54 - Mystic Oasis

After Maia and the children arrived in the desert town of Lucky Palms, she followed the directions Hamilton had given her and found herself arriving at a futuristic looking modern home on Golf View Road. Maia was thrilled to have a safe new home to raise her family in.

As promised, Hamilton’s contact was waiting there to welcome her. 

He introduced himself as Isak Majgård and explained he was a local handyman originally from Aurora Skies. Isak assured Maia that the house was completely furnished and ready for her to move in right away, that he’d tested and upgraded all the appliances himself, and that the new convertible she’d seen in the driveway was now hers as well. Isak also had a surprise housewarming gift for Maia which he promised to show her later. But first he offered her a tour of the residence, known as Mystic Oasis.

The house was spacious and had many amenities, and Maia looked forward to raising many children here. While Isak showed her the house and answered Maia’s questions, the children all played on the playground.

After the tour, Isak gave Maia a list he’d compiled of potential men in Lucky Palms who were willing to become fathers of Maia’s future children if she so desired. Isak’s name was on that list as well.

“So does this mean you’re my housewarming gift?”  Maia teased.

Isak blushed and grinned.  “Oh, that reminds me! I almost forgot to show you your surprise!  Come on, I think you’re going to love this.”

In the basement lab, Isak proudly introduced Maia to a Plumbot he’d created and called A.C.E., an acronym for Advanced Cleaning Entity.

Maia was rather impressed, especially when Isak explained that A.C.E. had been specifically programmed with a cleaning trait chip so Maia would have less housework to do and more time to spend with her babies.  He said he could also upgrade the Plumbot further if Maia decided she’d like some more traits added in the future.

After welcoming A.C.E to her household, Maia thanked Isak for his time and thoughtfulness, and then gathered the kids together for a quick trip to the Brittlebrush Academy to enroll them in their new school.

Afterwards, they enjoyed dinner together at the Blooming Cactus Bistro.

Then they returned to their new home and celebrated with sparklers.

It had been a busy and exciting day, and there was much to explore and discover in the days ahead, so they all climbed into their new beds and settled down to sleep. 

And while she slept, Maia dreamed....

She saw herself in a swampy wilderness in a time long past. She was near a campfire with a man, one with whom she felt an intense connection on the level of her very soul.

She loved him more than anything, and she was certain he returned her feelings. 

But there was something about him that warned her of secrets and hidden dangers. And Maia had the impression that they were being watched, although when she got up to look around she saw no one beyond the circle of firelight.

Suddenly, the flames of their campfire seemed to flare, and Maia felt herself catch fire.

Agony engulfed her and the rest of the world faded into absolute darkness.

Maia burned until it seemed she became nothing but an inferno herself; a blazing body of eternal fire that transcended the limits of time and would never be quenched. There was no escape.

She was the essence of pain and flame and could only burn on and on…

Maia awoke abruptly, choking on the taste of bitter ash and gasping the heated air that seared her lungs. Her room was stifling with the desert heat though it was only early morning. She must’ve forgotten to turn on the AC.

She rolled out of bed knowing she had little time to ponder her dream, nor did she really wish to. Maia got the children ready for their first day of school, and by the time their bus came, the memories of her dream had faded away.

A.C.E. did the cleaning up after breakfast, while Maia experimented with some of her new appliances.

The food replicator was an especially interesting device with which she could have any type of food she wanted instantly.  It was almost like having a genie in the house once again.

And it was then Maia realized it wouldn’t be long before she might be caring for genie children soon.

Time flowed by peacefully. The children all did well in their studies and the Lee family spent the hot desert days enjoying the inviting pool area. 

Maia spent some idyllic days lounging in the water while the kids were in school too.

She had gotten herself quite the tan one day and, feeling a bit over warm, went to head inside. But instead, she went into labor.

Maia drove herself to the Sun Health Hospital and shortly thereafter gave birth to twin boys.

Welcome Shane!

And welcome Lucian!

The next chapter of her new life in Lucky Palms had begun.