Kate and Manutaai were separately escorted to their respective cells by Marone’s guards. Kate noticed the Empyream guards were in almost identical uniform as the Sotoids, including the distinguishing triangle tattoo on their upper arms. However, their fleet ranking tattoos were a different style and they all wore black headbands with a golden triangle symbol etched on–definitely representative of a different fleet.
Though her mind was still groggy from her drinking episode, her adrenaline had shocked her tired body into action. What was she in for now?
She pictured her teammates, especially Pete. She felt ashamed of her earlier, selfish behavior. Though she suspected she was not totally in control. Thinking of them now renewed her strength. If she had her stones, perhaps she could have freed them. She should have stood up to Talokta and not relaxed her guard. Yeah, good old hindsight again.
Pilcher would be wondering what the hell was going on.
The future of Earth, would worldwide panic be everywhere?
Some fucking savior I am.
She burst into tears. But there was no self pity, just utter frustration. She felt such a fool. She had trusted in Manutaai who was a goddamn Trimadian spy, and then he turned traitor on his own kind and sold her out. What did that Marone creep say, credit and zimmies and a ship in exchange for her?
She had to get out of here. If she had a choice, Talokta sounded the better deal of the two.
Get a grip, girl! She did something without thinking, something instinctive.
She emptied her mind–no easy task–—but the cell was quiet and dimly lit, like candlelight. She had practiced yoga in the past, and the breathing was the root of it all.
She steadied her breathing and began to take deep slow breaths through her nostrils and out her mouth. Her heart slowed right down. In and out, in and out, in and out. Her body relaxing with every breath.
Soon, she was in a deep state of meditation, that same out of body feeling she experienced back on the homebase. A state of pure bliss.
The vision formed in her mind. She found herself sitting in front of a television screen watching a movie unfold.
A voice inside told her she had to let go of all self doubt that was holding her back from what she was able to achieve. She had to be prepared to receive a little gift, though temporary, but just to help her along her Way.
I do not understand.
On the TV screen she saw two distantly familiar figures, seemingly walking towards her, smiling at her. They were nodding and talking, though it was a bit muffled at first, like she needed to tune into them. They were trying to tell her to rid her mind of petty things like what she could do and what she could not do. “Just let go, have a bit of faith in yourself.” She heard the words, but was it coming from their mouths or inside her mind?
Oh to hell with it, stop questioning. Just let go!
The TV screen disappeared, and she was standing in a room facing the same elderly couple who had helped her at The Divine Universe.
The old woman said, “Wonderful my dear, see what a bit of relaxing and letting go can do. We will help you through this, but it is all up to you. The shadow world has been unfair. Well, it is never fair,” she said with a wry smile.
The man continued, “We have all decided you need a little bit of—” He looked at his companion. “A helping hand, a clearer vision of yourself.”
“And a wee pep talk,” the woman chirped in. “We are not meant to interfere with the cycle of truths, but it is imperative that you gain certain knowledge, to survive, in order to fight evil. To see it and learn to recognize its varying shapes and forms, and on equal terms. We cannot talk specifically here as that would influence you. Mortals, including humanity and the binding of what makes us part of the universe is always walking on a thin tightrope between the light and the dark existences.”
Kate seemed to understand, well, a little of that vague generalized statement, but they had made a slight, contradictory error. They had stated they were not to interfere, but by speaking to her and trying to prejudice her against the “evil” side, whatever that was, was that not interference? Still, she would keep an open mind.
From what she had just been through, trust was not going to come easy from now on, no matter whom she spoke to, whether dark or light! She almost asked what their perception of evil was, but remained silent.
The woman smiled and said, “In time you will understand the full picture. You are not ready to handle the situation you are in now, so a little intervention is justified.”
“You have been watching over me,” Kate observed. “Who are you?”
“Just call us Harold and Edith, dear,” the woman said. “You need the teachings of Cemel now. He failed at the beginning, he ran out of time I guess, certainly time was not his friend. But he has a little gift he asked us to pass to you if he was not about, and a situation like this arose.”
Cemel, that name was familiar. “What do you mean?”
“You do not have any real clear recollection. Your mind is not the most receptive either, due to your recent alcoholic intake and not having the stones. You have never had any preparation for what is before you. More importantly, your human side is sometimes your, shall we say, down side.”
Kate felt even more confused.
“Just keep an open mind and believe in yourself. You will get the hang of it in due course.”
“You watch, she’ll kick butt!” the old man exclaimed to the woman, roaring with laughter. Edith ignored him.
“What do you have for me?”
“As I said, just keep in mind it is only temporary as it is a bit like learning to walk before you can run. When the time is right, you will know what to do.”
Kate felt a surge of white hot energy pass into her. It was similar to when she had squeezed her stone on Ahmadeus and faded away for a second.
“Er, thank you for your kindness, but I have a feeling there will be a price to pay for the actions you have done for me.”
“We know, sweetie, but I think when the time comes, it will not matter. We are all pawns in the Big Game, striving for control. Sometimes the players and sometimes the referees. You just—”
“Have to know who is on your side,” Kate ended the sentence.
The old man grinned. “More importantly, you yourself have to know what side you are on. Just keep a clear head with this little gift we have given you.”
“I have so many questions.”
The woman nodded. “You and I do not have the time to spare at the moment,” Edith said quietly.
Leah fought the desperation creeping up her spine. “Will I see you again?”
“I hope so, dear. I really do.”
Kate opened her eyes, glowing white hot with the energy she had received. She looked down at her body, and it was no longer there! Instead, a bright white light replaced it–she was pure energy. She was as bright as the light it took to open the Black Star Portal; that white hot omnipotent feeling flowed through her.
When they opened the cell door, they found Kate lying unconscious on the floor.