“YES. ARISTA HERE. I must bring Stephen out of his rejuvenation cycle. He is having unintended side effects… No. I have been monitoring him for the last part of his cycle, just in case there were problems… Yes, I wanted to be here as the cycle terminated… Yes, at once.” She pressed a series of buttons that terminated the cycle, then quickly stored the equipment. An alert indicated to her that Stephen’s readings were back in the normal range.
He turned his head and opened his eyes. His gaze was glued to her face.
Arista saw the fear in his eyes only a few seconds before he lunged for her.
“What are you doing to me?” he screamed. Instantly the room filled with men, each with a gun cocked, loaded, and leveled at Stephen’s head.
STEPHEN FROZE, JUST short of reaching Arista. The men with guns in hand closed in, forcing him back to the bed, while Arista stood protected behind the man-made shield. “Really you don’t understand,” Stephen offered, as he cleared his head of sleep. “I would not harm her. I’m just desperate for some answers.”
“And you will have some,” Arista blurted out, pushing through the men targeting Stephen. “As I was going to tell you this morning, when we broke our fast, there is a council meeting afterward, and you have been asked to attend. I suspect you will have the opportunity to ask some questions as well. Please, gentlemen, stand down and withdraw your weapons. As you can see, I’m not in any danger at this time. I believe Stephen was just startled after waking—perhaps from a dream?” She inclined her head toward him, prompting a response.
“Uh, yes. That’s right actually… I was dreaming about home and was very confused.”
The head guard gave Stephen a menacing glare. “As you command, Lady Arista.”
Stephen witnessed a change in Arista’s demeanor. Subtly she gestured to the soldiers, and they exited the room.
“Lady Arista? Are you a princess or something?” Stephen asked. “I definitely don’t have the full story here.”
“There was not time to reveal all last night, and you were weary from your…journey, as you may recall.”
“I do remember being somehow really tired. No, ‘tired’ isn’t quite the right word… More like run down, not able to go anymore,” Stephen corrected. “It was strange, for me anyway. I guess it is being here.”
“Yes. Well, in any case, let us proceed. On the way I will brief you a little about our council. We will have our morning nourishment as we walk. Shall we?”
“Sure, I’m ready for some answers. Let’s go.”
As they left the room, Arista pulled two packets from the folds of her dress. “Here, eat. It will give you energy and…clarity.” She motioned as she demonstrated with her first bite.
Stephen followed her lead and took a bite of the “food” placed in his hand. It had the same look, taste, and texture as the previous night’s dinner, yet it somehow was just what he needed. The fogginess in his head lifted as he ate, and more energy exuded from his limbs. He felt a strength flow throughout his body.
“Wow, this is pretty good stuff. I must have been hungrier than I thought,” Stephen said.
“Yes. I’m certain that is so,” Arista agreed with a nod. “Now, let us concentrate, shall we, on what is ahead. Remember we spoke about using your new telepathic abilities to ascertain feelings, moods, and being open to others’ thoughts—not probing, just open.”
Stephen thought, Of course I remember, but I don’t know how.
As if he had just spoken aloud, Arista answered him. You will easily get the hang of it. Let’s practice. Focus on me, just like you do when you are having a conversation. Block out distractions from your mind and just think of me.
Stephen laughed to himself thinking, That part won’t be hard. You’re beautiful.
“Stephen, focus. Now tell me what I’m thinking. What am I conveying to you?”
Stephen’s countenance changed as his brows furrowed, deep in concentration.
Just let it happen, like last night. It’s not difficult, she communicated.
“I’m trying,” Stephen sputtered.
“You did it,” Arista commented out loud.
I did? Stephen said, this time without speaking.
“Yes. Now you will find some council members will speak in a combination of verbal and nonverbal communication. It’s very natural for them, but it may be difficult for you to keep up. This will all come more easily to you if you relax and accept the communication as it happens. I suspect most of the meeting will be verbal since they are aware you are a newcomer, and this is foreign to you. But you will miss much of what is said if you are not focused on nonverbal conversation as well. Understand?”
“Got it,” Stephen replied, sounding surer than he actually felt.
“Now take my hands. I want to help you construct some barriers to incoming thought waves to help shield you from their effects. This mental preparation is something we do automatically, like putting on clothes or brushing our hair. You will learn this skill as well. This will make it so others’ emotions and negative thoughts do not enter your own. You must be careful as you hear others’ thoughts and not take on emotions that aren’t your own. One can easily lose focus and become disoriented as all the thoughts become muddled into each other. You want to leave in one piece, so to speak. And you don’t want to harbor another’s ill will. You may then unknowingly be stripped of who you are, one silent thought at a time. There, I’m done. We will practice this exercise so you can complete it alone very soon.”
Stephen nodded, giving her a blank stare, still processing all he had been told.
“Too much information? You ready for more?” she said, raising her eyebrows.
“Sure, I guess so.”
“Okay, let me give you a rundown on the council. It’s composed of twelve elders. My mother is the head of the council and was instrumental in bringing you here. Initially they will inform you of many things. It may seem a bit overwhelming at first, but we are all confident you can handle it. Then they’ll have some questions for you, and you will have an opportunity to speak and ask questions as well. Stephen, it is very important that you do not speak verbally or nonverbally without being recognized. This is a formal council, and, while they will be forgiving to your blunders at first, it is a serious offense to be casual or rude in this setting. I will be right there with you and will intercede if necessary.”
I do feel a bit underprepared, Stephen thought, shifting back and forth on his feet.
“It’s all right. Remember, we brought you here to help us. We want you to succeed, and you will. We’re almost there. See the door ahead? Now turn and face me. Take my hands. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath and feel the strength. It is your own. I’m only harnessing it. Do you feel it?”
Stephen did as he was bid and felt his nerves calming. “How did you do that?” he mumbled.
“As I said, it is your strength, channeled directly to you. I just focused it.”
“I must learn this. It’s swell!”
Arista smiled at the look on his face as they approached the door. “Yes, you are,” she offered, as she pushed a button, and the door disappeared. They approached the crowd, and Arista gave a slight nod to the council. “This is Stephen, the one of whom we spoke.”
STEPHEN’S STRENGTH AND resolve eroded with each step he took toward the center of the room. The council was housed up above, looking down at him, like he was a prized steer at a state fair, just like the one he and Pa went to last spring. Stephen felt very small and insignificant as he stared at the group gathered up on high. Each was clad in a dark robe with a head covering of some kind, and all were adorned with a medallion, possibly the very same one he remembered Whisterly wearing when they met. The mood seemed somber, and, although they didn’t appear to be talking, Stephen picked up on snippets of conversation piecemeal, like a radio station coming in and out of range.
“Him? We have been waiting for this?”
“To save—”
“We’ve faile
d.”
“No more.”
“Death for all.”
“How…lost.”
Stephen shook his head as he focused and concentrated on one thought path at a time. He felt dizzy with the ebb and flow of energy, leaving and suddenly boosted, seemingly from an outside source. Is this what it feels like to leave one’s own time dimension? Stephen thought. As he felt his consciousness leaving him, he caught movement from the corner of his eye, and Whisterly stood, raised her arms, and spoke words imperceptible to Stephen. He raised his head and opened his eyes, seeing the very same glow from before, and it illuminated the council chambers and his being as well. Moments later, thought paths returned, along with his clarity of mind, and he found himself seated in a chair.
“Members,” Whisterly said, “Stephen is our guest and not to be probed like some child’s science experiment. Everyone remember why we are here today and what our mission entails. Our very survival is at stake. Let’s start with some introductions. Stephen, I trust you feel well enough to move forward.”
“Uh, sure,” but I’m open to other options, he thought. As he looked down at his feet, Stephen could feel the stares of twenty-four eyes upon him, piercing and probing. Really, I’m ready. I was just fooling. He reminded himself, They know all. Must focus.
With a new resolve, he slowly peered upward, waiting for introductions.
“You know me, Stephen,” Whisterly said, “and my daughter, Arista. I am in charge of this council, and my daughter is next in line. Beginning at my left is Garrick. He is the most aged of us all at 290. He holds great wisdom and is highly esteemed among us all.”
Stephen caught a small nod of his head and encountered a mental wall as he tried to probe Garrick’s thoughts.
You will not enter where you are not wanted, Stephen heard loudly in his head.
“Pleased to meet you,” Stephen voiced aloud.
“Next to him is Riam, our next eldest council member at 201, then Kix at 155, Thinn at 110, Vinique 105, and Kaixin who is 104 years. Novaryous here is 103.”
He shifted in his seat and sneered at Stephen.
No doubt how he feels about me, Stephen thought.
“Then there’s Hailo,” Whisterly continued. “Pawk, and Aero, the youngest at one hundred, besides my daughter at seventy-three. I myself am 146.”
Stephen, visibly stunned, asked, “You are 146? You look so…young.”
Whisterly smiled as she explained, “We age differently than your people on Earth, and most of us live an average life span of about 350 Earth years. So, on your planet, adjusting for several factors, I would be approximately forty of your Earth years, and my daughter would be roughly sixteen.”
Stephen stole a glance in Arista’s direction.
“Over time we have learned to combat and conquer most ailments, injuries, and deficiencies at birth. We know how to train and fine-tune our bodies for the best long-term performance, and our dormancy-to-cognizance ratio is quite refined.”
I see, Stephen replied telepathically, and, although this was interesting information, he couldn’t fathom what this had to do with him. What? Dormancy-to-cognizance ratio?
Well, let me see if I can add some explanation, Whisterly replied, telepathically as well. She continued. We are a people in decline. We have fewer and fewer young produced each year. The few we do birth are mostly in a laboratory setting. We fear we are our losing all of our biological ability to reproduce, and our scientists confirm that this capability is indeed failing. Whisterly paused, briefly glancing at Stephen, who she knew, through scanning his thoughts, was perplexed.
However, she continued aloud. “Stephen, we need something that it appears you, and possibly a few others of your kind, can uniquely provide. Our scientists have been working for years and years on a solution to our dilemma, and I am simplifying this quite a bit to ease your understanding. Humans, but only certain humans, produce something that we need, that we as a race have lost the ability to produce, and are losing the ability to reproduce in a laboratory. Do you understand so far, Stephen?”
“You want me to help you have babies?” Stephen asked.
Garrick and Riam both scoffed, and Stephen could see they were having their own interaction with Whisterly.
The boy doesn’t understand the gravity of our situation, Garrick silently imparted.
Or his part in the equation, Riam added.
Of course he doesn’t. His telepathic abilities are obviously not developed enough to ascertain this information from us. We must guide him slowly, Whisterly said.
The rest of the council appeared to acquiesce to some silent poll. Stephen’s efforts to eavesdrop were plainly too primitive to interfere in the council’s communication.
Whisterly continued. “Not exactly, Stephen, but, with your help, we should be able to correct this deficiency we have developed over several generations now. This will first require some testing, to confirm what we believe to be true. After that point, it will become somewhat more complicated.”
“What exactly must I do?” Stephen asked, as he squirmed uneasily in his seat.
Novaryous spoke to the group. “The boy is not up to the task. He is visibly shaken, and we require much more of him than this. Council, I ask you, as I have in the past, why do we believe this Earth boy is able to function as we require? This is a most desperate measure, one I believe, as others on this council, is a mistake.”
Stephen, unsure what would happen next, could tell the council was involved in a debate, obviously not for the first time on this issue, when he felt a gentle prodding. As he opened his mind, he heard Arista speak. They must feel your confidence. They must know you can help. They need to feel what I feel when I connect with you. I know you have no reason to help us, but, please, let them know you will fight for my people, if you are willing.
Arista stood and addressed the council. “Give him a chance. Him and just a few like him are our only hope. You must give him time to understand and to adjust.”
Aero curled his lip. “We are lost to depend on the likes of this to save our race. We are condemned, and we know it.”
“My daughter, your princess, is correct. We, as a council, have agreed to this path, and, if we cannot act as a whole, I will dismiss you and strip you of your rights as members.” Whisterly’s tone was vehement and filled with loathing as she continued. “I will not have another outburst from within the council.”
Whisterly turned her attention to Stephen. “We have given you a substantial amount of information. We will break for now. We’ll come back together tomorrow after the council and you have had a chance to process what we have learned from each other. Thank you, Stephen.”
Arista stood, and, after a wave of her hand, a door in the back of the room opened and guards escorted Stephen from the hall.
Stephen heard in his head, so very softly, And this is only the beginning.
“That’s just great, Arista. Just what I was hoping to hear,” he replied, with a groan.
STEPHEN WAS LED back to his room by the guards who accompanied him. “I don’t feel like that was a big success. What do you two think?” Stephen asked. After no response was given, Stephen practiced his developing skills and delved into their thought processes. We have hope in you for our future, Stephen gleaned. And I hope I can oblige, Stephen responded. With additional attempts at communication he ran upon walls, and, understanding their purpose, he withdrew from the telepathic link. As the guards opened the door to Stephen’s room, he asked, “Am I to stay here? I’m not free to come and go as I please?”
“We are here for your protection, and guidance. For now it is best to wait for Lady Arista to return. You will need an escort to roam the compound,” one of the two guards offered aloud.
Stephen walked in, and the door closed behind him. He glanced around and took in his austere surroundings. The room was embellished with very little besides a bed, desk, chair, lamp, and a wardrobe of some description. Two unfamiliar drawings adorned the wall
s and evoked feelings of darkness with the intensity of the colors used. Above the door appeared to be stamped a replica of the same medallion that Whisterly wore. In his exhaustion the evening before, he had not even seen it. As Stephen continued to explore, he pulled on the knob of the wardrobe and met resistance. He pulled again to no avail. The cabinet was locked. If only I had X-ray vision as well, he mused. Stephen T, the X-ray vision monster. Moments later he was pulled from his thoughts by a knock on the door.
“Stephen, may I come in?”
He recognized Arista’s voice from the other side of the door.
“Yes, of course,” Stephen replied.
“Well,” Arista said, “that was an important first step, the first of many. Much more information must be shared with you by the council.”
“Many didn’t appreciate my presence there. I could tell, and I’m just a novice at this.”
“Yes, you are correct. They are older and set in the old ways. They do not like dependence on outside influences, and unfortunately you have been depicted as such by some.” Arista moved toward the chair and pulled free of an outer layer of clothing. “Do you mind if I sit?”
Stephen was caught off guard as he stared at her slender figure that had been revealed, and he fumbled for words. “Uh…sure. I…I have many questions,” he said, as he forced himself to focus. “And I have tried to pull answers from those around me. It’s not working,” he said, wiping his forehead. “Those walls you mentioned, they are everywhere. The only information I can hear is useless. Even you, you taught me this neat stuff, now I can hardly use it. What is everyone hiding? And why must I be guarded? Is everyone afraid of me?”
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