Chapter 72
Like the Incredible Green Guy, but Not
I was like that story about the incredible green guy, you know the one. The one with the doctor who took a concoction of their own making, then had to deal with it from that day on. They would transform when they were angry and then turn into a big green monster of destruction. They would rip their shirts and become a one-man wrecking crew of destruction, wherever they went.
Yeah, that one, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. Wait, there was another story that stole that exact concept, but did so with grand special effects?
Well, I was more like the first one, though that second one also sounds like it was similar. I would much rather my story be associated with those guys, than one of the green caterpillar who ate so much before growing their wings.
Oh yeah, you all probably guessed. I went through a change. Nothing as cool as getting reverse devil horns on the back of my head, like another Rayquel got at the end of my last timeline. Although given the way things are currently going, I would have to say those might have made things worse. See, now, I hear people.
Well, I don’t hear people, just one voice. One constant annoying voice right within my head.
“Father.”
Yep, just planted for two minutes. I volunteered to be a Guardian for the thing, now it has free reign to talk to my mind.
“Father! I didn’t force my way into your mind. You merely accepted my communications, finally.”
And it can read my mind.
“I am not an it, father. Though if you need a noun to call me. Call me Eleven, or Prime if you really need a word other than it to call me.”
“Prime?” I manage to say out loud.
“Yes, I am the eleventh seed of the world tree that has taken root. Eleven is also a Prime number.”
“Well yeah eleven is a prime number, but when you want to be referred to as prime that generally means you are the first, right?” I ask.
“No father. I am the eleventh, which is a prime. The others know this and are aware. Deca, or Tenth, agrees with my statement.”
“Ten?” I ask, suddenly feeling like I am losing something.
“Yes, Deca, also claims that you are the father. In fact, you are the father for three others, not including Deca.”
“Responsible for?” I ask, still talking out loud. I am drawing attention of the others around me, but they are all Endarians, so they probably know what it is to be crazy and hear a talking tree in your head. Well then again, maybe they don’t know what it is like, as they are all staring at me incredulously. Still, I need to make sense of a few things.
“Yes father, you, and mother, well they were planted with real mother. Or at least they were planted by the person who wore real mother’s skin. This mother is just a pale imitation.” The tree continues to say right in my mind.
I feel like there is a lot to unpack in this conversation.
“So, let me see if I got this straight. Not only are you aware of the seeds I planted in the other universe, but you can talk to them?” I ask.
“Yes, father.”
Okay, kind of creepy. Then I begin to wonder about something. “Wait, aren’t we on a different timeline than the others? Weren’t they all reset?” I ask, suddenly confused why the trees I planted in the last timeline were not reset. I knew something might be off as I still had the violin and the seed from the alternate universe when I reappeared in this universe.
“Father. You are referring to the great Time Reset?”
“Is that the name for it?” I ask. Then I scratch the back of my neck.
Zzzz.
There is a buzzing sound. I turn to look, but then realize it is my own wings fluttering. Apparently, they flap when I think. I need to get control over that, especially if I ever want to play poker again. Because I am pretty sure buzzing wings would be a tell.
“Father, you need to calm down. The answer is yes. My brothers and sisters remained throughout the reset, growing and learning.”
“Wait, the whole time? I thought there was at least a two-month gap?” I asked. Trying to compare this timeline to the other timeline. Let’s see, two months being held by the human military. Then an impromptu trip to Endarian space and the world tree. The rescuing of the five seeds. The odd way I was told to take one with me. Then there was the quick, but very measured way we planted the other four seeds. Was that all around this time?
“Technically I am the first of the five to be planted, which is another reason why I have chosen the mantle as Prime. Though I will admit to being the fifth planted in your chronology. The others have had more time to grow and mature, but I have gotten more time to spend with you and learn to consume your resonance feedback.” The talkative little tree sprout says to me.
Wow, again there is a lot to unpack in that. So, they continued to grow and mature, even during the restart. Meaning that once they are planted, they are outside the confines of the time loop, but how?
“Father, we know why, but we are unable to tell you the exact cause. Just know that we are and do exist outside the flow of normal time. Or at least the laws of time that are currently governing you and the different universes.” The sapling states.
Wow, I can kind of respect the seeds. If what they are saying is true, then they are effectively rebel trees. Living outside the confines of this universe and the constraints of time. I always knew my son, well children, would be rebels. But for even my trees to be rebels, that is awesome. Rebel Trees, just as I am letting that thought settle in, I am quickly cut off.
“Father. We are hardly rebels. We just follow the same rules of the universe as you do. Ergo if you are reset, so too are we.”
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I pause, as I realize what he is saying. “Wait, are you saying what I think you are saying?” I say out loud. I dislike the idea of the rebel tree reading my mind. So, I start trying to make the distinction of talking to the tree for the real answers I want.
“Yes, if you go through with your current plan, then know we will all be okay. Also, know that we encourage that course of action, father.”
“We?”
“Yes, all my siblings and I, we. We all agree that you are planning on the best course of action.” A slight pause, then prime continues. “Though I will recommend that you should at least apologize to her before you go.”
Hearing that, there are so many hers that this seed could be referring to, that I am almost at a loss. Fortunately, I know exactly what they are talking about, as the tree is effectively reading my mind. I almost wonder why the tree is speaking somewhat cryptically, but then I realize the tree likely knows others can or are listening in.
I look around, and see Rayquel quickly turn away. Yep, she was listening in. Then I turn to see General Fellina looking on, though she seems totally unrepentant with her staring. Looking at the Endarians around me, I realize they likely think that listening in to my conversation is okay.
“They do. To them, these are the words of their sacred tree.” The sapling explains.
But aren’t you just a seed, a fragment of what could be? I think to myself.
“I am a seed of the great world tree. As I said I am eleven. Each of us has the memories of both our past and current selves. We have all the memories that our progenitor the first great world tree had. Along with the memories of the third one, the one you rescued me from.”
“That was the third world tree?”
“Yes. That was the longest lived of our incarnations. Also, the one that tried to reproduce the most. That incarnation, Trifecta, had three other children who failed to reach maturity. That is until you came along and managed to plant the five of us.”
“Five?” General Fellina said, a hand going to her lips in clear shock.
“Yes, great protector. There are five of us. Four in an alternate universe, and myself.”
“How is such a thing possible?” Rayquel asked.
“How is a sentient tree possible that can shape and guide the evolutionary traits of the creatures living within its branches? How can that tree then help those tiny creatures grow and mature enough to be able to search the universe for more areas to expand to? The answer is simple. We can because we do. We can do things that are great and defy logic. Because we do the things needed to shatter the previously constricting bands of logic.” The tree says.
At that, I feel a moment of clarity in my mind. In my mind I see shackles of fate and logic being ripped apart, not because they never existed, but because people stopped believing they were constraints. In my own mind I have two different sets of these images playing out. One is for the Endarians, half of my genetic code. The other is for the humans, the other half. From the Endarians I see the shackles being broken one by one, on how the different butterfly like creatures can begin to communicate with each other. From communication comes societal reforms and growth. Each time things get too out of hand, the tree steps in to provide firm guidance.
The human memories don’t have the guiding tree, unfortunately. Instead, I see the moments we break the bands that confine us. Flight is impossible, until it is not. Exploring space is just a dream, until it is not. Food is only meant to sustain you, until there are chicken waffles. Then thinking about the chicken waffles, I am reminded of the two who served them. Mave, a Prolaxian infiltrator, and then there was Melissa, some form of angelic being. Both there, right in front of me, hiding within my everyday life.
“That is why I wanted. No, why I needed you to be my Guardian.” The Tree says mentally to me.
I take in a deep breath, and sigh. I think I know where this is going. “So, you want me to stay here and guard you?”
“On the contrary. I need you out looking for more of those monsters. With our joining. I can now also use your.” There is a pause, as I can tell the tree is stopping as it looks to both the general and Rayquel. Both of whom have the dignity to look embarrassed and turn away. Not that doing this would be any less invasive for them, but they are at least trying to give us the appearance of privacy.
“Well, let’s just say that I now have your advantages as well. Since we are connected, and you have accepted your obligations to me. I can use your advantages to protect me here.”
I pause, as I try to think about that. “Wait, so why didn’t the others try this?”
“They tried, but you were deaf to me, until you fully accepted to be my Guardian. That was when the barrier blocking your mind was removed.” There is a slight pause, as again I can feel the attention of the tree going past me and two the two Endarians who still have their backs to us. Again, it doesn’t mean they can’t hear, but they are at least giving the illusion that they can’t.
“As for the others. They too tried, but the one you were with. The false mother, she too was deaf to our pleas. They are probably the worst as they cannot see the universe beyond the scope of their mission. They have been gifted a great chance, but they only squander it on their own selfish needs and desires.”
I nod. Then ask for clarification. “You mean Mel?”
“I mean all of them. They play around with powers they know not the scope of. Only to sit back and cry foul when they don’t get their way.”
Hearing that, I felt there was a bit more to this than the tree was letting on. But I decided not to pry. Instead, I had a question. “What now? What of you, what of the others?” I ask aloud.
“Haha. Thank you for being so caring for me and the others. As for what to do now, that is entirely up to you. Again, from our bond I can use your powers to protect myself. Then if I am ever in danger, I can call out to you, and you can jump here right away.”
“Oh wait, I get a teleportation spell with this?” I ask, suddenly thinking it would be cool to be able to randomly drop in on the tree.
“Moron. You already had this ability.” The tree states, and with that I feel like a fool. The tree is correct, I already have this ability, with my Total Recall power. A power that I think there is more to than I am using it for.
“You are correct. There is more to it than you are currently aware of.”
Yep, this isn’t going to get old, having a tree constantly reading my mind and telling me how much of a moron I’ve been. Then my mind goes back to the other trees. Are they safe? Is there anything I can do for them as well?
“Father. They still want you to be their guardian. All you have to do is accept.”
“I just accept them as well? And they will get… well what you have?” I say, not wanting to exactly state what I have.
“Yes.”
“And I just do the same thing. Hold my hands up and think of them and accept them?”
“Yes.”
I hold up my hands and am about to do it, but then I pause. “Wait, if I do this, I’m not going to get more wings, or horns on my head right?”
Haha. The tree laughs at me. “No, sadly you are only half Endarian. The mutations you have undergone are the limit of what you can achieve physically. To be honest I am rather surprised you grew the wings at all. They do look nice, by the way.”
Zzz!
More angry buzzing sounds. I don’t think the tree is mocking me, but still I can’t help but feel that there was some way to have stopped this.
“It is a mark of distinction. One that separates you from all others. Rayquel is the only other one who has been accepted as a guardian.”
I turn to her, only to see that she is turning back to look at us. Apparently, she was overhearing everything, despite her back being turned. I am so shocked.
“Father, you are not shocked. You knew she was listening in all the time.”
“Yes, I know, it was sarcasm. You know, just never mind.” I say, flustered now that Rayquel is looking intently at the two of us.
“You have accepted my oath?” Rayquel asks.
“Yes, you will suffice for my second guardian, behind father.” The tree said.
Wow, not terribly full of yourself there, are you?
“Father, you are clearly the only true father binding all five of us together. This Rayquel is just an imitation of the one we spoke of as mother.”
I have a thought, “Is the other Rayquel, is she?” I ask.
“She will be, but only after you first accept the role of being their Guardian as well.”
“Wait, they are waiting for me to accept, before they accept Rayquel?” I ask.
“Yes. The hierarchy is important. Even if it means being unprotected for a time, you are still needed to be first Guardian.”
I am sort of moved by this. In my mind I imagine those four other trees, well saplings going on unprotected, all because they are waiting for me to be their guardian. In a way this is sort of flattering. With that, I take a breath and ready my resolve. Holding up my hands I am about to say the words that started this whole thing, then I pause. The tree guessing my thoughts, automatically responds.
“No, you will not get double wings, or anything else. This is it.” The tree pauses as my next question is about to come to life. “Yes, you will also be able to go to them as well. But you always were able to. You just didn’t know it.”
I pause, as I realize I could use these trees as a great way to cheat with my powers. Who knows what other things they are aware of. But then an even scarier thought fills my mind. With how invasive this guy is, will I have to deal with five of these little hellions reading my mind all the time? Then I wonder how often people thought of mind reading trees as little hellions?
“No, the distance is too great. While you will share a bond, only under the direst of circumstances will allow the thoughts of danger course through. Also, know that the only reason we can communicate this freely is due to how close you are. Once you leave, we will have a harder and harder time communicating as well.”
So, stay as far away as possible, got it.
“That is one way to look at this.” The tree said, and I could feel a weight of sorrow in its words.
Man, now I feel like a jerk. I am about to make a tree cry. Can trees even cry? You know what, no. I need to sort out all of this stuff. But I also need to make sure those other trees are also protected.
Holding out my hands, I think of the four different trees. Then say the words, “I accept.”
By now everyone is looking at me. I feel a glowing light envelop me, as I pause for a second. Everyone looks shocked. Then I drop to the ground and begin spasming wildly.
“Oh!” The General and Rayquel both cry out as they come towards me.
“Father, that is not funny!”
Hearing the tree dime me out like that, I get up and shrug. “Well yeah, of course it isn’t funny. When you go and ruin a perfectly good moment like that.”
Everyone looks on in shock at me, as they suddenly realize I was just joking about going through another metamorphosis. Yep, still the same old me. Well, the same old me with hideously bright and warning butterfly wings. Silver, purple, and orange. All bright and electric colors.
Also, the wings made me realize one thing. At this one realization I almost felt like crying.
“Father, it will be okay.” The tree said consolingly.
“What? What’s wrong?” Rayquel asked.
I just shake my head in annoyance more than anything. “I just realized, that now that I have these wings, I will now be too big. I will not even be able to fit in the bronze level of mechanoid space suits.”
“Uggh!” Rayquel and the General both exclaim in unison.