Jacquimac
Part One
by
The invaders came the first time bearing gifts, we all thought that they were just traders but a year later they arrived in force with rifles and cannon and attacked us in great numbers. We didn't stand a chance and retreated deeper and deeper into the Great Forest where we would be safe for a time.
Our Shamans and Wise Ones foretold of the invasion some years ago, usually their advice and warnings were good, but this time even they had difficulty understanding the Visions and Dreams. We were a peaceful people with no Gods we lived by tilling the land hunting in the forests and fishing in the rivers, the land, forest and waters provided everything we needed.
Although we worshipped no Gods we did at various times of the year give thanks to Gia the Earth Mother and the Green Man of the forest, not as some tribes did, with ritual sacrifice but by rejoicing for the bounteous gifts we had received during the year. When we killed and animal everything was put to use, the meat we ate, skins provided clothing and shelters, even the bones and hoofs where put to use by turning them into tools of various kinds, we wasted almost nothing and what we couldn't eat like the some of the offal the dogs did.
The invaders called us primitive and heathens, alright we might be primitive by their standards but we understood the land, forests, waters and the elements better than they did. We didn't waste time on our knees praying to some unknown Deity they called a God, no we worked , played and rested life was too short not to enjoy life to it's fullest.
After we had retreated into the Great Forest some of our scouts reported that the Shamans and Wise Ones that had been captured and put to death for what the invaders called Witchcraft Witchcraft what a joke, there wasn't any magic in the use of herbs and other plants being used as medicines, that was a knowledge gained over many generations and carefully preserved among our people.
After we had been forced into the Great Forest our Wise Ones left us for a while, where they went we didn't know that was Wise Ones business and for them alone. When they returned many days later we were told that the Green Man and Gia would come to our aid but only if we gave up one of our own to them.
That alarmed everyone, never before had we sacrificed a living body, but Mardra the Senior of the Wise Ones calmed our fears telling us that whoever was selected would life a full and long life but would be greatly by the Great beings, This did ease our fears somewhat, but we a close community and very rarely did anyone leave the village.
At the time of the invasion I was a child off around seven years but even as children we were taught to respect our surrounding and the life it held, our lessons were reading and writing so that we could keep our family records up to date, the rest of the lessons revolved around the land and the forests, we were all taught to swim at an early age so even in our play we learned about our surrounding and we interacted with other forms of life whether it be the birds of the air or the deer or the forest or the fish in the rivers and lakes we learned and sometimes we learned the hard way and a child would be killed by one of the Great Cats due to going too far from the village.
The Great Cats were big as long as man was tall and very fast and powerful, usually we avoided each other but if you met a mother cat with her newly born young you usually ended up dead unless you get somewhere safe. They very rarely entered our Villages but if they did they usually went to homes of the Wise Ones, for what reason I didn't know but would in time find out.
The Tribe had a year to select whoever was to be given up to the Great Beings and it would be up to Mardra and her Clan who was selected in the end, every child between seven and ten years of age would be put through various tests and ordeals to decide who would be given the honour and the majority of parents were hoping that their child was rejected.
In the whole village I was the only one without a family although I was treated no differently from any other child, to the village I was everyone’s child, my parents had died mysteriously form a sickness that only affected them and that all the medicines form the Wise Ones and Shamans couldn't heal, after they died their bodies as was the custom were burned and their ashes scattered across the land and forest.
I had never really known my parents being only weeks old when they died and so I had been adopted by the tribe, who fed and cared for me although Mardra seemed to have a special interest in me.
Our Wise Ones were all women and the Shamans mainly men who were different in some way from other men of the village, being young we didn't know why and what made them different and as village life was a constant learning experience for the young it didn't matter to us. Being different wasn't wrong it was a gift from the Earth Mother to be revered because they were special in various ways in some way and Mardra explained in her lessons that everyone of was different in some way, some where taller that others, some had dark hair and some light hair she told us that being different was what us recognisable to each other and that there was no right or wrong type of person.
We had a couple of children that were mentally handicapped and Mardra told us that they always have the minds of a small child but should still be treated with dignity and respect and not feared, children like this were very rare but the village kept and looked after them and never scorned or humiliated them in anyway, to the people they were still ours and always would be even though they would never be able to more than the simplest of tasks.
At seven everyday is an adventure for us whether it was work or play but I was different and everyone knew it, I played with the other children but sometimes would go and roam the edges of the forest around the village, everyone said I was looking for something but could never find it. I found the peace and tranquillity of the forest soothing and loved the quietness where all you could here were the birds of other creatures moving through the forest. On one occasion I had faced down a Great Cat and now and again saw the creature in the trees near the village, how did I know it was the same cat you ask, well it was larger than any other cat and jet Black except for the golden coloured strip that ran round it's neck. When I described it to the Wise Ones I was told that I had the Great Mother herself and it was Omen of great things to come, thinking about the meeting I wondered why I never showed fear or why it hadn't attacked me but in the end I was alive to tell what I saw and was happy with that.
Weeks went by and the test started, at first they seemed simple enough, usually revolving around what we had already learned about the land, forest and rivers or maybe about the creatures we interacted with or about the seasons the times of plantings and harvesting our crops. One test did seem unusual even to us children, one by one we were taken into one of the communal shelters and saw laid out various objects and told to pick four items, which the Wise Ones made a note of after which we would have to explain why we selected what we did. In my case I chose a small skinning knife, a pan, a picture that represented a canoe and a fishing line.
The Wise One that conducted the test with me asked why I hadn't taken a bow or a bigger knife, why had I selected the Canoe and the pan and the fishing line, I told her that the canoe was means of transport, the pan could be used not just for cooking but to catch rainwater, the fishing line could be used to fish or be used as a snare and the why would I need a larger knife to skin small animals. Various other questions were asked my choice but the answers I gave seemed to satisfy her at least I though so.
As I left the shelter I was told not to say what I had selected or what the test was.
A month later our numbers had been reduced to six of which I was one, I expected that as I was the only one with no family so wouldn't be a loss to anyone. We were taken away from the village and with what we had selected were dropped of at various places in and around the Great Forest and were given fourteen sunrises to make our way back to the village, we could only arrive on the fourteenth day not before or after, at the same time we had to forage for ourselves and provide more than what we wear wearing at the time which was almost nothing, even our footwear was taken off us but we were given one days supply of food to get us started.
I had been dropped off at a small river in the forest itself, the canoe tied to a tree near the bank, the pan, fishing line and small knife were lying on the bank, after my escort took everything else she left and I never felt more alone than any time in my short live. Well the time had come to see if I could by what I had been taught, the first thing was some sort of shelter which I made using fallen branches and some of huge leaves of the trees, I made the shelter well up in a tree easily accessible and a safe and comfortable as I could.
I dug round the roots of trees and found some worms and grubs and fished for while and caught a few that were big enough to eat. For fire we had been left a flint and steel so that was easy enough as long as it was kept small and contained in a pit, there was always the danger of setting fire to the trees causing great damage to the forest. Some of the excess line I made into snares and placed them some distance from my small camp, those I would inspect in the morning. After I had completed my tasks I checked the canoe was secure was the night and on a full stomach climbed into my shelter and went to sleep till the sun rose.
I was up at sunrise and after doing what I had to do to relieve myself and washed I went to check the canoe, it was still tied up. I then checked my snares and found a few rabbits in them which I quickly killed, I took them back to camp and skinned, cleaned and cooked them, some of the meat I wrapped in leaves to provide me with a meal for later. I selected a couple of fine fish bones and manages to make a hole in one end and sharpened the other, good I now had a couple of rough needles for later when the skins were ready, I had recovered all my snares and packed everything I had which wasn't much into my canoe and dismantled the rest of the camp, I tried to leave as little sign as possible that I had been there, boarded my canoe and paddled down stream for a while.
While going down stream I was on the lookout not just for danger but for a large gourd that be hollowed out and used to hold a supply of water, it took a while but I found one that large enough for my needs and that too went into the canoe. I continued paddling till well into afternoon and eventually found a small clearing with a sloping bank, I secured the canoe and again a shelter off the ground after which I set a few snares, I was going to fish later but I wanted to hollow out that gourd and do a bit more cleaning of those rabbit skins, if they were ready by tonight at least I could make something for my feet. As it looked like it would rain tonight after the gourd was ready I made a catchment to catch enough water at least to fill it. I secured the gourd into the ground near the trees, then using leaves and branches made a largish funnel which I placed over the top of the gourd then I fished for while, cleaned and cooked my catch, ate and slept till morning.
Food wise I now had a couple of days worth, today it poured down non stop so I dragged the canoe onto the bank well away from the river and turned it over, went and checked my snares which had two rabbits in, back at camp I leaned then and smoke the meat so it would keep for a day or two, then cleaned the skins. I wasn't going anywhere today so the skins I already had I made into simple moccasins, they'd do for a few days. Towards dusk the rain stopped and I retrieved a now full gourd and after eating walked deeper into the forest to look for some fruit I found few bananas and a couple of oranges and they would be added to my diet.
Being on the river after a heavy downpour you had to watch for the water rising, and dead falls that could lie just under they water and damage a canoe,I hadn't yet been taught to build and repair canoes. I decided to spend another night where I was just in case there was any flood water coming down the river, no way did I want to be on the river if that hit, my size and strength would be against me and the canoe I had was a child’s canoe and not build like the big ones which were a lot stronger.
The day I spent gathering more food and cleaning more skins and stitching them together with the dried sinew from the rabbits I had caught, you dry the sinew over a smokey fire then make it supple using oils which I got from the fish,It wasn't anything to shout about but it did what was needed. As I suspected there was a flood water, I watched as surged passed the clearing coming over the bank and carrying some dead fall trees with it, if that had caught me on the river I wouldn't have survived.
Over the next few days I paddled down stream, caught rabbits and fished, made myself some rough clothing and generally enjoyed myself surviving of the land, OK I was only doing simple stuff as regards hunting but at seven a deer is too big handle and would be a waste of resources but I had enough to survive and stay healthy and well fed. I had paced myself as at the beginning I didn't know where I was, but as time went on I started to recognise features that told me I was nearing the village and I had two left to get there, at the rate I was going I could be there in a few hours, but instead made camp until the fourteenth day.
The morning of the fourteenth day and I dismantled my camp, like the camps before I tried to leave as little sign as possible that was when I noticed the Mother of the Great Cats watching me, how long she had been lying there I don't know but all she did was watch. Just as was about to leave for the village I heard a voice "You have done well little one, you have learned your lessons well and are in harmony with your surroundings" I looked around but could see nobody, the Mother of Cats was still lying under the tree. I wondered if I had imagined the voice, but I got into my canoe and after paddling for a while reached the village.
I had amassed quite of food and took it and handed it to one of the old women so it wasn't wasted then went and sat at the village centre till everyone else was back, nobody approached and slowly the others arrived back at the village, most looking in pretty poor shape, I was the only one that had brought back more than what I started with one or two had lost some if not all of their items.
The Wise Ones came and took us to individual huts were we had tell them of our experience and how we survived after which we all checked out by one the one Shamans who treated some for wounds. We were finally allowed to go and get cleaned and dressed into something better, that I was glad off the rabbit shins were too hot in this heat, all our equipment and clothing that we had made on our trek was taken off us and examined by the Wise Ones, Shamans and Hunters.
Three days later the village was brought together, the choice was made and preparations were to made for the chosen one to leave the village, Mardra stepped forward
"Little one step forward "she said
Yes I was called little one, it wasn't my name that was Braka , no I was called little one because I was smaller than any one else in the Village except the babies. SO I stepped out in front of Mardra
"You are the Chosen One, you will be going to join the Great Ones soon" she continued
"Yes Mardra" I said
The Chief stepped up and everyone fell silent,
"Braka will leave us dressed in the finest we have, the Chosen one will not shame our people" he ordered
With that everyone returned to their homes, I knew the families would be happy that their children weren't chosen.
Mardra told me to accompany her to her hut were I would live till it was time to leave. Once we inside a few of the other Wise Ones joined us.
"Braka, you have been chosen to join the Great Ones as one of them. You told us that someone spoke to you this morning but that except for the Mother of the Great Cats there was nobody around. The Mother of the Great Cats does not speak to us except those that are very special and that was the reason you were chosen although you did better than the rest during the ordeal.
There is however something you should know, you name will be changed to Leia, yes it's a girl name it means child of heaven but form this moment on that is what you are called. The Great Ones have stated you will be changed into a girl and become one of them, so starting now you will learn to behave like a girl and dress like a girl at all times. There is nothing to afraid off and in accepting this you will be helping your people and we are all here to help you.
Just to show that we mean you no harm Kara and Alani are going to undress and show you something" said Mardra
I watched as Kara and Alani undressed and was surprised to see they were actually men.
"I thought all the Wise Ones were women" I said
"Some women are born with male bodies, they are rare and usually like these two are very clever and wise, it is the same with the Shamans but remember how special we are and the tasks we do. It is one way of sheltering them from the outside and at the same time using their knowledge and skills. I told you in you lessons that we are different well this is another way of being different and our people accept it as a way of live. said Mardra
Kara and Alani once dressed came to me
"Leia, if we could have women’s bodies we would but for us that isn't possible it is enough that we are accepted as women and treated as we deserve. You on the other hand will have the body of a girl according to the Great Ones, By rights we should have tested the girls of the village but were instructed to test all of your age group, and you would do better than anyone else, even the Great Cat Mother looks after and speaks to you" said Alani
"You know you are very special, you always have been. you were never like any other child of the village even though you were never treated any different from them. The whole Village loves you." said Kara
"Enough, Leia knows her duty to her people but we must get her ready to meet the village tomorrow. The women have been tasked with making her finest clothing they can and tomorrow will be a busy and unusual day for everyone so Leia needs to fed before she is put to bed" stated Mardra
Part Two by Jacquimac
Tomorrow came all too soon, when she awoke Leia wasn't sure were she was then she remembered what had happened and what was said the day yesterday, as she usually did she was the first to waken and after wrapping a blanket round herself went down to the nearby lake and bathed after relieving herself. When she returned to the hut of Mardra and seeing that she was still asleep started the fire then looked around the hut,around the walls there were tables with piles of books on them, but they were written in a language that was strange to Leia.
Marda had heard the child moving around and had been feigning sleep so as to what the reaction of the child would be, Leia had moved silently but Marda was also an early riser. After a while Marda got up and got ready for the day ahead.
"So Leia, how are you this morning" asked Mardra
"Still a bit confused, Wise One " said Leia
"Well thats to be expected with what happened" Mardra replied
"These books are written a strange language "said Leia
"AH, well I was not born of this tribe I came from another land far away over the sea. I was the survivor of a shipwreck and ended up on the shore near were Village was many years ago. These books are written in the language of my people" said Mardra
"Are your people the same ones that attacked us ?" asked Leia
"They are my people no longer and haven't been for many years, but to answer your question yes they come from the same land I came from. When I landed here and saw how you lived I fell in love with your people and was eventually accepted as a member of the village. These books are all that remains of my life but are books of great learning"
said Mardra
A silence decended on the pair as they prepared a meal, each lost in their own thoughts. after they had eaten and cleaned up the hut Mardra continued to tell Leia what had happened after she was shipwrecked and accepted into the village.
" Being accepted into the village wasn't easy at first I was regarded with suspicion but eventually they saw I meant them no harm and started to talk to me which was difficult at first as I spoke a different language but we managed well enough until I learned your language. At first I didn't venture into the jungle but watching the training the young ones got I eventually started short trips, I had my first meeting with the Great Cat Mother and like you she spoke to me, she told me that I would eventually become a member of the village and the leader of the Wise Ones, like you I was a surprised but there are things in this world that are unexplainable. When she told me that I told that it wasn't possible as I was man but what she said did come true and I am now leader of the all Wise Ones. Those books help me, using them I can help the people in ways they never dreamed but certain subjects in then I have destroyed, things like explosive powder but asw your people were more advance in medicines I never had to teach that subject but subject like farming came in handy there were one or two thing that did help improve the crops" said Mardra
She picked up a book and carried over to the table were Leia sat listening
"This book for instance is what is called the Holy Bible, it is a religious book about the teaching of a God, Unfortunately the ones who call them Christians have twisted their beliefs and believe theirs is the only true way, it is the same with all religions. They teach about a God of Love, Understanding and Peace yet they kill each other, they invade other lands and force their beliefs on the Native Peoples, Those of us who are men and live as women would be killed because we are different, and so it goes. With the people there is no religion and no God you live in harmony with your surroundings and other forms of life, you accept people for what they are. That is the difference between the people who invaded and the native peoples of many lands. You are young and you will learn these things and more when you go the Great Ones, DO NOT fear them and accept that are different from you, Do whatever they ask of you no matter what it is and this all the villages will be save. One thing you should remember they want you and for some reason NEED you why I don't know but they have assured us that you will not be harmed in anyway, but enough of this talk you have to meet the people as Leia the Chosen One and start your lessons in femininity" said Mardra as she rose from the table
Mardra made sure that Leia was made presentable as she could, the child was clean and except for foot coverings was completely naked, today she would start to dress as the other girls of her age group but Leia was intelligent and it wouldn't be long before she became feminine in her talk and mannerisms, but Leia looked feminine, basically she was boy with the facial features and build of little girl and Mardra knew that Leia would adapt with no problems.
The two of them joined the rest of the Wise Ones and the Shamans in the Village center waiting on the rest of people, one of the younger Shamans in Training Said that Leia should have worn some sort of covering instead of appearing naked
"NO, Leia is a boy no more from today she is female, today she starts anew the clothing is to be provided by the village women so she will be presented as she first came out of her mothers womb" said Mardra forcefully and the older ones agreed.
It didn't take long for the Village to assemble once Leia was presented the men and boys were sent too do whatever tasks they had, the women took charge of Leia and carefully bathed her in scented oils and dressed her as new finery. Once she was ready she was taken to the Wise Ones who said that what she wearing was acceptable for the time being and her lessons were to begin right away.
As Mardra surmised it didn't Leia very long before she was female in everything she did, the clothes and beads she wore only served to enhance her beauty and she was learning the skills of the village women, cooking, making clothes looking after babies the women of village had totally immersed her in to the world of women and she seemed content although at night she stayed with Mardra who taught her some of the secrets of the Shamans and the Wise Ones. Mardra had talked long with the Great Ones and had decided that a good knowledge base would serve the child well and Leia soaked up knowledge like a sponge.
Days turned into weeks and soon everyone had almost forgotten that Leia was once a boy, she was treated with the same curtesy that the men and boys of the village bestowed on all the other females. Leia still wandered into the forest when she had a bit of free time and someone always kept an eye on her to keep her safe although Mardra and the WIse Ones knew the Great Cat Mother was watching Leia although unseen.
Too soon the day of departure arrived, the village women had done themselves proud with the clothes that Leia wore for her being given into the hands of the Great Ones. Mardra had told her that she would take nothing with her only the clothes she wore. They started out that morning by canoe to be taken to place near were the meeting was to take place, once there Mardra led Leia about a mile through the dense jungle to a clearing.
"I have to leave Leia, you will be safe and soon you will collected by the Great Ones, be happy child and remember we are always your people" said Mardra and with she left
Leia looked around the clearing and waited, a few minutes after Mardra had left a woman stepped out and called Leia to her, Leia walked towards the woman and stopped in front of her.
"What is your name Child" the woman asked gently
"Leia" answered the child
"Well Leia lets be away from here" said the woman who gently took Leia by the hand and led her deeper into the jungle.
Leia reckoned that they been walking for around an hour before they reached another clearing were two strange pillars stood and it looked like fog on the other side of them the women led Leia between the pillars and the child found that they were in a very large room.
There were several people waiting for them and as they spoke Leia found that that they talked a different language to her, the woman said something and a man stepped forward
"Leia, I apologise for myself and my friend we forgot that you would not speak our language but that will be rectified in due course, We do however welcome and soon you will be one of us. First however you must see our doctors and after that we shall have a meal together and talk of your future" he said
"Thank you Sir, Ladies and Gentlemen for your welcome, I have been told that I must do whatever you wish" replied Leia
"No child we will not force you to anything you don't feel comfortable with although turning you into a real girl is not an option, that is only thing you must do" said the woman
Leia was taken through the dwelling and down a maze of corridors into another room were everyone was dressed in white, the room looked like the walls were covered with metal and there was a strange smell but everything looked spotless.
"Is this the child ?" one of white clad women asked
"Yes, she is called Leia" said the escort
"Welcome Leia, I am Miranda and will be your doctor" she said smiling
Leia was examined from head to foot, they had to eplain about X-Ray machines and the various scanners that were used, the took blood, urine and saliva samples and after a couple of hours Leia was taken to a dining room were they had a meal with the others.
Leia had noticed that these people had a grayish skin colour and their hair was like gold in colour, they were very tall but slim and carried themselves proudly. After the meal she was taken and shown to her quarters as they called them, everything in the room looks strange to Leia, the bed was huge compared to what she used to a mat on the floor, this bed was soft. Her escort Barbella showed her the clothes she wear until the doctors had finished with her they were simple yellow smocks with matching slippers. After she was settled she was taken to what she was told was a conference room where they told her how the next few days woulld go for her.
Tomorrow she would be with the doctors and would remain with them until they finished, after which she begin her education they didn't elaborate on some of subjects such as science as they doubted she enev knew the meaning of the word. Unknown to Leia a whole new world was about to opened to her, they talked for some time and after the evening meal she was taken back to her quarters and put to bed.
The next day she was taken to what she now knew as the hospital area and left in the capable hands of Miranda, what was about to happen wasn't explained to the child all they told her was that would her to sleep and when she awoke she would a female and one of them. Leia was handed a drink and fell into a deep sleep, she didn't feel the iinjectors or being lifted into the machine she would sleep in for the next five days.
Part Three by Jacquimac
The Doctors monitored Leia at all times while she was within the machine and within twenty four hours the changes were noticed, Miranda carefully added the various drugs and ensured that the levels were correct. On the second day it was noticed that things were not going exactly as planned but it was too late to stop the proceedure and they would have to see it out to it's end. Day three and the unexpected changes continued to happen and the doctors had a meeting to talk about the possible outcome, Miranda who had examined carefully studied the read outs of the proceedure so far assured them that the changes seemed purely cosmetic although they would have to have a full testing of the child after she had recovered and so it went for remainder of the proceedure, the changes did seem superficial but they would have to wait until everything was finished.
The day arrived when the machine opened and everyone could get a better view the child, still unconscious Leia was placed on an examination table and scanned and probed, the child was now a fully function female although her mental capacity was still an unknown.
The child was more beautiful than anyone would have imagined, DNA resequencing wasn't new to these doctors but even the best laid plans don't always work they would like then.
Leia woke up back in her quarters and Miranda was sitting by the side of her bed, the child didn't feel any different in herself and was comfortable so fell into a deep but natural sleep,once the child was sleeping Miranda slipped a set headphones onto her and set the recording running, Leia as she slept was starting her education and if all went well the child would be able to speak to the Doctors in their own language.
An over the bed scanner scanned the child for her measurements and clothing was prepared of the correct size, Miranda couldn't believe how beautiful the child had turned out although her eyes were almond shaped and her hair was the colour of pure silver.
What other changes had occurred, had the childs own DNA had a unknown factor that they couldn't detect ? had there been more internal changes to the Brain although the structure remained the same ?, well only time would tell but for now the child needed the recuperatory power of sleep.
After a few days Leia stopped spending most of her days asleep, and was hungry, Miranda took her down to get a meal after she had dressed. Leia hadn't once looked at or asked for a mirror so she hadn't seen the changes that had been made to her body as a whole. Leia hadn't spoken yet and Miranda wondered if her vocal cord were damaged, but thinking about it maybe the child hadn't spoken as she had nothing to say at the moment, well once they had eaten Miranda would start the conversation.
Nobody outside except the doctors had seen Leia yet and they were going to be surprised though Miranda, never for a moment had she expected the childs looks to surpass their own. Miranda watching Leia had notice that the colour of her eyes changed, the hair that looked like pure silver went through subtle changes of colour going through the whole spectrum of colour, YES the outcome of Leia's change had certainly produced some unexpected results.
After they had eaten Miranda heard Leia ask if she would ever see her people again but the childs lips hadn't moved, excitement was building up in Miranda, the child was telepathic, what else was she capable off? what other surprises were in store to be dicovered?.
"I don't actually the answer to that Leia, that depends on you as it will be your choice to see them or not" said Miranda as she led Leia back to the hospital. Leia suddenly realised that Miranda had answered her question and she hadn't even asked about her people.
"Miranda, back in the dining room you answered a question I was thinking about but hadn't asked. Can you read minds?" asked Leia
"No child we can't read minds but it seems that you can now" replied Miranda
"While you were undergoing the change something happened, what we don't know but your hair and eyes are different to what they should been and you seem to be telepathic, I'll explain about telepathy later, but come have a look in the mirror as see for yourself what you look like" she continued
She led Miranda to a full length mirror and heard the gasp of surprise.
"I look beautiful, almost like you Great Ones" she said in amazement
"Well to be honest you should have ended up looking exactly like one us, but for some reason your body seems to have made a few changes off it's own" said Miranda
"Over the a period of time we shall find out what you are capable off doing, if you notice anything or do anythink in an usual way let me know at once, it's for everyones safety" she continued
The rest of day Miranda showed Leia various areas she wasn't to enter, purely as a safety measure, in time Leia would meet the children from the other villages that had been also been changed but for know getting her started on her education was the important thing just now as well as finding out what changes had occured to the child.
Being so young meant that Leia was very adaptable, children were from an early age but at a certain age they started to become set in their ways and the ways of their clans and tribes, that was why children this young were selected and from talking to the child and watching her Miranda knew that this child even before the change was very intelligent.
The complex was huge to anything Leia had ever seen before, there was one room that could have held the whole village, buildings, people, livestock and the lake. This was a recreation room were you run around the track, or play a ball game or just relax. Leia asked if she was permitted to go into the forest and was told that it would be dangerous for her just now, she accept the restriction but did miss her walks through the trees.
It hadn't occurred Leia that she conversing with Miranda and the others that she was using their language, could now read and write it to an acceptable level although she was taking language as a lesson until she was fluent. She didn't know that her lessons had begun while she was going the sleep phase of her recovery, every night she had to sleep with a cap on, she didn't know that she still learning her lessons while asleep.
"These people very clever, they have changed me into girl and are teaching me things I never knew existed" she thought
Days passed into weeks and then months, everyday Leia attended her lessons sometimes alone and sometimes if it required a teacher but learn she did, Leia soaked up what the taught her and came back for more.
It had been a year since she left the Village and she often thought of Mardra and the other Wise Ones and in a way missed the village and the people, but she was kept busy with her lessons. She come to know of the adults in complex although she had seen some in strange oufits that they used for various tasks. The man who spoke to her when she first arrived Mirak was his name, knocked on her door and entered when she released the lock.
"Leia, you have very well since you have been with us, you are well liked by all the people that know you but now it time for you to meet the other children and see the rest of our home, will you please come with me" asked Mirak
"Are these children your children and the children or your people?" asked Leia
"Child you are one of children now, but I know what you mean. No the children you are meeting were not born of us they like you came from other villages that were and still are in great danger" he replied
Mirak led the way to a room Leia had been in before, it was a room of many doors and as they entered children and escorts entered through the other doors, and they and Leia joined the ones that were already seated. Chilren were seated in one area and the escorts in another area and the children were all in the same age group. A bell sounded and the room fell quiet, an old man entered and took his place in the center of the adults.
"Gooday to you children my name is Brisan and the leader here" he started
"Today you meet for the first time and you will be spending a lot time together, I will first explain why you were kept apart. The main reason was you needed time to adjust to your new life and gain a basic education an education that will now be accelerated, now one of you turned out slightly different from the rest" he paused and looked at the children closely
"Leia, will you please come here" he said when he saw her at the back
Leia went and joined Brisan who took her hand
"This is Leia,as you can all see she looks slighly different from the rest of us, but be that as it may there are other differences that none of you will see, for instance she is telepahic, her eyes allow her to see in the dark and a few other difference that I think will show in time. Be that as it may she is still one of us and will be treated with same respect we all give each other. I've been getting good reports about Leia and from today she is the senior member of your group, she is going to be your leader one day and you all need to get to know and trust each other." he continued
The talking went on for about an hour and finally they were taken to another part of the complex which was to be their new home, each room for equipped for two people and the were soon paired up and left alone to settle in until time for a meal.
Leia paired up with a girl called Anika who came from a village not far from were Leia came from, but she had been a girl from birth. Anika had heard that a few had been from boys although exactly half of their group were still boys. This a questions among the children, were they to paired up when they were old enough ?.
Someone asked why some were changed and if they were happy, Leia told the group that she was happy and why not, they were after all is sadi and done meant for some task, they were looked well after , getting a good education in things they had never heard of, they were well fed and clothed and better still their bets weren't rush mats on the floor of a hut.
Nobody it seemed was unhappy about what had been done them, but Leia was getting annoyed with everyone fussing about how hair looked, how her skin seemed finer to the touch and the way her eyes flashed from colour to colour. One boy stepped forward and asked "I wonder why they made a girl the leader of our group" there was no reply from anyone but nobody seemed put out by it.
Brisan entered the room they were sitting in and told them to follow him which they did, he led them into another huge room with a long table running almost it's full length. The escorts and a of other the children were already seated at the table and rose as they entered. Brisan led Leia to head of the table were there were two chairs and seated her in the one on the childrens side of the table.Once everyone was seated the meal began, a meal that everyone enjoyed especially the children who ate till they could eat no more.
Brisan stood up and thanked everyone from attending, there must have been a couple of hundred adults present, he suggested that as the adults present would be interacting with the childen a lot in the future they could introduce themselves and get to know a bit about each other.Leia and six other girls were led to one corner of the room by about twenty women who introduced themselves as their special instructors, to be taught more about being female they were told but they would also be teaching the other girls about how to behave in various societies, as they afternoon wore on they met and were introduced to the other instructors.