Free Awakening on Orbis by P. J. Haarsma Page A

about the proper response, but at least I had his attention.
    “What would you like to know?” he asked carefully.
    He was stalling. I could feel it.
    “Have there ever been other Tonats?”
    “Of course.”
    “Is the Tonat always a sibling of the Scion?”
    Drapling got up and slid along a narrow table near the back of the room. I watched as he lifted a thin carafe and poured an opaque liquid into a fragile fluted glass. He placed the glass on the table before answering me. I knew this entire charade was just a way to give him time to think about his answer.
    “That is hard to say,” he finally responded.
    “Well, is it a condition of their relationship?”
    “We are all connected in more than one way, Johnny. Even you and I are connected within this universe. OIO tells us —”
    “Just answer the question, please,” I interrupted.
    “I am confused as to the point of your question. I should inform you that I have not met any other Scions. Your sister is my first. A Scion is a rare and extraordinary individual, but unfortunately most do not live long. Your species has destroyed many.”
    “You mean humans?”
    Drapling nodded but said no more. I think he was waiting for my response to his doomsday claim, but I didn’t take the bait. “Not every Scion has found his or her Tonat in time. I believe Ketheria is unique in having a Tonat who is also her brother, although you seem indifferent to her safety.”
    “I care for my sister more than you know. Tell me more about this
connection.
”
    “You must be feeling it now. You became sick as the awakening started, did you not?”
    “I did.”
    “See? And your movements through space and time, despite being so unorthodox, are, I am convinced, also connected to your relationship to the Scion. As her awakening continues and as you move closer to your destiny, I am convinced this little anomaly will disappear.”
    “How is that possible?”
    “You are connected to her like no other creature in this universe. You feel her pain and sense her danger. This will grow stronger as the awakening continues. You cannot escape this. A Tonat is burdened with all the pain the Scion experiences. You are like a valve that releases this pressure so that she may live in the light and bring harmony to the universe. You, in turn, must use this pain to protect her. You must fashion this energy as a soldier fashions a weapon. It is your greatest strength. That is why you are feared. As the Scion grows and takes on the pain of all those suffering in the universe, so, too, does your power grow. The longer the Scion lives, the more feared you become. This pain and suffering will strengthen you and allow you to do what others cannot. Feel her, sense her, think like her. There is not a Space Jumper in the universe that will protect your sister as you will. You and the Scion are connected like no other individuals in this universe.”
    “But
how
did this happen, Drapling? Who made this connection? I’m certain not every brother and sister has this kind of connection.”
    Drapling sat the glass down, but did not respond — again.
    “Drapling, tell me how this happened. Please!”
    “You may want to sit down,” said a voice from the door. I spun around to find Theylor entering the room. He extended his arm toward the chair. “Please, sit,” he said. “I believe the answer to your question might not please you.”

I slept straight through the next two cycles. My head was so full, I couldn’t hold it up, anyway. I spent the first diam of the third cycle simply staring at the ceiling. Ketheria came to visit me while I was awake, but I pretended to be asleep. I figured her telepathy would give me away, but she let me be, all the same. Even Queykay left me to myself, but there was nothing unusual about that.
    I finally got up and washed. Moments later I heard a soft tapping at my door.
    Go away,
I thought
    When I didn’t answer, they did go away. I had already made my decision about what