Chapter 65: Anayees Parnok

“We must assume the underworld beings will be ready for us,” said Ashlyn in the hospital waiting room the following morning.

“Is there any point in us going with you? We can’t create a body. We saw what happened but didn’t do anything,” said Kreia.

“You are as we are when we go through, purely a telepathic presence,” said Keresen. “They can go through the evil one in Anayees to the source. We’ve never seen it done before. You must use your telepathic assault skills to help them as much as possible. I will be with you. They are as if they enter another world as themselves.”

“I will bring Parnok out of stasis,” said Kreia and fiddled with the holographic controls.

Keresen turned to Ashlyn. “Ashlyn, you are correct; they will be ready and waiting. Why do you refer to the underworld?”

“It is part of the mythology of our planet; the good goes to a place called heaven, which you go upwards. You follow a white light after you die. They sit with God, listen to a celestial choir, and move around on clouds. If you are evil, you go to a place called hell, which is in the underworld. The place we saw was as I imagined the underworld,” Ashlyn grinned.

“When we first met, you told the Council about your background, Brendan, and David’s. What is your current opinion about the existence of a god or gods?” Keresen asked.

“Many different beings we have met could qualify as gods but choose not to play gods,” said Brendan. “You guys are way ahead of us, and if you appeared on Earth, you could make billions believe you are gods. Since I have met the advanced and ancients, I am less and less sure on one level about what a god is, but on another, I still pray and talk to god as I always did. What has changed is my beliefs about religion.”

“What has changed for you, Bren?” Ashlyn asked.

“Our religions on Earth were largely rigid, bigoted, and dominated by power-grabbing people. They were inflexible and unshifting. I shudder to think how much utter garbage I accepted as gospel,” said Brendan.

“I am much like Brendan. I split myself into two, and concurrently, I believe, two different things from what he does. Yet, I pray as I did and find comfort in it. However, I now have another pressing question. Who are we? We have unique genetic coding in another dimension. We died and became something no one can explain. Yesterday, we did something you haven’t seen before, Keresen. It was another manifestation of ourselves. Who or what are we?” David asked.

‘Our people are equally curious. In our terms, you are not yet an adult, but show mature judgment. Brendan, you have an intrinsic understanding of high-level politics, as do you all. David, you demonstrate the skills of a wise admiral. In a fight, you fight together as if you trained together for years,’ said Keresen. ‘Ashlyn, I sense a great healer in you, but a combat healer.’

‘We played computer games together for many years,” said David. “In many, we fought together. We know how each of us thinks and how we will behave—lots of games involve strategy. Brendan gained political skills from his mentor. His mentor is one of those who communicate through the Pearls. My mentor from Earth also communicates through the Pearls. We’ll introduce you to the Pearl people when we get back.’

‘Have you asked them about your ability to create forms that fit unusual environments?’ Keresen asked.

‘No, we haven’t,’ said Brendan.

‘One last question before we begin. Have you learned to fight as a XaX?’

‘Dorel has been teaching us,’ said Brendan. ‘We can squirt acid and sting with our tails.’