The Continuum Dealer: the Empaths

By Robert Colling

In the fourth installment of The Continuum Dealer series, The seven known empaths in the universe, led by Raquel, are no longer in hiding. They have taken their business of healing and made it into a healing business, with Lynne as the one holdout. Sloan, Ethan, Lee, and Hannah are on a collison course headed toward someone's ultimate end. Revenge dominates this engrossing installment as the adventure continues.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 21, 2020
• ISBN: 9781796099607

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

The Seven

History was in the making. There were seven known empaths in the universe, and now, thanks to the Clone Assimilation Act, they had been identified. Never had the seven empaths been in the same room together, let alone on the same planet. Raquel watched as the others filed in. First was Adira, and then came Zarouhi, Soraya, Lynne, and the twins Keela and Layla.

I would like to welcome all of you to the first ever meeting of the Seven, which is what I am tentatively calling our group. My name is Raquel, and I would invite you all to have a seat.

Lynne noticed the room had only one large round table with seven chairs equally placed around it. She decided to take the seat directly across the table from Raquel. Once seated, she immediately felt trapped and wondered why she had agreed to this meeting in the first place.

Once everyone had taken a seat, Raquel continued. Now then, as I just said, we are the Seven—the seven known empaths in the universe. We have all been given a gift of healing. A gift to heal almost all of those we touch. Most recently, and after years in hiding, the Continuum Dealer gave us our freedom. With the passage of the Clone Assimilation Act last year, we are now able to come out into the open. We no longer have to fear being imprisoned or being sold to the highest bidder. The act changed everything.

Someone asked, Are you to be our leader?

Well, I am hoping to make a case that I should lead.

Lynne studied Raquel. What makes you think we need a leader at all? We all were doing just fine before the act. I was healing the people who really needed it the most. Lynne saw the others start to nod along with her.

Raquel waited. Oh, I’m sure you all were doing just great, as was I. I was on a trading moon, home to millions. Millions more docked, traded, and moved on. I healed many, again as I’m sure all of you have. I lived in a little shack just outside of the main port. You see, I wasn’t allowed to live inside the town. They wanted my kind around, you know, in case someone got hurt, but not too close. It was as if I had some kind of disease, not some kind of gift. I felt labeled as a second-class citizen.

Lynne was still studying Raquel through her speech. When there was a pause, Lynne wanted to jump in but was interrupted by another.

Zarouhi stood. I’ve always been treated like that ever since I was young, ever since I discovered my empathic gift. Sure, everyone wanted a piece of me when they took sick or were injured, but later, I was ‘encouraged’ to move to the outskirts.

Adira started speaking without notice. Are we never to be happy? Are we never to fall in love? Will we never have children and families of our own? I say the Continuum Dealer did us a huge favor, and it’s time we took advantage of it. It’s time we rejoined society and took our rightful place alongside other healers. Maybe in a hospital or something.

Lynne stood, and when the table quieted down, she said, I know the Continuum Dealer. I healed him, and I presided over his life mate ceremony. I’m sure he thought things out when he put our specific clause in the act. I know in my case, he wanted me to have the right to travel anywhere in the universe. He thought of me as stuck on the clone planet, but he was wrong. I chose to be there. There was no end to the suffering, and I knew I was meant to be there…and…

Raquel grew impatient. I’m looking forward to hearing all of your individual stories, but for right now, I’m here to tell you that I’m not in that old shack outside of town anymore. This is what I’m trying to say. I’m in a new mansion in one of the finest sections of the port town. I’ll invite you there for our next meeting if you don’t believe me. You see, I started charging for my services.

This time, the twins both stood. What do you mean charging? Do you mean credits?

Yes, I mean credits. I’ve established a ‘healing’ rate. I’d had enough of living off scraps and took a shot at the golden ring. Believe me, clients treat you differently when they have to put down their own credits. No more free healings. I’ve achieved a whole new level of respect.

I’m out, Lynne said, I’ve heard enough. Who wants to join me on the transport?

Wait, please! Raquel ran to put herself in front of the door. If you’ll let me explain, you’ll see it’s not what you think.

Lynne thought about it for a moment and then returned to her seat. Raquel motioned for everyone to sit down, and they obliged. Each one of you has a vid pad in front of you. Please turn them on to see the rules I’ve written and the rate schedule I’ve attached.

Lynne scrolled through the information on the vid pad. Sure enough, Raquel had thought of everything. Right up front, there was a hold harmless clause that made it clear that if a healing was attempted and a negative outcome occurred, then the empath could not be held responsible. Then there was a list of the rules for healing. An empath could not heal themselves if they were mortally wounded. That made sense because that would be like playing at God and, technically, impossible. Lynne had sometimes wondered about both things—the hold harmless clause and the first healing rule—and here Raquel had written them down perfectly.

Past that one rule, an empath could not turn down someone who couldn’t pay. Lynne liked that rule the best. Of course, then came the promised rate sheet. Lynne turned off her pad before it loaded.

Raquel was looking at Lynne. Look, I know some of you are going to have difficulty with the rate sheet. It comes down to this. We should be compensated more for tougher healings. If someone needs a simple healing, say a common virus of some small variety, then twenty credits are plenty. But if someone needs cured from a life-threatening illness, then a thousand or more credits seem more reasonable. The more healing time needed, then the more credits charged. After all, when we touch the afflicted, we are temporarily taking on their disease into our own bodies. That involves a certain amount of risk and recovery time.

Lynne couldn’t help herself. I hope you remember that when we take on that illness, it is the Universal Spirit who is then healing us and preparing us to help the next ‘client.’

No, no. You’re exactly right. But it is written that no one knows the mind of the Universal Spirit, so who knows if it frowns on us getting paid. Raquel was grinning.

Now the other empaths were nodding again, but this time, they were clearly giving their support to Raquel. When all the other empaths were done studying the pad, they looked up at Raquel to see what was next. Raquel knew they were buying in to her plan, and they were accepting her as their leader. That is, all except Lynne.

Look, I’m not asking you to become franchisees or to work for me. I’m just telling you that I’ve been receiving credits from those I heal pretty much since the act was signed. And I don’t mind sharing that I’m doing all right. Those of you who want to stay and talk some more, please feel free to grab some of the food and drink I’ve provided.

Lynne stepped outside the door and into the night air. She was the lone empath who left the meeting. It was the right decision, and she now somehow felt reconnected. Charging for services with a price sheet. I can’t wait to put this ugliness behind me and get back to Clone Island.

CHAPTER TWO

Hannah

Hannah stood in front of her mirror. It was hard to admit to anyone. Moreover, it was hardest to admit it to herself. The encounter had changed her. Seeing an angel had changed her life forever.

She replayed the events that had brought her here to this moment—falling in love with Ethan, their subsequent breakup, her need for revenge, her bombing of the Grinden, her involvement with the leader of the Brethren, her manipulation of the clones, and finally, her attack on the Continuum Dealer on Sopeddos.

The meaning of her angel encounter was now clear. If she were to believe in angels, then by default, she would have to believe in the one who made angels—the Universal Spirit. She spent the next week looking at all the vids on the Universal Spirit she could find. The information was overwhelming. She ran across a recent poll that stated 80 percent of all humanoids believed in angels, and the same percentage believed in the Universal Spirit. How could I have missed out on so much, and how would it have changed my life?

She tried to explain to Steven what she was going through, but somehow, he couldn’t follow. He wanted to be a couple in what he called a normal and regular relationship. He also made it clear that she was to pay attention to his needs and that he would take care of her. Been there, done that. So she said goodbye and left him there on the clone planet to make his own fate.

Her first thought was to go home and see her family and friends. Once there, she tried to explain her angel encounter to her parents. They listened