Earth Blend (4 page)

Flute: What is
happening?

Percone: Isn't it
obvious? She is about to give birth to that... thing.

Flute: Why is he
placing her in that vehicle?

Percone: He is
probably taking her to a hospital. That's where they go for their
needs.

Flute: He mustn't.
I need to be there when the child arrives.

The couple had
just pulled out of the driveway.

Percone:
Fine....

Percone sighed as
he brought his hand up slowly. The ground began to shake and
rumble. A few feet in front of the vehicle the ground rose upward,
forming a sizable mound. The car quickly backed up to avoid being
toppled over. Once the mound seemed to have stopped its ascent, the
male exited the vehicle. While he was distracted
examining
the mini mountain, Percone opened the
passenger door and placed his finger on Regina's lips encouraging
her to be quiet. He quickly lifted the woman and carried her off
into the woods. The Earthling had to stifle his laughter as he
listened to the frantic calls from the male as he searched for his
wife. Percone kept a steady whisper in her ear to keep her as quiet
as possible. Arriving at the cave Flute had been occupying, he
placed her on the dirt floor.

Percone: She is
all yours.

Regina let out a
loud yell as a powerful contraction radiated through her.

Flute: How does
the birthing occur?

Percone: Beats me.
I never cared enough to learn.

Another loud yell
escaped from the distressed woman's lips. "It's coming!"

Flute knelt down
next to her and placed his hands on her abdomen. He sent his
essence inside to see how he could help.

Flute:
Fascinating. The woman's body is moving the baby along and guiding
it towards her cervix.

Percone seemed
disinterested
as Flute spoke of the
process. He did, however, grin each time Regina moaned in pain.

"My water broke!"
the woman exclaimed as the fluid ran from her body. "It hurts."

As piercing
screams
emanated
from the mother, Flute
did what he could to hasten the baby's exit from her.

Flute: Percone,
please help. I'm going to push the child out. Be ready to receive
it.

Percone: You mean
I have to touch the thing?

Percone's face
grimaced in horror at the thought. Regina's eyes rolled back in her
head as her body began to convulse.

Flute: Percone! I
need you to do this. The fluid released is causing a reaction in
the mother. I must push this child out before it kills them
both.

Percone sighed
heavily before kneeling down.

Percone: Fine, go
ahead. I'll play catch.

Flute used his
abilities to guide the baby out of the woman's body. Percone did
his part and lifted the child up and away from the mother. The
infant began to cry in his arms. He was quite fascinated with the
tiny human-like creature.

Percone: Are you
sure it worked? It looks all human to me.

Regina's body lay
quiet and still. Flute removed his essence from her and reached for
the child. He used two fingers to sever the umbilical cord from the
infant. He scanned the crying child and relayed his findings to
Percone.

Flute: Yes, it has
worked. Thank you. I must get the child nourishment. I need you to
get me food a human child would eat.

Percone: No... Not
my concern. I've done all I was asked to do. The rest is up to
you.

Flute: I beg of
you, Percone. Once this child matures, it will be able to continue
my mission. I still need
assistance
until
then.

Percone: What
about the mother? Isn't that what they do?

Flute: She did not
survive. I need a caretaker for this child. If you cannot or will
not, please find me someone who will assist me.

Percone looked
down at the now deceased woman.

Percone: Give me a
minute. I'll get you someone.

Percone left the
cave and returned a short time later. Another Earthling, a female,
was by his side.

Percone: This is
Vena. She will help you in caring for that... thing.

Vena: That
thing
is a baby boy. He is precious. May I hold him?

Flute handed the
still crying child over to Vena. "Hey there little man. Shh... it's
okay." She cooed to the baby. She placed one of her fingers in his
mouth and the child began to suckle.

Flute watched in
fascination as the Earthling female calmed the newborn. Vena was a
striking woman. Tall, dark-skinned with short cropped dark hair.
Although her features were
chiseled
, her
eyes were a soft warm brown. She wore clothing, unlike Percone.

Vena pulled off a
shawl she had worn around her shoulders and wrapped the child in
it.

Vena: Nice of you
toads to have brought a blanket. We need to get this child cleaned,
clothed, and fed.

Percone: That's
your job now. I'm done.

Vena looked down
at the dead woman.

Vena: Was this
mom?

Flute: The birth
was
traumatic
for her.

Vena glanced
between the two creatures.

Vena: It's obvious
neither of you has any idea of what to do next. Flute, you and I
are going back to my place and we will get this child cleaned and
fed. Percone, you dispose of mom... properly.

Vena walked out of
the cave with the child. Flute looked questioningly at Percone.

Percone: Go with
her. She is a bit brash but will help you take care of... the
kid.

Flute: Thank
you.

Flute followed
after Vena

Percone looked
down at Regina. "I'm glad to be done with you." He made a sweeping
motion with his hands. The ground opened up and swallowed the
woman.

Vena had a small
cabin in a secluded part of the mountain. It was a perfect location
for Flute and the newborn blend. The baby grew slowly
physically
but excelled in speech and
comprehension
. As the child matured he was schooled in
human and alien heritage. As soon as the child was old enough,
Flute tested him for some of the more unique abilities. Gregg, as
they called him, had several key powers. He was a Healer, able to
heal himself and others. He had the Lure ability, able to draw
people to him. He was also a Blocker, able to block the Lure
ability from others. Flute was especially glad that the boy was a
Numera as well. It would allow him to see numbers like the race
winners, lock
combinations,
and most
importantly genetic code numbers. Gregg would able to carry on the
blending mission.

Flute and Vena
helped raise many Blends alongside of Gregg, although none of the
others had the Numera ability.

As years passed,
Gregg grew and was able to create many Blends. The mothers always
died during the births.

When it came
Flute's time to return to the home planet, he gave Gregg these
instructions: "We must build up a great number to help in the
battle to reclaim our planet. Unfortunately, the Numeras will be
few and far between. Be extra careful with them. They will play an
integral part in the battle to come. Keep them close. Use the
communications in the underground lab we've set up to keep in
contact with me. I shall return when the time to fight has come.
Our future lies in your hands."

"I understand,"
Gregg said.

So began the
Blends' habitation of Earth.

5. Gregg's
Story

Once Flute
returned to his planet, Vena decided it was time for her to go her
own way as well. "If you need anything, you know how to reach me.
Besides, Percone will be nearby." She glanced over at Percone, who
was leaning against the wall.

"If I do decide to
stick around, it will not be because I will be helpful to anything
even remotely human." Percone said.

Gregg smiled at
Percone. Even though Percone professed a hatred for humans, he had
become a good friend to the young man.

"If he misbehaves,
be sure to contact me," Vena said, giving Percone a glare.

Percone: Know that
when you leave, I intend to have a lot more fun.

Vena: I'm on to
you, Percone. I will check back from time to time and will alert
Suron should there be any misdoings.

Percone: I look
forward to it.

Gregg watched the
exchange between the two Earthlings. He knew they always talked in
thought with each other, especially when it was something they did
not want him to hear. "It's unfair to talk amongst each other while
I'm still in the room," Gregg said with a smile.

Vena turned back
to him. "I'm sorry, G. Sometimes that man can make me forget my
manners," she said, gesturing towards Percone, who made a
disgruntled grumble.

"I'll keep my eye
on him," Gregg assured her.

Percone laughed
loudly and headed out the door.

Vena just shook
her head. "Take care, G, and good luck on your agenda."

"Thank you, for
everything," Gregg said, hugging Vena. She had been like a mother
to him. He felt sadness as she left. She had given him so much,
including the cabin in which he resided.

The home was
quiet. Gregg started for the kitchen when he heard Percone's voice.
"I thought that bitch would never leave."

Gregg turned
around and grinned. "Hey, watch your mouth, that's my pseudo-mom
you are talking about."

"My apologies for
bringing her reign down on you then. I wanted nothing to do with
you when you were that crying, shriveled-looking thing."

"And now?"

"Now you are
fun... and you don't rag on me for playing with the humans.
Speaking of, ready to gather some more victims?"

"Victims?"

"Okay, fine. The
blend factory humans or whatever you call them."

"I call them
wonderful donors for a desperate cause," Gregg said, grinning. "I
do appreciate your help, but I have changed how I approach them.
You are welcome to join me, but it would require you to wear
clothing."

"Ugh, I've worn
those itchy and
uncomfortable
things once
or twice but prefer not to."

"I don't think
I've ever seen you wear them," Gregg said, laughing.

"Hopefully you
never will. I'm going to find my own humans to play with," Percone
said and gave a wave as he left the cabin.

Gregg smiled and
went to get something to eat before leaving on his mission. Flute
had taught him the importance of food for fuel whenever he used his
abilities. He freshened up and dressed for work. Working in a
clinic as an aide was
beneficial
for him.
This put him in direct contact with pregnant woman who visited the
clinic. It was located in a low-income area. Most of the pregnant
woman were single moms-to-be. Using his Lure ability he would
convince the moms to come home with him and allow him to enhance
their child. As with all the previous births, the mothers did not
survive. The newborns were sent to live with other blends that had
been created after him. Gregg kept up a steady rate of births.
Flute had left the breakdown of the
genetic
code. Within the code was the defined area
that the essence of each blend came from. Location on the Flutara's
planet was important for tracking where each child created was
from. It was hoped that one day the blends created could be united
with their Flutara parents of origin.
Gregg had
the blends call him by different names to keep track, depending on
the location from which the essence came
.
Names he used were similar in fashion
to Gregg, like Gordi, George, and the name Vena called him,
G.
The blends referred to him as Uncle.

As the blends grew
in numbers, Gregg expanded the cabin Vena had given him. He held
conferences twice a year for all the blends to update them on the
status of their home planet. He also sent updates to the
planet.

He was
disappointed at the lack of Numeras born of the blends. The birth
of a blend named Laney was a joyous event. Early on she showed
evidence of being a Healer and a Numera. Everyone was drawn to her,
evident of her Lure ability. All blends knew how valuable she would
be for the cause. Gregg entrusted her care to Trevor. He trusted
Trevor even though they did not always agree on things. Trevor
enjoyed the human life he lead and was not fully on board with the
idea of one day leaving the Earth to return home. He did, however,
have a fierce passion for protecting the blend children.

Trevor cared for
Laney for nine years, although physically she only looked to be
about three. Together, they lived in New York as father and
daughter. His job as an investment
analyst
on Wall Street enabled him to keep himself and Laney living
comfortably in an older Victorian home in Brooklyn. Trevor never
used Laney's Numera ability to further his career. In fact, he
would caution her whenever she would talk in public about the
numbers she saw. The slow aging of the blends made it difficult for
him to keep Laney in daycare for more than six months at a time. He
did research on all the daycare centers before placing her in them.
One choice proved to be the worst
decision
of his life.

6. The Taking of
Laney

Laney loved going
to daycare. Playing with the kids and teachers was a highlight of
her day. She was an intelligent and verbal child who quickly became
a teacher's favorite.