The Dimensional Rift
Chapter 14 - The Return Home -

The journey home still seemed to only take just over 2 years just like the journey to Nandime. As they started to pass by Jupiter they knew they were nearly home, but when? None of them knew for sure the exact time that had really passed, just that they had been gone far longer than they should have.

Soon they saw Mars, but it was not the Mars they knew. It had green trees and small lakes spread out across the surface. As they approached Emma announced she was getting a call from Mars asking them to identify themselves.

“I am Rose of Mars one of the members of the council of five,” Rose said trying to figure out why they did not know Emma.

“Mother Rose, the first of all Martians?” The voice came back.

“I am the first, but I have never been called mother,” Rose said looking around the room in disbelief. “I am returning home after my journey to the planet Nandime. Why are we not being allowed to land?” Rose demanded angrily since they now knew who she was.

No one answered for several minutes making Rose even madder at the whole thing. “Sorry, ma’am you are cleared to land at the Emma shrine.” A new voice proclaimed.

Once again Rose looked around the room. As they approached the planet they could see that the town they left was now a city that had several cities all around it. They had roads and skyscrapers and most of the original buildings looked as though they had been there over a 100 hears.

As they landed they found that there was a large crowd gathered. Rose stepped out first to see what was going on. As she did the crowd cheered her arrival. She stepped forward and allowed the rest to step out as well, but the children did not know how to react to the crowd so they all hung on to Rose, Meagan, James, Rebecca, Sarah, and Bob. The crowd backed away and fell silent seeing the scared children.

Rose was asked to go to the council chamber to discuss what had happened since her last communication. She was forced to wait nearly three hours before the doors opened to let her in. As she walked through the doors a few of the members gasped at the sight of her, “Oh my” at least one of them said.

“Welcome home Mother Rose. It has been a long time since I have last seen you.” One of the members said as she stood from the table.

“It really has been a long time Aunt Rose.” Another member said also standing. “You have not changed at all since the last I saw you over 100 years ago now.”

“Aunt Rose? So which of my 9 nieces and nephews are you?” Rose asked looking at the one that called her aunt.

“I am Linda. Michael is over there and Jasmine is on the end there.” She said point to each intern.

“So it has been a 100-year journey?” Rose said putting her hand on her chin.

“It has been 110 years since the last time you talked with anyone here.” The oldest person said as she stood. “I am Alex one of the original 5 council members.” She bowed deeply as she said this.

“110 years. So what of the war I had warned about all those years ago?” Rose asked looking around the room.

“The war is over,” Jasmine said. “The humans attacked us just over 90 years ago with nuclear bombs.” She said with sadness in her voice.

“We did not know the bombs were as powerful as they were,” Michael said standing. “There world population has gone from 8.5 Billion to 622 Million now and the numbers seem to be holding there.”

“What about Elizabeth?” Rose asked with her stomach in her mouth.

“She is actually still alive. She had encased herself and her family in some sort of energy bubble that seems to have frozen them in time.” The last person spoke. “I am Maggie we have never met before today.” She added almost as an afterthought.

“Then I think I need to go and see what I can do then,” Rose said turning on her heel to walk out.

“WAIT!” The room shouted in unison.

“Many have tried and simply vanished as they approached,” Linda said as she walked around the end of the table.

“Linda, my power is far more powerful than every living creature on this planet combined,” Rose said with a smile before she walked out leaving them all standing in disbelief.

Rose went to the others and told them what she found out before going to Emma to go to Earth. The journey took only a minute to travel the distance between Mars and Earth. When they arrived the scene was unimaginable.

All the major cities had been leveled and the few building that stood seemed to be made from the ruins around them. The people looked as though the food was in short supply and the simple site of Emma had most of them running to hide like mice.

“Emma, what is the radiation level around here?” Rose asked Emma.

“Around here the levels are just under lethal. There are places close by that are far more livable.” Emma said the sadness obvious in her voice.

Soon they reached where Elizabeth and her family were and Emma landed. “I cannot get any closer. My circuits are already acting funny.” Emma said.

“Fly around and survey the area so we can figure out a plan to help these people,” Rose told Emma as she stepped out.

Rose walked the rest of the distance on foot. When she got to the only original house she found there was an invisible barrier around it. She looked around to see what she could see and noticed 2 small children running around the lawn frozen in mid-stride.

Rose put her hand on the barrier and soon it was gone and the children continued their progress only to suddenly stop and scream at the destruction around them. It only took Elizabeth about a minute to run out the door to replace out what was going on. Elizabeth had only just grabbed the children when she noticed the destruction as well.

“What just happened?” She asked the children she was holding.

“You protected them from all of this,” Rose said walking up to Elizabeth and the children.

“Mom, it is so good to see you,” Elizabeth said letting go of the children to hug Rose.

“How long after I told you about things to come before I arrived,” Rose asked looking around.

“About 20 years. Meagan will be 16 next week James just turned 12 and these two…” She pointed at the 2 children hugging her around her waist. “are going to turn 9 in September.”

“I think you might be surprised to replace their ages are far more than that,” Rose said smiling.

Elizabeth invited Rose inside to meet the rest of the family and to stay for dinner. Once inside Elizabeth found that there was no power, no water, and no gas. At that moment Meagan came running out of her room.

“Mom, my computer just quit. I was right in the middle of doing my report on the Martian rescue.” Meagan said to Elizabeth before she realized they were not alone. “Aww, A Martian in my house.” She screamed jumping and wrapping her arms around Rose.

“Meagan this is your grandmother,” Elizabeth told Meagan who was still hanging on to Rose.

At that Meagan broke off and turned to her mother. “But I thought there was supposed to be a war before she came?” She asked looking between Rose and her mother.

“There was a war,” Rose said looking down at Meagan. “Your mother protected you from it. That is why nothing works now.”

“How did I protect us all from the war?” Elizabeth asked looking confused.

“Do you remember when I told that you had the same energy as I do?” Rose asked. Elizabeth nodded and Rose continued. “Well, somehow you tapped it just before the bombs went off and froze time around you and your family here.”

Elizabeth grabbed a chair and sat down. “How long?” She asked looking at Rose with tears in her eyes.

“You said it has been about 20 years since we last spoke so I would say about 90 years,” Rose said looking at the ceiling as she spoke.

“What about my husband? What about Albert? Where is my husband Albert?” She asked tears falling, the girls now joining her as a small boy that could only be James entered the room.

“You are the only ones I know of,” Rose said shaking her head. But now that she thought of it there was a single room of an old building that looked as though it was still new. “All of you, pack whatever things you have and come with me. Emma should be outside by now.”

Elizabeth nodded and had helped the 2 youngest before grabbing her own clothes. As she started to walk out Rose asked her to go back and get clothes for her husband as well. Elizabeth looked confused but returned to get the clothes without a word. Soon they were all packed up and ready to go.

“Emma, do you remember the feeling you got when we approached the house?” Rose asked Emma once they had all gotten in.

“Yes I do, and there is still something close by, giving me the same feeling,” Emma said.

“Let’s go to it please,” Rose said as she looked around at Elizabeth.

“So is he still alive?” Elizabeth asked looking hopeful.

“I do not know for sure but that is why we are going to check it out, okay?” Rose said as Emma landed making nearly a dozen people run for shelter.

Rose step out of Emma, and like before she had to walk the last of the distance on foot. When she reached the standing room she saw a door on one side. She had placed herself as close to the door as possible before razing her and placing it on the barrier. And just like before it vanished and life on the inside restarted.

There were 2 women on the inside laughing when all a sudden a third one shouted. “Holy Shit, what the hell just happened?!”

Rose walked through the door and to her amazement saw 4 Martians standing in front of her wearing nothing more than boxer shorts. As she looked around trying to place where they were, she heard no less than 3 more people scream above her. Within a minute one of the 4 now newly Martians saw Rose and shouted.

“You’re Rose aren’t you?” She asked in amazement.

“Yes, I am,” Rose said with the 4 in front her starting to protest. She razed one hand and they all fell silent. “Thank you. Now I will explain what has happened to you in a few minutes. However, I need to go get some of your buddies from upstairs that just realized their changes as well. Would anyone be able to tell me where we are?”

“The Washington PD’s men’s locker room, ma’am.” One of the women said sounding like she was afraid that Rose might rip them to pieces if they did not answer.

Rose had wished it was anywhere but a police department. Since everyone apparently still had their clothes that also meant they also had their guns as well. And Rose knew she was not bullet proof.

Rose walked around and found a set of stairs leading to the upper floor. When she got up there she found half a dozen women standing around looking off the edge, as well as at least a dozen Martian lower tarsals strung around the outer perimeter of the floor.

“Ladies,” Rose called out and every one of them turned and 2 pulled their weapon on her. Without thinking she razed a hand and the weapons fell to the ground. “I will explain to everyone what has happened but right now I need you all to follow me. There are stairs over here to allow you a way down without having to jump.” Rose told them all.

Several of them picked up their weapons before they followed Rose down the stairs and back to the men’s locker room. But one would not go in, so Rose asked her why.

“That is the men’s locker room and I am a woman.” She said with tears in her eyes.

“Oh honey, the truth is everyone in this building are now both so there is no more his or hers,” Rose said giving the frighten woman a hug. “Let’s go inside so I can tell everyone why they have suddenly found themselves like me, okay?” Rose added trying to calm the woman down. As she nodded they entered the men’s locker room.

All at once many of the women in the locker room pelted questions at Rose. “How come you changed us?” “Why is the city in ruins around us?” “Where is everyone else?” were just a few of the questions everyone was asking. Rose razed a hand and the room fell silent again.

“Now ladies...” Rose started with several of them tatting in indecency. “Sorry, Guys, Better?” The room nodded in agreement. “Now like I was saying before which of one is Albert?” She asked and 2 women moved forward. “I see; I am looking for the one that is married to the ambassador to Mars.” Rose clarified to the room.

“I am ma’am.” The one in the back corner of the room spoke out.

“Your wife did this to protect you from what happened outside,” Rose said as the room broke out in the argument. Rose razed her hand again and the room fell silent once more. “Now she did not intend on the change to happen, it was merely a result of what she did to save your lives,” Rose said to the room.

They all looked around at one another for several minutes before one of them turned and asked. “If this is merely the result want was the intended outcome?” The shortest woman asked the only one that was a woman before the change.

“For the last 90 years, you have all been trapped in time,” Rose yelled over the crowd who all at once fell silent. “This was meant to protect you from the destruction going on outside.”

“So you expect us to believe that we have been trapped in here for 90 years?” One of the Albert’s asked stepping forward to be at the front of the crowd.

“Most of you saw the destruction outside with your own eyes. Do you really think that could all have happened in an instant?” The crowd resumed the talk amongst themselves as Albert, Elizabeth’s husband walked forward.

“What about my wife and children, what about Elizabeth and our babies?” She asked tears filling her eyes.

“They are all safe and waiting for us,” Rose told her with a smile on her face.

Soon the crowd fell silent asking Rose to tell them what is next. “If you will all come with me we will all go to Mars and set you up with fresh clothes and a warm meal,” Rose said before taking Albert by the hand and escorting her to Emma with the rest of the crowd following close behind.

Once they reached Emma all the people started filing into her. Meagan jumped from the car and pushed Rose down. “You turned them all into you, how could you?” She cried as she ran off. Before anyone could react or try to stop her Meagan was gone.

Once everyone was in, Rose told Emma to take them to Mars then to return for her and Meagan. Elizabeth, Albert, and several others wanted to join the search. Rose told Elizabeth she needed to stay with her children and allowed the rest to join the search.

“Now each of you has hearing that is far superior to what it was before as is your eyesight,” Rose said to the 4 people that stayed to help search for Meagan. “You can also move much faster when the time comes so be careful that you are not under searching any area’s in your search.” The group split into 2 teams and Rose.

Meagan was walking in a ditch to stay out of site of the search parties out looking for her. She was not paying any mind to the person following her as he jumped from place to place trying to hide himself. Suddenly he grabbed her and she screamed out only to be pulled underground through one of the many tunnels leading off of the ditch.

Meagan was carried for several hundred yards before the guy stopped and threw her on the ground in a small room.

“What do you want with me?” Meagan asked as she was thrown to the ground in what looked like an old electrical room.

“You are of birthing age and without a man, means you are free to take.” The man said reaching out to grab Meagan, but she moved and he only got her muddy jeans. As they ripped from her she tripped giving the guy a chance to grab at her again.

Meagan tried to get out but was knocked down to the ground again and rolled to her back. “You will be mine.” The man cried as he pushed himself onto her. He picked up a sharp piece of metal and proceeded to cut the clothes from her body.

Once he removed all that was need the guy mounted Meagan and proceeded to force his way inside of her. Meagan kicked and screamed all that she could but the guy was far stronger than she was. He managed to slip all the way in and started to pump his way to his goal.

Meagan gave up fighting and allowed the guy to do his business while she laid there crying wishing someone, anyone would come and help her. When he had finished Rose appeared in the doorway.

“Unhand that child,” Rose called out with a scowl on her face. Her eyes the darkest they had ever been seeming to pop and flash with every word she spoke cosign the room to echo every word loudly.

“I will not. She is now mine I have planted my seed and it must grow.” The guy shouted back craze and fury etched on his face.

“That may be the way of you humans now but this child is under my protection,” Rose said as she razed a hand at the guy throwing him off of Meagan and up against a wall 10 feet away.

Meagan stood and ran to Rose crying. Rose tried to calm her as they left that place but Meagan had been too traumatized by what had just happened. Once on the surface, Rose asked, “Why did you run off like that?”

“Because you turned my dad into a creature like you,” Meagan said with tears still falling hard.

“Honey, that is why I left so I would stop turning people into creatures like me,” Rose said hugging Meagan but Meagan did not return the hug. “The thing your mom did to keep everyone safe is what turned your father into the creature like me.”

“Then why didn’t we change like my dad,” Meagan asked whipping the tears from her face with her muddy sleeve.

“Because like your mom, you, your brother and sisters all have the same power in you that I have. That is what kept you from changing” Rose said with a smile on her face.

“I thought only you had the white energy?” Meagan asked looking confused.

Before Rose responded she shouted something in a high tone that Meagan could not hear. “So your mother told you about the white energy. So what has she told you about it?” Rose asked looking down at Meagan.

“Only that it is why you changed people when you got close to them,” Meagan said looking around and seeing nearly 2 dozen people circling them.

“Well, that much is true. But there is a lot more to it than just that.” Rose said looking around herself. “Do not worry, they cannot hurt you as long as I am around,” Rose added to help make Meagan feel secure.

“So if all my family has it why have we not changed?” Meagan asked looking back at Rose. “I mean shouldn’t that mean my dad should have changed a long time ago?”

Rose considered her answer for a moment. This was the one question that Sarah never did answer for her. “I really do not know Meagan. I have a feeling that humanity was meant to split in the evolutionary chain to develop 2 new species.” Rose said not being entirely sure this was right.

Rose and Meagan started walking back to where Meagan first ran away to try and get to a better defense location. Since the numbers of the humans had swollen to no less than 30 people, both male and female.

“So you think that my mom was the first of the new human’s and you were the first of the Martian’s?” Meagan asked trying to understand better.

“It is very much possible,” Rose answered. “But remember this is only a theory.” When Rose had finished Albert and his team member showed up. Meagan ran and hugged her new father around her neck.

“I am sorry, dad. When I saw you like this I got scared that I was going to change like you did.” Meagan told her father.

“I really do understand, but it was dangerous to run off before everything happened. Now I have no idea of what dangers there are out there and my mind was going crazy thinking about them.” Albert told Meagan.

Before Meagan could respond Rose spoke. “Meagan learned a valuable lesson today and we need to get her home and have her checked out,” Rose stated, seeing the number of humans still increasing around them.

Just then the last team of 2 walked up. “We have been jumped about three times just barely being able to escape.” One of the two said.

“I know the issue they are claiming and I think we need to put Meagan in the middle of us and we all need to stand backs together,” Rose said feeling that the humans were getting ready to strike.

No more did they do this and the first human ran at the group. Rose saw him just in time and flung him into a broken building with a flick of her wrist. Everyone else except Albert had their weapons with them and they had them out ready for whatever was to come. Soon the rest of the humans made their attacks on the group. The group was able to hold them off for several minutes when one of the humans managed to grab one of them and started dragging her away.

They had only made it about 20 feet when Emma came swooping in and scaring most of the humans off. Rose quickly turned her attention to those that remained and within moments everyone was safe to get into Emma.