Her parents were visitors from another planet. They settled here in Albuquerque. Matilda was born. Both her parents were murdered by the evil Cyrus Pettibone. Matilda Finnegan was saved by Bertrand and raised by Martha Love. As she grew, she learned to manage the special skills she possessed. She could travel anywhere using portals. Easier than a bike or a car. She could levitate objects. Great way to fetch a cookie when they were out of reach on a counter, Handy when she was a baby. She could read minds and talk with others through thoughts. Languages were easy for her. She had a photographic memory. Her favorite memory was of Bertrand saving her when she was a toddler. She longed for his return. She became a librarian and a archeologist. Worked for the CIA and settled in to owning a bookstore. Bertrand comes to see her and the story begins. More about the characters on the Matilda and Her Alien website.