The conference room door opened and Jake looked to see who was entering. A beautiful young woman stepped in and said, “I’m sorry I’m late.”
Joe stood up from his chair and stared at the vision entering the room. Melanie turned and said, “That’s ok, honey. Everyone, this is my daughter, AG.”
The young woman stepped forward, shook Jake’s hand, and hugged Valerie. She did not come around to Joe, but instead went to the other side of the table.
Joe was crushed. He could not take his eyes off AG. He tried, but just couldn’t do it. He wondered what was happening.
Jake watched AG take her seat and was worried. This young woman’s psychic power was equal or possibly even greater than his. Fortunately, she seemed to be watching Joe very carefully. Jake thought Matt had the highest psychic power of all the Gardners, but he sensed that this young woman was another order of magnitude stronger than her father.
Valerie finally finished bringing them up to date with the plan to move all the enslaved populations to the Algeans’ galaxy.
Tag looked around the table and said to Jake, “So you’re the super psychic of this time.”
Jake smiled, “It appears I am. Sometimes I wonder about that.”
Jake saw Danielle smile and nod to Melanie.
“What have you planned to do about removing the invaders?”
Jake tilted his head and said, “I was thinking you were going to help us with that issue. I was hoping you would have a weapon that would penetrate the hulls of their ships.”
Tag sighed and said, “We don’t have one now.”
Jake saw Valerie’s disappointment, but then Tag said something that shocked him.
“However, we think we know where to get one.”
Jake said, “Do tell?”
Valerie said, “I have some questions.”
Tag looked at her and said, “Go ahead.”
“Why did you disappear from the Realm?”
Tag started telling why as Danielle thought back and remembered the moment the decision was made.
Tag said, “Tell me about your vision.”
Matt sighed, “I think I should just show you mentally.”
Tag nodded, and Danielle entered Tag’s mind as Matt sent the vision. After a moment Tag blurted out, “That planet being destroyed is Ulmerton.”
Danielle said, “Oh no!”
Matt nodded and said, “Yes it is. And none of our weapons have affected those ships. I also want you to see the universe those ships are from. My vision went there as soon as I looked at one of their ships using it.
Tag watched and he saw millions of planets being enslaved and consumed by the beings attacking the Stars Realm. The savagery of the attackers was unbelievable. Matt finished his vision and Tag turned to Rose, “Show me your vision.” Tag and Danielle saw that the two were virtually identical.
Danielle looked at Rose and asked, “When does this happen?”
Rose shook her head, “We don’t know, Mom. We sense that it is far in the future, but we don’t know how far. There is one part of the vision we have not shown you.”
Tag looked hard at Rose and said, “Why?”
Suddenly Tag and Danielle saw the vision of Tag, Tommy and Matt talking with three humans in the Kosiev’s conference room. “Does your vision also have this in it, Matt?”
Matt shook his head, “No, but it does have something similar.” Once more the vision of the conference room appeared but in this one Danielle, Melanie, Casandra, and a beautiful young woman were speaking with the same three humans. Danielle stared at the fourth female and said, “Matt, AG is in this vision.”
Matt sighed again and said, “She’s only eight now, but you’re right and she looks like she’s in her early twenties.”
Danielle thought a moment and said, “I’m bringing Tommy and Cassandra in on this.”
Tag looked at her and nodded.
Tommy and Cassandra stepped out of a teleport screen and saw the concerned expressions on the gathered group. Cassandra furrowed her brow and said, “What’s wrong?”
Danielle said, “Matt and Rose have had a vision.” She looked at Rose and said, “Show them what you’ve seen.”
Tag waited as Tommy and Cassandra were shown the two visions. He was worried. If this vision was not a possible vision but a real view of the future, then his family was going to be present when the events happened. If that event was far in the future, then every day was going to be spent being frightened and worried about the fate of the Realm.
Cassandra said, “I am not going to spend centuries waiting for this to happen. The thousand years I waited for Matt to come was almost more than I could bear. This feels like it is going to be longer than a thousand years.”
Tommy shook his head and said, “I feel the same way.”
Tag took a deep breath and said, “You have no choice.”
Everyone turned to him and Danielle said, “Why do you say that?”
“Because we are there! Do you think this is a choice we can make? This is a destiny that cannot be avoided. You know the power of these visions, and we are swept up in what is going to happen.”
The Gardners looked at each other and they saw that Tag was right. Cassandra said, “This isn’t fair. We’ve done our duty. Why must we suffer so long?”
Tag looked at Rose and said, “I didn’t see you in the vision. Do you know what that means?”
Rose gave a small frown and said, “Yes.”
Danielle said, “Rose, you can’t do that!”
Rose shook her head and said, “Mom, I’m aging. As soon as the war with the Demons ended, it began. My life expectancy was just long enough to take part in the battle. Chris and I agree that we want to live a full life and grow old together. I’m pretty certain there is a reason why I’m not there, and you are going to see that it’s important I live a normal life.”
Tag walked to Rose and took her in his arms, “I love you so much, Rose. I don’t want a life without you in it.”
Rose began crying, “I’m not going anywhere this time, Dad. Just make each moment that we have together count.”
Matt looked at Melanie and said, “I know what we’re going to do.”
Everyone looked at him and he thought so everyone could hear, “Alexander, have you been listening in on this?”
“Yes, I have, Matt. Fly Girl and Al are also here.”
Matt smiled, “Still nosey, aren’t you?”
Al laughed, “Nothing ever changes. What are you thinking, Matt?”
“Alex, if we enter your outer skin, how much time would pass for us while we are in there?”
The Alexander Kosiev pondered the question for a moment, “Basically, none.”
Tag thought about what Matt was saying, then he understood, “So, if all of us enter your skin, no time will pass for us no matter how long we are in there.”
“Tag, time does not exist in my outer layer.”
Danielle looked around and said, “Everyone sit down and let’s think about this.”
AG walked into the Gardner’s room and said, “I think I should be here.”
Melanie looked at her daughter and said, “You’ve been listening in again?”
“Of course, Mother. I’ve seen their visions and I know why I’m in it.”
That statement stunned everyone. Matt said, “Tell us why.”
“No, I’m won’t. It has no bearing on what you’re planning, and I’m not certain about what I sense. I’ll tell you when we emerge from the Kosiev.”
Danielle said, “So you’ve seen us?”
“Yes, I have, and you are going to enter the Kosievs’ skin in eleven years.”