The Dimensional Rift
Chapter 15 - The Dispute with the Council -

Back on Mars Meagan was taken to the hospital to get checked out. They could not do much for the possibility she might be pregnant but they were able to clean up her cuts and bruises as well as give her some new clothes to put on. After about an hour Meagan was ready to go to her new home.

Rose and the others found that the colony had taken on the city name ‘New Colony’ and had grown to more than 100 times its original size of 25 building plus the dome, to just over 2600 builds plus 2 domes. All this information came from the ‘New Colony’ police force that had taken it unto themselves to escort all the new arrivals around.

Rose and Meagan were given new quarters as was James and Rebecca. However, they found them much smaller than their old places and the buildings did not have the dimensional rift affect that others had. Sarah and her family were moved to a whole different part of the city which was as far away from Rose as possible.

Elizabeth and her family had been sent to the second dome which again was as far from Rose as possible. This made Rose feel as though the new council was trying to keep Rose separate from everyone else, which turned out to be true. Every time she tried to see the council she was told they were too busy and she was asked to come back later.

After nearly three weeks of not being able to see Elizabeth or Sarah, Rose took it upon herself to do something. She brought both of them to her one night as everyone else slept to be able to talk to them.

“Mom, what is wrong?” Elizabeth asked having sensed the need to talk to Rose and still being up.

“An excellent question, there is something bothering you. What is it, child?” Sarah asked looking out the window of the tiny room.

“The council has put us as far apart from each other as possible. I have asked you both here to talk about options to what can be done.” Rose said looking between Elizabeth and Sarah.

“I have noticed they have even given us places that do not have any energy to them,” Elizabeth said as she walked to a door in the room and looked out.

“I have seen that as well. They seem to be trying to get rid of the energy rather than living with it.” Sarah said walking to a small chair to sit down.

“Yes, and all our old homes are now shrines and that is why we cannot use them,” Rose said standing and walking to the book shelves on one wall.

“Have you tried using your power to open up the space?” Sarah asked Rose.

“I had not even thought about that. Do you think it would work?” Rose asked walking over to Sarah and kneeling down in front of her.

“It is worth a shot. The worst that could happen is you make the space smaller.” Sarah said looking around to Elizabeth who was nodding.

Rose stood up and knowing that the only 2 families in the build were James’s and her own she thought for a moment then with her eyes closed pushed her hands out in front of her. As she did the room around them grew to more than 5 times its original size.

Suddenly Rose had an idea. If this worked on this place, why not on every place on the planet? So without saying a word to Elizabeth or Sarah, she tried again. But the room they were in did not grow.

“What was that one for?” Elizabeth asked looking around the new larger room.

“If it worked, then when you get home you will replace your own homes bigger than they were before,” Rose said looking around the room at all the changes.

“Your power never ceases to amaze me,” Sarah said as she stood up to stand in front of Rose.

Right then there was a knock at the door. Before Rose answered it she sent Elizabeth and Sarah home. When Rose opened the door found it was Rebecca.

“Come in, what is up with you? Why did you come over so late?” Rose asked when she saw who it was.

“This is what brought me here. It happened here as well.” Rebecca said looking around the room.

“I happened here as well,” Rose said with a smile on her face.

Rebecca’s eyes grew and she started to scream but Rose covered her mouth to stop her.

“You cannot tell anyone I did this. If it works correctly ever building here expanded like this one. We need to play it off as though it was something else that did it.” Rose said as Rebecca stood there in surprise. Rose pulled her hand away and then walked to the window to see the sunlight was starting to shine.

Rebecca turned and started to walk around the expanded apartment then she thought of something. “How are they going to blame this on you?” She asked turning to Rose with a bewildered look on her face.

“They must think something is going to happen because they put Sarah in the old part of the city and put Elizabeth in the new dome and us why out here,” Rose said looking around the room at the new higher ceiling.

“You do know where we are way out here, right?” Rebecca asked as she walked into the kitchen.

“No, where are we?” Rose asked joining Rebecca.

“This is where you crashed, or more to the point where Emma crashed to the surface,” Rebecca said as she looked into the oven seeing it was nearly a walk in now.

“How do you know?” Rose asked opening the cooler door to see it was a walk in.

“When we landed in that first pod the bay doors opened pointing in the exact direction of where we found Emma. Since it became the hospital we can go there to have the children checked out. The original hatch for the Rovers is still visible and can be seen as you walk up the street.” Rebecca said now turning to sit on a counter.

As Rose walked to stand in front of Rebecca she saw a light turn on out the window. She stopped to watch it for a moment when suddenly three more lights turned on than a dozen, and soon the whole city was lit up and Rose knew what she did worked. She turned to Rebecca and told her she needed to get some sleep and as Rebecca jumped down she said her and James had not been to bed yet either.

When Rose awoke the next morning Meagan was bouncing around the apartment in amazement.

“Have you seen this?” Meagan asked as she ran from one thing to another.

“It happened before I went to bed last night,” Rose said as she grabbed a cup from the cupboard to get some tea.

Meagan stopped and looking at Rose like she was hiding something and asked, “What do you know about this?”

“Nothing, I was talking with Sarah and Elizabeth when this happened,” Rose said. This was not technically a lie since it did happen while she was talking with Sarah and Elizabeth.

There was a knock at the door and Meagan went to see who it was.

“Miss. Kincaid is Rose here?” The person at the door asked.

“Yes, she is in the kitchen,” Meagan said escorting the person inside.

“Rose. I am with the police and I would like to know what happened last night here.” The cop asked.

“I did not hear a name in there. Did you Meagan?” Rose said, sounding as though this was meant to be sarcastic.

“Ma’am I do not ha…” The woman started but was cut off by Rose sudden rising and razing of a hand.

“I will not be talked to this way,” Rose said with her eyes popping with crimson red flames and each of the words echoing throughout the apartment. “I am the oldest living Martian on this planet or any other planet. You will tell me your name before I get angry.”

The woman looked down causing Meagan and Rose to follow her gaze only to replace that she had relieved herself onto their kitchen floor. Once she looked up at Rose they could also see fresh tears in her eyes.

“I am sorry ma’am. I have always been told it is not important to give your name during an investigation. However, my name is Nancy Johns.” She said with obvious fear in her voice.

“Why thank you miss Johns. I am Rose and what is it you want to know?” Rose said sitting back down.

Nancy still had a lot of fear on her face when she continued. “Last night every building on the planet that had been built after the war suddenly grew in size on the inside,” Nancy said as she tried to pull herself together.

“I noticed that this apartment and my neighbors did,” Rose said taking a swig from her glass.

“Do you know how this happened?” Nancy asked finally starting to sound the way she did when she came in.

“I can only tell you it happened just before the light started to show on the horizon,” Rose said pointing out the window to where she had seen the light coming from.

“We thought since you are the only one that knows how the energy works that you might know how this happened,” Nancy said writing something down in her book.

“She is not the only one that knows how it works,” Meagan said storming back into the kitchen. “As for how this happened, there are at least a dozen ways I can think of.”

Nancy spun on her heal having forgotten that Meagan was in the apartment as well. “I did not know that anyone else knew how this energy worked. I am sorry.” She said with her hand on her chest.

Just then 2 of Rose’s and Meagan’s children came running through the apartment. They were playing a game that they had learned on Nandime involving running and jumping from thing to thing in preparation for their training to adulthood. Nancy watched their progression with a mindful eye as they played.

“It is a game they learned from our stay on Nandime,” Meagan said grabbing the children and sewing them from the apartment.

“Is there anything else we can help you with Nancy?” Rose asked walking forward.

“No. I think I have bothered you enough for today.” Nancy said as she walked to the front door giving one last glance at the puddle on the floor where she pied.

As Nancy walked through the door Meagan slammed it making sure to catch Nancy in the ass.

“Meagan…” Rose said with a smile from horn to horn.

Megan returned the smile as her face flushed blue with embarrassment as she walked over and kissed Rose deeply on the lips before speaking. “I know you did it.” She said as she made her way to the bedroom. Rose followed and the two of the made passionate love for the rest of the day.

After yet another week of being turned away from the council chambers even after using her ‘dark voice’ as she had come to call it. She knew she would have to replace another way in. So she returned home and instead of calling the members to her she tried to send herself to them.

She closed her eyes and concentrated on the council chamber and soon she could see into it. She saw they were all there discussing something with heated debate. As she opened her eyes she found she was standing amongst them.

“How the hell did you get in here?” The oldest of them asked as they all jumped from their seats.

“You refuse me entry. You treat me like a criminal. Your police watch every move I make. And YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO TALK TO ME LIKE THAT!” Rose said in her ‘dark voice’ as each and every word echoed loudly throughout the room sounding as though there was a thousand Rose’s standing there, instantly Jasmine, Linda and Michael all sat down knowing they had never seen Rose, or John for that matter, this mad in their lives.

“We will treat you how we think best since you were expelled from this council.” The oldest one said.

“Who are you and where is Maggie?” Rose asked in a somewhat less aggressive tone and without the sound of a thousand more of herself in the room.

“My name is Frank and Maggie is my substitute for when I am away.” She said as she stepped around the table.

“And you are Alex the only original council member, correct?” Rose asked looking to the only other one still standing.

“Yes, I am.” She said.

“Then you tell this one how I came to leave this council and who in this room was my successor,” Rose said looking angry and her eyes still crimson.

“You left of your own accord with James. You named Michael here to replace you and James named Frank.” Alex said looking scared now seating herself once she had finished.

“It was my understanding they were going to be coming back. After ten years of no contact, we took their names from the council list, expelling them for abandoning us.” Frank said looking just as agree but her eyes barely hit orange.

“James nor I abandoned anyone,” Rose said her voice amplified once again. “I told you that my trip back was going to take much longer than it should and we would be here as soon as possible.” Rose finished her eyes popping at the room with every word she spoke.

Frank turned to the other members and saw that Jasmine and Linda had their heads bowed and Michael was looking at Alex. Seeing that none of the other members were coming to her aid she turned on her heal and left the room.

“Now that we have that out of the way, why have I been treated this way?” Rose asked the room.

“The thing is, Frank hated the post from the beginning and thought you had told James to name him,” Alex said bowing her head.

Rose bowed her head and shook it. “I told James nothing of whom he should choose. His decision was between him and Rebecca.” Rose said. As she finished she raised her head to look at the room.

“So why did you want to come see us?” Jasmine asked standing up for the first time since the whole thing started.

“I think you are all aware of what happened on Earth and how the humans there have devolved to little more than animals with the ability of speech right?” Rose asked looking to each member, Jasmine, Linda, Alex then Michael.

The room nodded and Michael stood. “What happened to them was the doing of Kernel Morris, Meagan’s stepfather.” She said looking around the room.

“Really, so he did not learn his lesson on Zicarthona,” Rose said shaking her head. “Some people will never learn.” Rose sighed. “However we need to do something about cleaning things up on Earth or the humans won’t make it for much longer.”

Linda stood up to speak. “That can wait. Elizabeth told me why you went to Nandime and that we all have the white energy in us.” She said before sitting back down with the rest of the member’s agreement.

“She told you we all have the white energy but told her own daughter that only I had it?” Rose said looking disbelievingly on Linda who looked as though she wanted to say something but did not. “Yes I went to Nandime to learn more about the powers in me, and yes every person that has changed has some white energy in them,” Rose said looking around the room. “Why do you mention it, Linda?”

“We have been talking and if there is a way for all of us to be able to do even half of the stuff we have heard you can then we would like to try,” Jasmine said not bothering to stand.

“Really?” Rose said walking to the end of the table where Jasmine sat. “I do not know if I can do this in this form but give me your hand.”

Jasmine looked around the room before complying. Rose closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Jasmine’s hair started to float up like she was being filled with energy and then her skin started to glow. The rest of the council members gasped but Rose did not respond. Suddenly the glow dissipated and her hair fell back down where it belonged.

“I think you can learn at least some of the stuff I have,” Rose said, smiling at Jasmine. “But I will not just teach you. If I do this, I will teach everyone who wants to learn.” She added, and the four members agreed.

Over the next few minutes, Rose and the four council members worked out all the details for the new school. Where math, reading, writing and science were mandatory the power control classes would be an option along with music, art, and sports. Once they had worked out all the detail they all heard a loud gurgling sound come from Rose.

“I guess even in astral form one still gets hungry,” Rose said in apology.

“Astral, so you are not really here?” Jasmine said stepping around the table to feel for herself how real Rose felt again.

“I have been able to interact with you all but my physical body is in my apartment,” Rose said trying to explain.

“Elizabeth told us you could call her spirit to you. I did not know you could also project yours to others.” Linda said also walking around the table to touch Rose along with Michael and Alex.

“I was not sure if it would work until I tried it,” Rose said being poked and prodded by Jasmine, Linda, Michael, and Alex.

“You are telling us this is your first attempt at astral projection?” Alex asked in amusement as another louder gurgling sound came from Rose.

“Yes, this is my first attempt at this. I thought it would be better for me to show up here than for all of you to show up in my apartment.” Rose said grabbing her stomach. “Now I need to go but please allow me to return. There is much that still needs to be worked out.” And with that she was gone, Linda and Jasmine who had been leaning on her fell together knocking their heads on each other.

Over the next several weeks the new school was set up and nearly everyone wanted to learn from Rose and Sarah. The numbers of people were so high that Rose had to put a limit on the number of people she could teach in each class. She explained that after a few years there would be more slots open since there will be more that could join her to teach them. Though the people did not like it they agreed.

Since the whole first year of all the students was endurance training Rose did not have to focus too much attention on the students and was able to return to the council to talk about other issues. The fact that the original homes of Rose, Meagan, James, Rebecca, and Elizabeth had all been turned into shrines was true but the people had wondered why they had not taken their places back to live in when they returned.

The council had voted to return the original homes to them and have a new place closer to Rose ready for Elizabeth since she had lived with Rose until they had all left together all those years ago. This made them all feel better about some of their problems but Rose still wanted to deal with the Earth issue.

Over the next year, Frank resigned his position on the council without naming anyone to fill it. Rose was asked to return to the spot on the council which she rejected saying, “Since it was James that gave him the position in the first place it should be James take back.” The council agreed. So James returned to the council and basically picked up where he had left off.

There was heavy debate from the people of Mars to the origination of the council and most called for a reorganizing of the council. Again they all turned to Rose since she was the ‘Mother’ of the Martian people.

Rose had decided originally on five so that there would be little debate on any subject before a final decision would be reached. “The more people involved the more opinions there would be to deal with.” Rose always thought. Rose now had to think of a way to keep her idea of a quick deciding council while still allowing the people some sort of control over their lives. Soon she had an idea, she would make the council 12 members, one would serve as the head while not being allowed to vote on matters and the others being from around the city to hear and see the matters of the people.

Rose made it so that the council had the right to approving any law but it was up to members of the public to write them. Any concerns that affected the people had to be put to a vote by the people once the council came up with options unless the matter called for immediate action. Any issues requiring a vote of the people would be printed and circulated to the people for no less than one month and not more than 60 days before the people could vote on the issue on the next first of the month. This was done so the issue to be voted on was not only handled quickly but would also ensure that the subject was fresh and that the people were not overloaded by a high number of issues.

As for the selection of new members, the council chose from a list of people that they felt were qualified for the position. Once all members agreed an offer was extended if the person agreed they had to present themselves for a reading by both Rose and Sarah before they would be allowed to join the council. Many people were rejected by either Rose, Sarah or both because the person had an issue with power, either by craving it or fearing it.

Soon, however, the council was nearly full and the last position was offered to Rose once again. Rose did not want to seem like she was trying to take power so she refused the offer. So the council decided they had their first issue for the people to vote on.

’The current council of twelve has extended an offer to Rose Kincaid to be the final member. She has refused this offer saying she does not want the people of our world to think she asked for it or that it is an offer of gratification by the council.

So we put it to a vote of the people: Should Rose Kincaid be re-offered the final post of this council? Yes, or No.’

The flier circulated for 45 days before the people voted on it. Nearly every person on Mars turned out to vote and the outcome was amassing. Nearly 98% of the voters wanted Rose to take the final seat in the new council and everyone had added a comment to their vote explaining their feelings on the matter.

Most that voted ‘No’ simply said Rose had the right to her decision while a few called Rose the reason for Earths downfall. As for those that voted ‘Yes’, their comments ranged from simple words of support to full praises of her work. So Rose accepted and for the next several years she focused on the new school and council.