Since I have finished writing and editing the four books of the Shifts in Time Series, I thought it would be fun to start working on the next story. I plan for it to include bits of time travel, two extraterrestrial species, some special powers, and a battle to save the earth from destruction. This is about 2000 words from that new story. Let me know if it sounds interesting to you. Sign up for my mailing list for more content like this. Happy Day Everyone.

We Learn the Truth

Our mother rushed through the door with an unusual urgency and flurry of activity.

“Children, there is so much to share, but we don’t have time right now. We must get to the ship quickly. Aine has signaled me to say the Dagons are coming. They are so determined to kill us, that they will destroy Terra as well if they must.”

“What are you talking about Mom?”

“Who’s Aine?”

“Who are the Dagons?”

“There’s no time to waste on words, children,” she said sitting across the table from us, “let’s hold hands and I will show you.”

We all held hands looking around the table anxiously. Nothing like this had ever happened before. In an instant my mind was flooded with images and words.

Aine and I come from a tri-starred solar system far from Terra. In our system are two terrestrial planets: Vespae and Dagon. Though we shared a star, our planets could not have been more different. I am Vespaen, and my people are shapeshifters. It is not within our power to control any more than a chameleon can control its power of camouflage. You are not seeing me in my true form, because I take the form of whatever humanoid species is before me. It is an autonomic protective function of our race. It is also the reason we have sought refuge here on Terra. We were not even fully aware of the phenomenon before we first encountered our neighbors on Dagon. Strange that an adaptation for our protection has become the catalyst propelling us toward extinction. I am explaining these things to you, because you were not born with the memories of Vespae as my Vespaen children were. And, because we are all in very grave danger.

I saw a spaceship that was positioned above Earth, and I could see weapons firing on our world. Cars exploded, fighter jets were in the air engaging the spacecraft, people all around were running and screaming. At least they were in my mind. The words and images continued to flood my mind. I assume they were doing the same for my siblings because they seemed as stunned as I was. How was mom showing us all these things?

So, where should I begin? Perhaps I should begin before the Dagon ship first arrived above Vespae. Or, would you like to know more about the world that produced your mother? Vespae is a bit larger than Terra and is covered with a freshwater sea. There is one large land mass – a huge island covered with the most amazing trees and plants you can imagine. The island is porous with caves where we make our nests. You would find many things about our lives strange. We are an amphibious race and spend time in the water and on land. Our cities are beneath the waves. We pride ourselves on our academic achievements. Many of us have made tremendous strides in science, mathematics, the arts, and politics. We are a peaceful race, but we unintentionally angered the Dagons. That is a story for another day. My brother, Rasul, warned us of Dagon’s anger and malicious intent to annihilate us on their return to our world. He was the high priest of The Celestial Legacy, our spiritual leaders. I’ve always known he had the sight, so I believed him and led a group of scientists to prepare a ship to save as many of our race as possible, beginning with the children.

In my mind I saw a figure in a hooded black cloak trimmed with gold, who I knew was my uncle. I felt mom’s pride and love for him and the sorrow that he was now gone, no, murdered! The emotions and images kept coming.

We had just enough time to prepare one ship for space travel. As the lead scientist, I was chosen to pilot the craft. Aine was chosen to care for the precious cargo we would carry. We had no time to load other passengers, so we left with just the eggs that represented the next generation of our kind. You cannot imagine the horror I experienced as I watched my whole world burning.

These words were accompanied by images of a foreign planet, presumably Vespae, beautiful and diverse in its lifeforms. I saw aliens that walked on two legs but resembled an axolotl with a human shaped skull structure.

‘Is that what mom really looks like?’, I wondered.

Almost immediately, in my head, I heard her answer: ‘Yes, those are Vespaens, and since I am a Vespaen I look similar to them. Are you repulsed?’

‘No, they’re beautiful! Just different than anything I could have imagined.’

‘I’m glad to know you feel that way, Sam. They were your people too.’

I could feel the emotions behind the images as she shared them: the love for her brother, the grief over the loss of her home world, and the fear that she felt now at knowing the Dagons were on their way to Earth. She and Aine had been given the responsibility of saving a whole generation of Vespaens who were still waiting to hatch, but that wasn’t all. I could feel the love she had for my father, all of us, and this world that we shared. There was a great deal of concern that her presence here could cause the death of another planet. The Dagons would never give up until every Vespaen was dead. I felt that truth as deeply as she did.

‘Is dad coming with us to the ship?’, I asked in my mind.

‘He is on his way to meet us here now,’ she replied. ‘We need all the help we can get, the Dagons will be here soon. Gather only the things you must take to survive. Quickly children.’

She let go of our hands and the images stopped abruptly. The entire interaction was less than fifteen seconds. My siblings began gathering their things: George grabbed his teddy bear, Mira grabbed her tablet, Sadie grabbed her baby doll, Thomas and I looked at each other and shook our heads. So much for only taking what we need to survive. We made a silent agreement between us to pack the essentials for all of us. As the oldest of the children, my twin and I would take care of that for the little ones and our mother.

“Thank you, boys, I appreciate the help,” she said sharing a knowing glance at the little ones. Then with a sudden, shocked realization she added: “Where is Sharon?”

“She went shopping after school with her friends,” I replied.

“Do you know where they were going to shop?”

“Just to the mall, I think.”

“Oh dear, did she have her phone?”

“Mom, really? You know she never goes anywhere without it.”

“That’s true. I will call your dad and ask him to pick her up. Then I’ll call her. So much to do, and so little time. Better hurry along. Thanks Sam.”

“It’s okay. It won’t take long to pack for the little ones and Thomas can pack for both of us. What should I do about Sharon’s things?”

“I’ll handle that.”

“Okay. Be back in a second.”

“Thanks, Sam. It’s nice to know I can count on you.”