“Correct you are! I explained it a bit more to Zyphera and Miss Mirdy when I injected them, but I took a slightly less conventional route with you.”
Leath tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. “Sure did.”
Leath’s sarcasm was lost on the Professor. He stood facing the group as thrilled as a little boy with his face pressed against the window of a candy shop. “Oh this is going to be so spine tingling, literally!”
“Yes, get ready to be enlivened,” Mathias said flatly, rolling his eyes.
“Oh pay no attention to Mr. Kill-joy. What you are about to experience is something scientists, such as myself, dream about.” The Professor turned to Mathias and gestured for him to stand. “Each of you have been administered an organism that will enhance your individual energy signatures as well as interpret certain programmed signatures. Now, this device here,” he pointed to a tiny crescent shaped apparatus attached behind Mathias’ ear “is the on/ off switch. It blocks or localizes your signal while preventing the organism from interpreting any incoming ones. It does not produce sound or emit any signal of its own. Its soul purpose is to prevent you from constantly sharing and receiving yours, or the rest of the Sentry’s thoughts.”
“I am sorry Professor I am not entirely sure I understand what you are talking about?” Leath interrupted. Once again Leath felt like the kid in class who had to have the teacher explain everything five times before he understood.
“Sorry I may have gotten ahead of myself. This is just one of the most fascinating discoveries!" Apologized The Professor "The purpose of the Sentry is to protect the Watchman. On many occasions, that calls for you to be split up and investigating on different planets and worlds. Considering the vastness of space and the amount of time it takes for normal radio signals to cross this span, a new method of communication was needed. In 1837 a young girl stumbled upon a strange stone embedded in a river bank. The girl came to the attention of the Seeker assigned to earth due to a rumor she developed the ability to read not just the minds of people around her, but those across the globe. Unable to control the thoughts and voices that kept filtering into her, the young girl eventually went crazy. Her body was later discovered at the bottom of a well. The Keepers sent one of their own to collect the stone and later discovered the micro organism. After years of testing they were able to harness the organism’s unique ability and viola, we have the PIG COMM!"
Zyphera had been listening intently but there was something she didn’t understand. “Why does it allow you to project your thoughts and read the thoughts of others,” she wondered
Mathias suddenly took an interest in the conversation and begun to explain. “It has long been suspected, that yours and every persons thoughts have energy and mass that can be projected out into the universe. Many believe this is a sort of universal consciousness which one could tap into and immediately access, ideas, thoughts and knowledge of persons past, and present. Some also believe that time is fluid allowing us to retrieve information from our future selves. By identifying and focusing on a single energy signature it was proposed two people could directly and instantaneously share thoughts.”
“So you’re expecting me to let some infantile hoodlum into my head. Yeah that is so not happening,” Mirdy stated, crossing her arms.
“Well maybe we don’t want to hear some old coot’s thoughts anyways,” Leath shot back.
“Calm down you two,” The Professor said with a laugh, raising his hands calling for a truce. “That is what this device is for, remember. Now, Mathias and I will teach you how to concentrate your energy outwards identifying your own signature then isolate the energy of your fellow Sentry members.”
“First and most importantly, you will have to clear your mind and concentrate solely on your energy field,” Mathias explained. “You will notice a slight tingly sensation radiating out from your spine then encompassing your entire body. Focus on that feeling, trying to visualize what your energy field looks like.”
The other three sat there staring.
“You drank a little “kool-aid” this morning didn’t you sonny,” Mirdy said looking at Mathias all wide eyed like he was crazy.
Mathias chuckled and shook his head, “Just do what I said okay. Oh and it works best if you all stand in a circle holding hands,” he added with a wink.
The others rolled their eyes.
“It does work better if you close your eyes though, and if you stand.”
Zyphera, Mirdy and Leath all did as Mathias instructed. Each closed their eyes and tried to shut out the world around them focusing on their energy. Mathias and The Professor counted the minutes, waiting for any sign of success.
“I agree with Zyphera. I don’t think I can do this with you two staring at us,” Leath seemed to suddenly blurt out.
Zyphera opened one eye and slowly turned to look at Leath. “I never said that!”
“Yes you did. You said “guys, it’s a little hard to focus knowing you’re staring at us.” ” Leath insisted.
“I never said that out loud,” Zyphera replied giving Leath a weird look.
“But I swear I…….” Leath’s face became a mask of confusion.
“Its okay,” The Professor reassured him “You were probably thinking a little too much about Zyphera is all!”
Leath mumbled something in audible as he shuffled his feet uncomfortably and glanced at the floor.
“Just try and completely clear your mind, thinking only of yourself. Create a wall around anything that might distract you,” The Professor instructed, hoping things would progress a little faster.
The room was once again quiet. Leath drew in a deep breath attempting to clear his mind. An image of Zyphera popped into his head and as The Professor instructed he built a wall preventing her as a distraction. A moment later his concern for Thad’s well being shattered the silence in his mind. Taking another deep breath and on the exhale, focused on releasing his worries and clearing his mind. Suddenly he heard a noise similar to something sparking. A warming sensation began dancing along his spine. Without warning, a bright yellow beam of light emanated from his entire body and seemed to envelope the room. Leath struggled against the urge to open his eyes, when he heard a voice.
“Very good Leath, Now focus on my voice. Can you see me?”
Leath concentrated harder. A red line blazed a path before him. “Professor, is that you?”
“Yes! Excellent work my dear boy!”
“Mathias, why does your energy seem to be shifting colors?” Leath asked
“You shouldn’t be able to see me right now,” Mathias responded turning to stare at the young man. “I haven’t turned on my communicator yet.”
“Well I can see you and everyone else in this room. Zyphera your energy is the most brilliant shade of purple. Mirdy, your light, is as green as the ocean!” Leath stood in complete awe of the images flashing across the inside of his eyelids. “Can you ladies even hear me?” He waited for a moment with no response. “I wonder,” he thought to himself. Focusing on each of the woman’s light, he thought only about communicating with them. “Zyphera, Mirdy, can you hear me?”
“Wow this is weird,” Zyphera replied
“None of you youngens better be trying to read my thoughts,” blurted Mirdy.
“Wonderful! You have all successfully activated Your PIG COMM,” The Professor gleefully called out. “Now, over the next few months we will perform different exercises to help you recognize signals, learn to control the Communicator with ease, adapt to thought communication while interacting in a public setting, and a few other fine tuning and helpful tidbits,” he added with a smile. “This is so exciting isn’t it?!”
The others glanced at each other than back to the overly excited Professor. Despite the amazing idea behind the organism and what it can do, all three remained cautious and reserved. After all, they’d just permitted a foreign specimen to penetrate and amplify the single element of the human mind that allowed oneself a sense of peace. Your t
houghts are the last and only line of defense for your mental and emotional well being. It was the one place you could say anything, be anything, and think anything without repercussions. Could they absolutely trust that their minds still remained one hundred percent their own?
All in time
Mathias couldn’t sleep. He’d never felt this unsettled during any of his previous assignments. So many questions followed by vague answers or just plain avoidance. He was no stranger to secrecy. His race was shrouded in it, utilizing it as a means of defense. The less your opponents knows, the greater the odds they can’t defeat you. But this, this was something far worse.
Mathias threw back his covers and walked to the window. The night sky swirled with indigo clouds playing a game of tag with the quarter moon, their shadows slithering and crawling along the earth’s floor. Mathias rested his forehead against the cool glass, his warm breath fogging the pane as he exhaled.
Slowly he drew in a deep lungful of air, closing his eyes allowing the breath to try and calm his nerves. Sudden his eyes flew open. His senses went on high alert. He scanned the grounds searching for the cause. Quickly he unlatched the window, flinging them open. His feet barely touched the green blades of grass before he took off running. He sensed someone closing in fast off to his left. In one swift movement he pushed his right foot into the ground and leapt into the air. Arching his neck and back he propelled himself into a reverse flip, his eyes trained on the movement below. Seconds later he descended, coming to rest on a massive stone back.
“Couldn’t sleep,” the creature growled.
Mathias grinned, “I had this weird feeling in the pit of my stomach. At first I thought it was something I ate, but then I saw you out here.”
“Mmmmmm I had that same feeling. Except mine turned out to be something I ate,” the creature laughed.
“I know you’re not going for an evening stroll…….” Mathias hinted, looking for an answer.
The enormous creature shook his head. “I was patrolling the west wall when I saw it. There is no way it could have made it here. No way,” the creature insisted, still shaking his head. “Since the boy arrived, the energy here has shifted. I am seeing things I haven’t seen in centuries.”
The beast slowed, Mathias slid to the ground. “Yeah I know what you mean,” he said, keeping with the creatures pace. “If I were a dog, man my hackles would constantly be raised.”
“I’ve informed The Professor and Gabriel of my discoveries, but they keep insisting it’s just the night playing tricks on my old eyes,” The creature growled angrily. He abruptly halted. A few meters head the estates large meadow melded with the forest. Mathias still remained at his side. “Do you see that,” he asked gesturing into the woods with an enormous arm.
Mathias squinted against the moonlight, shading his eyes hoping it would help. He did a double take. “That’s not possible,” he insisted looking back at the creature then back to a grouping of glimmering trees. “This cannot be happening.”
The creature sighed. “Well it has been, and with increasing frequency since the boy and the rest of the Sentry arrived. The birth of a watchman is supposed to ensure a balance, but………” the creature didn’t continue. He had no explanations, except a few he wished not to discuss. He turned, looking at Mathias with sad eyes before heading towards the estates main gate.
Mathias stood rooted to the spot for a moment longer. Things were not making sense. Events were happening, though small and with minimal impact, that shouldn’t be occurring. He couldn't stop thinking about the Shadow Breather, Leath's ability to see his color even with his PIG COMM turned off, the secrets he was sworn to keep by Gabriel and Professor Haynsworth. Mathias couldn't wrap his head around what was going on.
The urge to return to his home world tugged at him more than ever. This would be his seventh posting on the Sentry and he was growing weary. His usually happy, smart, obersevant self was becoming more and more of a memory with every passing decade.
At first, he treated the Sentry no different than any other assignment. The interaction and bonding with the other Sentry members was strictly business. But then Pandora happened. She was the first woman Watchman to be born, and when her residence at the estate began, her presence haunted him.
Her blues eyes were hypnotic. Creamy porcelain cheeks radiated, highlighted by long wavy shades of pink hair. When she smiled at you all hope was lost. Her red lips imprisoned all reason and restrain. Yet, she was oblivious to her beauty and the effect she had on everyone.
Fifteen years into his assignment on her Sentry, she found him in the meadows, not far from where he stood now. She didn’t look at him, just began to speak about what she called the nine hundred possibilities. She believed that everyone was right as much as they were wrong. Every possibility, every idea, every theory and religion was valid. Everything could be proven and disproven simply because a person’s thought, could make it happen. Her world, she said, was created out of impossible feats both amazing and horrific. Ideas people found absurd are what we live as reality.
She suddenly revealed she knew who he was. He was completely shocked, stunned by her astute perception. He asked her how she found out. She turned her head, captivating him with her eyes and smile. Her hand gently brushed against his cheek making his heart race.
“I was open to every possibility and from there it was a simple matter of facts,” she answered softly.
He couldn’t help his actions. In one effortless sweep, she was cradled against his large chest. With her fingers entwined in his hair their lips met. Colliding with such a passion it set their hearts beating wildly.
She was the youngest Watchman to die. He carried her as fast as he could to the door, sending a signal to have medical waiting, but it was too late. She wished to have her ashes spread over the meadow of the Estate, not confined to a specific plot of ground. It was something he struggled with. She was everywhere. A constant memory he couldn’t avoid.
He looked at the lush grass beneath his feet, his heart heavy. He turned to follow the creature’s path back to the gate. He could not bare the thought that another Watchman, one even younger than Pandora, could be at such risk on these very grounds with no one even taking care to notice.
“There was nothing you could’ve done differently to save her,” the creature said, sensing the heavy heartedness as Mathias neared the gate.
Mathias managed a weak smile. “I have come to terms with the fact her death was beyond anything I could have prevented.”
“I believe these grounds grew more magnificent and stunning the night her ashes were spread. A spirit as beautiful as hers could not be vanquished even in death,” the creature whispered.
Silence fell across them, showing a moment of respect for a fallen friend.
“Leath was able to see me without my PIG COMM on,” Mathias suddenly blurted out, wanting to push the memories of Pandora aside.
The gnarled face of the creature registered what could be interpreted as a look of surprise. “Was the Professor there,” he asked.
“Yes, and he brushed it aside like it meant nothing.” Mathias replied an angry edge creeping into his voice. “How can he not be concerned for Thad’s safety? Especially when strange things are occurring? I don’t understand his actions anymore,” Mathias stated heatedly. He longed for the days when “friends” were merely a job and his feelings were never involved.
“You and I have overseen the safety of many Watchman, and I understand your frustration.”
“So do you have any ideas about what these events mean,” Mathias wondered, taking a deep breath to calm himself.
The creature looked at Mathias, “I am not one for hypotheses.”
“In other words you just don’t want to know,” Mathias snorted flatly.
“We could sit here speculating till the cows came home,” the creature replied, “but only time will tell. Personally I am hoping time proves me wrong.”
My boy
“Thaddeus”
Leath yelled, his voice booming out over the estate. “Where in tarnation is that kid,” He muttered scanning the grounds. He and Mathias were on the back terrace waiting for Thad to show up for his afternoon lessons.
“You know,” Leath began, “It was a lot easier to teach him when he thought we were “cool” and “awesome” and he could barely walk or talk,” He added, thinking about how fast the last eight years had flown by.
“He is simply at the stage where he believes he knows everything,” Mathias shrugged.
“Well if he is all knowing, we should make him write the final exams,” Leath said loudly as the “all knowing one” graced them with his presence.
“Come on Leath, you didn’t even make an effort to try and find me,” Thaddeus whined as he climbed the steps of the porch.
“That’s because I am suppose to be teaching not playing hide and seek,” He replied sternly.
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