Realms of Eden Book 03: Whirlwind

The girl fainted.

"Why do they always do that to me? Have I got uglier in my old age or something," he lamented.

"No my friend," said Sydney. "Just nobody expects the television to call them by name."

Robert rushed from the bedroom, firstly as he saw Sandy fall then because he heard Sydney's voice.

Kelsey turned to the man, who despite having just awoken from a sleep of almost 12 hours, looked surprisingly alert. She also noticed that he was chewing chips from a packet out of the mini-bar at a phenomenal rate.

"Alfred can you organise some food, heaps of it and fast!" she cried then looked around for her bag of goodies.

Alfred told her that he had ordered some about 15 minutes ago when his nano-bots had detected Sydney waking up and suggested the bag she was looking for was in the kitchenette. Sydney beat her to it by two seconds holding aloft her tin of bikkies in triumph and started to eat.

From the lounge where she was sitting, with Robert holding her gently, Sandy watched the mad dash for food and watched the green faced man as he swivelled his eyes around following the two people who were now happily wrestling for control of the biscuit tin.

There was a knock on the door followed by Moira entering and Sandy noted that the green man disappeared as the TV reverted to some cartoon show. The motel manager was pushing a cart with numerous plates on it and smiling asked, "Early dinner guys?"

Sydney almost pushed her out of the way then slowed, gave her a kiss and lifted covers on plates taking them over to the dining table. Before the bemused looks of Robert, Sandy and Moira proceeded to demolish the lot. "Tea?" he asked not looking up from filling his mouth and Moira reached for the tea-pot but Kelsey expertly lifted the tray and had a cup poured and in front of the man in a few moments.

Kelsey looked back at the trolley and said, "I do hope more is coming."

Moira nodded as a second knock was heard and she took her empty trolley to the door and after a few whispered words with the maid at the door exchanged it for the new one. Kelsey cleared the empty dishes from in front of Sydney as Moira placed the new plates in front of him he barely acknowledge her as he began on the steak and vegetables that she had uncovered.

"Dessert?" asked Kelsey,

Moira answered, "On its way."

Sydney said, "Oh yes please and some more tea would be great!"

Sandy was stupefied, as was Robert standing beside her.

Kelsey began taking away the empty dishes as Sydney mopped the gravy up on the last plate with the last bread roll.

Moira was on her in-house communicator asking for a large pot of tea, milk and sugar as well as the dessert trolley.

Sydney sipped his tea quietly and looked around at the faces in the room burped and said, "I hope there is caramel tart!"

Moira sent the second empty cart back with the amazed maid who said they must have been all famished to finish that quickly. Moira just giggled as she shook her head and pushed the dessert cart straight over to Sydney's chair.

Four caramel tarts, half a cheesecake and several thick creamy doughnuts later the man sat back and waved away the trolley as he finished what, Sandy had counted, was his eighth cup of tea.

His eyes searched the room and fixed onto the TV. "Alfred," he called, "I think I need to go back to bed stay on alert please!"

The man rose, kissed Kelsey on the way past her saying, "I hope you got more clothes love," then he was gone.

Kelsey moved to the bedroom door. Sandy ran to catch up with her and stood as the man stripped, snuggled down under the sheets and was asleep within a minute.

"Oh my love," Sandy heard her whisper and turned to Kelsey whose eyes leaked tears down her face in a constant stream.

Sandy heard Robert laughing with Moira who suddenly had beeps coming from her communicator and said that another emergency beckoned but hoped it wasn't as amazing as the one she had just witnessed.

When Robert told her to come back when she finished her shift, Kelsey said very softly so that Sandy only just heard her, "And don't be surprised at what you hear and see."

As the door closed behind Moira, Alfred was immediately back on the screen calling for Kelsey.

"Yes Alfred I know, he is going to grow again isn't he?" the woman said as she stood back in front of the screen.

"Not in the ways you are going to notice," said Alfred smugly. "Well not until he is undressed."

"Oh please don't say that," said Jo. "I can just fit him in as he is!"

Kelsey almost died when the screen split then split again to show Jo, Bonnie and Thelma in quarters on the screen with Alfred remaining in the bottom left corner.

"Sorry folks I thought we might as well hear all of this together," said Alfred.

Kelsey saw Thelma move slightly, Jenny's face grinned as she waved to everyone.

"Just how big is it going to get Alfred!" asked Bonnie her eyes glowing hotly and Sandy could see what Kelsey meant about her.

"That will depend on how big he wants it to be," said Alfred, "but enough of that young lady. Let me tell you first what is going to happen, or at least what I think is going to happen!"

"Alfred, Sydney has always had that control," said Kelsey softly. There were stifled gasps all around her as she shook her head in puzzlement.

"Only slightly Kelsey," came Alfred's voice, "he will now have control over a lot more of his body. Hair, eye colour, muscles, he will in effect become a chameleon. Not just a mind-mask disguise, he will physically be able to change."

"Why would they want him to have that sort of power, what is it they are preparing him for!" Kelsey's voice almost broke and Sandy's arms came around her and held her tightly.

"I am not sure," the computer voice echoed her puzzled tone, as if the entity had become worried about what it was that the man asleep on bed was being used to do.

"Alfred, tell us what is going to happen and I will see if I can't fill in some gaps," said Jenny. Her eyes sparkled and Kelsey looked hard at her daughter noting that the little one appeared to be very excited, not worried about the next phase of Sydney's development.

"Es!" Kelsey suddenly called.

I am here mother came a soft voice in her head and Kelsey sighed in relief.

"Ok Alfred we are all here now, proceed," Kelsey said softly as she allowed Sandy to guide her towards the lounge chair she had been occupying previously.

Everyone nodded as Alfred cleared the screen and showed a diagram of a human body.

"This is Sydney," his voice continued and Kelsey assumed that everyone could see the diagrams and ceased to worry about it. "My nano-bots are telling me that his body is producing some rather unusual chemicals that seem to be ready to flood themselves into this system. They are being stored here, here and here." The diagram zoomed into to show his torso and three yellow spots came up at the base of the spine and beside his liver and stomach.

Alfred went on. "It appears that the chemical is some sort of healing material that is moving and rolling all over the place. The nano-bots have told me that it was present at Sydney's skinned elbow before they got there and was repairing him. They have found that the material doesn't mind them carting it around and putting it into place, almost like it is happy to have them there."

Robert smirked and said, "Alfred has Sydney's body decided to emulate the nano-bots? It sounds like it has decided that the nano-bots won't be around for ever and is making its own."

Jo's voice was heard. "Dr Evan's would love to know about that! Has he been told Alfred?"

"Actually Jo, no. Hang on."

A few moments later Dr Evans' voice was heard saying, "Hello Alfred. Oh what is this then?"

They heard Alfred talking to the man for a few more minutes. Dr Evans said, "Hello everyone! Bloody good go that match last night wasn't it! I really thought he was going to do it until the last over. But never mind we gave them a damned good scare and I am sure they will be better in the next game, I can't wait!"

Heads nodded all around and there were plenty of smiles. It was Thelma that sobered the moment. "Dr Evans, Alfred, I want to know what is happening to him and if I don't get an answer soon I am going to be on a hover jet and in New Zealand in five minutes," her voice was soft and trembling and Sandy realised that the woman was extremely close to tears.

"It's alright Mumma Felma," said a little girl's voice clearly. "His body is building in some protections. The warrior needs to get some sleep that is all, he will be fine tomorrow after he sleeps properly again.

"Mummy did Sydney sleep all day in the fresh air?" she asked.

Kelsey was a little perplexed at the question and it was Robert that answered her. "Like an old tree, Jenny!"

The little girl giggled. There was a pause then a voice spoke. "Thank you Robert, but not an old tree, a strong young tree with his sap rising and making new skin for the summer. He will shed some bark tonight Mum so I wouldn't hop into bed with him!"

The voice that had come after the giggle was not that of a young girl but rather the rich tones of a young woman. A woman who knew exactly what was happening and it continued. "Sydney is metamorphosing again. His body is going to be more resilient to pain, faster, stronger and his thinking is going to be quicker.

"He will be able to change all of his body's characteristics. So Jo you won't suddenly find yourself with King Kong, unless you want him to be. However, if you want to have something other than a human in your bed you may be able to cajole him to change," there was a tinkling laugh then the voice continued.

Kelsey distinctly felt very real tremors in her mind and a flash of aqua as Es made some of the most peculiar sounds that transmitted across her senses as a very hot flush. She looked down at her hands and noted that they were quite pink. Jenny was mentally watching her mother and Kelsey saw the girl's image in her mind give her a very sly wink and a little nod.

"It seems that the dramas over the last few weeks and the success of yesterday have triggered another psychiatric change in him that has manifested more changes in his body. A good night's sleep and plenty of food again. Please he will be starving in the morning." The voice ended and Jenny's little girl laugh broke the silence.

Alfred cleared the screen of the diagrams that he had left up while the woman spoke and showed all of the parties on the screen again.

"Yes," said Thelma, "that was Jennifer, my goodness she is pretty." Her voice sounded happier and full of awe.

The others having seen the appearance of the goddess before nodded and smiled.

Robert and Sandy were completely in the dark. Kelsey saw their looks and said, "Later."

"Well that seems to have solved that problem," said Dr Evans. Then he asked, "Kelsey can you gather up the 'bark' and send it to me please? I don't suppose there is a chance you could just steal the sheets and seal them in a bag for me?"

"I think I could arrange that Patrick, I will see if I can get them expressed to you tomorrow," Alfred said. "I have organised a contamination bag for you from a local hospital. Just follow the instructions and send it back with the delivery vehicle when they come in the morning."

Kelsey introduced Robert and Sandy to the group. Patrick said, "Nice to see you again Robert, you and Alfred certainly did do a nice job with that article! Who would have thought the old bugger could write so eloquently. I haven't seen notes like that from him since his three page ramble on one of my patients that boiled down to -"

"Chronic masturbator," chimed in Alfred. "I was trying to be nice since everyone was trying to kill me at the time!"

The group laughed easily then Patrick said he had to go and would let them know about the results, if any, when he got them and disconnected from the call.

The screen display changed back to quarters as Dr Evans left.

Bonnie looked closely into her screen her face moving towards them. "You are pretty Sandy," she said and giggled when the woman blushed. She turned her eyes slightly to the left towards Robert. "You, Mr Dinnane are definitely on my list of desserts, that blonde bimbo is not going to be the only one around here who screams like that!"

Jo, Kelsey and Sandy rolled on the floor in fits of laughter at the absolutely shocked look on Robert's face.

Thelma stayed on the screen her face a shining red beacon and Robert narrowed his eyes at her. "Blabber mouth," he jokingly chided her

"From what I saw," said Bonnie, "she didn't have much time to talk too often!"

Robert's head swung back to the girl on the screen as the laughter from the women on the floor and Jo on the screen increased as he stammered, "S- saw, you saw us!"

"Oops!" said Bonnie and her connection went dead.

Jo weakly said, "Goodbye," and she too disconnected.

"Thelma!" the man called.

"Sorry have to go, Jenny wants me," and she too disconnected.

"Seems my friend that you will have to ask that rabble on the floor," said Alfred and then he too disappeared leaving the screen blank.

Robert looked at the pair of them and said, "I don't think I am going to get an explanation right now am I?"

The two girls on the floor looked up at him and Kelsey shook her head weakly as her eyes leaked tears as she continued to helplessly laugh.

In disgust he returned to the work he had been doing on his laptop as the two women composed themselves and disappeared into the bedroom.

A small creature hovered in the air above Sydney's bed, it watched curiously as the man slept. Beside it another glowed. Magenta alongside the aqua, the colours brightened as they lazily drifted on currents that only their bodies could use. "It seems my lover that you will get your wish," said Marmess.

"No Marmess, we will get our wish, a great change is coming to all of us. This is the first step!" Es' voice was full of hope and fervent desire. The desire translated to a purr that drowned out the soft moans of the women in the bed in the next room but the emotions picked up by the women increased the urgency of their mouths and fingers as they stroked each other to burn hotly as their need for each other grew.

Marmess reached out with her mind to the aqua glow that settled on the bed beside the sleeping man. "Come Es it will be sometime before he is ready to transform into the lover you desire so badly, Let me take you back to my rooms and try to sate some of the lust that burns your heart!"

The two glows winked out.

Kelsey's panting into the wet flesh of the dark skinned woman above her ceased momentarily as a curious image of a glowing aqua coloured face contorted in what seem to be ecstasy filled her mind. The face was accompanied by a soft voice, "Soon Kelsey we will all play with him together."

Robert worked for quite a while, uninterrupted, on the proposal that he was formulating for the bar and kitchen area in the underground city below Townsville. He chuckled when he heard the loud groans of Kelsey through the closed door of the other bedroom and momentarily considered joining the pair but dismissed it as he concentrated on his planning.

There was a soft knock on the door he glanced at the clock, seeing that it was after midnight and quickly realised that it was probably Moira finishing her shift and returning to find out about the early incident. It reminded him that he hadn't eaten.

It was a great surprise then when the woman came in carrying several pizzas in a stack in her hands. Quickly he relieved her of them and put them on the table.

"When you didn't come back down for dinner I thought you might have forgotten it with everything else that was happening," she said and Robert thanked her as he opened the top box and grabbed a large slice.

The smell must have alerted the women. With a, "Yummy smells like pizza," Sandy and Kelsey were helping themselves to slices beckoning Moira to sit on the lounge beside Robert as they took up the lounge opposite.

Moira admired them both as they sat eating with nothing on. Their naked bodies looked soft and inviting as if they had just woken from sleep.

Robert asked her if she wanted some. Wickedly she said, "Yes please," never taking her eyes off the two women.

"I meant pizza Moira," chuckled Robert. "Those two are not getting anything else until I get an explanation about something!"

The two girls poked tongues and giving their bottoms a saucy wiggle at Moira they disappeared back into the bedroom. Moments later they returned in long nightgowns that did very little to hide their charms.

Robert shook his head and said, "Bloody women!"

Moira cackled.

Kelsey licked the last of the pizza sauce off her fingers then vanished to the bathroom to wash as did Sandy. When she returned she looked intently at Moira and said, "I want you to clear your mind of everything you have ever heard about Sydney and listen while we give you a bit truer version."

Moira looked doubtful but said she would try.

Taking a deep breath Kelsey explained the difference between Sydney's official story and the real one, telling her in particular about his genetic make-up. How with the love and support of all of them his peculiar genes had triggered a rapid transformation. This discovery had transformed him into something that was close to what he was now.

Moira was a little alarmed and asked if Sydney just got his body to grow like that or had he worked on it.

Kelsey told her how as a beaten and bashed little boy he was always working hard to keep himself fit and strong but didn't receive the nourishment he needed to give him the body that he should have had.

"This skinny little boy hardly got anything to eat and yet he could play soccer and cricket and run all day long!" exclaimed Kelsey.

Robert continued saying that when he got so badly beaten that he really couldn't hide it anymore Kelsey and Bonnie would fix him up, believe his stories and gave him lots of treats and food.

Kelsey recalled how she would give Bonnie so much lunch to give to Sydney that she used to complain about not having any room in her bag for books.

Sandy couldn't help the tears that formed in her eyes. Kelsey then told them that when his step-father had beaten him so badly and left him for dead it was only the extra food that they had been giving him that kept him alive. If not, his previous skin and bone condition would probably have killed him in the cold night air as he bled on the footpath.

They then told her about how the hospital staff, particularly Dr Evans and then Alfred had ensured that the boy was continuously hooked to nutrient bags and every vitamin they could think of was added to his diet.

Then he was stabbed by his mother.

"He should have died then," came a voice from the television. Alfred appeared, and looking at the motel manager said, "Please do not faint. Hello Moira."

The woman's eyes goggled and Robert gave her a little shake. "That is Alfred. A conglomeration of software, hardware and something else that I don't think even he knows what it is. But he is a very good friend."

Moira composed herself, "Pleased to meet you Alfred."

"Thank goodness for that!" said the man. He continued speaking saying that Sydney should have died when his mother stabbed him. The knife she used was covered in poison but fortunately she didn't realise that stabbing through the plassteel removed most of it before she got it into his leg.

Kelsey then described how Sydney had been hunted and shot.

Jo, his nurse, had saved his life again by putting her hand into his shattered ribs and held the blood and his lungs in place. Moira nodded and said that she had read that in the article and had even spoke to Jo this morning confirming her arrival next week.