25 Chapter 25 Star message
–oOo–
"What's that?"
The circle had been supervising their new guests and all in all the women they were looking at were a lucky surprise considering where they had been educated. Of course, they were more or less sexually inhibited but not really so if one was to judge by certain mind broadcasts.
The comment had been uttered by one of the members –while in a circle there were no names- who was looking behind the veil.
Every mind focused on what had been seen and soon all were seeing the shadow that was hiding behind the little group of women.
It was soon evident that what was thus hiding had nothing to do with Gaïa's soul-energy.
The circle drew on the members' skills and soon a mind-view was probing the strange shadow-like entity.
"It is not from this Earth," came the first comment.
"It wouldn't be the first time they come to visit…"
"It is not visiting, it is hiding!"
"Can we get in contact with it?"
"We can try, it is physically present in at least one of them, it should be easy to bridge the gap!"
There was a range search to define which skill was the best to use in those circumstances and soon it was clear that a shadow weaving would be needed.
Jumping from shadow to shadow they soon got in relation with what was clearly the mother creature of what was hiding before them.
To everyone's relief it was mind-speech able.
"What are you?"
"How could you reach us? We are hidden at the Universe's end under layers of stone and steel…"
"There is no end to the Universe, and there is no distance when we walk the path of the shadows."
"How could you know where to look for us…"
"A part of you is with us, so it was easy to jump from that part to another of the same vibe, and you are of the same vibe, we can confirm it."
"What are you?"
"We are a mind circle and we use the part of you which is with us to relate with you."
"Does your race journey between the stars?"
"No longer, we are now planet bound but since a part of you is within a member of our race, we are able to shadow jump to you."
"A part of us within a member of your race… I see! That was the plan, indeed. And it seems it worked. We were looking for a way to spread our body throughout the stars and so to ensure our survival."
"How can you survive by worming yourself into other races?"
"We are the Ter-Umal and we live borrowed lives through sentient hosts."
"What do you mean with 'borrowed lives'?"
"In our specific original form –mine for the moment- we are a moldish looking plant parasite. With time the plants we colonized grew to gigantic proportions –because of us by the way but we were not aware of our wht we were doing- and we became slowly aware. And with awareness we evolved from parasites to symbiots and jumped on different non-plant hosts. What arrived on your planet is our latest evolutionary stage: a symbiot that colonizes the nerve stems of a sentient beings to provide, in exchange of mobility and versatility, protection and survival."
There was a silence.
"I suppose you are multiples?"
"What do you mean with multiples?"
"I mean that you are a civilization of multiple individualy aware sentient beings."
"Which you are not?"
"We have only one mind we share and the parts we have sent out connects with the central mind to share the experiences their hosts are living."
"And it is the only thing it does?"
"We are a contemplative civilization which is unable to move under its own power. The only way we have to 'see' the universe is to use other creatures' senses. We are ultimately a living library which sends spotters out to bring back data."
"You spoke of protection and survival provided…"
"A creature one of our parts uses as a host will be provided with a better health and means to regenerate tissue damage much faster than normal, provided it has access to a source of energy. Sun light or cosmic vibes are, most of the time, enough to provide the whole range of benefits we provide to our hosts."
"Is every symbiot able to send data?"
"Yes, but it will only send it to the planetary collector. The planetary collector has been implemented with a machine that is able to send the collected data packages to other relays and finally to us. We have developed that machine and it, since there is a part of us with you, should be on your planet."
"Do you have an idea where it is?"
"No and it is of no interest to us since the machine is there to help the parts to send us the collected data. We have no interest in contacting our collectors. But it should, to be effective, be near our planetary collector." There was a silence. "But this is a situation we do agree with. Discussion on a mind level is a great improvement on isolation and destruction."
"Destruction?"
"Our latest host race has been destroyed because they had implemented our plan to spread out collectors. It seems that certain creatures in the Galaxy reprove heavily the spreading of genetic material that is prone to change the genetic layover of native civilizations. They were not at all prone to discuss but did resort to deadly force almost immediately. A major part of our mind mass has been destroyed at the same time since the attackers have destroyed the living covering of the Planet. We still mourn that loss."
"Do we risk a same fate?"
"I don't know. It depends, I suppose that if you would begin to spread out our or your genetic material at random throughout the galaxy they would probably react in the same manner. They have perhaps other reasons to destroy the living covering of a planet, but such a reason is unknown to us."
"Who are they?"
"They have multiple names and they are the races that lead more or less the Central Galactic Council. They pretend to be the protectors of genetic diversity and they try to avoid that native alien civilizations are polluted by imported inventions or genes."
"What happens to those native civilizations which have been 'polluted' by such things?"
"Nothing that I know of, as a general rule only the perpetrators are punished, not the victims… And for all I know we have already been punished even if our spreading was way earlier than the rule that we have allegedly broken."
"Can this genetic layover been cutout?"
"If you have a subject under your eyes whose system has been infected that means that your planet has been touched by one of our probes and that the spreading is under way. There is nothing you can do to stop the expansion of the spreading. And there is nothing you can do to extract the symbiot of the subject. It has been conceived to spread by any possible physical mean available. Once installed in a host, if you try to kill the host the symbiot will take measures to increase the survival rate of his host."
"That is a real problem…"
"I don't see why! We have created the genetic layout in order to provide protection and health to the host. Why would you consider it a problem to be healthier, more resistant and with a longer life? Your type of individual creatures do still lose their awareness when they die, don't they?"
"They do, but this is an intrusion on a rather extraordinary and unwanted scale…"
"I must protest it was totally wanted. We had the means and we used them to get the result we got. I must add that there is no negative side effect to the presence of the symbiot since it never acquires any self-awareness. It is a win-win of galactic proportions and it is even better than anywhere else since you have that marvelous possibility to communicate with us/me. I'm glad our probe touched you. Will you call back?"
"Why would we?"
"Because I ask you to do it and because it pleases me?"
"We will call back, we promise" said the circle finally. "Meanwhile we have to hold a council."
"I'm impatient to have you back. I like mind-communication; it is more than exhilarating to, at least, be able to exchange ideas and data. Collecting data is great, I wonder if sharing data is as exciting."
–oOo–
"It didn't come by accident" answered Jane. "We were infected either on purpose by creatures who never gave us the possibility to give our opinion or by accident when we were exposed to the Plant's seed. Had I been asked I have no idea what decision I'd have taken." She sighed. "There are gifts that are very difficult to refuse."
"And you are the first ones to be thus infected?"
"How should I know? The Bible says that some of the Prophets lived several hundreds of years. Perhaps there was a first wave of infection when the creatures first encountered the planet? I don't know and really, I don't mind. I and my family are clearly infected and if what you say is right it is, thank God, more of a boon than a curse."
"Life on Earth is not meant to go on indefinitely" said the old woman who had invited them to speak with her.
"Two centuries is not infinity" said Lizzie. "And as said we didn't ask for what we got but we have it and what's even worse in my eyes our children have it too. And I won't accept anything that would reduce their safety."
"We do not consider an action against you, Mrs. Darcy. We try to understand the consequences and to lessen the impact that infestation could have on earth.
"Well," said Jane. "There are twenty-six infected persons and some people could consider that the threat is still containable if drastic measures are taken and taken in a hurry."
"We do not consider anything of the sort" retorted their host. "But we are responsible persons and we need to take into account that what has happened to you will have consequences."
"Indeed, it will have consequences" agreed Jane. "And I'm quite sure that whatever happens in our life each of us will probably infest a few persons around him. I'll infest the children I'll bear and one or two other persons by accident. Let's say that we all infest twenty persons in our life and that each person we infect, infects also twenty other persons. That means that –remote areas of earth not included- half of mankind will be infested in a century and probably every person on earth by the time we, the first infected, die."
"But is every infected person here?"
"No" answered Jane. "Most of us are here but not everybody which means that even should you decide to deal with the risk we represent with extreme prejudice, it wouldn't resolve the situation."
"We have not thought about resolving the problem in the terms you were speaking of…"
"I'm glad to hear it," agreed Jane. "But I'm even gladder to have the option to explain the inanity of trying anything of the sort against us."
"You seem much focused on believing that we could plan something radical against your family."
"That's because I don't see any non-radical way to solve the problem" answered Jane. "Seeing my kids being at the center of what could very well be the most important transformation of mankind since Jesus Christ or Buddha does awake edginess in me. I know that I would never plan to remove the problem physically, but I know that I'm not the archetype of normal human behavior. In my experience reckless and bloody slaughter is usually the chosen problem solver."
–oOo–
"They are aware of the problem, but we must accept that we won't have a say in its resolution…" said Axis which was the title the leader of the inner circle wore. The other members were named after the Element they were mastering and that was mastering them.
The inner circle was no longer united in a mind circle, but the members were all still present to discuss what they just had learned.
"It is our problem because it is Mankind's problem," said Light.
"I agree but I don't see how we can solve said problem. It has been done and it has been put on these people's shoulders without their assent, in a certain way they are victims and I don't see why we should interfere…" agreed Axis.
"We must interfere" protested Shadow. "What is happening must be stopped."
"And how would you do that, kill them all?" asked Earth.
"It would only delay what will happen whatever we decide" pointed out Water. "And of course, we wouldn't kill anybody!"
"Why not?" asked Shadow.
"Because it is not what we are. We women we live to give life not to take it. And this thing is a gift and I can't understand that you consider it as a plague or an infestation. It is a gift, a real gift which has the potential to solve most of mankind's worst nightmares. We should thank the Gods to have looked at us and given us that amazing gift which will transform what we are…"
"It will change Mankind for the worst" insisted Shadow. "We should smother everything while there is a chance. The Gods have clearly shown us that they wish us to intervene since they have brought the problem at our door."
"Every wielder is not present and those who are absent are in no way easy targets, even for us!"
"The Gods' will is evident," agreed Water. "But it is clearly not to smother what is not a plague but to nurture what can only be seen as a gift!"
"It is a curse not a gift" shouted Shadow.
"You look at the world and you see your mirror image!" teased Air. "I understand that seeing that you want to destroy it. I concur that smother such as you would help to make Earth a better place."
"Sisters, please don't glide into personal animosity" said Axis. "We all know that Shadow's opinion is not what the circle will choose to do."
"That's not sure…" protested Shadow. "Let's have a vote…"
"I don't need a vote to feel my sisters' view" insisted Axis. "Your opinion is not what will prevail because we are not men who react with violence and bloodshed when faced with the Unknown." She looked at her sisters and smiled at Water. "I value your point of view and I concur that the fact that the wielders came to us gives us the responsibility to help said wielders to find a solution to their dilemma."
She looked at her sisters.
"We won't stop them because that is not what we are! But since they are here with us while at the beginning of their new journey it is our duty to give them all the advic, they need to use their new gift for the benefit of all Mankind."
"It is a curse" insisted Shadow.
"Only if it is badly or rashly used" said Axis. "And it is our duty to help them to use it wisely. And we are happy that the gift had been handed to human beings who have not only a clear understanding of their duties but who have the means to act in conformity with Mankind's interests. They have already everything a man –or woman for that matter- can lust for and therefore have no reason to let greed or lust shade their decisions."
"Mankind's safety implies that we must stop them now" insisted Shadow.
"I don't agree" stated Axis. "And moreover, your solution is not possible since they are not all present… And if I judge the situation properly at least one of the absentees is a powerful ruler who has the means –and the mindset- to be a real nuisance. And even if normally sane and sensible he could very easily become insane and insensible if something suspicious should have happened to his whole family. Based on these facts and a healthy survival instinct for us and our people, we will show moderation in our behavior. We will be the voice of wisdom and we will advise those present with us in order to make the best of the situation and, as already said, show them the ways to use it to the benefit of Mankind."
She stopped Shadow's outburst before it could become a nuisance.
"I'm totally aware that there are risks involved and that this situation has the potential to set off a catastrophe of major magnitude. I'm therefore very glad that we are the firsts who have been informed of the new situation Mankind is facing. We will do our duty, but we will do it while going on doing what we have done so well for centuries: hide in the shadows and be as discreet as possible."
–oOo–
"What is the price to pay?" asked Jane.
"Why should there be a price to pay?" smiled Axis.
"There's always a price to pay" answered Jane who had been invited by Gandhara's uncrowned ruler to be her guest. "I can't imagine these creatures handing out such advantages without having something else in mind."
"Their story is believable. They spread out this stuff in order to collect data. It is only normal to include in that package something that protects the host and warrantees its survival. It has logic in it."
Jane nodded but Axis could see that she wasn't convinced.
"Let's say" added Axis, "that I don't see major down sides of the gift and that you'll have to discover them along the way…"
"Indeed, that we'll have to do. But I'm at least reassured that that stuff is not killing us quickly."
"It said that it will give you health, stamina and a longer life. As it is described it is a major improvement."
Jane smiled.
"The kids call it the 'upgrade' which is the term Charles created to describe what he does with his airships when he has a new tech to install in them. It is an improvement which implies the adding of new things."
"Which is clearly what has happened to you… So 'upgrade' it is." Her smile became more personal. "You know you are with child?"
"I do, Maureen is too, and it happened a few days before we encountered that thing, would I have known, I would have dodged…"
"And you would have regretted it because I really believe that the way this stuff acts when infecting a new person, it would have reacted to your husband's seed when it impregnated you as if it were a disease."
"You mean my daughters won't be able to have kids?"
"I mean that we'll have to find a way to correct that little side effect thanks to weaving possibilities we will have to teach them. But normal non taught women will probably become barren because of the stuff."
"What about the boys?"
"Well that is another problem… Boys being boys they will be gallivanting around, and they will probably kill their partners with regularity unless you're there to save their lives. We'll have to teach them to show restraint."
"They are serious boys, it should not be difficult to make them understand the danger they would put their partners in, but their life will be a lot more difficult than for other boys of their upbringing. Making their sexual experiences is part of a normal boy's education."
"But not a girl's…" teased Axis.
"I'm the result of my society's education and I won't state that I'm really unbiased in my opinions" agreed Jane. "But I'll do my best not to smother my girls' lives."
"With great gifts come great responsibilities… That's perhaps the price you spoke about."
Jane nodded and her eyes lost focus while she was thinking.
"And it is perhaps a good thing that this stuff is so virulent" said she finally. "If it had been easy to spread out, we would probably have given it out without really thinking about the consequences. Now we know that if we want somebody to be like us it means a real preparation and measures taken to ensure its survival. We won't be able to do it easily at all." She sighed. "I know it is a cowardly comment, but I like it better thus!"
"I agree but not on the cowardly…" said Axis. "You are a person who has a real talent to take responsibilities; I'm sure you would have thought of the consequences. But it will spread, and this little side effect will push even less serious persons to think about what they are doing. As it is, you'll have to play a major role in its spreading…"
"Because I'm a healer?"
"Because you are a healer, indeed. We have been very surprised with what we found with you and your sisters. You all know enough already to give us the opportunity to teach you a real working knowledge weaving. For you it will be in life healing. We will try to teach you everything but you must know that you will probably never have access to greater weaving magic, for that I do fea that you are too old and taht your mind has lost the versatility you'd need to enter the realm behind the veil. It is a shame because you have so much power in you which will stay unused. But we begin teaching our girls at the age of ten" she smiled at Jane. "You're twenty years late."
"I'll learn what I can, but I won't regret what I am. Life has given me a lot and I won't begrudge what I can't have…"
"It is thus one reacts best…" agreed Axis. "But let's speak about you and your family. I called you to inform you about everybody's strengths and weaknesses."
"Why me? Shouldn't that role have devolved to my mother?"
"It should but she is really too old to learn even a little illusion spell. For her it is really too late, and we are no longer able to discern what would have been her talent. She manifestly invested her power in her girls…"
"So, it's up to me…"
"So, it's up to you…" agreed Axis.
"I'm a healer, am I right?"
"You are but it is only you secondary gift. First of all you are a Spirit Weaver, your Life Weaving capacities are better developed thus making you a Life weaver but what you really should be is a Spirit Weaver."
"What does a Spirit weaver do?"
"He helps the departed to find their way behind the veil…"
"You mean he speaks to the dead?"
"I mean she reassures the spirits and shows them the way out of the psychic dump that surrounds us…"
"Psychic dump?"
Axis sighed.
"We'll have to show you what it looks like just behind the veil to give you an idea why we call it the psychic dump but let's just says that every human being with every one of his thoughts creates trash he leaves untended. And untended psychic creations tend to find a way to prosper just on the veil's other side. Educated persons, like we are, and you will be, are able to clean up what their thoughts have created. Normal people don't and all their thoughts, be they nice or ugly, do find a way on the veil's other side."
Jane aware that for some of her thoughts she really wished they hadn't found their way to the dump.
"I see what you mean" she said. "I hope this cleaning can be caught up…"
"With difficulty but it can" agreed Axis with a knowing smile. "You'll have lessons about how to clean up your psychic mess, don't worry. But that's not what I'm here to talk about. Let's come back to you and your family."
"Indeed… So, I'm a healer and a Spirit…"
"That you are, and we will give you the keys to master your gifts as well as possible with that much tardiness."
"What about Betty, Lexy and Maureen?"
"Maureen has a little talent in fire weaving… We'll be able to give her the basic knowledge which should give her the techniques to protect herself against fire and heat. But she's too old to learn to use the great fire weavings… Sorry for her but as said, we, usually begin to teach our girls at the age of ten."
"So, Betty and Lexi can be taught?"
"Indeed… Your Betty is a Spirit weaver and a Light weaver, which explains why her Flavia does remain when she's asleep. Flavia is a Light weaving which is occupied by a Bogy Spirit."
"A Bogy Spirit?"
"Astral spirits who can use plants to take a corporeal form. They are sometimes called elves or fairies. They love to be in company of children, that's why Flavia was so prompt to answer to Betty's presence. She will stay with her for a long time if she's welcome."
"Why wouldn't she be welcome?"
"Well" said Axis while making a face. "Fairies are pranksters. They love to do things that can only be called unreasonable and they love even more to do them in company. Mothers do not like having their kids in company of Bogy Spirits!"
Jane could only sigh.
"Betty loves just the same things…" She shook her head. "Does a Bogy Spirit do dangerous things?"
"From time to time unreasonable is dangerous, Jane. There's no way to hide that ugly little fact, but most of the time, unreasonable is just difficult to deal with. It will be up to your daughter to rein in her little friend because Bogy Spirits don't know how to stop!"
"I'll talk with them about it…" said Jane with a frown. "We had a few days ago a very difficult conflict and she seems to have understood what was the problem between us. I have to be careful not to reopen the gap." She smiled at the old weaver facing her. "She's the family's problem child. She's always in the thickest of action and ahead of everybody when it means jumping into the fray."
"She's a Spirit, Light and Shadow weaver" explained Axis. "Having within its talent blend two antagonistic talents, like Light and Shadow, is a very difficult endeavor. Most of the time it creates a need to do things because she's torn between both forces. So, acting in accordance with one or the other is a way to lessen the pressure. We will probably be able to help her." Axis sighed. "Fortunately, she's not Spirit and Shadow only because that combination is the most difficult because Spirits attuned to Shadows have a bad influence on weak minded children. It is difficult to rein in kids who are under that type of influence."
Jane smiled at the old woman whose age was probably bordering on a century if she had to judge at the multitude of wrinkles covering her face.
"Shouldn't we ask the others to join in order to tell them what you've found? I'm quite certain that they are as impatient to know as I was an hour ago…"
"You're right, let's go and tell them…"
–oOo–
"Before speaking I must ask you about your wishes. Do you want to be told in private? We normally don't do it in private because it is for us a great fulfillment to show our talents to the community. But you are from another civilization and I will accept your demand if you believe it would be better to do it discreetly."
Everybody looked at the others and soon they all nodded to show their acceptance.
"First thing, save for Lydia and Janet you are, actually all host to what you call the 'upgrade'. We can't be sure that the creature that spoke with us has told the truth, but it seems that thanks to that upgrade you'll live a longer healthier life. It has no real side effect but, for those of you who would still want to have kids, to make it a little more difficult than for normal people. As of now your upgrade will consider any outside element as a risk for your body and erase it." She stopped any outburst with a placating gesture. "We have ways to ensure a safe inseminating process; it just means that you'll never again be pregnant by accident." Her smile got an ironic glint. "A fact that, in certain circumstances, has a few evident advantages."
She saw more frowns than smiles greeting her comment. She would have to ask why it was received with such gloomy miens.
"Let's come to the reason of my being here. I'll state in a few words what your talents are and then I'll explain what each talent means and implies. The talents will be presented by order of power. The first being the more powerful while the last being the weakest."
She looked at them.
"Jane is a Spirit, Life and Ether weaver. Her daughter is a Spirit, Light and Shadow weaver. Elizabeth has only two talents Astral and Air, her daughter has four, Water, Fire, Earth and Air…"
Lexi stood up, raised a hand and patiently waited till she was allowed to speak.
"Is there a link between a mother's talents and those of her daughter?"
"Not at all" answered Axis. "The talents are soul bound, not flesh bound. But of course, out of twelve talents there is very often a common talent but it is random, not based on the filiation of the flesh."
Lexi smiled her thanks and sat down.
"Mary is Earth, Ether and Thoughts, while her daughter Rebecca is Manna, Astral and Earth. Catherine is Air and Thoughts and Deirdre is Water and Thoughts. Lydia is, as she already knows, Air and Earth; Maureen is Shadow, Fire and Earth. You, Lexi, are Earth and Ether, Josephine is Life and Ether while Fanny is Thoughts and Spirit."
She sighed while looking at Fanny.
"The older a weaver is when she begins to study the weaving, the more difficult it will be for her. Normally we begin the teaching of the most powerful talent around ten years. And it takes from eight to twelve years to Master two or more talents."
Deirdre raised her hand and was invited to speak with a smile.
"I'm not ten, so I won't be able to learn?"
"You'll have, for the next few months, the same lessons than everybody else because what you have to learn first are the three languages of magic. And to learn a language it is even better to do it early. And then you'll probably be old enough to follow the first weaving lessons." She looked at the women and girls facing her.
"We are not yet sure how we will proceed. It is probable since you won't be able to stay with us for all those years that we will designate a few teachers who will have to come with you. Loudiv, since she has already decided to come with you, will take up the teachings in Water and Air." She smiled at the young girl who had shot her an amazed glance. "I know you are very young for such a responsibility, but we have no choice, child since we don't desire to send too much people away in this endeavor. Be reassured that you'll have experienced weavers with you because we will have to provide teachers for all the other talents. We'll try to reduce the number of weavers going away but it could very well be up to a dozen that need to move with you…"
"We could…" began Jane but she was quickly interrupted.
"I'm sure you could but it is necessary. It is necessary to teach you the bases and to teach your children everything they need to be able to manage the consequences of your 'upgrade'." She smiled at Jane and Mary. "You don't really know how to heal, my ladies, you are informed amateurs who meddle in a field you guess more than really fathom and if you are confronted with a real emergency you won't be able to cope with it, believe me. You need real teachers around you to acquire the real techniques and for your daughters to become real specialists. And if we 'export' teachers we will have to export also a structure that gives them the best chances to do their job and prosper. They will need to form a circle where they'll have to live, and to form a circle you must have each talent represented. If possible, we will provide for each talent one specific person."
Jane raised her hand and looked at her sisters.
"We are all grown adults with families and even if we live together quite a few months a year we don't live together over the whole year. It will generate problems!"
"We are aware, but you must accept that at least for the next three years you'll have to live together at least ten months a year. You won't need to be always at the same place, but you really have to be together. We just cannot provide more than one teaching circle. And you are in a hurry my ladies; you need to be prepared for what is coming at you at full speed. Your 'upgrade' will spread, even if it doesn't spread easily, and if you don't want to bury all the next infected, you'll better have learned what is necessary to save them when it happens!"
–oOo–
William, Alexandre and Geoffrey were rather unsettled by the fact that they have been invited by the grown-ups to be present. They didn't believe that they would have a lot of opportunities to give their opinion but just being there was a great sign of confidence.
It was, as usual, their granddad who was at the center of the meeting.
"Well boys, let us greet my new son who has not yet decided if he wants to run away like hell or to kiss my feet in adoration…"
"I put my bet on him running away with Lydia…" joked Charles who was as usual the most jovial of all.
"If I have only the choice between running and kissing Mr. Bennet's feet, you are going to win easily!"
Of course, everybody laughed at the joke and even Rupert who was awake but, as was normal for a toddler, more or less unaware of its surrounding showed that he was pleased.
"It's good we have a sense of humor because we will need it, boys" said Mr. Bennet. "We are looking at our wives being enrolled in a sorority of witches and I'm not sure that I love the implications of that new status they are just yet acquiring!"
"I don't see what we can do to stop them so why complain?" asked d'Arcy. "They have talents and they have the opportunities to develop them, I applaud and support them. We will need what they are going to be taught…"
"How so, papa?"
"Because son, this up…" He stopped and looked at his father. He pointed at Donald. "What do we decide, father? Do you trust that man or not?"
Mr. Bennet sighed, looked Donald into the eyes and nodded.
"If necessary, you can always kill him, can't you?" asked Mr. Bennet, all trace of a smile erased from his lips.
"If he betrays your trust that's exactly what's going to happen" said d'Arcy and everybody in the room could feel the icy gust of his words. Donald felt an ice shiver crawling along his spine.
"Then let's be honest with him, he's family or soon to be" said the Bennet Patriarch.
D'Arcy nodded and looked Donald into the eyes.
"What you'll learn is a family secret, a secret we will take with us in the grave without having ever spoken about with anybody outside the family…" He looked at Alexandre and smiled his most fatherly smile. "It is also true for you, young man. You know most of what I'm going to speak about, but you don't know everything. You have perhaps guessed by now, but it is the time to show you that I trust you. To make the decision we must make, you must know everything, so I'll include you in the circle of initiates." His eyes went back to Donald. "I hope I'll never have to regret it…"
He took a long breath.
"My real name is Geoffroy d'Arcy and I'm not dead, never was…"
Alexandre just smiled which confirmed to everybody that he had guessed but Donald couldn't help but look flabbergasted at d'Arcy.
After a long heavy silence, Donald acknowledged by shaking his head.
"I can see why you did it" said he finally. He looked at William and shook once more his head. "I'm impressed; you're even smarter than they pictured you." He looked back at d'Arcy. "I suppose Napoleon knows."
"And Alexander of Russia" said Mr. Bennet.
"And mamma" added Alexandre. "She recognized you at your marriage."
"I thought so much" said d'Arcy. "She's never been a fool and with age she's even becoming smarter. But I couldn't take the risk to speak with her. I had means to see your father secretly, with your mother it would have been suspicious… I'll have to apologize to her when she comes back."
He sighed and made a gesture to show that he was going on.
"There's a second thing I need to explain to you Donald. In fact, there are more than one but the rest can wait, what is really important is to let you know about what we all call the 'upgrade'."
Donald nodded and frowned at d'Arcy.
"I have heard the kids speak about it, but I couldn't see what it meant. I've never heard that word."
"I created it to picture a complex machine that was partially changed to be improved with new parts" explained Charles Bingley. "And that's exactly what happened to us. We have been upgraded!"
"And the term is really in adequacy with had happened" said Mr. Bennet. "We are different human beings than before, and we are different from what I must even with regret call 'normal' human beings."
He nodded towards d'Arcy who took the floor again.
"A Creature from outer space has taken roots somewhere in the Amazonas and has inoculated us with something which, if what the witches have told us is true, gives us more health, more stamina and a better life expectancy. We are stronger, better and have been given a longer life." He sighed. "And what has been given to us we are able to give it to others."
"If they survive the gift" whispered Charles, "only if they survive the gift."
"Indeed" said d'Arcy. "Till now only two 'normal' persons have been this gifted and both, Betty, my daughter, and Napoleon, would have died had Jane not been there to heal them. It is possible that some people are strong enough to survive but I really doubt it. Betty was young and in perfect health and she had never been ill since her birth and had the resilience of the healthy very young and yet she would have died if Jane hadn't been there to cure her."
Charles took advantage of a break in d'Arcy's presentation to take the floor.
"As of now only Janet, Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth's daughter, has not been upgraded. It will be her decision to join us or not. I suppose Lydia will be presented with the same choice." His eyes searched for Donald's. "And, in a certain manner, we are offering you that exact same choice: as a member of the family what do you want to do?"
–oOo–