Hope (Other World Protection Agency Book 1) (3 page)

“Ok, you’re an alien that looks
human and appears human on all the scans. Wait you’re a super human. I know, we
will call you human 2.0.”

“You’re laughing, but I am
serious. I laid on that floor for three weeks without food or water. Please
explain that.”

“I don’t have an explanation, but
I am sure we will find one. I really don’t care what you are, but Tara you’re
human. I know human when I see it on the outside and on the inside.”

Sighing she nodded her head.
Maybe it was time to get to the bottom of what was going on. In the space of a
couple of days her life had been turned upside down. Now she was human. She
always believed she was a freak or the embarrassment of some alien culture and
they had abandoned her here as a child. Some type of extreme punishment. If she
was human, then this really made no sense. Ok yeah, like her alien theory made
sense.

“Well, they always said there’s
no place like home. Thanks for bringing me home and on our first date too.”

“This is not my home and we are
not on a date.” The coffee had helped some. She wasn’t as shaky anymore. It had
to be the sugar and caffeine she thought as she got out of the car, on her own
this time.

“I just want to warn you, it’s
not pretty in there. Lots of rats and insects and other things that may not be
of this world.”

“Well as long as I have you to
protect me.” He grabbed the cleaning supplies and she grabbed the snacks and
dinner.

The warehouse was old. In fact,
it felt ancient, which made no sense. Some of the windows were busted and it
looked as if no one had been in it for years. They walked to the door that had
a busted chain on it. Removing it, Tara pushed open the door that surprisingly
did not creak or offer any resistance.

She looked to the corner where
the old drunk was still laying. He had to be dead, poor old man. One minute he
was totally still and the next he was standing up. She screamed not having been
prepared for that one.

“It’s about time you got back
here.”

He was no longer a poor dead
drunk or stiff on the floor. His five foot nothing stature changed and he grew
to around six feet with glorious wings on his back. Black wings. Turning she
tried to run, but nothing happened.

“Oh no you don’t. I have not laid
on that floor for weeks in that smelly body watching over you for you to run
head long into danger.”

“Watching over me?” She had finally
regained control of her body, not that that was saying much. She had also
regained control over her mind and remembered she had to protect the good
doctor too. She just hadn’t expected two legged rats.

“That’s a pretty image. Why don’t
you drop the glamour so we can see what you really look like?” It really was a
gorgeous image, although she wasn’t going to let him know. Besides, she liked
the doctor’s looks better.

“No glamour. What you see is what
you get. Good, cleaning supplies. This place is a mess, but I am not inclined
to sweat over a mop or broom. I will clean this place up and get rid of the
varmint if you ask nicely.”

She was in a room with a crazy
man. She looked at the doctor who was taking this all in stride. Make that two
crazy men.

“Tara, ask the man nicely.”

“Paul,” she said in a voice
people used on small children who were being unreasonable. “That is a bad guy. A
bad guy who is crazy. We need to run.”

“Tara.” He said with a grin,
trying to keep from laughing. “I know that bad man minus the wings and he’s
really rather nice once you get to know him.”

“Hey, I resent the nice part. I
am not nice and I am still waiting Tara.”

Looking back and forth between
the two of them, she decided to put her death wish on the back shelf and to
play nice with the crazy men. She could always die after she got out of this
mess alive.

“Please Mr. Crazy man with the
black wings, clean up my new home.” Ok so she didn’t know how to play nice, shoot
her.

With a wicked laugh he said, “Now
was that hard?” He lifted a hand and flicked his fingers. A wind went through
the place. A warm wind. When it stopped, the place was immaculate cleaner than
it had probably ever been.

“Furniture?”

“Do you like laying on the floor
better?”

“No. I just wasn’t expecting it.”
So just because your wings are black didn’t mean you were bad? The rules were
changing and she had no idea what was happening.

“Guess you wouldn’t want to
explain the wings? Thanks for the furniture and cleaning. Cleaning is not my
thing.”

“Tara, I would tell you to act
more like Paul, but I know him too well. When he starts acting real sweet,
that’s a sign he’s planning something. You can say thank you later for that bit
of knowledge. Why don’t we all sit? Is that food I smell?”

“My name is Charon,” He said in
between the bites of food he had convinced them to share. “I have known you
both since the day you were born. If I told you that I was your guardian angel,
would that make you feel better? No? What about your fairy godfather? Not
buying that either?” He sat in silence just eating as they watched him.

Sighing, he stood and flexed his
wings. “Well, let’s try the truth then. Your planet has been on the endangered
species list for a long time. You’re a danger to us and we are a danger to you.
They say no planet can be contacted before they are ready, but at the rate you
were going you were never going to be ready. Then something happened. Humans
started being born who were more than human.  In case you’re wondering, that
would be you two. No, you’re not the only ones, but right now you’re the most
important ones.”

“Tara, where are you going?” Paul
asked. She had stood up and was heading for the door.

“I am going to play in traffic so
I can just die. This way I don’t have to listen to things that don’t exist tell
me lies.” Turning around she headed for the door.

Catching up to her, Paul just
stood in front of her. “Tara, I am just a new player here so I am trying to
catch up. Here’s what I know so far. The other being tried to kill us. Talking
was not on its agenda. I also know that Charon has saved my life a time or two.
Let’s just talk this out. If you want to leave after that, I will take you
anywhere you want to go.”

Nodding she walked back over to
the couch and sat.

“I haven’t know Tara long, but I
already have a deep respect for what she feels. So maybe you should tell us the
whole story fast.”

“Humans are so impatient and
that’s only one of your flaws.” He sighed. “There are worlds out there just
beyond your scope of reaching them. There are many planets out there like this one
that are under endangered species limits. One of the signs we look for that lets
us know a world may be ready to join the intergalactic community is when the
population begins to change. They begin to become more. Your world still has
thousands of years before that should happen and yet before me stand a shield
and a doorway.”

“The demon who attacked us in the
hospital called you a shield.” Tara had turned to look at Paul doing her best
to ignore Charon.

“The correct name for them are
Demos. They do not look like your idea of demons, but they love to use glamour
to change their appearance.”

“Are you one of them?” She
finally turned her ahead to acknowledge Charon again.

He smiled that wicked smile which
would have been sexy if she had not met Paul first.

“No, I am not. Many different
people have wings. My race simply shares that trait with them. We had thought
you might develop wings, but that seems unlikely now.”

“So I am a shield? Does this mean
I should give up being a doctor and hire myself out as a bodyguard?”

Tara was impressed. Between her
glare and Charon’s she really thought Paul would end up on the floor like a
burnt piece of bacon. Instead, he just sat there looking proud of himself.

“What’s a doorway?”

“Now that’s the real question.
You already saw Paul in action, although his talents are still growing, but you
have no idea what you can do. A doorway is just what you think it is. It’s an
entryway into another place or in your case another planet. When you master it,
you will be able to use it on your world also. Remember, there is always more
than one way to get somewhere. Your world wants to explore outer space, so they
create ships with the ability to go faster than the speed of sound.”

He decided to sit. “I want to
explore a different planet, I take a doorway.”

Standing Charon walked over to Tara.
“Let’s take your abilities for a stroll.” Grabbing her hand he pulled her up
from the couch. “There’s no right or wrong way to open a door, but I have
learned that everyone seems to have their own rituals when doing it. It’s like
driving. Some people hate the radio while others blast it, some wear sunglasses
while others prefer the visor. No right or wrong way, but what makes you
comfortable is very important when getting it done”

Tara threw Paul a look that said,
I kept the hospital in one piece the least you could do is help me with the
tall crazy alien. Seeing his look of helplessness she decided to tackle it on
her own. “How about I figure what rituals I prefer and get back to you later?”

“Paul take her hand, we are going
to need a shield.” He waited until Paul moved closer and held her hand firmly. Tara,
some of your favorite retreats are on other worlds. I would take you there, but
you would never believe it’s not your mind playing tricks. Instead, I will take
you some place that will amaze you.” Taking her hand he literally reached out
and grabbed at space as if it were a doorknob and twisted. Pulling back, a
scene appeared as if a door had been opened.

Tara and Paul gasped at what was
before them. There was a big expanse of water. It had to be an ocean, but not
the surface of an ocean. It was the bottom or maybe even the middle. Large
forms swam. They were dolphin like, but not quite. There were lots of smaller
fish swimming around, but that’s not what had them gasping. There were humanoid
forms swimming in the water. They had on very little of what would pass as
clothing and they were not going to the surface for air. Charon tugged at them
and the door closed. They were in the water and they were wet.

“How can we breathe?” Tara’s
voice came out panicked as she felt the water surround her.

“Charon what’s happening here?”
Paul echoed her trying to keep his voice firm and steady.

“This is an open world. They
encourage visitors. Their whole planet is under water. There is no surface
land. It is argued that at one point there was, but the inhabitants of this
planet deny that. They breathe the air in the water and as you can see are
humanoid in shape.”

 There was a large group of
children playing tag with some of the other fish as if they were pets. Their
laughter was contagious. They would tap one and then swim in different
directions taunting it with you can’t catch me. Tara found herself lost in the
joy of just being. It reminded her of sitting at the playground and just
listening to the joy of life. Fighting the urge to grab her chest as she felt
pain stake her, she ignored the kids and swam, not wanting to be left behind.
After passing couples and parents and what she was sure were grandparents,
Charon finally stopped.

“My friend Lia lives here.” He
walked up and touched what looked like a large rock and a sound that vibrated
the water could be heard. “I hope she is home.”

What looked like a shimmering
curtain was pulled back and they were greeted by a humanoid resembling a
female. She was tall, maybe six feet, with eyes a shade of color Tara had never
seen before. They were a pale yet shimmering almost blue color. Sea blue being
the closest she could come to the color. She had a small chest and two arms,
but her legs were different. She had two of them, but they seemed to sway in
the water.

“Charon.” She screamed happily
and then threw herself at him.

“Lia, it’s nice to see you again.
Sorry to come unannounced, but as you can see, I have a door and a shield with
me. They needed proof of what they are.”

“Charon you are always welcome.
Come in.”

“The door is Tara and the shield
is Paul.” He said, pointing them out before moving into the structure behind
Lia.

“This is where I live.” She
pointed out what looked like a series of caves. “From the looks of you, I am
guessing you are humans. That is interesting, since you’re on the endangered
species list.  This is what you would call a house.”

“How did you guess we were
humans? I mean just because we are on the list does not tell you what we look
like.” Tara asked as she examined the room.

The room was bigger than she
expected. She had to stop short of calling it a cave.  The walls were decorated
in a form of artwork she had never seen before. The furniture was made of out a
combination of plants and another hard looking material. The seat and the back
looked as comfortable as the new sofa Charon had provided for them. As much as
she hated to admit it, this was not earth.

“Please have a seat.” Lia sat on
one of the comfortable chairs and indicated for them to sit. Following her lead
they sat. “Any world that makes it onto to the endangered species list is
studied. So we are given pictures of the different inhabitants in case we come
across them. Although you are humanoid, there is just something about you that
screams savage.”

“Lia’s right. Although the galaxy
is big, you will not be able to hide in it. Unlike some races that are so
similar that telling them apart can be hard, humans seem to stick out.”

“Charon, how can Paul and I be
here?” He lifted his head and looked at Paul.

“Tara, I think it’s because I am
here. I know that makes no sense, but I feel like I am keeping us safe.”

“Very good Paul. When Tara
activated that door with a push from me. You came online sort of speaking. Now
every time she opens a door and you are there, your gifting will be activated
without having to think of it. A door and a shield were always meant to work
together.”

“That’s why, although I can tell
the water is cold, I don’t feel the cold?”

“Yes, Paul’s shield is providing
whatever you need. So not only do you not feel the cold, but you can breathe
like you are a native here. As his shield grows, he will be able to do much
more.”

“Why did you bring us here?” Paul
asked curiosity lacing his voice.

“When I promised you something
that would amaze you, Tara decided what it was she wanted to see. What would
make her believe me? It was this and then she opened the door to where she
wanted to go. Lesson number one: a Door can go anywhere they want to.”

“Lia we have time for a brief
tour. Would you lead?”