The writer gives life to a story, the reader keeps it alive.
After being ordered by her present sister, Guild Master Merek, to ‘baby sit’ a past version of Heyem, future Alexand accompanies Heyem to Hong Kong, alongside their grandmother, General Edith MehXian (See Issue # 565: Guardian Angels Part 4)
After explaining that she couldn’t return to Civil Earth with Kat, due to further obligations to the Guild of Time, Kat and Alexand attempt to steal a few more hours together, whilst Alexand waits for whoever it is that is ‘late’. (This issue is dedicated to everyone in the LGBTQAI+ community, particularly in the USA at this moment.)
Lord Ichitumbu Jalhavi fought his way onto the highest deck of the ship, to where he can see only a few haernyara left in the sky around the vessel. He attempts to use his anti-gravity device to join them but right beside him, fighting what is left of the mutated haernyarn, is a very angry looking blond man, who seems to recognise him, despite Ichitumbu having no idea who he is. (Unbound Boxes will return on Wednesday 6th November 2024)
Present Heyem, still trapped inside her bubble shield, watches the battle as the warriors in the sky begin to fall onto the ships deck, around her, forcing her future family to take up their weapons once more and fight.
Eldenath watches from the ship’s deck, as the last of the haernyarn disappears from the sky, and from the decks. Her fellow warriors and an army of Kyo-ashita have defeated the threat and contained the outbreak.
General Edith MehXian leads the other generals towards the dormant battle, on Floating Asylum Ship One. To where three versions of Xan and one version of Alexand have already stepped into the Amanojuko nest.
Eldenath and her future family materialised on the mountain, 3992, overlooking the sea, where a Chinese woman, who she didn’t know, and her great aunt Heyem, (a younger, past version of Heyem) stood. The floating Asylum ship is in the distance on the horizon.
After reading Guild Master Merek’s orders and ignoring them to pursue the remainder of her rehearsal, Ivana Cockatoo, threw herself into the most magnificent display of her drag career, even if it was only for twelve shady drag kings and queens and her husband, Antoine.
On her way back to her grandmother’s house, after walking her aunt Aïcha to the cottage, Eldenath heard footsteps approaching from behind. (Happy almost Birthday, Mum. You are one of the kindest, funniest and sweetest people on this earth. Thank you for all that you are and all that you do. Come on Barbie, let’s go party.)
Anya was knocked unconscious during the explosion and woke up to find herself lying on Future Alexand Merek’s sofa.
After a haernyara terrorist exploded a bomb in the Kyo-ashita training grounds, Jay Varma, along with Ajeeta Kothari and Katherine De Somme, were charged with forensically examining the remains of the three Kyo-ashita victims and the dead terrorist.
Posing as Kyo-ashita warriors, charged with the rehabilitation of the ex-Haernyara, Anya Ranyevzsky, Future Alexand, (Creya Johal) and her grandchildren, Eldenath and Zero, head towards the deck of the Kyuunansen.
Future Alexand had woken early, as instructed by her Guild Master (Future Heyem Merek,) she is ready to take a very nervous Anya to the past, to carry out a fake assassination, which will set a series of events in motion.
Anya has never touched a piano before or seen musical instruments. She has not met women married to each other, or who are so free spirited. Such things are taboo back at the Haernyara Headquarters and will one day be placed inside the Bad Thing Box worldwide.
Anya desperately wants to be saved, but she is reluctant to trust these strangers, associated with her old friend Inajda. However, she has no choice, her only option is to believe Alexand Merek’s words to be true. (For Ukraine – for peace.)
Anya has followed the eccentric future version of Alexand Merek, posing as a Kyo-ashita called Creya Johal, to the Kyo-ashita quarters, after being granted probationary sanctuary.
Eldenath stands in the gardens, pruning rose bushes. She has been promoted to a junior National Guard and looks forward to starting her duties in the coming weeks. Her new duties will mean she gets to go outside the gates of the House of Plenitude and Mirth, to guard the public from bad things. To celebrate the 100th issue, and to thank you for your support these past three years, this story is set just before the first manuscript, which I hope one day will be available for you to read too. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Giselle Balsara remembers parts of her childhood, and that she may have been abducted. She has flashbacks to being an adult, living in a place with marble walls and grand ornaments. But these are fleeting, dreamlike memories and she doesn’t know if they are real. She has woken with a small baby in her arms, in a strange shack. Underneath a trap door she found a cellar filled with books and paintings. (Banned things) Giselle can’t remember the years leading up to this event but she knows that the things in this cellar could get her into a lot of trouble if she’s discovered. This story is dedicated to Vera Poh, from To Dad With Love, for inspiring me to write another Giselle Balsara story. Thank you, Vera. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Samuel Merevija is tempted to escape from The House of Plenitude and Mirth, along with Eldenath Balsara, but they are both afraid of what could happen in the world outside. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Eldenath uses chores as cover for time with her own memories. Something she would get in trouble for if anyone else in the House of Plenitude and Mirth, could read her mind. (Apart from her friend Samuel Merevija, who is also an inmate) (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Eldenath Balsara has been living in The House Of Plenitude And Mirth, since her mother’s execution. (See Eldenath Balsara Part One) Ma’am Alamandez is chief matron and her words will keep Eldenath from being sent to The Far Away Lands or put inside The Bad Thing Box. This story directly follows after issue # 43: Ma’am Alamandez. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
The Amanojuko have promised Ma’am Alamandez immortality, if she obeys their laws and works as a Madam in The House of Plenitude and Mirth. All she has to do is dull down the children and break down any who are too bright. (Eldenath Balsara is one of the residents inside The House of Plenitude and Mirth, along with Samuel Merevija.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Yemi Balsara is a drugs councilor in Nigeria. Her elder sister, Giselle was stolen as a nine year old child, causing Yemi’s mother to sink into severe depression. Yemi was born a year after Giselle disappeared, but the absence of her sister has deeply affected her family, even though Yemi does her best to relieve her mother’s pain, it is never enough. Bernadette leaves a candle burning in their window in the hope that one day Giselle will find her way home, but twenty years have passed and the old woman keeps waiting, leaving Yemi as her caretaker. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Giselle Balsara has a secret. She hides banned books and keeps paintings in her cellar. In a world where books that don’t pop up, will get you put inside The Bad Thing Box, Giselle is taking an incredible risk, sharing her knowledge with her eleven year old daughter, Eldenath. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Eldenath Balsara is an orphan. She doesn’t know who her father is and her mother was put in ‘The Bad Thing Box’ for being ‘evil’. She has a new mother, who is a matron in The House of Plenitude and Mirth. Eldenath has to un-learn the Bad Things taught to her by her old mother, like reading big words and looking at paintings and singing in the shower and listening to music. (See issue: 17) She is about twelve years old here. (A Spanish translation is now available, by Hernán Jara Droguett.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Images, story and characters, © Cheryl Moore
