An old man bowed. I am Pas, Master Healer of Yeff. I am the last of us who came from Zhea~, I and my ba. His skin was a shade lighter and less yellow than Ryee’s. Bald. Very wrinkled, but with smile lines at his redgold eyes.

I pictured myself bowing very low, one leg far behind me. I am pleased to meet you, Pas. Oh, you studied with Ahstam. Who is that?

He startled. How know you this? Did he take you from slavers?

His concern, as if I were dying, startled me. I was never a slave—

I saw him, with taller Ahstam, blondhaired and not wrinkled, with blue eyes, carrying slaves off a ship filled with them. Blackrobed guards watched with black eyes and scowls. But Pas had dark curls. A smooth face.

You saw this? When?

I have—dreams. Nightmares that woke me several times a night. Many of them—

Ryee lifted his hand from Ao~’s head and the orange of his blood covered it.

Pas gasped. Ao~, did you have injury? He stared at him.

Ao~’s gray eyes opened past wide. Ne ever. Both men trembled.

I shuddered. Ryee, you must not send him to D’gharr, or you lose him. Pas cannot save him, with all his skills! Tears streamed down my face.

Ryee hugged me. Wept.

Derees put a hand on his shoulder. What is wrong?

One of my dearest friends shall die in this War, and I can ne but send him! All Elshar will withhold his trade if I ne send my 58. Resources are ne enough, Fa tells me. All of Zheiea shares this sorrow. Our trade agreements bind us, o, they bind us.

I hugged him tightly. Why do I open my mouth? I should keep my poison within myself—

And how think you to survive it? Pas stroked my hair down its length. How old are you?

I am 18, old enough to take care not to upset people—

If you have a Gift, to warn us, should you ne use it? Peri, our prophet, came to us from Zhea~ because he expects one with a Gift. What see you, of our 58 young men? He trembled.

A place, far underground had clear stasis boxes filled with people. I gasped. Ao~ was there, and all of the 58 men, whose faces reflected torture. But their entire families perished also, some in frigid embrace in that cold of deep stasis. Children’s bodies. I shivered. Never had I seen the dead.

Pas stared at Ryee, redgold eyes wide. Can you ne show this to King Marel’vanrah? Surely he will ne suffer us to lose so many! I beg, move our colony!

Pas, she showed us the destruction of all MarKu! What is my 2500 compared to his 70 decillion?

Have you consulted Peri?

I shall, when I set foot on Ye~—

I take your mind to him now. Pas strode between the jeweled buildings of their home. People gasped as he passed because they felt rumbles strong as an earthquake. Ao~ walked holding his arm. Pas, I see moisture on you!

Another healer ran to him and took him off his feet! Ba, let me offer healing—

Take me to Peri! See the destruction of our people! He showed him and he stumbled in the sand.

Other healers carried them. Everyone who saw them wept. Healers streamed out of the purple building and sang.

By the white building, an old man came to them. Pas, my friend, what is wrong?

See my memories. The one you awaited is on Areon. Adia Rayaline, here is Peri, Prophet of Ye~ From Zhea~.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

I bowed and Peri gasped. How does an Areonian know the Old Forms?

He returned the bow. I waited long for you, Adia Rayaline. You see futures, ea? I have ne answers, but I can give you a blessing, and He Who Knows shall provide.

I knelt in the sand. I am only a common scientist. I do not deserve a blessing.

He put me on his lap. Daughter, everyone deserves blessings. Need you guidance? What does your religion teach you?

I cried. Our government forbids us to speak about it.

The old one embraced me. Ne government has this power! Your mind is free. What think you, Sae? Ryee protects your thought. No one but he and I hear you. Father Of All loves you, and wishes to hear you.

I looked around. We sat by a beautiful white building, nine sides, that shone like a diamond in the sunsset. No people near us. Even Ao~ and M’Naga were not here. Ryee sat by me, his golden eyes past wide. Nodded.

I worried about Pas and his brother, but healers near us sang healing for them. None of them saw us, now. Peri listened to that as he listened to me. Waited.

Aunt Sia chastised my father for not bringing us all to church in Kleideu. He said, Sister, here you are free to think about such things, but we will have danger if we teach our daughters to fear God. The Rads want to take every comfort from our minds. Religion brings feelings and we must control our emotions.

Peri held my hand. Father of All loves you. Do you feel that love? It manifests differently to each of us. He shared the feeling of warmth in his chest as he thought of this loving, unseen Father.

I felt it, and smiled.

Ryee said, Here is how I feel Him near. The warmth was more like the happy feeling at his father’s touch of the back of his head. As warm as a hug, for us.

Peri smiled. Ea. His love is all around us. These buildings remind of well qualities, Aspirations and Values we cherish as Zheien. Faith, which is belief in that which we know but cannot feel with our senses. He thought of the white Temple beside us. Love which is great but beyond measure. I followed his gaze to the red building where families came out or went in. Each of the nine buildings had nine sides, and a color that represented a trait.

This is very diff. Sia taught me that we should be good, that I should obey my parents. Maia and I do try, and so does Aronna.

Obedience is because of loyalty, another of the nine values. His mind pointed to the beautiful medium blue building. And, why are we loyal? Because we love. All the Values and Aspirations are connected.

We spoke for a long time. I enjoyed this discussion.

Child, would you like a blessing?

Yes, I would.

He put his soft hands on my head, and I felt peace. Should I close my eyes?

People gathered around! Daughter, Adia Rayaline, Scientist Of Areon, Father of All loves you and blesses your work. You will find the answer you seek, and many worlds are saved because of your diligence.

He wants you to know that you shall ne die between the silver poles. He needs you to live, to perform vital work beyond our Hub. Fear ne what your dreams tell you, but follow them. These futures are fluid and shall change depending on whom you tell of them.

I came from Zhea~ because I dreamed a dream. In it, I saw you as I see you now. You wonder what this means. I do, also. Father of All has His purpose, and I follow when He calls me.

You have a great gift. Guard your health. Lives you already saved grow in numbers. Natamian shall escape terrible injury because you warned him.

Your warning to King Herda shall save 50 decillion lives. They now have many protections in place so slavers cannot take them by surprise. Protections now spread to all worlds of the Unified. Lives more numerous than the stars we know are saved because Father of All wished it, through you.

Do not concern that your work will not progress. So many new fuels will come from your process that all seven galaxies can find more. Thorde will celebrate you when their famine ends. Many Zheien worlds.

Ryee is your comfort. Be honest with him. Tell him when you feel overwhelmed. You cannot do this work without him.

After your regen, Ry’nao will show you the tapestries, and your true destiny.

He wept so hard, he had to end this prayer telepathically.

Pas hugged me. Regen! Eja fae ne~! Ryee, I must go with you to this lab—

Pas, you can ne! Governor Schwer must give permission—

Peri, will she live long enough to come here? What will cause this unwell, that one so young has regen?

Between the poles. I showed him Therapy Square. Shuddered. But I also thought about the riots, and Security leading Governor Schwer away. My father was attacking the console with an arm from a simulant! Vonn and Derees helped him! My mind reached for people, to warn them of what our government did.

I hugged Pas. It has to happen so my people can be free. I cried.

He put his hands on my head and hummed. O, I must see you first. His soft fingercorners spread across my forehead. His redgold eyes filled. You had many harms. What did this?

We are forbidden to discuss—

Ryee will ne tell your corrupt government anything. Your soul is free, Peri said it. A healer must know all, to heal one. I shall ne tell them.