Not Ready (Page 22)

~~~(POV: Eloise Mayer)~~~

~~~(Location: Mayer Ranch, Umatilla County, Oregon)~~~

~~~(Date, Time, Year: May 21st, 6:13 AM PST, 2022)~~~

~~~(Current Age: 38 years)~~~

The bombshell Naedra dropped on me yesterday morning has forced considerable sleep loss on me. She told me I didn't have to answer her until I reached a genuine conclusion regarding her monumental question.

Dannon is the very last of his kind. A trueborn and pureblooded Celaxian. Naedra said he wasn't required to start the process, but she wants him to be the genetic Father of the first generation of Celaxians.

It's both sweet and frightening to me. Her reasons were credited to how I've raised Dannon. My efforts to turn him into a compassionate and caring man.

"How am I supposed to answer that..."

It seems I'm spending my Saturday thinking about this request from Naedra. To her, Dannon, or as she refers to him, Jaecor, is at the proper age to start procreating in her words.

I suppose it's a natural progression... Dannon's biological parents sent him to Earth to save him. By extension, their people. It makes sense that the Celaxian race will be born again on Earth after a certain amount of time.

The truth is, I don't know what that means for humanity... For my race... A bunch of Celaxians flying around, clearly superior to humans. They'd be able to conquer the world in less than an hour.

Honestly, Dannon could do that now if he wanted to.

What happens when Celaxians of a poor variant start to appear? There are deviants and criminals in every society. I suspect that Celaxians had to deal with it at some point, too. Except on their planet, they weren't superpowered.

Only on Earth are beings with Celaxian biology given powers that make them seem like Gods. It's a dangerous mixture that I don't think I should be the one deciding.

"Why would she ask me if Dannon is ready... She should be asking him that..."

Maybe it's because I'm his Mom, and I know him better than anyone else in the world. This is beyond the wisdom of me or the wisdom of my son. Given that, I don't think he's ready. Nobody is prepared for the resurgence of an Alien race on Earth.

Especially one that'll surely dominate the native population. Be it through peace, conquest, or plain existence. If the Celaxian race were to come into being as more than just one person, it's only natural that humanity would fall under them.

Whether the Celaxians born on Earth wanted that to happen or not.

My attention turns to the half-finished plate of food in front of me. It's cold now. I made some food after waking up, but only getting a few hours of sleep left me drained to the point where I can only do one thing at a time.

Thinking about what happened yesterday is worth two things.

A sigh escapes my lips as I push the food away and lean back on the couch. Staring at the muted TV. It's a news segment talking about what's happening in Congress. In actuality, it's what's happening in Washington DC.

I lift the remote and press the unmute button. Allowing sound to emanate from the TV, only to hear something that further enforces that humanity isn't ready for the Celaxian race. They're barely accepting Dannon.

"There needs to be restrictions put in place for someone like Dannon. Where he should go, what he's allowed to do, and who he's able to help. It's only a matter of time before people afflicted in warzones call out for him."

There is a debate happening on PBS between a group of four people. Basically, there are two for Dannon and two against him. Dumbing it down for my sake cause making it complicated isn't in my best interests.

I'm a smart girl, but the political parties attached to these guy's names aren't something I really care to learn.

"You're forgetting there isn't anyone on Earth that can force Dannon to do anything. And we don't know if he's the only one of his kind. We don't even know where he comes from or what he is. He looks human, but he's not."

As much as I hate it, he's not wrong. No one outside Dannon and I know more than what he just brought up. It's only been a short time since my son appeared to the rest of the world. It'll be even longer before they know personal information about him.

The news has been eating everything Dannon does alive. It's been positive, negative, celebratory, and reprimanding.

It's overwhelming.

My son is so strong... But I'm not as strong as him... It's starting to get to me. Especially after what happened at my own ranch. If not for Dannon, I wouldn't have been allowed to leave.

Basically a prisoner in my own home...

"Oh, c'mon! You're making him look like some sort of Alien conqueror! If he wanted to take over humanity, why hasn't he done it already?! Think, use your head! He's not here to hurt, enslave, or rule us! That much is obvious."

A man on the side that supports my son goes against what the two opposing my son just brought up. I don't know how split the general population is. Or the government. Anything regarding votes and positions regarding my son's place hasn't been held yet.

It's something I definitely worry about, but I'm only a person living on a ranch. Sure, my son is this amazing being. I'm still human, though.

I guess that means I have to abide by the laws of my people. Not the ones my son says I shouldn't have to, thanks to him being who he is.

~~~(POV: Dannon Mayer)~~~

~~~(Location: Beach, Small Tropical Island, Caribbean)~~~

~~~(Date, Time, Year: May 21st, 9:23 AM EST, 2022)~~~

~~~(Current Age: 21 Years)~~~

The rising sun shines in the morning sky, and a nice breeze from the Caribbean Sea washes over the beach. Easing the heat temporarily. I'm never bothered by the weather, but the two girls on vacation are.

They're taking a break from tanning and the sun. Large umbrellas that I had to go fetch for them are currently shielding them from the sun's rays.

The tents worked wonderfully last night, and it's really refreshing sleeping somewhere away from all the troubles you're having to deal with. I know I've needed a break from the wider world, and my friends had made it clear they also needed one.

Gentle waves wash against my legs as I stand in the water with my fishing pole. I've been trying to catch food without having to use my powers. Sadly, we had to cook some steak last night over the fire.

It hurt my pride at not being able to catch something to eat more than I'll let on.

As I watch the line out in the water, I hear the sand behind me displace and my friend's increased heart rate. I can easily discern which of the two it is by how her heart beats.

"Want a hand out here? Cause it looks like you need one. You haven't caught anything since we got here."

Cassie's teasing and edging tone greets me from behind as her feet enter the water. Being the daughter of a fisherman, she'll naturally be better at catching fish with a fishing pole than me.

I've even cheated a little and used my telescopic and x-ray vision to see where the most fish are to cast the line.

Still hasn't worked.

"Ouch, talk about salting the wound there, Cassie."

All she does is let out a small giggle and finish her approach. Standing next to me and looking out into the ocean where the line is cast.

"Since you're so much better than me, why not show me how it's done?"

I lay down the challenge as I hand her the fishing pole. Cassie and I were very close at one point when we were younger. I'll not deny that I've grown apart from the two of them in my absence from their lives.

But now that I'm back in their lives, I should start trying to be who I once was to them. It's a little hard, given how beautiful they've grown.

I'm not a blind man; it's clear they are very attractive.

"Alright, but don't start crying when I wheel us in lunch."

She happily takes the fishing pole and reels in the line that's already out there. After a second, she moves to the other side of me and casts in a different location. I take a peek and see she's cast where there are no fish.

I want to say something, the desire to see a flustered and embarrassed Cassie stops me. It's a rare sight since her confidence is never something she's lacking.

After a few seconds, she gently wheels in the reel just a little. I can't hide my slight surprise as that slight movement from the bait and hook seems to draw in some of the fish. It's not long after that she's got something hooked.

It's a rather large fish, I don't know the name of it. She's instantly struggling to get the fish in since it's bigger than what she's used to catching.

Instead of letting her fight for it alone, I move behind her and grab onto the fishing pole too. Forcing my arms around her in the process. She takes this moment to lean back into my chest. My hands cover hers on the fishing pole.

Without saying a word to one another, the battle instantly turns in our favor as I start pulling and reeling in the fish. It doesn't take more than a few seconds to get the line in.

What greets us is a fish with a long sharp nose. I know there are several variants of this type of fish. I don't know what this one is specifically.

However, after I let go of the fishing pole, and there for Cassie. She turns around and looks at me. It's a look that I'd describe as one both enticing and warning me. Her hand lifts from her side, and I feel it on my chest.

She grabs a handful of my muscles and trails down to my abdomen, where my eight-pack lies.

"You have a mesmerizing body... It's hard not to touch..."

Her voice is slow and sultry. The slight redness in her cheeks isn't from embarrassment but from a rise her in blood pressure. My attention looks over her head and in the direction of the pair of umbrellas.

There, watching what's happening, is Nicole. She's leaning up, and has her eyes fulling on what's going on between Cassie and me.

"My biology is different than a human's. So that results in a physique such as mine. There is a lot of science and explaining to the in-depth description. So I won't bore you with it."

The eyes that have been soaking in my body turn to look into mine. The brilliant green of Cassie's eyes contradicts her long brunette locks. Then, as if realization falls on Cassie, she pulls her hand away and looks away.

"Sorry..."

Now she sounds embarrassed, but there is more shame in what she did than there is embarrassment. I'd normally say she should be ashamed; anyone should for grabbing someone without permission.

But it's not like I don't know Cassie. It's not like she isn't a friend. We're not strangers.

"I forgive you."

The tone of my voice is amused and teasing, causing redness to spread across her cheeks. Her eyes slightly widening at how I'm taking advantage of the situation to make her more embarrassed than she already was.

Well, it looks like I've got some reaction out of her that made this more memorable than it already is. I smile and walk past her to the large fish. Grabbing it by the tail and lifting it off the ground. It's longer than I am tall, so I'm forced to float off the ground.

It struggles and thrashes. It's a cruel way to go, suffocation. But it's suffering doesn't last long as I use my heat vision to remove its head. Cause instant death. As I bring it back to the fire pit for preparation, I turn to see that Nicole and Cassie are walking down the beach.

I'll not eavesdrop on what they're discussing. I have manners, and there are times I shouldn't use my powers.

This is one of them...

~~~(POV: Cassandra Freidman)~~~

~~~(Location: Beach, Small Tropical Island, Caribbean)~~~

~~~(Date, Time, Year: May 21st, 10:10 AM EST, 2022)~~~

~~~(Current Age: 21 Years)~~~

Nicole and I walk side by side down the beach. It's not a mystery as to why she's asked me to walk with her. My lapse in self-control brought this on. Showing her that I do indeed have feelings for Dannon as much as I want her not to see it.

She wasn't angry or upset when she asked me to walk with her. Only a solemness to her a voice. Depending on how you look at it, that could be worse. I'd prefer anger to depression from her.

As we get a good distance away, she takes a single breath. My nervousness only increases as the seconds tick by. And it proves to be the right reaction based on what she asks me next.

"You like him, don't you..."

It's not accusatory or confrontational, only in a tone I'd call acceptance. I have to look away from Nicole cause it feels like I'd be betraying her if I said yes...

"If I said that, I did... What would you say..."

That in itself is admitting to it, but it's a kinder way of doing so. At least, that's what I've discovered. In a move that surprises me, I feel a soft hand on my cheek. Turning my head to our eyes meet.

A soft smile greets me as I look at Nicole.

"It's about time you admitted it... It's okay, Cass... Dannon isn't taken, and I just got out of a long relationship. I'll admit it too. I like Dannon, love him even."

Tightness forms in my chest as her gentle words leave her lips. My battle to fight the tears from falling fails. At seeing the wet trails from my eyes begin, Nicole can't hold her own back.

"But I'm not ready for any type of relationship... So, if you want to pursue something with Dannon. You shouldn't be worrying about me. After what happened with Oliver, I've had to question a lot of things..."

I wish I could know what she's thinking about right now, but it's impossible. At this moment, I can't read her mind like I always can. A terrible time for my insight into her to disappear.

But it's not like I'm going to steal Dannon away. Even though she's essentially giving me permission to do what I want.

I take a breath and steel myself for any reaction that might come.

"I really like Dannon, and I'm going to pursue a relationship. If you decide you want him, you'll have competition in me."

That's when she takes on a surprised look, and regret finds its way into my head.