The Dimensional Rift
Chapter 13 - The Arrival -

It has been nearly two years since Rose, Meagan, James, Rebecca and their four children left Mars with their hosts from Nandime. The journey through space has been long and uneventful but not without its experiences. Meagan and James both had a child each on the journey. The Nandime watched intently as each of them gave birth and brought their new lives forward.

Rose and the rest of them learned that the Nandime were not the inventors of their technology that they used. The inventors had left the technology to the Nandime as a gift millions of years ago. The Nandime would not have ventured into space if it was not for the gift of the Shicawn.

The Shicawn were dying out and did not want their technology to fall to just anyone. So they searched the galaxy for a race that would not squander the technology for personal or selfish reasons.

They had also learned that Earth had been intended as a colony for another race of aliens before humans evolved on the planet. The race called the Endorphins has attracted the Earth on several attempts nearly seceding on a few of them trying to whip out humanity. One such attack was when the aliens had managed to send a large meteorite to Earth that caused a flood that last for nearly three and a half months. If it had not been for the Eldon humans may not have survived.

On this day of the journey our adventures were told they would get their first look at Nandime. Rose, Meagan, James, Rebecca and all six children were on the main bridge waiting to see it. Rose and Meagan both had always wanted to travel through space seeing new worlds but Emma was never able to move fast enough for travel between solar systems.

“I wish Emma could be up here to see this,” Meagan said bouncing up and down on the tips of her toes.

“I wish Elizabeth could have been here to see this,” Rose said as she turned and walked to the back part of the large room. Rose thought about her daughter a lot these days. She was only 17 when they left Mars.

Elizabeth could not join them on their journey because she was not able to breathe anything other than oxygen. Elizabeth had told Rose to go on her journey while she went to college on Earth.

Meagan and Rebecca both walked over and gave Rose a hug. Rose really needed it but when they broke apart Rose started crying.

“Elizabeth was only seventeen when we left and I never thought we would be gone so long,” Rose said as the tears fell freely. “I miss her so much it hurts.”

“Rose I am sorry things are the way they are. None of us truly realized how far Nandime was.” Rebecca said one arm around Rose’s left side. “2 years to go 35 lights is a lot faster than 6 months from Earth to Mars that James and I had to do.”

“Rebecca, what are you doing?” Meagan said looking across Rose. “Rose needs cheering up not someone stating the overuse, and besides it took us only a week on our first trip to get to Mars.”

“Ya, and as I understand it was spent trying to fix Emma because of someone’s stupid mistake!” Rebecca said starting to yell.

“Ya.. Ya...” Meagan started.

“Guys calm down.” Rose started at both of them. “These are all in the past and we are the guest of others here.”

Meagan and Rebecca both looked around and saw the Nandime staring at them their tails wagging back and forth, they had learned they do this when they are getting flustered or irritated.

“We are sorry about that,” Meagan said with her head bowed in reverence.

“It is okay. The journey has been long and the stresses compile over time of long confinement.” Sarah said walking closer to them standing against the wall.

“I am sorry that I started this in front of you, Sarah. The pain of leaving a child behind is great and not always easy to hide.” Rose said making sure her head was bowed.

“My dear Rose, trust me that I know the sorrow of leaving a child behind,” Sarah said placing her hands on either side of Rose’s face. “I have had to do it on many occasions though not for as long as you have chosen.” The tears in her own eyes started to fall, but not as freely as Rose’s.

“Thank you, Sarah. You have helped me once again.” Rose said trying to bow her head again but was not able to because of Sarah’s hands.

“I see you have much to learn. I have much to teach you. I have lived far longer than any of you here and I have had as many children as all you combined, though none quite as wild as yours.” Sarah said turning to look at James with the six children.

They all turned to look at the six children with James and saw the two youngest making their run on the control panels. As James realized this she ran and grabbed each of them before any harm could be done.

“Thank you, Sarah. I am humbly honored to have a teacher as you.” Rose said wiping the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand.

“Nonsense my child, I am the one humbled here. I have offered my help to one in much deserving as you.” Sarah said her nose turned up in mock.

They all laughed and Rose feeling much better hugged Sarah, as they walked back to the window to get their first look of Nandime.

The site was breathtaking. The planet was a big green marble that was nearly all land. Everywhere you looked you saw green and brown from the vegetation and absolutely no sign of any cities. As they got closer to the ground they discovered that the cities were built into the forest making it seem like they were one in the same. In fact, in many cases they were, the roads and walkways seem to be made right into the trees themselves.

“Our homes have always been in the trees of our world so when we started building the trees became a vital part of our construction,” Sarah said seeing the looks on their faces. “The trees live with us and us with them. It is much more pleasurable for us.”

“I wish this was true for our world,” Meagan said as she saw the way the trees and building seem to be almost one. Her eyes sliding from the wooden bark of a tree to the tan wood paneling of the building next to it.

“The planet you live on was once green like this but its inhabitants killed it like the humans are killing their world now,” Sarah said with much sorrow in her voice.

They all wanted to know more about this other race but were told they had plenty of time for that in the future. So they watched as the ground came closer and found they had to go nearly half a mile down before they would be ready to land.

Soon they landed and Emma got to move freely once again. The world they landed on was nearly three times the size of Earth which made it harder for them to move. Rose, Meagan, James, and Rebecca found themselves getting tired much faster than they had before. The children did not seem to notice the difference and played just as hard as always. But instead of their normal 2 hours of sleep, they slept for nearly 3 ½ hours.

After a few weeks, they found that they were adjusting to the new gravity and soon Meagan, James, and Rebecca had gone off to see more of the planet with all the children in Emma. Rose felt good that they would get to see the new world, but she still missed Elizabeth and wished with all her might she was there.

Just then as if by magic Elizabeth was standing in front of her. “Mom?” Elizabeth said looking around in wonder. “How can this be?” She asked as she walked to the edge of the path they were standing on and looked down.

“I don’t know. I was really missing you and wishing you were here and then...” Rose said waving her hands up and down at the image of Elizabeth. “Where were you before you came here?” Rose asked.

“I was at class. Elementary Physics no big deal, it’s just about over.” She said walking to the other side of the path and looking off.

“Do I need to let you get back to it?” Rose asked with one eyebrow raised.

“No. It is the class you helped to set up through NASA. They would not believe me that I already knew the stuff backward and forwards.” Elizabeth said now walking over to Rose. “So let’s walk and you can tell me everything.” She said wrapping her arm around Rose’s.

Even though Rose knew she was not really there, Elizabeth was just as solid as Rose. She even told Rose she could smell things around them as well as feel the interaction between herself and the world around them.

For the next few hours, they talked and talked and talked. Rose told her about everything that has happened since leaving Mars and Elizabeth told her everything that has happened on Earth. Just as Rose was about to send Elizabeth back Sarah happened to walk by.

“My Child, how did this happen?” She asked looking from Elizabeth to Rose and back.

“I found myself thinking about her again and then there she was,” Rose said.

“I have to admit I was thinking about her as well,” Elizabeth said folding her hands over and over again as she bit her lower lip.

“I have never heard of this happening before,” Sarah said walking around Elizabeth looking her over. “I knew white energy was powerful but this... This is unimaginable.”

“I was just going to send her home,” Rose said looking over at Sarah. “We have just spent some time together talking and she needs to get back.”

“I should like to see this,” Sarah said looking from one to there.

Elizabeth and Rose hugged one last time and as they broke Elizabeth vanished. Sarah standing behind Rose was totally speechless. She turned to walk away but before she moved more than a few steps Rose spoke.

“You said you have never heard of this before,” Rose said not having turned to look at her. “Does that mean you will not be able to teach me to control it?”

“I do not know child. I must confer with the others on this. But I would ask one thing. Please do not try and use the power until we know more.” Sarah said. Sarah walked off quickly back the direction she came leaving Rose standing there alone once again.

Weeks passed by before Rose saw anyone she knew. Meagan and the others had not returned from exploring the planet and Surah and most of the household were spending a lot of time away on business.

Rose was out on one of her many walks when she saw someone she knew. It was one that called himself Bob. He was one of Sarah’s companions, or at least that is the way he came across.

“Rose, how be you?” He asked as he approached.

“I am ok.” She said when she realized who he was. “I have not seen anyone for weeks, though.”

“Well then. I be good come by now.” He said with a smile on his face.

“Your English needs lots of work Bob. But yes I feel better that you have come by.” Rose said as they walked down the path.

“I bring new. You come me and Sarah.” Bob said nodding his head fast.

Rose raised one eyebrow and said, “Okay I will come with you to see Sarah.” Hoping that is what he meant to say.

Bob took Rose by the hand and led her down the path. When they got to a really old tree they turned right. Rose had never seen this path before and wondered how she could have missed it. She had been walking the paths ever since they arrived and the new path had never been there.

Before she could finish her thought they arrived at an old building that looked a lot like the tree that hid this path before. Bob took her to the door and told her “in” before he turned and ran back up the path. Rose not knowing what to expect pushed on the doors and walked through.

Inside, the room was dark. So dark that Rose was only seeing shadows move in the room. This scared her because since the change she had never found a room that she could not see in without a light. As she watched the shadows one stopped and a really tiny light popped on revealing only a mouth.

“You are here to have your control over the white energy tested.” The male voice said. Then the light went out.

Rose watched the figure rejoin the others as they walked in a circle around her. She was about to say something when another of the figures stopped and the same tiny light came on.

“You will have several challenges placed before you to test your control.” This time it was a female voice that spoke. The light went out and she to rejoined the crowd moving along the walls.

Rose watched and counted them. There were 10 no wait 12 of them moving along the walls. Rose had had enough and with a burst of light from her hands she shouted “Enough!”

Suddenly she could see clearly again and all the people in the room stood like statues along the wall of the round room. All their faces in showed with the confusion that each of them felt.

“Rose I knew by the display of your power a few weeks ago, bringing your child here that you were powerful indeed.” This person was familiar to Rose. She knew the voice to be Sarah’s. “This display of your power outstrips anything we have ever seen in any living creature.” She said sounding as though she was struggling against some invisible restaurants.

“So this was part of a test?” Rose asked looking around the room.

“Yes, child. If you release us, we can talk about what was just happened here better.” Sarah said.

Rose looked down and realizing that her hands were still in mid jester as she had waved them through the air before. “Sorry. The whole thing was getting a little nerve racking.” She said as she lowered her hands releasing everyone in the room.

“My child in my 300 years as a high priest I have never seen anyone stop 12 protestants in one shot, let alone reverse their effects.” A really old man said as he stepped forward from the wall.

“The power in this child is great but her control still has to be proven.” Another, just as old, woman said as she walked forward.

“That much power could have killed us all but it did not. This shows a true intent of not wishing harm.” A guy not as old as the first said now walking forward.

“I agree. This child has no true hate in her. But even none hate acts can kill.” This was said by another guy who walked forward joining the first three.

“Rather she has full control or not I feel she needs to go through training to see her full potential.” A woman said as she moved forward to join the others.

The arguments went on like this as each member moved forward and joined the rest and even long after. Soon Rose got tired of listening to them bicker so she walked to a podium to sit. After another hour had passed she lied back and fell asleep.

“Child wake.” The voice was calling to her. “Come, my child, wake please.” It called again. Reluctantly Rose opened her eyes and saw Sarah standing over her. “We have reached our decision.” She said taking Rose by the hand to help her up.

“And what should my fate be this day?” She asked feeling rather angry by the ways she had been treated today.

“I am going to train you in all that we know,” Sarah said with a smile on her face.

Rose felt a little better but knew that it was going to be hard work. “In return, I will try to teach you what I have learned myself,” Rose said trying to show gratitude.

It was nearly a week before Rose’s training began. But when it did it was not what she expected at all. She was required to run 10 miles a day, jump from tree to tree for half the distance she ran and all the while gather and carry all the food she would need for herself and the rest of them. For nearly 2 months this went on from the time she got up till she went to bed, and then she started to finish much earlier in the day.

Rose had not needed to sleep more than a few hours at most per night since she had changed but she was sleeping nearly 6 hours a night during her training. She knew there had to be something to it that she did not know. But she could not figure it out. By the fourth month, she noticed she was down to sleeping only 4 hours in the night. She figured her stamina must be increasing with the training.

By the end of the sixth month, Sarah had started working with Rose showing her how to focus her energy and channel it away from people that she met. The key was to imagine a bubble in the center of your stomach and then to fill that bubble with all your energy so it is protected from others.

By the end of the first 2 years, Rose had mastered the basics of energy control. She could suppress and hide it when she met with others, and she had even learned to use several new abilities as if they were second nature to her. The one thing she was still having a problem with was reading others energy, for some reason every time she tried either they were left with little of their own energy or she gave them far too much of her own.

“It will come with time,” Sarah told her as they had finished the day’s lessons. “It took me nearly 10 years to get the hang of it.” She said as they walked down a set of stairs to go to dinner.

“So I am not hopeless?” Rose said feeling bad. having taken far too much of the energy of the Nandime she was practicing on. Leaving her to look as though she had not slept in some time.

“No my child, I know a few that took them a 100 years before they could control the flow of their power.” She said with a smile on her face as they entered the great hall for dinner. “You have learned more in the last 2 years than many have in a hundred years.”

Rose smiled feeling this could not be true. But at that, it was time to sit and eat. She joined the rest at the large table placed in the center of the room and found Meagan and their now 5 children waiting for her. As she looked around she saw James and Rebecca both were pregnant again and by the looks of them, they were about to drop. As she sat and ate dinner with the rest they all joked and laughed and soon had eaten nearly everything on the table.

The next day when Rose got to the room where she did her training in, Sarah was there waiting for.

“Instead of the usual today, we are going to try something else,” Sarah said when Rose entered.

“Okay. What did you have in mind?” Rose asked wondering what they were going to do.

“I want you to call your child on Earth here.” She said looking as though she was going to cry. “I am going to watch you do this and try to see what is going on if I can.”

Rose nodded knowing there was more she was not being told. She turned and faced an open spot on the floor and Sarah placed a hand on her shoulder. Rose thought hard about Elizabeth and wanting her to be in front her like she did before. After about a minute Elizabeth was standing in front of Rose.

“Mom. I am glad to see you.” Elizabeth called out and hugged Rose tightly.

“I am glad to see you as well,” Rose said seeing that Elizabeth was in a nightgown. “Going to bed or getting up?” She asked.

“Going to bed, it is a much better time of day this time. Last time I woke up in the hospital.” Elizabeth explained. “There were only 10 minutes left in class the last time and when the class was over they found me unconscious and called the ambulance.”

“I am sorry,” Rose said frowning a bit. “Had I known I would have sent you back sooner.”

“It’s okay. I told them what had happened and most of them think I am crazy but Nana believes me.” She said smiling widely. “Hi, Sarah.” She said looking over Rose’s shoulder.

Sarah waved but did not say a word. She was intent on learning the ability that Rose and Elizabeth had to be able to see each other.

“So how is everyone?” Rose asked. When she did Elizabeth’s smile vanished.

“Nana is sick and they don’t know how much longer she will live,” Elizabeth said with tears in her eyes.

“Nana has lived a long time and since grandpa died she just has not been the same,” Rose said. “She misses your grandpa and wants to be with him again.”

“I know but it does not make it any easier,” Elizabeth said turning and walking to a window in the room. “She is practically the only family I have here right now. Lynda changed and decided to live on Mars and the rest have too much in their own lives to bother with me.” She said as the tears started to fall.

“What time is it there now? Rose asked.

“It is about 9 why?” She asked looking confused.

Rose looked down at her watch and saw it read 21:04 Thursday and knew her watch still worked. “How about we set a time each week we can meet and you can tell me everything you want?” Rose said a smile blooming on her face.

Elizabeth turned and said “Sunday mornings. Everyone is gone and I have the house to myself nearly all day.” as a smile bloomed on her face as well.

They made it a date and said their goodbyes before rose sent her back. Once she was gone Sarah took her hand from Rose.

“Your power is far more powerful than we thought.” She said looking as though she had been working all day in the hot sun.

“But we knew that, didn’t we?” Rose asked looking at her.

“Yes, but the power you used just now was not there when you started. You somehow called on a power from somewhere else that made the connection possible.” Sarah said as she walked over and sat in the seat near the window. “You have far more power than your body can handle alone. You have a reserve that is unimaginable. If you are not careful you can destroy whole worlds with a single whim.” She said the last few words with a shudder.

By the end of the next year, Rose had learned how to fly short distances and found she had more control over her movements than most of the Nandime with the same abilities. She could turn in midair where the Nandime had to touch the ground, trees or other objects to make turns. She could speed up or slow down without touching anything. Again the Nandime had to touch the ground or a tree to make any such changes.

Sarah had watched Rose through many of her visits with Elizabeth trying to replace the source of Rose’s power but whenever she got too close something would happen and she had to pull back, often in severe pain. Emma had even learned some new tricks as well. She was able to reach speeds equal to that of the Nandime spacecraft’s. She had also learned how to become invisible.

After 2 more years, Rose found out she would be seeing the council again. This year was going to be Rose’s second calling to meet the council of twelve and this time she was ready for them. When she walked through the door, like before the room was dark. But rather than letting it remain dark she turned on the lights instantly revealing the twelve members.

Her next task was to show her control over moving inanimate objects without touching them. Again she performed well beyond any of their hopes. She was asked to move twelve stone statues that were as big as their real life counterparts to their positions next to each of the twelve. Rose looked around the room saw each of the twelve empty pedestals with each member standing next to them and with one jester of her hand had them all instantly were they belonged.

She displayed her abilities to fly around the room, control the air within the room and throw the whole room into the darkness that none of them could stop or break. And then was her final performance. Calling forth her daughter, Rose had gotten so good at it. It now took no time out all for Elizabeth to appear before the room.

The room gasped as they saw a human in the room with them. Elizabeth was now 24 years old and had on a 2-piece swimsuit that barely covered her breast. She stood there looking around the room at all the people looking at her in amazement.

“Hi everyone.” She said waving a hand. She then turned to look at Rose and said: “I was on a boat with some friend’s mom.” She looked rather stern as she made this remark.

“I am sorry this won’t take long,” Rose said.

“Child, you are not in this world, where are you from?” The oldest woman asked.

“I am from Earth. 35 light years away.” She said looking the woman in the eyes.

“But this is not possible.” One of the younger male members said.

“I assure you it is not only possible it is happening,” Sarah said looking around the room. “This child has been communicating with her mother every week for the last 2 years. I have been trying to replace out how but my own power is far too weak for the task.” She finished looking back at Rose and Elizabeth standing in the middle of the room.

“Is she the only one you can do this with?” The oldest man asked.

Rose closed her eyes for a moment and tried to think of someone to try. Then she knew who she was going to try. She opened her eyes and before the council standing next to Elizabeth was the president of the United States.

“What the hell is going on here?” He exclaimed as he looked around the room.

“Mr. President I know you know who I am, right?” Elizabeth said looking at the President.

“Yes, you are the ambassador from Mars. But who the hell are the rest of these people?” He asked waving his hand around the room.

“The one behind us here is Rose. My mother and the rest of these people...” Elizabeth said gesturing to the 12 people standing around them.

“Are the council of 12.” Rose finished stepping forward. “As you can all see I not only can call forth another but I can do it while I have one already here.” She said her hands on the shoulders of both the president of the United States and Elizabeth.

No one in the room moved or said a word until rose turned and sent the president back and then asked Elizabeth to call him and let him know it was not a dream and sending her on her ways as well.

The council dismissed and Rose found herself waiting once again. After several hours Sarah came out and told Rose there was nothing more she could teach her.

“But there are so many abilities I have not mastered yet.” She said as they walked out the big door to walk up the path.

“And you will master them in time. But for now, your training is complete.” Sarah said tapping the top of Rose’s hand with her own.

Rose suddenly got a strange feeling from Sarah. It was like there was something she was hiding from Rose. The oddest part was this was not the first time it has happened but this was the strongest it had ever been. Rose stopped walking and just looked at Sarah.

“What is it, child?” Sarah asked stopping and turning to look at Rose.

“You are hiding something from me,” Rose said with a frown.

“I see you have finally figured out the reading,” Sarah said with a smile. “I am not hiding it from you to cause any harm. I merely want to know how long before you realized it.”

“I have sensed it for some time and always thought it was my imagination but this is different, stronger and more menacing than before,” Rose said stepping forward.

“I see, so you are sensing more than my secret of you.” She said a frown appearing on her face as she bowed her head. “Let’s walk a bit, shall we?” She said as she reached out her hand.

Rose stood there for a moment considering her options and trying to discern the feelings she was getting from Sarah. She took one small step back then decided to go with Sarah. Sarah led them out of the city on an old path that was nearly covered by brush and things. As they walked neither of them spoke and soon they emerged in a small clearing.

“I do not think we will be bothered out here,” Sarah said as she turned to look at Rose in the eyes. “I have an ability that is rear. Just as the amount of power in you is rear.” The look in her eyes now showed how scared she was.

“And what is your ability that has you so scared?” Rose asked watching the eyes flash some scenes of a distant war.

“There is a war coming to your world, Mars, and Earth alike. The devastation will be great and I am afraid there is nothing that can be done to stop it.” She said as Rose watched the flashes of war continue in Sarah’s eyes.

“How does it start?” Rose asked hoping there was some way that she could stop the war.

“I do not know child. The only thing I know is that you will not arrive home before it starts no matter when you leave.” Sarah said as the scenes of war stopped flashing in her eyes. Rose blinked and turned. “Child, have you have seen something haven’t you?” Sarah asked.

“I saw the scenes of war flashing in your eyes as we talked just now,” Rose said tears falling hard.

“Again amazing, you were able to see my thoughts on the coming events,” Sarah said walking to stand in front of Rose.

“You said I will not be able to get there until after it starts so does that mean the war is going to start in the next 2 years?” Rose asked the fear prominent in her eyes.

“My child, the time of its beginning is unknown to me. But rather I take you now or you leave on your own any time in the next 10 years you will arrive at exactly the same time.” Sarah said as she now turned and walked to a nearby tree.

“Wait, I will arrive at exactly the same time no matter when I leave?” Rose asked walking to be with Sarah. “Does that mean I am going to be caught in some sort of time trap or something?”

“Again I do not know the answers. I can only tell you what I have seen. If I take you, you go alone or you take your friends and family you arrive at the same time, every time.” Sarah said tears flowing freely. “I have asked for every possible outcome for you to be there sooner but they are always the same.” She slid down the tree and collapsed on the ground, Rose bent down next to her trying to comfort her.

After Rose and Sarah returned to the home Rose explained everything to the rest of them and asked for opinions on what they should do. All of them agreed that they need to leave right away rather than staying for any reason. They felt that even though the journey would end on the same day no matter what, they would rather be traveling home than waiting.

So Rose called forth the council of 5 from Mars as well as all the Earths world leaders. She explained to them that there was a war coming and though she had no details on how or even when it was going to start she would not be able to help them in any way until she arrived.

Soon the day came for Rose, Meagan, James, Rebecca and all their children to leave. Sarah had decided to come along with her family as well. Bob turned out to be one of four husbands and even though he never quite figured out the language he still managed to convey his feelings for the trip.