The Gifted Ones - Astral Conversation

 

2266 – Location: Earth – Nevalah

Much has happened. The Psi-Corps is no more. In its place now stands the Psionic Monitoring Commission. All of this unfolded while Byron lived in peace with Sonja, sharing the message of Christ with others. Together, Byron and Sonja helped identify other telepaths who were revealed to be Gifted Ones, and they brought them to Nevalah.

Through this journey, Byron came to realize more and more that this was his calling—his true purpose: to spread the message of Christ and to seek out others like himself, Sonja, and the rest of the Gifted Ones—those whom God had been hiding for a time. While he does carry remorse for the lives lost during the Telepath War, he is at peace knowing the Psi-Corps has been dismantled. Yet, he, Sonja, and the other Gifted Ones remain uncertain about the new Psionic Monitoring Commission.

It is nighttime in Nevalah, and all is quiet—save for a few citizens who call themselves the Guardians, standing watch at the city’s entrance.

Byron and Sonja are asleep.

“Byron... Byron…”

Byron felt—and heard—someone calling to him. He knew it wasn’t merely a telepathic message. With calm focus, he allowed his Astral Self to leave his body, soaring upward into a hidden realm: the Astral Plane—or as the Gifted Ones call it, the Celestial Pathway.

When he arrived, he looked around but saw no one.

“Byron…”

He turned—and before him stood Lyta Alexander.

He immediately recognized that she had passed on. Bowing his head, he whispered a short prayer.

“What are you doing?” Lyta asked, her voice curious.

Byron lifted his head and looked at her.

“I prayed for you,” he said softly.

“Prayed?” she repeated, stunned.

“Yes, prayed. I can see that you’ve passed on... and that your death was violent. No doubt you became a casualty of the Telepath War,” Byron said, his voice heavy with sorrow.

“Yes—but the Psi-Corps… it’s gone, dissolved!” Lyta said, her tone suddenly bright with relief.

“Yes—because God wanted it to be gone,” Byron said.

Lyta was stunned upon hearing this.

“What are you talking about?” she asked.

“Lyta... why don't you ask what you really want to ask me?” Byron replied gently.

Lyta stood there, staring at him. Tears began to fall from her eyes.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she sobbed.

“What would have been the point? I had only just discovered the truth myself—that I’m a Gifted One. Not a creation of the Vorlons,” he said with compassion.

“But what about me? Couldn’t God have saved me?” she cried out.

Byron walked closer to her.

“Lyta... my dear Lyta. I was lost too. I was angry—angry at what I had done, angry at how we, as telepaths, had been conditioned to believe that all we were good for was reading minds, uncovering secrets for others. That was the lie we were fed. But many of us knew better. That’s why so many ran away... or rebelled.

“We knew—we felt—that we were meant for more. That we could do more. That’s why God hid many of us. Yes, some were forced into the Psi-Corps, but only for a time.

“For those who escaped... those who defied the system... God awakened something within them and showed them another way. That’s what happened to me. I woke up—but I was still blinded by my dream of building a sanctuary for telepaths. I couldn’t see the full picture.

“God does not want us—His creations, both telepath and non-telepath—to be at war. He wants us to accept one another. To share in His love.

“It was one night that everything changed. God awakened me from my slumber, and I came face to face with one of His angels—one who had once been Jason Ironheart. I was shown two paths: one in which I would die, and the Psi-Corps would fall—but that would be the only legacy I’d leave. The other... the path I walk now. I spread the Good News, Lyta. And I am in love.”

“Sonja Ironheart. I know,” Lyta said. The disappointment in her voice was unmistakable.

“Lyta... I did love you. Make no mistake about that. But our love... it was born out of selfish need. It couldn’t last. There was only one way it would’ve ended—badly,” he said, his voice soft with regret.

“God gave me another choice. Yes, the Psi-Corps still fell. And the world believes I’m dead. That’s for the best.”

“So... what about me?” Lyta asked quietly.

“Whatever sins you’ve committed... take them to God. Ask Him for forgiveness. I imagine that even the Vorlons have had to ask for it... I can imagine you can too," he said.

“You love her, don’t you?” Lyta asked.

Byron nodded.

“She and I are soulmates. We’re meant to walk this path together.”

Lyta nodded slowly.

“That’s all I wanted to know,” she said softly.

Suddenly, the ethereal form of what had once been Jason Ironheart appeared beside her. He extended his hand to Lyta.

“It’s time to go, Lyta,” he said gently.

Lyta nodded, her expression calm.

“You’ve already asked for forgiveness, haven’t you?” Byron asked, a warm smile on his face.

Lyta smiled and nodded.

“I’m going to become what Jason is. But we’ll be watching over you.”

Byron nodded in return.

Lyta took Jason’s hand, and in that moment, her form transformed into a being of pure light. Together, she and Jason soared into the cosmos.

Byron soon returned to Earth.

He opened his eyes to find morning light spilling into the room. Turning, he saw Sonja watching him with a smile—a smile that told him she knew what had transpired.

“She wanted to see me one last time,” he said.

“I know,” she replied.

“Now that she’s at peace, we can continue our mission,” he said.

“That we will,” Sonja agreed, and they kissed.