He kept driving along the dark road going as fast as he dared not
wanting to get pulled over or get in an accident. The weather was grim and
somewhat omnious looking it seemed, but he didn’t let that discourage
him and just kept going. ‘Better pull over and give B’Elanna a call soon or
else she might get angry.’ The driver thought and stopped at a small gas
station.
Back at the Vawntika Mansion-
B’Elanna could barely hear the phone as it rang several times,
finally after what was probably the thousandth ring she realized the phone
was ringing and picked it up. “Hello?!” She yelled into it.
“Ow! B’Elanna! Easy on my ears.” Heath’s voice said.
“Oh, sorry. I’m just a bit angry.”
“Why is that?”
B’Elanna growled and tried to explain, “Well the thing is, uh,
Mary is out to town and I kind of had to cook for myself and Sofi. Well, um,
I kinda of burnt it and the fire alarm’s blaring and.. It’s not good.”
“Right, so that’s why it took you forever to pick up the phone?”
“Yeah, basically. Just a second I got to tell Sofi that it’s ready.”
B’Elanna said then set the phone down and walked up to the Library, “Sofi,
it’s ready.”
*If you think I’m eating that, you’re out of your mind.*
B’Elanna sighed, “Well that wasn’t very nice, but I suppose you
are right, as usual. I think I burnt it for so long it’s not edible anymore
anyways. Oh well.”
*Whose on the telephone?*
“Heath, why? You wanna talk to him?”
*No. As said before I don’t want anything to do with that
Heath.*
B’Elanna sighed again as she stared at the shut Library door.
For some reason Sofi had closed the door and didn’t want anybody going
in. “Okay, well if you get hungry you know where the kitchen is. Though, it
might be a bit smoky.”
*Okay. Thank you.*
B’Elanna nodded at the door which she caught herself doing
and started to wonder why she would nod at a door, but then she
remembered that Heath was on the phone waiting for her to get back. So
she quickly went off to talk with him.
Sofi sighed as she heard B’Elanna walk back down to the
kitchen. She was laying in the Library on some pillows she had put there,
slowly Sofi looked down at her new long legs. As slow as possible Sofi tried
to stand up on her new legs, but then fell down on the pillows after a few
seconds. ‘Why can’t I get this right? Well, granted that was only my second
time trying. Perhaps three is my lucky number.’ And Sofi tried to stand
again, this time she stayed up, ‘I guess it is.’ For the first time Sofi got to
look around the Library from standing up on her legs, ‘I’m so much taller
now, I can get to the chair and hop in it no problem. Well perhaps there
would be a slight problem, B’Elanna said once that horses have a little
trouble trying to stand up for their first time so I guess it’s only logical I
would have a bit of trouble myself.’ Sofi carefully moved her left front leg
forward a little and tried to walk, much to her surprise she didn’t fall down.
In a few seconds she was walking around the room, *I can walk!* She
shouted out of joy.
Down in the kitchen B’Elanna had finished talking with Heath
and cleaning up now she was simply sitting in a chair. Then she heard, *I
can walk!* B’Elanna shrugged, but then though. ‘Wait. Sofi can walk?’ In an
instant B’Elanna was flying up the stairs and knocked on the Library door,
“Sofi?”
*Come in B’Elanna.*
B’Elanna opened the door to the Library and poked her head in,
“Sofi?” She asked and looked around the room, but then stopped when her
eyes fell on Sofi now a grown White Terran Shrape. “Sofi! You, you’re a
Terran!”
*Yes I am.* Sofi said back to a shocked B’Elanna.
Later that day Sofi lay peacefully in the Garden she had walked
so much her new legs were tired and she needed to take a bit of a rest.
“You know what Sofi?” B’Elanna asked from where she was sitting on the
bench. “Now you’re perhaps a bit big to fit in my backpack if we went for a
ride.”
*Yes I believe I am a bit bigger than I used to be, eh? Well no
matter I can walk beside you.*
“What about running?”
*Hmm. Running? I suppose.*
B’Elanna watched as the sun slowly set and then yawned, “I’m
going to bed Sofi.” She said and Sofi simply nodded to her.
Tomorrow B’Elanna was suddenly woken up by a loud sound,
when her senses were awake she realized it was music. ‘Sofi.’ She thought
to herself, ‘Must be having a good day, or else she would have such lively
music on.’ B’Elanna crawled out of her bed and almost wanted to crawl
back in and sleep the rest of the day, but she stopped herself from doing
so. ‘I’m so not a morning person.’ She thought to herself as she trudged to
the music room still in her pajama’s. B’Elanna walked through the door
and found Sofi prancing about and shaking her head back and forth her tail
was doing the same except her head went left while her tail went right. Just
then the song ended and Sofi seemed to smile then she spotted B’Elanna,
*Hello.*
“Sofi, were you, dancing?” B’Elanna asked.
*Trying to dance is more like it, but I found it to be quite fun
once I got started. Having legs is great. Now I can reach stuff and move
quickly and,* Sofi sighed, *It’s fantastic.*
B’Elanna nodded and smiled, “I’m happy for you Sofi, but I’m
not that happy to say you were my alarm clock today.”
*Deepest apologies B’Elanna, I didn’t mean to wake you up. I
suppose I just got carried away.*
“Eh, that’s okay.” B’Elanna said then rubbed her eyes while she
said, “I’m going to go get around then perhaps would you like to go to the
lake?”
*Sounds wonderful.*
B’Elanna sat on Precious as she waited for Sofi to arrive down
at the stable. *Sorry I’m a bit on the late side, but if you don’t mind, could
you put this book in your backpack for me? Perhaps I might be able to read
it once we get up to the lake.*
B’Elanna smiled at Sofi who came walking up to Precious
holding her book in her mouth. B’Elanna reached down and grabbed the
book then took of her backpack and put it in. “That’s okay that you’re a bit
late.”
Sofi nodded, *So, shall we be off?*
“Yes, I think we shall.”
B’Elanna started off with Precious to the lake and Sofi trudged
along with them. After a while Sofi seemed to be getting a bit bored,
‘Perhaps she would like to go faster.’ B’Elanna nudged Precious a little and
clicked to her, the paint instantly knew what she wanted and went into a
trot. Sofi looked up at B’Elanna with a what-are-you-doing look on her face
and remained walking, she just didn’t get it. So B’Elanna decided to
canter. This time when B’Elanna sped up Sofi seemed to get a scared look
on her face and quickly started running as fast as she could after Precious,
*Don’t leave me!* Sofi shouted out. Much to B’Elanna’s amazement Sofi
went flying by Precious and she didn’t even stop there, she kept going until
she got to the lake. When B’Elanna got to the lake she looked at Sofi
stunned.
“Sofi, you.” B’Elanna didn’t really know what to say, “You out
ran Precious. I mean sure she wasn’t going as fast as she could, but she
was still going at a canter and you just, flew by.”
*Yes, I did. That was actually quite fun.*
B’Elanna sighed then smiled at Sofi, “Well I’m glad to hear that
you’re having fun. If you don’t mind me I’m going to go put Precious
someplace where perhaps she could munch on some grass or whatever and
then I’ll be back.”
Sofi seemed to smile in her own way then troted off to the edge
of the lake, *Okay.*
“I’m back Sofi, just to let you know, Precious is over there.”
B’Elanna said pointing in the direction where she had put Precious.
Sofi nodded and started to draw in the sand. *Interesting isn’t
it?* Sofi asks, but then knows that B’Elanna probably doesn’t understand
what she’s talking about, *Heath not knowing about his past that is.*
“Oh, I suppose so.”
*I a way, I don’t know about my past much either. The Bishel
Dragon’s I mean, I know somewhat about them or course, but, not a ton.*
B’Elanna looks at Sofi curiously, “I told you about them didn’t I?
Well if you would like to learn more about them you could always go to the
Bishen Realm and find information there.”
Sofi was startled B’Elanna would suggest such an idea, *I can’t
go there, I would have to come in contact with other’s. I do not wish to do
that.*
B’Elanna sighed, “Aren’t you going to have to anyway? For your
Shantel?”
Sofi blinked a couple of times, *You’re right, my goodness. I
forgot about my Shantel.* Sofi slumped down and walked the water in the
lake. *My Shantel is most likely going to be with other’s isn’t it? Or is it not
going to be with other’s? What is a White Terran to do?* Sofi thought for a
couple of second, *I suppose I shall either lay here or I shall ask you for my
book.* She thought for a few seconds, *My book shall wait, I enjoy laying
here.*
B’Elanna sits down near Sofi and says, “Don’t worry, I’ll be
there with you.”
*I know, I know.*
It was quiet for several seconds perhaps even a couple minutes when
Sofi suddenly turned to B’Elanna and asked, *Does the Mansion have a
basement?*
B’Elanna tilted her head at Sofi with a puzzled look on her face,
“Well, eh, I think so. Why?”
*Just cuious that’s all, would I possibly be able to see it?*
“Sure I guess, when do you want to see it?”
*Well, how about right now? We can go back then go to the
basement and just look around.*
B’Elanna sighed and then got up, “If you want to Sofi.” B’Elanna
said then went to retreave Precious while Sofi got up from her spot and
yawned.
“Coming Sofi?” B’Elanna asked and Sofi turned around to see
B’Elanna was ready to go.
*Yes, yes I am.* Sofi said and trotted over to B’Elanna.
“Why do you want to see the basement?”
*Just, curious I suppose you could say.*
B’Elanna shrugged and found herself wondering if Sofi could out
run Precious if Precious was going as fast as she could, ‘Let’s give it a try.’
She thought and quickly had Precious canter, then nudged her to go as
fast as the little paint could go. Surprisingly though, Sofi shot right by and
reached the stables first. “Woh Precious.” B’Elanna said when finally
arriving at the entrance of the stables where Sofi was grinning and
prancing about.
*Did you really think you could beat me? Ha!* Sofi said and
pranced circles around Precious who looked at her with caution.
B’Elanna looked down at Precious and patted her neck assuring
her it was okay that she lost the little race, to make it up to the paint
whose pride was obviously hurt she pulled a carrot out of her pocket and
reached forward to give it to her. Precious took the carrot happily and
seemed to feel better because of it. B’Elanna got of the black and white
horse then led her it the stables.
Sofi pranced along after B’Elanna, *I won, I won. Sorry, I know
I’m behaving like a child.*
B’Elanna almost laughed, “That’s fine Sofi, you didn’t even act
like a child when you were a child or more precise Wyrm. Silly Sofi, you can
act that way you aren’t hurting anyone.”
*Question. If you could buy anything, well you probably can
anyway, but what would you buy?*
“Interesting question, what brought that up? Nevermind,
probably a book or a movie. Um, let me see.” B’Elanna said then thought
for a few seconds, “I’d buy a helicopter.”
*A helicopter? Why?*
“Cause I’ve just always kinda wanted one, I think they’re cool I
guess. Besides I want to be able to fly one and go places and yeah.”
*Well I wasn’t expecting that for an answer, but I suppose it
works.*
B’Elanna smiled then went to put Precious back into her stall,
“What about you Sofi?” She asked when she got back.
*All of the movies, music, book, etc in the world. I’d buy every
Library in the world and perhaps a few glorious garden’s throughout the
world.*
“Sounds wonderful, so are we off to the basement?”
*Certainly.*
“Okay, but Sofi?”
*Yes B’Elanna?*
B’Elanna scratched her head then said, “Well the thing is I don’t
really know where the entrance to the basement is, in fact I’m not positive
we really have a basement, but I think we do because my Mother used to
always say she was in the basement or something of the sort when I wanted
to know where she went.”
Sofi nodded, *Interesting, well we will just have to search for the
entrance.*
Sofi and B’Elanna looked everywhere downstairs and then
everywhere on the second floor, finally they arrived on the third floor, but
neither of them could imagine how somebody would get to the basement
from the third floor. Sofi and B’Elanna slowly entered a room with a desk
and bookcase in it. On the desk was an older computer, little else was in
the room besides the chair at the desk. *B’Elanna?* Sofi asked, *What
room is this?*
“My Mother’s room, well one of her rooms. I’ve never been in
here before, my Mother once said that I would only be able to come in here
when she thought I was ready.”
*Ready for what?*
“That’s the strange thing, she never told me what I’d be ready
for.”
Sofi shivered, *Great, well I suppose we should just look around
then.*
B’Elanna nodded and walked around the room, but then she
was a odd green looking pad on the side of the bookcase. She didn’t know
what it was for so she decided to leave it alone, but for some reason she
kept finding herself staring at it. ‘I wonder.’ She thought and placed her
finger on the green circle. Suddenly something beeped softly and the
bookcase slid to the side to reveal a chamber behind it.
Sofi jumped what seemed to her to be about 5 feet when she
saw B’Elanna walking over to the small opening behind the bookcase,
*That wasn’t there a second ago.* She said.
B’Elanna ignored Sofi for a few seconds and looked at the
buttons on the left side of the chamber, one had the letter U on it and the
other had the letter D on it, “U and D?” B’Elanna asked herself, “Up and
Down!” She announced then turned to Sofi, “Sofi come here!” Sofi seemed
to shrug and did as B’Elanna said. B’Elanna was just about to press down
when she saw another button with the word close next to it, “Close?”
B’Elanna wasn’t sure about it, but she pressed the button close and the
next thing she new was that the bookcase was sliding back to it’s original
spot then another door appeared in front of them blocking the view of
behind the bookcase. B’Elanna was thankful that there was a small light in
the chamber that flickered on just then and she pressed Down.
Sofi jumped again when the little chamber started moving, but
then realized what it was, *An elevator!* She said happily.
B’Elanna looked down at Sofi, “Yup. I think we’re going to the
basement.”
*Exciting.*
B’Elanna just nodded then suddenly they stopped and the door
opened. Slowly B’Elanna and Sofi went through the door to find themselves
in a room with silver walls, ceiling and floor. The room was quite large and
straight across from Sofi and B’Elanna was what appeared to be a very
large computer screen with speaks on both sides of it and a desk below it
with a small black chair. B’Elanna looked at Sofi who nodded at her and so
B’Elanna went over to the chair and sat down. She looked at the silver
metal desk, the only thing there was a red button. Not knowing what could
happen B’Elanna pressed it and suddenly something said, “Hello Mistress
Sandy!”
“*AH!*” B’Elanna and Sofi shouted, but then looked up at the
computer screen to see a small man.
The small man on the computer screen looked at B’Elanna then
Sofi and then back to B’Elanna again. “You’re not Sandy. But who? Only
somebody with the Vawntika DNA can get down here. B’Elanna?! It is you!
It’s B’Elanna Vawntika! My goodness! You have grown! Last time I saw you,
you were a small baby!”
B’Elanna tried to say something but found she could barely get
the words out, “W, who aa, aare y-you?”
“Allow me to introduce myself. I am the computer that your
Mother created, highly advanced mind you, but most, well just your
Mother. Only she knew about me, but anyway. Eh...My name is Anak.”
“Anak? My Mother created you?”
The image of the man scratched his dark brown hair and his
green/blue eyes seemed to dance while he nodded to B’Elanna. Sofi looked
at the image, ‘This is a computer, but it’s just like a person.’ She thought.
“Where’s your Mother? Is she around?” Anak asked.
B’Elanna looked at him and frowned, “My Mother is dead.”
Anak looked at her like she was kidding around with him, but
then found that she wasn’t, “She is?” He asked, “Well, that’s sad news. I
always thought Sandy would be around forever. I’d sulk and pout and cry
right now, but I’m afraid that now I must tell you B’Elanna about this
basement. First of all, this is the main room, where I am at. There are
many different rooms here in this basement and soon you will surely know
about all of them, but first, how old are you?”
“14.” B’Elanna said, but then Sofi nudged her and she
remember she wasn’t 14 anymore, “15.” She said correcting herself.
“15!” Anak gasped then he smiled, “It’s time then.” He said
then suddenly off to one side of B’Elanna and Sofi a door opened to a new
room. “Go in there B’Elanna, that is your 15 birthday present from your
Mother to you.”
B’Elanna hesitated and didn’t go in, but Sofi nudged her again
and she took a step towards the room. *Go on B’Elanna, if you don’t mind
me I’m going to look around a bit.* Sofi said then turned to Anak, *And
you better not bother me.*
Anak smiled at Sofi, “Of course not young Shrape.”
Sofi was startled, *How do you know that I’m a Shrape? I could
be a full Bishen for all you know.*
Anak laughed, “I know everything.”
Sofi glared, *You didn’t know that Sandy Vawntika had died.*
Anak frowned at Sofi, “One thing I didn’t know, or perhaps I did
know, but didn’t want to believe.”
Sofi kept one eye on Anak as she ran over to the room B’Elanna
had disappeared into. *B’Elanna?* Sofi asked as she walked around the
large room, but then spotted B’Elanna in the center of it staring at a black
helicopter with a red V on both sides. *Wow.* Sofi muttered, *That’s her
birthday present from her Mother?* She asked herself.
Just then a computer screen on the wall flickered on and Anak
appeared again. Sofi glared at him and simply glanced at her then turned
to B’Elanna who was just staring at her helicopter. Anak smiled and then
said, “Eh, Happy Birthday! Kind of late, but oh well. Your Mother got this
for you when you were a little baby she was planning on giving it to you on
your 15th Birthday, but now that she isn’t here to present it to you, I
assumed it was up to me.”
B’Elanna looked up at Anak, “Don’t you have to be a certain age
to fly one of these? I don’t know how to fly a helicopter.”
Anak ignored B’Elanna’s first question and went to her
statement, “Of course you don’t know how to fly a helicopter, yet that is.”
Anak appeared to have something more to say, but then said, “Mary is
calling you B’Elanna. I think you’d better get back up there along with Sofi
to see what she wants. Come back later and I will teach about this place or
rather basement.”
B’Elanna nodded and then Sofi and B’Elanna went back to the
elevator to go see what Mary wanted. B’Elanna sighed as she went
downstairs along with Sofi, she didn’t know what to say. Sofi looked up at
B’Elanna, *Interesting day to say the least. I don’t think I like that Anak
that much though. He get’s on my nerves.* B’Elanna just nodded at Sofi
who continued, *Well if you don’t mind me I’m going to go clear my head
and read in the Garden. Perhaps you could join me after you’ve talked with
Mary?* B’Elanna nodded somemore, *Okay then. See you there.* Sofi said
and pranced off to get a book and go to the Garden.
A little while later Sofi was laying in her tall grass in the Garden,
but she wasn’t reading. Instead she was simply listening to music on a
portable stereo she had B’Elanna place out in the Garden when Sofi was
still a Wyrm. ‘Well now that B’Elanna has her odd basement with that Anak
and her helicopter I wonder if life is going to change that much.’ Sofi
thought, ‘Nah.’ She decided. Sofi looked up to see B’Elanna walking
through the tall grass to Sofi. When B’Elanna reached Sofi she laid down
next to her. *What did Mary say?* Sofi asked.
“Just that dinner will be ready a bit later cause she wants to get
the smoke smell out of the kitchen or something like that.” B’Elanna said.
Sofi nodded and stared at the little insects in the tall grass while B’Elanna
stared up at the sky. Little else was said between the two as they laid in the
tall grass waiting for Mary to step outside and tell them dinner was ready.