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When she returned a few minutes later, a small bottle tucked into her pocket, she found that Bob had already opened the medical chamber and was gently, but firmly strapping down Yolaja, making sure she couldn't flail around.

Jillian grimaced. “Is that really necessary?"

The Kerachaw shrugged. “I don't know… I hope not, but I don't want to take any chances she could hurt herself when we enter her mind."

“We?"

“Do you remember what we did when we shut down Colonel Inkuba's drug operations?"

“Yes… I took control of your body while you rode shotgun and manipulated your powers for me." She paused and looked at the equine sapien. “Are you suggesting the same thing with your niece?"

“Something similar," he replied. “Her implant is fully integrated into her body and can't be removed. Because she was never trained, she has no ability to control it. I therefore have to go into her mind and reset the implant, while also giving her what you'd call a 'crash course' in how to turn it on or off as needed."

Jillian nodded tightly sensing the serious of Bob's tone. “And what role do I play in this

“I need you to take point on getting Yolaja's cooperation. I will use my powers through your avatar. She trusts you and may be willing to accept your suggestions. I am more of an authority figure, being her uncle. She still harbors some sub-conscious resentment that I was not there to save our World ship. That makes her more hesitant to follow my instructions."

“So why would she trust me? I'm a furless alien from a strange planet."

“Two reasons… First, you were open and welcoming from the moment she awoke. Second, and most importantly, you are a female therefore less threatening that I am."

“Why would my being female be so important…" Jillian's thoughts suddenly froze as she remembered the first time she'd witnessed the destruction of the World ship. It was a memory she'd seen in Bob's mind. A memory that had been broadcast across space to the Kerachaw as his own mate was murdered by the alien race that had attacked their home. The human had experienced it as she had. More than anything, she remembered the brutality of his mate's death. She looked down at the youngling.

“Oh my God! The Destroyers… did they… rape Yolaja?"

“It's probable. When we first touched minds after she awoke, it was one of several nightmares that I vaguely sensed. She'd pushed it deep down into her psyche and was doing her best to suppress it." He gently brushed the sleeping girl's mane out of her eyes. “She does truly have a powerful mind that could serve her well as a Vu-Theel, once she gets the training."

The Kerachaw looked over at Jillian. The human was on the verge of crying for his niece… for an alien foundling. He reached across to her and cupped her chin in his massive hand, brushing away a stray tear with his thumb. “Your feelings for Yolaja are deep. Take hold of them and use them when you enter her mind with me. She will feel how much you care and that will help."

“How in hell could those beasts have done that… to a youngling, not even old enough to fully understand what was happening to her."

“The Destroyers are a civilization based not on conquest, but resource mining. They plunder their victims for what they want, then discard or destroy what they do not consider valuable. Other lifeforms, beyond their own species, are meaningless to them."

Jillian glanced tight-lipped at Yolaja. “You think I can really help her through this kind of trauma? I don't have the necessary training. My normal patients don't have thoughts as complex as you or your niece. I didn't have to study much psychology when it came to being a veterinarian."

“But you are highly empathic. In this case, I think that's a better recommendation than any number of Freedyan theories about the mind."

“It's pronounced Freudian, but I understand your point." She focused on Bob once more. “Okay… so how do we do this?"

The Kerachaw reached passed the sleeping form of his niece and pulled out a crescent shaped device, similar to the one he had placed on the youngling. He had Jillian stand next to the sleep/medical chamber and pressed it against her forehead. It beeped once, then adhered to her skin. “This will allow you to tap into Yolaja's mind, much the same way you first did with me. The difference is that it will be a more secure conduit than the physical contact you have with your hand."

“Why is that important?"

“Because we are doing more this time than merely making contact… I am going to try to manipulate her mind enough to gain access to her nano-factory implant. I may even have to create a connection. if none currently exists If we break contact prematurely, we risk opening the barn door and letting the… horses out."

Jillian chuckled tightly once. “That sounds oddly appropriate coming from you," she observed.

“Your people have way too many idioms to deal with. You must have professionals who do nothing else," Bob said.

She nodded. “They're called writers."

“They're annoying…. sometimes." He checked over the youngling's scans. “She's still in deep sleep." He turned and went over to a nearby storage unit. From it he pulled out the sedative he had prepared a day earlier and handed the dispenser the human.

“You want to use this?"

“Yes," he replied. “She's already sound asleep. This should help keep her from developing nightmares while we access her mind."

“But the dosage will only be effective for about fifteen minutes or so. Is that enough time?"

“I believe so," the Kerachaw replied. “Once we're in her mind minutes will seem like hours. It will allow us to do what we must before its effects dissipate."

Jillian quickly checked the injector noting the settings hadn't been changed. She reached up and removed her inhibitor collar, handing it to Bob, then took a deep breath and muttered a short prayer. “Okay, ready when you are Gridley."

“Gridley?"

“Never mind. I'll explain later." She pressed the injector against the side of Yolaja's neck and triggered it. There was a soft puff of air as the sedative flowed into the youngling's body.

The Kerachaw pulled out two chairs that were recessed into the base of the medical bed. He sat across from Jillian and reached up, putting one hand on either side of her head. “When you feel me in the back of your mind, nod, and I will connect you to Yolaja's thoughts." He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and let it out. Moments later she could feel the comforting presence of the alien hovering firmly somewhere in the depths of her mind. She nodded once…. CONTACT!

* * * *

The first thing Jillian saw was a wide, arching plain dotted with structures, many grouped together in the form of small towns. Others, isolated, surrounded by open land that had the patchwork appearance of farmland. She looked towards the horizon and saw it curve above her like some crazed combination of a fantasy and surrealist painting.

The landscape continued arching upward until directly above her head. A single, modest sized river meandered towards the horizon curving with the interior of the sphere. It eventually emptied into a lake which then served as a source for the same river as it repeated its track, away, down and back to where it flowed past Jillian's view. Distance was difficult to measure, but she guessed the sphere's apex was perhaps ten miles above her head. She knew this was the World ship of the Xan-chaw. Unlike her previous visits, it was intact and pristine. It almost seemed to shine in the glow of an artificial sun that rested at the center of the sphere's interior. Six strong but delicate-looking arches reached upward from the ground to hold it in place.

Jillian looked around to gain some perspective. She saw she was standing on the balcony of a large structure that looked like a cross between a government building and a cathedral that properly belonged in the 23rd century. Realizing she was wearing a human body, she focused, and with Bob's help changed into a female Kerachaw. The illusion came complete with a simple, yet formal dress. It helped her fit in better with the environment. She did not want to frighten the youngling when she talked to her.

She felt the alien whispering in her mind. “The garb you wear is that of a royal matron, in this case a doctor. You should be able to interact with any of the dream images that Yolaja may have conjured and convey an aura of authority."

“Do you recognize this memory?"

“To an extent. It's roughly her 11th birthday, but from her perspective. It was the last time I saw her before departing on my scouting mission." Bob's voice took on a soft, melancholy tone, then firmed up. “I believe she is even now resting in her room for the grand celebration later this evening."

The Kerachaw passed on a series of directions that would lead Jillian to his niece's quarters. She pursed her lips for a moment, then calmly walked across the balcony and into the Xan-chaw “castle." The hallway she found herself in was both simple and grand at the same time. A running pattern of stylized frescos lined the walls depicting various images that tied into the history of Bob's people. She turned left and walked along the corridor, passing an occasional guard or servant running errands.

At one point she came across an alcove containing what looked like a gold and brass orrery. She stopped to examine it for a moment. “What is this?" she asked the Kerachaw.

“A model of our original home world," he replied softly in her head. “The center orb represents our sun. The fifth small planet from its center is where we come from"

“What about the three small spheres branching off from that?"

“They represent the three World ships we built to escape the Great Devastation."

“Devastation?"

“Our sun began emitting an unknown kind of radiation that made our home world uninhabitable. Long story short, we built our World ships with the help of the Dream Walkers… pardon, I mean the Kukulkan and left. That was more than 900 of your years ago."

“So, Yolaja was right there are other groups of your people out there, somewhere in the Galaxy."

“Perhaps… but we lost contact with the other two World ships over 500 years ago. We don't really know where they are or what happened to them. But that's another story for another day. At the moment, we have to focus on helping my niece."

Jillian nodded to herself and refocused on reaching Yolaja's chambers. Two left turns, a short walk down yet another corridor and the human found herself in front of an ornate door. There were no guards on the door, so she listened briefly hoping to hear a familiar voice. Instead, she heard what sounded like several young voices, nickering back and forth.

Carefully, she opened the door and looked in. Two older Kerachaw, possibly siblings, were standing over Yolaja nickering as they brushed both the youngling's fur and mane. Jillian couldn't quite understand the words they were speaking, but it was obvious that the older pair must close to the younger girl.

One of them looked up and almost dropped her curry brush. “Oh! Good light to you Matron." She simultaneously raised her other hand and made a gesture with two of her fingers curled in and her thumb and fore finger pressed together and straight. A quick mental nudge from Bob allowed her to duplicate the gesture.

“And to you," Jillian returned.

“Be careful," the Kerachaw warned. This is Yolaja's dream and despite appearances it's fully under her influence. She probably isn't aware of who you are or her waking up on Earth. Right now, she's an 11-year-old youngling celebrating her birthday. Distract her and play along with the dream while I try to tap into her mind and find a way to connect with her implant."

Jillian looked at the trio and smiled. “Helping your sister with preparing for the banquet?"

“Yes, t'ey are!" Yolaja turned, looking at her with a happy smile. “I helped t'em on t'eir birt'day, now it's t'eir turn."

The human nodded, quietly wondering what kinds of sibling exchange she might have missed out on being an only chilld.

“You were an only child?" asked the elder of the two sisters.

Oops! Jillian focused on her thoughts and tried to tighten up on them. She couldn't afford to let her thinking stray… not here, not now.

“Yes, but I did have lots of friends," she replied. That helped make up for it somewhat.

Yolaja nodded. “Friends are important."

The human looked at the two older siblings. “I was wondering if I could borrow your sister for a few moments."

The two older Kerachaw stood and bowed their heads gracefully. “Of course, matron. Use whatever time you need. My sister and I will wait outside until you are done." With that they glided regally out of the room, closing the door behind them.

The youngling looked up at Jillian, a tiny look of apprehension on her face. “T'is wouldn't be about my studies, would it?"

Dr. Strathern smiled softly. “Now, what kind of matron would I be if I were to bring up your studies on your birthday?" The girl gave a soft sigh of relief.

“I was afraid it might be. My teachers have become a lot more focused on my studies since my telepathic potential was measured. The doctor told J'ama I might be an acceptable Vu-T'eel candidate." The girl paused for a moment, a look of both pride and nervousness on her face. One hand flew up and covered her mouth. “I was not supposed to tell anyone t'at yet.

“Don't worry," The pseudo-matron replied with a conspiratorial smile. “I didn't hear you say anything." The youngling nickered lightly. “Does the idea frighten you?" Jillian asked.

Yolaja shrugged. “Not really… I mean I'm only t'ird in line for t'e matriarchy, so becoming a Vu-T'eel is not an issue. I am just not sure it is what I want."

“I would not worry. You are still young. There's plenty of time to make those kinds of decisions later." It was hard for the human to keep a note of bitterness out of her thoughts.

“Careful," warned Bob. “Your emotions are leaking."

“Then please hurry up… blocking your presence out while guarding my own mind is giving me a headache."

“I'm doing the best I can… better than I could have done without your help. I'm past the implant's main firewall and accessing its control…" The Kerachaw's thoughts suddenly cut out.

A strange expression suddenly washed across Yolaja's face. “Uncle?" she muttered.

“I understand he will be at the banquet. Maybe you can ask him about what it's like being a Vu-Theel?"

“Maybe," the youngling said absent-mindedly. “I just thought I heard him a moment ago."

“You are probably thinking about him," Jillian offered. “I understand he's often busy with his duties."

The young Kerachaw smiled broadly. “Yes… I have not seen him in a long time. I hope he likes what we are having."

“What is it?" the human asked lightly.

“My new favorite food, chickens-too…" Yolaja suddenly froze. “What is chickens-too?" The expression on her face became both confused and frightened. “Is this a dream?" she muttered to no one in particular.

As Jillian watched the entire world around them shimmered and began to fade. In seconds the youngling grew a year older. The party dress she had been wearing was replaced by a more formal gown that was ripped, shredded and blood-stained. Bruises and burns appeared all across her body, especially in the region of her face. Her eyes became empty. Yolaja dropped to her knees as tears began flowing down her cheeks.

The human looked around to find she and the youngling were now surrounded by an evil-looking group of aliens she knew as the Destroyers.

“Oh, HELL NO!" she growled aloud.