1.43

She couldn't sleep. Carefully easing Ty's arm from around her waist Kaylee pushed back the covers.
"Babe? What's going on?"
"Go back to sleep," she whispered as she eased her legs over the side of the bed. "I'm just going to get something to drink."
"'kay." Giving her a sleepy smile he touched her arm before drifting back to sleep.
Smiling softly Kaylee stretched then rubbed at the tension in her neck. Since that conversation with Hunter all she could think about was Hannah.
The woman was insane. Literally insane. She'd already killed countless people, started a chemical epidemic on her own planet and now she was coming after her.
When she had said she would stay and fight she hadn't imagined that the fight would be coming so soon. Sighing, she headed out of the room but froze when an ominous glow started in the corner of the room.

The light was almost blinding and continue to grow. Squinting she could just make out two small figures in the center.
"Hello Kaylee."
Blinking once, twice and then a third time for good measure didn't make Nirvana or J'enshi disappear.
"W-what's going on?" she demanded.
"Our apologizes. We would have arrived sooner but we were getting the last of our people off of R'ouglia. Our planet is dead and all R'ouglians are mourning her lose. We've had to shut ourselves off from the pain." Nirvana looked away and J'enshi smiled sadly.
"I am sorry for your lose."
"We knew that it would happen one day. We just did not expect-"
Kaylee finished the sentence with the very same thought she had just been thinking. "For it to happen so soon."
"Yes."
"But why are you here?"
"To show you what could be."
"What?"
Nirvana shook her head. "We know your heart is undecided Kaylee and we said we would leave the choice up to you...but we want to show you what could happen to all of our futures."
"Like Ebenzer." She smiled at their confused looks then shook her head. "I can't just leave. If Ty wakes up and I'm gone-"
Nirvana gestured to the bed. "But are you gone?"

Taking a halting step toward the bed she looked down at herself. She was sleeping peacefully and in the nude since she had wanted to be pressed up against Ty flesh to flesh. She started to reach out and touch her shoulder but brought her hand back to her side.
"Am I dreaming?"
"'Dreams are today's answers to tomorrow's questions.' One of your poets said that. You have questions Kaylee. We're only trying to answer. Will you come with us?"
She turned back toward them. "Where will we go?"
"Two possible futures. Nothing is ever set in stone. One small miscalculation can change the whole course."
"What will I see?"
"Only that which you need to see."
She stepped toward them. "I will return won't I?"
"We will get you back safely." Nirvana held out her hand. "Will you come?"

Kaylee slowly walked into the brightly light and it felt as if a million electrodes had awakened in her body. She could see colors more vividly and her senses seemed heightened. Reaching out she took Nirvana's small hands in hers and her body jerked as she was yanked into a spinning vortex of sound and smells but there was darkness all around her. Pressing against her, suffocating her, eating at the very core for her being. She tried to scream, to wrestle against the things she couldn't see as her heart hammered loudly in her ears. And just when it felt as if her heart would explode she landed heavily against something hard and solid.

A garbled sound escaped her as she slammed against the ground. Panting for breath she laid there for a moment with her eyes closed before stirring.
"Our apologizes once again Kaylee. Sometimes we forget that your human psyche is so fragile."
"What was that?" The question came out a croak.
"That was the pathway by which we all travel. You were sensing all the different spirits on that plane while we are used to filtering them out."
Something about them was different, she thought with a frown as she took a deep breath then promptly began to cough. The air was putrid and it felt thick as it went in and out of her lungs. Opening her eyes she peered over a stone wall and up at the sky.

Even the clouds were thick. They seemed to barely move at all. There were small clumps of trees here and there but otherwise all around her was desert.
"Where are we?"
"Serenity Cove."
"What?" she exclaimed trying to sit up but her limbs just wouldn't cooperate. A hand pressed her back down to the ground.
"Relax. Let your body adjust."
"You said this was Serenity Cove? How far into the future?" She couldn't tear her eyes away from the landscape.
There was a slight pause then, "Ten years."
It was said slowly and with a certainty that settled in the pit of Kaylee's stomach like a rock. Rubbing at her head she slowly sat up and turned toward The Wise only to stiffen.

"How are you feeling?"
"Like I woke up in the Twilight Zone."
They tilted their heads in unison then broke out in smiles when the reference finally clicked. "Ah, well at least you still have your sense of humor."
"Yeah. Um guys? What happened to you?"
"While we are here we're in our true forms. You are seeing us as our people see us."
"Why?"
When J'enshi shifted metal clanked and the smell of well oiled leather reached Kaylee's nostrils. "While there might not be a danger to us we always remain vigilant for you. Hannah probably will not show up here today but we can not be certain."
"But I thought-"
"She can not sense us...but she might be able to sense you."
"Oh god."
"Fear not Kaylee." Reaching out Nirvana yanked her to her feet. Kaylee stumbled and quickly righted herself as clouds of dust rose up around her feet. Around her bare feet. She was walking around in her underwear. Sighing, she dusted herself off.
"Just where are we in Serenity Cove?"
"Where the Bio-Aquarium used to be."
"Where's the water?"

"Your Earth appears to have dried up. Hannah never had the foresight to ensure that things would continue to grow."
"What are they doing?" she asked as she took in the figures in front of her.
"Digging."
Scowling, Kaylee glared at Nirvana. "I know that, but-"
"Hannah has enslaved those that were weak. She continues to go into the mountains and find more people that are hiding. The people in the white have been here for months. Years even. The people in the regular clothing have just been found and immediately put to work."
"How do you know all this?"
"While the dictators may not look the same they are still dictators."
"Five minute break!"
Kaylee's eyes flew to were a being stood overlooking the workers. He glared down at them as they scurried to a small pool.
"Come, let us listen to what they have to say."

"New recruits huh? Silly of you to get captured alive. You're going to die here."
"What are we digging for?" a girl demanded.
"We're digging our own graves." The woman smiled showing cracked and yellowed teeth. "We're digging our own graves. I've been here twenty years. And I know that I'm going to die here."
A fit of coughing seemed to startle the woman from her melancholy thoughts and she glared at the culprit. "Stay away from me if you're sick. If we don't dig, we don't eat."
"Not that the food is all that great," a man said as he slowly sat down and stared listlessly at the ground.

Kaylee watched as the man continued to cough and two of the workers bend down over the pool and scooped the water into their hands before slurping it loudly into their mouths.
"That's enough water!" barked the man.
"I've been on the run for seven years," a hairless woman said. "Seven years I lived in the woods, escaping Hannah's patrols. Two days ago I was on the move when they appeared out of nowhere. So strong, so powerful. There was nothing I could do."
"Hannah trains them within an inch of their life. If they get through her camp there's no stopping them. Monsters. All of them are monsters."
"I heard that her son used to be a great warrior," the elderly man said. "That he protected a group of people that were the shining beacons of their race. And when he refused to bow down before her..." He drew a finger across his throat.
Kaylee's hand flew to her mouth and even The Wise made small sounds in the back of their throat.
"Back to work!" was bellowed from the outcropping.
Kaylee twisted to say something to The Wise but froze when the air seemed to grow more oppressive around them. She slowly turned around to see another figure on the outcropping with the man.
"Is that-"
"Yes." Both of them hissed out the word.

"I see we have three new slaves today. Your men did a good job Captain."
"Thank you Mother."
"Has any water been found?"
"No ma'am. It seems as if we may have to leave this planet after all."
"We can not leave this planet! Not after everything I went through to take it over."
"I understand, however-"
She struck as swift as a snake and the man staggered before righting himself. "Listen to me you Kinteria filth! Your people would still be on the bottom of the food chain if it hadn't been for me. I'm the one who saw your potential. I'm the one who groomed you into soldiers. You're better soldiers than the Elite on my home planet because of who?"
"You Mother."
"So, when I saw we are not leaving this planet it means we are not leaving until every possible source has been examined. Are we clear?"
"Yes."
"Why does she wear the mark of the warrior on her face?" Kaylee whispered. She didn't know why she whispered. It wasn't as if Hannah could actually hear her.
"She wears it to mock the warriors that she slaughtered. How dare she do such a thing?"
"Calm yourself J'enshi. Being overly emotionally-"
Without warning the people working around them began to scream at the top of their lungs as they clamped their hands to their heads.
"What's happening? What's going on?" Kaylee demanded as J'enshi grabbed her arm.

Nirvana stepped forward and stared up at Hannah.
"She senses us. She thrusting her mind into their mind. Poking and prodding at their memories with little regard for their psyche. It feels as if a thousands needles are pricking their brain. They will be no good to her for days because of this."
"How can she sense us?"
"Because I allowed myself to become angry. Come sister. We must retreat."
"Not yet. We'll just leave this place. Come. Let us go."

Hannah peering out over the field was the last thing Kaylee saw as The Wise took her arm and teleported her somewhere else.
Her eyes were like she remembered them. Cold and lifeless but they were darting around searching.
Searching...
Always searching...

"What is this place?"
She looked around the silent room. Two very pregnant woman laid on the beds staring off into space unblinkingly.
"This is Hannah's nursery."
"What do you mean her nursery?" Kaylee demanded. This place wasn't sterile enough for an adult let alone a newborn.
"These men and women are her incubators. Once she found out what Winston did she was able to implant fertile cells into donors."
She was flabbergasted. "They applied for this job?"
"No, they did not. Probables are that they were tested for several different factors and only the cream of the crop was awarded this...honor."

Kaylee looked to her left to see two men, obviously pregnant, staring into space with the same indifferent look as the woman.
"What about them?"
"That man is R'ouglian so she knew he was fertile. The Aquantius was genetically altered to be able to carry a child. They are like you humans. Only their woman carry the child. And he must be exhausted." Sympathy was written all over J'enshi's face.
"They all look exhausted."
"No, you don't understand. His people need the water. To be on this dry, barren land is draining him of his strength. He will die soon."
"But not before he does his service to Hannah," Kaylee said softly.
"No, not before then. She has perverted all our traditions."
Without warning one of the woman swung her legs over the edge of the bed and slowly got up. A grimaced crossed her face as she gripped her stomach. A beeping sound filled the room and a few minutes later a woman entered.




"I'm so tired ma'am!" the woman puffed out.
"Pray this infant is a girl and you'll have earned yourself a month's reprieve," the other woman said soothingly as she wrote on a chart.
"What does she mean?"
Frowning Nirvana stared hard at the woman before her face clouded with sorrow. "I was able to gather from G'aisha that the donors aren't allowed much of a reprieve between births. This is her sixth child within a two year period."
"How is that possible?"
"They've sped up the birthing process."
"But why?"
"What does Hannah want most?"
"To rule."
"No, Hannah wants to live. Half of these children are taken to Hannah as sacrifices. And the other half are shipped off to where ever people are needed."
Kaylee's stomach heaved from that information just as the woman gave one final scream. An infant's cry soon filled the air.



"Oh! It's a girl. Hannah will be most pleased. You've just earned yourself a month's rest. Be back at the center at 1400 hours thirty days from now."
"Yes ma'am." The woman limped back over to her bed.
"Are they going to check her out?" Kaylee demanded as the woman left the room with the baby in her arms.
"The woman is of no concern to them now. G'aisha is even now thinking of ways to get rid of her."
"But she's still so young."
"But her womb isn't. Apparently someone else was captured that will take her place."
Kaylee felt the bile rising in her throat and slapping a hand over her mouth raced out of the dingy complex.




She didn't know where she was heading. All she knew was that she had to get away from the stench, the horror, the depraved indifference of the people who know resided on this planet. This couldn't be a possible future. It just couldn't. A rock jutting up from the ground caused her to trip and her knees hit the ground. Squeezing her eyes closed she vomited until her throat was sore and her stomach was empty.




Gripping the grass in her fists she stared down. There was no way she couldn't stay and fight now. Not knowing what would happen if she didn't even try. That's what she had been thinking about. What had been keeping her awake. She had been thinking of running away. But even if she ran what good would that do? She'd just become hunted and perhaps even more destruction would follow.
The grass tickled her knees as she shifted. Wait...
The grass?




Her eyes shot upward and she inhaled deeply. Crisp, clean air filtered into her legs. The sound of birds filled the air as the clouds traveled slowly across the sky. The grassy hills were a welcome sight. Closing her eyes a smile worked it's way onto her face.
"They said two possibilities," she gently reminded herself. "Two."
"We would not only show you the worse Kaylee." Once again Nirvana yanked her up. Kaylee stumbled again but stiffened when a voice reached her ears.
"Aw! Come on Uncle Ty!"
Whipping around she saw a small group standing near the road.



"I'm not letting you kids leave until you're clear on the rules."
"Daddy! We're only going to the mall!"
"Uh huh, I've only gone to the mall too. I know what can happen there."
"Dad, would you relax? We know-"
"Boy! Don't tell me to relax!" Ty snapped before sighing heavily.
Kaylee watched as her son dug his toe into the ground. "Yes sir," he mumbled.
"The rules are-" Ty started to say but was cut off when the kids replied in unison.




"No tats, no piercings and no drugs!"
"Aye, aye cap'n!" Gabe said as he did a jig as he saluted sharply.
"You always were a smart ass Gabe."
"Kaylee said I got that from you."
Ty grinned before he stared hard at the girl in the middle. Their daughter, Kaylee thought as her eyes grew damp.
"Baby girl, don't let these boys get you into any trouble. I remember how I was at their age."
"That was decades ago!" Isaac said then dodged away from the playful slap Ty gave to his head.
"We won't get into any trouble dad. I promise."
"Well, okay then. I guess you can have the keys to your car Gabe."
Oh yeah!!!"




As Ty hugged them all Kaylee looked at each of them in turn before looking back up at the sky. Clouds were rolling in. She knew why they had brought her here. She had to see what she was fighting for. What she was willing to die for.
"A storm is coming," Nirvana said.
"Yes," Kaylee said softly. "I need to be prepared."
"We are here for you Kaylee. Whatever you need-"
"I need to learn how to fight."
"-we will teach you."
"Your mind is made up?" J'enshi asked. "There is no going back."
"There never is." She had never said it aloud before. Everyone had just assumed that she was ready but now, seeing what could be-
"I'm ready."
"So then, are we."


*Earlier quote: 'Dreams are today's answers to tomorrow's questions.' is by Edgar Cayce