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CH 5

Bob, Malinara and Tenya searched the whole complex. They found plenty of corpses, but not a single living person. Tenya was in tears at all the death around her. She'd weakened to the point she couldn't walk, so Bob let her ride on his back, holding her legs up. They decided it was time to leave.

On the way out, they did find some food in a half crushed container. Bob ripped it open and Tenya showed him what to pull out. It wasn't the best, and cold, but it was food. After they ate, Malinara found a bent bucket to put the rest in for later.

Walking down the road, Tenya asked, "Robert, with the shooting going on, I heard the natives had turned on us. Can you guess why?"

"Me and Malinara aren't from here, but what I suspect is that your people were giving the natives things they didn't fully understand," Bob explained. "From what I know, those guys normally used spears and traps. Giving them weapons like guns and canons, yes, they could learn how to use them, but that is different than knowing how to use them responsibly."

"They don't have the thought processes to realize the damage they could do." Tenya offered.

"Right. I heard of a woman who raised a chimpanzee. She thought they were doing well. She even let him drive a car. Unfortunately, he wanted to drive, she tried to stop him. He ended up hurting her bad and tried to get into a police car and was shot dead. He ended up dead, and she was in the hospital for a long time. It was a sad affair. The chimp could understand how to drive a car, but didn't realize that that he could only drive her car on back roads of in the immediate area," Bob explained.

"Our leaders made a big mistake."

"It happens," Bob said with a sigh. "Where we live, we have people who are aquatic. They live in the water. Cameron and Delilah saw they were fishing with sharpened sticks. Some worked, others broke. Cameron gave them tridents, spears for use in the water, to help them. That was technology they knew how to use, just a better version of it. It was something they understood already how to use. Giving a spear wielding person a gun is a leap in tech that went bad."

Tenya thought for a moment, then asked, "What planet are you from?"

"We call it Earth," Malinara said. "I too was from a different place. Robert came and saved us."

"Earth?" Tenya asked eagerly. "We learned about Earth! That's where humans are, right?"

Bob chuckled. "Yes, that's where humans are. All over the place."

"So maybe that's why you're so strong? From fighting off humans?" Tenya asked.

Bob burst into laughter. He laughed so hard he stumbled a few steps. Malinara also chuckled. "That's funny," Bob chuckled out.

Seeing Tenya was looking confused, Malinara said, "We are human. Well, mostly human."

Tenya stared at her. "You're human?" she cried.

"Mostly," Bob told her. "Where we live in Driftwood, most of the people do have some human in them."

"Driftwood?" Tenya asked. "Isn't that the place where those evil monsters are? I was told that's a very dangerous place. To go there is to die!"

Malinara laughed. "Only of you go there to cause trouble."

"Tenya," Bob said firmly, "We don't make trouble for others. It's those who come to make trouble for us, that need to be afraid. We all get along well and help each other."

"We do," Malinara agreed. "We've also gone other places to help people out." She didn't want to tell this girl she'd obliterated their people.

"So, the stories are wrong?" Tenya asked. "I heard that Driftwood was attacked with a nuclear weapon, but came out to destroy the ones who dropped it on them. It's like nothing can hurt those people."

"That hurt, all right," Bob said. "Many people did die from that, but not all of us. And after that surprise attack there was no reason for, yes we went out and punished those who did it. If attacked, we will retaliate."

"Wow," Tenya said in a breath.

"Hey, enough about that," Bob said firmly. "What I'm concerned about now is finding a way home and making sure no one else dies. Right now, I got no clue where we are or how to get back home."

Malinara asked, "Can we call Hanna? She brought us here."

"Worth a try." Bob agreed.

They both yelled out, "HANNA! Hanna we wanna go home!"

They yelled out a few times. Nothing. Bob shrugged. "It was worth a shot."

"At least maybe the pool's full by now," Malinara said in a mussing tone. "I'm really dirty."

"Yeah, me too." Bob agreed.

"You have a pool? Can I get in too?" Tenya asked.

"Why not, you're a little grimy also."

They walked back to the edge of the woods across the field. Bob noted none of the native girls were around. Coming to where the pool was, it was full and the water was only a little cloudy.

Bob got Tenya down and got in the pool. It was perfect for sitting in. The water was a little cold, but it was water. Malinara also got in and sat down. Tenya jumped in and giggled. "Crude but it works!" she said with a big smile. She tried to sit and found it was just a bit too deep for her. Bob pulled her over to sit on his lap. "How's that?"

"Perfect," she beamed. She then watched Malinara take her shirt off to use it to scrub herself off. Tenya stared at he chest. "Wow, are those mammary glands mammals use to feed their young?"

Malinara chuckled. "Yes, they are."

"Those are big."

Bob chuckled at that. Malinara offered him her shirt since he didn't have one any more. "Here, wash your head."

Bob did. Looking around, Tenya pointed and said, "More natives. Are we safe here?"

Bob looked, Belle and a couple other women were coming watching them closely. "Yeah, those are a few grass dwellers they don't hurt others."

"I'm sleepy," Tenya said. She yawned and leaned against Bob and closed her eyes.

"What do we do with her?" Malinara asked.

Bob told her the only think he could think of. "For now? Keep her safe and hope some of her people come back to find her."

Deciding it was safe, Belle and another woman got in the pool, found it was cold and got back out. They did drink from it.

It was getting late in the day and Bob was getting tired. Of course, Tenya was slumbering peacefully in his lap. When he got out with Malinara, he held Tenya in a bride's carry and lifted her up and out. Sleepily, she put an arm around him and got her head back on his shoulder.

Malinara eyed this. "If she wants sex, she burns."

"Mal, hon, I think right now, all she wants is someone to hold onto. She has lost he entire family and her people."

"Yeah," Malinara said blankly. And she'd done it.

The grass women liked their new pit house, so Bob and Malinara went to the grass hut for the night. Bob laid Tenya down on a straw bed, then took another bed with Malinara. Holding each other, they wee asleep before the sun set.

.

Harry went back to Chicago to look up possible ways to let people transverse the Ethereal Plane with his ghost, Hothbert of Bainbridge : AKA : Bob.

Finger on his chin in thought, the white haired ghost said, "Harry I have never heard of taking live people through the Ethereal. That is a spirit realm. You could go there, but your body would stay here, in the material plane."

"Bob Tanner and Malinara got out there somehow," Harry told him. "There has to be a way to get them back. That succubus Anne managed to find them."

With a slight frown, Bob told him, "Harry a succubus is considered a spirit. That one in Driftwood is anchored to this plane by her master. Of course she can go anywhere and find her way back. He is like a homing beacon to her."

Harry looking in his book of astral realms. "They got there, in the flesh. There must be a way to get them back."

"The never never is everywhere. Possibly that may be a choice?" Bob asked.

Harry whined, "Go that far in the never never? I don't think so Bob. I nor anyone even has a route to go that far there. I'm not about to get lost in the never never!"

"It was just an idea, Harry."

"A bad idea, Bob," Harry retorted.

"How about calling Hanna's spirit up again? She got them there, have her tell you how she did it." Bob offered.

"It's worth a shot." Harry admitted.

.

Getting up a containment over a magic circle, Harry got ready and called Hanna's spirit with Bob there watching.

Hanna appeared in the containment. "Why did you call. I can do nothing now." she said.

"Hanna, how did you get Robert Tanner and Malinara to where they are now?" Harry asked.

Hanna looked down. "I lost my angel powers for taking Malinara there. I have since seen what doing that caused."

"Yes, but how did you get them there. Hanna, I need to know to retrieve them," Harry coaxed.

Hanna shook her head. "You can't. They will be returned after Robert completes his mission there."

Harry tried another angle. "What is his mission? How will they return?"

Hanna winced. "I am so sorry. I can't tell you. I have been forbidden to pass any knowledge."

"Can you show me where Robert is?" Harry asked.

A sob. "I cannot," Hanna replied. "Please release me."

Bob shook his head. "Harry, release her. Anything she knows, she cannot say. Spirits cannot deceive."

Harry dispelled the containment. Hanna vanished. "Any other ideas?" Harry asked.

Thoughtfully, Bob said, "She mentioned using angel power to get him there. If this the will of the divine, Harry, then most likely even if we discover how to retrieve them, something will block you. Or kill you."

"Hell's bells," Harry grumbled.

.

Tenya was hiding in her low spot. The bullets had been flying, then the fires and the huge explosion dropped the building down, trapping her in place.

Tenya snapped awake, sure she was about to die. Panting in fear, all was dark and quiet around her. She was lying on a bed of hay.

She'd had a nightmare. In the dark, she heard slow, regular breathing. Right, she was someplace Robert had brought her. Still shaking from her nightmare, she got up and went towards the breathing. By the smell, she knew it was Robert and Malinara who were sleeping. She got close and searched if there was enough bed here to lay down with them. She felt Robert's body. It felt warm and inviting.

"Huh?" Bob grunted as he came around to semi-consciousness.

Softly, Tenya said, "I had a nightmare, I'm scared. I don't want to be alone."

"Uhh," Bob grunted. He reached out with an arm and drew her close. "S'ok, come stay here. You're safe now," he mumbled.

Tenya laid down, holding an arm across him and hooking a leg over his. His arm around her, she felt better. He was back asleep as she pondered her knowledge about humans. It had to be wrong. Robert was nice to her. He'd saved her and insisted she stay safe. It took a bit, but she fell back asleep, knowing here next to Robert, she as safe.

.

Bob awoke to a spat out comment of, "Oh, GREAT!" Snapping his eyes open, he felt his arms full. On his right, Malinara was awake and glaring at Tenya curled up on his left. When has she crawled in bed with them?

Eyeing him, Malinara asked, "She's not a slave and not a girlfriend or wife, is she?"

"No." he replied quickly. "She's just a frightened kid needing support."

Meekly, Tenya offered, "I had a nightmare that scared me. Sorry."

"That's OK. You did nothing wrong," Bob told her. "Mal, calm down. We gotta get up anyway."

"I'll go find us some food," Tenya offered and slipped down to run out of the hut.

Sitting up, Bob cast Malinara a smirk. "Welcome to another day in the Twighlight Zone, where anything can happen at any time."

"In other words, we got no idea what's going to happen next," Malinara concluded.

Bob gave her a thumbs up. "You got it!"

Tenya brought in the remainder of the pre-packaged food they'd found. There were only five packs left. Bob waved her off. "I'll go look for something, you to go ahead."

He got up and left the hut to go scrounge. He'd seen some berry bushes and a few fruit trees.

Malinara thought about destroying Tenya's life. "You go ahead, I'll go find something."

"But, I'll feel guilty about eating by myself," Tenya told her.

"Don't, we need to find more food anyway," Malinara assured her.

Tenya looked at the meal pack in her hands and decided to put it back. This would be their reserve food if they couldn't find anything. She followed Malinara out.

Bob walked along scanning the bushes. The green berries he sampled were OK, sweet, but had an odd flavor. Seeing red ones, he tried one. It was bitter. Ok, no red berries. He did find a big fruit tree. Large yellow fruit were hanging off the branches over his head. He climbed the tree and managed to grab one. Taking a small bite, the outside was sour, but peeling the skin away, the pale inside was pretty good. He shook the branch he was on. Several of the fruits fell to the ground. Yes!

"Robert, you found fruit?" Malinara asked from below.

"I did. Take the skin off, the inside is pretty good, better than raw grain." he told her.

"Collect them up and I'll use the knife we got to peel them."

Tenya came and helped Malinara collect the fruit. Bob climbed back to the trunk and got out on another branch to shake it. A half dozen more fruits fell to the ground.

Hearing a soft humming, he looked to see a ship landing a few miles away where that town had been. Well it got lower to the ground, hovered, then went back up in the air. With it went their chance to get Tenya back to their people. Damn it. He decided not to mention it to her. The kid was already traumatized.

Gathering their softball sized yellow fruits, they retuned to the field by the grass hut. Malinara and Bob got wood for the fire pit. They decided to cook a couple fruits to see how they tasted. Using a helmet of water, Malinara peeled a few fruits and chopped them up into the helmet. She lit the fire.

Robert ate one fruit raw. So did Tenya.

"These taste pretty good," Tenya noted. "Think they will be better cooked?"

"I think there will be less chance of bugs or something in them cooked," Malinara replied.

Tenya looked at her half eaten fruit. "Oh, yeah."

Malinara giggled at her. "Unless you grew it or know it's safe, it's best to cook anything before you eat it."

"You know if we cook some of the grain around here, which there is plenty of, we could make kind of an oatmeal with fruit in it," Bob offered.

Tenya looked at Bob. "Oatmeal?"

"Yes, the breakfast of champions!" Bob said with a grin.

"That's corn flakes," Malinara said, correcting him.

"Close enough." Bob replied with a shrug. "I'll go start collecting some."

Malinara frowned at the helmet. "We need something better to cook with," she grumbled.

"I'll go look." Bob called back.

Tenya went with Bob to go collect grain. He showed her how to get the seed off the end and put it on the helmet they brought. He noted a few native women also out collecting grain. They were just pulling up stalks and eating the grain right off the end.

"They aren't very advanced here," Tenya noted.

"They are not, that's why it was a bad call to give them more modern weapons," Bob agreed.

Tenya looked up at the sky. "Will someone come to get me?"

"Don't know. If they believe someone might be alive down here, they should," Bob told her. "It also depends of anyone know what happened here. If your people never got a message off, it could be a long time before someone comes looking."

Tenya frowned. "My parents, everyone I knew died, didn't they?"

"Yeah, I think so. You're the only one we found alive."

Tenya cast him a sad look. "You won't leave me alone will you?"

"That, I won't do," Bob said firmly. "It would be great if your people come for you, but no matter what, I won't leave you alone."

"Thanks. I was always told humans are to be wary of. To not trust them. You're human and I trust you."

Bob grinned. "Thanks. There are all kinds of humans, Tenya. Those you can trust and those you want nothing to do with. I've seen plenty of both. Everything from very caring to the very greedy. Maybe that's why humans seem so scary to other races."

"Yeah!" Tenya agreed happily. "I know some of our people trade with humans, maybe they found some good ones to deal with."

Bob eyed her. "They do? Where do they do this trading?"

"On Earth. It's a long way away. Every few years a ship goes there. I don't know where, but that's why we learn English in our language studies, so if we ever become traders, we can go to Earth and speak with them."

"Maybe we can catch a ride there," Bob said in a musing tone.

"If someone comes, I'll ask. You've been good to me, I can return the favor!" Tenya beamed.

"I thank you for the thought," Bob replied. He looked in the half full helmet. "Think we got enough?"

"Yeah, for this small helmet. I can go ask Malinara if it's enough."

Bob nodded. "Go ahead, I'll go try to scrounge something bigger up to cook with."

"Can I come?"

"Let me go. I'm not sure if it will be safe, so I want you to stay here where I'm fairly sure it's safe, Ok?"

Tenya nodded and headed back for their camp with the helmet of grain.

.

Back up in space, the captain of the ship that saw the destruction below pondered if he should report it. He decided against it. If the authorities knew their company was exploiting primitive planets, that could be big trouble. He marked the planet 'unsuitable' and flew on to another of their planets to go get his cargo.

.

The grain and fruit 'oatmeal' Malinara made was a hit. It was tasty and filling, and they were hungry. Malinara and Tenya scarfed it down. Only after they realized Robert didn't have any, Malinara cleaned out the helmet so they could make more for him. Tenya went out to collect more grain as Malinara peeled a few more fruits.

While they ate then made more, Bob looked around the broken artillery site for anything useful. While he routed through the site, Anne appeared.

"Hey Anne! Good news?" he asked with a smile, happy to see her.

Anne winced and said. "Sorry, Bob. We've found out very little, and Harry has no way to come get you. We also found out you are on the opposite side of the galaxy. A trip by the Connor's space ship, well, it's not possible. You're millions of light years from Earth. I can come here, but there's no coming to get you. At least for quite a while."

Bob stared at her. "Well, that sucks a big one."

Anne shrugged. "I'll come check on you, but right now, there's nothing anyone can do to retrieve you."

"What about Hanna?"

"She lost her angel wings. She can't do anything either."

"Damn," Bob grumbled. "You're saying we're stuck here."

"You are. There's nothing anyone can do."

"Any idea why we're here?" Bob asked.

"None."

Bob thought for a moment then said, "Tenya, a Draco girl told me they trade with Earth. She speaks English, she learned so some day she might become a trader also. The Dracos are here, and do come to Earth. That means there is a possibility for us to get a ride home."

Anne smiled. "Then you have a chance," she agreed.

"If they come back." Bob explained, "The Dracos had a huge fight with the natives, then one shoots me so Malinara went and burned their whole town, and their space ship to ash. The only survivor, I pulled out of the rubble. I saw another ship come, but they didn't even land. They hovered over the destroyed town then left. I don't think they are coming back."

Anne frowned. "Bob, I got the indication from Harry that he thinks the Divine was responsible for bringing you here. If that is possible, then any attempt of you leaving, or coming to get you will be ruined. I'm sorry."

Bob let out a grumble. "Anne, see if you can find out why I'm here. There has to be a reason I got yanked millions of light years from home."

"That may not be possible, but I'll try to find out." Anne said, then vanished.

The first couple days, Bob had been thinking about immediate survival. With Anne coming, he realized that he and Malinara were going to be here a while. Possibly a long time. His initial thoughts of maybe coaxing Eva to give him a ride home were dashed. Seeing that ship that came to see the wreckage and leave, any hope he had of getting Dracos to take them home was gone. From what Anne told him, no help was coming from Earth either.

At times, life sucked. He had to start planning for a long stay here. He needed to find or make much more than a bucket to cook in.

.