Streams - Book 1

Chapter 17

Brain damage

Jenni tugged at the form fitting clothing as she moved toward the door to the main room. Through the door she heard Morathi, who must have returned while she was changing, ask, "Where's Jenni?"

"She's still changing," the twins said rolling their eyes.

Jenni had just opened the door when Tlaloc said, "First she said the suit was too tight and she couldn't breathe, then it was too hot, and now it's too revealing."

Jenni stepped right behind him, "I did not sound like that." Although, she did acknowledge that it had taken her some time to get her new clothes the way she wanted them. The grey material was carefully molded over body armor, forming sharp ridges that made her look like a futuristic gladiator.

"Wow" Tlaloc said, "You look ..."

"Threatening," Aakil finished. The twins rolled their eyes, obviously not impressed with Jenni's outfit. But Jenni thought it made her look more combative and maybe it would deter some people who wanted to attack her. She walked over to Lilly who whispered, "I always found them a bit too revealing myself."

Tlaloc approached the king, "I still need to talk to you, your majesty."

"I haven't forgotten you," Morathi said. "But we really need to get this meeting started. Most of the members are anxious to get back to their troops, so they can help defend the villages." He gestured to the group and started to walk to the door. Two gnome guards flanked him as everyone moved down the hall to the meeting room.

The two guards entered the council chamber and moved to either side of the door. They called out, "Morathi, King of the Gnomes, calls this meeting to order." Morathi nodded to the various council members as he stepped up to the large chair at the head of the table. He waved Jenni over to the seat next to him. The rest of the group circled around to the long church like pews that were normally for the council's staff and assistants.

"For those of you who did not get to meet our young visitor earlier, I would like to take a moment to introduce you to her. For those of you who did, you may have noticed she looks a little more battle ready." Morathi commented, causing the room to let out a low chuckle. He motioned to the being to his right, one that Jenni instantly recognized as being from the race that she knew as the Roswell Aliens. Her former classmate, Jacob, had tons of images of the alien on his computer. This being matched the pictures of the aliens perfectly; large hairless head with black almond-shaped eyes, short stature, and gray-blue skin. Jacob had sworn that the aliens had not only existed, but had been visiting the human race for hundreds of years. He'd never believe the things she was experiencing here.

"Jenni this is Ausso," Morathi said. "He's a Reticulan and from the same bloodline as Zamoric. Ausso, Jenni." Ausso rose from his seat, made a fist with one hand that he then drove forcefully into his other open hand, and then gave a slight bow of his head.

"It is a great pleasure to meet you," he said, his voice coming from a strange blinking device on his chest. It was obviously translating his language into something Jenni could understand. "Zamoric was always fascinated with your people, he said you were great inventors and thinkers. Capable of great feats, and magnificent works when you put your minds to it."

"Thank you," Jenni said, as she rose from her chair and tried her best to return his bow properly. "And it's very nice to meet you."

Morathi turned his attention to a large cluster of vines at the top of a pillar that stood directly behind Jenni. "Jenni this is one of the most fragile and loving beings I have ever had the pleasure to meet." Morathi said as a tiny human looking face appeared from the foliage.