ROTU: Chapter Five

After Lyons gave them a tour and updated the two about the mechanics of their new headquarters, Jalena and Shamira explored the outer perimeters of the facility.

"The land has a unique energy and beauty, but is certainly no comparison to Elsaria," Shamira said as she and Jalena hiked through nearby mountain trees.

"No yet anyway," Jalena replied as she touched the leaves of a shrub. "It still has the same soothing feel as the forests on Elsaria though."

The two turned abruptly as they heard rustling nearby. A pack of wolves emerged through the trees and stopped to observe them.

Um, not sure what to do with the animals on this planet, Shamira said as she scanned the wolves cautiously. Are these the wolves that Lyons was telling us about?

Yes.

I thought they were rare here now.

Maybe we are witnessing a rare encounter. Use Relasu to see their internal state,Jalena suggested.

As she watched the wolves, Jalena did not need to use Relasu to know that the pack was just curious. She slowly sat down and placed her palm on the ground. The blue light of Gyan's shield he had gifted her upon his death floated gently from her hand along the ground as her eyes lit up.

The wolves' gaze dropped to watch the light as it approached them. The largest one, whose coat was mostly white, lowered its head to sniff the light.

Jalena's eyes widened as the wolf lifted his snout and let out a long howl. The other wolves mimicked his behavior for several moments before turning back to the forest. The white wolf's gaze lingered on Jalena a little longer before he trotted after the others.

That was strange, Shamira said as the two made their way back to the facility.

It was a greeting… I think, Jalena replied. She liked the energy of the wolves in the pack. It was gentle, but fierce at the same time.

"Your simulation room is almost complete," Lyons reported as they re-entered the facility. He led them into an enormous white-walled room similar to the training center at Order headquarters on Elsaria. "I still have to work some glitches out, so I'll be around for a couple more weeks. I want to make sure it is compatible with the data you provided. You'll have more choices for simulated scenes once I do, and this way I can upgrade the ones I have after I study what type of enemies you are used to fighting."

He guided them to another room where large monitors projected holographic images of different events around the world. "In the meantime, you can continue your research of the Earth—culture customs, laws, and all that jazz—from in here."

"How did you begin doing work for the Federation?" Shamira asked Lyons later that evening as the three sat down to eat in the facility's kitchen.

"Some glowing people wearing white robes approached me when I was about twelve years old and asked me if I would. I had always been sensitive to dark versus light energy and aware of the bullshit that went on around me, even as a young child, so I said yes." He shrugged. "Felt right."

"Bullshit? What does that mean?"

"How do I put it for you two?" He scratched his chin. "Let's see. You know of manipulation, right—when someone uses words or takes action to get you to believe, feel, or do what they want you to do, but it may not necessarily be reflective of the truth?"

"Of course," Shamira responded.

"Well, it is the way a lot of things operate in this society and has gotten worse over the years. It is how the masses are so easily controlled—reacting to whatever they are shown or told without considering alternative reasons—projecting it onto each other—hence, bullshit. You'll find the longer you stay here that many are full of it."

Shamira smiled. "I like that word." She turned to Jalena. "So, Drasúl is bullshit."

Jalena smiled and nodded. "That's how he operates."

"Well, you didn't use it entirely right—" Lyons shook his head "—but never mind."

"You will have to teach us more human words and phrases, so we blend in," Shamira said.

"Sure thing. I'll teach you all the dirty words first and when I can't, Kana can."

"Kana? Is she another contact?" asked Jalena.

"Sort of. I created her," Lyons replied. "She's the system that keeps things running here."

"Hello, Master Warriors," an electronic female voice surrounded them.

Jalena and Shamira smiled as they looked around the room for the source of the voice.

"Kana can answer almost any question you have about living on Earth—what she has access to anyway," Lyons explained.

"Then Kana, please tell me how you knew our proper titles for a greeting," Shamira stared at Lyons with a raised eyebrow, "when Lyons did not?"

Lyons rolled his eyes. "Because she lacks my level of wit. I'll come up with a cooler title than Master Warrior anyway."

Shamira smirked.

"The information was included in the data download about your planet when it was installed into my system," Kana replied.

"Nice to meet you, Kana," Shamira said. "Thanks for your help."

"Those in the Federation are the ones that told you to build all of this?" Jalena asked Lyons as she gestured to their surroundings.

Lyons nodded. "And how to do so. I know I'm not the only one on the planet who works with them though. Ever since they approached me long ago, they have given me all the ideas and money I needed to help in whatever way they asked."

"Are we the first you have met?"

Lyons nodded. "I know you are not the first who has descended here, but you are the first for me. I think there has always been a contact on Earth for the potential need—probably me in different lifetimes—" he shrugged "—who knows?" He threw his napkin on his plate. "Anyway, back to work. I need you to go put your suppression amulets on so we can get your human identities established."

The two went to Jalena's room and latched their amulets around their neck. Both stones shone brightly as the magic within them spread through the warriors' bodies.

Shamira went to an adjoining bathroom to observe her changing appearance in the mirror.

Jalena immediately felt uncomfortable as the magic spread through her. Although it wasn't painful, it was still very odd to sense her muscles and skin shift into a different shape. What was even stranger was the feeling of heaviness that pressed upon her, as if weights were now resting on top of her shoulders. She touched the edge of her face as she felt her cheeks and ears change then moved to stand before a long rectangular mirror hanging near the closet.

She gasped aloud at the difference in her appearance. Her face was slightly fuller, and her ears were now round where their tip had once been sharper. Her hair and skin tone remained the same.

She shifted uncomfortably as her warrior markings disappeared —first her Lumsigne and then the San markings down her left arm, but it was the change in her eyes that disturbed her most. She had just gotten used to their new color since Gyan had transferred his energy to her. Her violet that bled into Gyan's brown color had now been replaced by one color—a light gray. Her red halo was gone completely.

"What do you think, Shamira?" Jalena called as she continued to gaze at the foreigner in the mirror.

There was no reply.

"Shamira? Did you hear me?"

Jalena stuck her head into the bathroom and stopped short as she caught sight of the tears that fell freely across Shamira's scar-free face and neck.

"Wow, Shamira," she said softly.

"You know how long I have wanted to see my face scar-free?" Shamira said quietly. "Since the first time I saw myself after I wrecked our ship..."

"You're doing it still. Will you ever stop blaming yourself?" Jalena said softly.

"We've argued this before, Jalena," Shamira said with sudden irritation. "Your input will never change my mind about what happened that day. I swore to you then that I would make it up to you and that's what I'm doing now. It is for no other reason that I would leave Anon and follow you here for a mission that has a high probability of failing—" Shamira stopped abruptly as she met Jalena's widened gaze in the mirror. She shook her head. "I'm—I'm sorry. I don't know why I said that."

Jalena turned away. "Yes, you do. Because it is your truth and after all we've been through together, I do not know why you would ever feel the need to hide anything from me. I know you carry the burden still. It is why, even with our power, that your scars do not heal naturally. But, you know this… I do not blame you nor would I ever bind you to me because of something like that. It is time you free yourself from the burden even if it means freeing yourself from this mission.

"I desired you to come along with me because of the depth of our connection, the synchronicity in our styles of fighting, and because of your level of skill as a warrior. However, if you do not share this perspective and the only reason you stand beside me now is because of the duty you feel that you owe, then that is not enough to bring the required strength to your heart to see this through to the end."

"Jalena, it is not the only reason I stand beside you. It is not even the reason I do at all," Shamira explained as she turned to follow Jalena. "I do not know what came over me—the heaviness of all this, perhaps, and the stress of lingering uncertainty."

Jalena sighed. "Lunara did warn us about the strength of the lower vibrations within this realm and what it does to a human's emotional state. If we do not keep aware of its influence, it can take us down a darker path."

Shamira nodded. "It just feels so different here. Humans must be amazingly resilient to live in these conditions for years. We have only arrived and even before wearing the amulet, it feels as if I am swimming through mud…emotionally and physically." She observed Jalena's changed appearance fully. "Your human appearance suits you, but I like the Elsarian version of you better."

"So do I," Jalena lightly brushed the edge of Shamira's face, "but that goes for the both of us." Her eyes brightened. "Come on. Let's go see what the kid needs us to do."

"Fascinating," Lyons said as the two rejoined him in the office. He peered at their human forms with a look of awe as he reached out to touch Shamira's amulet. "What is this made of—looks like some kind of moonstone?"

Shamira smacked Lyons's hand away.

He pulled back his hand and glared. "Ow-wah!"

She eyed Lyons's bouncing hair with an amused expression.

"I know you like the hair." He moved his face so that it was inches from hers. "All the ladies like the hair."

"Doubtful." Shamira pushed him back. "Get off."

"I also know you are way too old for me, even though you look young," Lyons continued as he moved around the office, "but you can still dream of us—I don't mind."

"She's in love with someone else, Lyons," Jalena said, "so I think you don't have anything to worry about. Besides, our years don't equate to yours. How old are you anyway?"

"Eighteen. I started college this year—study physics at Stanford in California when I'm not conspiring with the good aliens. I pretend to be the wild partier. That way, the man doesn't have me under their microscopes."

"The man?"

"The government—where a lot of those bullshitters hang out. You'll learn all about it during your stay here. Their influence is hard to miss." He held up a small camera as he gestured to the designated portrait spot he had created in the room. "Okay. Give me as natural of a look as you can."

After he snapped both their pictures, he printed their IDs, ATM cards, and other documents. "I've already updated the system with your image, so there should be no confusion that you are you. Get to know your identities thoroughly." He handed over their documents. "Anytime you are away from the facility, have your ID on you so you don't cause me more trouble than you are probably worth."

"Tamia Mondova?" Shamira read with a skeptical tone as she eyed her driver's license.

"Don't give me lip, woman—eh, warrior—whatever you are. You get what you get."

Shamira shrugged. "Whatever."

"Jessica Sinclair," Jalena read aloud.

"Now listen. You both have good credit and lots of money ensured by the Federation to do what you came to do. You should have plentyto live comfortably on in your personal accounts, which are separate just in case one of you—well, never mind that—but the money already in your bank account is more than you should ever need. We do have money here in our backup vault at what we shall now refer to as headquarters, but you shouldn't need it."

He turned to face them and put his hands on his hips "Low key is your motto!"

Jalena and Shamira both watched him in amusement as Lyons repeated what Jalena was sure was a rehearsed speech.

"Don't draw attention to yourselves. It can cause trouble for all of us but certainly will cause more work for me. You turn into a shop-a-holic and blow money everywhere, they start watching you like a hawk. Remember…low profile!"

He held up his fingers as he spoke the rules. "One: Don't go blasting your light power around at people because they—the man and the dark lord or whoever you are after—will red flag you and come after you immediately; Two: Don't go cray on humanity or display erratic behavior in public because you're having a mental breakdown or get homesick…"

Cray?Shamira asked Jalena.

Jalena shrugged. Short for crazy? she guessed.

"…And three!" He shouted to get their attention. "Let me know where you go at all times!" He handed them each a rectangular, black watch with a few numbers on the face. "Now, I made these for you so you can talk to me anytime and let me know what you need. Just press the side and say," his voice elevated several octaves, "Oh great Lyons, I need thee…and voilà, I'm there! And if not, Kana can report to me where you are, so if you can't reach me, you can reach her."

"Sounds more like we're prisoners than warriors on a mission," Shamira said. She raised an eyebrow as she stepped forward. "Last time I checked the only person I answered to was myself and the reports we gave were only to our team."

Lyons moved backward, his hands held up in surrender for the second time that day until his back hit the edge of a table. "Easy, warrior girl," he rolled his eyes. "I was just saying all that so you remember that I am here to help." He spread his arms out. "It's a big planet. You'll probably need help…er, right?"

"Yes," Jalena replied as Shamira smirked and backed away. "We do. Thanks for all your hard work, Lyons. I am sure it isn't easy arranging most of this on your own."

"You must forgive, Lyons, for not understanding," Kana interjected. "Although of genius intellect, research indicates that his brain is still not fully developed at this point regarding emotional maturity. Therefore, he is still prone to adolescent ideologies and habits in certain aspects of his development."

Shamira laughed. "He is forgiven."

Lyons scowled. "Whatever. Great. Can we get back to the subject?" He gave Jalena a grin. "I like the work. It's just—well, it would all be for nothing if you two get into trouble or something. Now, if you are done scaring me with your warrior princess attitude," he said to Shamira, "I was going to tell you that your little watches also have a shield that disguises your light power for about a mile around you. So, feel free to take your amulets off when you sleep or are alone when away from the facility. I know they make you feel weird."

"Thank you," Jalena replied. She and Shamira gave him a quick bow.

Lyons responded with a grin. "Now, come along, Warrior Princesses. I want to show you something else, so you can play awhile, and I can get back to work in peace."

The two followed him further down a hall that led deeper into the mountain and ended with another large door. He placed his hand on a scanner in the middle of the door and it slid open.

"Here is where we keep the vehicles. Use them whenever you need. You should get used to them, so you don't act like a maniac on the highway. We have enough of those driving around here, as it is. The controls are probably similar to the vehicles you've operated before."

Jalena and Shamira observed the two new SUVs sitting before them.

"Jalena, over here," Shamira called as she disappeared behind one SUV to the other side of the garage. "Remind you of anything?"

Jalena shared her smile as the two ran their hands over the motorcycles resting in the corner.

"Lumrays."

"I'm sure they operate a little different than yours," Lyons said, "but you'll get the hang of it." He waved his hand over the scanner near the back wall and the garage door leading to outside the facility lowered into the mountainside. "Okay, I'm leaving you two to have fun with your new toys. Don't kill yourselves. Remember, the facility's protective barrier only spans a ten-mile parameter. So, if you go beyond that, make sure you have your watch and suppression amulet."

He's exhausting, Shamira stated after Lyons departed down the hall.

Who does he remind you of?

A younger Jarek, but with an added dose of Sir Fane.

Jalena chuckled and nodded.

I miss them—all of them. Shamira sighed as the two backed the bikes out of the garage. It already feels like it's been a long time since we saw them last.

I hope they are doing well in the Realm of Illuse. The ache in her stomach spread. I miss them all too...especially one,she added to herself. With all that I am.