48 Kear - Part 2

"Seriously look at what you did Jev!" Paroppe was fuming at her brother.

"Why did you let her go?" Even Ayanni was angry. He tried to hold her back from running away, but Jev and pulled his arm off her. Sure she was powerful and dangerous, but she showed enough of her personality to know she wouldn't ever hurt people.

"Let me ask you guys a question. What happens if she loses control?"

"It's fine Jev."

"No Paroppe, It isn't fine." His tone was almost mocking her, but he was just frustrated at why no one could see what he was seeing. "She is very powerful and emotionally unstable. We have been with her for a month and a half, or so, and I have seen her cry and break down more than anyone else. If she cannot control her powers, I won't have her around me, and if I can, you both as well."

"She didn't do anything out of control with her powers. Once Lera started speaking, she couldn't even do magic."

"And now she can."

The room was quiet. For a few moments as Paroppe took in Jev's last words.

"Then why don't we teach her, make sure she can control herself and her powers?" Ayanni brought up a nice point, but Jev wasn't having it.

"What if, in a moment of weakness, she freezes you in time. No one could stop her, let alone any of us. How do we even know if that is the extent of her powers? She even said herself that she is just mimicking magic. What if she tries to control your minds if she gets angry, because I don't want to be anywhere near a being like that."

"Then you don't have to. Let's go Ayanni, we need to find her."

He did end up following Paroppe out of his house leaving Jev behind. Was Jev right? Maybe he was looking at Lera with a biased opinion. He only wanted answers to questions that so far she was in the position to answer. He has been trying to hold himself back from asking everything and hurting her again, but Jev already did that. Doing what Jev did to Lera wasn't right. At least he knew that and that was why he followed Paroppe to go and look for Lera.

---

For the next couple days, Jev split apart from their group. Paroppe was staying with Ayanni in his home, while Jev went out to find a tavern. It was difficult due to more people showing up for the Light festival. All the cheap inns around the city had been taken, so he had to go to a more expensive place. Sure he was thankful that he had Lera's money, but the real question he wanted to know was how she got all that money.

Anyway during these past few days their search had been going on like crazy. Searching over the city using a grid search. Sure they already checked the places they had been with Lera in the past, but she wasn't there. So they checked everywhere. At this point today, they were at home. It was night, really late. Spending all that time running around asking people if they had seen Lera and exhausted them.

"Where could she be?"

"She has her magic now. She could be anywhere." Ayanni just gulped down a glass of water before laying on his bed. Paroppe was in the smaller bed next to his. He looked over her way, as he saw her sit up.

"I forgot, but maybe I have a way to find her. I mean I have no idea, but there were things that I saw that I didn't notice right away." Paroppe dug around in her bag. She pulled out the tech pad she had gotten from Lera.

"Where did you… show me everything."

Paroppe showed Ayanni the pictures and video. There were more things, but she didn't really know what they did.

"I've seen my mother use this to send pictures to the others in the Counsel. Anything from scouting to paper work. It allows those in the Counsel to get information quickly. I haven't seen it before, but I'm sure the video works the same."

"That makes sense. I didn't have much time to play with it. But I did see a bunch of documents, so I wondered what that was all about. So it can connect all the other tech pads together. Do you know what this one does?"

"Actually I think my mother said she listened to music using that."

"Music? That's so cool, but I don't want to get off track."

"This one?"

"It lets you talk to others who have tech pads."

"Seriously?"

Ayanni just nodded. Paroppe pointed to the next one, but he didn't have any clue as to what that one was.

"It lets you type something…"

She didn't know what to write so she put in a random word. It came up with different results for the same word.

"Paroppe, I think it searches for information. Like what is put in gold."

It pulled up results ranging from pictures, gold coins, something about [AU 79] and so on.

"This is amazing, but I don't think any of it will help us find Lera."

"Actually it just might. Where did we take those pictures?"

"Great idea Ayanni. We will leave tomorrow then."

"I'm going to ask Jev if he will come along with us."

"Seriously? He doesn't even trust Lera, let alone us. Why should we ask him for help?"

"I agree, Jev was in the wrong. But it could be dangerous out there and three people is better than two."

"Seriously… Fine. I'll come along too. Do you know what inn he was staying in?"

"Yea. Good night, Paroppe."

Ayanni didn't really get any sleep as his mind was filled with thoughts about what he could learn with the tech pad. Paroppe didn't sleep either, but that was because they had a lead, at least a spot they hadn't checked yet.

---

"Ha… Why does this place have to be so steep? It would have been nice if there was a set of stairs at least."

"I'm pretty sure that's intended Paroppe."

"Whatever. Ayanni tell my brother to keep up."

"He's right here. Don't treat him like that."

"If she doesn't want to talk to me, that's her problem."

"My problem?" Paroppe turns around and slides a quarter of a meter before getting her balance. She moves closer to Jev. "I'm not the one with the problem. You don't like Lera because she is powerful. You're so scared that you hate her. So who really has the problem."

"Yes I'm scared of her powers. I'm scared if she goes around killing anyone who disagrees with her. What if she cannot handle something, in turn doesn't run away like she has been doing, and freezes everyone around her in time. Death without ever knowing what happened. Does that not scare you?"

"She has shown that she doesn't like to hurt people, even said it multiple times, so why can't you trust her?"

"Look at how she has been like since we met her. An emotionless slave. Then she changes her tune into some emotional child. Now she doesn't even know who she once was, but kind of does… It doesn't inspire any confidence in her mental state. What if next she just kills everyone she meets on site because they 'look' scary?"

"She wouldn't do that!"

"How do you know?"

"Come on you two. Let's just keep going. Once we get to the top we can take a break then."

"Ayanni, don't you think she will be up there?"

"That wasn't what I meant. Whether she is or isn't, we need to take a break. All of us need a break."

"Seriously! Let's just keep moving."

---

With her back against the tree, Lera just kept watch over the city. Early on since arriving on the hill, she just wanted to be alone. Alone with her thoughts and to make sure she kept herself in control. It hurt once she realized that by running away, Jev's words became true. She couldn't control her emotions, then how could she control her powers. So she has made a conscious effort to not use her powers in any way. Just being alive was all that she was limited to.

Since she didn't need food or water, she had no reason to leave the top of the hill. Most of her time was just watching the city from afar, doodling in the ground with a stick, grabbing handfuls of grass and letting them fly out of her hand in the wind. She didn't know how long she should stay or if she should ever leave. It could be her home from now on. Actually she knew that wouldn't last as this place would have travelers once in a while.

Speaking of which, she heard some voices coming up the hill. She didn't move too much, but enough to hide her face. If no one saw her or interacted with her, that would be best. Though she would be lonely…

"Lera!"

She turned to see Paroppe, Ayanni and Jev arrive. They seemed just as surprised to see her as she was to see them. Though she didn't move to meet them. She stayed where she was.

Paroppe jumped on her and hooked her arms around Lera. "I'm so happy you're safe!"

"I'm sorry I left, but Jev was right."

"He wasn't right and before you deny it, listen to me. Maybe right now, you feel the way you do, but I can help you. He is more afraid that you will hurt someone, but I know you wouldn't ever do that. Before you are like you are now, you wouldn't even hurt me. Of course you told us that you don't like to hurt people, but actions speak louder than words. I know you won't hurt others. I can see how much that hurts you…"

Paroppe was right, Jev was wrong. She wouldn't hurt people, not intentionally. The reason she couldn't think she could control herself was due to what they had told her about how they all met. That was the past, and now she could be better. At least she could learn and that was what Paroppe was trying to say. Now she felt silly for not seeing that earlier.

"Thank you Paroppe."

"Of course. Now scoot over I'm tired from walking up this stupid hill."

Paroppe leaned against the tree and leaned her head on Lera's shoulder. Lera looked at Ayanni and Jev. They were farther away, but close enough to talk.

"Thank you for coming all the way over here. I'm sorry I ran away."

"Don't worry about it, but later when we get back, I have some questions I want to ask."

"I'll try to answer them Ayanni."

Jev didn't respond or look her way. So she didn't talk to him. She just thought about what her goals were…

---

The stars were out and the sight was still a beauty to behold. It was the best thing that Lera loved about this spot and why it truly felt like a safe place for her. Ayanni was just waking up from her nap. The others never took a nap. Ayanni and Jev had talked to each other in the beginning, but they whispered it so she couldn't hear them. She didn't try to either.

"Lera, how are you feeling?" Paroppe whispered her questions.

"I'm alright. I just don't really know what to do… Anyway how was your nap?"

"Seriously, I feel refreshed. We can head back… Could you teleport us all back to Ayanni's home?"

"I can, but I would at least like to make sure Jev and Ayanni are alright with me doing that first. I don't…"

"It's fine. I'll handle it." Paroppe stood up. "Lera's going to teleport us all back home. Got a problem with that?" She was glaring at Jev the whole time she talked to them. "Of course if you don't want to, have fun walking back!"

Ayanni and Jev whispered to each other. Jev looked back and forth between me and Ayanni, before letting out a sigh. Jev turned towards me and spoke. "If either of them are hurt, I will hunt you down."

"Seriously! Jev what are you doing!" Paroppe was about to beat him, but Lera stopped him.

"Hey don't… Please, Jev don't say that." Ayanni wasn't sure what to say. He wanted to keep Paroppe and his best friend on speaking terms, but Jev wasn't making the situation any better.

"Paroppe, Jev has a point. But I will make sure that you are all safe."

Paroppe turned towards Lera, she was concerned. "Are you ok to do this?"

"I can do it. I know I can. I also know that nothing can go wrong. At least that is how I feel…" Lera turned to face everyone. "Are you all ready?"

Ayanni and Paroppe nodded. She wasn't sure if Jev was ready, but at this point she knew that he only cared about his friends' safety. So she teleported them to Ayanni's home. No strange effects or time elapsed. They were fine and all was good.

"How do you two feel?"

"I'm fine Jev." Ayanni responded.

Paroppe didn't even look at Jev, but she answered it towards Lera. "I'm fine. Thank you Lera."

That was awkward for Lera to deal with. Though before anything else happened, Jev spoke up.

"I'm leaving. Take care you two." He turned towards Lera, his face was serious. "Remember what I said and prove that you can control yourself."

"Get out of here Jev! Seriously if you don't I will make sure you get out!" Paroppe was angry due to his obvious threats to Lera."

---

"Thank you for the tea."

Lera looked over to Ayanni who had just poured her a cup. He sat across from her and Paroppe. She was curious why Paroppe was sticking so close to her. Her best guess was that because she had left, she wanted to keep her close by so she didn't do it again. That made her feel good, but her feelings about it were mixed in general. After all a part of her keeps saying to stay away from everyone and everything, to be alone. Though she doesn't want to. A contradiction, like most of the things she feels.

"I have some questions Lera. I want to know everything."

"I'll do my best to answer."

"First, let's start with your memories. Anything new or something that you 'feel' needs to be said about your earliest memories?"

"I mean… Nothing has changed. I don't really remember anything before that one day, like ten days ago. Things are familiar, " she turns towards Paroppe, and then back at the Ayanni, " and others are just emotions about things. Once I experience something, then I can correct my knowledge, but it doesn't always work."

"Correcting your knowledge… You mean when I asked you about your magic and you said that it mimics magic instead?"

"Yes."

"Well that isn't bad. Next, though I think I already know this answer, and I promised Jev I would ask, what's your goal?"

"My goal?"

"What do you hope to accomplish? What do you want to do, where do you want to go? That type of thing. What do you want out of life?"

"I… I don't know." Lera turned towards Paroppe to find that she was glaring at Ayanni. Probably mostly at the mention of Jev. "I want to find out who I am, or at least who I used to be. I want to be in control of my life, my powers."

"So this next one, started it all… What do you know about tech pads?"

"I know that… Actually I don't really know about them. It's on the tip of my tongue." Lera took a few moments to think about it some more. They felt like a convenient tool that she had used, but that was it. She didn't even know what it looked like, let alone what it did. "It's some tool?" She asked that more than as a statement.

"Paroppe, could you please get it?"

"Seriously? Fine, I'll be right back."

As soon as Paroppe left, Ayanni quickly spoke.

"You can freeze her in time right? Without line of sight? If you can, do it right now."

"What… okay."

Lera knew that she wouldn't hurt Paroppe, but she still hesitated that she was doing it behind Paroppe's back. Though from the way Ayanni was talking, he was serious and she felt that to stay on good terms with him, it was best to do as he said. Lera froze Paroppe.

"This won't take long, I just want to make sure that she doesn't hear us or come back out. Jev and I talked, and it seems that the way you left from before that you agree on some level with Jev. When he talked about you being in control he did mean your powers for sure. You are without a doubt the most powerful being that we know of and maybe the most in the world. The thing is, your emotional state is a problem. Can you control yourself, your emotions, and guarantee that you won't hurt those around you?"

That was why he had her freeze Paroppe. He wasn't wrong, she felt the same way. Just she wasn't sure she could do it. There was so much that she wanted to know, but she knew, felt, that when she did find out, it would hurt her. That pain made her forget, that pain damaged her, she was broken. That was a fact.

"I don't know, but I'm trying. I really am. I just want to know what happened first before I do anything else."

Ayanni was searching for what she really felt. Though her emotions were out there for him to easily see, he had to make sure she wasn't lying.

"Alright, but one more question before you unfreeze Paroppe. How do you feel about her?"

"What do you mean?"

"I just want to know about your feelings towards Paroppe."

"She's nice, but a friend. I feel safe around her, but I don't want to hurt her."

"I'm not saying that you do, I just wanted to know your real feelings. She is protective of you. I don't know if she has romantic feelings or just thinks of you as a sister. I wanted to make sure that you are at least aware that what you do now will greatly affect her. I care for her, differently, but just as Jev does."

"I see…"

"Jev isn't that bad of a guy, he just cares for us. Your powers are scary and unknown is all. Anyway can you please unfreeze Paroppe, so we can talk about the tech pad?"

Lera nodded and a minute later, Paroppe came out with the tech pad.

"Got it."

When Lera sees the tech pad in Paroppe's hand, she feels happy about it. It is something that has happy memories intertwined with it. She puts a smile on her face.

"Please tell me everything you know about this."

"I know that I gave Paroppe this. When I did I was happy and we had fun. That's at least all that I know… Can I hold it?"

"Of course Lera!"

Lera grabs a hold of it. Looking around, until she finds the switch to turn the screen on. It already has a few apps.

"It already has a few apps. The internet, camera mode, instant messaging, and music. There's a folder for a few games. I remember that one!"

Paroppe got closer and looked at it as Lera clicked on one of the game apps. It was just a puzzle game where you had to fit different blocks into the right spots. Before she could start playing, there was a loud clap coming from Ayanni.

"Let's stay on track for now and start with the first one. What's 'The internet'?"

"Actually I'm not sure, but I just know that's what it's called. I know you can look up various things and it will tell you the facts about them."

"Camera mode?"

"It allows you to take pictures and videos." Though now that she thought about it, video was just moving pictures. At least she remembered something about it.

"I can understand instant messaging and music. Now the games, are they only for entertainment?"

"I think so, I don't see what else they'd be."

"Alright." He leaned back into his chair, before continuing. He was clearly excited, but he was doing his best to hold himself back. "Can you make more?"

Now that she thought about it she could. All she needed to do was copy the device she was holding and… there was now another one in her hand.

"Awesome!" All three of them exclaimed. She handed the tech pads, one to Paroppe and the other to Ayanni. She then made another for her wrist.

"How did you do that? The same way you teleport or freeze time?"

"Yea it's the same."

"Then can you copy this hot tea?" Yea, she could. So she did just that and made an extra cup of tea. It was as hot as she wanted . She picked it up to taste it and it was the same as what she was drinking before. "Can you make a sandwich?" There wasn't a sandwich to copy, but she could make one. At least from memory. So she made one that she remembered eating and then she thought of one that was just a random sandwich.

"We had that one about a week ago… What's this one Lera?" Paroppe asked her.

"I just thought of a random sandwich and well… that was the end result."

"So you don't need to copy things, you can create whole new things. Is it safe to eat?"

"When I imagined it, it wanted to be able to eat it with you guys, so it should be safe for us."

She then imagined it cut three ways and then everyone took one. Lera and Paroppe both took bites, but Ayanni waited for them to go first. It had a nutty scent, but there was a leafy purple vegetable on it. There was a complementary wooden, or smoky, like butter. The last bit was like the 'meat' of the sandwich, that was a slightly dry, thin brick, looking fruit.

"It reminds me of a tree, but it tastes amazing!" Paroppe exclaimed and proceeded to consume the entire thing. Weirdly enough it also matched well with the tea as Paroppe said. Which Lera agreed with.

Ayanni took a bite with a grand smile on his face as he ate it.

"This is absolutely delicious. It tastes just like I would if I imagined a tree. The sight, sounds, and smells. I had tasted a tree before and this isn't like tasting a tree, it is a… memory."

"That actually sounds right."

Both of them looked at me, but I didn't know. It was just random, but the complimentary tea was just coincidental. Or maybe it wasn't and it was just based on some memory of hers from a tree. She didn't really know, but maybe she could find out. So she thought about it and the information came.

"It was completely random, but I looked it up where it was from. Apparently I can do that." She felt the need to explain when she saw the other two questioning her. "It's from a planet, in a different universe, at least this particular sandwich is. They have a machine that can replicate memories into foods."

"What do you mean planet and universe?"

"Ah well… I just know it's not from this planet. I don't know exactly, but yea…"

"This is so amazing. Seriously Lera, you're amazing!"

"Yea, you are…" She looked at the two of them. She was feeling really proud and happy with herself. Their praise did go straight to her head, but before she did anything else, Ayanni spoke up again, after collecting himself. "You can go anywhere. You can even create things out of nothing, not just copy them. You can find out any information you want. Are you a… How about you teleport us to your home?"

"What?" Both Paroppe and Lera asked.

"You don't know where your home is, right Lera? Then with what powers you do have, you should be able to get us there without h… a problem. Wherever your home is, before staying with us, it might just have answers to your questions.

Lera thought about it. She did think the same, 'feel' the same. They could come along. She knew that it would be alright and that they would be fine.

"Yea, let's do that. Are you two ready?"

"Right now?" Paroppe interjected, but she was ready herself. She was excited like the rest of them.

Both Lera and Ayanni nodded. Paroppe grabbed Lera's hand and Ayanni did the same. Lera knew they didn't have to do that, but why not. She could keep them safe no matter what.

In the next moment they found themselves in a dark room.