Chapter 27

Mother replied the same way. "There was no mention in the news about the raid, and I think the Attorney General will keep a cap on it for a few days," she said. Monique and Justine were a little discomforted about the new voice coming to them from out of mid air.

Mom continued, "The girls are being taken care of in a Victoria hospital, and have an around the clock guard on them. Each of the criminals have been segregated, and are doing a fine job of telling everything they know about anything, that the police want to find out. The house is being thoroughly searched, and some notables in the area have been picked up for questioning."

I was thinking more of that night, and was wondering how the police did everything right, with none of their usual screw-ups. "Mom how did you orchestrate this police performance?"

"I recorded the data about the girl on the altar, and made probes to visit the Chief of the British Columbia Provincial Police, the Attorney General and the local Crown Attorney. I did not have the power to throw them around while sporting the image of the girl, but I did shock them with my image, and the information I had. I did happen to threaten them with my return, if the investigation was not handled perfectly. I imagine the defence could make a big thing of it, if it were ever found out."

The altar came back to me, the thin white arm hanging over the edge, and the hand curled up as if asking for succour. I had to pause and control myself better, the images were much too strong. It felt better now that I knew the guilty would be punished, but I also knew if they were ever let out of prison, I would have my own punishment waiting for them.

Topaz who was sitting to my left, reached out and laid her small hand on mine, to let me know she cared. My hand curled and I held her hand now. It was so difficult thinking with all the emotional baggage, that I was carting around. The ties that bound me to the rest also extended to all the people that needed me. This only added to the difficulty. It was so easy, when I was young. A few good men to be my friends, and an enemy that did its best to kill us.

The last piece of the puzzle was in our hold, and I just had to continue with Mom's ideas to make sure this fish stayed caught. We knew all his secrets, but his living presence would bring down many more.

Susan continued her questioning, "What about the people on the farm, Mom?"

"All of the captives are in a large ward, protected by police. They are responding slowly but steadily to treatment of their body and their minds. Three of the men in jail have been killed by inmates, when they found out what they were in for. The rest are now in protective custody awaiting trial. There is an all-points-bulletin out for their leader. Some think he died in the blast at the warehouse."

I heard Justine breath deep, thinking on the possibility of her husband coming back and taking them away. I could feel Jeremy reach out the same as Topaz, and hold his mother's hand. She was just too worried to even notice its presence.

Justine got up enough courage to ask, "Would you tell us what has been happening?"

Mom answered when she found that the rest of us did not reply. "We found Ingrid and her children and helped them escape. This led us to a large warehouse with a spectacle reminiscent of ancient Rome. We gathered data and destroyed the place with every guilty party in it. Next we raided a farm that had quite a few captives. Information was gathered, then the police came to help get all of the mess straightened out. We went to your house, then to the west coast to stop another group. Here too, the police came to do what they could. All that remains is to tie up some small loose ends."

"Are we some of those loose ends?"

This time I answered, "You are people that needed a new start. Some of you need more help than others, and it's just a matter of time, before you are healthy enough to leave."

Ingrid said nothing but she tensed up and her mind said, "No!"

I amended my last statement, "Some of you may not wish to leave. They will be allowed to stay if they wish." Susan and Ingrid both felt better after this was said.

I turned to Justine and Monique, "I believe Ingrid and her children would want to stay with us. I also think that your children would like the same. You two seem to sway one way, then another, about what you would like to do. There is no unreasonable time restraints, but I want you to consider the possibilities. If you choose to go, we will only take your memory of us away."

The older boys wanted to stay and tried to convince their mother. Monique wanted the boys now, and to a lesser extent Justine, to stay with her, but she would go with them if they chose to go.

"In the mean time, there is a lot of education for each of you to catch up on. I suggest you start immediately, and see what you can do."

There certainly was a lot to do. The base was still not ready and already more refugees were here than we could reasonably expect to handle. The moon mission was supposed to be tomorrow, and I did not like having to leave potential disruption in the form of uneducated barbarians. I could certainly see the point of the old Tandra women, who did not want me around, even if they could not do much to help the situation.

I did some of my own training, and went to the gym and worked my muscles as best I could. When I was almost through Jeremy and Matthew found me and started doing their own workout.

"Boys you need to take off the coveralls and we can see what you can do." They shed their garments without too much hesitation, and I got Mom to work on the muscles that needed it most. When I was done, they were more than done and were sweating profusely. We had a time in the cleanser and got dressed. "You boys did all right. It takes a long time before you see the results, but the benefits come soon enough."

I insured that all the children started a Tandra education, starting with history and sociology. Mom insured that each only got what they could assimilate. Most of the stations on the ship would be used, so my girls went to the base with the older three refugees, to get trained there.

"Mom, what do you see coming from all these new people?"

"I see some discord in the future. Ingrid is much too passive and all of the people here, will use her till they find out she is not complete. Already, Justine does not like her. She feels that she would have a better time at you, if Ingrid were not present. Jeremy will want to engage in sex with his stepmother, but soon will tire of it, and cause a large rift in their relationship. The five children all want you as their father. I see a problem with you coming to grips with your fascination of the children. You will push them away, because you would think that you would take advantage of them."

"I would never hurt them, Mom!"

"I know that Henry. The same is true of the young Tandra, but you will feel compelled to stay away from them, because you will worry what could happen."

Mom continued, "Your mission was to start in a few weeks. The children and the women need you with them in the next few months as a constant source of stability. Do you want to postpone the mission?"

"If what you say is true, there is an alternative."

"I see in your mind what you could do. It might very well be the best course. You will get the added benefit of having more time to consider your actions, and your goals."

"Thanks Mom. I might have a talk tonight with the girls, and see how they feel about it. I know they will be sad, but the Tandra are used to this situation, while only Susan has to be convinced." Susan's current studies would be done in a few minutes, and I decided to wait for her. Even though Mom was here, I did not want to leave the children alone.

Susan came to me later and said, "What is wrong Henry? I can't read your mind and you look tense."

"I had a talk with Mom about our guests. Ingrid will be used by everybody here, even her own children. The other children need a father, especially now, in their lives. Justine will cause a lot of problems, unless I am here to take a firm hand with her. And finally I need to go to the moon soon, and if I am there, I cannot be here. I want to put all of them in stasis till we have a better plan for Ingrid, and more time to sort out the others. Why don't you listen to Mom's points to get a clearer picture?"

Susan did as I asked. She put forth her own arguments and they were shot down with irrefutable logic. Mom talked about Susan's fascination with the beautiful platinum blond woman, and my interest in the children. Almost a half hour later a distraught Susan said, "I agree with you now. When will it happen?"

"Soon, it will only be for a short time, and I know it will be for the best. I just want to get rid of the garbage in our hold first."