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Sally Ember, Ed.D.
Smashwords
Category:
Science Fiction
Publisher: Sally Ember, Ed.D.
ISBN-10: 9781311724137
Pages: 388
Copyright: 4/1/2014
Price: $3.99 (eBook)
Earth's first five years of The Transition in the Many Worlds Collective by teen and young/new adult Earthers related to Clara Branon, Chief Communicator/liaison, Clara's early life, and the ongoing love story between her and Epifanio Dang. Sci-fi/romance/paranormal/multiverse/utopian speculative fiction, "This Changes My Family and My Life Forever" is Volume II of "The Spanners Series."
Intrigued by multiple timelines, aliens, psi skills, romance and planetary change? Clara and the alien "Band" are back in Volume II, This Changes My Family and My Life Forever, of The Spanners Series. The Many Worlds Collective makes its presence officially known in 2012 to Dr. Clara Ackerman Branon, their chosen first liaison, in Volume I, This Changes Everything.
Now as Chief Communicator, Clara leads the way for interspecies communication on- and off-planet via the fish, which brings an end to Earth's disparate governments and nations. Fighting these changes are the Psi-Defiers, led by one of the oldest friends of the Chief of the Psi-Warriors, its reluctant leader, Rabbi Moran Ackerman, one of Clara's nephews. At the newly created psi Excellent Skills Program school on The Campus, an ever-expanding, multi-species community and training camp, Clara, Moran, Esperanza Enlaces (Espe, the Chief Media Contact), and Clara's on-again, off-again lover/friend, Epifanio Dang make their homes.
"Snapshots" of Clara's life from age 9 through the Transition show how she develops to be Earth's first Chief Communicator. Stories from younger Spanners about the first five years of The Transition fill Volume II.
How would YOU do with the changes?
$3.99, ebook; $19.99 on CreateSpace
Excerpt
CHAPTER INTERLUDE I
Chief of the Psi-Warriors, OverSeer and covert special Operations agents,
Moran Ackerman: My Stories of the Transition
MORAN: OSOp Moran Ackerman, Chief of the Psi-Warriors, here. Aunt Clara and Espe ask me to tell my stories so everyone's iD can Access them and I agree to do it. However, I can't share some aspects of my experiences.
I believe it's best to divide my story into sections based on what I learn and what happens as I learn as well as what's going on here on Earth during the Transition, APC [After Public Contact]. If I use too many acronyms or short cuts, Espe kindly agrees to come along after me and put in the translations or explanations, which leaves me free just to talk. Thanks, Espe! [Also, please turn to Appendices for Glossaries and other info.]
Briefly, let me lay it out like this, so everyone knows how we're set up in the OverSeers. Espe says she can capture my comm pad screen, put it right here and I can still add notes. Nice.
Ranks and Levels of OverSeers (OSes)
(BTW: not all are human)
Enforcers (OSEs) have basic ESP training and function somewhat like peacekeepers or police officers when in non-violent times (have different functions during the psi Wars. Everyone in the OSes starts as an OSE.
Investigators (OSIs) have intermediate Levels of ESP training so they function as detectives, problem-solvers, mediators and assistants to leaders. Many OSOps and members of the Global Unity Leaders Council have OSIs assigned to us, as partners and bodyguards. When communities of any species have crimes or issues needing expert, skilled attention, they request an OSI. Some OSIs are eligible to be and do become OSOps.
OverSeers in special/covert Operations (OSOps) have high Levels of ESP training and function in secret in times of extreme turmoil or conflict of other types, on- or off-planet, within or among species.
In peaceful times, OSOps are the main trainers for potential OSEs and OSIs. OSOps with timult talent are eligible for and may be invited to acquire timult Levels of ESP training. This is where I fit in when I'm not being a Psi-Warrior.
Psi-Warriors (PWs) are those OSOps who also have timult talent and who go through those and other additional Levels of ESP training.
The Excellent/Extraordinary Skills Program (ESP) trainings for OverSeers are not exactly the same as for beings who decide to go into the ESP training for other purposes. Some categories for OSOps are left out entirely. Others are included but not comprehensively. The MWC has this all worked out from eons of experience. We trust them.
When someone (human or not) wants to participate in the entire ESP training, each student may only move through the Levels as that student's talent, abilities, motivation and intentions permit. Some with "breakout" skills must first learn to identify and control these (tame their tigers) before we allow them to start the initial sequence at Level I, even (especially) when they have higher Levels of breakout skills.
The sequence is set regardless of the reasons for an individual's participation, but as I explain, some pieces are left out for some training groups.
When an OS trainee fails to complete a Level or section for whatever reason, that student's training pauses and perhaps ends at that point, which dictates where we place that student after graduation.
When someone wants to continue, if specialized training or tutoring could benefit them, we do offer that. But, usually, it's kind of self-selecting. Like a colander with holes of different sizes, the ESP training has a sieve-like assessment system that only lets eligibles "through" to go further.
However, because of all our specialized requirements and demands on our time, the ESP training for OverSeers is not the same as for those who go through ESP training for other reasons, all in sequence. Some of the ES are not offered to OSes, or offered only with certain subsections or with some subsections offered just for the parts we need without changing the titles of those sections.
We keep private exactly what training occurs in each Level for any individual OS. We publish the entire list of Skills and Levels, but only I and a few instructors may know what any particular overseer trainee goes through and can do. Except for our Chief Communicator, who must go through it all, everyone has changes and omissions in their sequences of ESP training.
******************
I am 27 in early 2013, when everyone hears about the MWC [Many Worlds Collective] holos' visit to Aunt Clara and what that all means to Earth. At that time, I am a Rabbi in the Jewish Modern Orthodox tradition, teaching middle school in what is then near Cleveland, Ohio. I am married, living with my wonderful wife, Liora, and our adorable one-year-old daughter, Orna. Aunt Clara is the eldest of my father, Dr. Thomas Ackerman's, three younger sisters. Abba [Father, Hebrew] and Aunt Clara are only one year apart.
[Orna, Moran's 6-year-old daughter, walks in and sits beside him, listening.]
I start having "weird dreams" in September, 2012. In these dreams, I'm doing all kinds of things I can't imagine at that time could be real or possible: walking through walls, flying just in my body, moving objects with my mind, telepathically communicating with other humans and animals, and talking and interacting with some nonhuman-looking creatures, including colorful holograms, seeing them talking with Aunt Clara.
I talk about some of my dreams with my wife, Liora, because they are so vivid and fantastical. She and I share some laughs about my "superpowers," and that's about it. Oh, and she does start calling me "Psi-Man," which, considering how things turn out, is mighty prescient of HER!
There is a long tradition in Judaism of individuals' receiving visions, information, and even warnings from HaShem [God, Hebrew] in dreams. (Think: Joseph, with that multi-colored coat and all his vivid dreams, right?) I wonder if anyone else is getting dreams like mine, but no one besides our kids tells me or reports it anywhere BPC.
When we get Aunt Clara's call, we're at my parents' house [see Chapters 6, 7, 8 of this Volume]. My "dreams" suddenly seem not to be dreams. Seeing my niece, Chaya's, drawing, I am flabbergasted.
My oldest brother, Lavi's, only daughter, Chaya, has a crayoned picture that she just happens to bring to this fateful Shabbat dinner. The drawing shows a central figure that looks like Aunt Clara (human female, curly, light brown hair, blue eyes) next to the floating, bluish beach ball I now know as "Led." There is a sort of Tin Man, an orange, robot-looking figure who is clearly supposed to be "Ringo." The pair-bond, "Janis—Diana," are there as two large, greenish blobs with legs (kind of accurate, actually) next to a very tall, bright blue, wiggly-looking figure (probably wiggling to illustrate his cilia moving all over him) with blinking colored lights on top: definitely "Mick."
My own drawing of Aunt Clara and The Band of holos would not be more accurate, I'm sorry to say!
Then, I hear that my nephew, Solomon, my second-oldest brother, Agam's son, also "knows," from his own dreams, confirming my suspicions. We're all connected to the MWC's Big Reveal, somehow, not just Aunt Clara.
Liora and I are the only ones who know about my having pre-cog dreams BPC. Liora knows about my dreams because I tell her many times how I "see" her for years before we meet and that's how I know she's my Bashert. I also dream about our daughter, Orna, before our first ultrasound and that's the way I know she's a girl. I dream our current house before we find it. Things like that are common in our family but not usually talked about BPC.
After this Shabbat and the Big Reveal, everyone knows about my dreams because we tell them. Eventually, my timulting becomes important and necessary, but I get ahead of my story, here. Let's return.
I call and talk briefly with Aunt Clara later that same weekend, after Shabbat (no phone calls during Shabbat). She explains some of what my dreams signify. Mainly, she lets me know that some of us are "talented," meaning, we're able to utilize Extraordinary, or Excellent Skills, BPC. Then, the arrival of the MWC delegation catalyzes our ES greatly. I talk about that call and its aftermath later in this Volume.
When Aunt Clara and I get another chance to talk, early in January, 2013, and I explain my dreams in more detail (having many more by then), she immediately puts me on a vid call with The Band, as she and Zephyr come to call the main five holos.
I mostly talk with Led and Mick, that time. They already know everything about me. I mean, EVERYTHING. That's kind of creepy, but makes our conversation go quickly. Telepathy certainly is a big time-saver!
I find out: the MWC delegates move fast when we Earthers are ready. I suppose I am as ready as I can be. In that talk, which goes for about three hours, they explain what's coming: the Transition and its inevitable problems; the Fraggers [Fragmenters] and Trenchers; the impending psi Wars, with the development of Earth's defenders, the Psi-Warriors, to curtail and control the resistance, the Psi-Defiers.
My whole body is buzzing, my stomach flipping around. I'm sweating and breathing heavily as if I am just back from a long run. Standing on my toes, leaning forward, listening with every pore as they talk, the hours fly by. I am mesmerized but on high alert at the same time. I cannot remember ever feeling so energized. I know I have to be directly involved.
But, how? I'm a parent of a toddler and a Rabbi who teaches middle school. What can I do to help?
I'm wondering about my dreams and other future-seeing, clairvoyant precognition and presentience: do these mean I have a key role in all this? I am about to inquire when Led asks: "Moran Ackerman: do you want to help Earth in its Transition?"
When I hear Led ask me that, I feel as I am being summoned by HaShem. Not that Led is G-d, but that this work is my new sacred calling, to help all of Earth. I believe I only have one choice.
In Yiddish, we have a saying: Bashert 'yz bashert. Bashert is not just about finding one's soul mate: other things can be bashert, like "qué será, será" in Spanish. Something that is meant to be, my destiny, my fate, is bashert.
I answer Led with a resounding "YES!" The most amazing feeling, like love multiplied by millions of electric charges, suffuses my chest and then my entire body, as if I am bathed in energy and love. That's what it feels like when I am doing G-d's work on Earth.
I become the first human student of the first ESP [Excellent/ Extraordinary Skills Program] trainings for OSOps. I am involved at the start in the development of the OverSeers of all types for Earthers, up to and including the first Psi-Warriors. I become the first Chief of them all.
I AM Super Psi-Man! See, Liora? You are right!
I have only the vaguest idea of what this all is at the beginning, but I catch on quickly. Aunt Clara says that is due to the fact that becoming the Chief is my karma [Sanskrit, Buddhist term for inevitable action, destiny]
When I finish this first monstrously long call with The Band, I turn to Liora and explain it all. Not surprisingly, since she is completely awesome, Liora supports me.
More of a shock: my school headmaster understands. He's a big fan of Clara's, he says. At first, he gives me time off for the spring, 2013, semester, but this turns into a permanent leave of absence.
For the first months of my ESP training, there is no Campus. I have vid calls with some of the holos from The Band about every other day at first, often with Aunt Clara from her house in California, as we begin to plan the ES and OS schools. We also start my training remotely in late January.
Luckily, since there is nowhere yet to go for the trainings, just like Aunt Clara, I train from home, which is Cleveland, Ohio, USA. She trains in the rain or sun in northern California's winter, I in the snow and freezing rain, almost no sun, when we have to be outside. Fortunately, most of what we do is indoors at first. Sometimes she and I are training on the same things, so we practice together via vid call, Access, or other methods I explain as I this Volume continues, here.
The trainers, usually Mick or Ringo, sometimes Led or Janis―Diana, come to me as holos. I'm the second person, after CeeCee to be given my own implant iD [Individual Access Devices Interface] and get physical "downloads."
[In Volume I, This Changes Everything, are descriptions of some of Clara Branon's early trainings with and first physical "download" from The Band.]
After the MWC learns how well Aunt Clara and I do and how fast we learn, they begin to invite other Earthers, many of which are non-human species, into the ESP trainings, which is the reason we move so quickly to establish The Campus.
Over that first Transition spring, summer, and fall, the MWC also sends already-trained Psi-Warriors to Earth, in person and as holos, to the new Campus. We meet "members" from a dozen other planets and moons.
In late summer, 2013, we deploy the first squadron of Psi-Warriors on Earth. I am co-leading that with an experienced OSOp from off-p because I am not yet ready to be Chief.
I get to tell you a little about my ESP training. [See Appendix F for the complete list of Levels and Skills.]
The first lessons for OSes are from ESP Training Level 1: INVITING MOVEMENT: OBJECTS & SELF. These include Telekinesis and Levitation of the body and other objects, including short-distance “flying.” We start off with the proverbial BANG! Moving stuff around, moving us around. Wow!
Because of the urgency and our commitment or talent or whatever, Aunt Clara's and my trainings are accelerated. We learn when we're awake, when we're asleep—we practice constantly, read a lot and talk to each other often. It's the most intense education ever and I love almost every minute. I am ON FIRE.
Aunt Clara and I simultaneously train on ESP Training Level 2: PERCEIVING TELEPATHICALLY, which includes Clairsentience, Clairvoyance and Clairaudience; Remote Viewing; and, Psychometry. It is so great to be 'pathing on purpose and learning to shield, to send and to receive intentionally. Hugely useful. Liora likes this part, she says. Our private life, let me say, is also ON FIRE!
Aunt Clara and I also train in Precognition/ Retrocognition and Presentiment/ Retrosentiment. These show us how to look "ahead" and "backwards" as if (and it really is true, you know) all events are happening in the "now." Level 2 really helps me understand and use my dreams. More on those later.
*****************
Right now, in this very room, as I talk with my friend, Espe, here, my 6-year-old star, Orna, is on my lap, poking at me, saying things like: "Abba. This is boring. Tell stories."
I must please her: this abba is wrapped around any of her fingers, any time. I plan to tell this story, anyway.
"Okay, Orna. Stories." She hugs me.
"Espe? Orna 'paths for me to tell the one about the candlesticks. Right. Candlesticks. Telekinesis. All right? I'm going to tell it here like a movie, yes, Orna?"
Orna snuggles in happily for the story.
*****
First, some background. I'm in about Lesson Four or something in TeleK, doing all right. I can snap small objects to myself and fling them away from me, usually without dropping them or sending them crashing into my own face or other's [Orna laughs].
Hey! Some respect, here! I can levitate books, chairs, tables, other things. Just nothing big, yet.
I can call something I can't see, if I already know approximately where it is, and snap it to me or fling it elsewhere, but it doesn't always go where I fling it. [Orna laughs even louder].
Voilà! The candlestick story.
[Orna applauds]
I'm practicing remote calling in the basement on a cold April morning when I hear a commotion from upstairs. Liora is taking a shower. I can smell the fruity shampoo she uses as the convection system recirculates heated air throughout the house.
I grab baby Orna and go running up the stairs to see what I screwed up.
[Moran turns to Orna, whose body rises in objection to being called a "baby" to remind her: "You are a little over one year old in this story. Sorry, but that IS a baby!" Orna settles back down to listen.]
My remote call is supposed to send a basket into the bathroom to land quietly on the counter. Instead, I see that it crashes into the shower curtain and almost knocks Liora over. Luckily, it is small and empty, but, still....
When I get upstairs with Orna under one arm, Li is still shrieking, yelling at me in Hebrew and English. The air is steamy and fruity. She is covered in shampoo, holding the basket, water running over her and it, cursing at me. Baby Orna bats at the steam clouds and reaches for her ema [Hebrew, mother].
I put baby Orna down on the bathmat as I burst out laughing, partly out of relief that Li is all right and partly because, well, it's funny!
This is not my finest moment.
Your ema hurls the basket at me, old-style.
I duck.
This makes Ema curse even more, since it misses me.
[Orna laughs]
I hastily apologize, go to hug Liora, but retreat at her glacial stare. I apologize, stop laughing (almost), and back out of the bathroom, scooping up baby Orna as I leave.
We head back to the basement.
[Orna nods approvingly.]
I feel even more strongly after that mishap that you are safer right next to me during my TK practice sessions.
On our way downstairs, you lean out of my arms and grab two empty, brass candlesticks from the sideboard, the ones that hold our Shabbat candles on Friday nights.
I have no idea why a 15-month-old wants anything, but I know how to keep the peace. I do not remove them from your hands. I keep walking, you under my arm like a football, one candlestick in each of your little fists.
We go downstairs where I set you and the candlesticks down.
Orna squeals: "Yes, Abba! I put the candlesticks down on the rug."
"Right, Orna."
You sit in front of them. You pat the floor next to you, showing me to sit beside you. I sit.
What do you say?
Together: "Abba. Do."
I ask Baby Orna,"What do you want me to do?"
Orna joins me, shouting: "Abba. DO!"
You wave your hands at the candlesticks, showing me you want me to move them away and up.
For the first time, I wonder if you know more than I give you credit for? You seem to want me to use my newly developing TK to fling these sticks somewhere away from us. Huh.
"Okay," I say to Baby Orna,"I'll move these. Where do you want them to go?"
Baby Orna looks at me, very keenly, and says,"Abba. Up." This time, you raise your hands up, over your head.
[Both MORAN and ORNA demonstrate with their arms.]
I think, Wow. She must be watching me practice TK when I don't know she is. TK "up" is one of our first lessons.
"All right," I tell you.
I gather myself, do the special breathing I practice that makes this work.
Once I'm revved, I fling the sticks up. They rise about two feet above the rug. They hover nicely, if I say so myself. Upright and everything.
Baby Orna laughs gleefully, pointing, clapping her hands. Then you command: "Abba! Down."
I gather myself again, renew the breathing. When ready, I fling the sticks back down to the rug, where they land with a thump and, to my surprise and delight, do not fall over.
I have an idea. Do you know what my idea is?
Orna stands up and hops from foot to foot, excited to hear this next part. I look at her, teasing, delaying the next part of the story, daring her to urge me on.
She stares.
I stare
We stare.
She points at me, then up.
I give my exaggerated shrug, acknowledging her command, pointing to my lap.
As she sits back down on my lap, I continue the story.
"Orna! Up." I say.
I look at my baby girl and smile. You are so cute.
I wait. I'm starting to daydream a bit, since nothing is happening.
I lean forward to take the candlesticks when suddenly, all the hairs on the back of my neck and arms stand up straight.
I stare at you.
Orna jumps around in her excitement at hearing this part of the story. She grins at me. We ham up the next parts, as we usually do for an audience.
What is baby Orna doing?
She is staring hard at the sticks.
One candlestick, then both candlesticks wiggle.
Orna wiggles.
The candlesticks shake.
Orna shakes.
The candlesticks s-l-o-w-l-y lift up...
Orna slowly levitates her entire body to about six inches from the ground.
I give her a mock-stern look, point down.
She shrugs at my command, her feet dangling above my pointing finger. She playfully attempts to kick at it, but I move my finger out of her reach.
Orna slowly descends until her feet are on the floor. Pointing with her chin at me, she urges me on with the story.
I point to my lap. She climbs back on. I continue.
Abruptly, both candlesticks FLY up to the ceiling, knock into it hard, then fall back down, almost hitting Baby Orna on the head.
I'm quick: I grab them before they land.
I turn to Orna and remind her: "You fling those things as if you are always doing that! Not much in the way of control, but, WOW! You are fast!"
Orna applauds her baby self.
I say,"Orna! When do you learn to do that?"
And, I wonder, what's with my body hair getting all excited?
You laugh and shout: "Kadima, HEY!"
You love cheering yourself with a "Kadima, Hey!" just as Liora and I do whenever you do something great.
I join you,"Kadima, HEY, Orna! Way to go!"
Orna claps and says, to me "Kadima, Hey!"
All our shouting brings Liora down, so I explain what's going on. Li is skeptical.
I say,"Let's show Ema!" I look at baby Orna and say,"Orna! Up!"
I feel my hairs rise.
I look at Liora, who is staring at you while rubbing her own arms. Her hairs must be getting excited, too.
I look at Orna, who rubs her own arms now and nods.
Baby Orna gets both candlesticks to wiggle and rise more quickly this time, doing her excellent fling again.
Liora stands there, gaping at the candlesticks while she rubs her arms absentmindedly.
Then, she looks at us both, shaking her head as she towels her long, wet hair.
Once again, I catch the sticks before they hit you or the ground.
I look up, ready to kvell [Yiddish, gush with pride], but when I look at Ema, what do I see?
Ema is not smiling.
Orna shakes her head vigorously once, knowing the rhythm of this next part.
Ema is not liking this.
Orna shakes her head vigorously twice.
Ema is getting all broygis [Yiddish, pissed off]! [Moran waves his hands in the air hear his face to indicate craziness and anger, both, emanating from his head.]
Orna shakes her head vigorously three times, waving her hands around like mine to imitate someone going bonkers. We do it together, laughing delightedly.
Baby Orna wants her ema to be happy. So do I.
"Kadima, HEY!" Baby Orna and I both say, although mine is a little apologetic to Liora, begging her to go along.
You laugh and clap, again.
Ema's heart melts, of course. She can't resist us!
Orna nods.
But, Ema is not all together happy, is she?
Orna shakes her head.
Liora, gesturing to the candlesticks in my hands, asks me: "Now, what? Don't you start kvelling, yet. How do we keep her from flinging EVERYTHING?"
"We don't," I answer. "We teach her control."
I say to Baby Orna: "Come on, you little k'nocker [show-off, Yiddish]. Let's go talk to our Aunt Clara about planning your chavrutelah [one-on-one course of study, diminutive form, Hebrew]."
I hop up, grab Baby Orna and 'path to Liora an "I will handle this" message.
Liora acknowledges my attempt with a shrug and follows after us up the stairs.
My amazing tsatskelah [little girl, Yiddish] and I start a vid call to ask Aunt Clara to get Janis—Diana to visit and help us. We know we need it!
Orna approves. "Good story, Abba. Kadima, Hey!"
We both laugh and clap.
"Sing it with me, Abba!"
We sing the Kadima song, shouting "Hey!" at each point and clapping our hands. Here it is, in case you don't know it:
Kadima, Kadima, Kadima for Orna,
Hey, Hey,
Kadima for Orna!
Kadima, Hey!
Kadima, Hey!
Kadima for Orna,
Hey, Hey,
Kadima for Orna,
Hey!
"Sure! You always like that one, Shterndl [little star,Yiddish]. Now, gey avec [go away,Yiddish]. Abba has more work to do here."
Orna, smiles, twirls around, takes a bow.
"Gey avec!" I give the flip-hand gesture to send Orna out of the room.
She leaves, humming the Kadima song under her breath.
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