Chapter 16

They had walked for maybe twenty minutes when they turned a corner and were on the outskirts of a small village. Truda and Angelika squealed like little girls when they saw the open market set up at the other end of town. Alan and Varick both shook their heads as they all started to walk to the other end. Both women were a flurry of activity as the flitted back and forth across the street looking at the various wares for sale.

“How long will they be like this?” Varick whispered to Alan.

“How long? As in they will return to the way they were?” An opened mouth Alan asked, to which Varick and Harman nodded yes. “Uh, the rest of their lives. This wasn’t a temporary fix. I have been putting things where they should be, or where they should have been all this time. There is no ‘temporary’ fix.”

“I’m glad,” Varick replied. “It has been far too long since I have seen her smile and laugh like this. Hell both of them for that matter.” Harman was nodding his agreement with a wide smile on his face.

Alan’s mouth dropped open as he stared at Harman, “here I thought you wanted her to remain a little girl.”

Harman looked at Alan with shock, “It would be nice, but I know that she has to grow, as we all do. No, seeing her happy is what I have always wanted for her.” Looking at Alan and scowling he continued, “I know your type Alan I don’t want her used like I know that you would do.”

Alan held up his hands, “I do not have designs on your sister. Do I have to beat the shit out of you to convince you?”

The look of happiness and the smile that crossed Harman’s face had Alan just shaking his head. Harman had taken a step toward Alan when Truda appeared.

“I suggest brother,” Truda growled, “that if you start a fight with Alan that I be NO WHERE near. I would kick your ass when you both were done. What Alan has given us should make you happy not wanting to fight!”

This time it was Harman who was putting his hands up as he was retreating before his rapidly advancing sister.

Alan could only shake his head again as he heard Harman yell when Truda started to punch her brother. “Ow! Damn it Truda I am only looking after...”

“I,” Truda growled, “am a grown woman and can take care of myself quite well. Do I have to beat you up to prove that?” When Harman started to smile Truda started in again punching her brother.

Varick and Alan started to chuckle as they watched Truda chase her brother unmercifully around the market place. Neither noticed the sudden increase of several large men at both ends of the street. That was ‘til a moment later when Alan felt a weak probe stretch out toward them. Snapping up his defenses Alan reached out and gave effectively gave whomever it was a slap. A cry behind them drew their attention to a younger man rolling on the ground.

Harman was suddenly at their side as several of the men helped the young man to his feet. The young man’s face twisted into an angry mask as Alan felt a much more titanic force push toward them. Waving his hand the attack stopped several feet short of him and the others.

(I don’t know who you are, but continue this and you will get hurt. I suggest that you stop before I have to put you out.) Alan thought to the young man. The only answer he got was an increasing of the force that was hitting at Alan’s shields. Sighing Alan was about to tell the youth good night when he felt the other, stronger person on the other side of town. (Alright! You want to piss me off? FINE!) With that, Alan sent out an energy blast that knocked both of the people out.

“Angelika! Truda! Time to go!” Alan told both women as they appeared at his side.

“This isn’t over you monsters!” One of the men shouted as they cradled the young man.

“Monsters? You attacked us! Leave us the hell alone and we will also! Let’s go!” With that Alan thought of the bunker and they were back inside within seconds.

“Assholes!” Alan was letting his pent up anger out blowing holes in the wall. “Son of a bitch called us monsters!? Maybe I should have killed all of those asinine pricks!”

Angelika moved to Alan laying a hand on his shoulder startling him. He was shocked he hadn’t felt her at all. This was good to know now before they were out there and lost their tempers. “You have to calm Alan; I don’t think the bunker can survive if you keep this up.”

Calming Alan realized that she was right. Why had he lost his temper like that while the others hadn’t? Sitting he started to search for the reason.

Back in the village the young man was shaking his head. The young man hadn’t felt power like that for a while now. The last time had been someone called the doctor. The mind had wanted him to do things for him but the young man had refused. The mind had started to attack him when he was drawn back to the village. He could feel the love of the mind that had brought him back, Grandfather!

An older woman was walking up to the young man, “Are you ok? They didn’t hurt you?”

“No mother, just knocked me out. Did you hear that voice? So Far away.” The man told his mother.

“Yes I did, I think we need to talk to your Grandfather about this. I can’t explain it but the thoughts I heard felt familiar,” the woman told the man.

“Now that you mention it they did. You think that Grandfather might know who they are?” The man asked a hint of hope in his voice. “You think it might be them? The ones Grandfather spoke of?”