Chapter 22

The next morning, Ray and Elizabeth walked into the office hours ahead of everyone else. Smiling, Ray was glad that someone else knew besides his friend John. Looking around, Ray advised Elizabeth on what they needed to do. “Wait, wait, wait, you are actually going to try and alter your friend’s mind? Can’t that be dangerous? After all, human minds are different than alien minds,” Elizabeth told him. “You ... so you have adjusted me before! RAY!” Then Elizabeth thought further about the circumstances involved and smiled. “I didn’t realize. Thank you, Ray. Had you not, then we might not be as we are. Be careful, though, as you discovered the mind can be somewhat tricky at times.”

Ray had listened to all that Elizabeth had said, though he was sure he had heard a few undertones of Nali there also. It was perhaps two and a half hours later when his friend John came in. Taking a deep breath, Ray tried to calm himself. He had to get this right. Being able to have John run most of the company with these enhancements was paramount.

John entered his office and saw that Ray and Elizabeth were there. “Hello, John, close the door, please.” John stared at both of them with his mouth agape. “John, I have decided to leave the company,” Ray held up a hand to stop him from commenting. “I know I have well over 95% of the ideas that keep us at the forefront of the market, but I feel that I might be able to adjust your mind to do this somewhat also.”

“Adjust my MIND! Look Ray I like my mind the way it is if you—” Ray barely touched John, effectively shutting off his voice and rendering him unable to move.

“Now then, you won’t really notice the adjustments that much. I’m not going to make you super smart, but I am going to give you a push. You should be able to get enough ideas to keep the company more or less at an even keel. Though from time to time, I will throw you an idea to elevate the company for a while. I have to, John. I love this company a lot more than you do, but I’m tired, and there is a lot more I can do out in the world than from just here.” John’s eyes were huge; Ray was going to leave! No! They’d go under in a few months!

“Please, Ray,” John begged when Ray let him talk. “You have always been the driving force behind all of this. If you leave, I am afraid that it will all die!”

Leaning close, Ray told him, “That’s why you might say I am making you smarter than you are, though I am afraid I can’t let you remember except when we are talking on the phone or in here.” Ray said, tapping the side of his head.

“I’ll miss you, Ray. You are really the only friend I have, never had any other,” John said, looking down. “Or girlfriend either. Guess I was a lot like you, too interested in the business of the business.”

Looking at Elizabeth, Ray smiled. That might be fixable. Reaching in, Ray soon found the areas that he needed to advance. At first, John was staring at Ray, then he started to feel what Ray was doing. As his brain opened more to the creative side, his eyes got larger and larger, then Ray stopped. John was in no way as smart as he was, but he was a hell of a lot closer than he had been. Smiling, Ray began to touch other areas: pheromone production and detection, then, least he forget, the control that John needed and Ray knew he would need soon.

Ray arose and hugged his friend, feeling all the cover stories that Ray had placed there fall into place. “I really wish you didn’t have to go, and sorry that I won’t remember this after you leave. You have been a good friend, even if I haven’t always been. Be well, my friend.” They were leaving the office when Ray nodded to John’s secretary, who seemed to be antsy to see her boss. Ray looked at Elizabeth and nodded. John was in for a bit of fun; he could smell that secretary’s pheromones going into overdrive. Smiling at her, he and Elizabeth both nodded, then walked out.

Outside, they both kept walking. Ray suddenly felt freer than he ever had before, but there were a few things he had to do before they could start on this grand adventure, as he was starting to call it. Ray could see that Elizabeth was starting to have a hard time walking. “Elizabeth, are you ok? Can I do anything?” Ray had started to reach out to her and found himself against a solid wall! Now where in the hell were they both...

Elizabeth was now almost panting, finding it harder and harder to draw a breath. Nali wasn’t doing as well either. Finally, Nali and Elizabeth gasped out, “Ray, we have to get to the house NOW!” Ray was startled, then worried as hell. He’d never attempted actually transferring physically, but for both of them, he would do anything. Concentrating with all he had, there was a bright light that started to envelop them, then just as suddenly, they were in Ray’s house half a mile away. The strain of the move had taken a toll on Ray as he collapsed on the floor, both Nali and Elizabeth screaming. ‘Odd,’ Ray thought as the darkness took him. ‘It sounded like two distinct voices.’

It was a few hours later when Ray had finally clawed his way back to the surface, and he was finally able to open his eyes. Elizabeth was there wiping his face. “Thank goodness you woke up. The transfer in solid form took so much of your energy,” she told him as she sighed in relief.

“Wait,” Ray suddenly said, “you aren’t Elizabeth. Nali? What’s going on? When did you change your eye color to blue? And your hair, it was a sandy blonde, now it’s red?”

“Well,” Nali started when another Elizabeth walked into view.

Ray fell off the bed, backing up, trying to get away. “What in the hell is going on?” Ray shouted. “There ... there are two of you!?” Shaking his head, he tried to clear his head. This had to be a trick, or he was hurt, or...

“No, Ray, you are quite fine. This is no trick, though I believe that Nali will have to explain it. I got lost when she was trying to explain to me,” Elizabeth told him with her sweetest smile.

“You remember I told you and Elizabeth that I have been in contact with you and Elizabeth for so long that I was finally starting to convert to what I wanted to be, it wouldn’t take much longer, and then I’d have a real surprise for the both of you?” Nali told Ray, also with a sweet smile. When Ray could only nod, she continued. “Finally, after what you would call decades by your time units in my world, I was finally able to transform to what you see before you.”

Nali nodded to Elizabeth, and they both were suddenly naked. Ray couldn’t help but admire both of their bodies; they were almost identical in all respects except for the hair on the body.

“I found that there are other things that have happened, but we can discuss them later,” Nali said, giving Elizabeth a knowing look and smile.

Ray was beginning to get suspicious. What in the hell were these two up to? He was about to voice his opinion when he felt a small tugging from Miahally on the Chorton world. Reaching out, Ray finally found his friend.

Yes, Miahally, is something wrong? a worried Ray asked.

Well, I’m not sure if you would say something is wrong. The Queen is no better or worse. She awoke once the day you left and told the guards to keep her daughter safe. She hasn’t spoken since. The daughter has issued a few mandates that she could, and it appears all that you did to her worked. Most of the oppressive conditions on the planet have eased. I think it is time, Treg Trag. The new order needs to start, but as before, we need to make sure.

Alright, Miahally, we will be there soon. I am sorry it has been so long, my friend, though I am afraid that this may be the last time we see each other, Ray told his friend.

Yes, I figured as much with you gone as long as you have been. I’ll see... Miahally started. Then issued a small gasp when not only Ray and Elizabeth appeared but Nali as a near twin of Elizabeth.

Looking Nali up and down, the Chorton nodded, I see you have settled on a form of the solids, nodding further, Miahally led Ray, now disguised as a Chorton, to the palace.

They walked in with only a few stops to inspect them, then they were led to the Queen’s daughter’s room. The daughter turned as soon as they entered the room, then her Ray guessed mouth hung open as she ushered her attendants out.

Bowing low to him, they heard her say, Treg Trag! I thought after the last time I might not see you again!

After this time, I may not be able to return. I have come to check on you, though it appears you are well, though, I hear your mother isn’t, Ray told her.

No, she isn’t, though it is amazing that she has lasted this long, she told them. Both Ray had already been looking, seeing that everything he’d put in place was still firmly there, though there was one other thing ... Gently, Ray withdrew. Suddenly there was a smile Ray guessed it was she felt happy on the face of the daughter. Oh, Treg Trag, thank you! These thoughts are so beautiful! I wish you a safe journey, and when mother finally expires, I will be the Queen I know I can be, one that you will be very proud of!

Ray nodded as he and Miahally started to make a hasty retreat. Ray figured they had maybe half an hour before all hell broke loose as he’d snapped all the brain connections of the Queen. Be safe, my friend, and breed well! Ray told Miahally.

You as well, though I see ... well, it is of no matter. Be safe and breed well! Miahally thought to him, then did something that completely shocked him. “Friend,” came from Miahally. Not all that clear, reminding Ray of nails on a chalkboard, but there nonetheless. Ray bowed to Miahally, truly honoring the Chorton.

Ray and both Nali and Elizabeth appeared on Nali’s old home planet. More than a few of the BLEMS came rushing up to her. Suddenly, she converted back to her BLEM form as she mingled with her people. Ray was sad at first but thought that this was what she needed. Then there were several more of the BLEMS around him and Elizabeth, who screamed a moment, then he was staring out at the world through their eyes. The colors were twice as vivid, bright, and just plain beautiful.

Nali was shocked. Both Ray and Elizabeth had transmuted to her people’s form. Looking at Ray, she found him even more gorgeous than she had before. Then she looked at Elizabeth and had to hold her breath. She was a soft pulsating color, meaning that...! That’s when she looked at her own self and saw the same soft pulsating color. Oh, DEAR! Was it possible!? A moment later, Ray, Elizabeth, and Nali were human again. Ray was finally starting to understand these people. Finally, he understood them to a point that he was more than glad he’d saved them. Such beauty deserved to be preserved.

All three of them appeared in his small house after what had to be maybe an hour had passed. Ray was still in shock a bit from all that he’d seen when he was in the BLEM form. Then again, he did have a question to put to Nali and Elizabeth. He’d seen the soft pulsating glow that both of them had had.