THE MOMENT
"Excuse me," David interrupted by raising his hand. Gaia paused, and four heads focused on him. David sat on a beach towel holding his wife and daughter, surrounded by strangers he only met an hour ago. Gaia, a tan woman with brown hair, sat on a wooden seat that sprouted out of the sand. After seeing her abilities first hand, and listening to her explain the universe for an hour, David accepted she was the spirit of the Earth.
Sprocket, a teen boy about the age of David's daughter, Molly, sat away from the group, but still on the towel and still listening to Gaia. He was brought there against his will, but stayed to listen. And then, Oz, sat closest to Gaia. He insisted he wanted to remain on his feet; but, as the talk went on, he eventually sat. Gaia explained that everyone there except David and his wife, Madison, had abilities. David wasn't particularly surprised by that; he knowingly married a mermaid and had a child with her. Magical creatures and situations were common on his Earth. But, as Gaia changed topics from the afterlife to living in the universe, she mentioned something that made a connection in David's mind.
"You said each Earth makes sixteen Uniques? Are Molly and Sprocket the only two here?" Gaia smiled at him. She was doing her best to behave without her daughter around. It helped that she enjoyed giving the talk as much as any other Mundo; even if she preferred not having to do it too often. The last person she gave the talk to was her son-in-law before he was; and, her daughter had been married for about five years already. Gaia was having fun, and encouraged questions throughout.
"Why?' Gaia asked with a playful smirk. "You think you know another one?" David's eyes widened in surprise; then, he nodded after a moment. Oz chuckled to himself, and he heard Gaia laugh in his mind. It was a different sensation than when Ballisea whispered in his ear. Gaia's voice still sounded distant, like a thought. But, Oz knew she was acknowledging his amusement. Unlike the rest of the group, Oz knew Gaia could read the minds of anyone and everyone on Earth.
"Maybe,..," David nodded. "One of the employees where I work... he's been working there for 125 years," he shrugged. "I didn't think much of it, because...," David grinned and pulled his wife and daughter closer. "...I've seen some things," he chuckled.
"It might help if you elaborate about your place of employment," Gaia said. Oz discreetly titled his head.
"Really?" Oz thought at Gaia. Her expression did not change and she remained focused on David; but, Oz still heard a reply in his mind.
"Of course not. But, Molly is the only one that trusts me so far. Telling them I could read their minds won't do me any favors." Oz nodded silently.
"Right, sorry," David said. "I work in HR at the university," David said. "I mean, the university of-"
"The local one, I assumed," Gaia interrupted, then she shook her head. "There are no Uniques working for your university," Gaia said. "However, I am sensing a long-lived employee. A Mr. Trevor Brown?" Gaia asked. David nodded.
"He's an elf. To answer your other question, Molly and Sprocket are not the only Uniques on this Earth; but, they're the only ones that haven't met a Mundo yet. There are currently six other Uniques here. They've built up private lives for themselves and use their abilities discreetly; so I won't be revealing any more about them."
"But, no problems revealing the elf, right?" Oz chuckled in his mind at Gaia.
"Context matters," Gaia replied to Oz's mind. "If he were worried about being discovered, he wouldn't be working for the same institution for 125 years. David married a mermaid. This Earth isn't like yours. I didn't reveal anything anyone wanted to keep hidden."
"You're right, I apologize," Oz admitted with a nod.
"Now then," Gaia said. She was eager to continue the talk. "You know about the afterlife and that came with an explanation of Uniques overall. It's time to start drilling down to your individual abilities." Oz had been enjoying the beach. Gaia summoned a giant redwood tree out of the ocean that provided them with plenty of shade. The sound of the waves was calming, and thanks to the shade, the heat wasn't unbearable. A soft breeze blew past him and he felt himself relax completely.
"We'll begin with what most will agree is the most powerful Unique. #46, El Sol. Molly," Gaia focused on the blonde girl.
"I'm...powerful?" Molly asked. Gaia shook her head.
"Right now, you're the weakest of the three Uniques here. However, you have the potential to be stronger than me. El Sol can Traverse universes, and some, like you, can learn how to see souls like Estrellas. However, your real ability would be easier to explain with a demonstration. Which I can't do," Gaia sighed. "For now, it's easiest put like this: taking into account everything we discussed about the Afterlife, you have the ability to," Gaia used air quotes. "...'stockpile' souls."
"Huh?' Molly, Madison, and David asked simultaneously.
"Stockpile?" Despite the heat, a chill ran down Oz's spine when Ballisea whispered in his ear. Despite the reflexive fear, he was starting to resent the traffic his personal space was getting. "She makes it sound boring," Oz did not reply.
"It's a clumsy word, but it'll give you an idea to keep in mind until I can arrange a demonstration," Gaia explained to Molly's family. Sprocket seemed to be taking everything in; Oz wondered if the boy's patience somehow related to his ability to manipulate time.
"Well, if she would like a demonstration...," Ballisea whispered in Oz's ear. Her comment made her intentions clear. Oz panicked and jumped to his feet; he kicked up sand on everyone.
"Everything okay there, bud?" David asked. Oz shook his head, and David knew why. By the time he finished his question they were surrounded by a squad of skeletons. David immediately grabbed his family up to their feet, Sprocket stood and scooted closer to Oz.
"Carry on, Mundo. You may use these for your demonstration," Ballisea's voice filled the air around them, but she did not appear.
"Who was that??" Madison asked.
"That...," Gaia sighed. "...was Ballisea. Molly, remember how I said you have the potential to be stronger than me?" Gaia asked. The girl nodded.
"That potential is based on you being a mermaid. A Sol that is strictly human couldn't be as powerful as you could be, does that make sense?" Molly and her parents answered with a nod. Gaia smiled but shook her head.
"If you want to talk about potential... Balllisea is what happens when an entire universe becomes Unique Soul #46, El Sol."