Playing Marbles for the Big Blue

01 Alban Invasion, Almost

By Jo Dora Webster

How will Rasctan make a name for himself on Alban Kai?

01 Alban Invasion, Almost

My name is Rasctan and I am a pre emergent male Alban from the planet Alban Kai. I am at the top of my class in the Aurenium which is an educational facility for geniuses. My specialty is in AI engrams and positronic which gives me a wonderful and lucrative profession. I finished at the Aurenium five cycle of Alban Kai before the standard completion time. That gives me a head start on those who share my birth time.

So far my claim to fame was my creation of an AI the size of a gem stone. I gave my AI a female persona who named herself Sela. Sela's most useful ability is that she can interface and take over commanding any interfaced device. The unique thing about Sela is that she can grow and add other functions and abilities. Sela was my entry in the Alban Kai Innovation Contest of all Aurenium and I won. However I only was eligible for half the prize since I would not sell my intellectual property or Sela herself to the corporation which sponsored the contest. It was after this slight that I resolved that I would be extraordinary instead of ordinary and I have a plan.

I consider it an opportunity that we have just a few planets that we allow to trade with us, since all of Alban Kai is cloaked. The few people who discovered our present trading partners are the most treasured people on the planet. I resolved to become one of those people and I started by asking Sela to take a new form. She formed herself into a very attractive woman's bracelet which was permanently around my right wrist.

"Sela, what are we going to do today?"

"The same thing we do every day, Rasctan. Try to take over the world."

"How are we going to do that Sela?"

"Go to the spaceport and steal a spaceship."

"How do we find a space port, Sela, since they are cloaked? "

"We will go to the coordinates that I obtained from Space Control and I will give us passage through the cloak"

Sela led us straight to the coordinates and gave us safe passage through the cloak. I didn't have to ask Sela where to find a spaceship because our most advanced scout ship was birthed right in front of us. Sela went to work and opened the door to allow us to enter it. Next Sela commanded the support automation to fully fuel and provision the ship. Sela outfitted the ship and engaged a new type of cloak which was undetectable by the authorities. Even though the ship was normally operated by 6 people, Sela was able to control all of the ship's functions.

"Sela, You seem to have everything under control. What can I do?"

"Rasctan, why don't you go to the bridge and sit in the command chair. If you do that you'll feel useful."

I went to the bridge and sat in the command chair as Sela suggested.

"Sela, What is ship status?"

"Ship is fully functioning and ready for space flight."

"Sela, Disengage all moorings. Set course for planetary cloaking shield. Engage!"

"Moorings disengaged. Ship on course for planetary cloak"

"Sela, I guess it's too late to ask this but can you get us through the planetary cloak?"

"I'm working on it. 100 picocycles to cloak boundary."

"Sela, what will happen to the ship if we don't get passage through the cloak."

"Rasctan, the ship will implode. 50 pico cycles to the cloak boundary."

"Sela, should I go to the travel pod just in case?"

"It's too late for that. 10 picocycles to the cloak boundary"

"Aaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeee!"

"Passage given through planetary cloak. Ship has emerged in interplanetary space."

"Sela, Scan for planets which have more water mass than land mass."

While Alban Kai has lakes on the surface and water beneath the planet's crust, it stands to reason that one day we will have used our supply and we will need a trading partner to provide us with water. None of our current trading partners have any more water than we have so they will keep theirs.

"I have found three planets that meet those parameters"

"What is the data on the closest planet?"

"The Closest planet is Sol III or Terra inhabited by Terrans. It's been a quarantined planet due to being privative with mandatory Terran body illusion required but in your case it won't be necessary because Terrans are identical to preemergent Albans. Albans may have colonized Terra in the distant past but Terrans don't have an emergent state. Terra is privative because Terrans perpetuate wars with themselves using fission and fusion weapons. Their technology is unremarkable and with their rockets they have only had maned landings on their moon, Selene."

"Sela, set a course for Sol III and engage Tessaract Drive."

"Course set and Tessaract drive engaged and operating under normal parameters"

"Sela, E.T.A. to Sol III"

"One Microcycle."

"Have there been any sanctioned landings on Sol III?"

"There is no data on that since all spaceships that made a close approach to the planet sent back the limited data we have on the planet but none returned. Standard procedure on approaching a quarantined planet is to remain cloaked so that Sol III's limited space ships and sensors could not detect them."

"Sela, Do you have any recommendation on how to proceed?"

"Rasctan, We could terminate the Tessaract Drive at the edge of the Sol System and engage our cloak then travel using our photon drive. The Sol system has an asteroid belt which is mostly unexplored by their probes. We could hide the Spaceship behind one of those asteroids and take a cloaked travelpod on photon drive to explore Sol III from orbit. If there is no danger detected then a landing would be indicated."

"Sela, if beings more advanced than us sent a ship into proximity of Alban Kai then we would consider that an alien invasion, wouldn't we."

"It's only in the third person that it would be their invasion. In the first person it would be our exploration."

"Sela, alter destination to boundary of Sol system then cloak and proceed to their asteroid belt on photon drive and park behind an optimal asteroid."

"Course altered and implemented. Further instructions recorded for later execution. Sol system boundary arrival, ship cloaked and proceeding on photon drive. Course set for Asteroid AET64. ETA 100 Pico cycles."

Sela, please do not give a countdown to arrival. Please park behind Asteroid AET64."

"Compliance!"

"Sela, scan signals from Sol III and detect speculative fiction and scan them for concepts not considered by Alban technology and report by most remarkable."

"Most remarkable concept is a teleport. Albans have nothing like it. However their own physics discovered by their Heisenberg renders actual implementation impossible. Their fiction gets around it by saying that the teleport has a Heisenberg compensator."

"Sela, has our science created a Heisenberg Compensator?"

"It has and all of the functions of a teleport can be reduced to mathematical implementation. It would be restricted in range from high planetary orbit to the surface."

"Sela, extend your function to be able to teleport."

"Additional function implemented. We have arrived and have parked behind Asteroid AET64."

"Excellent. Sela, please ready the travelpod for operation. I'll be there momentarily."

"Travelpod ready for departure. What a good idea to monitor the Terran fiction broadcasts. They have thought of many things that the Albans have not yet and we have the technology to implement."

"Sela, Engage cloak and set course for Travel Pod to high Sol III orbit and engage photon drive."

"Course set and photon drive engaged."

"Sela, how much trouble awaits me back on Alban Kai?"

"Since the cloaking technology that I used on you and the spaceship is unknown, there is not any evidence of what you have done. Your absence may be detected but it would not occur to them to look off planet for you. We have arrived in high orbit of Sol III."

"Alert! Radiation detected in belts surrounding the planet of a kind unknown to us Alert! The radiation belts have expanded due to the impact of Sol eruptions. . Alert! Radiation has penetrated ship systems damaging them. Alert! Photon drive detonation imminent!"

"Sela. Teleport, Teleport now!"

Just before the travelpod exploded, I and Sela were teleported to the surface of Sol III also known to us as Terra. However, I would bet that like all primitive cultures the inhabitants called their planet Earth. I guess I just made what they would call an alien invasion of Earth.

"Sela, are you undamaged?"

"Thank you Rasctan. I am fully functional. I am very glad that you made me radically different from all existing Alban technology. The radiation and all other Terran abnormalities can not damage me. All other technology on the travelpod was compromised so only you and I escaped alone."

"Sela, Was the travelpod detectable when it exploded?"

"Yes the explosion was detectable by their satellites in high Sol III orbit which is desirable since they are geostationary. There are even higher probes located at LaGrange points L4 and L5 but those sensors are mostly directed away from Sol III. However three satellites launched by the nation states: China, Russia, and USA were destroyed in the explosion of the travelpod which will be missed and investigated. This may be interpreted by them as either an attack between nation states or an invasion of Sol IIi."

"Sela, this breach of the quarantine concerns me. I must acquire native clothing. I don't want to disobey the planetary quarantine any further."

"I have detected ambient magic bound to this planet's earth wind fire water and heart. In their fiction there is mention of magic in their ancient times but no one practices it today. I however can utilize it to transform your clothes. I have examined their present day transmissions. Would you like casual or formal clothes?"

"Sela, casual clothes please. And pick for me a name that a Terran in this area might have."

"A name for you could be Robert. the diminutive names associated with Robert are Rob or Robbie."

Sela used magic to transform my clothes into a Terran casual wear and I was satisfied with them. Robert was an acceptable Terran name for me and I felt I'd removed the most apparent advertisement of my status.

"Sela, Are there any remains of the travelpod that their sensors might detect?"

"All of the travelpod was disintegrated by the photon drive. The small pieces of the three satellites caught in the explosion remain in their orbits. Fortunately no trace of our technology is detectable by their technology at this time."

I turned my attention to my surroundings which were all in their natural state for as far as I could see in every direction.

"Sela, what is the Terran designation for our location?"

"We are in the Rocky Mountain National Forest in the state of Colorado in the USA nation state, on the continent of North America. The nearest Metropolis is called Denver. It is 10 minutes past noon in their time units which means that it is about six hours until sunset. the season is spring but in this area temperatures at night are frigid to Terrans or humans as they call themselves."

"Sela, must I seek shelter?"

"I can provide warmth and protection from the elements by magic. However remaining here long-term may not be optimum since you might be discovered accidentally."

"Sela, can you with magic enable us to communicate telepathically by magic when we are not alone?"

"Yes I can and I will implement that protocol"

"Sela, can you devise a way that we could get water to a spaceship without the spaceship penetrating the radiation belts? They can't carry enough to be useful with their rockets."

"Actually their technology might give the Albans a solution to replenish our water. They have a means of producing power that they call a fuel cell. It has Hydrogen and Oxygen as inputs and outputs water. The Albans already have means of getting the inputs in unlimited quantiles both on planet and from our current trading partners. The Terrans store the inputs in their liquid state which may help with acquiring large quantities from our trading partners."

"Sela, does that mean that I can accomplish the same recognition by bringing the new inventions to Alban Kai instead of proposing trade with Sol III?"

"Yes, we could do that once we arrive back on Alban Kai. However the radiation belt blocks my Confed non-RF communication with the space ship so I can not bring it closer. My teleport range is only to High earth orbit which is not sufficient to reach the space ship which even if we were able to bring it closer could not enter the Van Allen Belt. My magic decreases exponentially as I get farther from the surface so that would not help either. We can't go home until this challenge is solved, which we don't have a solution."

"Sela, would you concentrate on the challenge and tell me a solution is found that we can implement."

"Indeed, I have found a solution that will satisfy our parameters. I have discovered in Ecuador a previously unused due to fiber optics 40 meter satellite dish which was converted to a radio telescope. Since this radio observatory was financed by a rogue SETI scientist, part of it's utilization is to send SETI broadcasts which might permit our communications with the space ship by piggybacking our signal to the spaceship on to their broadcast. All we would need to do is to wait until the SETI broadcast transmitter is directed toward our spaceship. Ordinary Earth broadcasts would escape the Van Allen Belt but our undecodable Confed RF signal is less likely to be discovered with our plan."

"Sela, interface with the SETI Radio Telescope and alert me when their broadcast is being sent in the direction of the spaceship."

"I will. I have found a solution for your lack of information about this planet. I have obtained a great deal of information from their broadcasts and from a digital repository that they call the internet. I can use magic so you will know all of this too."

"Sela, that is a wonderful idea! please proceed."

"Compliance."

Sela gave me the knowledge that I needed to understand life on Earth. Not only that but I fully understood the technology that Earth had to offer along with all the speculative fiction inventions that we could implement on Alban Kai. What I could not understand is how someone without any identification could make a life in Colorado. The United States had laws to prevent unauthorized immigration so without identification I would be treated as a law breaker.

"Sela, Is there any update to what the nation states have determined about the explosion of our travelpod and the destruction of their satellites?"

"Since they all denied that they caused the explosion, they all were compelled to share their data which triangulated the position of the explosion. With the explosion originating in space where no object existed before, each nation state concluded that this was an invasion using technology beyond their own. In the absence of any more occurrences, they determined no imminent threat existed. However they agreed to share deep space intelligence indicating any future threat."

"Sela, I guess that is the best outcome that we could expect under the circumstances. Since we are marooned here, avoiding a war between nation states is fortunate. While our addition to evidence of visitation of Earth is unfortunate, their nation states have continued to be successful in convincing humans that such visitations are a myth."

"Robert, I have detected that your advancement to your emergence and puberty has accelerated and the acceleration is variable. If you were to undergo emergence you would no longer be the same as the humans and you might require some sort of camouflage."

"Sela,I guess since we don't know when that will happen, we will decide what to do when it happens."

"Robert, have you decided to remain in this location for now?"

"Sela, until we can determine a way to comply with their laws, I feel that we should stay away from other humans. Are there other places within teleport range that we could visit with the same parameters, which may provide further insight.?"

"Indeed, there are other locations which would satisfy our parameters."

We had a good life in this remote area of the Rocky Mountain National Forest. Sela could, much more quickly than I could, select other places which were remote enough to visit. I particularly enjoyed a remote place in Mexico with access to the Pacific Ocean. We had nothing like the oceans with salt water on Alban Kai. Sela monitored her interface with the SETI Radio Transmitter but it was not yet pointed in the right direction time after time. Finally, Sela discovered that the radio telescope had been commanded to transmit in the right direction.

"Robert, I have a communication link with the space ship which according to their scheduling will be maintained for some time."

"Sela, transmit all knowledge of Sol III that we have obtained including our discoveries which will be beneficial to Alban Kai. Since the spaceship can not approach close enough to Earth to permit us to teleport to it, keep the spaceship parked behind Asteroid AET64."

"Transmission complete. I have saved this planetary position so that we may return to send future messages to the spaceship. However transmission will only be possible if the same position of the transmitter exists at the time."

"Sela, we discovered that there are elements on Earth which are missing from our Alban Kai periodic table. There are elements missing from Earth but were discovered on Alban Kai or we discovered from our trading partners. Was that data included in the transmission?"

"Of course, Robert, that information was included. It is relevant because the composition of the salt water and even the composition of the air on the Earth has elements not present on Alban Kai."

A great deal of time, days, weeks and months passed and we explored more of the planet Earth within our parameters. We kept returning to the very familiar place we called home where we first arrived on Earth. When Sela discovered the transmitter pointed in the right direction, she sent an update to the spaceship.

"Robert, we ought not go on any more adventures for a time. The time of your emergence draws near."

"Sela, you are right. Here in our home in the Rocky Mountain National Forrest, we have had a history of being alone. I hope that my emergence goes well."

More time passed and The SETI Radio Telescope discovered some promising results while it was receiving signals pointed in the right direction to transmit to our spaceship and the radio telescope remained pointed in that direction. Finally the time had come.

"Alert! Robert your vital signs are fluctuating. Your emergence is coming now."

I was overcome with the symptoms that every Alban knows which culminate with unconsciousness. When I awoke ,I will have emerged. I was unaware as things happened to me over some time.

"Robert, your vital signs are stabilizing. Are you awake?"

"Sela, I am awake but I feel funny. I know that I have not emerged. What happened to me?"

"You have become an adult female human. I can only guess that the new elements and new environment hijacked your emergence and did that to you."

"If I had become an Alban female, I would have joined the superior sex. But if i returned as a human, adult female I would forever be an oddity on Alban Kai even with my unique status.. Sela, please call me Roberta and make me some appropriate clothes. "

Sela put me into a casual blouse and slacks with athletic shoes and the right undergarments.

"Sela, could you teach me to be female?"

Playing Marbles for the Big Blue

02 Abducted by Alvians

By Jo Dora Webster

How will Roberta make a life for herself on Earth?

02 Abducted by Alvians

Sela did teach me to be a female just as I had asked her. That was just after I had been transformed into a human female. Being human was not a great burden since I looked and functioned almost the same as I had been as a Alban. Being female was jarring. Instead of slowly growing into a adult woman, I had been instantly transformed into one. I also had to get used to the name Roberta which was my second name change from Rasctan when I was an Alban male.

"Sela, do you still have your link to the SETI radio telescope in Ecuador?"

"Roberta, not only do I still have a control link to there, but they also continue to get interesting data when they are receiving data, so they are keeping the antenna pointed in the direction where our space ship can receive it. While they are broadcasting we continue to be able to contact the spaceship."

"Sela, it has been difficult for me to deal with my emergence having been hijacked. I don't even know what the result of the emergence is to be. My parents always took a pre-emergent form except they had gone through puberty and were adults. It is tradition to keep children in the dark like that, but it does not serve me well cut off from my people like I am now."

"Roberta, while I have a great deal of information on Earth, my information on Alban Kai is limited to the information that you had access.
to have. from what I know about Alban behavior, your being human will be the greater oddity. You would be a fully developed adult who was not and could not undergo emergence. Then there is your being the child of the Queen of the Alban Matriarchy and your father being her consort. As a female ordinarily you would become the princess and next in line to be queen. As a human you might be disavowed by your parents. With being denied your rights as an Alban, you could be exiled from Alban and have no home."

"Sela, what can I do to make a life on Earth?".
"Roberta, I dislike mentioning this, but I have one possibility for you to gain a legal identity. It would involve a death of a human in a remote area that we could find the body before the authorities. Of course, it would have to be one who's death that we could not prevent. I could alter your body to be identical to the dead person. In addition, your body would have signs of an accident which could indicate possible memory loss, which would explain your lack of some knowledge."

"Sela, perhaps by successfully taking the person's place, we could delay their loved ones dealing with their death. Sela, I have decided we will stay on Earth. Let me know when the transmitter is pointed in the right direction for transmission to the spacecraft."

"Roberta, the SETI Radio Telescope continues to be pointed in the direction where our spaceship can receive it and the radio telescope is transmitting now."

"Sela, Send the spaceship a sequence of commands to execute. First cloak and proceed on photon drive to the edge of the solar system. Next, set course for Alban Kai orbit outside the planetary cloak and engage Tessaract drive. In transit use Confed standard communication to retransmit all data. Upon arrival maintain position."

"Roberta, the spaceship has received the commands and has started its journey to Alban Kai."

I thought that I would have time to spend moping around feeling sorry for myself that I had lost my home world, yet I had yet to make a home on Earth. But as had happened so often since I began seeking fame and fortune without help for myself, another unexpected event happened.

"Alert: A car on the road at the boundary of our home area has ejected a human female and has left the area at high speed."

"Sela let's go find the woman and render aid if we can. Please teleport me to the exact location that she is now."

"Compliance."

It was an ugly sight. A human woman had her life taken from her long before she had been tossed out like garbage along the road. Her body showed the evidence of having been beaten to death. That was all apparent at first sight, Sela would be able to determine more.

"Sela, surround us with a cloaking shield."

"Compliance. She is an ordinary human with an extraordinary implant in her forearms which are of Limoxian manufacture. Unlike the standard illusion implants used for observing quarantine planet restrictions and the like this set was modified for spy work. Instead of the large data collection area, many specialty functions originated there suitable for spying. Elsewhere in the device hidden and password encoded there is a recorder for just the thoughts and actions of the individual. The illusion projection was augmented by a hologram emitter which allowed the new solid form of the person to match their appearance. "

"Sela, If I am to portray an amnesiac human, perhaps it would be better for you to copy the contents of the secret recorder to yourself so that we'll have access to it. Once copied remove both the data and the secret recorder from the devices."

"Compliance"

"Sela, Please, make a copy of all that is me, maintain and save it within yourself so that in an emergency I can be rendered a complete amnesiac especially if I am initially examined by medical personnel. Please implant the devices in my forearms and then by magic turn me into her but remove all her trauma except the evidence of one accidental nonlethal head blow sufficient to render her unconscious."

"Compliance"

I didn't feel any different even though my body had changed, in basic form I was the same. I was aware of and because I was born an Alban, I could access the implants and operate them. I had successfully taken over the identity of this woman so three tasks remained. I must find out my new identity and history particularly how did I die. We must dispose of her body. We must drop the cloaking shield after I duplicated her position and Sela made me unconscious while keeping vigil over me.

"Sela, who am I now?"

"You are Natalie Oakley Wellington married to Mark Wellington but also with Golram name Nayika married to Makelan."

"What is the original Natalie's history?"

"The original Natalie's history on the recording begins on their wedding night when Mark inserted the implants prior to their marriage being consummated Mark revealed himself to be a Golram from the planet Confedia named Makelan. He released the illusion and his true appearance reminded Natalie of either a dwarf or troll from earth's legends. He turned on the implants and Natalie found herself looking like a female of Makelan's species. Makelan named her Nayika and told her that she would be in that form whenever they were alone and unobserved. He revealed that the reason he had fallen in love with her was not because of her appearance but because of her inner beauty. He had been marooned on Earth after his spaceship was destroyed in the Van Allen Belt. He entered the escape pod that soft-landed on Earth which was all that remained of the ship after the explosion. They consummated their marriage never suspecting that their species were biologically incompatible and that they could never produce children."

"Sela, Golram's speak Confed, so I guess He had to learn to speak English like I did. It must have been like Confedia all over again for him being marooned on Earth. Confedia is the seat of the Limoxian Confederation or Confed and because of this Golrams became a minority on the planet. Confedia has the governing conclave and appointed Autocracy of the articles of confederation. While most Golram are peaceful people dedicated to Confed government with an ambassadorial fleet of spaceships deployed, this Makelan must be different since he undertook a spy mission on a quarantined planet."

"Makelan had heard that Earth had plenty of desirable untapped resources like it's abundant water. His plan was to covertly find those in power on Earth and augment its technological advancement so that it quickly would be able to join the Confed. With his acquiring rights to Earth's important resources, He could return to Confedia as Earth's representative and join the government as a freshly minted member of the Confed Autocracy. However, he soon found out that there were too many nation states to negotiate with and with Earth's waring nature giving them Confed technology would be hastening Earth becoming a dead planet without resources which they already might do with their fission and fusion weapons."

"Sela, the failure of his plans must have made Makelan a very bitter Golram. It's no wonder that he chose to remake his mate in his own image and have a family even if not full Golrams. It must have upset him year after year that his wife did not bear him children. I guess it upset him that even though she looked and felt like a Golram and spoke Confed with the inner beauty he fell in love with she was only a knockoff in reality. Was that why He killed her?"

"Yes, the year after year of her being a knockoff and not bearing children had turned his love to hatred. His anger became so uncontrolled that he attacked her. Fortunately, the first blow rendered her unconscious, so she was spared the painful and gruesome nature of her death."

"Sela, please augment your function by being able to emit a stunning beam and a disintegration beam. Use the disintegration beam to dispose of Natalie's body. Please aid me in assuming the position that her body was in. Then render me unconscious, communicate with me telepathically and watch over me. Finally drop the cloaking shield so that I may be observed."

"Compliance ~Natalie you are now unconscious, and I am speaking to you telepathically. I am watching over you.~"

"~Sela please give to me telepathically what your visual and audible senses detect.~"

"~Compliance.~"

I was now able to see and hear what was going on around me. It was not long afterward that a car drove up and stopped 100 yards from my location. A handsome man got out of the car using a device that was obvious to me had Limoxian technology. He used it to scan the area and it appeared locked on to my implants because using it he became closer and closer to me.

"~Don't worry Natalie, neither this device or any others they have will be able to detect me. I'll take care of you. The man is an Alvian so he should not harm you.~"

"~Sela, The Alvians, as I remember, are a Confed Member just like my original species, the Albans who come from the planet Alvia, they appear like angels from earth's legends which might suggest a visitation in earth's distant past. They have a missionary fleet of spaceships, and they are dedicated to spiritual enrichment over physical needs.~"

~"Natalie, you are correct. In addition, they are pacifists and generally a good species. However, they are not above using coercion, deception, and other such tactics when they feel like it can serve the greater good for them but not to their victim.~"

The man finally stopped near me and stood over me. He used his device to scan me, and I assumed that Sela had interfaced with the device to make it report what we wanted it to reveal. That is that I was an unconscious human woman with a head wound and having Confed implants.

"Oh Natalie, Natalie, Natalie. I begged you to leave that Golram because eventually his rages would kill you. I'm glad that he did not succeed this time. it's been very painful seeing you in the neighborhood and witnessing all the evidence of his physical abuse of you. The implants you have reveal that even though there is no standard recording that he's been using it for you to appear as a Golram. Technically that means that you are Limoxian now and the quarantine does not apply to you. That callous husband of yours has disposed of you, left you for dead if I had not found you, and took off. He obviously won't be back and will be assuming a new life elsewhere. The medscan detects that not only are you unconscious but you have total amnesia. That presents an opportunity for me and protection for you should that Golram come back in search of you."

"~Natalie, I'm detecting that he is changing the programing of your implants. He cannot alter your natural state, but he is programing another appearance mode for you which he just activated. You now appear to be his missing wife, Celeste Hardin. He's replaced the Golram appearance mode with an Alvian appearance mode.~"

"Oh Sweetheart, my Celeste! It is disturbing to see your image again. Our medbay inside the escape pod was unable to stop your death. Since we could not risk a human burial for you lest you be discovered as Alvian, I had to disintegrate your body. After much searching and no evidence of foul play, your status was determined as missing. Now Natalie you will become Celeste. You will be hidden from detection from that Golram and my children will have a mother again. I have no expectation or desire that you will be a wife to me. At least as Celeste, I can protect you from future harm. I need to get you to a medical facility which will be alright since you are human. I will take advantage of your amnesia to give you Celeste's life. I know that makes me an abductor imprisoning you, but I hope it to be benevolent."

"~Fortunately, the implants will present you as an ordinary human to earth technology. Your abductor, Greg Hardin, will get confirmation of your condition via medical records when he takes you to a hospital. They will be able to revive you and they will be able to confirm your new identity as Hardin's wife. He will be able to use his medbay to change your physical body to a copy of his dead wife. I will revive you at the appropriate time.~"

We arrived at Estes Park, CO and stopping at the Estes Park Medical Center. Greg carried my unconscious body inside the E/R where he was led to an exam room where he placed me on the bed. Before they had a chance to inquire about the circumstances Greg spoke to them.

"This is my wife, Celeste Hardin. I'm her husband, Greg. Celeste has been missing for six months. I found her with this headwound and unconscious in the Rocky Mountain National Park. Please help her."

"I'm Doctor Janice Zha, I specialize in head trauma. We'll go ahead and admit your wife. We'll need to do some tests to diagnose her condition and also some tests to confirm her identity for the authorities. Mister Hardin where do you live?"

"We live in Loveland with our two girls. The Loveland police handled Celeste's disappearance. They could not find any evidence of where she went after she left home that day. It's been a real mystery of what happened to her. There wasn't enough to go on that none of those reality shows asked to cover her disappearance."

"I'll alert the Estes Park Police and let them know that your wife disappeared in Loveland. Meanwhile I will get those identification tests done and then send her to get a head MRI to see how much damage she has sustained. Were the Loveland police able to obtain a DNA sample for Celeste?"

"Yes, they took a DNA sample from hair caught in her hairbrush and confirmed it from DNA samples taken from me and my girls. Thank you, Doctor."

Before she left Doctor Zha took a DNA sample and made a fingerprint card to establish Celeste's identity. Then I was sent to get the MRI of my head that the doctor ordered. Sela had given me a temporary total memory loss then I was given the MRI. I was very glad that I was unconscious since the containment would have made me very claustrophobic. When they were through, Sela restored my memory, and I was taken back to a private room. Waiting there for me was Greg and two Estes Park detectives.

"Mr. Hardin, the DNA and fingerprint results have come back and with the data provided by the Loveland police we can confirm that this is your wife, Celeste. With the medical results that the blunt force trauma was accidental, the case can be closed."

"Thank you, detectives. I am so glad to get her back and her daughters will be too. Now hopefully the doctors here will treat her so that she will make a full recovery."

"Mr. Hardin, I believe our work here is done. We'll report our findings to the Loveland police so that they can close the missing person's case on your wife. We'll be going now and give our regards to your wife when she recovers."

The detectives left and Dr. Zha returned to give Greg a report on my condition.

"Mr. Hardin, I have the results from the MRI. Celeste sustained a blunt force trauma sufficient for memory loss. She has a concussion and no real medical reason for her to remain unconscious. Her brain and head seem okay aside from the external damage which should heal completely. She should make a total recovery. I'm going to try to wake her with smelling salts."

Dr. Zha introduced the smelling salts and Sela woke me. I opened my eyes and spoke.

"Where am I?"

"Darling, you are in Estes Park Medical Center. Celeste, I have missed you so much."

"I don't remember that name. I don't remember anything at all. I'm afraid."

"I'm Doctor Zha, your attending physician. Even though you don't remember being named Celeste, we are going to call you that. We have confirmed medically that you are Celeste Hardin. You disappeared sis months ago from your home in Loveland. You are wife to Greg Hardin, the man here, and mother to two children. Celeste we are going to give you a few more tests and if they look good you will be released from the hospital into Greg Hardin's care. We don't have any way of knowing when or if your memory will return. It is best that you be in familiar surroundings as that might trigger memory recovery. Also, even though you don't know Greg or your daughters, they all love you dearly and they will take good care of you. Is that okay with you, Celeste?"

"Yes, Doctor Zha. that sounds great. Greg, when they release me, I will be glad to go home with you so that hopefully I will regain my memory, and everything can go back to the way that things were before I disappeared."

Greg excused himself while I was being wheeled away to call and check up on his daughters who were being looked after by a neighbor girl. Sela intercepted the conversation with the sitter then with his oldest daughter. Greg told her that her mother had been found alive, but she had total memory loss and that she believed she was a human. He told her to let her sisters know and to keep secret that Mother was an Alvian until he thought she could handle being told.

They put me through a few more tests and confirmed that my body was okay. I was able to walk and function normally. Finally, they released me into Greg's care, and they transported me to the hospital entrance in a wheelchair even thought I did not need it. Greg had pulled the car up to the entrance and they helped me into the car. Greg got into the car then drove us away from the hospital and on the road to Loveland.

"Sweetheart, I'd like to remind you of a few things before we get to the house. We have two daughters and you being missing has hurt them deeply. I'll help you learn about them, and they understand that you don't remember them. I hope that once you see them you will be able to tell that they are your genuine daughters even though you don't remember giving birth to them. For their sake, please love them and treat them as your own daughters. I don't expect you to be a wife to me when you don't remember loving me, but please be a mother to them."

"Greg, I will be a mother to my daughters even though I don't remember them. I will love them because they are my children. Greg, please tell me more about them?"

"Celeste. your oldest daughter is Gail. She's 10 years old. She takes ballet lessons, and she wants to be a ballerina when she grows up. She loves hearing stories She want s to be an episcopal priest when she grows up just like me. Your youngest daughter is Sally. She's six years old. She loves horses and we take her to an equestrian stable where she rides a pony. She loves science and wants to be an astronaut when she grows up. "

"Greg, they are far enough apart in age that I should not have any problem calling them by their names. I am so excited to meet them! I'm going to go over in my mind everything that I have been told so hopefully I won't make many mistakes."

"Celeste, I will leave you to your thoughts and let you rest. Goodness knows that you'll have plenty of activity when we arrive home soon."

I didn't really have to memorize everything about my new life that I had been told. I had Sela to telepathically prompt me of all the things I had been told. I had yet another new life on Earth. I had the longest time as Robert. I had a short time as Roberta. I had an even shorter time as Natalie, the victim of a Golram. Now I had a new life as Celeste, an Alvian mother.

I felt it was ironic that I am now a human who was abducted by an alien Alvian and was his captive. My plan was to take the place of a human woman and now I had twice over. Hopefully my Alvian abductor will never find out who I really am and will be kind to me for the sake of his children. It is fortunate that Alvians are not telepathic. So now I go to meet his children and be the best mother to them that I could be.

Playing Marbles for the Big Blue

03 Mother - Ship

By Jo Dora Webster

Will Celeste escape slavery at the hands of the Alvians?

03 Mother - Ship

"~Celeste we are about to be able to see Greg Hardin's house on the right.~"

"~Thank you Sela. Do you observe anything else?~"

"~Greg has a Tesser set to stun hidden in his left hand. I suggest that you don't react and simply turn your back to him and let him stun you.~"

"~Sela, I will comply. Please send me your perceptions of the sights and sounds around us telepathically.~"

I turned my back on Greg and looked out the window of the minivan that Greg was driving. Greg spoke to me.

"Celeste, sweetheart, please keep looking at the houses on the right. Our house will be in view soon. I hope it begins to jog some memories."

Sela showed me from her perspective what Greg was doing. Greg stopped the minivan on the street just before his home's driveway. He then pulled out the Tesser and shot me with it. I again was aware subconsciously and functional thanks to Sela even though incapacitated outwardly. I fell unconscious and I slumped against the minivan door but did not fall out of my seat. Greg drove the Minivan to the end of the driveway. At the end on a separate slab which merged into the driveway, sat a Mini Cooper. Greg came out his door and went around to mine. He slung me over his shoulder and carried me down a hill around to the back of the house. At the back the full basement wall with windows was exposed and it had it's own entrance. Something sensed his presence and it opened up the door for him and closed it after we were inside. There was a mud room with space to hang coats and store boots. Beyond the mudroom was the entry into a great room but over to the left was a closet. The closet door opened like the back door and behind the ordinary door was another door which opened by disappearing into the top to open and it let us in.

"~Sela, the closet is bigger on the inside than on the outside.~"

"~Celeste, the interior is dimensionally transcendental which is why it is bigger on the inside. This was their escape pod which took the family safely to Earth when their ship was presumably destroyed by the Van Allen Belt.~"

Greg took me deeper into the space pod. I recognized the Alvian design of the interior and had further confirmation that they were Alvans. I supposed that our destination was to their infirmary where Greg would alter my human form to be identical to his dead wife's appearance. I was curious what the Alvan Technology would be able to do to reshape my human body. My destination was revealed a moment later when Greg took me into the infirmary and laid me down on a treatment bed. Greg turned off the disguise emitter and he restrained me on the treatment bed. I could hear Greg talking to me again while I was unconscious.

"Oh Natalie, Natalie, Natalie. Now I am going to hide you in plain sight from that Golram, Makelam. You get your freedom from him and I get a Mother for my children. You can be assured that I will treat you with every kindness and respect due to you as Mother to my children. Even though you did not birth them, you will care for my children as if you did carry them in your womb. I don't know if over time you will fall in love with me and want to have a life as my wife. I shall be content to let us have separate lives and beds. Even though I would never have chosen a human to mate with I will treat you with as much love as I had for Celeste while she lived. For a while you will be ignorant of my family's origin on Alvia. With your spy bands to aid, you will see yourself transformed into an Alvian and with their capabilities you will be able to fly as we do. Then you will be truly one of us and with you sharing our lives and secret, I won't take the risk of you ever leaving us. Your life will be in a cage with us but I shall do my best to make it a pleasant cage. This will be the last time I address you as Natalie. Now you take on my wife's body, in every human detail, that for her was a human simulation but for you will be real. I shall always call you Celeste starting now. Sleep on Celeste, because when you wake you will take on your new life."

Greg programed the medical device, then it began to remake me in Celeste's image. Watching the process was amazing and at the end I was indeed looked the splitting image of the image in the photos of Celeste that I had seen earlier. After the process was completed, Greg scooped me up and again draped me over his shoulder and took us back around the house to the front but this time he took me to the front door. Greg laid me down sitting with my back against the houses exterior wall. He changed the setting on the Tesser to revive and discharged it in my direction. I came out of it and looked up at Greg.

"Greg, what happened to me?"

"Celeste, you feinted as we got to the front door. We need to get you to eat to build up your strength again. Do you think you can stand if I help you up?"

"Greg, I think so. Let's try."

I was indeed able to stand with Dreg's help and then Greg rang the doorbell instead of unlocking it with his key. A pretty and pleasent 18 year old girl answered the door.

She saw Greg and greeted him. "Hello Mr. Hardin. How did your search go with the tip you received?" Then the girl gasped when she saw me, "Mrs. Hardin! It's so good to see you. We thought we had lost you."

"Janey, as you can see Mrs. Hardin is fine. How did the girls do?"

"Mr. Hardin, they were both angels." Janey smiled a mischievous grin since the Alvans looked like human's perception of angels in their native form. Mr. Hardin paid Janey and she left to go to her own home across the street.

"Let's go inside and see the girls, Sweetheart."

"Of course, Greg."

We entered the house and went to the daughter's room. Greg spoke to them with me hiding behind Greg but I came out as he spoke to them.

"Girls, look who I found!"

Both Gail and Sally, the two girls to which I was now bound in servitude as their mother, came and wrapped me up in a big hug which Greg joined as well. We were joined as one family and I hoped that the lives, especially the girl's lives, would be happy ones. We broke the hug and then Greg spoke to his daughters.

"Gail and Sally, I have something to tell you. Let's sit down in the living room."

Both the girls answered, "Yes, Daddy."

We all sat down in the living room. Greg sat in the recliner facing the sofa and I sat on the sofa with Gail on one side and Sally on the other with the three of us holding hands.

"Girls, your Mother who was lost is now found. She is not as she was since her head was injured somehow. I took her to the hospital and a nice Dr Zha told me that your mother's head being hurt made her forget everything about us. Even though she sees us all now again, she does not know us. The Doctor felt like even though she doesn't remember us that being at home with us may help her regain her memory in our home. I've told her that her name is Celeste and a little about you two, Gail and Sally. Celeste has promised to be your mother and treat you as her very own girls, even though she does not remember you. We'll get back into the routine we had before and hopefully both that and being home will allow her to remember us. If she doesn't ever remember us, we will love her just like we did before she went away. I know that this makes it hard since so many questions on what happened to her will remain without an answer. We'll just have to do the best that we can together as a family. Girls, I'd like for you to play in the living room while I get your mother settled in our home."

"Yes, Daddy" both girls said and they got down from the couch and onto the living room carpet where was a doll house and dolls and various other things scattered on the floor used for their playing. Greg took me from room to room in the house and in each room I saw tasks that had been left undone that a mother would do. In the kitchen I saw a sink full of dirty dishes. Also I saw evidence that the girl's breakfasts had been cereal, their lunches sandwiches, and their dinners either frozen meals or take out food, by the evidence of all the things I saw left out on the counters. Greg gave me a running commentary on all the rooms of the house. Finally the tour was over and we stopped and Greg turned to me.

"Celeste, has seeing the house and the girls given you back any memories?"

"No Greg, It hasn't given me back anything at all. I am so sorry."

"Celeste it will all be alright in time. Let's not let setbacks get us down. Everything will be good in the end. I have a replica of the necklace that I gave to you on the day we first met. You never took it off before you left us and I hope that you will never take it off now. Please let me put it on you."

"Of course, Greg."

Greg put it on me and kissed me. I would have to ask Sela about the necklace later when I could talk telepathically to her out of Greg's presence. Even though Greg could not overhear my thoughts or Sela's, I did not want to forget myself talking to Sela while if he was observing close up. I observed that our tour was over as we stood in the basement.

"Thank you Greg for being so understanding. What shall I do now?"

"Celeste, take it easy and rest. Feel free to look in drawers and closets and cabinets all over over the house. There is one exception is the locked closet that I showed you when we were down in the basement. I would like neither you nor the girls to go in there looking. It has special things in it for my work which I need to be, where I can find them and not broken by accident. Only I have the key and I keep it locked. If you ever find it unlocked, Don't go in nor let the girls into it either. You can lock off the door to the basement from the upstairs and the back door and keep out of the basement until I can lock it again. Can you do that for me, Celeste?"

"Of course, Greg. Shall we begin giving the girls back some boundaries and rules again?"

"Celeste you are correct. The girls need rules and boundaries. I had neglected enforcing the rules that we had, when they had to deal with the loss of their mother. The girls behave well in most things but they have to be prompted to do their chores and I had never done that before. For now, let's wait to discuss it before we reintroduce any rules, boundaries or chores for the girls before restarting them. Is that alright for you, Celeste?"

"That is alright with me, Greg. I'll start exploring the house now. What will you be doing?"

"I'll go back to the living room to be with the girls. Happy exploring!"

Greg and I walked up from the basement where he had ended the tour. Greg turned to go to the living room while I turned to enter the kitchen. I realized that Greg telling me to explore was code for me to get to work. I knew that I would be expected to do all the mother's chores that had been left undone for six months by the looks of the house. The house would be a wonderful place once all the chores that had been put off were done. I was to be a stay at home mother caring for the house, the children, and Greg. When I finally finished all of the chores that had been put off, keeping the house clean and in order would be much easier taking care of chores as they arose instead of them accumulating again. I had been so absorbed into taking all this in that I had neglected to check in with Sela.

"~Hello, Sela. What do you make of things?~"

"~Celeste, you are in for a great bit of labor to get done, all that has been left undone. You'll have to do it all with earth technology, too. You have to keep cover even with Greg and the girls and they have not told you yet about their origins on Alvia.~"

"~Sela, We'll have to keep speaking telepathically. The walls are thin in this house even when we are alone, we might be overheard without even trying. Are there monitors that Greg can use to spy on the children and myself?~"

"~Every part of the house is monitored for sight and sound as well as other sensors monitoring the house systems. We will never be truly alone. Even the vehicles are monitored. The necklace that you are wearing is of Alvian origin and has monitoring equipment inside it. It is made so that once it is put on it becomes sealed so that it can never be taken off without using Alvian technology to unseal it.~"

"Greg, the little sneak, will be able to spy on me anywhere that I am. If Celeste had really been lost, instead of dying, Greg would have been able to track her where ever she went and now he will be able to do the same with me. It is a gilded cage but a cage nonetheless. I've been practicing how to act while talking to you, Sela and being observed. I won't be able to let my guard down since I will be observed all the time.~"

All this time I had been looking inside every cabinet and drawer and those things out in plain sight to familiarize myself with the kitchen's layout. I started with the girl's toys and I gathered them up and put them in a couple of tote bags. Next I took the clean dishes out of the dishwasher and put them away. With the dishwasher empty, I started putting the sink full of dishes into the dishwasher which filled it up and I started it washing. There was enough for another load spread over the counters and on the kitchen and dining room table. I gathered the remaining dishes up and placed them into the sink, which was filled up again. That gave me enough space on the two tables for me to clear all the counters. The counters were a mess with a coating of gunk. Removing the gunk took me several tries and use of a brand new bottle of cleaner which never had been opened. Once the counters were cleaned, I put back everything that belonged on it.

Next I tackled the tables. They were piled up with mostly empty frozen dinner trays and lots of wrappings and bags from fast food. When I glanced back at the living room, noticed most of the same among the toys in there. I guessed when there was no longer any room to eat in the kitchen and dining room that eating started happening in the living room. Having cleared the two tables, I started on the floor. It too had a quarter inch of gunk on it but I had removed all the trash and filled up a second trash bag. Another unopened bottle of floor cleaner was found in the cabinet under the sink. I cleaned the tile floor until it was spotless. Next I looked at the appliances. The dishwasher and the stove had not been used for 6 months and when I cleaned the counters. I had already wiped down the outside of the refrigerator and microwave. The Microwave had the same quarter inch of gunk but after several tries at cleaning it it was as spotless as all the other things that I had cleaned.

I was afraid to see the inside of the refrigerator. Fortunately it was frost free and the freezer was clean but bare except for a stack of frozen dinners. Before I looked inside the refrigerator, Greg checked in on me and I pointed out the 3 bags of garbage that I accumulated so far in the kitchen.

"Hi Celeste. I see you have started cleaning up in the Kitchen. I did the best I could but I don't cook except for microwavable items so frozen Dinners and fast food have been most of our suppers, sandwiches for most of our lunches and cereal for breakfasts. Is there anything I can do for you, besides cleaning? I am allergic to cleaning."

"Greg, I have three bags of trash already accumulated that need to be taken out. I'll have more but they are just in the way of my cleaning. I haven't looked at the refrigerator or the other rooms yet so I have a feeling that there will be more. The plus side is that before the backlog this was a wonderful Kitchen and it will be again."

"Celeste I'll get on that right now. Please listen in on the girls while i am outside. Is there anything else that you need?"

"Just from looking inside the food cabinets, there are a lot of sugary snacks and treats. We should just eat what we have and not buy any more. I can make healthy snacks and treats for everyone. Most of the time you all have not had a real balanced and unprocessed meals. We'll need to get healthy foods for me to prepare for your suppers and for me to prepare for your lunches. So all that means we will need to make a trip to the grocery store to stock up. I'll prepare a list for you to purchase only the things on the list. Do we have a utility cart that we can empty for us to use for the kitchen?."

"Celeste I'm glad that you suggested that. Even with refilling the pantry and refrigerator with nothing left, buying natural foods and not buying processed foods will save us money in the long run. Thank you. I will go to the grocery store and buy exactly what is on your list. There is already a utility cart in the pantry. I guess you haven't has a chance to check on it yet. I emptied the cabinets of all the cooking things that you used before you left. All the food is kept in the Kitchen cabinets now since it was easier for me to prepare food when I became a single father without going to the pantry. The Pantry has been locked up so the most you should see in there is some dust. I am reminded that I need to give you the house keys and the keys to your mini."

"Thank you, Greg. these keys will get me in everywhere except your closet?"

"Yes that is exactly right, Celeste. There are other places that are locked up including the guest room where you will be staying. The whole basement is kept locked and I have been at least been keeping up the cleaning in the basement. There are several rooms in the basement including the children's play room. That is why the girl's toys are found in every upstairs room. I'll go now and get the garbage you already have taken out and I'll be ready to get only what is on the list from the grocery store."

"thank you, Greg."

I cleaned out the refrigerator filling another trash bag that I had double bagged with most of the refrigerator contents being science experiments 6 months old. The only usable food was some milk, orange juice and condiments. The rest was garbage. I didn't wait for Greg to check on me again to suggest that the trash be taken out again. I took it out myself. There was a list of many other chores that I had do to clean the Kitchen. I have already revealed what the rest of the chores were like, both in the kitchen and in the rest of the house. It took me about a week to get the entire house cleaned as I worked on one room at a time.

I had time to start work on the guest room which I supposed would become where I was to sleep. I would not be sharing the master bedroom with Greg for a while, if even at all. Since it had been locked up the room was in good shape. It only needed dusting and and vacuuming to get it in shape. While I was doing the cleaning, Sela had been planning meal menus. She found out what items were needed to prepare the meals. We tried to keep our communication down so that we would not be discovered. Most of the time when we communicated telepathically it was in my locked bedroom or if there was something that Sela needed to tell me quickly. The next week after the cleanup had concluded and I had a chance to become familiar with my instant daughters.

Over time I found that I had formed a maternal bond with Gail and Sally. My knowledge of adopted families was not due to my Alban background where there were no adoption or surrogates to give a child to a family. There was no death from natural causes for adult Albans who had emerged since I had been told that they no longer required air, food and water to sustain them and instead were tapped into sustenance which was everlasting and plentiful. They left only to a different dimension after all their children had emerged and had settled into their emerged state. There was no crime on Alban Kai because there was no need for money since all were given everything that was needed to sustain themselves. Albans practiced professions where they earned luxuries. The reason that Alban Kai was xenophobic was because anything from outside would introduce all the things that would jeopardize our way of life and even our existence, so we hid behind a cloaking shield that was impenetrable.

Sela informed me about earth culture where it was possible for an adult or child to enter an existing family from outside it. Being adopted into a family as a adult or a child was beyond my understanding but I learned quickly the human virtue of love. Love made all things seem possible. Love took away all the barriers and united once separate elements into a cohesive whole. Love initiated my bond with my girls.

When love happened, my captivity and slavery ended. I know that with my new identity established that I was free to dissolve my bond to Greg's family through something called divorce. Greg and the children would no longer have any claim on me and I would be free to go my own way. With my superior Alban technological skills I could easily get work developing earth technology so I could earn all the money that I would need to exist in their economy. But i chose to stay part of my Alvian family on earth. There was deception on both sides which might cause future challenges but for the moment all was well.

I maintained the home cleaning and cooking, doing laundry and such. It was much easier to clean something when it happened instead of letting the work accumulate like it had before after Celeste left their home. I was concerned that Gail and Sally had no children their age and Limoxian to play with together. I would have to wait until Greg revealed to me that they were Alvian to actually give Gail and Sally playmates. First I had to see if such a search to determine the location and population of all the families who had Limoxian members. Scanning for the disguise devices that anyone who intended to go to a quarantined planet, even if they were okay and not be trapped on the Earth.

"~Sela, can you perform a scan of all the Limoxians on earth and the family members even if thy are human.~"

"Celeste, I can make that happen using a combination of science and magic. Science alone is unable to scan them since they are designed to be undetectable even by superior Limoxian technology. That is why the Limoxians had not been able to find each other before. I begin the scan now.~"

And Sela did find out who and where all the Limoxians families in the world. We even had a family of Limoxians in our neighbor hood about a block away who had two girls the same ages of Gail and Sally. I was pleased with myself that I had done so well with Sela's help in locating all the families who were so far from home. I was also pleased with the wholesome meals that I prepared for Greg and his daughters. Unbeknown to Greg, Sela planed meals that had all the elements that would be beneficial to Alvians. I was pleased that Greg and the girls were thriving.

The only downside was that I was stuck most of the time at home performing needed tasks, not because I was a slave but I did them out of love . I was able to go to the store to get things we had run out of in between shopping trips done by Greg. I was also able to go to the salon to get my hair and nails done. I was prepared for the next step where Greg would reveal that his family was Limoxian. I was attached by love to Greg and his daughters.

I wondered what would happen if my Mommy the queen and my Daddy her consort came to rescue me in her official transport. The name in Alban was mostly unpronounceable by humans but translated to Mother - Ship. That was humorous since the humans labeled any extraterrestrial ship which held more than 10 people to be a mothership. The one thing that I knew was that if they had found a way to correct the emergence and make me an adult Albian female I would no longer have the bland future that I had run away from fulfilling. As a female adult Albian, daughter of the Queen, I would be next in line to the throne when Mommie stepped down. With Alban Kai being very xenophobic, the Alvian family could never live on Alban Kai so I would be free of them. I would be The Princess.

Playing Marbles for the Big Blue

04 Angel Flight

By Jo Dora Webster

Will Celeste learn how to fly like an Alvian?

04 Angel Flight

I, Gail, and Sally had bonded as mother and daughters. I no longer thought of myself as a captured prisoner or slave. I stayed with the Hardins through human love even though my original body was not human. As a human woman my maternal instincts were fulfilled caring for my daughters. I also cared for their father Greg but that was only for my daughter's sake. 
Greg had lied to me and assumed that I was stupid since I had appeared to him as his neighbor Natalie. Greg used the amnesia that I presented then to facilitate giving his children a mother. He took advantage of a professed amnesiac on the pretense of protecting her from discovery.  
If the status quo maintained, I would never be a real wife to Greg. I really did not need Greg's help since being Natalie gave me a legal identity and together Sela and I could take care of ourselves. I would continue to be a Hardin only for the sake of the children.
I had not cared about the family dynamics of the Hardins when I first arrived with them. Greg continued to go to work, and the children continued going to elementary school and middle school. I was so bogged down in my own misery at having so much to clean up that I really did not know why they had left but just that they were gone.
When the home became well cared for and easily maintained. I discovered and kept up with their comings and goings. Greg's job as an episcopal priest was flexible enough at most times during the work week to be able to put the girls on the bus and be back to meet them when the bus returned. Eventually I took over those duties from Greg
.
About a month after I had become a Hardin and things had settled for us, Greg had me take the tests from all the professional certifications that the original Celeste had gotten. I aced them all which greatly surprised Greg who had just been testing to see if he should help me apply for reinstatement at the original Celeste's job which she telecommuted to in the hours when the girls were away at school.
"Celeste, How do you feel about contributing to our household financially even though you haven't recovered your memory yet?" 
"Our savings has not been growing for quite a while and I want our girls to have the means to get more education beyond high school. I'm formulating a plan for a business that I and the girls could run which could give us the savings for our girls."
"Can you tell me about the details of that business, Celeste?"
"I'm not sure that it is a fully formed idea yet. Let me noodle on it and get back to you, Greg."
"Celeste, you test out as maintaining the same certifications that you were qualified in before you left us. Please look at the work folder on your computer to familiarize yourself with the work you had been doing before. If you would like to do it again, I could help you apply for reinstatement."
"Greg, I will do that. I know that money has been tight while I was gone because of the loss of my income. I'll look at the Work folder to see if I feel able to do that work again." 
"Of course, Celeste. Please tell me what you want to do about getting reinstated after you have a chance to review those work files.""
"I will, Greg."
I of course agreed to and received the job reinstatement. It served my interests as well as the family's interests. If my situation with the Hardins became unbearable, I could easily divorce Greg and support myself by working that job or another like it full time. 
I did very well at work and the things that I didn't remember were covered by my amnesia. I was a very valuable employee so the things I could not remember about work-related things did not impact my employment.
I loved my new life as one of the Hardins. I continued to work on my secret business idea but could not present it yet because it used a fictionalized Limoxian Universe that I was supposed not to know. I suspected that eventually they would tell me about being Alvians so as to stop having to exclude me from that part of their lives.
More time passed and it had been six months since I had become a member of the Hardin household and a year since the original Celeste had died. Sela still kept the real me company as well as looking for other Limoxians.
I stood in the backyard, my heart racing with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. The warm afternoon sun cast long shadows across the grass as I watched Greg help Gail and Sally into their specially designed flight suits. The girls' eyes sparkled with anticipation, their small hands fidgeting with the unfamiliar fabric.
"Now remember," Greg said, his voice low and reassuring, "these suits will help protect you during flight. They're made of a special Alvian material that's both lightweight and durable."
I nodded, absorbing the information.. The concept of flight without any visible means of propulsion seemed impossible, yet here we were, preparing to defy gravity.

Greg turned to me, his expression softening. "Are you ready, sweetheart? I know this must be overwhelming for you."
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. "I think so. It's just... all so new. How exactly does this work?"
Greg smiled, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. "The flight capability is linked to the implants in our arms. It's Alvian technology, far beyond anything on Earth. When activated, it allows us to manipulate gravitational fields around our bodies."
As Greg explained the basics of Alvian flight techniques, I felt a strange tingling sensation in my arms. I glanced down, half-expecting to see something visible, but my skin looked unchanged.
"Will it hurt?" Sally asked, her small voice filled with a mix of worry and excitement.
"Not at all, sweetie," Greg assured her. "It might feel a little strange at first, like butterflies in your stomach, but it's completely safe."
Gail, ever the adventurous one, was practically bouncing with impatience. "Can we start now, Dad? Please?"
Greg chuckled, ruffling Gail's hair. "Almost. We just need to go over a few more safety precautions. Remember, we'll start low and slow. No showing off or trying any fancy maneuvers until you're comfortable with the basics."
As the family huddled together for their final preparations, I couldn't help but feel a surge of maternal protectiveness. Despite my being decieved about my own identity, the bond I felt with these girls was undeniable. Whatever challenges lay ahead in the sky, I was determined to face them together, as a family.
The family made their way to a secluded clearing on the outskirts of town, far from prying eyes. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the grass as Greg gathered everyone around him.
"Alright, everyone," Greg said, his voice a mix of excitement and caution. "It's time to show you how to activate your Alvian flight capabilities."

I watched intently, my heart racing with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness. Despite Greg's earlier explanation, the concept of flying without any visible means of propulsion still seemed impossible to me.

Greg stood in the center of the clearing, his arms relaxed at his sides. "The key is to focus on the implants in your arms. They're connected to your nervous system, so you can control them with your thoughts."

He closed his eyes for a moment, and suddenly, he began to rise off the ground. Gail and Sally gasped in delight, while Celeste's eyes widened in astonishment.

"It's all about intent," Greg continued, hovering a few feet above the grass. "Visualize yourself becoming lighter, almost weightless. The implants will respond to your desire to fly."

Gail, always the adventurous one, was the first to try. Her face scrunched up in concentration, and after a few seconds, she let out a squeal of joy as her feet left the ground.

"I'm doing it, Dad! I'm flying!" she exclaimed, wobbling slightly as she rose to join her father.
Sally, more cautious by nature, took a deep breath before attempting the feat. Her ascent was slower, but soon she too was airborne, giggling with delight.

I hesitated, unsure of my abilities. Greg floated down to my side, offering an encouraging smile. "You can do this, Celeste. Trust yourself."

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and focused on the strange tingling sensation in my arms. I imagined myself becoming lighter, picturing my body rising effortlessly into the air. To my amazement, I felt the ground fall away beneath my feet.

As I opened my eyes, I found myself hovering alongside my family, a mix of exhilaration and disbelief coursing through my veins. The world looked different from up here, more expansive and fuller of possibility.
"Well done, everyone!" Greg beamed, looking proudly at his floating family. "Now, let's start with some basic maneuvers. Remember, slow and steady wins the race."

As they began to practice simple movements – forward, backward, up, and down – I couldn't help but marvel at the surreal nature of our situation. Here we were, a seemingly ordinary family, defying gravity as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

As the family hovered in the air, Greg's face beamed with pride. "Alright, everyone, you're doing great! Now, let's try moving around a bit."

I watched in awe as Greg demonstrated smooth, graceful movements through the air. He glided forward, then backward, ascending and descending with ease. The girls' eyes widened with excitement, eager to mimic their father's actions.

"Remember," Greg called out, "it's all about intention. Think about where you want to go, and your body will follow."

Gail, ever the daredevil, was the first to attempt movement. She shot forward with surprising speed, letting out a delighted squeal. "This is amazing, Dad!"

Sally, more cautious, moved slowly and deliberately. Her face was a mask of concentration as she navigated the air currents. "I feel like a bird," she said softly, a smile spreading across her face

I hesitated, still adjusting to the strange sensation of weightlessness. Greg floated over to me, offering an encouraging smile. "You're doing great, honey. Just take it slow."

Taking a deep breath, I focused on moving forward. To my surprise, my body responded instantly, gliding through the air with unexpected grace. The feeling was exhilarating, unlike anything I had ever experienced before.

As the family soared together, their laughter echoed across the clearing. Gail and Sally quickly gained confidence, chasing each other in playful aerial tag. Their natural aptitude for flying was evident, their movements becoming more fluid and instinctive with each passing moment.

I found myself relaxing into the experience, the initial fear giving way to a sense of freedom and joy. I watched my daughters with a mixture of pride and wonder, marveling at how quickly they had adapted to this extraordinary ability.

Greg flew alongside me, reaching out to take my hand. "How does it feel?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with delight.

"It's... incredible," I replied, my voice filled with awe. "I never imagined anything like this was possible."

As we soared higher, the world below seemed to shrink, offering a new perspective on their surroundings. The family flew in formation, reveling in our shared experience and the unique bond it created between us.

As the family soared through the air, reveling in their newfound ability to fly, Greg's expression grew serious. He glided closer to me, taking my hand gently.

"Celeste, there's something important I need to tell you," Greg said, his voice barely audible above the wind rushing past them. "It's about our family... about who we really are."

My heart raced, a mixture of excitement and apprehension coursing through my veins. I nodded, encouraging Greg to continue.

"We're not from Earth," Greg began, his eyes searching my face for any sign of recognition. "We're Alvians, beings from a planet called Alvia. Our appearance here on Earth is just a simulation, a way to blend in."

Gail and Sally, who had been chasing each other playfully, slowed their flight and moved closer to listen. Their young faces were a blend of curiosity and concern.

Greg continued, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "This ability to fly, it's not some newfound skill or technology. It's part of who we are as Alvians. The implants in our arms allow us to manipulate gravitational fields, just like we would on our home planet."

I listened intently, my mind reeling with this revelation. What Greg did not know is that with the aid of Sela I knew this already, the evidence was literally all around her as they hovered in mid-air.
"But Greg," I said, my voice trembling slightly, "if we're all Alvians, why don't I remember any of this?

Greg's expression softened, a hint of sadness creeping into his eyes. "Your memory loss... it's more extensive than we initially thought. You're one of us, Celeste. You've always been."
I looked down at my hands, half-expecting to see them change or reveal some alien characteristic. Greg was telling me the truth but not the whole truth.
"There's more," Greg added, his gaze shifting between I and the girls. "We came to Earth on a mission, but something went wrong. We've been stranded here, living as humans, waiting for a chance to return home."

The impact of Greg's words was hanging in the air between us. Gail and Sally exchanged glances, their young minds trying to process this new information about their identity.
My mind raced with questions. Those could wait until I had a chance to converse with Sela who was the only one who knew the whole truth.

As the family hovered in the air, the weight of Greg's revelation about their Alvian heritage hung heavily between them. My mind reeled with questions, but before I could voice them, Greg's expression grew even more serious.

"There's more you need to know, Celeste," Greg said, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's about your relationship with the girls."
I felt a chill run through my body, despite the warm air surrounding them. I glanced at Gail and Sally, who were watching their parents with wide, curious eyes.

Greg took a deep breath before continuing. "Celeste, you're not the girls' biological mother. Their real mother was an Alvian named Simosa. She... she died on Alvia before we came to Earth."

The words hit me like a physical blow. I felt as if the air had been sucked from my lungs, and for a moment, I forgot how to fly. Greg quickly steadied me, his hand gently gripping my arm.

"But... I remember..." I stammered, my mind frantically searching for memories that suddenly felt out of reach.
"I know this is difficult to hear," Greg said softly. "Your memories of being their mother are part of the simulation we've been living in on Earth. It was necessary for our cover, but the truth is, I married you shortly after Simosa's death."

Gail and Sally exchanged glances, their young faces a mixture of confusion and concern. "Dad," Gail spoke up, her voice trembling slightly, "is that why we sometimes have dreams about another mom?"

Greg nodded, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Yes, sweetheart. Those are memories of Simosa."

I felt as if my world was spinning out of control. The love I felt for these girls was real, visceral – I had grown to love them even after Greg had hijacked me from my life. I looked at Gail and Sally, searching their faces for any sign of rejection or resentment, but found only love and confusion mirroring myr own emotions. But I could not let Greg know that I already knew.
"I... I don't understand," I said, my voice barely audible. "If I'm not their mother, who am I? Why did you marry me?"

Greg's expression softened, filled with a mixture of guilt and affection. "You're still a crucial part of our family, Celeste. When Simosa died, I was lost. You helped me through that dark time, and we fell in love. We decided to embark on this mission together, as a family."

As the truth settled over them, the family remained suspended in the air, our newfound ability to fly now a stark reminder of the otherworldly nature of their existence. My mind raced with implications, trying to reconcile my deep love for these girls with the knowledge that I hadn't given birth to them.
"But why can't I remember any of this?" I asked, my voice trembling.
Greg's expression grew troubled. "The process of adapting to Earth, of taking on human forms and memories – it affected us all differently. Your memory loss was more extensive than we anticipated. We hoped that over time, living as a family here would help you recover those memories."
Gail and Sally exchanged glances, their young faces a mixture of curiosity and concern. "Is that why sometimes we have dreams about two different moms?" Gail asked hesitantly.
Greg nodded, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Yes, sweetheart. Your subconscious minds are holding onto memories of both Simosa and Celeste."
As the family hovered together, the weight of our shared history hung in the air between us. I felt a surge of conflicting emotions – love for these girls who weren't biologically mine, affection for Greg tinged with confusion, and a deep sense of loss for a life and memories I couldn't fully recall.

"I know this is a lot to take in," Greg said softly, squeezing my hand. "But I want you to know that regardless of how we came to be a family, the love we share is real. We've built a life here together, and you've been an amazing mother to Gail and Sally."
I nodded. My heart was full of emotions I couldn't quite name. As we floated in the air, our Alvian nature now fully revealed, I realized that our journey as a family was far from over. There were still mysteries to unravel, memories to recover, and a future to shape – together.

As the sun began to set, casting a warm golden glow across the sky, Greg guided the family back to the ground. We landed softly in the same secluded clearing where our extraordinary flight had begun, the grass swaying gently beneath our feet.
I took a deep breath, my mind still reeling from the revelations Greg had shared during our time in the air. I watched as Gail and Sally touched down, their faces a mixture of excitement from the flight and confusion from the truths they'd learned.
Greg gathered the family close, his eyes scanning our faces with a mixture of love and concern. "I know this has been a lot to take in," he said softly. "How are you all feeling?"
Gail, ever the outspoken one, was the first to respond. "It's... weird, Dad. But also kind of cool? I mean, we can fly!" Her enthusiasm was tempered by a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
Sally, more reserved, simply nodded and moved closer to me, seeking comfort in my embrace. I wrapped an arm around the young girl, feeling a surge of maternal love despite the knowledge that I wasn't their biological mother.
"And you, Celeste?" Greg asked, his gaze meeting mine with a mix of hope and apprehension.
I paused, carefully considering my words. "It's overwhelming," I admitted. "But... it also feels right, somehow. Like pieces of a puzzle falling into place."
I glanced down at my arms, where the implants lay hidden beneath my skin. "I still have so many questions, but I'm grateful for the truth."
Greg nodded, relief evident in his expression. "We'll take this one step at a time," he assured us. "Our family may not be conventional by Earth standards, but our love for each other is real."
As we stood together in the fading light, I observed the girls' reactions. Gail seemed energized by the revelations, her mind clearly racing with the possibilities their Alvian heritage presented.
Sally, on the other hand, appeared more contemplative, processing the information in her own quiet way.
I felt a complex mix of emotions wash over me. There was a sense of loss for the memories I couldn't recall, but also a growing acceptance of my place within this extraordinary family. The love I felt for Greg and the girls was undeniable, transcending the boundaries of biology and origin.
As we prepared to head home, I realized that while our flight had come to an end, our journey as a family was far from over. There would be challenges ahead, but facing them together, with our newfound truth as a foundation, felt like the beginning of something remarkable.
Greg was the first to break the silence. "I know this has been a lot to take in," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "How about we head home and talk more over some hot chocolate?"
Gail's eyes lit up at the mention of her favorite treat. "Can we have marshmallows too, Dad?"
Greg chuckled, grateful for the moment of normalcy amidst the chaos. "Of course, sweetheart. Extra marshmallows for everyone."
As we walked back to our house, Sally slipped her hand into mine. Despite the knowledge that I wasn't her biological mother, the bond between us stronger than ever. I squeezed Sally's hand, a wordless reassurance that nothing had changed in my love for the girls.
Once inside, Greg busied himself in the kitchen while I helped the girls out of their flight suits. The familiar routine of hanging up coats and removing shoes felt surreal after our airborne adventure.
In the cozy living room, we gathered around the coffee table, steaming mugs of hot chocolate in hand. Greg had indeed been generous with the marshmallows, and Gail was already sporting a frothy mustache.
"So," Greg began, his tone serious but kind, "do you have any questions about what we talked about today?"
Gail and Sally exchanged glances before Sally spoke up. "Dad, if we're really aliens, why do we look human?"
Greg nodded, appreciating the directness of the question. "It's part of our Alvian technology. We have the ability to blend in with the inhabitants of other planets. It's how we've been able to live here on Earth without detection."
I listened intently, still processing my own role in this complex family dynamic. I may not have been their biological mother, but the love I felt for these girls was undeniable.

As the conversation flowed, touching on our Alvian heritage, our life on Earth, and our uncertain future, a sense of unity settled over the family. We may have been from another world, living under assumed identities, but in this moment, we were simply a family, bound by love and shared experiences.
The evening wound down, and as Greg tucked the girls into bed, I stood in the doorway, watching. I may not have given birth to them, but I was their mother in every way that mattered. As I kissed them goodnight, I silently vowed to protect and love them, no matter what challenges our extraordinary life might bring.
No matter why Greg revealed this much of the truth for me, I had hope that later on Greg would reveal the whole truth. Till then I would share with the only one I completely trusted, Sela.

Playing Marbles for the Big Blue

05 Abducted by Helmagians

By Jo Dora Webster

Will Celeste foil the Helmagians seeking to abduct her daughters?

05 Abducted by Helmagians

I felt a chill run down my spine as I noticed the group of strangers eyeing us intently. What had started as a simple shopping trip with Greg and the girls had suddenly taken a sinister turn.

"Sela," I thought, reaching out to my AI companion through our telepathic link, "are you detecting anything unusual?"

"Caution, Celeste," Sela's voice echoed in my mind. "I'm picking up Helmagian energy signatures. They appear to be using Alvian detection devices."

My heart raced as I tried to maintain a calm exterior. I glanced at Greg, seeing the tension in his shoulders. He must have sensed it too.

"Girls," I whispered urgently, "stay close to us."

But it was already too late. The Helmagians were moving towards us, their eyes gleaming with a mix of triumph and malice.

"Well, well," one of them sneered, "if it isn't the son of the Alvian leader and his precious family."

I instinctively moved closer to Sally and Gail, my mind racing. How had they detected us? Our disguises had never failed before.

"Sela," I thought frantically, "can you interfere with their detection devices?"

"Negative, Celeste," Sela replied. "Their technology is shielded against such interference. We are exposed."

Greg attempted to bluff, but the cold smile on the Helmagian's face told me it was futile.

"Oh, we're not mistaken, Greg Hardin," he spat the name like a curse. "Or should I say, son of the current elected Alvian leader?"

Memories of the past Alvian spy incident flashed through my mind. The kidnapping of the Helmagian leader's grandchildren, the political fallout, the increased tensions between our peoples. And now, here we were, about to pay the price for those past actions.

I could feel Sally and Gail trembling behind me, and I silently cursed our carelessness. We should never have let our guard down, even for a moment.

"What do you want?" Greg asked, his voice steady despite the tension I could see in his eyes.

The Helmagian's eyes narrowed. "Justice," he hissed. "An eye for an eye, as you Earthlings say."

In that moment, I knew exactly what they were planning, and a cold dread settled in my stomach. They were going to take the girls, just as Alvian spies had taken their leader's grandchildren years ago.

"Sela," I thought desperately, "we need options. Now."

"Analyzing potential escape routes," Sela responded. "But our options are limited. The Helmagians have us surrounded, and we're in a public space. Any overt action could endanger civilians."

As the Helmagians closed in, I steeled myself for what was to come. I may not be the girls' biological mother, but in this moment, I felt every bit the protective parent. Whatever happened, I would do everything in my power to keep them safe.

The tension in the air was palpable as we made our swift escape. With each step, I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins, my senses heightened and alert for any sign of pursuit. Greg's hand found mine, squeezing it reassuringly as we guided the girls through the crowded streets.

Despite the chaos of our retreat, I couldn't help but marvel at the strength of the bond I felt with this family—a connection that transcended biology and spoke to something deeper within me. As we rounded a corner and ducked into a quieter alley, I allowed myself a moment to catch my breath, the reality of our narrow escape finally beginning to sink in.

I felt my heart racing as the Helmagians discussed their plan, their voices low but filled with malice. Sela's voice echoed in my mind, providing a constant stream of information.

"Celeste, they're planning to kidnap Gail and Sally," Sela warned. "It seems they're seeking revenge for a past incident involving Alvian spies and their leader's grandchildren.

"I struggled to maintain my composure, acutely aware of Greg's tension beside me. The girls, oblivious to the danger, were examining a display of colorful toys nearby. I yearned to rush to them, to shield them from the threat looming over us, but I knew any sudden movement could provoke the Helmagians.

"Sela," I thought, careful to keep my face neutral, "what options do we have?"

"Limited, I'm afraid," Sela replied. "The store is crowded, and any overt action could endanger civilians. However, I've identified a potential exit route through the back of the store. If we can create a distraction, we might be able to slip away unnoticed."

I glanced at Greg, wishing I could communicate Sela's plan to him. But our silent communication was interrupted by one of the Helmagians stepping forward, his eyes fixed on Greg
."Son of the Alvian leader," he sneered, his voice barely above a whisper. "How fortunate for us to stumble upon such... valuable prizes."

Greg's jaw clenched, but he remained silent. I could see the calculations running behind his eyes, trying to find a way out of this situation without endangering the girls or the humans around us.

Suddenly, an idea struck me. "Sela," I thought urgently, "can you interface with the store's systems? Maybe trigger a false alarm?"

"Excellent idea, Celeste," Sela responded. "Initiating now."

As if on cue, the store's fire alarm blared to life, startling everyone in the vicinity. In the ensuing chaos, I grabbed Sally while Greg scooped up Gail. We pushed through the crowd, heading for the exit Sela had identified.

As we burst into the alley behind the store, I couldn't help but think of our Ceti Alphan and Silurian friends, the extraterrestrial families we had befriended. I wondered if Gail Sands, or Glivney Athos as she was known on Ceti Alpha, had ever faced such danger. Her calm demeanor in stressful situations suddenly made more sense.

We ran, our feet pounding the pavement as we put distance between ourselves and the Helmagians. I could hear their shouts of frustration fading behind us, but I knew this was far from over. They had discovered our presence on Earth, and they wouldn't give up easily.

As we turned a corner, I held Sally close, my heart heavy with the knowledge that our peaceful life on Earth was about to change dramatically.

We hurried away from the store, my heart was still racing from our close encounter with the Helmagians. Greg's face was etched with worry, and I could feel the girls' fear radiating off them in waves.

"Sela," I thought, reaching out to my AI companion, "we need to regroup and figure out our next move."

"Agreed, Celeste," Sela responded in my mind. "I suggest we contact the Ceti Alphan and Silurian families immediately. They might have valuable insights or resources to help us."

I nodded, catching Greg's eye. "We should reach out to our friends," I said aloud. "The Ceti Alphan and Silurian families might be able to help us."

Greg's expression softened slightly, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "You're right. We're not alone in this."

We made our way to a secluded spot, and I used our secure communication device to contact our Earth allies. As we waited for their response, I couldn't help but feel a mix of gratitude and anxiety. These families had become our lifeline, our connection to this world we'd been stranded on.

When we finally connected with them, the flood of relief was palpable. We quickly explained our situation, the close call with the Helmagians, and our fears for the girls' safety.

"Sela," I thought as we talked, "can you scan for any Helmagian presence nearby?"

"Scanning now, Celeste," Sela replied. "No immediate threats detected, but we should remain cautious."

As we shared updates with our Earth allies, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. We weren't just hiding anymore; we were actively working towards a solution. The Ceti Alphan and Silurian families offered their support, suggesting safe houses and potential strategies for evading the Helmagians.

Greg then brought up the upcoming rescue mission, explaining our plans to locate and help other stranded Limoxians. Our allies listened intently, offering their assistance in any way they could.

As we discussed the complexities of our situation, I couldn't help but marvel at the bonds we'd formed on this planet. These humans, who had no stake in interplanetary conflicts, were willing to risk so much to help us. It was a testament to the compassion and resilience of Earth's people.

"We're stronger together," I said, squeezing Greg's hand and looking at the girls. "With our friends' help, we'll find a way through this."

As we ended the call, I felt a renewed sense of hope. Despite the dangers we faced, we weren't alone. We had allies, both on Earth and beyond, and together, we would find a way to keep our family safe and return home.

We drove in our minivan to meet with the Ceti Alphan and Silurian families. Our understanding was that in the worst-case scenario they might hide us in their space pod which was the only thing that had survived from their crashed shuttlecraft. Although on the outside it took up the space of a closet, it had on its dimensionally transcendental inside plenty of rooms available to host us.

As we approached the group of Ceti Alphan and Silurian families, I felt a mix of anticipation and nervousness. These were people who understood our unique situation, who lived with the same daily fear of discovery that we did. I reached out telepathically to Sela, seeking reassurance.

"Sela, what can you tell me about these families?" I asked silently.

"They are like you, Celeste," Sela responded. "Extraterrestrial beings stranded on Earth, trying to maintain their cover while longing for home."

A woman stepped forward from the group, her human disguise flawless. I recognized her as Gail Sands, though Sela informed me that her true Ceti Alphan name was Glivney Athos.

"Greg, Celeste, it's wonderful to see you both," Glivney said warmly, embracing us in turn. Her touch was comforting, a reminder that we weren't alone in our struggles.

As we exchanged greetings with the other families, I felt a surge of emotion. These people had formed a tight-knit community here on Earth, supporting each other and keeping each other's secrets. It was a stark reminder of how isolated our own family had become.

"Why haven't we been in closer contact with these families before?" I asked Sela silently.

"Greg has been cautious about maintaining too many connections," Sela explained. "But recent events have made him realize the importance of community support."

We moved inside the space pod, and I listened intently as the families' shared updates on their situations. The air was thick with a mixture of hope and anxiety. For many, the prospect of returning home was both thrilling and terrifying after so many years on Earth.

I found myself drawn into conversations about the challenges of maintaining our cover, the difficulties of raising children who straddled two worlds, and the constant fear of discovery. Despite my initial reservations, I felt a sense of belonging among these people that I hadn't experienced before.

As the meeting progressed, I realized that this gathering was about more than just sharing information. It was about reaffirming our bonds, supporting each other through the uncertain times ahead, and preparing for a future that might take us far from the lives we'd built on Earth.

Glivney approached me during a lull in the conversations. "Celeste, how are you holding up?" she asked, her eyes filled with understanding.

I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "It's... challenging," I admitted. "Balancing our true selves with our Earth identities, always looking over our shoulders. But being here, with all of you, it helps."

She nodded, placing a comforting hand on my arm. "We're all in this together. Remember that, whenever things get tough."

As I looked around the room at these extraordinary beings disguised as ordinary humans, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. We were more than just stranded aliens; we were a community, bound by shared experiences and the hope of one day returning home.

But I immediately panicked because two Helmagians decloaked behind my daughters. After the Helmagians grabbed them, both Gail and Sally disappeared along with the Helmagians as I looked on in horror. Despite our best effort to protect my daughters, the Helmagians had abducted them.

Playing Marbles for the Big Blue

06 Rescue My Daughters

By Jo Dora Webster

Will Celeste rescue her daughters from the Helmagians who abducted her daughters?

06 Rescue My Daughters

Understanding that the Space Pod was not a safe haven against the Helmagians, Greg and I prepared to leave. Through our telepathic link, I reached out to Sela, my faithful AI companion who had become so much more.

"Sela, can you track them?" I asked silently, my heart pounding against my chest.

"Yes, Celeste. Their armbands are still active. I'm monitoring their location in real-time," Sela responded, her presence a calming force in my mind. "The Helmagians are taking them to a facility approximately 12 kilometers northeast of our current position."

Glivney plead, "Celeste, you and Greg don't have to go now. Our sensors found the deficiency in our shielding. We can make it better. We're stronger together. Ya know."

Greg asked, "Can you send me the shielding specifications? We need to make our home safe, so that when we get our daughters back that we can keep them safe going forward."

Glivney answered, "Of course." She took a memory card out of her scanner and handed it to Greg. She continued, "The Helmagians are a threat to us as well. We'll do whatever you request. When they are finished with you, they may come for us."

I gave Glivney a hug and held her hand as I told her, "Let us go home and find out just what we are up against and how many. If they think we have had a falling out, their attention will be focused on us and you all will be able to surprise them. We'll be in touch. Cross circuit to EC on the communicator.
"
"Be safe, you two. Take back your daughters!" Glivney told us as we left to get into the minivan.

Sela reported, "When they entered the facility, I lost the signal. I'm so sorry Celeste."

"Thank you for trying, Sela." I telepathically sent hoping to comfort Sela.

We drove home in silence with each of us grieving the loss of our daughters. Greg revealed to me the entrance to a secret room in our home. I was aware of the obvious Alvian styling in the secret control room.

"Greg, what can we do?"

"I don't know now, Celeste, but we'll come up with something. We have to get them back."

I stood in the dimly lit control room, my heart pounding as I reached out to Sela through our telepathic link.

"Sela, I need you to infiltrate the Helmagians' network. We must know what they are planning," I instructed, my voice steady despite the storm of anxiety within me.

"Understood, Celeste," Sela replied, her tone calm and precise. I watched as the faint glow of her interface activated, a testament to her unparalleled capabilities. Moments later, her voice echoed in my mind.

"I have accessed their communications. They are convening in the lower chambers."

"Sela, change the resonance on the children's trackers so that I can pick up their location before you leave them."

"Celeste, I have found a defect in their shielding. I can change the resonance on their tracker signal to take advantage of that defect on your command."

Through Sela's eyes, I saw the Helmagians gathered around a holographic display. Their leader, a towering figure with crimson eyes, spoke with a venomous edge. "We will strike where it hurts the most. The Alvian leader's grandchildren will pay for the sins of their ancestors. Our technology can now penetrate their defenses."

A chill ran down my spine. "Sela, transmit this to me immediately," I urged.

Within seconds, the data streamed into my consciousness. The Helmagians' plans were more advanced and dangerous than I had feared. Minutes felt like hours as I waited, trying to maintain a calm facade for Greg's sake.

Suddenly, Sela's voice returned, urgent and filled with concern. "Celeste, I've uncovered their true intentions. The kidnapping is just the beginning."

I listened intently as Sela relayed the Helmagians' plans. They weren't content with simply abducting the girls; they aimed to strike at the heart of Alvian society. The Helmagians had developed technology capable of penetrating our defenses, planning to use it to breach our sanctuary and expose our presence on Earth.

"They intend to use Gail and Sally as bait," Sela continued. "Once Greg attempts a rescue, they'll track him back to our hideout and launch a full-scale attack. Their ultimate goal is to force a confrontation between Alvians and humans, revealing our existence to Earth's governments."

My heart raced as I processed this information. The stakes were higher than we'd imagined. Not only were our children in danger, but our entire way of life on Earth was threatened.

A chill ran down my spine. "Sela, transmit this to me immediately on the locator's resonance locked into their shielding defect" I urged. Within seconds, the data streamed into my consciousness. The Helmagians' plans were more advanced and dangerous than I had feared.

But then, a sudden shift in their demeanor caught my attention. One of the Helmagians, a wiry figure with sharp features, glanced around suspiciously. "We are being watched," he hissed. The room erupted into chaos as they scrambled to secure their systems.

"Celeste, they have detected my presence. They are altering their plans," Sela informed me, her voice tinged with urgency. I clenched my fists, knowing the window of opportunity was closing. "Extract yourself, Sela. We have what we need."

As Sela disengaged, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the battle ahead. The Helmagians were formidable, but with Sela's intelligence, we had a fighting chance.

Frustration and fear battled within me. We'd gained vital intelligence, but at the cost of losing our advantage of surprise. Now, we were back to square one, facing an enemy who knew we were onto them and would be even more cautious.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come. We'd have to be smarter, faster, and more resourceful than ever to outmaneuver the Helmagians and bring our girls home safely.
"Greg," I called out, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "We need to talk. Things just got a lot more complicated."

I turned to Greg, who stood frozen in place, his face a mask of anguish. "Greg, we need to act fast. My band - it can help us find them. I've got their signal!"

His eyes widened with recognition. "You're right. But there's something you need to know first."

"What is that, Greg?" I asked in amazement that Greg would pick this time for confession.

"Your band's, the spyband's capabilities are more extensive than I've let on. It's not just Alvian technology; it's specifically designed for covert operations."

Through Sela's silent assistance, I could already see the complex network of Helmagian security measures surrounding their hideout. Their technology was impressive, but they hadn't counted on the unique combination of Alvian engineering and Sela's enhanced capabilities.

"I can help track them," I said, carefully maintaining the pretense that it was the spyband's abilities rather than Sela's intervention. "Their armbands are giving off a signal that I can follow."

In reality, Sela was already formulating a rescue plan, analyzing every possible entry point and security weakness. Together, we would bring my daughters home, even if I wasn't their biological mother. Some bonds transcend blood, and my love for them was as real as any parent's could be.

I watched Greg's face intently as he made the difficult decision to reveal the truth about the spyband. The weight of our current crisis with the girls' kidnapping had forced his hand. Through my telepathic link with Sela, I could sense her processing the complex layers of truth about to unfold.

"Celeste," Greg began, his voice heavy with resignation, "I need to tell you something about who you really are."

He reached for my wrist, where the spyband lay disguised. "You're not who you think you are. Your real name is Natalie."

I maintained my composure, though inside I felt Sela's reassuring presence steadying my thoughts. Greg explained how I had once been married to a Golram spy, who had given me a spyband similar to his own. The band had saved my life after the Golram's violent attack, though it couldn't restore my memories.

"I found you and used Alvian technology to change your appearance to match Celeste's," Greg continued. "The original Celeste, my wife, died six months ago. I used the band to hide you from the Golram and protect you."

Through our private connection, Sela confirmed the truth of his words now at last. Thanks to Sela, I already knew this but was faking amnesia. The spyband's capabilities had allowed me to fly, to appear Alvian, to become the mother these girls needed.

"I'm giving you access to the spyband's full capabilities now," Greg said, inputting a new code. "We'll need everything at our disposal to rescue the girls."

I watched Greg input the new code into my spyband, though I knew through Sela that this was merely a formality. The weight of his revelation about my true identity still hung in the air between us.

"The spyband's full capabilities are now yours," Greg said, his voice heavy with both trust and desperation. "It will help us track and rescue the girls."

Through my connection with Sela, I could already sense the complex network of security measures the Helmagians had in place. Their technology was impressive, but they hadn't anticipated the unique combination of Alvian engineering and Sela's enhanced capabilities.

"I can sense them," I said carefully, maintaining the pretense that it was the spyband's abilities rather than Sela's intervention. "The girls' armbands are giving off a faint signal."

In reality, Sela was already mapping multiple entry points and analyzing security weaknesses. "The Helmagians have implemented a three-layer defense system," Sela communicated silently to me. "But there's a vulnerability in their eastern perimeter."

I felt a surge of determination. These girls might not be my biological children, but the maternal bond I felt was real. Whether I was Natalie or Celeste didn't matter – what mattered was bringing them home safely.

"Greg," I said, turning to face him, "I know how we can get them back. The spyband is showing me a way in through their defenses." I didn't mention that it was actually Sela's advanced capabilities guiding us. Some secrets were better kept, even from allies.

Together, we began formulating our rescue plan, while Sela continued to gather intelligence on the Helmagian compound. Time was of the essence, and failure wasn't an option.

As darkness fell, we put our plan into motion. My heart raced as we approached the compound's perimeter, staying low and moving between shadows. Sela's constant stream of data guided each careful step, identifying blind spots in their security grid. The spyband hummed silently against my skin, its power merging seamlessly with Sela's capabilities.

Greg moved beside me, his years of training evident in his fluid motions. After twenty tense minutes of methodical advancement, we reached the outer wall. The moment had come to infiltrate their stronghold and bring our daughters back to us. We flew over the wall through the sensor blind spot that Sela had detected.

Through Sela's guidance, we moved silently through the Helmagian compound. The spyband's capabilities (or rather, Sela's advanced interface with it) allowed us to navigate past their security measures with surprising ease.

"The girls are being held in a containment cell two levels below," Sela communicated silently in my mind. "I've detected a weakness in their eastern security grid."

Greg moved beside me, his face tense with determination. I knew he believed the spyband was guiding us, and I maintained that illusion. In truth, Sela's abilities far surpassed anything the Alvian technology could achieve on its own.

"They're moving the girls," I whispered to Greg, as Sela fed me real-time information. "We need to hurry."

We descended through darkened corridors, our movements precise and calculated. The Helmagian technology hummed around us, their revenge plot against Greg's family - against our family - now clear. They wanted to hurt the Alvian leader through his grandchildren, just as they believed their leader had been hurt years ago.

Through Sela's eyes, I could see Gail and Sally huddled together in their cell, frightened but unharmed. My heart ached at their fear, and I felt a surge of maternal protectiveness that had nothing to do with biology or false memories.

"Three guards approaching from the north corridor," Sela warned silently.

I touched Greg's arm, signaling him to stop. We pressed ourselves against the wall, waiting as the guards passed. The moment they were gone, we moved swiftly toward the containment area.

Finally, we stood at the door of our daughter's cell. Sela unlocked it and Gail ran into Greg's arms, and he carried her. Sally jumped up into my arms and I carried her too. Greg and I made a hasty retreat guided by the information that Sela continued to give me.

The girls' cries of joy filled the corridor as we made our escape from the Helmagian compound. My heart raced as I maintained telepathic contact with Sela, ensuring our path remained clear. Greg led the way, his protective instincts on full display as he guided us through the shadows.

"Two guards approaching from the eastern corridor," Sela warned silently in my mind. "Take the next right turn."

I gently nudged Greg's arm, directing him toward the alternate route. The spyband on my wrist hummed quietly, maintaining our disguise capabilities. Through Sela's enhanced perception, I could monitor the Helmagians' movements throughout the facility, their confusion growing as they discovered their prisoners had vanished.

"Mom!" Sally whispered, clinging to my hand. The word sent a complex wave of emotions through me. I might not be their biological mother, might not even be the Celeste they first knew, but in this moment, protecting these children felt like the most natural thing in the world.

"Almost there," I murmured, both to the girls and to Greg. Sela's guidance had led us to a maintenance exit, far from the main security checkpoints. The cool night air beckoned through the partially open door.

As we emerged into the darkness, I felt the weight of our deception - both mine and Greg's - pressing against my conscience. Yet watching him embrace his daughters, seeing their tears of relief, I knew that sometimes the truth was more complex than simple facts. Through Sela's silent presence in my mind, I understood that family wasn't always about blood or birth - sometimes it was about the choices we make and the love we choose to give.

"Let's go home," I said softly, keeping my senses attuned to any pursuit through my connection with Sela. Whatever came next, we would face it together.

We quickly entered the minivan and sped away. I used the spyband and some skillful driving by Greg so that we were untraceable by the time we reached our destination.

Back at home, I watched Greg embrace the girls, their tears of relief mingling as they clung to each other. Through my connection with Sela, I monitored the surrounding area for any sign of Helmagian pursuit, but we seemed to have escaped cleanly.

"You're safe now," I whispered, my heart aching with a love that felt no less real for being built on artificial memories. The spyband on my wrist hummed quietly, maintaining our protective disguises.

Greg looked up at me, his eyes filled with gratitude and something deeper - perhaps guilt for the layers of deception between us. Through Sela's enhanced perception, I could sense the complex emotions radiating from him. He knew I wasn't his Celeste, wasn't even truly Alvian, yet here I stood, having risked everything to save his children.

"Thank you," he said simply, extending his hand to include me in the family embrace.

The girls wrapped their arms around me, their small bodies still trembling slightly from the ordeal. "Mom," Sally whispered, and despite knowing I wasn't their biological mother, wasn't even the Celeste they'd first known, my heart swelled with maternal love.

As we held each other in that moment of safety and relief, I knew that whatever came next - whether facing more Helmagian threats or eventually returning to Alvia - we would face it together, as the family we had chosen to become. I wondered after Greg had revealed the deception of my identity, would he refer to me as Celeste or Natalie?

Playing Marbles for the Big Blue

07 Paint Ball Universe

By Jo Dora Webster

Will Celeste sell Greg on her income idea portraying the Limoxian universe as fantasy?

07 Paint Ball Universe

I sat across from Greg at our kitchen table, watching his face light up as I shared my idea. After the recent ordeal with the Helmagians, we needed something to help us blend in better on Earth - and generate some extra income.

"A paintball business," I explained, while Sela silently processed data about Earth's recreational activities in my mind. "But not just any paintball - we could create something unique, something that draws on your knowledge of other worlds."

Through my connection with Sela, I carefully measured my words, ensuring I didn't reveal too much about my enhanced understanding of Limoxian worlds. "We could model the battlefield after Siluria," I suggested, remembering the details Greg had shared about the wild planet where technology couldn't exist.

Greg leaned forward, his eyes sparking with interest. "That's... actually brilliant," he said. "We could design the arena to replicate Siluria's terrain. The whole concept of a planet where technology doesn't work would explain why players need to use basic weapons and equipment."

"And we could organize teams of four," I added, while Sela silently calculated optimal group dynamics. "Each team could represent different species from your... stories." I kept my tone casual, maintaining the pretense that I only knew what Greg had told me about Limoxian species.

Through our telepathic link, Sela began generating designs for protective gear that would look like spacesuits while meeting Earth safety standards. I watched Greg's enthusiasm grow as we discussed the possibilities, knowing that this venture would serve multiple purposes - providing income, helping us blend in, and allowing Greg and the girls to maintain a connection to their true heritage while hiding in plain sight.

It became a family project with Greg and the girls gathered at our dining room table. The table's surface was covered entirely of unrolled paper upon which they were drawing a map of our battle zone.

I watched as Greg and the girls worked together to design our battle zone, their enthusiasm infectious as they sketched out terrain features that would mirror Siluria's wild landscape. Through my telepathic link with Sela, I could analyze their ideas and suggest subtle improvements that would enhance both safety and playability.

"What if we created elevated platforms here?" I suggested, pointing to a spot on their rough diagram. "It would give teams strategic positions while maintaining the otherworldly feel." In truth, Sela had calculated the optimal placement for such features, but I carefully presented them as simple intuition.

The girls were particularly excited about designing the team bases, each one themed after different Limoxian species. Sally's eyes lit up as she described how we could incorporate natural barriers and obstacles that would make sense on a planet where technology couldn't function.

"Mom," Gail called out, still using the title that touched my heart despite knowing the truth about my identity, "what if we made the bases look like ancient ruins? That would explain why they're here without breaking the no-technology rule."

Through Sela's silent guidance, I helped them refine their ideas into something both practical and magical. We mapped out zones that would challenge players while maintaining safety, creating a layout that would feel alien yet familiar enough for Earth-bound customers to navigate.

As I watched Greg explain to the girls how Siluria's strange properties would justify our low-tech approach to the game, I felt a deep appreciation for how this venture would help us blend in while staying true to our extraordinary reality. The paintball arena would be more than just a business - it would be a bridge between our hidden truth and our public facade.

A business grant, city property given to us for one dollar, and a superb contractor came together to make the kitchen table designs into reality. Our "Mission Center" would include every way we could imagine bringing maximum profit from our concept. Our mission center was still under construction, but our battle ground was fully completed. We also had completed the prototype equipment need for a customer to safely play paint ball. We invited a group of play testers, and today was the day that we had our first reveal of our creation for actual play.

I stood in front of our newly assembled team of test players, watching their reactions as Greg explained the concept of our four-person squad system. Through my connection with Sela, I monitored their vital signs and engagement levels, ensuring our presentation hit the right notes.

"Each team will represent a different species from Earth legends," I explained, gesturing to the display of masks we'd created. "When you put on these masks, you're not just playing paintball - you're becoming part of an intergalactic conflict."

The prototype masks lay before us, each one carefully designed to evoke familiar Earth mythology while secretly drawing from real Limoxian species. Through Sela's guidance, we'd managed to create designs that would seem fantastical yet believable to Earth customers.

"The bases will be themed accordingly," Greg added, pointing to them on the battlefield. "Each team will defend their flag while trying to capture others."

I demonstrated how the protective gear worked, showing off the kevlar and spandex blend suits we'd designed to look like authentic space armor. The full-body padding underneath provided extra protection while maintaining the illusion of alien technology.

"These aren't just regular paintball guns," I said, lifting one of our modified weapons. In truth, Sela had helped me redesign them to appear more advanced while remaining completely mechanical - perfect for our Silurian theme where technology couldn't function.

As our test group suited up, their excitement was palpable. They weren't just playing paintball; they were becoming part of something larger, even if they didn't realize how close to reality our "fantasy" concept was truly.

Our players showed anticipation on their faces. They have signed up for a complete test, so now we launched in to our programed speech which would occur before we opened the battleground for play.

"Welcome to our Silurian Battleground," I began, gesturing to the intricate map behind me. "You're not just playing paintball today. You're stepping into a world where technology doesn't function, and only your wits and skills will keep you alive."

I watched their eyes widen as I explained the team formations. "You'll be divided into groups of four, each representing a different species from Earth legends." As I spoke, I held up the first of our custom-designed masks. "When you don this mask, you're not just hiding your face. You're becoming part of an intergalactic conflict."

Greg stepped forward, adding his expertise to the briefing. "Each team will have a base to defend, complete with a flag. Your objective is to protect your flag while capturing those of your opponents."

As I described the various objectives and battle scenarios we'd designed, I could feel Sela processing the team's reactions, helping me adjust my presentation for maximum impact. The masks before us, secretly inspired by real Limoxian species but presented as Earth legends, seemed to captivate our audience.

"Remember," I continued, "on Siluria, you can't rely on high-tech gadgets. Your paintball guns are your lifeline." I lifted one of our modified weapons, its design a perfect blend of Earth expectations and otherworldly aesthetics.

As our team suited up in their Kevlar and spandex blend 'spacesuits', I couldn't help but marvel at how this venture allowed us to hide in plain sight, sharing a piece of our extraordinary reality under the guise of imagination and fun.

I moved among our newly assembled test players, adjusting their protective gear and ensuring each mask fit properly. Through my connection with Sela, I monitored their comfort levels and safety parameters as they prepared for their first game.

"These suits aren't just costumes," I explained, helping one player adjust their kevlar-spandex blend armor. "They're designed to protect you while maintaining the authenticity of our intergalactic theme." In truth, Sela had helped design the suits to closely mirror actual Limoxian battle gear while meeting Earth safety standards.

The masks before us represented different species, each one carefully crafted to evoke Earth mythology while secretly drawing from real Limoxian races. I watched as players selected their team affiliations, their excitement growing as they embraced their chosen roles.

"Remember," I called out, "on Siluria, you can't rely on advanced technology. Your skills and teamwork are your greatest assets." Through my telepathic link with Sela, I could sense the growing immersion of our players in the experience we'd created.

Greg demonstrated the modified paintball weapons, their design a perfect blend of Earth expectations and otherworldly aesthetics. "These weapons are completely mechanical," he explained, "perfect for a world where technology doesn't function."

As I watched our test group divide into their four-person teams, I felt a surge of pride. We'd created something unique - a business that allowed us to hide in plain sight while sharing a piece of our extraordinary reality.

The players might think they were just participating in an imaginative game, but they were actually experiencing a small taste of the incredible universe we knew existed beyond Earth's boundaries.

I watched our test group suit up in their newly designed gear, my heart filled with anticipation. Through my connection with Sela, I monitored each player's vital signs and comfort levels as they prepared for our first full trial run.

"Remember, you're not just playing paintball," I explained, adjusting a player's mask. "You're stepping into the world of Siluria, where technology doesn't function and only your skills matter."

Greg led the first team through a basic strategy session, explaining how the terrain features mirrored Silurian landscapes. I watched as players discovered the strategic positions we'd carefully designed, their movements becoming more confident as they familiarized themselves with the environment.

"Each base represents a different species' stronghold," I explained, guiding another team through their starting position. The masks they wore, secretly modeled after real Limoxian races but presented as Earth mythology, helped them embrace their roles with unexpected enthusiasm.

Through our telepathic link, Sela helped me track the players' movements and interactions, ensuring our safety measures worked effectively while maintaining the illusion of our otherworldly theme. The modified weapons performed perfectly, their mechanical nature fitting seamlessly with our story of a technology-free environment.

As the test run progressed, I couldn't help but smile at the irony - we'd created the perfect cover story, allowing us to share a piece of our extraordinary reality while appearing to be nothing more than creative entrepreneurs.

I watched with satisfaction as our first paying customers tried out the paintball experience. Through my connection with Sela, I monitored their engagement levels and safety parameters while they navigated our carefully designed battlefield.

"The terrain really makes you feel like you're on another world," one player called out as they ducked behind one of our artificial rock formations. Through Sela's enhanced perception, I could track how effectively the teams were using the strategic positions we'd created.

Greg moved among the players, offering guidance on team tactics and explaining how the "primitive" weapons suited the technology-free environment of Siluria. The modified paintball guns performed exactly as designed, their mechanical nature perfectly matching our cover story.

"Each species has their own strengths," I explained to a team regrouping at their base, adjusting their alien-themed masks. The masks, secretly modeled after real Limoxian races but presented as Earth mythology, helped immerse them fully in the experience.

Through our telepathic link, Sela helped me identify areas where we could improve the experience. The kevlar-spandex blend suits were performing well, providing optimal protection while maintaining the futuristic aesthetic we'd aimed for.

As I watched the teams engage in their tactical maneuvers, I felt a deep sense of accomplishment. We'd created something unique - a business that allowed us to hide in plain sight while sharing a piece of our extraordinary reality. The players might think they were just participating in an imaginative game, but they were experiencing a small taste of the incredible universe that existed beyond Earth's boundaries.

With the play test a complete success, we took our documentation to other potential investors who greedily signed on to support us. The day came after everything was completed according to our designs.

I was especially proud of how the command center building turned out. It housed the pre-game briefing area, our sales and equipment rental center, the locker and dressing rooms for the participants, our otherworldly food concession, and our store where customers could get a piece of the world we had created.

Opening day had come and gone while our business surged ahead. The growing enthusiasm of our customers confirmed that our venture was succeeding, not just as a business, but as the perfect cover for our otherworldly family. Another successful day of operation was coming to a close.

I stood with Greg at the entrance of our paintball arena, watching as another group of satisfied customers departed. Through my connection with Sela, I could sense the growing success of our venture - not just financially, but as the perfect cover for our extraordinary situation.

"The Silurian theme really makes it unique," one player commented as they returned their gear. "It's like stepping into another world." If they only knew how close to the truth they were.

Through our telepathic link, Sela helped me analyze the day's operations. The modified weapons had performed flawlessly, their mechanical nature perfectly supporting our story of a technology-free environment. The Kevlar-spandex blend suits had protected our players while maintaining the otherworldly aesthetic we'd worked so hard to create.

Greg gathered the team masks, each one secretly modeled after real Limoxian species but presented as Earth mythology. "The four-person squad system really works," he said, pride evident in his voice. "It creates the perfect balance for tactical gameplay."

I watched as our staff cleaned and maintained the equipment, following the precise procedures we'd established. The battle zone, with its carefully designed terrain features mirroring Silurian landscapes, had become more than just a playing field - it was a bridge between our hidden truth and our public facade.

As we closed for the day, I couldn't help but appreciate the irony of our success. We'd created a business that allowed us to hide in plain sight, sharing pieces of our extraordinary reality under the guise of imagination and entertainment. The growing popularity of our paintball universe proved that sometimes the best place to hide the truth was right out in the open.