~ Transformation ~

~ The Transformation ~

Feeling formidable and flush after their victory over Lucifer’s Drachonian insurrection, Debbie, Jimmy and Shewuma walked out of Lucifer’s temple into the darkening twilight of the valley. Cap’n Dick was guarding the building’s exit. He pulled his harpoon but shouldered it when he recognized them.

“Granddaddy!” Jimmy exclaimed, relieved to see him alive. Jimmy hugged him and kissed his stumbly cheek.

“Proud of you, Boy.”

“Where’s Papa?”

Cap’n Dick shook his head solemnly. His great grandfather was dead. Jimmy could hardly believe it. He swallowed hard and pushed the grief down. It would have to be dealt with later. “I’ll be back shortly, Granddaddy.”

“Go, Boy. Do what needs it.”

Jimmy headed for their extended black van parked nearby.

Granddaddy turned to the girls. “Debbie, Shewuma,” he said and pulled them in to his huge chest, accepting their attentions with exuberance. Since he normally called any and all females Becky, Debbie was delighted to hear him saying their names. Then her face tensed.

“How bad were the losses, Granddaddy?”

He pulled her in again and spoke low, just to her. “The losses were heavy, but nothing is bad. It’s what we do. It’s who we are.”

Debbie persisted. “How many survived?”

“Borey is dead. We lost four hundred and thirty-eight total. The only survivors are seven of Shewuma’s Kachinas, three Deep Creek Hybrids, including me and Wishy, and four of the Sasquatch contingent.”

The force of understanding that hundreds of extraordinary lives were lost in her name took the wind out of her. “Oh my God. So many.” Debbie’s voice was bleak and tears welled.

Granddaddy pulled back, took hold of her face and made her look into his eyes. “We fight for our kin. Now is not the time to grieve. You understand?”

“I get it, Granddaddy. But I’ll never understand.”

“Close enough,” said the Cap’n. “Now go. They need you.”

As Debbie left, Shewuma said to Granddaddy, “She’ll be okay. She’s tough.” He nodded. She kissed him once more. “I want one of those.” She pointed at his harpoon while walking away.

“I’ll trade you for a bone/stone tomahawk any time,” he replied.

“You’re on big guy.”

Calling Malachi, the last survivor on earth of the Alien race of Erran to join her, Debbie headed across the battlefield strewn with dead Aliens and Hybrids to the small approaching group of surviving Sasquatch.

Inside their van, Jimmy drank down a bottle of water and put another in his pocket. He tossed a steamer trunk full of blankets and towels for packing up the Blue Crystal Skulls through the side door. Then he searched the open side panels until he found his spray bottle of Krud Kutter. When he stepped out of the van Shewuma was waiting for him. He handed her the bottle from his pocket. “Chieftess, huh? That’s pretty sexy.”

She purred, “Yeah? You think so?” Opening the bottle, she drank deeply and then became all business. “When you get caught up come find me. We’ll take Granddaddy and make sure this place is clean. It obviously has a basement and who knows what else.”

“Well, there’s nothing I would like more than getting you alone in the basement.”

Wu laughed and touched his cheek. “I sure have missed you.”

“You think you missed me now? What until supper.”

Wu paused, her eyes intense. “What are you cooking?”

He kissed her hand. “Whatever the Chieftess desires.”

She flipped up the back of her battle dress as she walked away.

Debbie and Malachi met the monstrous Sasquatch and gave the customary head bows. Of the one hundred who came to their aid in the Battle for Man, as it came to be known, only four remained: Custos their leader from the frozen wastelands of Alaska, two white furred, blood covered Yeti from the mountains of Tibet, and a bloody, battered Skunk Ape from the Florida swamps. Custos addressed them mind to mind. “Greetings to Debbie of Earth and Malachi of Erran, Defenders of Man and Saviors of this world.”

Debbie offered her sincere gratitude. “Thank you for everything, Custos. Without your intervention we would all be dead. I am forever from this day forward your friend and ally.”

“No thanks are needed,” he replied humbly. “We did our duty, as did you and yours. Enoch and I made a pact eons ago to protect this world and each other’s clans. We do what we must for the greater good. I have watched over his Consort and his daughter since your births.”

Debbie had to pause and take in what he told her. “You’re saying Enoch was my father? Lucifer said the same before his escape. He said that Enoch killed my father and raped my mother.”

“NO!” Custos stopped her. “Lucifer killed your father trying to end your Murphy bloodline. But he was too late.”

“Explain,” said Debbie.

“Enoch and your father, Edward Murphy, inscribed your mother,” said Custos. “You understand this?”

Debbie searched the Quartz Crystal Computer Chip (Cric) embedded in her brain. Inscribing humans was a genetic procedure to impregnate a human female with a combination of seed from two or more beings. “So they are both my father?”

“Yes. Edward Murphy was the son of your Grandfather and Burock the Blessed, Keeper of the fourth Crystal Skull. Your father was inscribed into your grandmother just as you were inscribed into your mother. You Debbie, are the amalgamation of all the Murphys and all the Erran Sentinels of the 13 Blue Crystal Skulls. Enoch secretly orchestrated the mixing of the Murphy lineage with the Erran Sentinels for over three centuries.”

Debbie was overwhelmed. “Why?”

“To create you. Their first Comista in thirteen generations.” Debbie was profoundly shaken. Comista’s were female conquerors from Erran folklore. Holy Warriors and Paragons of Nobility. It was crazy, like a demented fairy tale. And yet somehow, she knew it was true. She realized that deep down in her psyche and her dreams she had always known. It was so surreal. She called telepathically to Shewuma’s mind, “I need you.” To Malachi she sent the question, “Did you know about this?”

Malachi seemed conflicted and said out loud, “I knew my part for what it was. Enoch’s Sight was always the most gifted. We never questioned his direction or design.”

Shewuma appeared, took Debbie’s hand and lowered her head to Custos and his companions. In acknowledgement Custos said verbally in her Hopi language, “Greetings to the White Bird, Consort to my good friend Enoch of Erran.”

“I am pledged to Debbie now,” she answered.

“As was foretold,” he responded.

Debbie took a deep breath and said to Custos’ mind, “Tell me all of it.”

“The Errans, the Hopi and my clansmen hunted Lucifer and his minions for many thousands of years. We knew he would never stop trying to dominate this world. Perhaps even destroy it. But like Enoch, Lucifer was gifted with the Sight. We could never quite catch him. When Enoch foresaw Lucifer’s plot to kill the Erran Sentinels and acquire all thirteen Crystal Skull Computers and their Crics, every possible outcome was unacceptable. Enoch decided the only sure way to defeat him was to let him believe he had won. Only then would Lucifer reveal himself. Enoch devised an extraordinary plan. The Erran Keepers would give up their Crystal Skulls, their Crics, and their very lives even as Enoch created a new lone Keeper of all thirteen Skulls… A Comista…You. Once exposed and overconfident, an Erran Comista with the power of all the Keepers could defeat Lucifer and his lineage.”

Debbie furrowed her brow. “His lineage? It’s not over.”

“No. But so it ends for now as preordained.”

“But Malachi survived and he is a Sentinel,” Debbie pointed out.

“Yes. Because of her.” Custos pointed to the massive UFO surrounded by bright lights moving silently over the valley toward the temple. “Even Enoch couldn’t see everything.” From the window of the cockpit, pilots Wisteria and David E. smiled and waved to the survivors. Wisty sent a personal thumbs-up to Custos and he nodded his assent. He spoke silently again to only Debbie. “Your power grew faster than any of us could have predicted. You were able to block my astral vision and I lost you. It’s because of this witch, Wisteria Wix, that we made it here in time. She’s quite remarkable for a human.”

“Yes, she is,” said Debbie. “David E. is in love with her.”

“That is regrettable,” was his unexpected answer.

“How do you mean?”

“Because she cannot be trusted. Her future is the wind and may blow in any direction.”

“Debbie,” came Wisty’s voice into Debbie’s mind, “David E. and Gabby have set up triage in the crew quarters and sick bay is ready to go.”

Debbie pushed what Custos had said aside for the time being. To all minds she projected, “Take the wounded to the ship.” She switched to speaking English out loud. “Custos, your wounded are welcome on board. I can help them.”

He replied in English, “No need. We are diminished but not broken. I know you have much to do, but there is one last thing to finish. Come with me to the inner temple.”

Custos and Malachi went in first followed by Debbie still gripping Wu’s hand. Despite it all, Debbie and Wu found the odor that Custos left in his wake almost sickening. With a perfect British accent Custos said for their benefit, “You Hybrids smell quite revolting as well.” And he produced a smile. A rare thing for a Sasquatch.

When they entered the inner temple, Jimmy was over by the Skull shelf, belly laughing. He had wrapped the Crystal Skulls stolen by Lucifer in towels and put them in the steamer trunk. There were two layers with a thick blanket between them. They didn’t feel fragile, but he figured it was better to be safe than sorry. The Crystal Computer Crics were still on the shelf.

Debbie knew why he was laughing. “You heard the stinky comments?”

“You know I did.”

The four walked up and Malachi handed his and Debbie’s Crystal Skulls to Jimmy for packing. “Don’t you want to keep this, Mal?”

“No.”

Jimmy set them both on top of the others. “You two good?” he asked his girls.

“Yes, sir,” said Debbie. Wu winked at him.

“What are you guys doing in here?”

Debbie shrugged. “I don’t know.”

Custos handed Malachi a Cric that was similar to the ones still on the shelf but smaller and gray instead of blue.

Malachi put it up under his chin and it absorbed into his body the same way Debbie had originally put Enoch’s Cric behind her left ear and into her brain. They all watched him transform before their eyes. He suddenly looked taller and toned, and his pale skin glowed.

“Mr. Jim, old chap” said Custos, still using a British accent, “I understand you are an exceptional cook.”

“Yes, I am” Jimmy told him. “Bring your boys to the house sometime and I’ll throw you a barbeque that will knock your socks off.”

Custos replied, “I accept this sockly offer.”

Debbie was getting antsy. “Custos, why are we here?”

The Skulls in the trunk began to vibrate and resonate with a low frequency sound.

“I think you know why, Debbie.”

She started to speak. Then her eyes glazed over. Like smoke rising, power from the Blue Crystal Skulls enveloped her and she understood. She let go of Wu’s hand and stepped up to the shelf full of Blue Crystal Quartz Crics. In Wu’s mind she said, “Hold on to Jimmy.” Wu could see in Debbie’s aura that something momentous was happening. She moved beside Jimmy and hooked her finger into the back of his belt.

Debbie pulled off her clothes and tossed them aside standing voluptuously naked. Jimmy tensed and Wu patted his arm, signaling it was okay. Debbie took the first Cric from the top shelf and wrapped her hand around it. In the Alien Erran language, a voice Jimmy and Shewuma had never heard came from her mouth. It was the voice of Bulyez, Sentinel of the First Skull. Malachi telepathically interpreted as she spoke. “I am Bulyez, Keeper of Strength, Pignus Sancta, the Skull of Security.” Debbie opened her hand and touched the Cric to her right bicep. Jimmy gasped as it disappeared into her skin. She tensed but then relaxed and reached for the next Cric. Another strange voice from her said, “Joel, Keeper of Truth, Operarus Sancta, the Skull of Operating Systems.” She held it next to her heart and it too disappeared.

“Hey, wait. I see where this is going,” said Jimmy.

Wu whispered to him, “Jimmy, this is important. Can’t you feel it?” Against his better judgement, he gripped Wu’s hand and waited.

Yet again a stranger spoke. “Ezekeal, Keeper of Power, Imperious Sancta, Skull of Energy.” It slid into her left bicep. And so it went. Each Cric, the voice of its Sentinel, and then deposited in another part of her body. Burak the Blessed, Causa Sancta, Skull of Algorithms. Behind the right ear. ~ Eli, Helper of All, Figo Sancta, Skull of Restoration. Into the left thigh. ~Abraham, Father of Nations, Keeper of the Multitudes, Canseli Sancta, Skull of Magnetic Fields. Into the base of her spine. ~ Ira, Keeper of the Lost, Manusameta Sancta, Skull of Tracking. Into the right thigh. ~ Nicodemus, Keeper of Man, Mutato Sancta, Skull of Civilization. Into her groin. ~ Gideon the Destroyer, Contagia Sancta, Skull of Genetics. Disappeared into her naval. ~ Zacariah, Keeper of the Past, Memento Sancta, Skull of Memory. Into the solar plexus. ~ Aaron, the Teacher, Captiosius Sancta, Skull of Artificial Intelligence. She pressed it into the base of her skull. Debbie picked up the last Cric. This time Malachi spoke out loud. “Malachi, the Messenger, Dictum Sancta, Skull of Communications.” Debbie slipped it up under her chin just as he had. Her body spasmed and arched backward. Jimmy acted to intervene, but Wu held him tight and put her head on the front of his shoulder. Barely audible, she whispered for him to wait. Debbie spread out her arms. The locations on her body where the Crics had entered began to glow a velvety blue light. The same light poured from the Skulls in the trunk through the blankets and towels. Veins of blue moved across her body from one glowing spot to another until they were all connected. The veins distended until they exploded into a blue radiance that completely enveloped her. She levitated several inches off the floor, threw her head back, and cried out as if in pain. Then she dropped to the floor in a hunched over crouch. The luminescence slowly faded away. They all watched as the long blond hair cascading down her back turned bright white. Debbie raised her head and stood. She looked over her shoulder at Jimmy and Wu. Her once lovely blue eyes were now a vivid emerald green. She smiled and winked at them, then turned her gaze back to the Sasquatch and the Erran. Both went down on one knee, heads bowed and kissed the knuckles of her outstretched hands.

“Comista,” they both addressed her. As they stood, Jimmy could see that they no longer looked upon her as Hybrid. In front of their very eyes, she had evolved into something much more. In their devoted faces he could see….Divinity.

Wu whispered to him and interrupted the magic. “You think she was bossy before?”

“Look at the bright side, Wu. We get to sleep with a Comista.”

“You’re a nut.” Wu bumped him with her shoulder.

Debbie placed her palm on the side of Custos’ colossal hairy face. He pushed his cheek into her hand like a pet acknowledging the love of its owner. “I am grateful, Custos.”

“As was divined, I’ve done nothing more than my part and now you have risen, The Comista of Earth. I am always at your service.”

Looking up with a new sense of purpose, Debbie said, “Yes. Yes, I see it. My Sight was always focused and constrained. Now the future is opening up like a kaleidoscope of paths and choices. There’s so much to do.” She said in alarm, “Chevayo is dying. Wu, Malachi, let’s go.” Wu scooped up Debbie’s clothes. As they hurried out Jimmy stood and watched them, dumbfounded.

Custos studied him until Jimmy finally said, “What the hell just happened?”

“The beginning of a new age.”

“What do you mean?”

“Hybrid Debbie is no more. The reign of the Erran Comista of Earth has begun. She is the Herald. She is the Destiny. She now shapes our future and the future of mankind. There is something I must tell you before I go, Mr. Jim. If you need me Shewuma knows how to find me. But be on your guard. As with all living things, Wisteria Wix is filled with both light and darkness. Which side will prevail has yet to be determined.” Custos turned to leave.

“Wait a minute!”

Custos looked back and said, “The forces of evil on this Earth will marshal against her. The Comista will need you and the Chieftess more than ever now. I’m sorry.” He lunged forward, his arms became wings, and his movement became flight.

Jimmy watched a white-tailed hawk fly out of the room. He followed for a short distance shouting, “You can’t just leave after saying all that!” But Custos was gone. Grumbling under his breath, Jimmy wrapped up the last two Skulls and closed the trunk. With a towel and spray bottle of Krud Kutter, he went over to a desecrated Jesus statue and started cleaning off the red and yellow painted slurs.

Granddaddy came into the room. “I been looking for ya. Whatcha doing, Boy?”

“Just cleaning up Jesus, Grandaddy.”