Stone and the Ravens (Guardian Stone Book 3)

by Don Koch

  "Hank, was pretty frustrated after the Kajaki incident because he believed I was out there. He would on occasion get these little mental tweaks from Barana that would remind him I was there. Sometimes it would be a light mental contact and at others it was stronger. Eventually everything came together at the right time. He was able to go mind-to-mind with me from the first day"

  Jane said, "Wow, that is very cool. Thanks for sharing that with me. I won't broadcast the story but it is really a cool story. Gust will find out from me but will not broadcast either. Wow."

  Sam smiled as they walked over to the picnic table for something to eat, "You can share it with Chris and Anya too, if you want."

  # February 29 – C Day 548 #

  Progress during the past week in understanding and mapping the various nodes in the rapport map had been hugely successful. Even the original reason for the exercise had been fruitful. They could now select the method for entering rapport. It was also found that separate guards were no longer necessary. Persons entering rapport could render themselves impervious. Both their corporal selves and their projections were impervious. That would be sufficient protection for their purposes. Better yet, the use of the maps made training simpler because all of the talents relevant to an individual could be addressed with precision. They formalized the decision to not share the abilities of the kids "make a wish" node and the results of its inadvertent use since it appeared to be unique to them and common knowledge of the node would be unsettling to the non-talented part of the population. All AI's were alerted to the significance of the node with instructions to identify anyone with the capability and alert command.

  Chapter 3: A Little Dip in the Ocean

  On Station One, In Orbit at Vast –

  March 1 – C Day 549

  Hank and Sam decided to take a day off for some relaxation. They had a chat with Joe and June Carson as well as Josh and Rose Adams who all wanted to join in. They took an eight-person shuttle and following Rian Orpan’s advice flew to a secluded cove on Vast that was unoccupied. Rian had warned them about indigenous sea life particularly Nalkrahs, Porphins along with a few others and what they looked like. They brought with them a large picnic basket along with what they felt they would need for the day. The setting was idyllic and reminded Joe of a beach he had seen in Hawaii. The water was clear with only mild surf action so everyone took a swim and then raided the picnic basket. After lounging for a bit in the sun, they played a bit of beach volleyball. Hank worked up a sweat so he took a quick dip to cool off.

  As he was swimming about twenty feet off the beach something tried to bite his leg but Hank’s enhancement package protected him. The water was about 4 ½ feet deep, so he planted both feet and punched the beast in the snout. With this, he got a good look at the creature and realized that it was a Nalkrah. No sooner had he done this than another Nalkrah tried the same thing. They were about ten feet long and had more teeth than a shark. Soon there were five of the creatures trying to make a snack of him. The looked quite a bit like the Earth sharks but had fin like pods that looked like rudimentary short legs that aided in their movement and gave them some traction with the ocean floor. Apparently they could move about on land as well as in the water when needed. Hank was not particularly worried but had alerted Barana should an extraction become necessary. He continued to edge toward shore while fighting off the creatures. He then noticed the wake of four different creatures coming in his direction at a fairly high speed. From what he could see, these appeared to be Porphins that looked very much like the Earth Porpoise except the head had more of a blunt boney structure that could be used offensively and defensively. Rian had described them before they started this day trip. Each of the Porphins plowed head-on into the creatures that were attacking Hank, hitting them a heavy blow in the gill area with their boney head. The result was that three of the Nalkrahs appeared to be dead. Three of the Porphins formed a protective cordon around Hank while the fourth attacked the remaining Nalkran creature. After the last creature was routed, the last of the protective creatures joined its mates around Hank.

  Barana noted that they were trying to communicate with him so Hank reached out and touched the one closest to him. When he did, he found that he could hear and understand the creature. Hank commented, “Thank you my friends for chasing those creatures off. They were really becoming annoying.”

  The Porphin responded, “We are amazed to find you alive, well and unharmed. We usually arrive too late to do much good and are delighted to see this has not happened but do not understand how this can be possible.”

  Hank explained, “Some of my kind have special enhancement packages to protect us from just such events as this. We must frequently go in harms way to protect others so this enhancement package is most useful.”

  “You are the first we have seen to actually survive an attack of a Nalkrah pack after an attack has occurred. We generally attack them whenever we see them because the prey on our young as well as the humans on this world. You did injure three of them so we were able to kill those three and one more. We also have never seen a human injure one of these creatures before. We call them Nalkrahs. One did escape but not in very good condition. His injuries will attract other predators so perhaps that pack will be completely disappear, our thanks to you. How is it that you can talk to us. Most humans do not realize that we are self aware creatures.”

  “I have some special talents that allow me to do this but I admit that that we did not expect you to be sentient. I can assure you that after today everyone on this planet will take special care to do you no harm and to aid you when possible. We are not from this planet but the land people here are of our species. They do not have our enhancements. We are here to offer protection to people on this planet and that includes you. The humans that live here also call these beasts that attacked us, Nalkrahs. We live in space above this planet in large vessels that travel amongst the stars. We have on each of these vessels a being that can hear and talk to you. Presently there are two such in orbit about this planet, Barana and Kazia. Ladies, please say hello to our new friends and tell the rest of the planet about them and what they have done here today. Also please ask other Stations that come here to say hello to them and offer what assistance they may.”

  Barana and Kazia both said hello to the Porphins. Hank went on, “If ever you need our help merely call for one of the Stations in orbit and they will do what they can. I would like for you to meet my wife and friends.” Hank had called for the rest to join them in the water. The Porphins were a playful lot and pretty soon they were even playing a form of volleyball in the water. After several hours getting acquainted, Hank indicated that they had to return to their Station but would contact them again soon. He also provided them with the location of the injured Nalkrah. They told Hank that they had passed the information to the Porphin family group closest to the injured creature for resolution. They then said their goodbyes and returned to the shuttle and from there to the Station. Barana knowing that Hank was in no particular danger had captured a vid of the entire encounter. A replay of the vid on Vast had a profound impact on the people on the planet and their attitude toward the Porphins and to the members of the Antoran Fleet. One of the Nalkrahs, when hit by Hank had been lifted clear out of the water. This clearly had the people of Vast wondering what else the Antoran Fleet was capable of doing.

  # Later that day #

  The President of Vast, Porfe Darran called Hank about the vid of his experience earlier in the day and asked if he was available for a meeting at the Presidents office. Hank agreed and fifteen minutes later he, Sam and Fador appeared in that office for the meeting. The President introduced the others there to attend the meeting. There was the head of the Vast Fishing Association and several scientists. One of the scientists was clearly skeptical of Hank's claim that the Porphins were sentient and was more than a little incensed about it. The other two were clearly not in agreement with the skeptic, Professor Vild Masok. The head of the fish
ing association, Willis Kerstin was enjoying the repartee and finally spoke up.

  "Four years ago, I was fishing about five miles off the coast of Montage Inlet in a heavy storm. We had just finished pulling in our lines when a large wave swept me overboard. I could see the boat making a sweep to come back for me. I could also see three Nalkrahs lining up for a run at me and knew that there was no way the boat could get to me in time. Then I saw seven Porphins making a run on the Nalkrahs. Three of them made a direct run on the attacking Nalkrahs while the other four swam to me, lifted me on their backs and took me to the boat. They flipped me on board. I continued to watch as the four that had rescued me went back to help kill the Nalkrahs. When that was done the first came by the boat, did a tail stand where the action of their tail pushes most of the body upright above the water, shook his head and chattered at me, then dove into the water and left. The second did the same. So did each of the seven and then they were all gone. I was stunned. This was not the action of a dumb beast. I am absolutely convinced that they are highly intelligent. I have no difficulty at all understanding what you experienced today.”

  The skeptical scientist, Masok continued to belittle the comments made, “My experiments with these creatures reveals that they are not intelligent. The several we terminated and have dissected show no. . .”

  Hank was furious, “You did what? You killed them so you could dissect them. That is barbaric. How exactly does that prove lack of intelligence if you killed them? That is entirely enough. Barana, please tag this, this individual and if he ever goes near or touches another living creature as an experiment, he is to be rendered catatonic. Check his lab and workplaces. If there are any Porphins there, get them out and provide medical care along with any other creatures in his custody. This stops now, Porphins are not property, they are sentient beings. Transport this so-called scientist to his home now and place him under house arrest until I release him.” Vild Masok disappeared.

  “Mr. President, I apologize for my outburst, but understand that the Antoran fleet has considerable expertise at identifying sentient life. Once we have done so, that life form is entitled to our protection. It is not a subject for further negotiation or discussion. We have made that determination in this case. The subject is closed and we have extended our protection to them. Like any other sentient life form, the Porphins are under our protection. Killing them is murder. The actions of this individual are an abomination.”

  “General Stone, I was not aware of his activity until he called ranting about how unscientific your finding was and since he is fairly influential I agreed to hear him out. This is the first I have heard of the form his experimentation has taken. I invited two other scientists here to have a view counter to his. I am as appalled as you. I promise to conduct an investigation of my own. I have also been aware for some years, of Mr. Kerstin's experience so I too have no issues with your determination of sentience. Before this meeting started, I issued an executive order agreeing to and accepting your finding. It places the Porphins in a protected status and requires special steps by all vessels on and under the water to avoid injuring them. It also requires that any in captivity be returned to their true home. We are hoping that others in the wild will assist with their re-acclimation. Professor Masok’s methods need to be confirmed and discontinued wherever found. My apology to you for being exposed to this in this manner.”

  “Mr. President. I am cooling down now, you are on the right track and I will release Professor Masok. We intend to keep him tagged and he will never again be able to perform that kind of experimentation without harming himself or for that matter to direct others to do it for him. We will also fully review all his work to see if any findings he has made in any area of research is valid and confirm that, if it is valid. If we find otherwise, we will publicly refute any such work with necessary evidence in support. This is an area that too often has lead to abuse and we have seen enough examples that it represents an area of some sensitivity for us.”

  “General Stone, I want to thank you for coming and for the action you have taken. Let me know what you need from us and you will have it. Having another sentient species on the planet is exciting particularly since we are not in conflict for the territories in which we live. I can see some areas for possible collaborations. Our Coast Guard is going to love these Porphins.”

  “Good thinking Mr. President. I will let our friends know what has transpired and about your executive order. Mr. Kerstin, if you would like to accompany us, I would be happy to introduce you to our friends. I will be happy to translate for you. The same is true for your scientists here if they wish to join us.”

  They all agreed and then President Darran asked, “General Stone, are you going to do this now? If so, might I join you. It would lend credence to my speech tomorrow.”

  ”Mr. President, we would be delighted to have you along. Understand though that we are likely to get wet.”

  “That is fine with me. May I ask my wife to join us”

  “Wow, my manners are really slipping. Would any of the rest of you like to have your spouse and or children there. This will be a historic gathering. We will first transport to the Station and from there take a large enough shuttle down to accommodate all of us.”

  Ultimately there were 22 people in all and their Porphin friends agreed to meet them. The shuttle was fitted with an outrigger platform that was safe for all but they would get wet. The platform would be sunk three feet in the water to allow a more personal contact with the Porphins. Hank explained the safety features and down they went to the agreed meeting place. There were about a dozen pods there with both adults and juveniles. In all there were slightly in excess of 90 Porphins present.

  Hank and Sam greeted their friends and made introductions. Hank then proceeded to explain what had transpired since their last gathering and President Darran explained the steps he had taken for their safety and arranged for further meetings.

  As they were talking one pod came over to where Willis Kerstin was on the platform and proceeded to do tail stands. It was the same pod that had saved his life years before. He immediately stripped down to his swim shorts and jumped in the water with them. This time, thanks to Hank and Barana, they could understand each other. Barana indicated that she would help them stay in touch. Kerstin’s wife and two children joined them in the water. The Porphins made sure that they were all safe. The gathering lasted for about an hour and then they had to leave. Arrangements were made for additional visits. Hank advised his friends that there were some of his kind on Station who were undergoing medical treatment for injuries suffered at the hands of Vild Masok and what had been done to him. He also discussed the need to assist the Porphins being released from captivity. The Porphins thanked them all, did a final tail walk and disappeared. Barana had a vid of the entire meeting. By the next day the vid was a news sensation.

  A week later the injured and now cured Porphins were returned to their pods. In all, a very satisfying end to what started as a short dip in the ocean.

  After the Station completed a review of the work of Vild Masok, most of his work was verified. He was told where he had errors and since they were in areas that did not impact public safety, he was given the opportunity to correct his findings. Professor Masok was considerably more mellow and apologetic. He was reminded the path he took with the Porphins would not be tolerated. He promised that he would not again make that sort of mistake. Of course he now had a Station observing his activities as well as some agencies on Vast.

  Chapter 4: Expanding the Talent

  On Station One, In Orbit at Vast –

  March 2 – C Day 550

  Sam had just finished her breakfast, while Hank was reviewing some messages that Barana had for him. "Hank, have you noticed how often the messages you receive suggest that the sender is not going mind-to-mind with someone who would make the message unnecessary."

  "Yes, I have. I wonder why that is. I had assumed that mind-to-mind was pretty much a normal p
art of the talent although I admit I have not used mind-to-mind with anyone but you."

  "I think we want Barana involved consciously in this discussion."

  "Agreed."

  "Barana, Hank and I would like you to join us for a discussion if you are available. Would you also see if Fador is available to join us."

 

  When Fador arrived a few minutes later, Barana continued,

  Hank chuckled, "Barana, you really do favor those old Earthian expressions. I like it."

  Sam then recapped the question and noted, "The fact that mind-to-mind use is not more prevalent seems to be a bit inefficient. We had thought that mind-to-mind was more in use generally but I think that assumption may be wrong. I actually started thinking more about this after a chat with Janey Walters about a week ago. I do not recall that being one of the nodes we identified last week. If I am correct, this is something on which we need a priority review."

  Fador commented, "That is an interesting conjecture and is not something I have really thought about. I can't think of when I have used it with other than Far-Amin and that we do fairly often."

 

  When directed by Barana, Hank and Sam started mind-to-mind contact and Fador contacted Far-Amin to tell her what was going on. After a short time, Barana noted,