Chapter 8
That day during the debriefing, the subject of discussion was Ralph's prophetic visions and other psychic abilities. He explained how part of the reason he was chosen to wear the suit was his slight psychic abilities, which he never knew he had. The DNA enhancement had increased his natural capabilities immensely, and now he would get these prophetic visions, and he could channel the spirits of dead people.
"I know that must sound weird to you … it does to me. I still have difficulty believing it, but I'm stuck and must learn to live with it. I have been training with Kenjisama, a Buddhist monk and a Hero, on controlling my abilities. It has helped dramatically. Do people have psychic abilities in this timeline?"
M said, "Some people claim to have these abilities, but I have never heard of anyone having them to the levels you do. What you have told me is incredible."
Ralph said, "Believe me, they are not fun. If I could get rid of them, I would, though I would regret being unable to talk to my dead partner, Bill Maxwell. He has helped me out on several occasions. He is a good friend and partner."
M asked, "Have you tried to contact him while you have been here?"
Ralph said, "Yes, but he doesn't come through. I don't know why. In my timeline, I can call his name, and he'll come partially through, and we can have short conversations. If I want to speak with him longer, we can meet in the in-between."
M queried, "The in-between?"
"Oh, that is the void between the plane of the living and that of the dead, " Kenjisama explained. It is a very dangerous place if you don't have an anchor and don't know how to keep the creatures that reside there away from you. I almost became one of those creatures when Bill left me there too long. I hadn't had any training at that time. It was the most terrifying thing that happened to me. On occasion, I still have bad dreams about that experience." Ralph involuntarily shivered. "I now know how to navigate it and set an anchor so I can always come back to the plane of the living."
After Ralph returned to his room, M spoke with C about what Ralph had told her.
C asked, "Do you believe what he told you he can do and has experienced?"
M said, "Well, what he told us he saw in his prophetic vision definitely came true. Right down to the exact time, the Octomage's ship would have hit the atmosphere if we hadn't stopped it. Yes, I think I do believe him. I don't think he has lied to us at all. He may be leaving things out, but what he has told us is true."