Cantrell Chronicles RESET, Part One

The Departure, Part One, a Cantrell Chronicles Reset update, Part Two- Chapter Thirty-Five

They were all up before the crack of dawn, come Saturday.  King Erik heard a noise as he left his room to find his next younger brother standing in the hallway, in an emotional upheaval. Coming over to him he said, “Joey, what is it, what’s wrong? Have they left already?”

Shaking his head, “I don’t want dad to go,” Joey sobbed. He’s the glue, don’t you see? He’s the one who keeps us together. Keeps us in line.”

“I don’t either. But he can’t just drop Bree off and leave.  She could be in real danger,” King Erik said.  “Hey, hey, it’s going to be all right,” the young monarch said, wrapping his brother into a bear hug. “We’ve got this. It will be as if we’re dorming on campus, you’ll see.”

“Danger, how and from what?” Joey scrubbed the tears from his now blood-shot blue eyes.“Remember when T’Pau ordered T’Pran our nanny to bring Bree to the temple to live? You were pretty young at the time.”“I was six, she was five. Just turned five. They kept her for years.”
“Yes, they did. They were putting her through some rather intense training.”
“Training, for what? To make her not feel emotions anymore? That’s inhumane.”

Erik shook his head, drew in a quiet breath hoping upon hope he could find the words to put Joey at ease. "It is and it isn’t,” he said. “Listen to me, she used to freely let her mind wander. She even popped into my head a few times. That defies Vulcan Law. It is a heinous crime to press your thoughts into another’s without their express permission. It’s considered Mind Assault.”

“So, just what is this danger you insist she’s in? You seem unhurt by it.”

Realizing he may have misspoke, Erik squared his shoulders and said, "If she hasn’t gained control over her Wandering, as it’s called, and she does it again, enters another’s thoughts without permission — That person can press charges, the penalty of which, should she be found guilty of this crime, is death. That’s the whole reason dad agreed to her living at the Temple. And that’s what broke our mother,” he said, quietly.

Joey pulled back from his brother. “You had to tell me that, didn’t you.” He was suddenly light-headed. “But mom’s better, now. They healed her before we left, to their credit. Can’t they cure Bree, too?”

“Joe, Bree’s propensity isn’t an illness. It’s a Gift. There’s no treatment for that. All they can do is discourage her usage of it.”

“Which is what all of that training was supposed to do,” Joey said, letting out a sigh. 

“Yes. Listen, my job as a ruler of a country is to go over briefs. Through these I have learned that Earth’s greatest and number One Ally planet, Vulcan, is experiencing some unrest, lately. These tests Bree is being put through is to satisfy the High Council that she cannot be used and controlled by the opposition. If she shows to have great ability in Remote Surveillance, they will seek a Vulcan male to marry her, to bolster her abilities to Shield her thoughts from intrusion. Of this I can speak no further, except to say, Vulcan is on the verge of a civil war.”

“What you’re saying is, she’s virtually, a loose cannon,” Joey said, nearly going white. “Okay, so dad and mom and Adrian all have to go not only to lend their support, but to help guard her from being kidnaped. But why marry her off like that?”

 King Erik ran a hand over his face. Are you being purposefully naive, or are you really that ignorant?  Sighing, he said aloud, “Vulcans link their minds together for a variety of reasons. Most of the time it is part and parcel of marriage. The two can communicate their most intimate thoughts in complete privacy. Think about it. It’s considered in poor taste to show emotion in public. And with his mind sealed to hers, they are together, even when parsecs away from each other. Should she be “kidnaped” code for having her mind invaded, he can thwart any attempt to use her mind as a weapon for their vile purposes.” 

"So, this is a pretty big deal," Joey said. 
"Couldn't be bigger," King Erik said.

Hearing sounds of rustling downstairs, Erik turned to gaze into Joey’s face. “Are you okay, can you pull yourself together. I think we need to get downstair now, before they leave without us saying goodbye.”

The two hurried down the bent staircase, turning the corner to the last set of steps. Their family was still in the Grand Foyer. Wearing warm clothing as the air was so very crisp on this morning, despite it being one day until Spring 2278.

More to come, thanks for reading!