, “I'm sorry grandpa, but that can't happen.
The Oranians do not have the technology to send us home.
Everyone would be dead when we got there,” I say.
“Actually the planet wouldn't be there Ben,” Grass says
solemnly.
“Oh okay then, yeah for sure everyone would be dead. Thanks
for the clarification Grass,” I say sarcastically.
“Sorry,” Grass says softly.
“Oh that's okay, I'm just upset I can't get my grandfather
home,” I say.
 “But you do,” my grandfather says.
“How?” I ask.
“I don't know,” he says.
“He's right Ben you can,” Peth says.
“How?” I ask.
“You have the ability to alter existence. You just have to send
him and yourself,” Peth says sadly.
I look at her dumbfounded, “Uh.”
“I think she got you,” Grass says.
“I can't believe it,” I say, “I've had the ability to go home
whenever I wanted, and it never occurred to me.”
“You can do what?” my grandfather asks.
“I have the ability to alter reality to my will, or something like
that. I just have to think and I can change or alter anything.”
My grandfather just looks at me shocked. I look at him
seriously, “You ready to go home? I'll have to send you to my
apartment. I can't seem to picture any place else. Oh and to avoid
that paradox thingy, I heard about, I will send you a few minutes
after I left, Ready?” I pause for a time then say, “Um hello
grandpa, Earth to grandpa.”
“Uh we could have all this, and more then,” My grandfather
says, “I can be rich.”
I look at my grandfather aghast. I flash my open palm in front
of him. As I do, I picture him in my apartment one minute after I
left. I also imagine him never able to recall my unknown ability.
He vanishes and I am left in the room with Mesuna and Peth.
“What did you do?” Mesuna asks aghast.
“Sent him where I told him I would, but no recollection of my
unknown,” I say continuing to look at the spot he was at.
“But why? You can go home too,” Peth says.
I look at Peth, “I am home.”
Mystic Traveler by Alan Covington