Twig said, “It is a rather dramatic change, too.”
Tommy looked at them and Sprig continued, “As you know, my race is plant life. We have families but they are primarily for economic and social reasons. We don’t nurture our young because they are seeds containing everything they will need to survive. The mating is primarily done to improve our race. Twig is the daughter of our eldest leader; her genes are far superior to my own.”
“No, they’re not,” Twig interjected.
Sprig looked at Twig and said, “Yes they are and it’s nice of you to disagree but she is on the highest level of our species. We could never end up together because of that difference. We have decided not to return to our people but to spend our lives together.”
Tommy and Cassandra sat straight up in their chairs and Cassandra said, “You can’t do that. You must have the golden soil to live a full life. Your life span will be shortened dramatically.”
Twig said, “We know that but I’ve told Sprig that if we can’t be together, I’d rather be alone. We discovered something when we absorbed each other.” Twig reached for Sprig with four of her limbs and wrapped them around him, “We found love. No member of my species has ever had that emotion for another member.”
Tommy looked at them with furrowed brows and Sprig said, “We really didn’t know what the feeling was but we were in your minds at the wedding when you touched each other and we saw and felt what you were feeling. We now feel that for each other. I was going to be silent about my feelings after we absorbed each other but she had every thought and feeling I’ve felt. She knew.”
“And I will not live away from him,” Twig said. “We have also decided that the names you gave us will be our names for the rest of our lives. But back to the point, when we were in trouble, you and Captain Dodd came and touched so we could survive the process. We would like to offer you our help in return.”
“What help,” Tommy said.
“Why help you absorb each other,” Twig said.
Cassandra said, “Can we do that; we’re different from you.”
“We believe you can. We also believe the shocks you’ve been having are due to the difficulty of your inner selves letting go to allow each other in.”
Tommy looked at Cassandra then asked, “Is it dangerous; is there a possibility I might lose her?”
The Algeans paused and finally Twig said, “Yes.”
“I can’t run that risk, then,” Tommy said. “She is too important in the fight against the Captors.”
Cassandra looked at Tommy with tears in her eyes and said, “We could win the war and if I lost you I would die. I cannot go on fighting this war without knowing you are mine. I can see I’m losing you now. Tommy, we have to do this, please.”
Tommy looked into her eyes and saw her pain. The speaker on the wall said, “I would also rather never save my brothers from their captivity if it meant that you two were hurt like I know you would be if you lost each other,” Atlas said.
Tommy looked at Cassie and said without taking his eyes from her, “Boy, you sure are nosey.”
“Comes with the job.”
Cassandra smiled through her tears and Tommy asked, “How long will it take.”
“We don’t know,” Sprig said. “We will be with you helping you through the process but we are in unfamiliar territory.”
Tommy keyed his com and said, “Lt. McAnn and Ensign Johns, report to the third deck conference room immediately.”
Tommy continued to watch Cassandra cry until three minutes later Wes and Linda Kay ran into the room. “What’s wrong,” Wes asked?”
Tommy looked at Wes and said, “Stand by for just a moment. Tommy then keyed his com to the ships general intercom and said, “Effective immediately, Lt. McAnn is promoted to executive officer and will be in command of the Kosiev.” Tommy then turned his com off and said to Wes, “Cassandra and I are going to attempt something that is dangerous. Until the situation clarifies itself, you will take command of the Kosiev and keep her safe until we return. Linda Kay, you will stay here and keep Wes informed about how we’re doing; othewise, he won’t stay on the bridge. Any questions?”
“Yes, what are you doing?”
Tommy reached forward and took Cassie’s hands and said, “Getting to know each other. Sprig, give Wes the coordinates of one of those nerve centers out in deep space and let’s get this started before I lose my nerve.”
Sprig said, “Wes, the coordinates are on your board on the bridge. Please move us there quickly.”
Tommy could see Wes’ fear but he turned and ran from the room.” After three minutes he heard over the intercom, “Jump in ten seconds, 4,3,2,1, execute.” Tommy held on to Cassie as the universe turned around them.
As the ship settled next to the nerve center Sprig said to Twig, “I will lead them; you need to monitor the nerve center.”
“Now way; I’m better than you at handling the process.”
Sprig gave her a mental smile and said, “You just worry about me being damaged by this. You know that we both are equal in skills for this task but you are definitely better at field dynamics and that makes you more qualified at monitoring the nerve center.”
Twig felt a stubbornness arise but knew he was right. “I’ll be checking on your progress. Be careful, Sprig. I don’t want to lose you.”
Sprig felt her love and it strengthened him. How’s the nerve center?”
Twig looked at her instruments and said, “It’s starting to rise, but slowly. Don’t waste time.”
Sprig entered Tommy’s and Cassie’s minds and felt the love they were feeling. Here we go,” he thought.
Chapter 14
A week had passed as Linda Kay and Twig waited in the conference room. Twig had almost stopped the process as the temperature of the nerve center continued to rise. Just before she halted them the temperature quit rising and leveled off. She continued to monitor the center but it did not change. Linda Kay was worried. Tommy and Cassandra did not move and their breathing was very shallow. They seemed to be in a coma. Wes would come in and watch his two friends and leave as duties demanded. Linda Kay looked at Twig and said, “How are they doing?”
“I can’t tell. They are so deep in each other’s minds that I can’t reach them. Even Sprig is lost to me. I don’t know if I can bring them out even if I want to do so.”
Linda Kay continued to watch and worry. Twig had an idea and thought to Tgon-Gee, “Tgon-Gee, do you have a moment.”
“Who is this?”
“I am called Twig, Tgon-Gee. I am one of the adolescents on board the Kosiev.”
“I know you. What do you need?”
“Would you look at Tommy and Cassandra’s auras and tell me what you see?”
“Send me a visual,”
Twig turned the com toward them and sent it to Tgon-Gee.”
“By the creator, what are they doing?”
“Why, what’s wrong,” Twig asked?
“Neither one of them have an aura. What have they done?”
“I’m not certain. I just wanted to know what you saw.”
Tgon-Gee thought, “Rose, answer me.”
“Hello, Tgon-Gee. What do you need?”
“Tommy and Cassandra no longer have an aura.”
“What!” Rose turned her attention to her brother and saw them in a trance. “What have they done,” she asked Linda Kay?
Twig said, “Allow me, Ensign Johns.” Twig then explained what was happening.
Rose said, “Give me your coordinates right now! I’m on my way.”
Tommy thought to his sister, “That won’t be necessary.”
Linda Kay and Twig jumped up and started hugging the three that had been locked in a trance.
Rose said, “What have you done? Tgon-Gee tells me that you and Cassandra do not have an aura.”
“Really, that’s interesting.”
Rose said, “Duke Gardner, explain to me what you’ve done.”
Tommy said, “Alright, Alright. We have just had a tune up?”
Rose was speechless. Tommy saw Tgon-Gee on the com and said, “I’ve learned about auras during this melding. An aura is released from a person with psychic skill when their powers are not functioning at full efficiency. It’s like one of the old combustion engines that released smoke from their exhaust when they weren’t operating efficiently. If your psychic skills are efficient, then the aura is not seen easily.”