MIRA, MIRA ON THE WALL

copyright June 2, 2000 Richard Kaplan

Bennu was tired beyond even the ability of the Sun to fully refresh him. It was hard enough work traveling all over the country exploring Indian burial sites. Occasional fights with Yago, having to dodge that nuisance Preminger, and getting involved in an astonishing variety of nasty situations, "courtesy" of the people he was SUPPOSED to be helping, didn't help, and frankly, he was fed up with being hounded (sometime literally, by tracking dogs).

Even the gratitude of those he had helped was no longer enough. He needed a vacation! OK, a working vacation.

Perusal of the paperback racks in the multitude of bus terminals had had been in showed that, even if scientists didn't believe in ancient astronauts, many ordianry people did, and often with strong involvement with Indian monuments. Bennu decided to take his own advice and "trust in the instincts" of the common man.

There was a science fiction/fantasy convention opening not too far away, and he decided to attend. Maybe he might get some useful information, it ought to thoroughly confuse Preminger as to his whereabouts, and it certainly should be fun to actually BE an ancient astronaut at a convention of believers! If they only knew . . .

Poor Bennu! Nothing ever is simple for him. First, he was repeatedly told that he looked JUST LIKE Judson Scott, an actor in a movie done some 20 years before. When shown pictures of him in "Wrath of Khan," Bennu did have to admit that the likeness was striking! But if such a weird coincidence was going to happen, at least it made some sort of sense by happening at a fantasy convention.

But when somebody yelled out "Hey, it's Bennu!" and walked up to him, all he could do was stare and wait.

"How did you know my name?" Bennu demanded.

"Oh, Judson, you're too much! Sign this, please!"

With that, the fan handed him a very familiar (to us) picture of a shirtless, medallioned Judson Scott. Bennu found himself looking at a picture of - himself, Phoenix medallion and all.

What could he do? He signed it! Then he asked in a half-strangled voice "WHO-is-this-Judson-Scott?"

About the last answer he could possibly have expected was the one he got. "Starred in 'The Phoenix.' And if you aren't him, you must be the real Bennu. Please light your medallion for me."

Much to the fan's initial delight, Bennu DID grab for it. Alas, he didn't need to Light it up - he was only using it to boost his telepathic powers. Yago was never known for subtlety - members of telepathic races aren't - but this HAD to be a nasty trick of his, and Bennu really didn't have the energy to put up a good fight.

Well, if Yago was anywhere around, he had found a new way to hide himself! Bennu allowed himself to relax a little. He scanned the convention program, found that this Judson-whoever-he-was was having an autograph signing session soon, and Bennu was most certainly going to be there!

Soon he was standing in the autograph line. The resemblance was truly remarkable! But, after the pictures he'd been shown, not unexpected. What WAS were the thoughts of many of those in line. Many had cherished memories of 'The Phoenix,' and how, somehow, Judson had made their lives so much better. One even had a poem called "Judson's Gift" he wanted him to read and autograph, and the heartfelt words were so evocative of Bennu's powers that it was actually scary. Who WAS Judson Scott??

Bennu tried a gentle mindprobe. On the surface, Judson was just what he said he was - an actor. But everything deeper was walled off!

Soon enough, the two of them were face to face. Judson did a major double-take - who wouldn't, meeting yourself from 20 years ago! He recovered, picked up the convention program, and asked "Who should I make this out to?"

Bennu replied, but not with his mouth. //I am Bennu, The Phoenix! When you are done with your fans, we must talk!//

Judson finished the session, somehow, and walked to his room. He was normally the most easy-going, self-confident sort of person, but he found his mind in a whirl of confused thoughts. Bennu, who was waiting for him, wasn't much calmer, either.

Both blurted out "Who ARE you?"

Judson replied first. "Just an actor."

Bennu said "Actors can't reach out through the TV set and heal their fans. I read 'Judson's Gift,' and your power, though weak, is VERY familiar to me!"

Judson said, "Yes, I've always been thrilled at how I could help my fellow human beings," (Bennu gave a mental snort at the word 'fellow.' Coincidence had been stretched beyond all reason.) "And I always wondered how I could do it. But you CAN'T be Bennu. He's a character in a script."

"I am! But you are not who you think you are. Most of your mind is blanked off to casual probing. This should settle matters."

Bennu produced his medallion and the Light filled the room. The block in Judson's mind, keyed to the light, fell, and their minds heard the voice of Mira.

//Bennu, forgive me, for I have failed the Plan! Part of my responsibility was to guard the hibernaculum Yago's body is stored in. Sadly, even the Wise did not learn the full extent of his mental powers, and he has been active on Earth for most of the 20^th century, even without a body! You have seen his work in the mass slaughters that have taken place. Now, Mankind has released nuclear energy and I have been Awakened. If I cannot stop him, you may wake up to find the Earth a barren, radioactive Hell.

//Recently, Yago has found me. My powers to resist him have been weakened, for desperation has corrupted me and made me vulnerable. To keep him from rejoining and destroying everything, I have become like him. I forced open the hibernaculum, obtained what I needed from his body, and I - I - forgive me, I killed it! That will buy Earth the time I need.

//I have programmed the child I carry and the people who will raise him. When you are 'accidentally' awakened, I will reenter my hibernaculum.

//Should you find it, PLEASE do not open it. I know you will try to heal me, and perhaps you could. More likely, I would corrupt you. Leave it sealed until - if- it can be returned to Eldebran. The Wise are more likely to be successful, and at least I cannot harm THEM! Goodbye.//

Bennu and Judson wept, one for someone he had known and loved, one for the mother he had never known. Bennu brought the healing Light back - and Judson's medallion responded! With Mira gone, he was now Bennu's partner, and he DID have the missing memories.

Some time later, Judson's sense of humor returned. "Bennu, you realize I'm going to have one heck of a legal problem with Mark Carliner Productions. They own the copyright to 'The Phoenix!'"

Both of them smiled.