Chapter 14 Cyber Soul

Chapter 14

Cyber Soul

  The clearing where Kian landed his ship was about a half mile from the Older’s Bed entrance, as eager as he was to find Kia he also wanted to give Penny a chance stretch her new legs on Chimera soft grassy  face. He also assumed Kia would sense his presence if she were anywhere near.

   The ship had no landing gear. The moment it made its' vertical landing, it flattened its bowed wings as its belly softened and spread on the ground as if it really was the soft belly of a living creature. The exit panel suddenly vaporized leaving a smooth ten tall ovoid opening. They simply stepped off the ship’s smooth hard ceramic floor and onto Chimera’s soft grassy dale.   

 Suddenly Kian felt Penny’s hand grab his right arm. He looked around to see her pulling off her shoes. She then raced away letting the soft cool blades of grass slide between her naked toes.

  He strode out admiring his pretty young daughter as she ran, hopped, and danced through ankle deep grass. So distracted by her childlike abandon he did not notice two tiny human figures holding two other figures in their arms  slide over the western tree line and fly toward him. It was only after Penny ran back to him and threw her body into his open arms did he look up and see Kia and Alex sliding feet first out of the blue, with two strangers in their arms. So taken aback by the unexpected sight he stumbled back almost falling down with Penny in his arms.

  “Kia,” he murmured, as he assumed more of his super human strength and easily and ever so gently cradled Penny in his arms.   

  Penny spun around almost banging heads with Kian who was gawking at Kia as if she were the only person in the universe.

 After setting Nessa down, Kia started to run to him, but instead took Alex’s hand after he set Micah down, leading him slowly toward her once dead husband. Kian tilted his head as he noticed Kia’s fingers tightened around Alex’s hand. He blinked bit his lip as Penny wriggled out of his arms and ran to greet Kia.

  Kia stopped walking as Penny ran up and flung her arms around her. Not knowing what else to do Kia reached up and embraced her. Instantly her empathic abilities kicked in as all of Penny’s loss and pain flooded Kia’s mind. Penny went limp, but only for a brief moment.

  “Penny,” Kia said, “Oh Penny I’m so sorry.”

  Kian moved closer. Kia had changed. He could not sense her inside his heart or mind, which only drew him closer.

  “Kia,” he whispered as a soft western breeze scooped up her name as if it were a falling leaf. Penny stepped aside as Kia gently pushed past her and ran toward Kian. She slammed into his chest, which deflected her empathy the way glass deflects raindrops and wind.

  Even though they were reaching out to each out to one another, she was not getting in so easily, if ever…