Josephine sat staring up at the floating and swirling toys, in fixation. She pulled herself up and went over to her baby sister Victoria's crib and watched her face for a moment. Baby Vicky gurgled and smiled up at her older sister, then went back to watching the toys.

Jo knew that these toys weren't supposed to be flying, unless you threw them. She ran out of the room, to the living area where her parents were sitting, reading.

"Momma, Da, Vic's blocks, and dolls, and binkies are flying, and she isn't throwing them!" She loved her sister very much, but she didn't want for the blocks to stop suddenly, and fall on her.

Steve, Jo's father, looked over at Tiffany, his wife. "What is she talking about?" he asked quietly.

He wasn't good with kids, even though he loved both of his daughters very much. Tiff had a strong maternal instinct, and he'd do anything for her. He looked back over to his oldest, and had to smile at her perfect imitation of her mother in a temper, hands on hips, tapping her little foot. She would grow into a heart breaker, just like her mom. She was a very impatient little girl. Tiff sighed, and double tapped the space between paragraphs on her screen to hold her place.

"Well, we might as well go look," she said. Steve gallantly helped her up, and kept a casual hand on her back as they walked through their small home toward the girls' room.

When the two adults got into the room, they saw exactly what their oldest had. Tiff rushed forward and swept her baby out of the crib, and all of the items fell, while Victoria bawled. She looked at Steve, scared, and wasn't reassured by the pinched look on his white face. Over the next few days, Tiff made many calls, and consulted many specialists.

By the end of the week they were referred to PEAR, Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research Lab, for further testing. Vic was given a scan that showed she had extremely high levels of brain activity in areas that were normally dormant. Many more tests were performed, before they were again contacted with information.

They congratulated Victoria's parents; they had a telekinetic in the family. They suggested that they either foster their daughter out on the one planets in Epsilon Eridani that had a school for those humans who were thus talented, or that they all move there so that she could receive further training. Steve and Tiff decided to move. Tiff took off earlier, deciding to register their child Vicky at the local school, and get the paperwork and housing taken care of.

She came back for more of their items and picked up Vic, who needed to be tested by the school. Jo decided that she would stay with her father because she wanted to finish pre-school with her friends, and come out at the end of the month with the rest of their things. Steve caved to Tiff's request, thinking that maybe it would be a good bonding time. Besides, he wouldn't have to change diapers or anything.

...:...:::...:...

Two weeks went by, and Jo and her father were sitting at home, coloring-an activity that Steve had discovered they could do together without him going insane, when there was a knock on the door. Steve got up and answered it, relieved for the break from intense 'father-daughter time'. He didn't bother checking the view screen, but hit the switch to let the door swoosh open on its tracks.

Outside stood two patrol men, solar division, if the uniforms were any indication. Warily, Steve invited them in, and gestured for them to sit at the couch. The both very politely refused, and stood standing. He joined Jo at the kitchen table, not bothering to even pretend to be calm. After he was seated in the half packed up kitchen, they told him why they were there.

"Sir, about 4 hours ago there was a mayday broad casted by a ship registered to your residence. When the closest patrol units responded to the call, there was no one there. We have begun searching along the registered flight plan, and we will inform you as soon as we find anything." He looked down briefly, and then made eye contact with Steve.

Steve sat there and looked at the men for a moment, before what they had said registered. "WHAT?!" He looked over at Jo, and her wide eyes as she looked up at him. He swallowed, and leaned closer to her.

"Please go play in your room for a while, ok dear?" he asked. She nodded solemnly, and walked through the door. He went over, and pushed the switch to close it. Slowly, he turned back to the men sitting in front of him at his table.

"Did you just say," he said slowly, calmly, but with a tremor in his voice. The man that had talked earlier glanced over to his companion, then back at Steve. "That my wife, and my youngest daughter are lost, that they sent out a mayday, and now can't be found?"

He could feel the tears building up behind his eyes, as the men slowly nodded their heads. Steve numbly went over to the table, sat down across from his daughter's half finished drawing, laid his head on his arms, and started to cry.