Chương 164: Chapter 162 – Have You Met Shirley?

The silence hung in the air like a delicate soap bubble, ready to burst at the slightest touch. There was just so much to process, so much left to understand. Everyone in the room had their own introspective contemplation. Celestia, still reeling from the realization that everything she had grown up knowing and believing was just a whimsical version of actual people and events, found herself contemplating her own existence.

Alex and Elena cast each other knowing glances as they processed the implications of the systems that had been in development but never completed. Shirley alone was an enigma wrapped in a mystery. What other things was this James guy working on but had never finished? Seraphina found herself questioning her own life choices. She, for the most part, did not believe in an omnipotent God or Goddess, but she always believed there was something more.

Some form of higher power that gave her the strength and courage she needed to make the right choice, regardless of the outcome. Regina and Roxie wondered, in vain, how this would impact their understanding of what security measures needed to be developed in order to prevent this new technology from creating further issues. How could they ensure the safety of Thai when they had little to no understanding of Shirley and her role in things?

Illianna sat wondering: if the Fairy Gods were simply tales blown out of context, how much of her Elven belief system was also a fallacy? What flesh‑and‑blood beings were the foundations of her religion? The silence was broken by a soft shuffle at the doorway. Rowan entered, carrying Thai. She looked pale but alert, her eyes bright with curiosity and a hint of restlessness. Looking at her now, you would have never guessed she had been so sick.

Her energy was unmistakable and seemed to ebb and flow like an incoming wave.

"Daddy," Thai said, her voice small but clear, "Where's Mommy?" she asked, searching the faces sitting in the room.

"I told you, pumpkin, she's not here right now, but we should be on our way to see her soon," Rowan said, kissing the top of her head.

"Promise?" Thai asked, desperate for reassurance.

"It feels like it's been a very long time." She laid her head back on her father's shoulder.

"I miss her a whole lot," she sighed.

"I miss her too, Sweetheart. I know it feels like a long time…" He paused, scooting the girl up as she began to slide down.

"But it hasn't been very long."

"Do you feel that, Daddy?" Thai said, picking her head up off his shoulder and looking around the room.

"Feel what?" Rowan asked, his face riddled with confusion.

"I don't know, but it is making me all tingly and my tummy funny," Thai said.

"Are you going to throw up again?" Rowan asked, concerned, ready to take the girl to the bathroom if the need were to arise.

"No, it feels…" Thai paused, giving it thought, "like tickles." She smiled.

"It makes me want to laugh," she said, trying to get down. Rowan relented and placed his squirming daughter down. He watched as Thai looked around the room as if searching for a lost puppy. She turned her head from one side, paused, then to the other. He watched as she made her way toward the computer monitor that was transitioning from one color to another. The group, no longer focused on their own thoughts, watched Thai with newfound curiosity. What was she seeing, or feeling, that they did not?

Alex took particular notice of Shirley's screen. The display changed from one color to another, but never the same hue twice. Suddenly the monitor flashed bright blue, unlike any other blue the group had seen, but it rang with familiarity. It was the same shade of blue as… Thai's eyes. Shirley suddenly sprang to life.

"Hello, Thalindra, it is so nice to see you again," Shirley said warmly.

"See you again?" Alex mouthed to Elena, who looked equally perplexed.

"Shirley!" Thai exclaimed, her face beaming with recognition and excitement.

"I've missed you! You don't talk to me like you used to anymore!" she cried out. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

"I told you we would meet again someday," Shirley said sweetly.

"Daddy! Daddy! Come meet Shirley! She used to talk to me before I found words," Thai said, jumping up and down, unable to contain her growing excitement.

"She was the one who told me I belonged with you and Mommy, and that Auntie Seph and Auntie Lestia were going to make sure I was safe, and…" She broke off, seeing the look on everyone's face.

"Am I in trouble?" she asked, her excitement quickly fading.

"No, honey," Seraphina said softly.

"You're not in the slightest bit of trouble. We are just all surprised that you know Shirley so well." She stood and made her way to Thai.

"See, we just met her and we're still getting to know her," she added as she crouched down to become eye level with the girl.

"Oh, well Shirley used to tell me all kinds of stuff when I was little," Thai said, turning to the monitor.

"Then she said she needed to go away for a bit, but we would meet again…" She paused before adding, "and well, now here she is."

"Thalindra, do you remember what we used to talk about?" Shirley asked, her voice taking on a slightly different tone. Thai tilted her head, her brow furrowed.

"Shirley, I told you before, I don't like Thalindra, I like Thai!" She rolled her eyes at the monitor.

"We used to talk about lots of stuff, so let's see…" Thai said, her hand coming up to her chin as she thought.

"I'm sorry, Thalin…" Shirley stopped, catching herself.

"Thai. I will try to do better," she said apologetically.

"Yes, you are right, we did talk about lots of things, but I am talking about the really important stuff, like where you came from," Shirley reminded gently.

"Oh, you mean like I wasn't made like most babies, that I needed extra help to be who I needed to become?" Thai said, eyebrows raised.

"That was apposed to be a secret. Remember? I didn't even tell Mommy or Daddy about that," she said, looking over her shoulder at her father. A chill ran down Seraphina's spine.

"What kind of extra help, Sweetheart?" she asked softly, looking down at the wide‑eyed child.

"Oh, well, you know," Thai said, waving her hand dismissively.

"That I was made special by the ones that sent me here… Shirley said they were very, very smart and very important. It took them lots and lots of hard work, and that they had got everything perfect this time. That the other times they tried it just wouldn't work." Alex and Elena exchanged a look of stunned disbelief.

"And what wouldn't work, Thai?" Alex asked, his voice strained. Thai shrugged.

"Being me, I guess. Shirley said I was very special, and that everyone was so happy when I was finally born." Shirley's screen flickered, the colors shifting and swirling like a nebula.

"Indeed, Thai. Remember we talked about your special powers and you had to try not to use them?" Shirley asked, coaxingly. Regina stepped forward, her eyes narrowed.

"Powers? You mean that eye trick and mind‑reading that she does, Shirley?" she asked sharply. Shirley paused, considering her words carefully.

"I am simply acknowledging Thai's significance and reminding her of elements she needs to remember. Her presence here is no accident. She is a catalyst for change a beacon of hope in the dark times." Thai, who had been listening intently, suddenly piped up.

"Shirley, are you talking about when I lived in that other place?" she asked, her eyes heavy with dread.

"Because Daddy promised me we could see Mommy soon, and I really, really miss her, and I want to go there." Thai's voice bordered on a whine.

"I don't want to go to where I lived before. I want to stay here with my new family." The room fell silent. All eyes turned to Shirley, waiting for her response.

"Of course, Thai," Shirley said warmly.

"Your old life is over. This is your life, your family, and your home." Her tone softened.

"I was not implying that you must return now. There will, however, come a time when you will need to return, for guidance and training. This is about your powers, Sweetheart, and learning how to control them and use them properly."

"But how, Shirley?" Thai asked, brow furrowing.

"How can I go to that other place? Can Mommy and Daddy come?"

"It is too soon now, but when the time is right you will know," Shirley said.

"You will be more grown up than you are now, but not very much older." Her tone was firm.

"I just wanted to remind you that no matter how much you may want to, you cannot use your powers, not until you learn how to use them, and more importantly... control them."

"I promise, Shirley. Just like I did before, I will not use my powers," Thai said, rolling her eyes.

"Can we go see Mommy now?" she asked, almost pleading. Shirley's screen shimmered.

"You and your father will be able to go to her tomorrow," Shirley said, almost apologetically.

"I have some reprogramming to do on the teleport, then you will be able to go right where she is. I promise." Shirley continued, "You need to get your rest while I give Alex boring instructions. Is that alright?" she asked.

"Yes, Shirley. I'm kind of still tired anyway," Thai said, yawning.

"Besides, it's late and I don't want to wake Mommy up when we get there. She gets grumpy when you wake her up," she said, turning to Rowan.

"Doesn't she, Daddy?"

"She sure does. She's like a mean ol' grizzly bear," he said. Thai put her hands up pretending they were claws.

"Rawr!" she said loudly before running to her father.

"Night everyone," Thai called as Rowan picked her up.

"Love you all!" she said, blowing them all a kiss before resting her head on her father's shoulder.

"When I come back, someone better fill me in on what is going on," Rowan said, holding his daughter close.