Chapter 20 - Answers
They materialized in Chris's mother's kitchen; fully engrossed in each other. Lips locked, glowing like a bright turquoise beacon. Patricia smirked. She expected this day to come, just not like this.
"Uh-hum" She said breaking the two out of their trance. "Care for some coffee?" She wheeled forward aiming for the sink as if having two people appear out of nowhere was normal. The two of them untangled themselves from each other, both visibly red faced at being caught in their passionate embrace.
"Sure mom." Chris said pulling out a chair for Miranda to sit. She just stood there though, staring at the contraption Chris's mother was in. A chair with wheels.
"Meine Vatar, what is wrong? Your legs, do they not work anymore?" She was wide eyed and startled; Miranda had never seen anyone like this before it threw her off.
Patricia turned around in her chair and looked at the beautiful child she so fondly remembered only now before her stood a beautiful young woman with bright blue eyes, she didn't cringe at the question as she knew the girl had the longer upbringing of the Orkian race. Disabilities such as her own weren't common place there.
"The car accident my alaika, the one from when you were young. Sadly it took its toll on my body. There is only so long that the alien surgery could do to hold me together. I'm grateful for what years I got. Now come closer I wish to see you." Patricia reached her hand out to Miranda and her soft wrinkled skin tingled on contact with the young woman just as she knew it would. It made her spirit feel better to have her so close again.
Miranda bent down to her level and on bended knee reached in and hugged the older woman she'd admired and protected as a child. "Oh da Meine, could you not have called to Ork? I can't believe they left you like this." She was a tad bit miffed at seeing her in this condition. It didn't make sense to her.
"It was my choice alaika; I asked them to let me be. I figured if they left contact out, Miele wouldn't find us. I was right; as he didn't." She turned her chair once Miranda stood and reached up to the sink pulling on a special knob that helped her turn on and off the taps. She used a handle to reach a kettle under the stream.
"I don't think Miele found you because I didn't come to Canada to track anyone as a child. He followed us thinking you were in the states." She left out the fact that he'd killed others trying to track Chris, but as a mother protecting her child; Patricia knew. Miranda could read her thoughts like a book. She watched as Patricia put the kettle on the stove, Chris reached over and turned it on, then wheeled his mom back to her spot at the head of the table. His mom reached over to pet his hand in thanks.
"So, I see you two are close again." Patricia saw this was an awkward topic and wanted it to be resolved soon she didn't need them tiptoeing around the subject of them to being connected romantically. She knew the day they were moving away; that these two would end back together. Miranda told her to 'Keep him safe Meine Vatar; I'll be back for him. Always tell him I love him and I will miss you both.'
She was only six years old and the child knew then that she had found her heart. Patricia promised her she would keep him safe. She gave her a big hug and didn't want to let go because she knew she was taking half of Miranda's soul with her when she left, but it was for the best.
Sadly she had no contact with Ork or anyone she knew on it. She was safe when she reached Earth, she returned to family telling them she had gone into hiding to protect her son from his father and didn't want to speak of it as it hurt too much. Her family believed her and let it be. Both her parents passed never knowing the truth. That their grandson was half alien.
Chris spoke first. "Kind of hard not to be mamma, my alaika has come back like you said she would."
He reached for her hand and Miranda smiled at him and spoke. "Umm, Chris. I told her I would be back for you. I asked her to keep you safe. We just happened to be brought back together by accident and maybe fate I think."
"No, by prophecy." His mother chided with conviction.
Both of them looked. "You know about that?" Chris said still wondering how she would have answers that he was told she had.
"Yes Chris; I have for years. Why do you think I kept the stories about Miranda alive? Why do you think you have this wonderful ability to find people you focus on? It's because of your abilities, your wonderful talents brought forth from being born on Ork." His mother beamed with pride over his talent, it was after all what sustained them financially for a great deal of years.
"Miranda has a tracking ability as well, but hers are for those of your mixed races, together however both of you are stronger. I could see it when you were mere children." His mother sighed and reached down the side of her chair into a pocket. She pulled out a small leather bound book; it's age showing in the cracked leather and the yellowed pages. She placed it on her table and opened it.
"This has the Orkian Oracle Prophecy in it. The Profit was the very distant grandfather to the child who gave me this journal." She fingered the pages turning them slowly; cracking could be heard as the pages turned. The faded writing on the pages still seemed to jump out at the reader though. "It was said long ago that this profit was beyond his ages with his wisdom, he could see what others chose to ignore. It was sadly Orks planetary undoing. Come look my dear."
Miranda came to Patricia's side looking at the journal with great interest. She spotted the prophecy on the next page written in bright colored blue and green inks the same colors her and Chris contained when they were together. There had to be something to this.
She had to see. Patricia passed her the journal so she could read the prophecy. Patricia spoke "Not many ever got to see the original verses, as it is passed down generation to generation by word of mouth. Many parts are omitted or revised. This is the true prophecy as it was meant to be." Patricia always felt she had a purpose to fulfill and now she felt she'd done her job.
Two will run to win over the race.
Remove the emotional wall and see their face.
Two faces melded as colors are spun.
Two hearts are stronger, together as one.
Their birth will see the undoing; undone.
The first will be the second of her mother,
the second will be the first for the other.
Protect and be safe, this is conceded;
fate of the races in them is needed.
Remember blue and green glowing faces.
It is in them that will bring forth the races.
Joining of colors will bring forth clarity
Transference; one from the other is the rarity.
Soul to soul & heart to heart.
Together stronger than when apart.
Their connection is the spark to bring
forth a healing light, and in Ork their
love will make the wrong; right.
This was certainly not the one that Orwell had told her. This one had pieces he didn't tell her. She passed it to Chris so he too could read it. He looked up once he was done; first at Miranda and then to his mother.
"So what does this mean?" He asked her as he got up and made them their coffees, passing each one over as they were completed. Miranda wrapped one of her hands around the mug, the taste still bitter but she was getting use to it.
"It means the first two born of two races, or as this oracle calls it, of two colors, on Ork will be the saviors to the race which is dying out." She interjected with why the colors as well just for clarity on how she viewed the prophecy.
"Ork is mostly land where Earth is most water. I think this is why the blue and green. You'll also notice both of you have the most unique colored eyes I've ever seen on anyone."
She continued with her theory and the breakdown of the prophecy. "Even though Mearth was also born of the same two races he wasn't born on Ork so his birth wasn't blessed by the prophecy. It had to happen in a specific way, and from what I guessed; it wasn't going to happen till the emotional wall on Ork was removed, which had happened about a year before you were born Miranda."
She flipped the pages in the journal his comments on those who took no heed. "Too many shunned the prophet and he was banished from Ork, but he was right." Patricia took Miranda's hand in her own.
"Your mother befriended me and took me under her wing. She protected me. You did as well. I felt a connection to you the moment you walked up to me and told me my baby was like you. I suspected what you meant but it wasn't till your father said hello in Orkian I knew I was right." She smiled at the memory.
"When Chris was born, I sensed something was different about him when he was brought back to me after surgery. He was calm. He hardly ever fussed. I sensed peace from him when you two were together. I started working in with the council's historical sector and took to learning about Ork culture and the past not long after I got here.
I was gifted the prophecy and I suspected about a year after that Chris was part of it." She paused and fingered a page, the memories vivid and understanding of why Miele would want to prevent his son from being the savior to the races made sense to her then, just not who was his other half. She looked at her son, "I was confused on who the second child was for a long time, when I learned that Miranda was the second child of Mindy's and that Mearth had been born on earth not on Ork like I had thought it all became so much clearer."
"When Miele came back I seen him in the city a few times and hid. I knew nothing good would come of his return to Ork. I never suspected he'd attack you Miranda. If I had of known I'd have protected you better." She sighed and then moved on. "I knew for certain you were part of the prophecy when we left.
Chris wasn't himself anymore. It took a few years for him to come around. I knew he'd lost the other half of his soul and I felt bad. So I kept your memory alive with stories. I know you guys together will help the Orkian race succeed in getting stronger. I believe it has everything to do with earth mothers giving birth on Ork.
Miranda had thought of that before and she was pleased to hear it from another who thought the same.
"So what does this transference thing mean?" Miranda asked.
Patricia perked up. "Oh child, don't you know?" She shook her head; she was surprised that Miranda hadn't figured it out yet.
"Chris is your strength, your power when you're on Earth. You draw off of him like a battery. You're stronger in his wake. He draws from you to when you're calm while you draw from him either when in fear for him or others or when empowered through protection. It's an ability most aliens would die to have."
She reached over again to her hand and the tingle happened yet again. She connected with her son and it got stronger. "You my dear boy, do the same with her but I believe you will be stronger when on Ork, but together you're still a force to be reckoned with."
"OH!" Miranda's eyebrows shot up with the realization now. She could transfer energy. It would explain the feeling of tingling or sparks she was getting. It would also explain why she calmed down so easily with Chris around her.
Patricia looked at them both. "You can heal together as well with the transference ability."
Chris looked at his free hand and said. "What? Really?" He looked over at his mom.
"Yes." She responded nodding her head. "Quite the special ability don't you think?"
"How do you know this for sure?" Miranda asked.
"I don't, but I feel it now as I hold both your hands. I am actually assuming this is what would come about from deciphering the prophecy all these years. You were probably able to do it even as a kid just not as well alone. I believe with you two using your connections to each other as a source to draw from you'll be able to do some pretty amazing feats."
Like Chris Miranda looked down at her free hand. She remembered all the times she had kissed people who were upset on their forehead and how quickly they calmed down. She remembered her friends relaxing after being hurt and she had touched them. She remembered hugs she'd given to those who were feeling down and how they too relaxed and thought clearer.
"How do we prove your theory?" She asked as she looked over to Chris, her heart overwhelmed with the news but excitement coursed through her to. The hum of energy making her feel light yet charged. She reached for Chris's free hand and gave it a squeeze, the very faint blue and green light mixing right there at their fingertips, something they both could see, but she wasn't too sure if anyone else could.
Patricia watched the interaction. Smiling she looked at the youngsters and said. "You don't have to prove your theory; you're doing it now, just as I believe you did it before he was even born, when you touched my belly." She looked at Miranda and smiled. "I believe you both saved my life back then." Her comments made him realize that she could see the colors and that even before he was born; Miranda used him as a power source to save his own mother.
Miranda and Chris were both looking at Patricia, confused but intrigued by her comment. "But how?" Miranda asked.
"My guess is as good as any other. Maybe it's because you love each other? Maybe it's because of your birth situation. It could be because of the human and Orkian gene makeup and qualities." She paused and gave their hands both a squeeze as well. "Frankly I think it's because you two have always had a connection. Soul mates if you will."
She let go of their hands and placed them on top of each other. The colors still melting together across the table top from their fingers, spreading like a puddle across the hard surface between the circle of their arms. Patricia smiled at the beauty of it all.
Miranda and Chris both blushed at that concept but it sounded nice to them as well. Chris smirked and Miranda giggled as she played with his fingers. "So you can see the colors, I wonder if anyone else can."
"I have no idea if anyone else can, I suppose you'd have to wait and see if anyone says anything." Patricia was wondering if she could see the colors because of being Chris's mom, it was then that Mork added his own comments.
'Your mother says she always could see the faint blue glow from you Miputer. I must have been blind, I just saw you as special and beautiful.' The frown was in his tone and Miranda responded back in her head.
"Oh Daddy, it doesn't matter. What matters is you loved me and cared. You still saw me as special anyway." She wished even more then and there that she could hug him. Realizing what she did meant that if she'd been able to do more maybe she would have been able to heal her dad. It was his turn now to interject.
'You did all you needed, I stayed longer than I thought possible because of you and Mearth, so trust me when I tell you, you saved me time and time again.' *Heavy sigh*
She smiled and then told Patricia that she could still speak with her parents in the spirit world, and what her father had said about her mother seeing the colors, but that he never could.
"Maybe it's a motherly instinct." She shrugged.
"I wonder if we could use it to heal you." Chris said out loud, the concept came straight out of left field.
"My dear boy, you don't need to heal something that's not sick or injured." She picked up her coffee mug and blew on it and took a sip as she listened to him disagree with her comment.
"But you were injured, surgery helped for a bit, but I mean now look; you're stuck in that chair." He was baffled at how she was rejection the notion that they could help her get mobile again.
She put her mug down slowly as she pondered her next statement. "Christopher, do you see me as broken or only half a person in this chair?" She was quite serious with the question and he responded with a resounding "No, of course not." the look on his face was sheer horror.
"Then don't fix something if it's not broken my boy. I am happy. You make me proud." She reached over and took his hand in hers. "Things will be better now that you have your alaika back with you." Miranda was left in awe of the wise woman; she admired her more now than she did before.
"Meine Vatar, thank you for your answers." Miranda felt better knowing she and Chris would be able to handle the upcoming situation a bit better with the knowledge they now possessed. "I never in my life figured I'd be part of something so unique. I'm glad to have found you again."
"I'm glad you're back Miranda, life hasn't been the same since we left." She let go of her sons hand and looked at them both, "I do believe Christopher said you two both have a case you're working on?"
"Yes. We're tracking someone down for my brother. We really should be going."Miranda reassured her as she stood. "We'll be back once that part is all sorted." She reached down and hugged her and then kissed her forehead. When she pulled back, Patricia pressed the journal into her hands.
"I think you'll need this in the near future more than I will, so take it with my blessing." Miranda was going to protest but Patricia shook her head no. "I did my part. Now do yours."
Chris felt like this was a blessing from his mom, acceptance that also felt like she knew what was to come. He didn't know if he should be worried or relieved but he hugged his mom and assured her he'd be back as quick as he could be.
They linked hands and Patricia watched them shimmer from her kitchen. She felt relief knowing Miranda was back; her son would be safe with him. She was only then able to relax.
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Miranda and Chris Solidified in the kitchen of Jeanie's place only a few hours after they had vanished, their sudden appearance made Lola jump, her nerves still on edge from Miele's attack.
Miranda was concerned with Lola's reaction and immediately went to her side to console her. "I'm sorry Lola, We didn't mean to startle you." Her hug had the instant soothing effect it always did on her friends and Lola relaxed.
"I'm alright; just a mild case of post traumatic stress. I think I'll get through it all once I know this deviant is blasted back to Ork where he belongs." She chuckled at her comment and thanked Miranda for her concern.
"I don't know what it is about you, but I seem so much calmer when you're around." Miranda watched her tail off to the living room seemingly more content. Chris walked up behind Miranda and laid his hand on her shoulder. "See, you do heal, in little ways and never noticed it till now." she watched him as he slid past her.
"I suppose so." She looked up at him. "Thanks for being here, I don't know what will happen but I'm glad you're by my side."
"Hey what's a flash light without its batteries?" he said with a chuckle and a tap on her nose. She chuckled and tried to grab his finger but he was too quick for her and moved before she could catch him. He remembered games like this when he was younger with her, he'd always let her win too. Laughing she lunged at him again and he smirked and took off through the house at a trot. He felt like a kid again but it came to a screeching halt when Jeanie stepped out of the bathroom and he slammed into her throwing her for a loop.
Lola, Mearth and Holly all gasped at the same time as Miranda rounded the corner just in time to see Jeanie fall back and crack her head off the door jamb to the bathroom. Chris's reaction was to grab her but he missed and she fell to the floor with a thud and out cold.
"JEANIE!" Miranda ran to her, mortified that a simple childish game could cause the problems it just did.
"Oh my!" she reached over and touched her head and felt a lump.
"Oh that can't be good. Chris I think we need to move her." He nodded and picked her up and brought her to the sofa. Lola and Holly both went off to get some ice and a towel.
"There's no blood so that's a good thing. She won't need stitches." Chris said as he laid her down. Miranda knelt by the sofa at Jeanie's head and pushed Jeanie's hair from her face, a tear escaping her own eyes as she spoke to Jeanie. "Come on Jeanie. Wake up." Holly passed the ice to her and she placed the bag to the lump on Jeanie's head.
"Oh gosh, Chris what did we do?" She was crying and Chris could see her stress and remember his mother's words.
~"He draws from you to when you're calm while you draw from him either when in fear for him or others or when empowered through protection."~
He crouched behind Miranda and lifted her hand to Jeanie's head and held onto it. He wrapped his other arm around her waist and leaned his head in to the side of her own; he closed his eyes and whispered. "Focus," to her.
When he opened his eyes he could see the melded colors and Miranda's whole body hummed. Chris could feel the energy rolling through him like waves, each licking through his finger tips together with Miranda's to Jeanie's injury. Miranda took a deep breath and laid her other hand on her head and spoke.
"Come on Jeanie, wake up." and Jeanie stirred. Everyone was dumb struck at what they just witnessed.
"What happened?" Jeanie asked as she opened her eyes to see five sets of eyes looking at her.
"Oh thank goodness!" Holly said.
"How do you feel?" Mearth asked her.
"I'm SO sorry!" Chris blurted out.
"I'm glad you're alright." Lola said.
Jeanie turned to Miranda who then said. "Do you still hurt?" Jeanie shook her head no. In fact she felt find and she had no idea why everyone was fussing. She sat up and looked at the ice bag.
"Seriously, what happened?"
"I was horsing around. I ran into you." Chris looked at the floor, he still felt crappy about that part. "You slammed your head pretty hard off the door jamb, but I think we helped. Are you sure you're OK?" He hoped his fast thinking and getting Miranda to focus on her helped.
Lola burst out with "We didn't do much of anything! Miranda and Chris HEALED you!" she said it with seemly delighted shock.
"They did!" Holly said as she gripped Mearth's arm. "I never seen anything like it." Mearth
commented still blown away by what he saw.
Miranda looked up at her brother, "What do you mean you never saw anything like it?"
"Sis you and Chris freaking GLOWED!" His eyes wide. Holly and Lola both nodding.
They looked at each other and chuckled. "It worked!" they both said in unison and then gleefully hugged each other then Miranda paused.
"But I thought only our mom's could see it." She said glanced at Chris with confusion. He put his hands on her shoulders and peered over her shoulders.
"Umm, this might sound dumb but what color did you see when we glowed?"
"Well, you were kinda just bright...well umm brighter like someone put a flashlight under you." Mearth said. "It was kinda cool, but your eyes are both much brighter if that's part of what ever happened to."
They looked at each other and grinned. They now knew if they could do this then all the other talents and abilities that Miranda had and the one's he possessed would surely be enhanced with the other at their side. They both stood up and Miranda fetched the journal and returned to Chris's side.
"We did happen to heal Jeanie." Miranda said to everyone "Just not in a typical way."
"We learned today that we're part of an Orkian prophecy and kinda blessed with special abilities as all Orkians are but ours are enhanced when we're together because we were the first two born to the new race that exists now between humans and Orkians. We're sort of like saviors for Ork."
The rest of their friends were left sort of speechless at the news, until it absorbed and they started to comment.
"NO WAY!" Mearth said laughing and hugging his girlfriend. "My sis is a real super hero!" Holly giggled at Miranda's brother's glee she was impressed with the news herself.
"Not quite Mearth but thanks for the status." She said chuckling.
"You're serious as a busted arm aren't you?" Jeanie said still in shock over everything that's happened. She watched the daughter of her two friends nod. "Is there anything else you need to tell us? I find all this news a tad bit overwhelming; I mean learning years ago of your dad being who he was threw me for a loop but this, this takes the cake." She made a motion to include everything with the sweep of her arm.
"Sorry if we're making things hard to grasp Jeanie." Miranda didn't like making her friends uncomfortable, "Sometimes things are beyond even my control." She cradled the journal in her arms as she waited to show them the info inside.
"Oh sweetie, I'm not upset just bowled over, it's just so astounding and mind-boggling! I never thought in a million years I'd have aliens for friends and yet I met your dad and he enhanced my life in many ways." She got up and hugged Miranda. "And now I'm blessed yet again with a few more aliens and two of them are foretold in an alien prophecy. It's all so amazing."
"I suppose it would throw some for a loop." Lola uttered. "Hell it still makes my head spin and I'm competent at wrapping my brain around complex subjects." She stood there at first with a blank face then smiled and shrugged. "Oh well, you sure make life interesting!"
"Well I think I can show you more with this." She held the book in front of her. "In here it has a bunch of things pertaining to the prophecy and notes from its oracle that out line things that will help us."
"Will it help catch Miele?" Lola asked.
"Yep, we just need a plan once we find him." Chris said.
"Do you still need my friends?" Holly asked
"Mmm...I don't think so, we'll find him. We don't need him to find us now." Chris was positive they would be able to find him.
"Ok, so how are we going to do this?" Holly asked.