Intruder Alert: Part 9

The whoosh produced only a slight sense of acceleration, not even one G, and only for an instant. Then they were surrounded by an ethereal light, the surface under foot, the surroundings and the ceiling, filled with a soothing illumination.
“Are we traveling fast? I have the feeling we’re going somewhere really fast.” Nellie said.
“Yes, my dear, we have moved out of your planetary configuration, although not in the way you understand time and space. This trip is happening through a natural paradoxical energy corridor that I created to take us somewhere special,” Alice responded.
Before Nellie or Blake could ask where, they sensed a change in their bodies, like a slowing down, then a settling.
The translucent quality of the surrounding light, slowly became opaque, and like a fog dissipating, gradually revealed a stunning landscape. A beautiful blue sky asserted itself above, while a rocky ledge appeared near by, and beyond that a vast vista, graced by rainbow arches, sparkling lakes and snow capped mountains. A pleasant meadow, lush with beautifully colored flowers of magnificent hues spread out towards a distant forest of enormous trees in the opposite direction.
“This is a beautiful place,” Blake said, “And it seems very familiar.”
“This was one of your favorite spots for integration and rejuvenation. There is a healing hot spring and a Toning Chamber nearby,” Alice said.
“I’m a little confused,” Nellie exclaimed. “Has Blake been here before? How is that possible?”
“I apologize Nellie. You have been unceremoniously pulled out of your customary life, and dropped into a world you may have difficulty understanding. Blake has lost his memory, and adopted an alternate identity. I’m hoping he could speak for himself,” Alice said as she looked squarely at Blake. “What about it, my dear? Are you remembering? Do you know who I am?”
Blake’s face revealed his inner struggle to secure a stable sense of self, amidst the whirling and conflicting experiences. The sudden leap to this far distant locale, had severely shaken his assumed identity as Blake.
He shook his head as if to remove any residue of bafflement. He looked back and forth from Alice to Nellie, trying to orient and find a way to express himself in a way that made sense. “Wow, I’ll be gob-smacked. I feel so mixed up, to put it crudely,” he blurted.
As he looked at Alice, Blake reflected out loud, “I think I remember now. Years ago, I put myself into a trance to do some research, and made the mistake of relinquishing my will completely to the process.” He looked at Nellie, trying to help himself help her find a way to understand. “While surrendering to the trance, my mind was vulnerable to, what you might describe as, an environmental brain washing.”
“That’s weird. Who are you two? and where exactly are we? Can I get back to work, to the store?” asked an exasperated Nellie, as she looked at the vast unfamiliar landscape, “And back to Earth? …We’re not on Earth are we?” She asked incredulously.
As the reality of the situation began to dawn on her, anxiousness was quickly displacing her customary cool reasoning.
Alice put her hand on Nellie’s shoulder, “I’m so sorry my dear, that you got caught up in this. I couldn’t leave you back there. You might have gotten hurt by the incoming transport beam. Fortunately, I was able to get us out of there us in time. Don’t be concerned, everything will be fine. I’ll take you back soon. And, if you want, we can erase any memory of this experience from your mind.” Alice said. “In fact, that would probably be best for you. If you started telling others about this escapade, they’ll likely to think you’re eccentric, if not crazy.
“Since Blake is still a little confused, I’ll have to introduce myself. I am his mother, chief custodian of sanity in this quadrant of the galaxy,” said Alice.
“Wow, no offense intended but that sounds a little crazy. But, it doesn’t matter who you are, just get me back to where I was, or take me out of this trance, if that’s what’s going on. I’d really appreciate getting back to my normal life,” pleaded Nellie.
“If I recall, life had already reached an abnormal state of affairs, when the robot disappeared,” said Blake, then turning toward Alice. “Yes, mother, I remember you now. It’s wonderful seeing you again.” As they hugged, Alice said, “Thank goodness, I was afraid your memory loss was permanent.”
“Blake is right, Nellie. Something abnormal has happened at your store. I think I know who borrowed the robot. They returned it probably after they have altered it to suit their purposes. We can look into that later. Did they expect us not to notice? Strange behavior, I must say. Something sinister is going on, and we must discover what it is soon. Blake, if you are back in the game, let’s return to Earth, examine the robot, and try to mitigate whatever mischief it’s supposed to reap.”
“That sounds like a plan,” Blake said, full of excited and interested anticipation.
“Oh my,” said the still distraught Nellie. “Will my life ever be normal again?”

To be continued….