Fostering Family
heard a few knocks on her door while she was getting dressed. She slipped on a robe and opened the door. Jamal stood at the other end.
“Good morning, beautiful,” he said with a crooked grin.
“Good morning. What’s up?” Jean asked as she adjusted the robe.
“Well, you were so amazing yesterday that I know you’re ready for the next step.”
“Oh, what’s the next step?”
“I’m going to take you to the Bena’s’ home today. They are the Xeno family who will teach you some things about your heritage and how to manage the extra skills you have because of your Xeno DNA.”
“Are you going to leave me there?”
“If you want, you can spend the day with them and I can pick you up in the evening so you can sleep here.”
Jean breathed a sigh of relief. “Yeah, that would be great.”
An hour later, Jamal drove Jean to the Bena’s home in a nearby gated community. The gated community resembled a fort with an enormous stone wall surrounding it. When they arrived at the Bena’s home, Jean gasped. It was unlike anything Jean had ever seen before. The house was rectangular and made of stucco. It had two tall, metallic cylinders on one side and a garage on the other. A long, narrow driveway led up to a beautiful entrance with colorful stained glass.
Jamal rang the doorbell. A young boy who appeared to be about six or seven years old opened the door and greeted him with a hug.
As Jean stepped into the home, the smell of moist soil, grassy vegetation, and sweet flowers enveloped her. The otherworldly decor immediately struck her. Green vines and exotic planets completely covered most walls. The hairs on the back of Jean’s neck stood up as she surveyed her surroundings.
Jamal gently placed his arm around Jean’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. The Bena family is one of the most respected in the galaxy. They’ll teach you everything you need to know.”
Jean nodded, but her legs became shaky as she followed the young boy farther inside, leading her and Jamal to a cozy dining room with curved organic furniture. The other members of the Bena family sat at a small round table in the center of the room. They fixed their eyes on Jean as she entered.
Jean glanced at everyone with a faint smile. I’m surprised to see them in their human form. Don’t they like to be in their natural form at home? Are they just trying to make me comfortable? They look like normal people. I never would have never guessed they were from another planet. Mrs. Bena was tall and slender with a silver and black pixie haircut and violet eyes. Mr. Bena was also tall and slender with a bald head that glistened under the soft lights. Their children were two young boys who appeared to be less than ten years old. It would be interesting to see what this family really looks like in their alien form.
Mr. Bena stood. His black eyes sparkled as he spoke. “Welcome, Jean. Come, have a seat and make yourself comfortable. Jamal told us some things about you, so I will tell you some things about us. I am a doctor and my wife owns a coffee shop. We came to this planet as children. Our sons were born here. Do you have questions for us?”
Jean shifted in her seat, her stomach twisting into knots. She studied the family as they spoke. Their mannerisms were fluid and graceful, reminding her of ballet dancers. They seem nice enough, but they’re still different. And I’m foreign to them. Do they see me as just another human? Or do they feel a connection to me because I’m part Xeno? “Um, do you remember anything about where you’re from?”
“Bits and pieces. I remember running around and playing with friends. I remember school. It was very different from school on this planet.”
Mrs. Bena chuckled. “Ah, yes. My Earth teacher thought I was crazy when she asked a question and I danced the response.”
Jean’s eyes widened. “What did the other students think? Did they make fun of you?”
“At first they did, but then I taught them a few lessons. Let’s just say they became too scared to mess with me.”
Mr. Bena glanced at his wife and smiled. “Our lessons involved significant physical activity. Schools believed developing physical strength was as important as learning facts. There was no such thing as sitting in a room listening to a teacher lecture. We also learned about advanced technologies at a young age.”
“Wow, I wish I would have had some of those skills and knowledge.”
“Jean, they were always within you. It was in your DNA. You just needed to know how to activate them.”
Jean scrunched her brows. “How do I activate them?”
“That’s what we’re here for. If it’s okay, I’d like to run some tests on you. It’s completely your choice, but I believe it will be beneficial to assess your abilities before we try to strengthen them.”
Jean glanced at Jamal and he nodded. “Jean, you don’t need to do it, but I agree. It will really help.”
“Will it hurt?”
Mr. Bena chuckled. “No, it won’t hurt. But if you’re uncomfortable, you can stop at any time.”
“Okay, I’ll…” Jean caught a flash of something out of the corner of her eye. It seemed as if something had sped across the hallway. What’s that? Is it some sort of alien pet? Jean turned her head toward the hall.
“Mason!” Mrs. Bena hopped up. “I’m sorry, excuse me,” she said, rushing to the hallway. “Mason, what did I say about staying in your human form? Get back here!”
Jean was shocked to hear that one kid was running around the hallway in his alien form. She never saw him leave the room.
Mr. Bena slammed the door shut. “I apologize. Kids are just … well, kids are kids. Shall we begin the assessments?”
Jean’s mouth went dry. What would the tests reveal?
“I can stay if you want,” Jamal said.
“No, it’s okay. You can leave.” Jean stiffened in her seat and took a deep breath. I can do this. Jamal’s working to keep me safe and he trusts the Benas. Everything will be fine.
“Are you sure?”
Jean nodded.
“Okay, I’ll pick you up later. Does five o’clock work?”
“Yeah.” Jean’s pulse quickened. She wasn’t sure if it was fear or excitement running through her veins, but she knew the tests would teach her more about herself than she’d ever known.
After Jamal left, Mr. Bena led Jean to a large solarium. Bright sunlight pierced the glass walls. The air smelled like a mix of salt, iodine, and seaweed. An Olympic-sized swimming pool was on the outside of the solarium.
As Mr. Bena walked around the room, powering on various devices for Jean’s assessment, her eyes scanned the room. A slim metallic door in the corner slid open. With his back turned, Mr. Bena stood there, pressing buttons on a high-tech console. Hovering over his shoulder, a shimmering bluish screen displayed video footage of the room. In it, the image of an alien appeared.
Jean stifled a horrified gasp as Mr. Bena’s skin rippled, almost liquifying. His head stretched and expanded, skull elongating. Dark, blank eyes glared from an elongated face framed by tiny quivering tentacles instead of hair.
Realizing the video showed what was beneath Mr. Bena’s human disguise, Jean’s heart seized. That thing examined her with polite interest mere moments ago! Her pulse raced. I should flee this place, these creatures masquerading as people. I don’t belong here. Wait, what is wrong with me? A part of me is like them. How can I ever accept myself if I can’t accept them? Am I a fraud too?
The sleek metallic door slid shut again, cutting off her view. Mr. Bena turned, smiling pleasantly in his human form. “Just about ready,” he said. He pointed to a large machine with a series of dials and screens in the corner. “This is a thermal test chamber,” he explained. “It will allow me to test your body’s response to different temperatures.”
Jean nodded, her mouth dry with anticipation. She had a sense of excitement and dread in equal measure. What if the test showed no special skills or abilities? What if the test caused pain or injury since she wasn’t 100% Xeno? Doctors often say you might feel some discomfort, although the result is nothing less than pain.
Mr. Bena stepped behind the chamber, adjusting the dials. A low hum filled the room. He opened the door and motioned for Jean to step onto a platform inside the machine. “That will measure your body temperature,” he said, pointing to a small screen on the platform.
Jean stepped onto the platform, her bare feet tingling as they touched the cool metal. Mr. Bena closed the door, thrusting Jean into blackness. She heard a few clicks and took a deep breath to steady her nerves. The chamber grew warmer, and a flush of heat spread across her skin. After a few seconds, she no longer felt hot.
After a few minutes, Jean heard clicking sounds again. This time, the room grew cooler, and a shiver ran down her spine. A few seconds later, her body temperature stabilized and she no longer felt cold. The chamber’s door swung open.
“Very interesting,” Mr. Bena said, scribbling notes onto a clipboard. “Despite your human genes, your body responded the same way a Xeno’s body would respond. There was no difference.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know, but we may be more alike than I realized. Come, follow me. Next, I will test your sight and hearing.” Mr. Bena led Jean to a small, soundproof booth, placed a set of headphones on her ears, and handed her a notepad. “Raise your hand every time you hear a sound and write what you hear.”
Next, Mr. Bena led Jean to a small room for an eye exam. She stepped into the small room, feeling like she was in a doctor’s office. Mr. Bena motioned for her to sit in front of a large illuminated chart on the wall. He examined her eyes and instructed her to read letters on the eye chart.
“Well Jean, you did great with the hearing and eye exams. You could hear certain sounds that only Xeno people can hear and your eyesight is excellent. Are you hungry? This might be a good time for a lunch break.”
“Yeah, that sounds good.”
Mr. Bena and Jean headed to the kitchen, where Mrs. Bena was making lunch for the kids. Mrs. Bena glanced at them and smiled. “How’s the testing going?”
“Great, but Jean and I are ready for a lunch break before we finish the tests.”
Mrs. Bena nodded and gestured for them to sit down at the kitchen table. “I made some sandwiches and soup,” she said, placing small plates and bowls in front of them. “Jean, would you like to try a dessert from my home planet?”
“Yes, that would be great. Thank you.”
Mrs. Bena pulled a tray out of the refrigerator and set it on the table in front of Jean. There were square desserts that looked like marshmallows covered with green coconut. “They’re from an old family recipe. Some things had to be modified because Earth doesn’t have every ingredient that exists on Tlatzin. However, we were able to bring some of our plants and cultivate them here on earth. These desserts are made from a type of sugar and vegetation that originated from Tlatzin.”
Jean grabbed a dessert off the tray. As she took a bite, a burst of sweetness exploded in her mouth. It was unlike anything she had ever eaten. The texture was denser than marshmallows and the part that looked like green coconut tasted like a mixture of mango and banana. She savored the taste, feeling a sense of wonder at the thought that this dessert had come from another planet. “This is delicious,” she said, taking another bite.
Mrs. Bena chuckled. “I’m glad you like it. You can take some home.”
“Thank you.” Jean smiled. “I may have to take you up on that offer.”
“The next test will see if you have the ability to change shape.”
Jean’s eyes widened. “As in shape-shifting?”
“Yes,” Mr. Bena confirmed. “It’s a common ability among Xeno people. Based on your previous test results, it’s definitely a possibility for you.”
Jean’s heart fluttered with excitement as Mr. Bena led her to a room with a large mirror covering one wall. “Look at your reflection in the mirror and try to imagine yourself appearing different. Concentrate on changing your facial features.”
Jean stared at herself in the mirror. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Next, she pictured herself with different eyes, nose, and mouth. A few minutes later, she opened her eyes, but nothing had changed. “I don’t think I can do it.”
“I think you can. Try again. This time, keep your eyes open. It will help with control.”
Jean stared in the mirror, focusing on her eyes. A couple of minutes later, her eyes changed from brown to a light-yellow color. “My eyes changed!”
Mr. Bena shrieked. “Good job! Now, try again. This time try to focus on your entire body. Think about your feet. Start there and work your way up.”
Jean stared at herself in the mirror and looked down at her feet. She closed her eyes before remembering the instruction to keep them open. After staring at her feet, she shifted her gaze to her legs. Suddenly, her legs softened and changed into wavy tentacles, causing Jean to plummet to the floor. She kept falling back to the floor as she attempted to stand. A few seconds later, her legs returned and she could stand up. She was breathless and fatigued, as if she had just crossed the finish line of a marathon. “I don’t know what happened. I was focusing on my face.”
“Don’t worry. Tomorrow, we will focus on how to control your abilities. Today, I just wanted to see what you could do, and you did great.”
Jean nodded, feeling both exhilarated and exhausted from her moment of transformation. She couldn’t wait to explore her abilities further, to see what other forms she could take and what other powers she might possess. But for now, she needed a break.
“Can I rest for a bit?” she asked, feeling a little lightheaded.
“Of course,” Mr. Bena said. “Take all the time you need. As you practice changing your shape, you will become stronger. Eventually, you won’t lose energy during your transformations.”
“Good to know.” Jean collapsed onto a nearby couch, closing her eyes and taking deep breaths as she tried to regain her strength. She felt a wave of gratitude toward the Benas, who had taken her in and given her a chance to discover who she truly was. It was a kindness she would never forget.