Chapter 8

The Watcher was aware of Marian and Jack as they talked. The disks allowed him to watch them continually. This was necessary as the changes took place in their minds and bodies in case there was a need to intervene. He felt secure that everything would work perfectly; in the millennia that the Node had been choosing people to carry the Triad it had never been wrong. However, this was the first joining since the arrival here and the Node had logged no information as to the expected reactions of the keepers. The separation of the Triad long years before had been catastrophic and bloody. The rituals the Ocula people had used to appease the keepers would not be reinstated. The Node had worked history to make sure the genetic line of the Ocula had died out. The keepers were not of the Ocula. They represented a civilization far older and more advanced than the Okula could have achieved. The third keeper would arrive soon, within days, and then their education would begin.

Jack walked through the recreation park letting the quiet night air calm his disturbed mind. As he sat on a bench under the trees along the walkway a feeling of malice and intense rage overpowered him. His body and mind became acutely aware of his surroundings. He stood and turned in the direction where the danger was approaching. He saw three figures standing among some trees whispering to one another.

"Be quiet, he'll hear us." The smallest of the three said.

The one leaning against a tree spoke, "nah, we're too far away. He can't see us either, the moon hasn't risen yet and if he wasn't near that light we wouldn't able to see him."

The third voice was one Jack recognized. It was Bobby. "Let's go get him before he leaves. It's payback time."

The trio began to move silently toward Jack. His instincts took control and he moved into the shadow of the trees. He leaned against a tree and acted casual while he watched their movements.

When the three emerged from the trees and stood under the light, they looked around for Jack.

"Shit, he's gone," Bobby growled.

Jack stepped into the light behind them and spoke, "Are you fellows looking for me?"

Bobby and his thugs turned around. Jack appeared to them as being of power shrouded in a blue light.

"We plan to kick your butt," Bobby bellowed.

"I hold a power you cannot begin to understand. I advise you to forsake your quest and return to your rooms or you may not be able to do so under your own power" Jack fixed a cold stare on the would-be attackers.

Bobby took a step forward, "you don't scare us!"

Jack raised his hands above his head and interlocked his fingers. The blue light grew brighter and seemed to flow toward his upraised hands. Jack closed his eyes in concentration and three orbs of blue light shot from his hands and struck the attackers. They paused and dropped to the ground like rocks. He checked to make sure that they were not dead or seriously hurt. Confident that they were OK he walked back to his room and prepared for bed. The episode deepened the confusion he was feeling. He was changing, not just his way of thinking but physically as well. Lying on his bed, he fell into an uneasy sleep. The dreams came again with swirling clouds of red and blue. Shapes and forms of people and animals he didn't recognize. Slowly the mist began to clear and he saw the old man in a white robe, and a girl stood talking with him. She had long yellow gold hair and he seemed to be floating in their direction. As the dream became clearer he saw the dark void change into a room that resembled a study. He was no longer floating and he walked across the room to where the others were standing. They turned and looked at him.

"Jack, are you dreaming too?" Marian looked at him in surprise.

"I brought him here", the old man said. "He has some questions that I need to answer. He used his new power earlier with some boys who tried to hurt him. Without my intervention he would have killed them."

Jack looked at Marian and then the old man "Why are you the only one here wearing clothes?"

"I will answer that question later. Right now it's not important. You must understand that you have the power to impose your will on other persons. If you want them dead they will die. What was the last thought you remember having before the power was released?" he asked.