The friends ran after Aleck as she ran screaming and crying out of the old one-room movie theater. She hit a patch of hard black ice and flipped out of control. There was a stomach-wrenching crunching sound as she landed hard on her leg, the wrong way, on the ground. Aleck’s friends ran toward Aleck in concern. “Whose fantastic idea was it to see a vampire movie with her?” Growled Odette as Ben and Jareth looked guiltily at each other.

Aleck laid on the frozen ground, not bothering to get up from where she fell, shivering, more from memories of the past than from the first winter snow. Jareth grabbed the Caja, shook it, and tried to place it in her hand. It dropped and spilled on the snow. “Wake up, Aleck. It’s not real.” Said Odette shaking her desperately.

Ben brought out a funny-looking little robot. “Aleck, look, I invented a cool, silly little robot, the kind you like. Wake up, come on, you want to see it.”

Aleck’s eyes were locked in horror onto an invisible screen that only she could see. She did not respond to her friends’ pleas. Jareth, in desperation, reached out to her mind and gasped as the violence of the vision overcame him. He gritted his teeth as he watched the terrible memory unfold.

Aleck was a child with her twin brothers in a blood-soaked filthy cell. There were other frightened children in the cell, packed so tight that there was only a small amount of room to sit. Aleck desperately tried to quiet a crying baby in her arms who wailed louder and louder. A gray-skinned people with razor-sharp teeth burst into the room and started to grab the children and, to Jareth’s horror, started eating the children alive. One of them tried to grab the infant out of Aleck’s arms with her, desperately pulling it back from him. The gray creature laughed a shrill chilling laugh. Then shoved the infant into its wide gaping ma along with Aleck's arms.

Jareth pulled out of her mind and vomited violently. His friends looked on in concern. They knew of the odd mind connection between the two and had speculated for long hours in the local coffee shop why it existed. Once Jareth stomach settled, he gritted his teeth and prepared to go back in and help. When Odette said, “wait.”

Odette had a feel for people like no other. “Create a safe spot in your mind. Bring her there. Help her view the memory from a distance.” Jareth glanced at her and nodded. Jareth closed his eyes, visualizing a green grassy hill from which they could view the horrors of the death camp from a distance. He went into her mind and picked up the little girl that was Aleck and took her to the hill. Where he held her as she sobbed, rocking back and forth until she was aware of her friends' comforting presence.

No longer was it the child he held, but it was Aleck as she was now. Jareth quickly released her. Holding and comforting a child was one thing. Holding and comforting a teenage girl on the verge of adulthood was something else altogether. Aleck looked at her friend with a tear-stained face. Jareth helped draw her mind back to her surroundings.

“They ate my sister.” She repeatedly said as she rocked back and forth and cried. Jareth put the Caja in her hands. He stood back from her in frustrated tears; how he longed to hold her to comfort her. He stood back and let Odette hold her as she started to verbalize everything out loud and woke up even more from the vicious nightmare she almost got locked into. They listened patiently until her sobs subsided. A slow snow began to fall in the setting sun, which was amazingly beautiful.

“Come on,” Odette attempted to help her up. Let’s walk and talk about something else.” Aleck tried to get up but fell back down on the ice. Ben gently helped pull the leg out from underneath her and gasped as sparks came out of a gash in her leg. Though given her war stories, it should have come as no surprise. “You’re a cyborg!”

“We all are. That’s how the people of the outer worlds survived the war. In the seconds after they ate my sister, the Sharlakar started tearing into me; there was a raid. The soldiers managed to rescue me, my brothers, and a few other children.”

Snowflakes crystalized around the tears on Aleck's face as the sun set behind her. “You should go. Since you aren't my runner, I don’t want you to get killed for associating with a cyborg.”

Odette scoffed. “We aren’t leaving you.”

"Certainly not!” said Jareth and Ben emphatically.

Ben had a look of absolute excitement on his face. “It’s not far from my place. I think I have the stuff to fix that in my basement”. Given Ben was considered the mad scientific genius of computers and robots at school, no one was surprised. He was always coming up with new programs, inventions, and ideas. Dealing with honest-to-goodness top-of-the-line cyborg technology was something he dreamed about.

Ben’s house was a tiny white house with ice blue trim attached to the ice cream shop his parents owned. They entered a small but lovely living room with ice blue painted wooden shutters over the windows. Ben looked around with a sigh of relief. His parents and older brother must be working at the ice cream shop in front still.

Jareth was grateful that Ben had bulked up enough with their training in the last six months to carry Aleck safely down to a couch in a large basement that ran under the ice cream shop and house. Ben took all Aleck's cybernetic limbs off and set them on a workbench next to a mass of old computers and electronics. He grabbed the damaged leg first and ran a scanner over it. “I’m going to need some Viron Microchips to fix this. I think I have some in my room.” Ben ran through a cloth curtain across the wall separating Ben’s “bedroom” from the rest of the basement. He returned holding a stack of broken cell phones that he took quickly apart to harvest the chips.

Aleck looked on with concern. “Ben, why does it look like you're doing way more than just fixing my broken leg.”

Ben didn’t look up. “You’re a warrior class cyborg, Aleck. I can give you several upgrades to help you survive a war better than any current cyborg class. You have a runner, right that means they’ll eventually recall you to fight, right? That’s the way it works, isn’t it?”

Aleck nodded grimly.

“Well, you're also my friend, and I want you to be able to come home from those wars alive, and the best way I know to do that I can help you do that is to make sure you have the best upgrades and weapon system out there. I can do it subtly too, so no one will catch on you’ve been tinkered with.”

“Ben, it’s too dangerous.” Said Aleck concerned. “If they catch you…”

“I’ll die trying to help one of my best friends fight something that could destroy us all. I’m good with that, Aleck. I really am.” Said Ben as he started to attach wiring to Aleck’s head.

Jareth and Odette tried not to stare too much while talking with the limbless Aleck lying uncharacteristically helpless with cords coming out of her head as Ben worked on modifying and improving the programs that controlled her limbs.

Jareth looked at what was on the screen. “What is that? He asked.

“It’s Aleck’s current cyborg vision.”

“I think your screen is dirty,” said Odette.

“No, her Vision really is that poor.”

“Oh, What are all those funky colors.”

“Heat vision,” Jareth answered this time. “I’ve used heat vision goggles, which looks like that.”

Ben nodded as he made some adjustments.

“Oh, that’s much better,” said Odette. Aleck, do you-?

“Yes, I see stuff better now. Aleck answered her unfinished question.

Odette reached to wipe off the dust that wasn’t there. “Uh, I guess her vision is still not 100%.”

“While the brain is designed to receive electronic signals, we still haven’t mastered a technology that is good as the eye itself at sending that information to the brain.”

Jareth looked up at the time. “Oh crap, I told Uncle Donny I’d have Aleck back by 10:00. What can I tell him.”

“He knows that my brother and I are cyborgs.

“Your brothers?” Odette was shocked.

“When I said everyone became cyborgs, I meant absolutely everyone. Every survivor, young or old, of the sharlakar invasions, became cyborgs. If not the cyborg attacks, the general would order limbs cut off.

“Hold it! He did what? And why?” Ben froze in place.

Jareth hissed through his teeth and answered instead of Aleck. “He’s creating a puppet army.”

Aleck nodded quietly.

“Do you know what he’s precisely raising an army for?” Jareth demanded.

“No, not for sure, but if I was to guess to take over the current Vandarian government. With their petty infighting and weak positions on protecting any world that’s not a main world, they are ripe for a takeover.”

“But I’m worried about Uncle Donny worrying about me.” Aleck changed the subject.”

“It’s too sensitive information to call, so I’ll go over and personally tell him what’s going on. Ben, when should I tell him that she’ll be able to be home?

“In the morning,” Ben said as he shook himself from the shock of what Aleck said and started to type some program codes into the computer vigorously.

“Odette, won’t your mom worry if you’re not home soon.”

Odette shook her head. “She’s probably out cold from the wine by now. Ever since the divorce, all she does is drink and cry. She probably doesn’t even know I’m not there now.”

“Ben, how much longer will your parents be in the ice cream shop?” Jareth asked.

“Any time now, Jareth. You’ll have to wait to come back in the morning.” Jareth just nodded.

Aleck yawned. “At least the couch is comfortable since I’m stuck here.”

“Wow, it is late; I suppose I will just go home and be back in the morning.”

“I’ll walk you home since it’s late.” Said Jareth.

Odette nodded and headed up the stairs.

Aleck awoke confused at first until she saw Ben dozing in a chair beside her. She heard footsteps coming down the stairs. “We’re here,” Odette announced. Ben jerked awake suddenly at the sound and accidentally knocked everything on the table next to him to the ground. Aleck fought not to laugh at the sight of him looking like a mad scientist with his hair sticking straight up and his clothes completely disheveled.

“Oh yeah, Aleck, you can get up now.” Aleck got up and walked around, looking at things in awe with her new vision. Flexing her arms, she was impressed with the increased flexibility and rate of sensory data that was much faster than before.

“Thank you, Ben.” Ben just nodded and grinned from ear to ear. Aleck started to touch all the things in the room, enjoying sensations she hadn’t had since she lost her arms.

“Bring up your battle commands screen,” Ben ordered. Aleck did and whistled in appreciation she brought up and explored all the options available to her. The speed of the interface was incredible.

“Now, bring up your Civilian mode.”

“Ben, I don't have a Civilian mode.”

“You do now.”

“You won’t ever need to take a computer or phone anywhere except for show. Wherever there is Galatic networking available, you can access it at top speeds, listen to music, watch movies, and do whatever you want.’

“Ben,” said Odette. “Your starting to sound like an infomercial.”

Ben was excited and ignored her. “Also, I increased the relay speed from your brain to your limbs. You’ll be able to fight with the grace, speed, and precision of an Azirange Super Soldier.”

Jareth whistled as he broke out donuts and coffee he grabbed from the local coffee shop. “Aleck, I have one question that has been bugging me since yesterday?”

Aleck looked up. “Yes?”

“Who’s your runner?”

Aleck swallowed and whispered. “The General.” And her friend shuttered.

Six months later.

Ben’s Parents Icecream shop was overflowing with teens just out of school for the summer. Aleck, Jareth, Ben, and Odette sat in the far corner. “So we should go camping together at Lake Harmone next week.” Suggested Odette as she stole a bite of ice cream from Aleck’s bowl.”

Aleck was about to respond when the Tri-di in the corner of the ice cream shop stopped playing the song list set and started beeping with the emergency broadcasting signal.

Everybody stopped talking and stared at the Tri-di. Shortly afterward, a news report came up. “We just now received an urgent message from the president that a mysterious Alien group has invaded the main inner world of Oron. They are a grey-skinned race who have been reported to be eating the populace. The Vandarian government has officially declared war….”

Aleck gripped her spoon. “No, no, no! It’s not enough time. I want more time with my family.” Across from her, Ben and Jareth fought off tears, and Odette openly wept while the rest in the ice cream shop gasped in horror at the news.

“So, will you and your brothers be recalled?” Frowned Ben, staring glumly at his ice cream.

“Only me. Shem and Payton have already been recalled.” Aleck explained through gritted teeth.

Odette looked confused. “But they’re still here?”

“The General is keeping them on Vandar as his assassins.”

“Assassins?” Ben’s head jerked up in shock.

Jareth laughed bitterly. “It makes a horrible kind of logic. I mean, who would suspect two teenage boys, from a small hick town, as being professional if unwilling assassins?”

He stared at his hand as he flexed it. Aleck noticed him start reaching his hand toward her, and then he yanked it back. “I wish I could do something. If I just had the power to fix everything for you and your brothers.”

“Well, we may not be able to fix things, but I think Odette and I found a way to help them fight back.” Said Ben with a whisper, looking to see if any ears were listening. Luckily everyone’s eyes seemed to be glued to the tri-di screen. But we shouldn’t be talking about this here. Come on, Aleck, we need you to come down to the basement. Odette and I have something for you.” Said Ben, who moved out of his seat.

Aleck looked up bitterly. The bright summer sun that marked the end of summer break seemed too joyous for this sad day. When Ben got down there, he removed one of Aleck’s arms and put a small chip, invisible to the naked eye, into it. Aleck looked on curiously. “What’s that?”

“Mine and Odette’s goodbye gift that we’ve been working on since the night of the vampire movie. It’s a virus.”

Aleck jerked her head up from the couch and choked. “You’re giving me a virus!”

Ben tweaked the arm he was working on with one of his many gadgets. “Yeah, it will eventually destroy your cyborg codes and anybody else’s cyborg codes you come in contact with electronically. Oh, and Odette also helped attach some new pictures of home to the chip. Anytime you want to see them, just say “The Impossible Dream civilian mode,” and they’ll come up. Be careful with choosing when to resist your cyborg codes, though. It will only work for short jogs of time at first.”

“If I made it react too quickly, a scan would detect the tampering, so it has to be slow. To activate the virus, just say “impossible dream,” and you will see how much time you have in the corner of your optics to ignore the cyborg code command. It will work the same with anyone you choose to infect with the virus. To infect the person with the virus, connect your cyborg parts to any of theirs and whisper “impossible dream,” and they're infected. It can look like something as subtle as a handshake. They will then get some quick directions on how the virus works and how to spread it on their optic screens.”

Aleck gasped at the immensity of the weapon Ben put in her hand, a way to eventually rebel against the cruel rule of the general. “Why the impossible dream, though?”

“Flex,” Ben said as he watched the motion of her arm with satisfaction. “Well, I needed an unusual phrase that you could put in a clever sentence that would make sense. I also found an ancient retro song called “Freedom’s Dream” from an ancient movie I came by one time. It’s about doing whatever it takes to fight for your dreams against impossible odds. What’s more of an impossible dream is there to fight for than for your freedom, Aleck?”

“Love gift, thank you.” Aleck hugged everyone but Jareth, who she gave a bow of respect to. Ben’s gift was incredible. It was a glimmer of hope. But to defeat that monster, the General, she’d have to plan very carefully.

“I have my own gift to say goodbye, but if you don’t mind, I’d like to wait till we are at your house looking at the stars together to give it to you. Meanwhile, maybe we can plan some together on what you need to do to overthrow the general." Jareth said gently. Aleck got up from the old worn brown leather couch.

Looking at the stars was her favorite time with her four friends. She and Jareth discovered that with their mental connection, Aleck could experience a bit of real vision by looking at the world through Jareth’s eyes. Because of concerns Odette had expressed about how having deep mind contact like that may not be all that healthy or safe, they limited it to one time a day.

The friends made their way slowly across to the other side of the little town and down the country lane with the sunset painting a glorious picture across the summer twilight sky, casting a light that seemed to make the multitude of mountain wildflowers be illuminated with a fiery red glow. They rambled slowly to the wooden swing outside.

They talked for a while then Odette whispered something to Ben. They both made an excuse to leave so Jareth could present his gift and say goodbye.

Jareth touched her mind so she could see the sunset touch the spring wildflowers and well-cultivated flowerbeds.

Jareth looked at his two friends talking in the distance, grateful for his chance to speak with Aleck alone for a bit. He smiled as the last bit of the sunset caused her red hair to look like flames of fire framing her face.

Jareth took the Nova starguard necklace from around his neck. He took off the pendant and broke it neatly in half. He then slid it on a chain made of a light, strong, thin metal of incredible value that would lie clear against the skin. “Hold out your hand," Jareth said gravely as the pendant’s three and a half points glowed in a brilliant multi-color fire in the setting sun's light. “This is a starguard necklace. It will mark you to any of my family you meet as under my protection. They’ll give you help if you need it.” He lowered the pendant into her hand, careful not to touch her even though he longed to.

“Jareth, they’ll just take it away,” Aleck said in appreciative concern as she gave the ground a nudge with her feet to set the swing in motion.

Jareth shook his head no. “Put it on, and I’ll show you why they won’t.” Alek slid it over her neck. “Yaza,” he said quietly, and the necklace and chain disappeared. “Not even a scanner can detect it. Only one wearing a starguard can see it, and any of those who did would protect you.“

………………………………………………………………………………………………

. “I don’t get it, Odette,” Ben asked about letting them have alone time as they reached the edge of the fence.

Odette rolled her eyes in exasperation. When it came to people, Ben could be a bit dense. “Have you ever noticed how Jareth stares after Aleck with that hunger in his eyes? He has more feelings for her than he’ll admit, even himself.”

Ben raised his eyebrows in surprise. “I hadn't noticed. I thought he felt like I did. Like you brother to sister.”

Odette shook her head in exasperation. Haven’t you noticed how he hovers near her and then draws back or how she looks after him when she thinks he’s not looking?”

Ben shook his head no. “Then, do you think it’s smart to leave them alone, given he’s a Rillian and all?” Ben asked with concern as he brushed the fine wispy branches of the huge willow tree away from his face.

“Ordinarily, no, and we won’t leave them for long. I just know that somehow this gift of Jareth’s is personal. He wouldn’t ever deliberately hurt Aleck," Odette said as she glanced back at the two distant figures silhouetted on the swing that hung from the great oak in the front yard.

“I know he wouldn’t deliberately…” Ben replied with a sigh. Each race had its strengths and weakness. The Rillians had some particular weaknesses in the area of sex drive for both the men and women of the race. It was why they had such stringent laws regarding marriage and touching the opposite sex.

Odette slapped Ben reassuringly on the back. “Don’t worry; we’ll head back in a bit.” Ben nodded but did not tear his eyes from the two sitting on the swing. He was not comfortable with this, not one bit.

……………………………………………………………………………

Aleck fingered the necklace Jareth gave her, wondering how the technology worked. She looked up and saw Odette’s and Ben’s shadowy figures approach. Aleck froze as she spotted a government vehicle driving down the road in the distance with her cyborg night vision. She swallowed in dread.

“They’re coming,” Aleck said with tear-filled eyes. She stood up and turned toward her friends. “Goodbye. I have to go say goodbye to my family now,” Aleck said, giving hugs to Odette and Ben and a bow of respect to Jareth. “Whatever you see happen to me, you can’t interfere; they’ll just kill you and probably my family just to retaliate. Go quick and hide in the bushes over there.” The friends’ eyes filled with tears as she dashed toward the house.

Aleck said her goodbyes to her family that was there. The twins deliberately were far away, so those who came for Aleck wouldn’t be tempted to use them to harm their family for their amusement.

Alexia stared out the window waiting for Mitchel to come to take her to the movie. She refused to come downstairs for whatever drama was going on with Aleck. She watched her sister pace back and forth outside on the front porch. Headlights came down the long driveway, and an army vehicle pulled up.

The men in uniform stepped out and said something, and to Alexia’s horror, the skin from Aleck's limbs folded in, revealing robotic limbs attached to a ripped-up body. The men said something else, and Aleck collapsed. One of the men grabbed her by her bright red braid and dragged her limp body through the dirt to the jeep. He stuffed her in the back like she was just a piece of luggage.

Alexia gasped, turned, and ran downstairs and screamed for her uncle. Uncle Donny grabbed her and put his hand over her mouth. “We can’t save her if they kill us, sweetheart." He whispered in her ear as she just sobbed on his shoulder. She hadn’t understood until now.

…………………………………………………………..

Ben gasped as he held physically onto Jareth. Odette held him back with her words. “You’ll only get them killed and us too.”

Jareth dropped to the ground and wept with tears of blood streaming down his face. He held his head as an incredible shotting pain shot through it. “No, leave her alone. Please stop. Aleck, don’t cut me off like you did, Alexia. Please.”

Odette realized what was happening. “Get out of her head Jareth for now. She will shut you out to protect you if you continue to push. Touch her mind again later when she’s at a safer point.”

Jareth nodded shakily.

When the Jeep was out of view, Odette made her way to Uncle Donald’s. She knocked. Uncle Donald opened up. “It’s Jareth. He’s in shock from watching them take her. Can you drive him home?” Uncle Donald nodded.