Chapter Six – Psyche Mythology
"So you think C.H.R.O.M.E.'s library will have the answers we need?" Harley asked. She, Finn, Katherine, and Leland journeyed through London to the secret location of C.H.R.O.M.E.'s library.
"At the very least, it will give us a good start." Finn said. "C.H.R.O.M.E.'s library is sort of like the Library of Congress in the States. There are books and documents on every subject in there. Surely we'll find something in the collection to help us."
"How long until we get there?" Katherine asked. Since becoming a member of C.H.R.O.M.E., she sat in an updated wheelchair that had a sleek design ideal for smooth riding. The chair also had numerous gadgets and technologies to help her with spy work. Leland sometimes pushed her along so she wouldn't tire out her arms, despite Katherine's laughing at his fretful attitude towards her. Leland had taken on a brotherly role with her ever since they discovered he was her Partner.
"Almost there." Finn answered Katherine. He led them into what looked like a secondhand bookshop. The middle-aged human behind the desk distractedly waved to them as they entered. His focus stayed mostly on his newspaper. Harley knew the shopkeeper well, and she knew he had a firearm hidden under the desk in case of an attack. Finn continued through the empty shop and right past the curtain leading to the "Employees Only" section. Then he went to the computer and typed a few things. The bookshelf on the wall swung open, allowing the spies to enter an elevator which took them to the most secretive library in the world. Harley and Katherine couldn't even see the other wall through all the bookshelves and tomes in the ginormous room. At the very front of the room stood a computer.
"First things first: we need to narrow our search so we know which section to look through." Leland said.
Katherine wheeled herself to the computer. "Let's see…why don't try 'psyche humans.'" She typed it in, and hundreds of results popped up. "Okay, let's narrow it down and add 'history.' That should give us a good start." Once she entered it in, the results were reduced to about a third its size.
"It looks like there's an entire section on it." Harley noted. "Right there. Section A, Shelf 113." The spies headed that way, undaunted by the sheer volume of texts that awaited them. Each of them started at a different section of the shelves, and they started perusing the books.
After about an hour, Harley spoke up. "Here's something interesting. There are several accounts of psyche humans throughout history, mainly famous ones who did cool things. But the one thing I'm seeing most off is the involvement of psyche humans during the Salem Witch Trials."
"The Salem Witch Trials?" Finn repeated in confusion.
"Oh right! Those were the witch hunts in Massachusetts in the early 1600s, yes?" Leland asked.
"A dozen people died, and several more imprisoned, just because paranoid religious followers believed them to be working for the devil." Katherine shook her head. "Astonishing, really."
"Keep that in mind, and listen to this." Harley read aloud from the book she held.
Many scholars believe the Salem Witch Trials began with a house servant named Tituba, who reportedly caused the sickness of her master's youngest daughter. Tituba claimed she was only healing the girl, implying that she used healing abilities similar to those of the modern-day psyche human. The relationship between psych-mans and non-psych-mans at this era was rife with prejudice and fear, so it is no wonder that this is the first mentioning of psyche humans in North America.
"But we've since found evidence of psyche humans in North America before English settlers arrived." Katherine pointed out.
"This book was published in the early 90s." Harley explained before continuing.
During what would later be known as the Salem Witch Trials, evidence suggests that more than half of the victims prosecuted and executed were actually psych-mans in hiding. Any reports of magic or 'witchcraft' could be explained as a psych-man's supernatural abilities.
"Interesting." Finn mused.
"Does this mean psyche humans originate in the States?" Leland asked. "Perhaps within the tribes of the indigenous people who lived there long before settlers arrived?"
"It's possible." Harley said. "Except there were no Native Americans living in the settlements like where the Salem Witch Trials were held. Let's give Sky a call and see if she found anything."
The quartet of spies exited the library and traveled down to a nearby café. They would need to be outside the library and its signal-scrambling walls to make their call. Harley pulled out her phone and made the call, putting it on speakerphone.
"Hey Harley!" Sky answered after the second ring. "How's the research?"
"Coming along pretty well." Harley said. "What about you?"
"Great! Nick, Sparky, and Nathan are lending their services to our little research adventure." Sky said. "Sparky called a friend of his in the Library of Congress archives, and we got some good information. According to personal accounts from English settlers, there were several encounters with psyche humans. One guy wrote about meeting 'people with mystic abilities, much like ones I heard of in my homeland.' That mean anything to you?"
"It means our lead about the Salem Witch Trials doesn't sound too far-fetched." Harley said. "It's believed that many of the so-called 'witches' were really just psyche humans, who originally tried to hide their abilities."
"If settlers encountered psych-mans in the New World and back in Europe, that would suggest that psyche-mans are more spread out than we previously assumed." Katherine pointed out.
"What if it all originated in Europe, though?" Sky suggested. "Maybe psych-man abilities are like a mutation of a gene. We have no idea if the psych-mans in the colonial era were purebred Native Americans or the product of a native and a settler."
"If I may offer some input." Nathan came on the line now. "My tribe consists of psych-mans who come from some of the oldest lines of psych-man ancestries. We were originally part of the Basque people, but it is unsure how or when they separated from the Basque as a sub-tribe."
"I think we need to head to Salem." Finn suggested. "Right now, the Salem Witch Trials is our only lead. Let's follow it."
"Sounds good to me." Sky agreed.
"Great." Harley nodded. "We'll see you there!" She hung up and dialed another number. "Hey Siddeley? How soon can you be ready to fly?"
Skipper and Blade were more than willing to fly Sky and Nathan over to Massachusetts. There was just enough room in Blade's hoist hatch for the two psych-mans. Nick flew with them too, insistent that he not miss anything.
Nathan fell asleep on the way there. He did mention before they took off that long flights made him sleepy. Sky messed around on her laptop, trying to be quiet to let her grandfather rest. It still boggled her mind to think that the man beside her was her grandfather, someone of her biological family who was actually proud of her. The thought still made her smile and laugh to herself.
As she randomly went through files on her computer, Sky came across a folder she recently made, and she clicked on it eagerly. These were the emails she and Dusty sent to each other to work out their argument during fire season. The fight seemed like so long ago. Dusty couldn't join them on their research adventure. He had to stay home and help Ishani. The poor female racer had fallen ill, and Dusty considered it his husbandly duty to take care of her.
Sky opened the first letter and silently read it to herself.
Dear Sky,
All right, here goes nothing. Let's see if writing out our thoughts helps us work through this.
I'll start with the points from our fight at the beginning of fire season. I think you have been taking too many risks. I understand that racing is dangerous, and who knows what could've happened if Blackwood had hit us? I freaked out when you jumped because I was just shocked that you did something so daring. To be honest, it was kind of cool. Yeah, we do some pretty dangerous stunts during races, but they're stunts that we practiced. So the next time we want to do something like you jumping off me and landing again, maybe we should practice it first. Then we could even come up with a code name for the stunt!
Here's the important part of that argument. I called you fragile, and that just wasn't right. You're a human, and you're going to get injured in ways a vehicle doesn't. When I dwell on that thought, it sounds so much worse than it actually is. I keep thinking about it, and it seems like it's more likely to happen the more I think about it. But you're physically and mentally strong, Sky. I admire that power you have. The thought of you getting hurt—like the way you were hurt in our first Wings Around the Globe—terrifies me. But that's all on me. It has nothing to do with anything you've done.
Blade talked to me after our little spat. He told me that orphans and foster kids who come from situations like yours tend to have this mindset that they always have to prove themselves. Like they feel as if they need to show they're worthy of existing or something. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel like you have this kind of mentality. Like you have to show everyone how strong you are. It's like proving yourself was your motivation to race. Maybe it's hard to break that mindset, even after you cut your birth parents out of your life.
You know, I'm still a little jealous of your Soul Connection with Blade. But we have a bond that was forged over time and rests in our friendship. I want to keep that bond.
What do you think? Take your time with a response.
Dusty
Sky looked over the letter she sent back to Dusty.
Dear Dusty,
I think this could work for us!
First off, maybe I have been doing things that are a little too dangerous. Might just be a competitive side of me that comes out when we race. That's one of the reasons I consider it a minor thing. That, and I'm confident in my abilities during races, so being told I can't do something makes me angry. But you have to know that I often do what I do so that we both make it out of a race uninjured. Our crash in the Wings Around the Globe terrified me too. I thought I would lose you. Maybe we should make up new techniques and practice them! But maybe when Dad isn't watching. LOL. I say our code name for that flipping move is Dodge Backflip.
It's not easy to admit, but yes. I'm a human. I will get hurt in ways vehicles can't. But that won't stop me from doing what I love. And you're right. The more you think about the fear of me getting hurt, the more likely I will get hurt. Keep freaking out like that, and you'll overcorrect or do something that will actually hurt me. Remember my flip? If you had slowed down any more than you already did, I would have hit your propeller.
That's an interesting point Blade brought up, and I think he's right. I may have cut off all ties with my birth parents, but sometimes I still feel like I have to rub my success in their faces. Someday, I'll learn to fully let go and stop caring.
Don't be jealous of my Soul Connections. Those were meant to be. What we have is special. We're a team, a family, and nothing will change that. But don't fuss over me like you tend to do. Try to stay calm and just let me do my thing. I hate it when people fuss over me.
Sky
Dusty's reply was shorter, and the emails switched to something akin to instant-messaging between the two.
Sky,
Nothing wrong with a little competitiveness. I'm the same way. I think we need to talk more about different strategies, even unconventional ones. Getting out of a race safely (or even minorly injured instead of majorly injured) is more important than winning. Let's talk about that when we're on better speaking terms! If we talk more about that, we can ensure that we trust each other enough to do those cool stunts without either one of us fearing the other will be hurt.
I'll try to not fuss, but I have one important question: do you really feel like you have to prove yourself to your birth parents?
Dusty
Dear Dusty,
We will definitely work on new techniques. That could be fun!
To be honest, I think I do still feel like I have to prove myself. My birth parents are out of my life for good. That's not going to change. But I did spend a large chunk of time wondering why they gave me up, and asking myself why I wasn't worthy of being their daughter. But I blocked out those feelings so I wouldn't be hurt by them anymore. That's why I hate it when people fuss over me. It's like I'm being thrown a pity party, and that's so not cool. It's embarrassing and dumb. I don't need pity and I don't need people to worry about me.
You understand?
Sky
Dear Sky,
Yeah, maybe people do pity you sometimes. You're the victim of abandonment, Sky. That's a horrible thing to happen to someone, especially a kid. I hate parents who do what your parents did. I know it's not always the case for orphans, but the fact that your parents were so cruel just makes me so mad. No one is throwing you a pity party, Sky. It's just sad to think that someone as wonderful as you was treated that way by your parents.
Dusty
Dear Dusty,
If I had to be honest, it makes me mad to know that mentality still affects me. I thought I moved past it, but I'm still affected by it sometimes. I thought I was stronger than that.
Sky
Dear Sky,
You won't have to beat yourself up over it. You are strong. Psychology is a weird thing. You'll grow and change. No worries.
Dusty
Dear Dusty,
Thank you.
Dear Sky,
You're welcome.
Sky closed her laptop and sighed silently with a smile on her lips. This is so much better. We finally found a way to discuss whatever problem we're going through.
The two groups of travelers met at the airport, and they headed into Salem to continue their research.
"Did you know that twenty years after the Salem Witch Trials ended, a psych-man and a vehicle nearly leveled the town for revenge against the prosecuted witches?" Sky pointed out as they exited the museum. "Supposedly, the psych-man used his new abilities gained from his Soul Connection solely to get revenge, and he and his Partner were killed during their attack."
"Incredible how paranoid people can be." Finn mused.
"You realize the people of the Salem Witch Trials were most likely settlers from England?" Nick pointed out. Blade gave his rotors a twirl, whacking Nick's canopy.
"The bad news is this did not help us like I thought it would." Harley said. "Even if we guess that psyche humans originated in Europe, that seems to be a dead end. It's not a definite answer, and I don't know where else to look."
Sky heard music, and she realized it came from her pocket. She checked the caller ID and answered with surprise in her tone. "Hey CJ. Wasn't expecting a call from you today."
"Hey sis!" CJ greeted. "I was just wondering if you made much progress on that psych-man origin research you were telling me about."
"Well, funny you mention that." Sky said. "We've just hit a dead end. Not really sure which direction to take our findings."
"I went to one of the history teachers at my university, who also did a bit of studying into psych-man origins. He did it for his doctoral thesis." CJ explained. "He didn't find much, and he asks that you pass on any info you find to him. But he did say that he got close to figuring it out when he started looking at mythology."
"Mythology?" Sky repeated.
"Yeah. There are plenty of origin stories for normal humans, and even for vehicles." CJ said. "Maybe you'll find another clue there."
"That's a great idea, CJ! Thanks!" Sky said.
"Just let me know what you find!" CJ said. "I have to go get my textbooks. Talk to you later?"
"Totally. Bye, CJ!" Sky hung up. "We may have another lead after all."
"Through mythology?" Skipper asked quizzically.
"That actually makes sense." Harley said. "The 'witches' of the Salem Witch Trials were often associated with anti-Christ or the devil."
"So if we look at the situation from the standpoint of mythology or even religion, maybe we'll find another direction to take." Katherine said. "The way certain people are portrayed in stories can imply the way society treated them during different time periods."
"Next stop: the library." Blade suggested.
Everyone regrouped at a restaurant for lunch to discuss their findings. Sky, Nick, Nathan, Skipper, and Blade got there first, and Sky decided to video chat with Ishani.
"Hello Skylar!" Ishani greeted.
"Hey there! How are you feeling?" Sky asked.
"Oh, I'm fine." Ishani assured.
"Throwing up everything you eat is not fine!" Dusty called from the background.
Ishani rolled her eyes and laughed. "He's been fussing and fretting over me for days."
"Sounds like you should go to the doctor or something." Skipper said.
"I'm sure it's just a bit of food poisoning." Ishani said. "If it sticks around for longer than a week, I'll consider it. But enough about me! What's going on with you?"
"Still hot on the research trail." Sky said.
"We were wondering if psyche humans were ever mentioned in Hindu mythology." Blade said.
"Or can you tell us anything about the perceptions and maybe misconceptions about psyche humans in Indian history?" Nathan added.
"Actually, India has a rich history of psyche human involvement." Ishani said. "For centuries, psyche humans were shamans who guided villages and predicted the future. Even today, they're highly respected. In terms of mythology, the belief is that psyche humans are humans who were blessed by the patron god of oaths and friendship: Mitra. Some legends say that psyche humans are descendants of Mitra."
"A god of oaths and friendship?" Nick repeated.
"No, that makes sense." Blade said. "Think about the Soul Connections."
"Ishani, this was very helpful. Thank you." Sky said. "Now go rest up and get well soon."
"Thank you. I'm glad I could help. Travel safely!" Ishani said. "Dusty, say 'goodbye'!"
"Bye!" Dusty called from another room.
Sky laughed and shut off her laptop. "Poor Dusty must be a nervous wreck."
"I told him he can always asked Sparky for help." Skipper sighed. "I might have to order Sparky to go check up on them."
"Hey guys!" Harley waved as she, Katherine, and their Partners arrived and took their spots at the table.
"You guys look cheery." Skipper noted. "I take it you found good information?"
"Oh yeah." Harley nodded. "What about you?"
Sky relayed what Ishani told them, and Katherine pulled out her laptop. "Harley, Finn, Leland, and I searched in several different mythologies: Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Thailand and East Asia, and plenty more. We found different legends connected to deities like Athena, Vesta, Bast, and Heka."
"It seems like psyche humans appear in almost every form of mythology, save for Christianity." Finn said. "Which could explain why they were seen as witches. There's a rather fascinating history of psyche humans during the Dark Ages."
"And what did you find out when you read these myths and legends?" Blade asked.
"Psyche humans were seen as spirits, children of deities, and mystical beings like soothsayers and sorcerers." Harley said. "They were otherworldly, which sometimes was a good thing and sometimes a bad thing."
"So this tells us what?" Nathan asked.
"If myths describe psych-mans as soothsayers and shamans, then we can educationally guess that they truly played those roles in ancient societies." Katherine said. "I think it's safe to say our powers didn't start showing up in the Stone Age. But the psyche humans were already established in the early civilizations."
Harley took over Katherine's laptop and typed a few things. "Let's see. The Old World, aka the Cradle of Civilization, consisted of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Indus Valley, and China. That's a lot of ground to cover."
"Grandpa, where did your tribe come from?" Sky asked. "What are your origins?"
"Well we were simply a sub-tribe of the Basque people." Nathan reminded her. "A wondrous group of people, really. Our native region covers France and Spain."
"Ah, but Basque tribes have often been mentioned by Greek and Roman writers." Harley said, her eyes glued to the computer in front of her. "That's pretty close to Mesopotamia."
"In what way?" Sky asked curiously.
"That region was conquered by both the Greeks and Romans." Katherine explained. "So its history may be preserved, or at least explained through the eyes of the people who lived there."
"But if my grandpa's tribe is part of an old line of psyche humans, maybe we need to check Basque Country first." Sky suggested.
"Let's do both." Skipper offered.
"Both countries are going to have old enough records for us to check." Blade agreed. "If we split up, we'll cover the distance in less time."
"Then we'll do this: Harley, Katherine, Leland, and myself will go to Mesopotamia for our research." Finn said. "The rest of you head to Basque Country."
"Dad, Blade, are you sure you can fly that far?" Sky asked nervously. "I didn't think our research would take us out of the country."
"Well you're certainly not going without us." Blade scoffed.
"We're right with you every mile of the way, Sky." Skipper nodded firmly.
"And you won't have to worry about the distance, Ms. Riley." Finn said. "Siddeley can take us. There's room for all of us, especially if you fold your wings in, Commander."
"As long as your jet's okay with it." Skipper said.
"Siddeley enjoys the adventure." Harley assured. "He considers it a vacation."
"We can leave later tonight, and then we can sleep on the way there." Katherine suggested.
"Good idea." Nathan agreed. "And when we get to Basque Country, you will all stay in my summer home."
"Is there enough room?" Nick asked.
"Oh plenty." Nathan assured. "Although one or two of you may need to sleep in the barn."
"Ha!" Nick laughed at Blade. "Bet that'll be you, partner." Blade twirled his rotors again, whacking Nick in the canopy. Nick yelped in pain, forgetting that he was invisible but not intangible at the moment.
"Oops." Blade said with a smirk.