The newcomer's hand shot out and gripped her wrist before the fork could pierce his chest. It was pitifully easy for him to keep a hold of her arm with one hand while he removed her weapon with his other. In the seconds that action took, Adri summed him up. Human, or humanoid, a few inches taller than she, narrow build, pale skinned, blond hair that touched his shoulders, and dressed in some sort of dull colored monastic garb. His face was also narrow, sporting a blue oval gemstone on his forehead. His eyes were blue as well, paler than the gem, and seemed to look right through her to her soul.
His voice was calm when he spoke. “Impaling me with a nerve stimulant is probably not a wise choice, considering that I came to help you with the pain in your arm.”
Adri's body tensed for fight-or-flight, despite the fact that she seemed unable to do either. All the strength that she had managed to gather seemed to be leaking out her arm. “Who are you?”
“I think a better question would be who are you. Or rather, who were you. But now is not the time for questions. Your arm needs to be seen to, and you really shouldn't be out of bed for another few days.” He held out his hand. “Come on,”
Adri pushed herself away from him. “Keep away from me. You didn't answer my question.”
“My name is Eliot Blair, not that it will have any significance to you. Veranda - ”
Panic shot up, blind panic. “That's not my name!”
“Yes it is.” With a huff of breath, Blair began to approach her again. “I can explain all this if you would only let me see to your arm,”
“I said keep away from me!” In desperation, Adri flung her good arm out at him in a futile gesture to stop.
As if on invisible strings, Blair was lifted from the ground and propelled across the room, crashing into the equipment before collapsing onto the floor. Adri slid to the floor with a gasp. Power still hummed around her like the crackle of static electricity.
“What…what's going on?” Adri watched as Blair groaned and sat up gingerly.
The two stared at each other for a long moment before Blair spoke. “I know you are confused. Let me see to your arm while I try to explain. If I can.”
“Wait,” Adri tried to push herself back to her feet. “Tell me this. Why do you keep calling me Veranda?”
“Because that's who you are,” Blair wheezed, scrambling to his feet. “Or rather, who you've become. You are Veranda, the Warrior Adept.”
Adri laughed until the pain made her pass out.
Humacom Debate Continues
Experts Hint that Recall
Is Imminent
Corinthe: Debates over humacom Humacom Personality Programs has spread beyond the realm of scientists and philosophers, reports interviewers. While those in authority still wonder at the cause, average humacom owners find they have bigger concerns over the results.
“Let the scientists work out the cause,” Rallan Feist, an owner of three domesticoms states. “What I want to know is how this is going to affect my life. I'm not the only one concerned about the possibility of my property turning against me in the middle of the night.”
“People are very concerned,” says another consumer who does not wish to be identified. “Scientists are hinting that our humacoms may not obey commands, and that makes them dangerous to everyone.”
While leading research scientist Viktor Vladimir was not available for comment, the Commonwealth Department of Humacom Research (CDHR) states that they are working hard to solve the issue before it becomes a serious problem.
“Scientists can ponder and prevaricate as much as they please,” Drummond Walters, a troubleshooting technician for SRA Humacom Retailers told reporters yesterday. “Those with the money know there's going to be a recall on all personality and independent-thinking units.”
CDHR was unavailable to confirm or deny this rumor.
Chapter Nineteen
“I watched the sky as you fell.”
When she came to once again, Adri found herself back on the medical table with Blair bent over her, prodding her right shoulder with the same instrument she had tried to gut him with. It didn't hurt anymore, and once he had set the nerve stimulant back down on the instrument tray, he started to talk.
“It is very rare for anyone to visit Junus, it being in the contested area between the Galactic Commonwealth and the Coalition of Planets. It isn't a very habitable planet either, mostly comprised of desert. When the Headmaster saw the firefight through his telescope, it was of some interest.”
“You guys don't get much action here I take it,” Adri commented dryly.
“Junusarians are pacifists by nature. Fighting never solves conflicts.”
Adri snorted. “I beg to differ.”
“As a professional soldier, I would assume so,” Blair replied, unruffled. “In any case, a number of us gathered to witness what was visible from the surface, and we watched you crash.”
“How did I survive? Were there any others?”
Blair was silent for a moment, apparently inspecting her shoulder. “There were four others. They were dead before impact on the surface.”
“How did I survive?” Adri insisted.
The young man gave her a piercing look. “Have you always been one to heal quickly? Have you ever experienced strange phenomenons as a soldier in regards to your health and reflexes that were never satisfactorily explained?”
“No, well…why?” The memory of several miraculous survivals, including the incident with Kobane and the vanishing blaster beam came to mind. It brought a sick feeling to her stomach. “How did you know? Anyway, those were just strange flukes. How did I not become ashes passing through the atmosphere, before even hitting the surface?”
“You weren't touched severely when passing through the atmosphere.” Blair stated calmly, a sharp contrast to Adri's rising agitation. “Some serious burns, but nothing fatal. Upon impact, your spine was shattered and your right arm was severed at the shoulder. You were clinically dead for upwards of an hour, and in a coma for about a week. But here you are.”
“That's…that's impossible.”
“Improbable, but not impossible.” Blair continued to stare. Adri felt as though she were sinking into his eyes. “Not if you were an empowered Adept. Veranda, in fact.”
“A what?”
“True, the term is rarely heard anymore. It was first used to denote beings with amazing, unmatched supernatural gifts. The highest rank, in fact. You are Veranda, or if you prefer, the woman who contains the distinct genetic qualities as the first Veranda who displayed them millennia ago.”
There was a pause in the conversation before Adri sighed loudly, “Okay, can I wake up now?”
“You don't believe me?” Blair inquired.
“Let me think. You're telling me that I have lived my whole life in ignorance to the fact that I am actually someone with magic powers to come back from the dead, but I never knew it until now?” She rolled her eyes. “Of course not, you idiot.”
“And all those unexplained flukes throughout your life?”
“Just that, flukes. Do I look stupid, or did you think that I received enough brain damage that I would believe this?”
“All right then,” Blair set down his instruments and leaned over Adri. “How did you push me across the room just moments ago?”
“What?”
“When I came in, you tried to attack me with the nerve stimulator, and when I took it away, you pushed, or rather threw me across the room and into the far wall.”
Adri frowned. “I did not.”
“Yes, you did. How?”
“Well,” she had no idea. “I guess I must have shoved you when you were off balance reaching for the instrument. Lucky me.”
“Please, do not delude yourself. You didn't have enough strength to stand, and even I could have blocked any kind of shove or punch you could throw at me right now. I flew across the room and into the wall. But you didn't touch me, not physically.”
Panic had a bitter taste, an
d Adri's mouth was full of it. “Impossible.”
“Not for you,”
“Yes for me!” Adri insisted. “Now get away from me, and take your delusions with you!”
Blair's eyes snapped with what might have been a far cousin of temper. “Fine. I suppose the best course of action is to show you proof.”
“I guess so buddy. But wait, since it's not true, you'll just have to take your lack-of-proof and -”
Blair laid his hand on Adri's injured shoulder, applying enough pressure for Adri to glare up at him…and get caught in his eyes.
There was a flash of hot, then cold before the world disappeared.
***
Gray was on the bridge when one of his security men discovered the Belligerent Coalition ship following behind them. He hung over the petty officer's shoulder as the data scrolled by on the viewscreen, tuning out the rapid fire of orders and counter orders, information and statistical guesswork. One of the humacom drones stationed at Analysis began compiling information. Vice Captain Lowell barked out the dreaded, “I'll send for the captain.”
It was another day aboard a battleship.
When the order was given to take battle stations, Gray was caught up with instructing his security team, but once that was completed, there was nothing of significance for him to do, unless there was a boarding. He hoped there would be; something to pummel would brighten his day.
Royce Carter sauntered over to him. Gray had noticed that the man never ran anywhere; he trotted occasionally, meandered, walked, and loped, but never ran. It was as if the world were a great interactive drama in which he was only partly involved. Gray found it fascinating. Squinting at the viewscreen display at the tactical station, Carter said, “Are these the same killers that boarded you?”
“Looks like.”
“What do you suppose they're up to?”
Gray shrugged. “It seems like suicide to come up against two of our ships, even if one is partially disabled.”
Carter whistled much like a man would when told his favorite sports team had been sold to a foreign conglomerate for untranslatable legal reasons.
“But then, they did manage to board us using technology we haven't fully deciphered yet,” Gray added.
“Ah,” Carter tapped Gray's shoulder with his fist. “And that is the reason you make such a fine officer, Grayson. You see the limits of your own knowledge.”
“Thanks,” Gray muttered as Carter wandered off to speak with the captain, who had just arrived on the bridge. “I guess.”
“Commander Quoditum,” Heedman cried to the helmsman as he fell into the captain's seat. “Be ready for evasive maneuvers! Lowell, get Captain Yates on the viewscreen! The Damacene needs to give us a full rear body guard while we make our escape!”
“This is good for your case,” Carter whispered to Gray, startling him. Gray hadn't seen him move back around to the security station. “We can take this and fry him with it.”
Gray nodded. “Good.”
***
There was nothing but mist. At first all Adri felt was an overwhelming fear, but it faded, leaving curiosity. This place, whatever it was, seemed familiar.
That's because you have spent a great deal of time here of late.
At the sound of Blair's voice, Adri tried to turn, but the attempted movement was awkward on account of a total lack of…her body! What the…!
Your physical form does not exist on this plane, Blair's voice explained. This is the Spirit Realm, a universe of the soul, as it were. Everything here is pure spirit; this is also the gateway to other realms. Including death. This is where your spirit dwelt while you were on the brink of death.
Adri tried to raise her hand in front of her eyes. It was a relief to see it, until she noticed that her entire arm was covered in strange markings, like tattoos written in deep violet ink. When she looked at her other hand, she saw the same things. What are these? Danwe, they're on my feet too! Are they frickin’ everywhere?
Not all people's spirits look like their physical counterparts. Some carry symbols, called manifestations, which display their true selves. You have the marks of the Adept Veranda. That is how I recognized you as her, apart from the fact that you weren't dead after crash landing on a planet.
The calmness of Blair's voice was really starting to tick her off. Adjusting to the different logistics of moving in the Spirit Realm, she looked around for Blair, and found him standing (or perhaps hovering, as there was no definite ground) beside her. How come you look just the same…except for the fact that you're, uh, glowing?
I am a low ranking Talented, Blair explained, as if that meant something to Adri. I have the healing gifts, as well as the ability to enter the Spirit Realm. Which is fortunate for you, as I had to enter to draw your wandering spirit back to your body.
So I was wandering around in here, huh?
The spirits of all creatures dwell here. Normally, upon the death of the body, the spirit loses its connection to its physical form and departs from this realm into Death. You, on the other hand, because you are an Adept–
Do you think saying that a thousand times is going to make me believe it?
One can only hope.
Adri suddenly became aware of lights moving slowly just beyond the curtain of mist that seemed to encircle both her and Blair. What are those?
Other spirits. Blair replied.
They seem really close by, are they in the next room or something?
Not exactly. Distance is different here than in the physical world. It is measured by will and knowledge. For instance, it is always easier to find someone whom you know well; they are in essence “closer” to you than other people are. It is much harder to find a stranger, even if they are physically close to you. However, if you have the strength of will, you can also locate by proximity. If you know one person is physically close to the one you are looking for, then by locating the first person that you do know, you can discover the location of the second person…
Adri had tuned him out and was trying to decipher the allure of one of the glowing…spirits that hovered nearby. It burned a steady golden white, and Adri slowly became aware of other spirits closely surrounding the first. Some burned brighter than others, and a few were not the same gold-white as the first. It felt as though she should recognize them, the first in particular. It nagged at her mind like a familiar face to whom the name was no longer attached. Irresistibly pulled, Adri willed herself toward the spirit.
Behind her, Blair cautioned, Don't wander away, its difficult to return to your body if you move to far from your point of entry into the Spirit Realm.
The warning seemed to echo dimly in her ear (if she had an actual ear in this dreamworld), and she focused completely on reaching the gold-white spirit. It warmed her, as though she were standing beside a hearthstone on a chilly day. Slowly, she lifted her arm, and with the tips of her tattooed fingers, touched the light.
Gray gasped.
Standing next to him, Carter glanced over, one eyebrow quirked. “What is it?”
“I…nothing.” Shaking his head, Gray tried to focus on the schematics that were being used in the combat briefing he and the other senior staff members were being subjected to. A feeling had come over him suddenly, as though something had crawled inside him and gently prodded his very being. It left quickly, leaving Gray feeling a little shaky and strangely euphoric.
Don't touch, Veranda! Blair cried in a tone that registered something a little more agitated than normal.
Reaching the end of her patience, Adri whirled – or floated – around and scowled. Or thought she did. Listen, let's just get this one thing straight. My name is not Veranda. It's Adrienne Rael, Lieutenant Commander Adrienne Rael. If you have to address me at all, you call me Rael. Got it?
Certainly, Rael, but now is not the time to argue about this.
Oh? I think it's a great time.
Then you have no sense of tact, or survival. By touching another spirit, you have alerted t
he Guardians to your presence. We have to go back at once.
And here I thought I'd just hang out here for eternity. What's the rush? Are the Guardians picky about who gets to go poking around in here?
They despise those of us who can travel between worlds. Blair answered hurriedly. Adri got the sense that he was scanning the area as he moved back in the direction they had come from originally. They will certainly try to find us if we don't get out.
And that's bad?
It is if you consider having your soul devoured by hideous monsters that will afterward find your body and use it as a sort of bio-suit to experience life in the physical plane.
Adri couldn't think of a comeback for that one. Picking up speed, she followed Blair away from the alluring lights.
They didn't get far before Adri noticed oily black smudges racing towards them through the endless mist. To her inexperienced spiritual eye, she judged that they were moving much faster than she and Blair were.
I don't think we're going to make it to wherever we're going, Adri called.
You are right.
So what do we do?
You fight.
Me? The black smudges were getting closer, and began to take the form of hoofed, winged creatures from Adri's childhood nightmares. What are you going to be doing?
Praying that you are indeed an empowered Adept.
Completely vulnerable, Adri whirled to face the closest Guardian. She could feel the rising hum inside herself that always came before battle, the first stirring of her elegy. Desperately wishing she had some sort of weapon, she braced herself as the first creature bellowed and swung his weapon, charging at her through the mist.
The only thing I remember with clarity was the noise. It was overwhelming; all the people rushing to and fro, shouting, clamoring, and arguing. All the spacecraft shuttles roaring as they idled or ascended. The thunderous beating of my own heart as I clutched my brother's hand.
The smell I can also remember. It assaulted my nose with a cacophony of exotic mixtures I had never experienced before. Fuel and fumes, rotting organics, sweating humanoids, and the distinctive, sour scent of panic. I recall all this now and am only grateful I didn't really understand at the time just how precarious my continued existence was. Or how fragile a hold I had on life, even after we left our homeworld.
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