Chapter nineteen: a long time ago

AJ closed his eyes and fell instantly to sleep. In the next room with a connecting door was One, and connected to her room was Kal. There was a sound, a very quiet hissing sound that coaxed AJ to sleep quickly. That sound entered his dreams.

"I am floating. In space. Hey One. Look! I'm floating. On air! How about that! Can you do that? One? Can you hear me? Or am I asleep."

The sound of a thousand voices pounded AJ all at once. A chorus. "WE HEAR YOU." AJ was on his feet. This was real. He was not sleeping. He was standing beside his bed.

"Are you who I think you are?" 

"YES" came back loud and clear.

"One, Kal, are you hearing this? One! Come quick! Kal!"

"They can't hear you," came a voice in his head. "They are breathing sleep air. They can't hear you."

He knew that voice.

"Hector. Is Mary with you? Oh yes, hello Mary. Was that actually the team? Am I ok?"

"Yes AJ, and you came through with flying colours. Your vitals didn't change. Well that isn't true. Your heart rate went through the roof. But that is expected when 2000 kids surprise you. I didn't mean to make that happen. You broke through the barrier to connect with them. Impressive. You said you were floating. That is because you were going to the higher level of consciousness. To the connection point that is located just above our world. You tapped in without any guidance."

"Well done Ajax. Well done. I am very proud of you," said Mary. Mary hesitated. "I'm so glad you are ok. I've grown very attached to you and the others. And...well..."

"Don't worry Mary," said AJ. "I know why we are here. I know it is life and death. I know we have work to do. And I'm willing to die trying. So is One and Kal."

"You rang?" One and Kal stood in the doorway smiling. "Boy that was a great sleep. I feel like a million dollars! Give or take. How long were we sleeping?"

"Well Kal according to Mary you were asleep for about three minutes. And she let you sleep in. Usually it is under two."

AJ stared off into space. One picked up on AJ's thoughts. "You are allowed to tell us you connected with our 2000 new friends. Can you connect to them any time? Or is there a trick to it?"

"Good question. One moment please.

Sounds like I have to work on breaking through to a different level of consciousness. It is just slightly above this one. But I connected in my sleep. So I'll work with Mary to let myself free from thought. That is her role. To serve and protect. And Hector is the wise old man. He will help me once I can tap in. He told me my source will be my secret weapon for good. But I don't know how yet. Need to do some work first before I will know.

"Well," said Kal. "This is all so interesting. But how does a guy get some food in this joint? Like maybe a chocolate cake?"

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