the past the most weight I could lift was about two hundred pounds. I know that to be accurate because I’ve checked that talent my entire life. It seems my limit has increased. You saw my aura to be three feet from my body. Where do you see it now?”
“It is still three feet from your body.”
“Consider this,” Rose said, “If my aura is three feet and I can lift a megaship; if Tommy’s aura is ten feet, what could he lift? I’m concerned that he doesn’t know about his new strengths and might cause an accident. I need you to see if his aura is still as large as we saw it.”
Tgon-Gee looked at Rose and said, “The aura surrounding your brother and Captain Dodd was considerably larger than ten feet, Your Majesty.”
Rose looked at him and said, “How much larger?”
“I looked through a view port and saw it had extended more than a mile from the learning facility.”
Rose stood and said, “Go to the learning facility now and see how large it is on both of them. Try to get him to experiment in an environment that won’t endanger anyone. I’m going to tell him you are on your way.”
Tgon-Gee bowed and said, “I’ll be there within the hour.”
Tommy, the adolescents, Cassandra and Atlas were discussing what was needed to move forward with their plan. The entire conversation was being done telepathically so it was moving quickly. Tommy said, “We need some baselines to see where we are in relation to the Captor’s abilities. For example, how strong are their weapons compared to our current armaments? Atlas, were your weapons effective against them?”
“No, they had absolutely no effect on them. Their beam weapons vaporized us when they were in range.”
Tommy thought for a moment and then said, “We need to try your beams against one of our new ships. That will at least show us if we have any chance in a battle.” Tommy keyed his com and said, “Admiral Mikado, I need your assistance.”
Mikado appeared on Tommy’s com and said, “How can I help you?”
“I need a new megaship to fire a new beam weapon at to determine how effective the beam would be against our newest screens.”
Mikado thought for a moment and said, “If it’s a strong screen you need, you might consider using one of the old forts we just moved away from Earth. The screen on that is still stronger than the megaships.”
“Does the fort still have jump capability?”
“Yes it does, Your Majesty.”
Tommy looked at Cassandra and said as he spoke to Mikado, “Captain Dodd is going to send you some coordinates; please jump one of those forts to that location, please.” She nodded and went to select a location that was distant from the learning facility.
Mikado smiled and said, “When do you need it there?”
Tommy laughed and said, “An hour from now.”
Mikado smiled and broke the connection.
Tommy looked at the two Algean Adolescents and asked, “Would you two like to come along?”
“Twig’s leaves turned bright green and she said, “Oh, yes. I wouldn’t miss this for all the information in my reader. I’ve never seen Atlas’ weapons.”
Cassandra came back in and said, “I’ve commed the coordinates to Admiral Mikado. I’ve also secured a heavy shuttle to take us there. Atlas, would you like to come on board with us or do you want to go there yourself? We have plenty of room.”
Atlas said, “Move over. I’ve never been a passenger.”
“Tommy, may I talk with you for a moment?”
Tommy started and said, “Hello, Rose. Sure, does it need to be private?”
“Yes, it does.”
Tommy looked at the group and said, “Please excuse me for a moment; let’s plan to leave within the hour.”
Tommy went to his quarters and sat down at his desk, “What’s up, Rose?”
Rose explained all that had happened both at the wedding and afterwards. Tommy listened but was inclined toward skepticism. “Rose, what are you saying?”
“Tommy, it’s like a man who has suddenly become a hundred times stronger and presses the accelerator rod in a vehicle and breaks it off. Now there’s no way to stop the vehicle before it hits something. On a much larger scale, what if you, without meaning to, you push against the wall of the learning facility and break the facility in half.”
Tommy understood. Rose continued, “And you are not alone; we need to look at Captain Dodd as well.”
“What do you mean we?”
“I’ve sent Tgon-Gee to look at your auras and to perform some experiments. He should be there within the hour. He’ll report to me what he finds out.”
“This has you worried, doesn’t it, Rose.”
“Yes it does, Tommy. My talents were not the only ones increased during the wedding. Our parents are also the proud new owners of three foot auras. They both have noticed changes in their psychic skills. Mother can now use telepathy with anyone, it’s not just limited to Dad.”
Tommy looked at Rose and said, “We’re going to another site to test Atlas’ weapons to see where we are compared to the eels. I’ll take Tgon-Gee with us.”
Rose said, “Eels?”
Tommy shrugged and said, “The Captors are an electrical energy life form. We also think that before they lost their physical bodies that they were probably insects closely related to bees or hornets.”
“Tommy, keep me informed, please; about you and those eels.”
“I will, Rose.”
Tgon-Gee arrived in S. R. Megaship Tribulation. Tommy commed him and said, “Hi, Tgon-Gee. We are leaving for a site to test some weapons. I just spoke with Rose and I would like for you to come with us.”
Tgon-Gee said, “I’ll come to your ship momentarily.”
Sprig said over the com, “Tgon-Gee, if it is not too much trouble, could you have the ship that brought you here standby in the event we need to compare our current armaments to the weapon we’re testing.”
Tommy said, “That’s a good idea, Sprig. Does it pose any problems to keep it here on standby?”
Tgon-Gee looked away from his screen and said, “No, this is my personal vessel. It is at your disposal.” Tgon-Gee boarded a shuttle that ferried him to the heavy shuttle. As he approached the heavy shuttle Tgon-Gee saw the dark aura surrounding it. It extended more than four hundred yards from the ship’s hull. Tgon-Gee took a deep breath and worried about the power of the two humans that possessed those auras. “We’ll see what it means, I hope,” he thought and entered the landing bay.
“Have you selected a good place to conduct the test, Twig?” Cassandra asked.
“Yes I have. It’s located in deep space far from the closest galaxy. I’ve also made sure there were no energy centers close to the coordinates. Hi, Tgon-Gee, welcome aboard.” Twig said.
“Thank you. Are you ready to jump?”
Cassandra said, “We were waiting on you. She keyed the com and said, “We will be jumping is two minutes. All hands, jump in two minutes.”
Tommy sat in the chair beside Cassandra marveling at how beautiful she looked. She had on a short sleeve t-shirt and her auburn hair was down. He wanted to reach over and take her hand. She thought to him, “Not yet. We have so much to look forward to and now I’m sure that we have to wait.” Tommy looked at her and nodded and continued to stare at her. She said, “What?”
“I remember how much I hated you and thought you were an ugly looking.”
“Don’t say it, though I know I deserve it.”
“That’s just it,” Tommy said, “I know that our contact has locked us to each other but I can see quite objectively that you are beautiful. Why did you hide it? You never dressed or wore anything but those severe looking military uniforms.”
Cassandra looked at Tommy and said, “I’ve never felt any thing for anyone. I’ve had no desire for any companionship. No one interested me.” Her eyes grew moist and she said softly, “When you touched me it felt like I came alive. I felt things I’ve never felt before. For the first time I’m comfortable in my own skin. I know deep inside
