A New World

[kihaku]

"You worry too much. You're a very good storyteller."

"Well thank you Jayne, you're very kind." I smiled, my sentiments honest.

"Actually, you seem like you could talk about your world and your people for quite a while."

'That's true, I mean... what else was there to talk about back home?'

"You're very knowledgeable. Does everyone from Earth know so much about... well, everything, or were you a scientist back on Earth? Or a historian?"

I shook my head, "I appreciate your compliments, but the fact of the matter is quite simple. My people were just barely learning the limits of splitting the atom. We've not even sent astronauts to the planets nearest to Earth yet. Technologically and astronomically speaking, we're like new-borns.

The reason I seem to know so much about my planet, its people, and its history, is because there's nothing else to learn. Our planet is all we have, so all we learn is our past, our present, so that maybe we can learn where we're heading."

She began speaking about her planet and her people, and the simplest thing I could say was also the most encompasing and accurate. "It sounds... perfect." She mentioned something about "kinetics," and it caught my attention, more so than the philosophies of her planet.

"Are your people familiar with psychokinesis as well?"

"I've never heard of 'psychokinesis,' but it sounds like 'telekinesis.' It is what my people believe to be the mental, or psychic, manipulation of objects without physical contact. As of yet, unproven and unseen on my planet."

[Jayne]

"...Really?" One could tell that an idea had popped into Jayne's head, even though she tried her best to hide it. Ah, screw it. "Is your telekinesis something like... well... this?" She extended her right arm, pointing at Brandon with an open palm facing downward. She tried her best to be gentle, but, just in case her new friend was easily frightened, she Suggested him to stay calm and relaxed, a kind smile reassuring him just in case.

Perhaps he wouldn't realize the gesture right away, but sooner or later the young Human would register that he was in fact floating several inches above the ground, otherwise his posture or position was undisturbed. After several seconds of hovering, the Psychokinetic set him back down on the ground, giving him ample time to gather his thoughts and make any comment he would before speaking. "That is the most basic external manifestation. It's what all Luukas children usually start with when beginning Psychokinesis training. The powers can vary greatly, depending on the user, as can the force behind them. If a basic Psyschokinetic can make a large stone levitate, those who have spent more time listening to The All and acclimating themselves..." She then realized that their philosophy and the nature of Psychokinesis wasn't familiar to Brandon's kind, so her words would make little sense. "Ok, see, thing is Psychokinesis does not... it is not our own power. While most everyone has a certain aptitude, a limit which his Psychokinesis cannot overcome, but it still does not stem from us individually. We are more like... a channel, a conduit through which The All realizes itself."

She tried her best, energetic gestures and all, but Jayne had never been much of a teacher, at least not when it came to academics. "...Is this making ANY sense to you?" She looked at Brandon with a doubtful expression.

[kihaku]

She seemed genuinely surprised that humans had no experience with telekinesis. It occured to me that, as it was an integral part of her culture, it would only natural for her to be confused to find a people who knew nothing of its use. "Is your telekinesis something like... well... this?"

At first she seemed only to be pointing at me, but after a few seconds I could feel myself floating. It wasn't unsteady, I didn't feel as if I was in danger of falling over, but it was still disconcerting to think that someone other than myself had control over my body. I maintained my composure, but I still couldn't help but smile in a little excitement. This was proof-positive that psychic ability was available to humanoids; still, even though it didn't necessarily mean anything for Humans, it still sent a tingle down my back.

She set me down, "Good times, good times."

She then proceeded to try and explain the mechanics of her power to me, and, granted, I didn't understand all of it, but I was following well enough. "...Is this making ANY sense to you?" I nodded.

"There is a power in the universe that works behind the scenes, and your people can channel it in ways that allow you to do things you wouldn't normally be able to do." This would probably surprise her that I could follow that much, but it was increadibly reminiscent to a legend familiar to all the people of my planet. Though I didn't truly understand it all, I could wrap my head around it and accept it.

[Jayne]

Jayne was glad that someone with no experience (prior to this, of course), insight or knowledge of the Luukasian beliefs could grasp the essence and idea of Psychokinesis with such ease, and it showed in her wide smile. "You're pretty amazing, you know?" She chuckled to herself, but it broke out into the open a little. "You know, you're a great representative for your race. You should be an ambassador of your people. You have the knowledge, the stature and the charm for the job. Really!"

She liked this place, and she enjoyed Brandon's company a lot, she really did, but accomplishing her mission would be difficult if she spent all her time sitting and talking. Perhaps finding out more of this... Dragonia would be of use. Well, judging logically, it should. "Well.. you've been more than informative about Earth and Humans... But what about here? What about Dragonia? Is there anything you can tell me about this place and its peoples? I'm sorry if it seems like I'm using you as an encyclopedia... but I've just been raised not to let opportunities fly by..." She really was feeling a bit guilty about constantly asking Brandon questions, and there was nothing she could really do in turn for him.

Listening attentively to whatever he had to say, Jayne was silent, and she kept the silence a while after he was done, mentally approaching her predicament from all sides. Well... there are no instructions for doing what she had to do... there is no known target, no goal except the end result of returning home... Basically, one must follow his or her destiny. Jayne had been staring at the ground for the last minute or two, but now she turned her head and looked at the face of her only acquaintance on this planet. Destiny... huh? "Are you..." Don't be stupid, you couldn't ask him. She quickly broke eye contact. "are you busy with... I don't know... anything in particular?" Now you did it. Follow through, dolt! "I was just thinking that we're both... you know... strangers here... we might as well..." She finally looked into Brandon's eyes again. "We might as well travel together. No?"

[kihaku]

"You're pretty amazing, you know?"

"I- uh, really?" I was somewhat unsure of how to take that. On the one hand, it could have very well been a sincere compliment. On the other, it could be like my friends and family that mean it in a somewhat different way. "Thanks."

"You know, you're a great representative for your race. You should be an ambassador of your people. You have the knowledge, the stature and the charm for the job. Really!"

'She thinks I'm charming, knowledgeable, just nail sexy or funny, and I'm in.' Of course, I couldn't help but laugh at myself, though I averted my eyes to make it seem as if I was more embarrassed than anything else. "I appreciate that, I really do." She then asked me to explain to her about Dragonia, a subject I knew very little about.

"I'm sorry if it seems like I'm using you as an encyclopedia... but I've just been raised not to let opportunities fly by..."

I shook my head in protest. "No no, not at all. If I was in your position, I would ask as many questions as possible. In fact," a funny little thought stuck in my mind, "I was in your position, just last night. I've been on this planet for less than what I believe to be less than twelve hours."

"I showed up late at night, got caught up in some... really weird times, got here and immediately fell asleep. All I really know is we're on an island continent known as Metapha, and to the east on the mainland is a cold, mountainous region known as Bedoe." I gave a small snirk, "If you think it's chilly here, lemme put it this way: when water falls from the sky, it falls in icy flakes."

"Are you..." She had seemed to be considering my words and her thoughts carefully, so when she began, I paid close attention.

"Are you busy with... I don't know... anything in particular?"

"No, not really."

"I was just thinking that we're both... you know... strangers here... we might as well..." She looked into my eyes, and for a moment I seemed to have misplaced my mind.

"We might as well travel together. No?"

To which, I replied, with a shrug, "Why not? Alien planet? Beautiful girl? How could I pass this chance up?"

I blinked and activated my Sight, unknowing of the effect it had on my eyes. With my iris suddenly changed in a fraction of a second from brown to bright red. My eyes slid over to my jacket, and with a wave of my hand, changed the Gravity immediately to Kinetic, drawing the garment into the air and towards me. I had the impression that, to Jayne, it would appear as if I too had this mind-moving power, but I thought to myself, 'Meh, I'll just play it off mysteriously. Maybe it'll work in my favor.'

I stood, looked at her, blinked, and my eyes and vision returned to normal with a smile. "So, which direction shall we go?"

[Jayne]

"Why not? Alien planet? Beautiful girl? How could I pass this chance up?"

Jayne gave Brandon a slightly quizzical look, before gathering that it had been a compliment and smiling shyly and gasping in surprise when she saw Brandon do something to his eyes and making his jacket float. "Hey! I thought Humans weren't Psychokinetic!" Yet a split-second later she noticed the mistake of her own words. Brandon still gave off no sign of Psychokinesis, scope as she tried, there was no sense of flow within him. At least none that she could grasp. "But you're not... are you?"

However, before Brandon could make any meaningful reply, Jayne interrupted him (seemed to be a habitual thing), jumping to her feet and stretching sleepily. "You know, all this sitting around is making me sleepy. Mind if we walk and talk?" She smiled sweetly (it usually helped), and finally answered the question Brandon had asked a short while ago.

"Which way? I'm not sure. Which way is warmer?" she answered with a wide, bright grin.

[kihaku]

"You know, all this sitting around is making me sleepy. Mind if we walk and talk?"

She smiled at me again and, like the sucker I am, I simply shrugged and made a motion for her to lead the way. She seemed to enjoy exercising those muscles in her face, and knowing she came from a race that seemed to thrive in times of war, I felt sure that she rarely had the chance to use them. It seemed a shame too, she had such a beautiful smile, one of the best I'd seen in a long time. I suppose what I liked about it the most, was that it was friendly and a little trusting. A friend in any time is good, and I certainly felt like I could use one.

"Which way? I'm not sure. Which way is warmer?"

I thought about it for a second, then decided to put what I recalled about the Earth to good use.

"Well, I'm not entirely sure how alike Dragonia is to Earth, but if they bear any kind of resemblance, then we should hit warmer climates further south near what should be the equator."

I put my hands in my pockets and started walking at a leisurely pace by Jayne's side, and we traveled in a companionable silence for a few moments, no particular destination in mind. Off in the distance, I could see what looked like a small forrest, and I wondered what it would be like for Jayne to experience something as full of life as a forrest.

"So, since we'll be enjoying our company together, did you have any more questions? Considering we don't really know anything about one another or share the same customs and inhibitions, I promise I won't be offended by anything you ask."

[Jayne]

Jayne couldn't hold back her giggle when Brandon inquired about her curiosity. "I don't know about Humans and their customs, but when a Luukasian... well, at least when I say something like that, it usually indicates that I am actually rather curious about something myself, but I don't want to be nosy and try to get the other person to ask something first, thus liberating myself from any potential embarrassment. Would that be the case this time?" Jayne gave Brandon a sly look and a suppressed smile.

"If you want to ask anything about me or my people, you go right ahead!" She winked, trying to give Brandon an unmistakable heads-up. She wouldn't want him to feel in any way restricted around her. It was a thing about Psychokinetics, they could always tell when a person is acting unnaturally, forcing a personality change in themselves to seem more appropriate to the person or people they were currently interacting with. It had always made Jayne feel uncomfortable.

There was, however, indeed a burning question that she had to know the answer to, and it was eating away at her mind with every second that it left unanswered. "What WAS that power? How did you make your jacket float up? At first I thought it was Psychokinesis but..." She pondered for a moment on how to phrase it better, reminding herself that it was not a fellow Psychokinetic she was speaking to. "The energy did not have the distinct signature of Psychokinesis. It FELT different... to me." As much as history and culture truly interested her, it was the supernatural and unusual that most captivated Jayne's fascination. Right now she saw that in Brandon, and she was all ears.

[kihaku]

"Oh don't worry, if I ever have something on my mind to ask, I will. Heh," I smirked in spite of myself, my memories slipping for a brief moment, "Back home, my lack of inhibitions would often get me in trouble."

I blinked a few times, bringing myself back to the present. Even if I had something on my mind, and I really wanted to ask it, I sort of believed Jayne would know about it.

"What WAS that power? How did you make your jacket float up? At first I thought it was Psychokinesis but... the energy did not have the distinct signature of Psychokinesis. It FELT different... to me."

"Well..."

'Try to weasel your way through this one, smartass.' I shook my head once, then took a deep breath.

"On my planet, our scientists, only a few hundred years ago, discovered 'energy,' as it exists in the universe. The energy that makes an object move, that creates heat, makes sound, light, even holds the basic building-blocks of reality together." I had unconsciously started to slow down, beginning to talk equally with my words and my hands. "And... my people put them into categories. We've got the energies of Motion and Potential."

I started to slow down a little more, quickly bending over and picking up a small stone amongst the grass. "Now, I don't know exactly how I'm able to do it, because I have never heard of anyone with this same power. But what I seem to be able to do is mentally change the way I see the world, then change the energy around me from one kind to another. Here, watch."

I stopped and turned towards her, holding the stone in the palm of my hand, and I blinked, activating my Sight so that I could better explain things to her.

"Now, I know your people are able to send you across the stars, so I'll assume you know about gravity. What I can see, right now, is a sort of... gray aura around the stone, flowing around it and looking as if it's holding it in place. I can actually see the normally invisible energy acting the stone."

I concentrated a little on what I wanted, and began to see it manifest.

"What I'm doing is just... thinking about making the stone float. What I'm seeing is the gray starting to turn teal around the edges, which means..."

I slowly lowered my hand, and the stone remained in place. "I've converted some of the Potential gravitational energy action on the stone into an equal amount of Kinetic Motion energy. They are working against each other, equal and opposite, to keep the stone in place. Now, if I were to completely convert the Gravity to Motion..."

As soon as I said that, the stone gave the slightest of shivers before shooting off into the sky, soon out of sight. I smiled at how well I was able to control my power, while trying to hold back my shame at the knowledge that it could very possibly hit someone later.

I blinked, and my vision reverted back to normal. I waited for Jayne to say something, since I knew it was a lot to take in at once.

[Jayne]

Jayne little but scratched her head as Brandon explained the quite obviously technically complex workings, essence of his extraordinary power. Her mind became slightly weighed down, as it tried its best to digest the new terms and ideas it was being fed by this strange, charming and most definitely smart young man. It was getting constipated, as made evident by Jayne's furrowed brow and deep, contemplative facial expression.

There was half a minute of silent movement forward and meditation on the more technical aspects of the universe, before the young Psychokinetic came to an important deduction. "I really don't understand all that," she said with a silly smile, her tongue sticking out between her white teeth. "But, you know," she didn't want Brandon to feel bad about it, "the way you made that stone fly away was really amazing! I wish I could do something like that." Truth of the matter was, despite all her talent, as remarked by many peers, Jayne was just a beginner in the ways of Psychokinesis. This journey she was on was as much about finding one's place and purpose in life and the Cosmos, as learning to become more of a part of the All and honing one's Psychokinesis to the point where it becomes an inseparable part of one's being.

"Are such extraordinary powers common among your people? With us Luukasians, well, nearly all of my people have some extent of Psychokinesis. I guess it's a... umm... racial trait. Is it the same for you and... your people?"

There was one more question that simply demanded asking and would not let up. It was something Jayne was probably just as curious about, if not more. "And... err... can you change your eyes to other colors as well?" It's a girl thing?

[kihaku]

"I really don't understand all that..."

'Good going, dorkus. You really don't ever make any sense, do you?' I berated myself mentally, though I kept a calm expression on my face to hide my deep embarassment and disappointment. Not at her, of course, more at my ineffectiveness.

"But, you know,"

"Hmm?"

"The way you made that stone fly away was really amazing! I wish I could do something like that."

I gave an exhasperated chuckle. Through all of my explanation, which was indeed quite boring in retrospect, the only thing worthwhile was definitely the stone disappearing into the aether.

"Thanks, I'm glad I could entertain you, if only briefly."

"Is it the same for you and... your people?"

"Quite the opposite, really," I shrugged and put my hands into my pockets, resuming our trek at an easy stride towards the small grove of trees in the distance, "I have no idea where these powers came from. Still, I haven't met a single person on this planet that doesn't have a power, so I'm left to assume that it has something to do with either the planet itself, or the region of space-time we occupy. Very Twilight Zone, but I'm not complaining."

"And... err... can you change your eyes to other colors as well?"

I looked at her with a confused expression, not quite following her, for at the time I had no idea what exactly happened when I activated my Sight.

"Uhhm, no, as far as I know brown is all I got."

[Jayne]

"Uhhm, no, as far as I know brown is all I got."

Blink. Now, Jayne was by no means a high-brow intellectual. The schooling system of the Luukasians put very little emphasis on straight-up academics, opting for a more spiritual, philosophical and practical approach to learning, where young Luukasians are tought about the All and the One, about morals and ethics amongst vastly different societies and races and, of course, proper combat and initiate Psychokinetics training. History was also an important subject (Jayne's teacher always said: "To foresee your future, you must comprehend your past."), but it was rather close to the morals and ethics study. And yet, despite her relatively small knowledge of the more technical workings of this world, she knew how to put two and two together.

If Brandon's abilities had revealed themselves recently and he did not know that his eyes changed color, and they just happened to change color at the moment that he used his ability... Then he must be a shape shifter!

No, wait...

His eye color changes, depending on whether or not he uses his ability! Yes! Score! Now, to relay this vital information to whom it might concern.

"Actually, the color of your eyes changed to red when you blasted that stone off. I just thought you might want to know."

The sun was sinking into the horizon.

[kihaku]

The fallen evening had been mercifully as warm, if not warmer, than the preceeding afternoon. Jayne and I had reached the grove of trees, and it turned out to be more of a small forrest than anything else. The trees were a species I didn't recognize, which wasn't saying much considering I wasn't much of a botanist anyway.

We hadn't said much upon arrival, the light comment giving way to my digging deep into my memories to build a fire. My days as a Boy Scout were coming back to me, slowly of course, but came the did, and in no time (with a little manipulation of heat) I had a tidy little fire giving off light, warmth, and a sense of comfort unlike anything else. Except maybe a loaded shotgun in your hands, and even then it's a close race.

I was laying on my back, head resting against my jacket which I was using as a make-shift pillow. My skin would raise in goosebumps every now and then from the warmth and eerie sense of contentment, but for the most part I was pleased to just stare alternately at the bright stars, the fire (which would curiously flare bright green from time to time), and sneaking peeks at Jayne to try and gauge her mood.

I've always found myself at-ease in the presence of girls, no matter their size, strengths, colors, or ethnic backgrounds, so long as they were polite and intelligent in conversation. I had few real friends, more than half of them happened to be girls, but there wasn't one that I could say that I would really date. Two lived whole states away, one was in a relationship, and the others just never seemed quite my type for a relationship. That's not to say I'd never dated before, just none ever seemed to really stick.

'Whoa there killer, think that through.' Of course, my inner-monologue had gotten away from me, and I was forced to correct myself. Jayne and I had only just met, literally, and who knew what kind of person she was really like? Sure, she seemed nice enough, but if push came to shove, could she become a danger to me, a near-perfect stranger? It would be nagging me in the back of my mind, a possible romantic escape on an alien planet with powers almost God-like under my command, but for now I would just have to keep my mouth in-check and try not to flirt with her.

'You wouldn't know flirting if it danced naked in front of you.' Yeah, that was true too.

"So, I can only guess it's near eight o'clock where I'm from, if this planet increadbily happens to have a twenty-four hour day. I was hoping to ask you a bit more about your planet, if you didn't mind."

I adjusted my jacket under my head, and thought about my question before I asked it.

"War isn't an accepted practice on my planet, but everyone seems to have some kind of opinion whenever small civil wars break out in the smaller nations. I'm not particularly keen on fighting myself, but history does interest me. You said the Luukasians have an enemy which you've fought against in a good number of World Wars.

I'm sure it's a long story, but I've got nothing but time. What can you tell me about this stuff?"

[Jayne]

Jayne pondered the history of her people and their numerous violent interactions with the Ja'Earnes... She looked at Brandon and shrugged apologetically. "Truth be told, there's not all that much to tell. I could go into the specific years and eras of combat, but not much differentiates them from the savage wars before them." Even though fighting was what she and her people did best, Jayne had never exalted bloodshed that could be avoided as anything honorable or admirable.

"As I've mentioned before, Quigon isn't the most hospitable of homeworlds. It is a harsh planet with relatively few properly habitable areas, especially back in the Blind Age, as our historians called it, back when a tent made of pit lizard skins was considered 'modern technology'. Despite the harsh, some might say cruel nature of Quigon, or maybe exactly because of it, the native races, once learning to gather together, began multiplying, growing in number rapidly."

There was a pause as Jayne flipped through the pages and files of history that remained in her mind from all those lessons. "No doubt there were inter-racial skirmishes during those times, but because of the lack of writing, at least any that's survived to this time, we don't know much at all about the age, as precise time accounting begins only with the end of the Blind Age, along with the invention of writing." Unwittingly Jayne made gestures with her hands as she spoke, mostly staring blankly forward and only seldom glancing at her new comrade.

"The Ja'Earnes were the first to begin writing, but it was my people that began chronicling first. The very oldest document known was, funnily enough (in a grim, unfunny way) a contract for weapons manufacturing between a general and a blacksmith." Though she would never disparage or dishonor her heritage, Jayne always felt a slight ache when reflecting upon the through-and-through militant nature of the Luukasians. "The very first chronicled point in time signifies also the first known war of Quigon. It was between my people, the militaristic (we had a well-organized army long before the same could be said of any form of government) Luukasians and the extremely populous and technologically proficient Ja'Earnes."

She had to think hard before deciding what to say next. "Things... things went pretty linear from then on, judging from the information we've gathered at this point. From the seven "intelligent" species, the Ja'Earnes and Luukasians were always dominant and never hid their aggression towards one another. Large-scale disputes arose over the smallest things at times (one source tells of a war that was started simply because the Ja'Earnes' ambassador did not appreciate the Luukasian food), and the other races, less confident and stable had little choice but to pick a side. I guess war is our blood.

The constant fighting over millennium served as a stimulant for technology unlike any other, and I'm not just talking about weapons. All kinds of inventions that helped raise the quality of life for those staying at home. Interesting how that works, isn't it?" It was a bit of a rhetorical question, but she gave Brandon a moment to think about it anyway, giving it some seconds of thought herself.

"Things pretty much went on like that without much change, 45 of the 47 known World Wars happened in the Dark Age... until came the breaking point. It is when my people see the end of the Dark Age and the beginning of the age we live in now. We call this the Age of Wake, for we have awoken to The All and to The One." Jayne was beginning to realize that her journey to another world had taken a toll on her mind, as her storytelling grew more incoherent by the minute. She'd have to finish things quickly before she made a complete fool of herself before Brandon.

"We also consider it the Age of Wake because both of our races, the Luukasians and the Ja'Earnes seemingly awoke from their pointless bloodlust and realized that a peaceful coexistance was far more beneficial for everyone. Not to mention it had taken a terrible toll on Quigon itself. Over the course of a millenia and a half, meaning to this day, there were only two major wars, and they happened for good reason. But both times my people have come out on top." She was lucky this was the best part, or Brandon would be terribly unimpressed. She glanced at him casually just to check if he hadn't fallen asleep.

The first of the two wars we call the War of Might. It was the first war that Psychokinetics played a large part in, and the recently discovered abilities proved instrumental in our victory over the technologically and numerically superior Ja'Earnes.

The second great conflict, the War of Light (hey, I didn't name them!) was much tougher a battle, as the Ja'Earnes used their ingenuity to counter our Psychokinetics, but we still prevailed, thanks to this." Jayne stretched her arm forward with an open palm, and a small cylindrical object flew into her grasp from its position at her waist. The Luukasian gave a slightly smug smile and suddenly a blade of light appeared from the tip of her trusted partner, Lifesaver, making a very distinctive noise as it did, filling the air with its distinctive hum by simply being there.

Well, at least the end of her tale didn't suck all that much.

[kihaku]

My eyes were glued to her during the entire length of her speech. Normally, I wasn’t much of a history buff, usually forgetting details within five or ten minutes of hearing them. However, all of this information, all of this real history, read more like a science fiction novel than anything else. What fascinated me was the fact that all of this alien tradition existed! It was out there, somewhere, in that infinite starry expanse, a planet with all of these places and names and technologies.

I had been the perfect audience, turning towards her from the start, hanging on her every word, nodding and humming in understanding with each new concept being thrown my way. I didn’t find a single aspect of her story boring whatsoever, and when she brought out the cylindrical device and activated it, I literally jumped in my seat. It took only a few seconds for my realization and awe to overcome my surprise.

'No way... no way...'

I suddenly realized my jaw was hanging wide, so I snapped it shut with an audible clack of teeth. I slid closer, bringing my face as close as I dare to the weapon humming in front of me.

"That is beautiful!" I looked into her eyes, my excitement making me as giddy as a young boy finding the exact present he'd wanted under the tree. I gave a chuckle just for the sake of laughing before returning my eyes to her weapon.

"Besides the Aurora Borealis, I have never seen anything quite so remarkable! A limited beam of plasma activated, powered, and contained all within a single handle to create a weapon that can cut almost anything...”

She would probably be surprised that I seemed to know some of the basic mechanisms, so I looked at her with an excited smile. “Scientists on my planet have been dreaming about something like this. On my planet, there would be so many applications to such technology, your head would spin.”