After work I walked from the infirmary to my room rather than taking the transport. It was quite a long way around the outer ring of the Trig's humanoid shell, but I had to clear my head of the anguish of the past few days and get on with my life.

Behind me a siren began to wail.

The force of the explosion was terrific. It ripped through the fabric of the station, like it was made of paper, as the antimatter generator on level two lost it's integrity field and ruptured the power conduits throughout the sphere.

The One Mind went into emergency link and used their psionic powers to control the blast as much as they could keeping in the atmosphere for as long as possible so that everyone could evacuate.

I ran back towards my emergency station and as I passed the damaged sector on walkway three I sensed some survivors trapped in the engineering bay.

Without thinking I used the localised teleporter situated around the next bend and got past the worst of the damage. Once there I used my medi-kit to help the wounded. Gradually the grip of the One Mind weakened. The structure around me began to groan as it took additional weight of the levels above. The rupture in the outer wall gaped ominously and oxygen began to leak out into the void of space. Knowing that I was the only one around I had to help these people while their was still a chance.

A senior systems engineer, who introduced himself as Loftori of Paldrin, was the least injured and once I had healed his head wound he began to use an anti-gravity unit as a stretcher. Muttering to himself, what I guessed to be Paldrinian profanities, he wrestled the bulk of his Lorian team leader onto the rig. He took great care not to put stress on the temporary dressing I had applied to the team leader's side. Meanwhile I busied myself with regeneration of a broken limb of the next patient. Despite this preoccupation I had time to appreciate the care that this gentle giant took over his colleagues as he moved them off towards safety.

The radiation tag on my uniform slowly went a dark blue and I knew that we were all close to fatal exposure.

Then, with a thunderous screeching sound, a bulkhead against which I had leant some of the wounded folded under the seismic stress. Leaping clear of the ensuing fireball and momentarily stunned I awoke to find myself pinned beneath a piece of machinery. The engineer returned and together we tried, me with telekinesis and him with brute strength, to dislodge the heavy weight. But the radiation was taking it's toll and shortly we both knew that our efforts were ineffectual. The teleporter remote that I had carried with me had been completely buried beneath the rubble of the wall as it collapsed, and was also useless.

"I'll go for help." He shouted over the increasing roar of escaping atmosphere.

"No time. Get the others back to safety, this radiation damage is past repair anyway."

He pulled another colleague, who had been blown clear as the bulkhead collapsed, onto the anti grav unit. His mind was full of remorse, but following his training he understood the logic of the situation. Without glancing back in my direction he pushed them away towards the walkway.

So alone I lay struggling for breath in the thinning air...

It took many years to be convinced to take on this task but now that I have agreed the biggest decision is where to start.

"At the beginning." The Tomorrow People had said in unison.

Yes, but where did it all begin? I could bore you with tales of my childhood on my birth planet Manyarner, for the humans among you this is pronounced ma¤ana much like the Spanish word for tomorrow. An apt coincidence as Stephen once pointed out.

This time was taken up with studies for my vocation as a healer. I had to learn to read the genetic trace of the myriad of species within the federation. And apply my telekinetic skills at the sub atomic level to kill disease and encourage tissue regeneration.

If you are interested, details of these techniques can be found in the galactic medical data base accessible from any biotronic computer interface.

When I was asked to write this memoir I thought that it was rather a stupid idea, after all what had I really achieved over the last hundred years? It was Stephen who pointed out that if it was not for my involvement this, as he put it, 'rather backward planet in a binary star system on the outer spiral arm of a rather insignificant galaxy', would not have become the centre for commerce it is today.

But for now I have to find a more suitable place to begin my story. As I look out from the window across the Scottish loch towards the distant mountains on the planet Earth, which I now consider my home, it seems to me that the most important phase of my life began the day I met Stephen and trying to overcome the temptation to turn this memoir into a love story I will begin there.

I was 10 Earth years old, as the Manyarnern's amongst you will know this is a full grown and mature, or so I thought at the time, adult to my own species. I had begun a tour of duty for the federation on the galactic Trig and being a natural healer had rapidly risen to the rank of medical technician in the humanoid sector.

I was on duty one morning when a rather pale looking young man was brought into my section. He regained consciousness just as I finished a neural probe.

His large childlike eyes looked up from the couch and realising that I was not exactly human jumped to the floor. "Where the hell am I?"

His thoughts were a crazy jumble of fear and intrigue and it took all the psionic control I could muster to keep him rooted to the spot whilst I completed entering his file to the medical data base and walked around to face him.

"Hi, I'm Angerianaasusilicana." I said "Rather a mouthful I know so you can call me Angie."

"Stephen." He whispered

"Yes I know." And I did, his mind was as open as a child's and very easy to read.

In the first few moments of consciousness he had revealed many details about the Tomorrow People and their role as representatives for the planet called Earth, a developing closed world, under the protection of the Federation.

"How do you know?"

This was going to take a while to explain. The brain damage he had sustained had taken away most of his memories of his last few years working for the Galactic Federation as an ambassador. Smiling warmly I led him back to the couch and sat him down.

"Stephen, do you know where you are and how you got here?"

"I was listening to music in my quaters when I felt a sharp pain in my head and found that I could not move or call the others. I thought that I was having a brain seizure. Am I on the Trig?"

"Yes. You were on leave when the incident happened. The agents who took you were from another Galaxy. They infiltrated the Trig's security systems in order to snatch you. They used directed telepathic control, you were unshielded at the time, and it overloaded your neuronal pathways. There is no lasting damage done I have checked you over."

"I don't remember any of this." He said shaking his head. "When did it happen?"

"You were taken six Earth months ago and have spent another three months recovering."

He gave a low whistle. "That long?"

"Yes, let me explain some more."

The next few minutes were taken up with a long description about how John, Elizabeth and the others had, at great risk to their personal safety, tracked him down to a planet in a distant galaxy. He had been rather crudely experimented upon and had been brought back to the Trig for extensive medical treatment.

"You will have to stay a while longer just to make sure that you have all of your abilities back." I said smiling.

"Where are the other Tomorrow People now?"

"John, Elizabeth, Patricia, Mike, Hsui Tai and Andrew are all outside waiting to see you, I'm sure that they can fill you in with what has happened since your capture. Tyso is still away on his travels. Carol, Narscissa and Nova have returned to Adonisia."

The door silently opened to my telekinetic command and his friends entered. They fell on him with great affection and I left them alone to talk.

Returning two hours later it was obvious how tired he had become. I settled him into a visitors room in the humanoid sphere and told him to rest.

Standing in the doorway I felt strangely drawn to this young human, I turned. "I'll come by tomorrow to check on you, don't overdo things for the next few days, promise."

He nodded. "I promise. I'll get as much rest as possible." The door closed and I returned to the infirmary.

The other Tomorrow People left, to continue their respective roles on various Federation worlds, a few days later. I watched their goodbyes at the transmission station from a discrete distance. As the last of them dematerialised I was suddenly aware of Stephen's intense loneliness. I reached out to probe his mind. It was not only his friends that he missed but his home planet, Earth, as well.

The authorities had evacuated his people from this closed world three of their years ago. Their survival on such a hostile planet had been in jeopardy and it had been felt best if they live and work from the Trig. The Federation had also arranged for the planet's atmosphere to be seeded with a substance called R.T.E. (Retrograde Triscriptase Endonucleogen ) which was designed to inhibit the replication of the Psi-gene in future human populations. This it was thought would prevent further 'break outs' of their kind.

This had been accepted by them all as necessary but, despite the obvious logic in the decision, I felt a sense of loss in each of their minds whenever I communicated with them telepathically. It was obvious that each Tomorrow Person had a secret desire to go back home hidden away in the depths of their consciousness.

I walked over to stand beside Stephen. "Why don't we go for a walk?" I suggested. As he turned towards me I was sure that tears were forming in the corner of his eyes.

He took a deep breath and buried his feelings deeply. Taking my hand in his he smiled. "Okay, let's go up to the arboretum and get some fresh air, well, as fresh as you can have in this artificial environment."

We fell into a daily routine of meeting after my shift in the infirmary and standing on the observation deck watching the returning cargo ships. Soon we were conversing on a purely subvocal level exchanging emotions as well as words.

One day whilst explaining the history of Manyarner and that my parents being in the Circle of Elders had taken places on the One Mind, he caught a thought from my unconscious. "They don't approve of our relationship do they?"

Caught up in the intimacy of the exchange, I had forgotten to shield my thoughts. This had become an increasing event, we seemed to slip into deep rapport so naturally. "No. They think that I could not possibly mate with such a backward race."

My parents had in fact had many family gatherings on this topic, making it plain that the genetic material of the species could not be watered down with human DNA even if it was Homo Superior. Many Manyarnern prejudices still remained in those days.

"They are worried that our paths are becoming too linked and considering sending you to Adonisia to complete your convalescence with Carol and Narscissa."

He gave a deep sigh and this time it was his thoughts which betrayed him.

"So you are bored with doing nothing all day, why didn't you say? I can send you back to duty any time, if that is what you really want. I thought that you were enjoying being here with me. It's just that we have become so close..." I reached out and touched his cheek gently and completely opened up my mind. The intensity of the moment nearly knocked him off his feet.

A few minutes later when we had both regained our composure we knew that our paths were fused together.

"We will have to ask for the joining ceremony." I knew that this would cause fireworks within my family. "They cannot keep us apart. Then we can use my parents influence on the council to grant special dispensation so that we can return to Earth together."

I delved deep into my cellular tissue and completed the transformation in one subtle fluid motion.

"Didn't know I was a shape changer did you?"

Stephen stood dumbfounded my eyes were now dark brown rather than scarlet, my hair shoulder instead of waist length and my skin a human shade rather than it's usual gently translucent purple.

"They'll never let us leave, let alone return to Earth. It's a completely closed world."

(Don't underestimate my parents influence.) I pathed with confidence.

But, of course, he was right. When we approached my parents office in the administrative area they already sensed my changes. They cut Stephen off from the telepathic argument that followed and try as I might their control was absolute.

So it was with real human tears in my eyes that we said our farewells at the Kalinar terminal the next day. I had felt it unwise to put Stephen's newly repaired neuronal pathways through the rigours of the long jaunt and the Kalinar was the best option available for getting him quickly to his friends on Adonisia.

His shuttle left and I returned to the infirmary alone and dejected. A part of my soul went with him that day. The telepathic link stretched to it's limits as the Kalinar made the jump to hyperspace and then his thoughts were gone...

Earth equivalent date 14th Aug 1983

As many readers will now have guessed this story ends like many other true romances with the hero returning just in the nick of time to rescue the heroin and without disappointing you that's exactly what happened.

Stephen's Kalinar had turned around and left hyperspace as soon as they detected the telepathic terror emanating from the Trig.

He insisted on jaunting over to the area where I was trapped despite the warning about probable collapse and high radiation levels. I'm not sure how he shifted that equipment. Near to unconsciousness and suffering severe radiation poisoning he carried me back along the walkway until he met a rescue party.

And so it ended with us both back in the infirmary being visited by my parents. They were quite contrite as they thanked him for saving their daughter.

(The only thing I could do for my future joining partner.) He sent on our own secret wavelength.

I was not so discrete and let them pick up the thoughts about our intention to join in the traditional way as soon as possible.

They capitulated and left two very humanoid patients to settle down and sleep gently in subtle contact sharing their dreams.

And so I found myself standing naked before the circle of elders in the temple of the fourth continent. Twelve units from my family estate by the lake that borders Vanya province. The lake at that time of year was a particularly appealing turquoise and I was longing to dive into it's cool depths to feel the freedom of swimming without breathing apparatus as you do on Earth. Swallowed up in the uniquely sensual qualities created by the molecular structure of the water as it flows across the skin.

The parcelling of land on Manyarner was completed many millennium ago, in the Age of Diffusion, each family given a particular expanse in which to build appropriate dwellings. The family homes pass down through many generations but are occupied rarely. The population nowadays is spread far throughout the galaxy most people returning only for holidays and celebrations.

Each continent has it's own temple on common land, usually beside a major city or space port. This temple, simple in it's construction, was circular, as are most things on that world. The pillars of stone curved in at what appeared to be a most unnatural angle towards the centre. It seemed that they could fall in at any moment. These arcs serve to focus the psionic energy field that permeates the whole planet. Psionic energy is a central aspect of all our technology and has ritualistic and symbolic importance as well.

At this point it seems appropriate to give a concise religious, technological and historical description of my birth planet. Manyarnerns may skip the next few pages. Humans with an interest in the socio-political history of this world read on.

The first point of relevance is the matriarchal nature of the society. There is no family name only a given name appropriate to genetic specialisation. The talents of the females are recognised at birth and indicated in the structure of the given name but not reflected in the men's titles as their particular talents do not show themselves until a few months of age.

My name has a literal interpretation as one who senses and brings cohesion. This is as close an interpretation in English as I can give it, my first born Andranovich being a linguist and specialist in human languages may differ in his interpretations. My telekinetic speciality was interpreted as the natural qualities of a healer and my entire schooling was geared to that end.

Thus the females who show particular talents in focusing psionic energy carry responsible roles in most religious ceremonies, except I may add the joining ceremony, about which I was telling you. This is the only true manifestation of this matriacal society men being equal in all other circumstances.

I have never been very religious and Manyarnern belief structures do not conform to the many human religious philosophies. They tend to be related to what is known of the scientific structure of the dimensions and the creation catastrophe.

It has just been pointed out by Susan that my thoughts are rambling on and an excerpt from the historical data base will give you a far better insight into Manyarnan society than the meanderings of an old woman.

I suggest that you look up any more details yourself.

Why was I naked? Most ceremonies are performed that way. When you live in a society where your inner consciousness is on daily display the most naked you can feel is when a stray unprotected and derogatory thought about someone else slips through and is detected by those around you. In addition Manyarner has a particularly mild and temperate climate where cloths are hardly needed.

Traders from other federation worlds have introduced some beautiful materials in recent years which change in colour and texture to the changing emotional states of the individual. Such materials are usually fashioned into a long tunic bound at the waist by a band.

Anyway, in religious ceremonies no adornment is necessary as the spirit alone is revealed to those present. Stephen on this first introduction to our philosophies was blushing at his predicament and not knowing quite where to look. I might add that the witnesses to any such ceremony also go naked. Think of that next time you are at a Terran wedding. I had explained how we would have our brain patterns scrambled, there was no better English term for it, then reformulated in synchrony during the ceremony. A rather painful but rewarding experience as he later commented.

He looked over at me from his side of the platform and smiled wryly. (If John and Liz could see me now they'd die of embarrassment.) He sent.

In human years he was just turned 23 and, although he had worked as a Federation ambasador for many years, was still not considered mature enough for marriage by his friends.

Obeying the subvocal commands of the surrounding consciousness he knelt lowering his head to receive the touch of my father. The details of how the joining is performed is one of the only Manyarnern ceremonies that I cannot explain. If such an explanation were possible without resorting to unconscious transmission of ideas Stephen would be best to describe it as he has performed it for Susan since.

A few months later we received the special dispensation we requested. This gave us permission to return to Earth, as observers only, on behalf of the Federation.

"I don't know how you managed to pull it off." Remarked a shocked John when we told him of our iminent departure. "I've only just come to terms with the idea that we would be spending many years stuck here."

"Where are you two going to live?" Asked Mike mischievously. "The lab has been closed down for years and it only has single cabins."

"We are going to stay with my parents and see whether we can live a more normal human life style."

"You mean a sap lifestyle." Snapped John. His jealousy at Stephen's marriage and subsequent side stepping of official Federation protocols, was only just kept in check. "Won't your powers begin to fade as you are exposed to the chemicals in the atmosphere? Soon you'll forget all about us and everything we stand for."

Stephen's voice rose as he became angered by John's attitude. "No. We have been given a special antidote which will allow us to keep our powers. You're just sore that they didn't allow you to have it."

Elizabeth, sensing their anger, and quite unused to seeing them argue in such a way, changed the subject. "Stephen, please let all of our families know that we are well and miss them."

"I will."

After a while we headed for the transmission station. I have to mention at this point that, although I have very strong telepathic and telekinetic abilities, I am not a natural teleporter and usually have to use a matter transporter bracelet. Stephen tried at length to teach me but my physiology just could not adapt to this remarkable ability.

We arrived in a dimly lit lab and briefly exchanged greetings with TIM. Then we headed off to meet Stephen's parents. They were shocked, at first, to see their son materialise in the lounge of their London home. Having come to terms with his enforced evacuation from the planet, they had not expected to hear from him for many years.

They were very nice people and tried hard to accept me into their family. They were fully aware of his abilities as a Tomorrow Person but found it difficult to accept his choice of wife as an alien from a distant world. They seemed unable to take in the many ways in which myself, and our first child, differed from other humans in both physiology and psychic abilities.

I recall one summers day as I lay in the back garden of their London home with Andranovich still an infant beside me on the rug. Julia reached out and called him to her. She had obviously expected him to crawl like most human babies. But much to her astonishment he obeyed her command by gently lifting himself from the ground and floating effortlessly into her outstretched arms.

She gave a rather undignified shriek which woke me from my reverie. "My God! How could it... I mean he, do a thing like that?"

"I've explained before that we have many unusual talents and can tap the natural energy fields around us to move objects at will, you've surely seen Stephen do similar things on countless occasions. I must admit though that Andranovich has never shown this ability before and I don't want him floating out of his pram in the middle of the supermarket. I'll have to get an inhibitor band from the lab and fit it as soon as possible."

She did not seem to have heard anything that I said and continued to stare at the child as he floated back to the ground and began to play with a favourite toy.

"Yes dear, I suppose so" She glanced over the fence to see if the neighbours were within earshot. " I do think that he may need to see a doctor this isn't quite normal for a child his age."

What did she think? That he had some kind of disease that could be cured? My anger rose at the possibility of another drawn out conversation about the nature of my people and how we differed from humans. This conversation was happening with monotonous regularity and it made me angry that such seemingly sophisticated people could be so blind to the evidence of their own eyes. I went within her to read the worried and confused thoughts. This made me ashamed for getting so irate. Her mind was very orderly and simple in it's reasoning. The world as she understood it fitted into neat little compartments each suiting a part of her daily routine as housewife and grandmother. There was no malevolence here just ignorance. She had no desire to widen the scope of her limited existence and further explanations would hit the same simplistic understanding and fall on deaf ears. I decided to wipe the incidence from her memory and change the conversation.

Still it is down to Julia and Tom Jameson that Stephen inherited the house in Scotland, and enough capitol to form Jameson Industries and later the Jameson foundation. This enabled us to live undetected, well almost, amongst the humans for the next few decades.