The Four Faces of Rath - (CC, ALL, YTEEN) -Ch 66-71 - 8/6/05

vecastone · Post by **vecastone** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 1:55 pm

Wow !!! poor Liz and Max. But I have to say that Liz behave bad spending that much time on the other timeline. I mean , ok she went there to see if Max existed and fall in love with him , but she get pregnant and had Jeffy . She did all that in a year and then returned to Michael. She built that bubble when she wasn´t supposed to do that. It surprises me because Liz is always 'the mind' that´s always taking the right decisions. mmmm !!! I am pretty sure Kryys will solve this mess. <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /smile.gif ALT=":)">

isndbreeze · Post by **isndbreeze** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 8:38 pm

Thanks everyone, for the feedback! Fallen Magic -Yeah, Kryys is pretty resourceful, especially for a 7-year-old! But then, he's not a regular kid. He really does keep Michael on his toes. <img src=http://www.majiklmoon.com/ezboardsmilies/lol.gif ALT=":lol"> Tracie -Thanks for the feedback! Bookwork -Thanks for the feedback! Buffyrosfan -Okay, I rushed! Here it is! <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /smile.gif ALT=":)"> Veca -Liz did make a mistake, but I don't think she would take it back, because right or wrong, it created Jeffy. In her defense, though, she thought she was just going to the future to see Max, and she wound up falling in love with him all over, which I guess was inevitable. She stayed a year, thinking that it would all be part of her future life with him when Michael fixed the timeline. She didn't know that a bubble was being created out of time and that it would cause all this heartache. You could be right about Kryys. Here's the next chapter. Hope you like it! <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /smile.gif ALT=":)"> <div style="text-align:center"><img src="http://users.aol.com/isndbreeze/skysymb ...   Gerry - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Hopeless Candy-Coated, Stargazing, Dreamer! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -</div>

isndbreeze · Post by **isndbreeze** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 8:40 pm

The Four Faces of Rath A Will, A Way, And Family Chapter 48 XLVIII Liz sat with her hand over her mouth and her eyes misty and wide open as she listened to Kryys describe the baby he had held in his arms and tried to bring back. “That’s him, Kryys! That’s Jeffy! My little angel! Where is he now?” “He’s still there, Aunt Elizabeth, where he was.” “Is he okay, Kryys? Is he safe? Is he happy?” Liz understood the irrelevancy of her questions. More than anyone there other than Kryys himself, Liz knew and understood that Jeffy was in no danger where he was… that he didn’t exist physically in the way that we understand existence. But Liz still felt the need to ask. “He’s fine,” Kryys said. “He smiled at me.” Liz looked at Kryys, and her eyes welled up with tears. She smiled, as the tears began to roll down her cheeks. Max put his arm around her and kissed her, gently wiping her tears away with his fingertips. “We’re going to get him back, Liz. Kryys will find a way… with our help. I’m sure of it.” Kryys blushed slightly, and Maria hugged him to her. Michael looked at Kryys and smiled, clearly proud of his son. “I can’t wait to see Jeffy,” Maria said soothingly to Liz. “Kryys said that he looks like an angel. He said that he was cute for a baby.” Liz laughed, even as she wiped another tear from her cheek. “That’s high praise from a seven-year-old, Maria. I know Alyyx tries to distance himself from most babies. I think when children –boys especially- are his age and Kryys’, they’re trying to grow up themselves, and maybe that’s just a little too close to… you know… to where they’re trying to get away from.” Maria nodded. “Yeah, Zorel is ten. Jayyd is younger than Kryys, but only by one year, so he doesn’t remember having another baby around. He wasn’t old enough. He’s still kind of our baby.” “I’m not a baby, Mom,” Kryys said emphatically. “I’m going to school already.” “We know, Kryys,” Michael said. “We didn’t mean you’re a real baby, just that you’re one of our children… and you’re special to us.” “Because I was the president of Alyendis and the allied planets?” “No,” Michael said. “…Because you’re you… you’re our son.” “Do you remember that, Kryys… being the president,” Liz asked, surprised. “Yeah… sort of. Not all the details, but I know that I did that… The Drax-ta-Kiya says I’ll remember everything as I get older. When I’m with him, I remember, but when I’m here, I forget a lot of things.” Max nodded. “That’s probably good, Kryys. It allows you to grow up as a… well, the way you should, without a lot of adult memories haunting you. There’ll be plenty of time for adult memories when you’re an adult.” “Yeah, I know, Uncle Zan. That’s what Master Drax tells me. It’s okay. I like playing with Zorel and Alyyx and Danny and the others. A president can’t do that.” “You are wise beyond your years, Kryys,” Max said with a smile. Michael laughed, and Kryys grinned sheepishly. “Kryys, what can your Aunt Liz and I do to help you bring Jeffy back to us?” Kryys thought for several moments. “I don’t know, Uncle Zan. I think of more things when I’m in the other place… where the River of Time is. I need to go back there and see if I can think of something.” Max looked at Michael and Maria, and they nodded. “You know I want to see the little guy,” Maria said. “I already feel like I know him.” “Go when you’re ready, Kryys,” Michael said. “Be back for supper.” “I will, Dad,” Kryys said, already starting to dissolve into a swirl of brilliant atoms. Michael, Maria, Liz, and Max watched as Kryys disappeared through the ceiling of the palace. “You think he could teach me to do that,” Max asked jestingly. “He hasn’t had any luck with me,” Michael said. “He tried once. I stood outside with my hands out and my eyes closed and concentrated really hard. Then I thought I felt my atoms starting to dissolve, but it had just started to rain. Everybody else ran inside and left me out there with my eyes closed and my arms out in the rain, thinking I was dissolving.” Maria giggled. “It’s all right, Michael. I like all your atoms right where they are. I don’t need any of them changed.” Michael blushed slightly and grinned. <div style="text-align:center">**********</div> Somewhere across time and the universe, far from where Max and Liz sat with Michael and Maria, Kryys sat on a rock at the edge of the River of Time, thinking. “Master Drax said that no one can be taken from here. They would have to leave of their own will. But a baby doesn’t have the ability to think that way, so a baby could never leave. And I didn’t come from here… I came from somewhere else first and just went back where I came from, so maybe nobody can really ever leave here. I guess if somebody came along and put someone’s atoms back in place, that person might be able to return if they had the knowledge required to want to leave.” Kryys sighed. “But Jeffy doesn’t… He’s just a baby.” Kryys lifted his head and looked at the River of Time. “But… maybe…” Kryys dissolved and disappeared momentarily. Returning after a few moments, he held out his arms and called for the cosmic winds. In a short time, he once again had Jeffy in his arms. “Jeffy, you’re going to take a little ride with me down the river.” Kryys held the baby to him and dissolved in a swirl of atoms. This time, though, instead of returning home, he reappeared further down the River of Time. Kryys looked at the baby in his arms. It was no longer a baby… and Kryys was no longer seven. Seven years had passed. Kryys, now fourteen, set the young boy in his arms down. “Jeffy, you’ve got to want to go home,” Kryys said to the now 7-year-old Jeffy. The young boy looked at Kryys with a bewildered look. “Jeffy, your Mama and Daddy want you to come home. Do you understand?” Jeffy looked at Kryys and then at his surroundings but showed no sign of understanding. “Can’t you answer me,” Kryys asked. “He can’t,” a voice behind him said. Kryys turned to look at the Drax-ta-Kiya. “He never learned to speak, Kryys. You brought him through time. That was brilliant. I should have thought of it myself. But he doesn’t understand. Jeffy is still a baby, because he has never been taught or even been exposed to others long enough to learn or to have any understanding of what you’re saying.” “I can teach him, Master.” The Drax-ta-Kiya smiled. “It is no small matter to take care of a baby and teach it, Kryys. You would have to feed it… now that it is in this form. It could take months, maybe years. I know you are willing, Sundrop, but I do not believe that you are able, even with your abilities. It takes more to raise a baby than just a boy who is willing to teach it.” Kryys looked crestfallen. “I tried to think of something, Master, but I don’t know what to do. There must be something.” “You are very determined, Sundrop. Your determination will serve you well.” Kryys turned to ask the Drax-ta-Kiya if he meant by that that he would eventually succeed in getting Jeffy home, but the Drax was gone. “Well, Jeffy, it’s just us.” Kryys picked up a flat pebble and skipped it over the surface of the river, which wasn’t actually water at all but was actually a stream of cosmic particles. It did look very much like a river, though. Kryys waded into the edge of it, holding Jeffy’s hand. Jeffy followed along silently. Kryys reached into the cosmic stream and pulled out a small, shining piece, probably a minute remnant from an exploded star or some other cosmic event. He handed it to Jeffy, and Jeffy looked at it then threw it toward the surface of the stream as Kryys had done with the flat pebble. “Yeah, that’s how you do it,” Kryys said. “But it has to be flat to skip.” He picked up a flat pebble and handed it to Jeffy. Jeffy looked at it then threw it at the surface of the stream. It skipped twice then sank into the cosmic stream. “That was very good,” Kryys said, grinning. “You learn quick!” Jeffy smiled but said nothing. “Jeffy… I have another idea. I hope you don’t mind being a baby again. We’re going back where we were.” Kryys started to take Jeffy by the hand but then thought for a minute. “I’m going to have to pick you up, Jeffy. When we get there, I wouldn’t want to be dangling you by the arm.” He reached down and picked Jeffy up in his arms. “You’re a really big baby, Jeffy.” Jeffy smiled. Kryys dissolved into a swirl of atoms then reappeared at the place he had first brought Jeffy to. He looked around him and called out… “Master Drax! Master Drax, can you come?” “I am here, Sundrop. What do you need?” a voice said. Kryys turned around to face the Drax-ta-Kiya. “Master, hold this,” he said, placing the baby in the Drax-ta-Kiya’s hands. “What are you planning to do, Sundrop,” Master Drax asked, his voice reflecting concern for the first time since Kryys had ever known him. “You’ll see, Master. Just wait here!” Kryys dissolved in a swirl of atoms. The Drax-ta-Kiya looked at the baby in his arms. Then he called out hesitantly, “Kryys! You are going to be right back, right?” Kryys didn’t answer. He had already disappeared. The Drax-ta-Kiya looked at the baby again and smiled at it. “Well, I guess it’s you and me for now, little… let’s see, what can I call you? Kryys is already ‘Sundrop.’ You will be… ‘Angel-eyes?’ You do have an angelic look, little one… What else could I call you? ‘Starshine?’ Hmmm. Maybe. Or how about…” Jeffy looked at the Drax and smiled. “’Angel’s Smile.’” I’ll call you ‘Angel’s Smile,’ because you have an angel’s smile… and because you could make an angel smile with that smile of yours, little one. Suddenly, Kryys reappeared. He had Liz by one hand and Max by the other hand. The Drax-ta-Kiya smiled and handed the baby to Liz, who ran to hold it. Kryys thought that he noticed a look of relief on the Master’s face. Must have been his imagination, he thought. “Master, I couldn’t take Jeffy to his mama and daddy, so I brought his mama and daddy to him.” The Master looked at Liz and Max holding the baby in their arms with tears running down their faces. “I know you have good intentions, Sundrop, and you have an angel’s heart… but is this really a good idea? They cannot take him home… and they cannot remain here…” “I know, Master. But if this works, they may not have to.” “I hope you’re right, Sundrop.” The Drax-ta-Kiya dismissed himself, leaving Kryys with Liz, Max, and the baby. Kryys watched Liz and Max fawning over the baby, kissing it, playing with it… and he smiled. Then he sat down on his rock by the stream and waited. It was impossible to say exactly how long Liz and Max remained there. Time wasn’t exactly measured in this place. But Kryys waited until he judged that they had had several hours with Jeffy. Then without warning or saying a word, he took Liz and Max each by a hand and dissolved with them into a swirl of atoms. As he expected, they arrived back with Jeffy no longer in Liz’s arms… and Liz was heartbroken. She pleaded with Kryys… “Kryys, take us back… please. We weren’t ready to leave yet. We didn’t get to say goodbye to Jeffy…” Kryys looked down timidly at the floor, but he steeled his resolve, knowing that he was doing the right thing. “Kryys,” Max said, a tear coursing its way slowly down his own cheek, “…we’ll always be eternally grateful to you for giving us this chance to see Jeffy, but couldn’t you give Liz… give us… just a few more minutes to say goodbye properly?” Kryys swallowed and shook his head. “Hold out your arms, Aunt Liz.” Liz looked at Kryys for a moment, then she did as he said. She waited. “What’s supposed to happen,” Liz asked after a few moments. “I’m… I’m not sure,” Kryys said. “I was hoping…” Suddenly a small stream of atoms swirled through the ceiling and down through the room into Liz’s arms. Liz stood dumbfounded as Jeffy appeared in her arms. Then he looked at her, smiled, and cooed. Liz and Max were in Heaven. “How did you know,” Max asked Kryys after he had convinced himself that Jeffy was real and was really there in Liz’s arms. “I wasn’t sure, Uncle Zan, but I thought I felt something when I held Jeffy. He’s like me… but he doesn’t know about his gift. He’s too young. When the bubble disappeared and his atoms dispersed, he was lost… until I found him and brought him back. He just had to want to come here. That’s why I took you and Aunt Liz to be with him for a while. He’s just a baby, so he had to get to know you again. He remembers you now… and now that he knows where you are he wants to be with you again.” “Thank you,” Liz said, her voice breaking, as she hugged Kryys and the baby both to her. “That goes for me, too, Kryys, Max said, his eyes red. “I don’t know how I can ever repay you…” Kryys smiled. “It’s alright, Uncle Zan. I understand.” Max nodded. He wondered if Kryys remembered his own children… the ones he left behind on Alyendis when he was brought back to his own time and planet and became a child again. Sometimes he thought Kryys did remember. But he wasn’t sure. Some day, of course, he would, and undoubtedly, he would want to return to the family he loved… when he was President Kryys. As Max and Liz stood looking at their new addition, Maya, JoLeesa, Andya, and Alyyx came running into the room from outside… “Mom,” Maya started to ask… “When’s dinn…?” Maya’s eyes grew wide with surprise as she saw the baby… “What’s that, Mom?” “This is Jeffy,” Liz said, smiling broadly. “…your little brother.” Liz held the baby out a bit for the girls and Alyyx to see. “Woah,” Alyyx managed to say after a moment. “I didn’t know you could get one so fast!” Max laughed, and Liz smiled. “Yeah, Mom,” JoLeesa said. “How did you get him so fast? Is he… yours?” “He’s all mine,” Liz said, grinning. “…all ours,” she corrected herself, looking at Max. “We’ll explain it all later,” Max said. “This time, Dad,” Alyyx said, “when you explain about that stuff… start all over. Either I missed something major or you didn’t tell me everything there was to know.” Max pulled Alyyx to him and tousled his hair a bit, laughing. Then he put his arms around the girls and Liz, with Jeffy in her arms, and pulled them all together. “Come here, Kryys!” He pulled Kryys into the group. “You’ll always be like one of our children, Kryys. We’ll always love you like our own.” Kryys smiled and breathed in deeply, apparently feeling that his efforts were well rewarded already. “Can I take you home, Max asked?” Kryys shook his head. “No need, Uncle Zan. I can get there faster… It’s almost supper time, and I promised Dad I’d be back for supper.” Max smiled. “Thanks again, Kryys. If we can ever…” Kryys grinned then dissolved into billions of brilliant atoms that swirled around the room and disappeared through the ceiling. Max turned his attention to Liz and Jeffy. He kissed Jeffy on the cheek then kissed Liz and put his arm around them and the other children. “Family!” Max said smiling. “Let’s go get dinner somewhere. I’m hungry.” Liz smiled. “Yeah… I think I am, too. Can we go to Var’nat’s Kires-Ryym? It’s a great family restaurant with great food… and they love babies there. I just need to pick up some special items first at a store somewhere…” She motioned toward Jeffy. Max smiled and nodded. “Yeah! A family place!” He looked at Jeffy’s smiling face and touched him on the tip of the nose playfully. “Because we’re a family, Jeffy!” tbc

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Wed Sep 03, 2003 6:21 am

<img src=http://www.contrabandent.com/cwm/s/otn/blobs/pinkie.gif ALT=":pinkie"> <img src=http://www.contrabandent.com/cwm/s/otn/blobs/pinkie.gif ALT=":pinkie"> Yay! Jeffy's back! And all thanks to Kryys! that really is one resourceful and brilliant kid!<img src=http://www.majiklmoon.com/ezboardsmilies/lol.gif ALT=":lol"> That was absolutely wonderful! And the part where Michael was retelling his attempt to dissovle into atoms<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"> ! <img src=http://www.majiklmoon.com/ezboardsmilies/clap.gif ALT=":clap"> <img src=http://www.majiklmoon.com/ezboardsmilies/clap.gif ALT=":clap"> <img src=http://www.majiklmoon.com/ezboardsmilies/clap.gif ALT=":clap"> <img src=http://www.majiklmoon.com/ezboardsmilies/clap.gif ALT=":clap"> <img src=http://www.majiklmoon.com/ezboardsmilies/clap.gif ALT=":clap"> <img src=http://www.uniquehardware.co.uk/server- ... humpup.gif ALT=":thumbsup"> <img src=http://www.uniquehardware.co.uk/server- ... humpup.gif ALT=":thumbsup"> <img src=http://www.uniquehardware.co.uk/server- ... humpup.gif ALT=":thumbsup"> great part as always!<img src=http://www.majiklmoon.com/ezboardsmilies/Grin_anim.gif ALT=":grin"> <img src="http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sra ... 55ad1f.jpg" style="border:0;"/>

Post by **roswellkitkat** » Wed Sep 03, 2003 2:11 pm

Nothing like taking a mini vacation and coming back to some awesome updates! That Kryys is so great! Are you sure Michael and Maria made him? <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/wink.gif ALT=";)"> <div style="text-align:center">Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.</div> <div style="text-align:center">Rudyard Kipling, English author</div> <

isndbreeze · Post by **isndbreeze** » Thu Sep 04, 2003 5:29 am

Thanks for the feedback, Fallen Magic and Roswellkitkat! I enjoy writing Kryys' parts. In Life In The Stars, he was one of the only kids with no known powers and the only one of Michael and Maria's with no powers, so he took a bit of kidding from the others. But then when Jayyd got shot in that book and Max couldn't heal her or bring her back, Kryys turned into atoms and did the unimaginable, leaving everyone in awe. He's one of my favorite kids, though I also like little Jayyd and her color changing abilities, which she has put to good use (turning Zwolinski green with red hair and his boss purple with pink polka-dots in Life in the Stars and making herself and Alyyx blend in with the trees in Children Of The Universe in order to escape from the Ghors). Now we'll have to keep an eye on Jeffy as he grows up and see how he turns out. Here's the next chapter. Enjoy! <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /smile.gif ALT=":)"> <div style="text-align:center"><img src="http://users.aol.com/isndbreeze/skysymb ...   Gerry - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Hopeless Candy-Coated, Stargazing, Dreamer! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -</div>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub129.ezboard.com/bmajiklmoonsr ... dbreeze</A> <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://users.aol.com/isndbreeze/aim116b.jpg" BORDER=0> at: 9/4/03 5:33 am

isndbreeze · Post by **isndbreeze** » Thu Sep 04, 2003 6:31 am

The Four Faces of Rath Jungle Jim Returns Chapter 49 XLIX “Okay, aim the cameras right over here. I’m going to be standing right here when I open. Then I’ll turn and walk into the Nan-Torel… and you guys will follow me with the cameras… into the Nan-Torel… Got that?” The camera crew nodded. “Good! This show is going to happen gentlemen… and lady,” Jim said, nodding toward Obyal Var of Video XSO Xarius. “I had to bring you guys all the way from Xarius, but it’ll be worth it. I’m gonna teach these Antarians about their fauna if it kills me.” Jim thought about that last statement a moment… “And I don’t mean like the Antarians think it’s going to, either!” There was some chuckling from the camera crew, which consisted of four large, beefy Xarian male cameramen and Obyal Var, the well-known female correspondent from Xarius. “Okay, let’s do it,” Jim said, staking out his position in front of the cameras. “Action, gentlemen!” The cameras came on, and Jim smiled as they panned dramatically across the dark Nan-Torel and came to rest on his face. “Hello, and welcome to the Jungle Jim Show! Last week I promised you that I would return and we would take a trip into the Nan-Torel. Today, that is finally going to happen. I want to thank the team from Video XSO of Xarius for coming here to film this for you today.” Jim motioned toward the camera crew, and one of the cameras panned slowly over the five Xarians. Each one smiled and waved in turn. In the square in the center of town, Antarians were already packed around the public viewing screen. The rest were all in their homes watching. The Return of Jungle Jim was unquestionably the most eagerly anticipated event to ever hit Antarian “TV.” “They’re all gonna get eaten,” one Antarian woman said, as she and a friend watched in the public square. The other woman chuckled. “They’re taking bets down at Rag’lyng’s on how long it will take till the first one gets eaten… and what will eat him.” The first woman shook her head. “Well, I hope Jungle Jim doesn’t get eaten myself. I’d like to see him come back every week. He’s interesting… and he’s kind of good looking…” Her friend nodded. “Yeah, I’d like that, too…” Then she added, “But don’t get too attached to him. He’s going to get eaten.” Jim turned and motioned to his crew, then he walked toward the edge of the Nan-Torel. The crew followed, much to Jim’s relief. There were no real paths in the Nan-Torel… at least not ones made by human feet. No Antarians ever went in there voluntarily. But there were smaller trails… ones made by… well… no one really knew what. The first thing that became obvious as they plodded into the Nan-Torel, was that there was not an abundance of light available. The trees and jungle-like growth were dense everywhere. Fortunately, the Xarian cameras, like their Antarian counterparts, had advanced power cores that could run for days without recharging. The lights could also burn for as long as was likely to be needed without any recharging, so lighting would not be a problem. The camera crew followed, recording every step Jim took and every plant he pushed out of the way, as they pressed on for the next fifteen minutes deeper into the Nan-Torel’s dark depths. About half a mile inside the forest-jungle, Jim stopped and turned toward the cameras with a smile… “Folks, this is something I want to show you.” Jim held up the branch of a Guma plant. Its huge orange, purple, and red mushroom-like leaves waved and undulated as if they were alive. “This is a poison Guma fungus plant. The leaves of the Guma plant are not normally deadly to touch, but they can leave some very painful reminders of why they are called ‘poison’ Guma plants. These leaves move around almost as if they were… well, I would say alive, but the fact is, they are alive. All plants are alive, and all plants move! They just normally move too slowly for us to notice. You have undoubtedly seen that many flowers open in the day and close at night… the Yura flower always faces the sun… and the Dyswo plant lies down at night but reawakens and creeps slowly back up as the sun rises in the day. The poison Guma plant moves, too. The difference, of course, is that its movements can be observed. It is saying to keep away. That is why, as you can see, I am being careful to touch only the branches and not the beautiful fungus leaves.” Jim carefully let the branch back down, and the camera crew turned sideways to squeeze by the plant, giving it a wide berth. Suddenly, everyone heard a noise… something that sounded like a flutter of wings. The camera crew looked around somewhat nervously, but no one saw anything. Jim searched the trees. He didn’t see what had made the sound, but he did see some trees that interested him. “These are Ama trees,” Jim said, smiling broadly. “You may be familiar with a smaller subspecies of the Ama tree. It grows outside the Nan-Torel, and its leaves, which are also much smaller, are often used to make salads. A smaller, less-poisonous relative of the Guma plant can also be found outside the Nan-Torel, and it is often detoxified and eaten in salads. The leaves of the giant Ama trees of the Nan-Torel fall densely on the forest floor in many places, and they can be very useful to you if you should ever happen to spend the night out here.” Around TV screens all over Antar, more than a few viewers chuckled at Jim’s last statement. “There’s no chance that’s ever going to happen,” seemed to be the comment heard from most of those watching. “The fact is,” Jim continued, “when Zan was forced to flee into the Nan-Torel to escape from Kivar’s soldiers during the Battle for Antar, he slept under piles of Ama leaves at night. And do you know why? I’ll give you a clue… It wasn’t to stay warm. The Nan-Torel is quite warm. Sleeping under a big pile of Ama leaves was the only means he had to protect himself from the bat-like rob-jeta that descend on any unprotected living thing in the Nan-Torel at night like flying meat cleavers. The rob-jeta can devour a shebble –or an Antarian for that matter- down to the bones in just three minutes while it sleeps. “Well, only if someone is crazy enough to sleep in the Nan-Torel,” one of the viewers in the square said, eliciting another round of laughter from the crowd gathered there. Not seeing the source of the sound they had heard earlier, Jim led the camera crew further down the small, unknown trail… or what appeared to be a trail. Then he stopped again, this time to carefully pick up a ten-foot-long snake that he spotted in a bush. The snake was red with brilliant blue zig-zags that somewhat resembled lightning bolts along its sides. Above the zig-zag pattern, there were small, luminescent greenish spots that glowed brightly in the Nan-Torel’s darkness. The belly was a very light minty green color. “Look at this little beauty,” Jim said enthusiastically, holding the snake up, as the camera crew backed away a few feet. “What a find this is! This is just extraordinary! I can’t believe our good luck! What I have here is none other than an Antarian green-spotted fire snake. Many of you have heard of the fire snake… but most Antarians believe it is merely a myth. And yet here it is… one of those legendary snakes, my friends, live and… hissing its displeasure at us… Check this out!” Jim picked up a small branch from the ground and carefully pulled the snake’s tail with the branch until the tip of the tail touched the snake’s head. As soon as it did, the entire snake lit up then seemed to explode, throwing a roaring sheet of flames high into the air. The camera crew backed up quite a bit further, and some of them looked around nervously. “Don’t worry,” Jim said, smiling, as he gently draped the fire snake back over its bush. “The snake was not harmed. The sheet of flames she shoots out is her way of defending herself. In the Nan-Torel every creature must have some means of defense to survive. Few other creatures will mess with a fire snake.” “I can see why,” one of the cameramen mumbled. Obyal Var swallowed and nodded, her eyes still wide. As Jim turned to lead the crew down the trail a bit further, one of the cameramen tripped and fell headlong on the ground. The other cameramen stared as the ground rose up where the fallen cameraman had gone down… then the ground moved to one side. Obyal Var turned a camera on her fallen comrade and followed the moving mound of leaves and grass, which continued to grow higher and higher. Jim rushed over to it and attempted to lift it so that the cameras could get a better view. “Help me out here someone. This guy’s heavy!” The camera crew seemed unsure. “It’s just a wiffer,” Jim said. It’s a large animal similar to a turtle. It’s harmless. The leaves and grass stuck all over its back are its defense. It stays camouflaged.” Two of the large Xarian men decided to assist Jim, and together they lifted the wiffer for Obyal Var to get a good shot of it. It did look very much like a turtle, but it was probably something entirely different. The head had a pair of stiff combs or ridges that were vaguely reminiscent of a dinosaur’s. The tail was armored and had spikes on the sides. In spite of its appearance, though, the wiffer appeared to be quite gentle and harmless. The three men set it back down, and it quickly used its spiked tail to dig into the ground and bury itself again, leaving only a few inches of its camouflaged shell protruding above the ground. So this was what the cameraman had tripped over. Having seen and touched the gentle wiffer, the camera crew seemed more relaxed, calmer, and less nervous… but that was only until they heard the shriek. It pierced the darkness like a stab going through each one there. And it was followed by a series of short shrieks from the other side of them. “Oh! Excellent!” Jim said. “That was the sound of the wild pawgor and its mate answering him!” Jim turned around to address the cameras, but they weren’t there. In homes all over Antar and in the public square, viewers watched as bushes, underbrush, and poison Guma plants rushed by. All they could see were feet running as the cameras bounced aimlessly around, held by the camera crew running for their lives. In the palace, Liz and Max watched and smiled, then they looked at each other and both began to laugh. “Oh God, I shouldn’t be laughing,” Liz said, wiping the tears from her eyes. “I feel guilty. Jim is our friend. He’s like family.” In the countryside, at his own home, Jim’s oldest son, Kyle, was feeling no such guilt as he rolled on the floor with laughter, causing Jeliya to smile in spite of herself. “Kyle, you’re awful, you know that? He’s your Dad.” “I know,” Kyle said, breaking into another fit of hysterical laughter. “Aren’t you worried about him?” “Who? Dad? Naw… He’ll be fine. He may not be amused, but he’ll be fine, Jilly. This reminds me of a low-budget movie some college kids made back on Earth called ‘The Blair Witch Project’ or something like that. It was just a bunch of people running and all you saw was their feet and bushes and the ground going by.” Kyle lapsed into laughter again. “I know Dad’s not going to be amused, but it’s funny as hell!” <div style="text-align:center">**********</div> Jim was sitting next to the Starkeen River tossing pebbles into the water when Kyle walked up. “How’s it going, Dad?” “I’ll live,” Jim said, tossing another pebble into the water. “Aw, Dad… You still steaming about the Xarian camera guys running out on you?” “I looked like a fool, Kyle. What was I thinking?” “Maybe you were thinking that Antar needs a little education about its natural heritage. Maybe you were thinking that they would learn something… and enjoy it… and you’d enjoy doing it.” “Maybe I was an idiot,” Jim said quietly, tossing another pebble into the river. “Well, the VideoAntar News teams don’t think so, Dad.” Kyle sat down next to his father. “They were saying this morning that you’ve done something that no one ever expected or ever has before. You’ve awakened a real interest in Antarians in their natural heritage. They want more.” “Yeah?” “Yeah! The Jungle Jim show outperformed every other show in Antarian history.” “That’s just because everyone wanted to see me get eaten.” “No it’s not, Dad. Antarians just have a sense of humor.” “So I’ll laugh while I’m being eaten.” “You don’t get it, Dad. They don’t really want you to get eaten. They just enjoy saying that. It’s like a big joke. They like to have fun with everything. And now they say that there’s a real interest growing in the fauna of the Nan-Torel, and it’s because of you.” “Yeah? You really think so?” “I know so, Dad. I’ve heard it everywhere. They want more of Jungle Jim!” Jim sighed and tossed another pebble into the river. “It’s no use anyway, son. I’ll never find a crew that won’t run the first time something howls out there. I can’t blame them really. They don’t understand the wildlife in there. They’re scared. They don’t want to get eaten… and if they went in there without the proper understanding and respect for the wildlife, they would.” “Exactly, Dad… and that’s why Jungle Jim is needed.” Jim looked at Kyle and thought about what he had said, then he nodded. “Yeah… so the message is really gettin’ through, huh?” “Yeah, Dad. It is.” “Alright. Alright, then. I’ll give it one more go.” Jim stood up and dusted himself off. “Let’s go up to the house and have some coffee. We can talk about how I’m gonna hogtie the next camera crew and keep ‘em on a leash.” Kyle laughed. “Well, the Xarian crew won’t be able to return for quite a while.” “Why’s that, Kyle?” “The news on VideoAntar said they were all suffering from poison Guma plant rashes. Seems they weren’t as careful when they were running to get back out of the Nan-Torel as they were going in.” Jim laughed. “Well, they’ll get over it.” “So will you, Dad. Come on! Let’s get that cup o’ coffee you promised me.” tbc

vecastone · Post by **vecastone** » Thu Sep 04, 2003 11:18 am

Heyyy !! you are going too fast !! I came here to leave fb on chapter 48 and you´ve already posted chapter 49 <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /smile.gif ALT=":)"> Ok !! I am so happy for Liz and Max and Jim ( that last chapter was hilarious) <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /smile.gif ALT=":)"> <img src=http://www.majiklmoon.com/ezboardsmilies/love.gif ALT=":love"> <img src=http://www.majiklmoon.com/ezboardsmilies/love.gif ALT=":love"> <img src=http://www.majiklmoon.com/ezboardsmilies/love.gif ALT=":love"> <img src=http://www.majiklmoon.com/ezboardsmilies/love.gif ALT=":love">

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sun Sep 07, 2003 7:42 am

<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"> <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"> that was hilarious! I can just imagine the camera crew running off leaving a very confused and irritated Jim! And shame on Kyle (<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/wink.gif ALT=";)"> <img src=http://www.majiklmoon.com/ezboardsmilies/lol.gif ALT=":lol"> ) laughing at his dad! But it was so funny! Great part Gerry! <img src="http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sra ... 55ad1f.jpg" style="border:0;"/>

isndbreeze · Post by **isndbreeze** » Sun Sep 07, 2003 7:35 pm

Thanks for the feedback, Veca and Fallen Magic! It's greatly appreciated! Okay, I know that many of you have not read the last chapter yet, but I'm going to post the next chapter anyway, since I've posted it elsewhere today already. It'll just give you more to read and enjoy... Double your pleasure, double your fun... (Okay, stop that snickering out there! I heard that! <img src=http://www.majiklmoon.com/ezboardsmilies/lol.gif ALT=":lol"> ) <div style="text-align:center"><img src="http://users.aol.com/isndbreeze/skysymb ...   Gerry - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Hopeless Candy-Coated, Stargazing, Dreamer! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -</div>

isndbreeze · Post by **isndbreeze** » Sun Sep 07, 2003 7:36 pm

The Four Faces of Rath The Mysteries Of Jeffy Chapter 50 L “He’s beautiful, Mom!” Maya said, as she gazed at the face of her new little baby brother. “But I still don’t understand where you found him.” Liz smiled, and Max grinned and shook his head. “We didn’t ‘find’ him,” Max said. “Well, we did… but that was only after… well, I mean… we lost him first. Okay, that’s not exactly what I meant to say, either. It’s not like we just misplaced him… it’s more like… Feel free to jump in anytime and help me out here, Liz.” “You’re doing such a great job, Hon. I wouldn’t want to stop you when you’re on a roll.” “I’ll forgive you, Liz. Have a little mercy here… Please?” “Well, it’s like this, Maya, your Dad and I had Jeffy in another timeline… only it wasn’t a timeline, it was more of a displaced time bubble with no past. Then this timeline here got fixed, and that bubble ceased to exist, and Jeffy ceased to exist…” “Dad, what’s Mom talking about,” Andya asked. Max smiled. “Oh, she’s explaining it right, Andya.” “Well, it’s making about as much sense as you were.” Max pursed his lips tightly together and reached out pretending to whack Andya on the back of the head. Andya giggled and jumped out of the way. “Well, it’s true, Dad. I mean, you guys just suddenly show up with a baby, and you say he’s yours, but Mom wasn’t pregnant, and nobody told us anything about him coming. Now you’re talking about some timeline that wasn’t a timeline. And you say Jeffy was born in a bubble…” “Yeah… sort of,” Max said. “But not a little bubble that was just around him… a big bubble. A sort of time… anomaly. He was born here in the palace, but not in this time that we’re in right now.” “I think I understand,” JoLeesa said, “but when were you in that other time… bubble… thing? And how did Jeffy get born?” “Really, Leese!” Alyyx exclaimed. “Even I know how babies get born.” JoLeesa looked at Alyyx. “Okay,” Alyyx said, throwing up his hands. “I admit, this one maybe isn’t like what Dad explained to me when he told me about babies.” “Well, it did happen the normal way, Alyyx,” Max said. “It took nine months for him to be born. We just weren’t here… your mom and me.” “If you were gone, Dad… and Mom was gone… where were we?” JoLeesa asked. “I really don’t know the answer to that, JoLeesa,” Liz said. “It’s a very good question.” “Maybe you lost us,” Alyyx said. JoLeesa huffed and looked at Alyyx again. “She didn’t lose us, Alyyx, you dummy! But if she had lost you, it might have been okay.” “Oh yeah? Well, if she lost you, Leese, she’d still have two others just like you. I’m the only one like me.” “Not any more,” JoLeesa said. “You wouldn’t lose me, would you, Mom?” “Of course not, Alyyx. And we wouldn’t lose your sister either… any of them. We need all of you! You’re all our children, and you’re all special!” “See, Leese!” Alyyx said. “I’m special.” “So are grelliats,” JoLeesa said, “but they’re vegetables.” “Mom!” “Oh, Alyyx, your sister’s just teasing you. Leesa, leave your brother alone. He’s not a vegetable.” “I know. Vegetables are wholesome and good for you,” JoLeesa said. She noticed Max giving her a stern look. “Okay, Alyyx, you’re not a vegetable.” “Mom, I don’t think I like what she meant by that.” “Alyyx!” Liz threatened. “I thought you guys wanted to see the baby!” “We do, Mom,” Andya said. “Can I hold him?” Liz looked at Jeffy. “Sure. Hold out your arms.” She placed Jeffy carefully into Andya’s arms, and Andya smiled as she held him next to her and wrapped the blanket back over his feet. “He’s such a little angel, Mom.” Liz smiled. Andya’s eyes suddenly lit up, as an idea came into her head. “What would you like to play with, little one,” Andya whispered quietly to him. “A bunny? No, that’s maybe not the best thing.” Andya remembered her last experience with a rabbit. “An Earth puppy?” she said, almost to herself. “No… too frisky, a kitten, too. I know!” Andya waved her little finger under the blanket, and something appeared on top of the blanket between Jeffy’s hands. Liz and Max both noticed it immediately, and both knew who was responsible. “What is that, Andya,” Liz asked. Andya just smiled, and Liz moved closer to look at it, as Jeffy picked it up in his hands. It was fuzzy. It wriggled and made a quiet mewing sound, but it didn’t look like something that would normally be alive. Jeffy seemed delighted by it, if the look on his face was any indication. “What is that,” Max asked, repeating Liz’s question. “What does it look like,” Andya asked evasively, delaying the inevitable answer. “A toupée that came to life and escaped off of some bald guy’s head,” Max said… “or maybe a Pekingese that had a tragic encounter with a tank.” “D’oh, really!” Liz exclaimed, swatting Max playfully on the arm. Turning to Andya, Liz said, “Look, Andya, you’re going to have to tell us, you know. You might as well do it right now.” The look in her mother’s eyes told Andya that Liz wasn’t going to accept another evasive answer. Andya looked at the fuzzy little creature in Jeffy’s hands. “Well, Mom, a baby pawgor would be too big, and a puppy would be too frisky, and a rabbit would run away, so I… so I… made him a tribble.” “A what,” Liz asked, wondering if she had heard right. “I saw them on cable… from Earth.” “Tribbles?” “Yeah! They’re cute… and fuzzy… and they don’t bite or scratch or run away! It’s perfect, Mom!” Liz looked at Max, a totally bemused expression on her face. No words came to her, which was a bit unusual. “Honey,” Max said to Andya, “I think you should get rid of it.” “But why, Dad? Didn’t you ever have a tribble when you were little?” “They weren’t real, Andya… like this one. And I do remember them. I also remember what the trouble with tribbles was.” “Aw, Dad…” Andya looked at Liz, and Liz nodded, though Andya thought her mom appeared to be relenting. Andya sighed and waved her little finger under the blanket again, and the tribble disappeared. “Thank you,” Max said. “Can I hold Jeffy, too, Mom,” Maya asked. “I guess so,” Liz said. “Andya, do you mind?” Andya handed Jeffy over to Maya, as Liz watched. “Hi, Jeffy!” Maya said, looking at him and smiling. “You’re so sweet! Where were you hiding all this time? I’m glad Mom and Dad found you wherever you were.” JoLeesa leaned over Maya’s arms and kissed Jeffy on the cheek. “We’re going to have a lot of fun, Jeffy. I’m really glad to have another little brother.” “Yeah, sure you are,” Alyyx said drily. “Well, I am,” JoLeesa said. “The old one was defective.” “Mom!” “You started it, Alyyx,” Liz said. “Both of you knock it off!” Liz looked at Jeffy then turned back to Andya with a look that said she was not amused. “Andya, your Dad told you to get rid of the tribble! I did, too! I’ve never known you to disobey a direct order before.” “I Didn’t, Mom! Really! I made it go away.” “But you brought it back.” “No I didn’t, Mom!” “Well, what’s that then?” Andya looked. Jeffy was holding the tribble in his hands, staring at it with a smile on his face. “Mom, I didn’t! I swear it! Maybe the molecules didn’t all go away.” “Alright, just get rid of it.” Andya passed her hand over the tribble, and it disappeared. But almost as soon as she had done it, a small swirl of atoms brought it back to Jeffy’s hands again. Liz sat down on a chair with a stunned look on her face. “Max?” “I saw it, Liz.” Max looked at the little ball of fluff in Jeffy’s hands and shrugged. “Maybe we can get it ‘fixed.’” tbc <div style="text-align:center">-------------------------------------------</div> Author’s Note: For non-trekkies who may never have heard of a tribble, in the original series of Star Trek, there was an episode called, “The Trouble With Tribbles.” Someone brought one onboard, and everyone loved the cute, cuddly little thing. The trouble was, in a couple of days, no one could walk, sit down, or even open a door without thousands of tribbles tumbling out all over them. In a later episode of a later series someone almost started a war with the Klingons by selling a tribble on a Klingon planet. <div style="text-align:center">------------------------------------------</div>

Post by **majiklmoon** » Sun Sep 07, 2003 9:05 pm

I love tribbles <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /smile.gif ALT=":)"> Great part <center>It all started with a boy, a girl, and a silver handprint.</center><center><a href=http://pub84.ezboard.com/bmajiklmoonsrealm><img src=http://members.aol.com/majiklmoon/image ... a></center>

Post by **roswellkitkat** » Mon Sep 08, 2003 2:57 pm

That was my favorite ST episode! <img src=http://www.uniquehardware.co.uk/server- ... humpup.gif ALT=":thumbsup"> Two great parts! Jungle Jim had me cracking up and then to find out Kyle was laughing ust as hard, got me snickering all over again. The interaction between all the kids is too much! Just like real siblings! You're special all right...<img src=http://www.majiklmoon.com/ezboardsmilies/lol.gif ALT=":lol"> <div style="text-align:center">Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.</div> <div style="text-align:center">Rudyard Kipling, English author</div> <

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon Sep 08, 2003 9:04 pm

Oh wow...excellent part

vecastone · Post by **vecastone** » Tue Sep 09, 2003 5:21 pm

Great update <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /smile.gif ALT=":)"> <img src=http://www.uniquehardware.co.uk/server- ... bounce.gif ALT=":green"> <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/wink.gif ALT=";)">

isndbreeze · Post by **isndbreeze** » Fri Sep 12, 2003 12:23 am

Thanks, Tracie, Melisa, Bookwork, and Veca. I was smiling when I read that you were laughing at that part along with Kyle, Melisa! <img src=http://www.majiklmoon.com/ezboardsmilies/lol.gif ALT=":lol"> Jim is going to be a lot of fun in his new job! <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /smile.gif ALT=":)"> Okay, I've edited this next chapter about a hundred times trying to get it right. If I read it again, I imagine it'll be a hundred and one, so here it is! Hope you like it! <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /smile.gif ALT=":)"> <div style="text-align:center"><img src="http://users.aol.com/isndbreeze/skysymb ...   Gerry - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Hopeless Candy-Coated, Stargazing, Dreamer! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -</div>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub129.ezboard.com/bmajiklmoonsr ... dbreeze</A> <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://users.aol.com/isndbreeze/aim116b.jpg" BORDER=0> at: 9/12/03 12:24 am

isndbreeze · Post by **isndbreeze** » Fri Sep 12, 2003 1:25 am

The Four Faces of Rath Relatively Speaking Chapter 51 LI After returning from dinner, Liz put Jeffy in his crib and let Maya, Andya, JoLeesa, and Alyyx go over to Kyle and Jeliya’s house to play with Rayyn and Taz. Jeliya promised to bring them back when she returned to pick Kyle up at the end of his shift at the palace. With the palace temporarily free of children, Max sat down in his oversized Antarian easy chair and leaned back to relax. Liz sat down across his lap and leaned her forehead against his, smiling playfully. Max smiled back. “How about a little kiss, Max… I need something to go on here.” Max pressed his lips to Liz’s, and Liz put one arm around Max’s neck and ran her fingers up into his hair. Max pulled her tighter against him, enjoying the sensuous feel and taste of her soft, welcoming lips. He ran his right hand under the back of her blouse. A touch… and a clasp came loose. It was one of the advantages of having certain… powers. Max gently ran the tips of his fingers back down along the center of her back all the way to the tip of her spine then slowly brought his hand around toward the front. Liz smiled and parted her lips further, deepening her kiss as she allowed herself to be lost in the passions of the moment. Suddenly, she exhaled with an audible though almost whispered gasp or sigh. “Omigod, Max, what was that?” “Do you like it?” Max smiled. “It’s just a mild electric pulse… from my hand.” Liz didn’t answer. Instead, she turned around to face Max. Straddling his lap, she took his face in both hands and pressed her lips to his waiting mouth again. Though fully dressed, Max felt every contour of Liz’s body pressing against him in all the right places. It felt good. He could feel a rising pressure, as Liz pressed harder against him… or maybe that was him. Liz felt it, too. “You want to go up to our room for a while, Max?” Max looked into Liz’s eyes, and a grin inched over his face. “Yeah. That sounds good.” Liz put both of her arms around Max’s neck, and he stood up with her in his arms. Then a voice interrupted from the parlor entrance. “Ahem.” Max turned around to see where the offending noise had come from. “Sorry, Max, but you have visitors,” Kyle said. “Michael and Maria.” “Oh! Uh… Okay, well… send them in, Kyle. Just give me a moment to… comb my hair… or something,” Max said, setting Liz down on her feet and trying clumsily to stand up straight and not look too totally obvious. Kyle nodded solemnly then turned and walked out of the room. As he walked toward the front entrance, his solemn look was replaced by a grin. “We really need to put a bell on him,” Max said. Liz giggled. Max finished tucking his shirt tails back in, and Liz straightened her blouse, then Max nodded to Kyle, who was with Michael and Maria in the foyer. Kyle showed them into the parlor. Michael and Maria didn’t really need an escort. They were thoroughly familiar with the palace. Besides, Michael still had his own private room there. He rarely stayed there anymore, but now and then, he and Maria… and sometimes their children, too… would stay over. “Michael! Maria!” Max said, smiling. Liz smiled at Michael and hugged Maria. “What brings you guys out tonight,” Max asked. Michael smiled and looked back and forth between Max and Liz. “I… uh… we’re not interrupting something, are we? Cause if we are, we can come back later… or tomorrow…” “No! No! No… You’re not interrupting anything, Michael,” Liz said. “Not now, you’re not,” Max said under his breath. Then he smiled. “No. You’re not interrupting anything, Michael.” “Alright, ‘cause if I was, I could always come back later, you know.” “No, no. I was just helping Liz get something out of her eye.” “Oh! Well, go ahead, Max! I’ll wait.” “Uh… No. That’s all right. I think I got it.” Liz winked at Maria, and Maria smiled and winked back. Michael noticed. “You got something in your eye, too, Maria?” Maria smiled coyly. “I think so. Maybe you should take a look at it… up close.” Michael looked at Maria for a moment then turned his head to the side and smiled. Then he turned his eyes back toward Maria and grinned, as he shook his head. “Can it wait till we get home?” “I think so.” “Good. ‘Cause I got the right… uh… tools there.” “Sit down,” Liz said, motioning to the sofa. “I’ll get you something to drink. Coffee? Snapples? Cherry Coke? Jubish? Whatever you want.” “Yeah… okay… uh, a little cherry Coke with a dash of jubish and a couple o’ teaspoons of Tabasco would be very nice,” Michael said. Liz looked at Max. “Yeah… I’ll go for that,” Max said. “Sounds good.” Maria nodded. “Same here… minus the T-sauce.” “Gotcha,” Liz said as she headed for the kitchen. “I’ll help you, Liz.” Maria hopped up and headed toward the kitchen, too. “Kryys told us you got Jeffy back.” Liz nodded. “Thanks to Kryys. That wonderful son of yours is a miracle worker, Maria. The Nogi-Ky’a could learn from him. A billion years of evolution and experience, and they’ve got nothing on Kryys.” Maria grinned and nodded. “I want to see Jeffy, Liz. Can I? Is he asleep?” “I think so, but you can see him. Help me take these drinks out to the coffee table, then we’ll go up and get him.” Liz and Maria returned and set the drinks on the table then went together up to Jeffy’s room. He was sleeping with a smile on his face. Maria gasped. “He’s beautiful, Liz! Omigod! What a little angel!” “Yeah,” Liz said, smiling, “but I think he’s going to be a handful. I’ve just got a feeling.” “Well, if you need any help, Liz, you know Auntie Maria is always here,” Maria said with a grin. “Thanks, Maria. I’ll keep that in mind. You can count on it.” Liz picked Jeffy up and put him in Maria’s arms. “Awwwww,” Maria cooed softly. “He’s so sweet. Look at that smile!” “Yeah. I wonder what he’s dreaming about,” Liz said. “Maybe he’s happy to finally be home,” Maria replied simply. Liz looked at Maria, and her eyes misted up. “Yeah, that could be it, Maria.” “Come on, Liz. I want to show him to Michael. Can we take him down…?” “Sure. Come on.” Maria and Liz walked back down the grand staircase to the parlor with Jeffy in Maria’s arms. Maria smiled and held Jeffy out slightly for Michael to see. “He’s adorable,” Michael said simply. “You must be very happy.” Liz smiled and wiped away a tear that was forming in the corner of her eye. “We are. Believe me.” “Looks like he’s happy, too,” Michael said. Liz nodded and looked at Maria. “He’s happy to finally be home with his mommy and daddy again,” Maria said. “I can read baby smiles.” Max, Michael, and Liz laughed, and Liz nodded her agreement. “Jayyd and Zorel wanted to see him, too,” Maria said… “especially Jayyd, but it was getting a little late, and we weren’t sure when we would be back, so Amy’s watching them and Liz-Jolee at our house. They’re going to stay over and go yorith riding in the morning with Varec.” “Sounds like fun,” Max said. Max looked at Michael, and Michael gave Max a puzzled look. “What?” “Nothing. Never mind. Just my imagination.” “Since you brought up imaginations, have you had any more dreams lately, Michael?” Michael shook his head, as he took another sip of his drink. “Nothing worth mentioning. I’m satisfied with who I am now, Max. I know who I am. I don’t hate Rath anymore, and I’m not scared of being him. I understand him. Everything’s cool.” “How about the flying dreams?” Michael looked slightly uneasy. “Well, I had that dream again a few days ago… but it’s not bad, so there’s nothing to worry about, right?” “Right.” “Max?” Michael looked at Max again with the same puzzled look as before. “Are you having a rodent problem in the palace?” “No! What would make you think that?” “Well, I thought I saw a reddish brown rat or something peek out from behind the door over there. Then I thought it must have been my imagination. But I just saw it again. Something’s running around in here.” Maria picked her feet up and crossed them on the sofa, as she looked to see what Michael was talking about, but she saw nothing. “I think you saw Harold,” Liz said. Maria and Michael both looked at Liz questioningly. “Yeah, well, it’s… that is, he’s… well, we’re not sure it’s a he, really,” Liz said. “It may be a Harriet.” “Say what?” Michael said, looking totally confused. “Harold,” Liz called softly. “Come here. I’ll give you a cookie.” A small, hairy object the color of burnt sienna moved cautiously out from behind the door and made its way toward Liz. Maria pulled her legs further up under herself on the sofa. “What is that, Liz?” “You want to take any guesses, Michael,” Max asked with a grin. Michael shook his head. “Something Danny’s pawgor ate that didn’t get digested, I’d say. It looks like a pawgor fur ball. And I think it’s alive.” Maria slapped Michael on the arm playfully. “Really, Michael!” “Well, it does.” “Ever hear of a tribble?” Max asked. Michael looked at Max and slowly grinned a lopsided sort of grin. He knew that Max might be pulling a practical joke on him. Pulling practical jokes on Michael was more up Kyle’s alley. Still, he wouldn’t rule it out in Max’s case. Sometimes Max would pull something off out of the blue. It was usually successful, because it was so unpredictable and because Max was capable of keeping such a poker face. “I’m not falling, Max. Next, you’ll have some guy with pointy ears walk in here and say he’s Spock.” Max laughed and picked the furry little creature up. “It’s a tribble, Michael. Really! Want to hold it?” Michael put out his hand, and Max handed him the little tribble. “Okay, Max, this may sound crazy but… Where’d you get a tribble? Huh? Oh, wait a minute! I know! You had that little guy, uh… Frebel-Ish make it for you.” Max shook his head. “Nope. Andya made this one. You know she can conjure up animals.” “Yeah, I heard that. But why a tribble?” “She gave it to Jeffy.” Michael was silent for a few moments. “Does it bite?” “No. It doesn’t bite, scratch, run away, grow too big, or eat too much. It just has one flaw.” “I know,” Michael nodded. I used to watch Star Trek reruns. “Did you take care of that little problem?” “Not yet… but I guess we’ll have to do something. We don’t know for sure if it’s a male or a female. For now, it’s Harold either way. ‘Hair’-old, get it?” Michael nodded. “Jeffy won’t let us get rid of it. We tried, but he brought it back.” “Jeffy?” Maria repeated questioningly. “Yeah. Didn’t Kryys tell you about Jeffy?” “He told us that Jeffy has the same power that he has to change into atoms at will. But he doesn’t think Jeffy understands that he can do it. Kryys said that Jeffy was able to come back, because he had a strong desire to be with you.” Max nodded. “Well, Jeffy knows how to turn a tribble into atoms and bring it back.” Michael raised his eyebrows. “Oh, wow!” Maria said softly. “Kryys didn’t know about his power until he was six. I’m kind of glad. Now I see why you said you may have your hands full.” “You still want to help take care of him, Auntie Maria,” Liz asked with a laugh. Maria smiled and nodded. “Yeah, sure! What’s another little wizard or two in the family, ‘relatively’ speaking?” tbc

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Sep 12, 2003 6:24 am

Who says we arn't ready for another chapter?<img src=http://www.majiklmoon.com/ezboardsmilies/lol.gif ALT=":lol"> Of course we are! I really found this part cute with the tribble! And I hope they figure out a way to get rid of the ..er..'flaw'<img src=http://www.majiklmoon.com/ezboardsmilies/lol.gif ALT=":lol"> 'cuz otherwise Max and Liz will have one hairy situation! Okay, bad pun<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... rassed.gif ALT=":o"> Seriously though, what is up with those dreams?! <img src="http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sra ... 55ad1f.jpg" style="border:0;"/>

Post by **roswellkitkat** » Fri Sep 12, 2003 9:47 am

We are always ready for an update! <img src=http://www.uniquehardware.co.uk/server- ... humpup.gif ALT=":thumbsup"> Harold or Harriet..they need to fix that..because we know the trouble with tribbles...<img src=http://www.majiklmoon.com/ezboardsmilies/lol.gif ALT=":lol"> <div style="text-align:center">Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.</div> <div style="text-align:center">Rudyard Kipling, English author</div> <

vecastone · Post by **vecastone** » Mon Sep 15, 2003 2:13 pm

Lovely , lovely , lovely !!! <img src=http://www.uniquehardware.co.uk/server- ... kliam3.gif ALT=":hotgreen"> <img src=http://www.uniquehardware.co.uk/server- ... kliam3.gif ALT=":hotgreen"> <img src=http://www.uniquehardware.co.uk/server- ... kliam3.gif ALT=":hotgreen"> <img src=http://www.uniquehardware.co.uk/server- ... kliam3.gif ALT=":hotgreen">

Fan Fic and More

The Four Faces of Rath - (CC, ALL, YTEEN) -Ch 66-71 - 8/6/05

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Re: The Four Faces of Rath (Sequel to Children of the Univer

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Re: The Four Faces of Rath (Sequel to Children of the Univer

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Re: The Four Faces of Rath (Sequel to Children of the Univer

Re: The Four Faces of Rath (Sequel to Children of the Univer

The Four Faces of Rath (Sequel to Children of the Universe)

Re: The Four Faces of Rath (Sequel to Children of the Univer

Re: The Four Faces of Rath (Sequel to Children of the Univer

Re: The Four Faces of Rath (Sequel to Children of the Univer