Juliette said, I can always feel my emotions in that dream. I loved you so intensely it hurt. Its what Im feeling now, Scotty
Scotty pulled her close and said, Let the future be the future. We have each other and this moment is where we live. Each day is a miracle, and to worry about the future is wasted time. Live in the moment; it may be all we ever have.
Juliette held him tight and said, Im amazed at your heart, Scotty. Ill love you forever.
They held each other tight as billions of stars overhead waited patiently for the conqueror lying on the hill with his mate.
Jingo saw Scotty and Julie in the forest. Scotty was teaching her to use a bowgun. Hows the rookie doing?
Scotty turned and said, Shes making progress.
Julie punched him in the ribs, Hey, Im doing pretty good.
Jingo looked at the target a hundred yards away and saw three of the five arrows in the center circle. Did you shoot any of those?
Julie said, No, he did not.
Jingo whistled, Shes doing better than many of our archers.
Her aim is good, but shes slow on reloading.
Jingo said, Show me.
Julie raised the bowgun and fired it. She pulled an arrow from the quiver on her back and fired again. The first arrow hit the center circle. The second was just outside it. She had reloaded the second arrow within two seconds of the first hitting the target. Scotty, theres no way she could have learned this so quickly. We have archers that have practiced the bowgun their entire life that arent this good.
Scotty smiled, She appears to be a natural.
Julie looked at her bowgun and said, These are remarkable, Jingo. You just look at your target and the arrow goes where you look.
No, it doesnt, Julie. I can count on half my fingers how many archers can shoot by feel. Two of them are present.
Julie looked at Jingo and then at Scotty who nodded. Then how do you explain this?
Jingo lowered his head and thought about how she could have developed so quickly. Julie, how much time have you spent talking with Vring?
Quite a lot. Hes really interesting, and funny. He knows so much.
Jingo looked at Scotty and said, Scotty, he was in our minds during the Night of the Torg. He listened to our thoughts and was also in our minds during the most intense fighting. I think he transferred our thought and physical processes to her during their communication.
Scotty thought about what Jingo was saying. Zreeg has also seen me hunt Torg with him. I suspect that Zreeg is the one that shaped her mind for this. He has also seen the Night of the Torg.
Julie thought about what they were saying, It was Zreeg.
Scotty and Jingo looked at her, I remember him showing me, in great detail, the Night of the Torg. I could actually feel you fire your bowguns. It was so real. Now when I have a bowgun in my hand I get the same feeling as that vision. It feels I dont knowright.
Scotty looked overhead, Is Zreeg around?
Julie thought, Zreeg, will you meet me at the archery range?
On my way.
The three waited in silence until the giant Zord landed. Scotty looked up and said, Zreeg, have you heard what we were discussing?
Yes.
I want you to do something for me.
What is that?
I want you to focus on the thoughts youve seen when Jingo and I fire our bowguns. I want you to really get them in your mind and then send those thoughts to Julie.
Zreeg was silent and Julie looked at Scotty with a questioning look. Julie heard, Listen closely, Rider.
Julie felt hundreds of arrows leaving Jingos and Scottys bowguns. She felt what they experienced, and felt the sense of touch for the arrow and the bowgun. Over and over again she felt the sensation and saw the arrows flying at the target. After twenty minutes they heard Zreeg say, Ive given it to her.
Scotty looked at Julie, pointed at the target, and said, Give it another go.
Julie turned and faced the target. She felt different. She reached over her shoulder and pulled an arrow, and it felt as natural as one of her fingers. She smoothly loaded it and fired. Almost faster than Scotty and Jingo could see, she pulled and fired two more arrows before the first hit the target. All three hit the center of the circle with the third splitting the first arrow. She watched and knew that the second was fired just a little quickly or all three would have hit together. Scotty and Jingo were amazed. She was faster than them and they knew it. Scotty looked up at Zreeg and said, Do the same thing to me.
Scotty felt the sensations and let them take over his mind. He felt every shot and saw where the arrow was going to hit as he fired it. Zreeg finally said, You have it all.
Scotty suddenly turned and fired five arrows at the two hundred yard target and watched as all five were split by the next arrow coming in. Scotty had his bowgun down watching before the first arrow hit. Jingo said, Its my turn, Zreeg.
Julie felt her power with a bowgun. It felt right in her hand. She knew the air pressure had to be raised five pounds to make it really accurate. How she knew was a mystery but she knew it was true.
After Jingo was done Zreeg said, I hope you know that this process will not work on most of your community.
Why not?
Because most of their minds are not open enough for me to reach the part that controls this movement. The only one that can benefit is the one called Blake.
Jingo said, Ill go get him.
Scotty said, That would be wise. Scotty looked up at Zreeg, I can understand why Jingo and I are open. Why is Julie able to use this process? She hasnt had near the mental contact as Jingo and me.
Zreeg looked at Julie and said, She is open naturally. Zreeg paused and said, Just as you are, White Hair.
Scotty thought about what Zreeg said and then remembered, Zreeg, will you fly over the learning center and see if Timmy and Tesa are there?
The giant Zord lifted and flew north over the deep woods.
Jingo came back with Michael Blake in tow and said, Wheres Zreeg?
Hell be right back. I had him go check the learning center for Timmy.
Im glad you thought about that. Id forgotten.
Julie looked at them and asked, Whos Timmy?
Jingo laughed, Hes our resident genius. He lives in the learning center downloading everything that catches his interest. Jingo looked up and saw Zreeg returning.
The two are at the learning center.
Jingo, Im taking Julie to go visit the learning center. You help Michael with Zreeg.
Pack a lunch. Ill see you tomorrow. He turned to Michael and said, Go pull those arrows out of the targets. I have a new technique I want to teach you.
New technique?
Trust me, youll love it.
Scotty and Julie smiled as they headed back to the community.
Chapter Eight
Timmy Valrico reclined in a chair with the download headband on his forehead. Tesa was in a chair beside him sharing his download. Timmy opened his eyes and said, Wow! That was amazing.
Tesa was shaking her head. Those Algean ships are huge. Theres no way they should have lost to the Holy Realm.
But they did, Tesa. The Realm had the best engineers.
Only because the Algeans were stunted in their development. You know who really had the best engineers.
Timmy shrugged then heard a knock on the door. She looked at Timmy who ran to a display and saw it was Scotty with that new woman. He went up two flights of stairs and released the door. What brings you to the deep woods?
We need to see if you can help us. Hi, Tesa.
Tesa jumped up and ran and hugged Scotty, Hi, yourself. Its good to see you.
Scotty helped Julie down the narrow steps and said, Timmy, Tesa, this is Julie. Julie, this is Timmy and Tesa.