Chapter Twelve: The Blessed Curse — Part 5

The Second Core Subtext, Memory Transference. Part 5 . . .

The man had a lust for power and a need that she shared with him more than anything else — a need to know who he was. The contact pained her, though part of her mind felt drawn. In the brief moment of telepathic contact, Pearl exchanged a sense of self with this frightening other. They were practically one person, if only for that moment, until her will reasserted itself. She could feel a history that went beyond her current memory, as if across lifetimes. The two touched minds and while he struggled to dominate her, she struggled simply to maintain her own sense of self, and Pearl knew she could be no part of him or his life as weak as she currently was. He would consume her and use her for his own precious gains. To preserve her sense of self, and to conceal her physical existence, Pearl left Zon through the Snap, Sissy floating along behind her. She left Chen, knowing that he would be unable, at least for the present, to follow her.

“He has power over my mind Sissy, and somehow, I have to learn to protect myself before I encounter him again.” Pearl said, once his touch on her was gone.

“How could a man have any power over you?” Sissy wondered.

“I don’t know.” Pearl said to Sissy, “His will is stronger than mine, or perhaps he has some ability I lack.” Pearl paused, rubbing her forehead. “This is your last chance to stay, love. I may never be able to return.”

Sissy kept her eyes forward, staring deep into the terrifying tunnel of absolute darkness that Pearl’s will pushed them through. Her stomach lurched as gravity seemed to pull her in random directions. She wondered how Pearl moved through it without seeming flustered at all. “It’s so dark, so lifeless. I feel could die here.” Sissy said, reaching frantically for Pearl, groping for balance in a darkness that seemed to suck at her from all sides.

Pearl snagged her hand and pulled Sissy close. “I’ve been here before. I can see well enough to get us where we’re headed.”

“And where is that?” Sissy wondered.

“The only place stored in my memory, in my heredity, as it were. The planet of my origin, of all hume origin.”

Sissy let out a quiet whimper. “Nobody on Zon is ever supposed to leave. We lost a war, and as terms of our surrender, were put down on Zon.”

“I promise you there is no danger in leaving.” Pearl said. “I am certain that the powers enforcing that treaty are long dead, or at least, not influenced by our meager existences.”

Sissy, not knowing what else to do, closed her eyes, put her head on Pearl’s shoulder, and put her trust in Pearl. Pearl remained focused with eyes that saw a shadow of the universe around her, on her path toward Earth.

Pearl would return to Zon only one more time, drawn to protect her village when war finally claimed its nation.

***

Nikkei woke up with a start. She nearly slammed her forehead into Orchid. “Pearl is wonderful.” She said, laughing. “Pearl is wonderful.”

To that, Orchid could not consider a response.