Hello again. I am up to 7,279 words for November. This is the start of Chapter 2 of the Novel. This section is from Wesley's point of view. Thanks for reading. Enjoy!
I wrap my arms around Katharyn as I call upon the time vortex to transport us to the past along the correct timeline. I can feel Katharyn start to panic as we leave the ground. "It will be ok, Kat. Just relax and hold on to me."
"Relax?! I don't know where we are. Where the ground went or where we are going. I can't sense anything other than you."
"Katharyn! Relax or I will drop you."
"You wouldn't." She thinks back.
I chuckle, "You are right, Kat. I wouldn't." I continue holding her as I direct our energy where I want us to go. First stop, Tau Alpha-C. Katharyn will need documents and direction before we head to the Starfleet Academy.
I see the planet solidify around us as the golden light fades. I look around to make sure we had made it to the right place. Travel this way can be tricky sometimes. I see the Blue/Green sky above us and can feel the soft orange grass below our feet. I look down at Katharyn to see how she faired the trip. She looks up to me and I search her brilliant crystal blue eyes. I have always loved her eyes and could get lost in them so easily. "How do you feel?" I ask her mentally.
"Fine. I think. I fell slightly disoriented."
I laugh. "That can happen the first few times. You will get used to it."
I slowly let her go, making sure she has her balance.
"Wesley! It's good to see you have returned. And you found Katharyn. Great."
"Katharyn, meet the Traveler." I introduce them.
"Nice to meet you." She says as she shakes his hand.
"Pleasure is mine. Now we don't have much time. Your future self will be returning soon and it is imperative that you don't see yourself. Please keep that in mind as you go on your journey." The Traveler places his hand on her shoulder and leads her towards a small building. She looks to me, hesitant to trust him.
"It's ok, Kat. You can trust him. You have met him before." I could see that she was searching her mind to find the memory of her meeting him before. I knew when she found it and I saw it as she remembered it.
Flashback
I was looking at four graves. Two were old and two were fresh. All four held my parents. I read the names on the stones. William T. Riker August 19, 2335- February 3, 2366. Deanna Troi Riker March 29, 2336-Febuary 3, 2366. Sara Elizabeth McDonald May 28, 2340- May 5, 2371. James Allen McDonald February 25, 2335- May 28, 2371. They were all gone. There was no one left to take care of me. I tried to will my parents into existence. The ones that I knew were still alive. William, my father, had visited me. I still am confused on how that is possible. He had to return to his place in the stars, to my mother. I decided to curl up under my father's jacket that he had left with me. I lay there crying, wishing for their return. At some point I fell asleep.
Suddenly, I hear a noise that wakes me up. I open my eyes and look up. There is someone tall standing near me. Someone I don't know.
"Who are you?" I ask.
"I am known as the Traveler. I will not hurt you. I do need to tell you something though. I need you to go back to your home. Your parents cannot come back to you. It is not time for you see them yet. You will get to see them eventually. One day a young man will show up. His name is Wesley Crusher. He will take you to your correct timeline where you will be able to meet your parents."
"Why?"
"I do not have the time to explain it to you now. You will understand in time. This is where I leave you, Katylinn. Until we meet again." At that he faded away.
End Flashback
As she finished reliving the memory, I saw tears in her eyes.
"You could have taken me with you. I don't understand why you didn't. Why did I have to stay on that planet alone?"
She was upset and frustrated. I needed to calm her down before she got wound up too much.
"Katharyn, sweetheart, relax. There is no reason to get upset."
She turns to me, "Sweetheart?" I look down, damnit, I will need to be more careful.
"Sorry. It is a habit to call you that. Remember, I am from your future, you're my past." She nods her head in understanding. I watch her visibly relax and turn back to the Traveler.
"Traveler, what do I need to continue on my way? I have no idea where I am headed nor why."
"Wesley will be taking you to Earth the Starfleet Academy. There you will learn everything you need to know to become an officer and how to run a starship. You will also meet your parents. Get to know them, spend time with them if you wish, but make sure they know not to go looking for you. You are a fixed point. That means that everything about your life cannot be changed. You had to be born in that timeline even though it is not the correct one for you, you had to meet your father only to have him leave and you had to live and learn on your own. All of these events lead you down a path that will bring forth great rewards. You and Wesley are destined for great things. You will be meeting Wesley's past self where you will be in the right order with him. Eventually you will both be here with him rescuing your past self, the one that stands before me. Does that make sense?"
"I think so. Yes, it does."
The Traveler hands her some documents. They have her name, birthdate, species and some information about her on them. It is important for the Admiral to know about her but also make sure she doesn't say anything to Katharyn's parents. Her life will not start out as a lie. Luckily, Starfleet has some experience with time travel.
"Wesley, Katharyn, it is now time for the two of you to be off. Remember Wesley, drop her off and talk with the Admiral only. Then return here to your family."
"I understand. I will." I say to him. Turning to Katharyn, "Come here." I wrap my arms tightly around her. "Ready?"
She looks up to me, "Ready, Wes."
I summon up the time vortex again and direct our energy towards Earth. Again we disappear in a flash of golden light.