*song* “Here Comes the Rain Again”

By The Eurythmics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzFnYcIqj6I

The Signal. His voice was strong and
Powerful. “Start writing,” the pen
Seems to have a mind of its own. “Just
Write as I say and tell it. Minds
Wonder…some wonder too much…”

The signal was strong, clear and steady
Now…much different than before. A

Haze seemed everywhere following after
And before the written words.
He smiled. This was a new approach for
Varence. He stood tall and proud, his
Creamy hair and pale complexion and
Chiseled face were comforting to see. “Ah,
I have not been absent that long now
Have I?”

There was no need to explain or
Answer, he knew.

“By and by the ages pass and nothing
Changes…no matter where you go or
Look, things are the same…A thousand
Years could pass and the same
Scenarios play out over and over…Yet
Still we wait and search for one bright
Chance…something bright, now that’s
Worth waiting for. Again that smile
Of his. Then he pulled up a chair and
Sat down as if it were a throne.

He nodded once smiling. “Give them
Magic. Open a message and share
Words and secrets a few times and
Where does it get you? Demands…
Always more. It never ends or changes.

What is history? What is civilization…
If you watch it, how does it grow or
Climb? Do they differ on other worlds?
Not really…some are more drawn out,
More romantic…or more tortured, that
Is all. Would it matter if you compared
A thousand different worlds? One
Always has to be the best or worst,
True or not?

“Diversity is the constant. Acceptance
Is the key. You cannot interfere this
Way…That is how worlds stand apart…
In their uniqueness…In how they
Evolve with such things. It is a lot
Of arguing over nothing, because in
The end it is always about finding
Peace for everyone.”

He leaned forward more seriously,
His expression mild but kind, firm
Yet friendly. This was Varence at his
Best. “Give them Magic…Tell them
Stories they never knew…And they
Will always want more. But
This is not a two way door. Nothing
Ever changes...
Build a bridge and make it obvious
Or no one will know it’s there…But
One day we will take that bridge away.

Spare some time and prove yourself,
Yet always they want more. Perhaps
I want more…I wonder how I
Would get it…Wait, Watch, Listen?
Some things are worth waiting for.”
He nodded.

“Look down upon a world and watch…
See an age disappear…to vanish into
A mystery that the next era doubts
Ever existed…riddles? Myth? 100 years
From now, no one will believe half
Of the current details…What could
Change that? Someone from another
Time? Someone who could see into
The Great Beyond, who could decipher
Mysteries…Someone who could look
Upon life and cheat death…and always
Find an answer first…The Watchers
Know this riddle well…It’s on many
Worlds. But when they search for a
Light…Together that becomes a
Compass…that’s one chance. One.

“Now if someone bothers you with a
Question…” Varence laughed. “Answer
This way…Why is there an ‘R’
In Christopher?”

“What?”

“Why is there an ‘R’ in Christopher?”
He asked plainly. “Tell me.”

“Huh? What kind of Question is that?
How can I ask that? How should I know
Why there is an ‘R’ in Christopher?
Because God put it there! I don’t
Know. What?”

“Exactly!” Varence exclaimed. “Just
Leave it that way Bill. That’s perfect.”

“You’re getting stranger.”

“History is strange. Nothing makes
Sense. There is no logic…things
Happen, then for ages after, you
Wonder why…that’s the riddle…

Now let me ask you…” Varence
Leaned back a bit in the chair, very
Calm, astute…his stare was overpowering.
“Civilizations rise and fall…everywhere.
Now why is that? Because they
Splinter…just before they fall
There is a power play …
Too many thirsting for power chase
Their own and the once magnificent
Structure falls apart…Most commonly
Accompanied by disasters. It takes
A disciplined mind to survive this…
When forces splinter.”

There was a sound, someone was entering
The room…Soft steps. Then, there she
Was, elegant…Regal, beautiful. Her
Golden hair and piercing shimmering
Icy eyes were like crystals, solid. And
She did not look happy. “What
Are you doing? I thought we agreed
There was to be silence…”

Varence didn’t even flinch, he only
Smiled. “I couldn’t stay away for
Long. I had to speak with him.”

She sighed, then quickly marched up
Beside him in the hazy light and
Pulled up a chair. “Well, if you’re
Going to speak to him, then I
Will also.” She sat down firmly. “Besides
I would not have you say anything
Without a more reasonable voice
Present.” She leaned to me. “I can
Only imagine what he would say…”

“Ceres…” Varence groaned.

She turned to him with that charming
Smile, “Oberon.”

“Why? Please do not call me that.” He said.

“Feeling more serious then?” She
Teased him.

“Please…” Varence winced briefly.
“There is a tone here. “He looked at
Her slowly. “Say something inspirational.
Something to move mountains…
For him.”

“Please?” She tilted her head. “Is
That in jest, or are you being sincere?”

“Please.” His tone clearly said
He meant it.

This must have taken her by surprise
As she blinked then turned to me…
Appearing to search for very careful
Words to say. “This is not what
Was planned…”

“And plans always work so well?’
Varence laughed. “The unexpected
Surprises make things work, not plans…”

Ceres smiled, her eyes playfully
Rolling upward…then to him, then to
The notebook, then to me. “I see your
Point…Fine then. Something brief.”

“You seem sure you could say it
So simply?” Varence asked her.

“Who are you here for?” She asked him.

“You know my position. Civilizations.” He
Answered her. “You?”

“I am here for the animals, as I have
Always been. Nothing more.” But then
She smiled kindly, warmly. “And now
For him. That is all.”

“That is your point?” He asked. “That
Was your marvelous work of words?”

“What would you have me say?” She
Asked.

Varence pointed to me, to the notebook.
“Ask him.”

“Why?” She asked. “Does anyone
Ask about me?”

“I do get a lot of questions of interest
On Ceres, yes.” I told them.

She laughed. “Why? I am here for
The animals, I just said. This is not
Some game or party.”

“I think some people like your picture,
The one I drew.”

“That’s very nice.” She replied awkwardly
Then turned to Varence. “I do not see
The point in that…They like a picture
Of me, what does that mean? I am
Here for the animals…I have all that
I need.” She pointed to Varence. “If
There was any hope in more it would
Be with him, not me.”

“You are not even curious about
Them at all?” He asked her.

“Not in the least.” She answered fast.
“From the way they behave, from the
Way they treat the animals. I am not
Here to socialize. Even this was
Unexpected, but this was more than
Enough…a gift.”

“What about the ones I told you
About…these spiritual people?” He
Asked her. “These lightworkers?”

She laughed. “Their path is their
Own, it does NOT involve me. Anything
More and they are dreaming. I told
You my purpose. How many times must
I say it?”

“But-” He began.

“But nothing.” She said firmly. “Their
Path is their own. We have all
Discussed this. “She told him directly,
Staring at him, eye to eye. “There are
No exceptions. I have no interest in
More, I have never looed outside
His circle. We have one purpose here.
ONE. IF they wish for more of me
Tell them to look elsewhere because
They will get nothing more than
Reprimand from me. I am here
For the animals and him…And
Furthermore, I should like to add
Where I am from,” then she pointed
Firmly with her forefinger from
Herself, then to Varence, “where we
Are from…Truly spiritual people do
Not obsessively lecture or guide others.
That is not how we learn at all.
We spend a lot of time in schools,
With our families and with, and in,
Nature…Nature is a big part of
Enlightenment for humans…We do
Not talk about it incessantly, we
Do it…We spend a lot of time in
Nature, with animals, with the ones we
Care about…We share stories…We
Do not sit and preach how to think
Delightful thoughts. You learn that
By proper company. And the wisest,
Most spiritual of our people would
Laugh at anyone who did not appreciate
This…How could any human call
Themselves spiritual and not be with
Animals or with nature…to have
Pets or work in the gardens, or
Absolutely both…No truly balanced
Person we know would acknowledge
Any less.”

“So if,” Varence said with a casual
Gesture… “They were, say…spending
Time with machines all day…or
Indulging themselves…or meditating?”

“Meditating?” She laughed. “Who
Would do that all day? Balance…
Balance in all things…”

“But you’re on a ship?’

“We have gardens here.” She
Explained for me. “I would not
Be without them…none of us would.”

“Wow, really?”

“Yes, of course. She smiled, then
Turned to Varence again. “Was that
Your point here…For me to tell
Him that?”

“Perhaps a little.” He smiled.

“We have one purpose here. ONE.”
Ceres said again. “And we are sharing
Stories, or rather help, you share them,
That is all…I can not ever offer
More than that to THEM.”

“And him”?” He asked, pointing to me.

“He…He is a different story all together.”
She answered. “That is not for them
To know.”

Varence nodded. “Fair enough.”

“How will that move mountains?”
She asked.

“Oh, I believe you will be surprised.”
Varence laughed. “Especially that
Last part right there…” He leaned
Forward to the notebook, then gave
Me this strange look. “Just so it’s
Clear…There is more going on here…
One day it will be very clear…
This…is not made up, not just some
Story…one day it will prove to have
A very big, a very monumental…a
Very real purpose. It will become
Clear…For now, just take it one day
At a time…We still have a few more
Stories to share…and then we will see.
Maybe something about Atlantis…
Maybe something about the Lion Men.
We will see. Thank you being here.”

Valiant