Chapter 28

Brian

Dreams

Brian has no idea where he is. What he sees is a red dust floating about him, suddenly severe pain with each breath. His eyes dart about as he peers into the swirling red dust, panic sets in. Suddenly he wakes barely able to let himself breath; such fear of breathing seems insane. As though hit with a bolt of lightning he looks around the room for the dust. He allows himself a few minutes to embrace the fact he has had the death dream once again. All he can do is just let the dream go and move on with his day as there is nothing else he can do. After-all, this is just a nightmare, nothing more.

He sits up, unhappy that he is not able to sleep in the nude anymore. However, if Kelly is correct walking around naked in the hall is not a good thing. How is it possible to get up and start walking about in your sleep?

Walking into the very small bathroom he takes a quick shower; the shower has a timer so he washes quickly. Nothing would please him more than to stand in the very warm water washing away the invisible red dust that he feels is digging into him. Even better, rip this idiot fake skin covering away. Just to feel like himself would be a wonderful feeling. One thing he misses is that he awoke before his mother came to meet him in his dream. However, not having to see his father the traitor does make him happy. The weird thing is that unlike his brother and mother, his father was not dead when he had his previous dreams. It worries him because now that his father has died, if this dream is a warning it is possible it is not in the distant future, but a looming event soon to happen to him. The water stops and he finds himself hitting the wall with anger. How could his father do this to his family and most of all to the Great Leader. He clicks a button, the dryer begins and he pushes away the dream and thoughts of his family aside.

Once dried he brushes the weird wig on his head as he scowls at himself in the mirror. Yeah, give me to me, he chuckles as he dresses. Once finished he walks to his bed to put on his socks and boots. He begins to turn his socks inside out as he is more comfortable with them that way. Then he stops, no this is not what the Great Leader would want. Once he has finished dressing he looks over at the sleeping Kelly. It is going to be a very busy day. He has to deal with Daniel today as he must make a decision if Daniel is the one to bring to the attention of his superior. A lot rides on his choice; then again does he really care. This is for the Great One, yes he cares, he should always care.

As for Daniel he is not stupid, although he has heard about his lack of focus and drive, but these people are wrong. Daniel is a highly motivated individual when he wants to be. He had initially thought there would be need for a great deal of manipulation to be done on the individual he choose to focus his attention on. However, Daniel seems quite eager to join the Visitor Friends and do as requested. Very eager in fact. Daniel has a love of power and enjoys the attention he is now getting. He also has a feeling that Daniel would not have an issue betraying his family and close friends. Yes, the human is the one he should present to his supervisor or at least he believes he should be. Going from Visitor Friends Coordinator to being promoted as an aide to Victor is only the beginning he hopes in further promotions in his rank. Maybe, he will eventually be seen as more than a Youth Corp member and be moved into a more recognized branch in the military.

For some reason thinking of Daniel reminds him of Robin once more. After Daniel had told him about Robin's father being a scientist he had not visited her again. He may have been asked to monitor her and he just couldn't do it. It was a focus that he didn't want on either of them. One thing is for sure, he owes Daniel some favor; maybe, just maybe Daniel is concerned for him.

As for Robin he honestly misses being with her and experiencing what humans did. Also, she is a female and he is certainly interested in what may be different. Yes, he knows a human body is actually like his people in many ways. However, being the same physically may not be the same sexually. He entertains images on what it would be like to have sex with a human. Those thoughts turn to having gone to what she called a mall. He told her they shopped with computers at home and she thought that was funny. How could they try clothes on, how could you meet up with friends, window shop, an endless amount of things she thought you could do at the mall. He even ate his first hamburger and french fries at what she called the food court. The mall had been fun, but just walking around the neighborhood talking had been even better. He never spoke to her about Visitor Friends, doing that would have ruined the freedom away from his assignment to recruit humans. Maybe he should ask Daniel how Robin is doing with everything going on, he knows that the two are close friends from conversations he and Daniel have had.

His device beeps again, he has been reluctant to leave for the morning Youth Corp meeting. Now he will be late and must hurry as fast as he can. Being late is something you never want to be. Walking very quickly he catches up with some other Youth Corp members. They all laugh and talk about what may happen on today's upcoming assignments.

Becky a Youth Corp member who tracks members of Visitor Friends speaks up. "Not going to believe this. I have been asked to go to young humans; children really, that are going to events that are not in favor of us being here."

Brian leans closer to her. "Children are not going to be involved in that sort of thing."

"Okay, maybe not children. However, it is not just the sixteen to twenty year old's who can be passionate in their opposition to us. We are finding fourteen and fifteen year old high school students are beginning to attend these. Anyway, I am going and will be taking visuals of those attending. I get to use a butterfly drone." She smiles, "Nice. They won't even know. Tracking future troublemakers is a good thing. Never know in a couple of years they may be a real problem." Becky shrugs. "Anyway, I was asked to add this to my assignments last night."

"I've worked with you Becky, your amazing." Art says with smile as he gazes at her with an almost far away look. Art is a Youth Corp member who is generally assigned to direct Visitor Friends to the correct meeting rooms and such. Everyone knows that he really likes Becky, but that she sees him only as a friend.

The group reaches their destination and walk to the conference room. However, before they walk away to their assigned seating area Brian calls out to Becky. "What happens with these visuals? Are you matching them to their names?"

The others appear to be interested as well and stand awaiting her response.

She gives Brian an odd look. "Of course. Do you know someone we should be tracking. I know you have had a certain fascination with a little Earth girl." Becky smiles, pursing her lips as though she is kissing, then gives a wink to the others. "Or at least that is the rumor that I have heard. Like to know who got you all hot and bothered. Come on tell, tellllll." Everyone smiles or gives a quiet chuckle except Brian.

"No, not anyone. Just asking." He should have realized that others besides his friends knew he was interested in an Earth girl. However, it is not Robin, but Polly who comes to mind, outspoken as she is, she could very easily go to this event, be noted and then monitored. He is not sure why he is so concerned. His very life and allegiance is to the Great One. Anyway, she is not his sister. "Nothing, just curious."

"Okay, just let me know if you have further questions. This goes for all of you. Remember our very lives are to him." Her eyes show her complete devotion as she turns and walks away. The others nod in agreement.

He feels for some reason discomfort. His loyalty is to the Great One, why he should think even for a moment of protecting Robin or her sister makes him disloyal. He should tell his supervisor about Robin's father being a scientist and not worry if Polly attends this idiot event and the repercussions that may be placed on her later. He walks away to where he normally sits. Gordon is already there, George he knows will not be attending today as he was sent down to the Visitor Friends building already. He misses Shy, and smiles at one of the memories of them as children. Yeah, that would be Earth name Shayne; he misses Shayne. The meeting begins and he places his focus on the speakers.

One of the speeches includes Earth film footage of humans and a commentary on how the Jewish people are being slaughtered for simply being Jewish. On the screen a series of visuals begins with the first showing a little girl carrying a small stuffed toy animal. The second visual a little girl who looks quite similar to the first, holding a small doll. The third visual shows the small stuffed toy the little girl had been holding laying on a pile of clothing. The scene remains frozen on the screen as the speaker says, 'The difference between the two children, is what?' The next visual shows the little girl with the doll laughing as she gets into a vehicle. The last visual is of the first little girl laying naked and dead among the bodies of others. 'Again, what is the difference? The one entering the vehicle is alive and well. The reason one died...I guess because she is not the correct human type. Remember these humans are evil in every way. Let us praise Our Great One for keeping us on the path of peace with one another. We are a people not of different color hues, but species. Yet, here we are working together for our people. Humans will not and never will understand unity. Never trust these evil animals, never trust.' The speaker gestures for everyone to stand, they all get on their feet and praise the Great One.

The meeting finishes with a reminder to be aware of keeping to their assignments and keeping to their time schedules. The superiors understand that it can be interesting to learn something new, but that it can lead to entertainment when they should remain focused. Most stand immediately laughing about the last comment about entertainment.

Brian remains sitting, he looks up at Gordon for a second before staring down at his hands. He feels a cold shiver race up his spine and he shivers.

"You okay, Bri?" Gordon asks with a worried look. "We have seen those visuals and heard similar speeches before."

He nods his head in the direction of the door. "Lets go."

"Okay." Gordon bites his lip. "Yeah, lets go."

They walk down the hall saying nothing until they come to a corner and stop. They lean against the wall and watch as others walk past them. Brian swallows hard, to force down the growing panic and confusion he feels. He knows that he has been disloyal and not doing as he should to honor the Great Leader. "I am worried about something."

"Worried about what?"

"I have been disloyal."

Gordon snorts, for a moment he watches people passing by until there is no one there. "You have been disloyal? What have you done?"

Standing stock-still, Brian forces the words from his mouth. "The Earth girl. The one I told you I kind of liked. We played those funny computer games, has an overly obnoxious sister and we went to that….ah, shopping mall together." He peers around and waits a moment as two crew members pass them before finishing. "I told you, we went to her house, her sister that made us all laugh. I ah, ..." He looks around again, no one is in the hall so he finishes speaking. "Her father is a scientist. I didn't tell our supervisor. I should have, it is my duty. Especially since I am one of his aides."

Gordon covers his face with his hands and shakes his head. "I promise you they know already. I respect you more because you did not report her." He takes his hands down from his face revealing his large smile.

"That was wrong of me." He stares down at the floor for a moment before bringing his attention back to Gordon.

"No, it was the right thing to do." Gordon's smile is replaced with a look of anger. "They are trying to make monsters of us. We were chosen because we can work with the humans without any issue. Yet..."

"Yet? What is the matter with you. Our obedience is required to serve not just the Regime, but Our Great One. I was wrong."

"Then go, go tell on her and enjoy the satisfaction of betraying someone you like for who they are, not for what they could do for you." Gordon points down the hall as he sneers at Brian. "Just remember they already know, so you will be doing it to make points and not for Our Leader. As though he could care about any of us."

Brian looks at Gordon the shock at what his friend has said is very evident on his face. "You are my closes friend. When Shy is not around and Brighton and I are at each other's throats you find a way to keep us from fighting. When George begins to upset me with his stupid jokes and pranks you find a way to stop him. You help me whenever I need assistance and you stop me when no one else will when I decide to do my stupid ideas. Like growing herb and such." He shakes his head and looks at his friend sternly. "Right now you don't sound like you have the devotion and total gratitude to Our Great One. What is wrong with you?"

Gordon takes an unsteady step back from Brian and then nods. "I am not devoted. I have told you before."

For Brian it is like he is looking at a stranger. "Just a few days ago you were excited about everything we were doing for Our Great Leader."

"I told you a month ago, a month ago that I was not happy. I am still not happy. I guess I was for awhile, but that was due to that last bonding we did. Something about it bothers me to this day. The Regime is using us." Gordon points to the hall. "We better go people are starting to stare at us."

"I am going back to my room." They walk for a few minutes in silence. "Well, later. I got to prepare for my meeting at the Visitor Friends."

Gordon grabs Brian's arm forcing him to look at him as he speaks. "You gonna tell on me? Not that I care."

Brian stares at his friend for a moment and places his hand on Gordon's shoulder briefly. "I wasn't just saying your my closes friend. You are. I disagree about us being used. We have a purpose and that is what we are doing. Our people at home are counting on us."

"I just wish we were really helping our people. This all feels like a joke." With a sad look Gordon nods. "Gotta go. Friends forever, for sure." They both smile and together..."Brothers, friends, clan. Always."

As Gordon walks down the hall Brian speaks up. "Just doing our own thing."

"It's what I am counting on."

They both laugh and go their own way. As for Brian he knows he will say nothing about Robin. After all Gordon is correct as his superiors likely know already. Besides he really doesn't want to do that. Not telling when he first learned of this will lose him points anyway, doing it now could also cause him another problem as well.

He reaches his room and finds that Kelly is already gone. He checks his device for any messages. There is one from Aloohula saying that he is working with Anthony. However, he says he will be at the shuttle on time.

Brian just sort of drops onto his bed knowing he should take the time to do his required studies. Then the thought of the odd dream comes to him. There is a moment that he feels dizzy. Where is he? He turns and takes in the scene before him. A weird heavy white hazy cloud surrounds him. He can almost see the yellow robed figure in front of him. However, the haze does not allow him to see the individuals features.

"Who are you?" He is nervous at not being able to see a clear image of the individual in front of him. Did he go to sleep again? Is this a different version of his death dream.

The slight figure levels a gaze at him, then speaks in a feminine voice. "You do not recognize me?"

Her features begin to become clearer to him as she walks closer. Brian studies her face. "No...wait, I think I know you."

"We went to school at the temple together when we were young children. Later when you were older you came only for religious studies."

"You know that I am Bri'Lar? Who are you? I think I know, but...sorry." The nervousness is gone and for some reason he likes the heavy white haze floating around them. It feels real, he forgets that he is in his room; it feels that real to him.

"Angeis'Ark." Her voice is light with a sweet tone.

He is happy to see her, he smiles at her. "Angeis, I was told you were sent to Avena." Then it dawns on him that he is having a dream and he frowns. He feels himself shifting nervously once again.

He stares hard at her, Angeis features are becoming clearer. Brian remembers that she had bright red eyes, sure enough this dream woman has them as well. The more he stares the more he can make out more of her features, or at least he is doing a great job remembering her. This Angeis has not only the red eyes, her head is a beautiful shape, she has green scaled skin. He has not put human hair or skin on her in this dream. Angeis is Angeis, as she should be. Then he frowns with his discomfort returning. With a hint of a defiance in his tone he says, "This is a dream."

She laughs at his discomfort. "You are too funny. You think I am a dream." Angeis' smile is replaced with a worried look. "I am not a dream." She walks up to him and takes his hand leading him to a bench which suddenly appears before them. Angeis waves her hand towards the bench and they sit. "You inherited an ability of sorts from your mother. She had the gift of Future Dream. Very few knew of this including yourself, it was kept secret. "

Brian holds up a hand. "Stop! This is a dream. Just tell what this has to do with me?"

Angeis sighs. "I know this has got to seem confusing. Had things happened as they were supposed to, you and the others would not just be suddenly visiting..." She waves at the hazy whiteness surrounding them. "Look you were not prepared for this, nor were we ready for all of you to begin reaching out to us."

"What kind of a dream is this?"

"We will talk more about this later. For now let us just sit. I want you take simply stare into the haze."

Brian has no idea how much time has gone by, but he feels better. "What do you want me to do? Where are we?"

She is silent for a long, uncomfortable moment. Then she says, "This is your place. You will define it more later. Do you remember Gailey from when we went to school together."

"Yes, he is on the Istanbul ship. Why?"

"Just think of him for a moment."

He shakes his head, "My mother. I want to know about my mother. I know my grandmother had this ability, but I don't remember my mother having this."

Angeis answers him quietly. "As I said your mothers ability has been kept not just from you, but almost everyone. It was safer that way. We will talk about this another time when you feel more comfortable with this." She waves her hand at the white haze surrounding them. "Think of Gailey."

Brian looks at her for a moment. He shrugs, just a dream. He takes a deep breath and thinks of Gailey." He knows minutes have gone by with nothing happening. "I give up. What do you want."

"Something will happen, just not now. Now, I must ask that you don't get upset if someone reaches out to you. They are as confused as you are. Do not tell your superiors, be patient. Think of this as a dream. Telling will only get you and others in trouble. Can you just try to keep this to yourself."

"Sure, it is just a dream."

"Good from what I remember you were very good with using your self-protective habits to get through what I know has been a rough life for you. Next, do you have any idea how your now able to reach out? This was not supposed to happen, not now." Angeis appears to be fading into the white haze.

"I need to know what is going on."

"Your unable to hold me here any longer. Trust me, just be patient. We arrrrrrrrr..." Then she is gone.

He jerks as a hard cold shiver races through him.

A laughing Kelly looks over at him. "What are you staring at so intently? I don't think you have blinked all that much. Is there a bug or something on the wall?" He laughs again.

Brian looks about. "Great, how many people can say they can sleep and dream sitting up." He shakes his head.

"Again?" Kelly sits down on his bed staring at Brian. "You really are stressing out? What were you looking at, there is nothing there. Do you need a doctor?"

He thinks back when he had his first dream. The dream that keeps happening in which he dies. This dream is different, what could possibly be causing him so much stress. "Maybe, trying to fulfill my assignments and do everything I can for the Great One. Maybe, or maybe the death of my father and other family members. Yeah, stress." The thought of Robin and not telling his superiors is likely what is causing his stress. Maybe he should tell, no Gordon is correct it is to late.

"Do you want me to go with you to see the doctor?"

"No, I am fine just stress." Brian then simply whispers, "Just a dream."

"Okay. You scared me." Kelly's device beeps and he becomes occupied with his device and stops paying attention to Brian.

Brian watches as Kelly's lips move silently as he reads some message and the deep frown that now graces Kelly's face. He lifts a brow as he is now concerned to what was in the message that it has caused his roommate to appear preoccupied. "My turn. You okay?"

Kelly appears startled. Looking a bit embarrassed he shakes his head. "Got to try and sneak in and see Alex. You sure your okay after the last bonding? I mean, I was practically yelling at you. I even shook you. I know your father's death..."

He interrupts Kelly, snarling, "Just stop. Go!" One thing he is thankful for is that his stress is decreasing, however Brian suddenly realizes that he needs to leave in order to make it on time for his shuttle to Earth. Jumping to his feet he shrugs. "I have to leave, you know duty calls. We'll talk later."

Racing down the hall all of the mornings thoughts leave him replaced with his duties for the day. At the elevator his last thought is of his dreams, why should he think of Gailey; he hasn't thought of him since school. He shakes his head, life can it really get any more confusing?