by Alma Boykin
“Master Whistler, Master Thomas gave me a very brief summary of the problem. Can you tell me your observations? The more information I have, the easier it is to help the patient.”
The armor-plated male gestured for Rada to sit in a vehicle and joined her after programming a route. “Lorli and her pod were on Mopalo as part of a cultural exchange program. Lorli has always shown more resistance to standards than is common, and against the advice of her pod-chief she traveled somewhere alone. When she returned, all seemed well, but when the pod reconnected for the journey home, she had difficulty linking at first. Once she did link, she began lashing out with body and mind, attacking creatures no one else observed.”
Rada made notes before inquiring, “Does the pod know what Lorli did or who she met during her absence?”
“No, but her subsection of the pod’s account on Mopalo increased in value by fifty credits, local currency.” Master Whistler added, “The corporate body always closes accounts on worlds where we encounter bad fortune.”
Rada made a soothing sound as she added the information to the file for Master Thomas. She already suspected the cause of Lorli’s problem.
Examining Lorli proved much easier said than done. When Rada extended a mental touch towards her, the brown bipedal female began thrashing against the straps holding her to the examination table, screaming at near ultrasonic frequencies, and flailing at Rada’s mind. One of Lorli’s podmates, or so Rada guessed, held up a medical stunner. With great reluctance Rada gestured her agreement and the darker brown avian touched his podmate with the device. She thrashed once more before the charge rendered her unconscious. First Rada examined Lorli using only her eyes and hands and nose. Then she read the monitoring equipment’s displays, noting the time, duration, and intensity of the avian’s reactions and attacks. After examining Lorli as best she could using standard means, Rada took a deep breath to settle herself, raised most of her mental shields, and touched Lorli’s mind as lightly as possible.
Rada found the damage within moments of initiating contact. She studied the wound without trying to heal it, looking at the interconnections and searching for all the trauma sites. She withdrew and stepped away from her patient. “Can you sedate her without injuring the rest of the pod?”
Master Whistler consulted with the medic in charge of the case. “Yes, but there are possible difficulties. What is wrong and what needs to be done?”
Rada gestured for the Unkarbo to follow her out of the examination room, to where she had left her satchel. She pulled out her electronic tablet and a stylus, and began sketching. “Someone put a psychic tap into Lorli’s mind in order to remove a combination of images, thoughts, and emotions. That tap,” and she drew a cord plugged into a brain, “or more precisely the attachment and removal of that tap have damaged the part of Lorli’s brain that links her to the pod. I suspect that she’s been in terrible pain since she first attempted to join the pod minds.”
Master Whistler studied the crude diagram and whistled something to the Unkarbo medic, who tweeted back a brief reply. The pod leader’s external plates flared out, reminding Rada of an angry bird puffing its feathers. “This is a criminal offense. An assault,” Master Whistler screeched. “And why could we not find it?”
Rada perched on the edge of a table, taking weight off her bad leg, and shook her head. “It might not be criminal, pod master. There are people on Mopalo and other worlds who are buying dreams to re-sell. If Lorli sold her dream, she likely signed a waiver and release. Is she considered adult, able to make legal decisions for herself?”
The black plates flattened against Master Whistler’s torso and arms with a dull rattling sound. “Yes, she is. And selling of brief services is not a matter requiring pod approval. It will be investigated. But why could we not find the damage?”
Rada drummed the top of the table-like furnishing with her claws. “I suspect because your medic followed the standard neural path, looking for mechanical or chemical damage of some sort. That’s what I would have done as well, and like him?” When the medic gestured his agreement at her guess, she continued, “Like him I would have backed out as soon as Lorli began reacting, lest I do more damage. Master Thomas suggested that this case reminded him of some of the early accounts of Dreamtapper abuse, so I approached it from that perspective once you told me of your observations. You did everything right,” Rada assured the Unkarbo.
Master Whistler demanded, “But what can be done for Lorli?”
“There are two options that I see, pod master. First, I can try and put in a pain block. Because I cannot tell how deep the damage goes or how fast she might be able to heal, it is possible that the block would have to remain in place permanently.” Rada warned, “that will cause scarring that will affect Lorli’s mental links with the pod, possibly for the rest of her life.”
Master Whistler and the healer shuddered. Rada continued, “the second option is more dramatic in the short term. I block Lorli from all mental contact, with your assistance,” and she nodded to the medic, “shielding her completely for a set period of time. That would allow her to heal at her own pace, although she would not be able to engage in any activities with the pod until the shield fades or is removed.”
The Unkarbo left Rada alone for a moment to consult with Lorli and another member of her pod, as well as with the senior pod master. Whistler returned as Rada finished recording her initial observations and diagnosis. “Please shield Lorli’s mind for however long Medic Tweeter feels is appropriate. If she fails to heal, the pod will take appropriate steps.”
After treating the patient and showing Tweeter what to look for if any other Unkarbo showed similar symptoms, Rada reported to Master Thomas, describing her observations and actions in detail. The black-coated equine biped took some notes and inquired, “Could you determine exactly what caused the damage?” He shook his head, displacing part of his silver, mane-like hair.
“Yes, sir, to a limited extent. As best Tweeter and I deduced, the dream purchaser used a generic, automated probe to intercept and remove the dream-related thoughts, feelings, and images.”
Master Thomas interrupted, “Thoughts as well?”
“Yes, sir. Everything, leaving no trace of higher-level mental activity and removing the evidence of some endocrine responses in the process.” Rada consulted her notes. “The probe affixed to the telepathic centers in the Unkarbo brain, and when it was removed, it abraded and then ripped them.” She looked up, meeting her mentor’s black eyes. “The probe probably started doing damage as soon as the tap began, but I do not know enough about either Unkarbo brains or the particular probe to do more than speculate.”
Master Thomas sat back, rested his elbows on the chair arms, and steepled his hooved digits. “How long of a duration is the shield?”
“For one Unkar year, unless Lorli heals faster, in which case she will be able to remove the shield from within. Tweeter set the removal keys and either he or I can trigger them.”
Master Thomas tapped two hooflets together as he considered the case. “What will become of Miss Lorli should she fail to recover?”
Rada tapped her stylus against the data pad case, mimicking her mentor. “I did not inquire, sir. I suspect she will be eliminated from the pod in some way, but such knowledge might have adversely affected my ability to treat the patient, so I refrained from asking.” After a moment she added, “That’s a terrible price for fifty local credits, sir.”
“And you say this activity was legal?” His voice held no hint of his thoughts or feelings.
“Yes, sir. As Tweeter and I worked, the pod master and business master searched Lorli’s documents. They found the dream sale agreement and indeed, she had signed a release and waiver. Unkarbo were not on the list of species prohibited from participating in dream sales.” Rada hated it, hated the very thought of what the dream buyers had done to Lorli and probably to others, but had no grounds for legal action.
“I do not care for this.”
“Neither do I, sir.” Rada considered how to phrase her next statement before venturing, “It might be wise to inform the Dreamweaver Sisterhood of these events and developments. The way the tap fit, well, I cannot prove it, sir, but the tap’s damage pattern looked to me very much like the general shape of the tap used by the Dreamweavers.”
The equine turned slightly so that he could gaze out the windows overlooking the grounds. “But the Dreamweavers cause no damage.”
“They do not. Because they restrict the species they work with, because they develop special individualized contacts for each dreamer, plus they double-monitor the dreamer and the sister, and there are no mechanized components in the process,” Rada outlined, tapping a claw on Master Thomas’ desk top with each point. “Amazing what a difference a sense of morals makes.”
“Indeed.” He continued watching the trees outside the office window. “Well done, Miss Ni Drako. Perhaps it is time for you to add an avian certification to your reptilian and mammalian licenses?”
Rada shook her head so hard that the tip of her braid hit her in the nose. “Ow. No sir. My brain is overfull as is, sir.”
Master Thomas turned back to his protégé and smiled. “Very well. Thank you for your work.” He stopped and began frowning. “Has anyone used something like this for military purposes?”
Rada frowned in turn as she tried to remember. “I do not know, sir. I do not recall hearing of such during my training, but it could be because any use of the technique was not recorded, or was not recorded as a military action. Perhaps a terrorist attack?” She shook her head. “I’d need to look in the epidemiology archives and in a few other places, sir.”
“Then do so.”
Rada spent the rest of the day looking for any trace of the dream takers. Master Thomas joined her in his library half an hour before the usual supper hour. “Have you found anything, Miss Ni Drako?”
She startled, almost falling out of her chair as a wave of lightheadedness struck her. “Ah, I believe that I have, Master Thomas. What if it is not dreams that the company is taking, but memories? That is the matter I found in the archives: a note about a group that stole memories under the guise of offering counseling and of giving people dreams to help,” she made mock speech marks with her hands, “open blocked creativity and spiritual awareness.”
She scooted out of the way as her mentor bent down to read the display. “Hmmm. Log out, please. Supper is being served shortly.” He straightened up and offered her his forefoot, which she took, glad of the help. “Did the contract say anything about memories?”
“No, Master Thomas, only dreams. But if they are taking memories as well as dreams, or rather accessing memories in the guise of dreams, it explains the injuries Lorli suffered. The Unkarbo use mental conditioning in order to strengthen the pod connections via the creation of group memories.”
The equine gentleman considered her words as they walked to the dining room. He stopped just outside the door. “And by taking or implanting memories one can tap the knowledge held by an individual, especially if they memorize data for various reasons.”
“That is correct, sir. And it violates the contract signed by the dream sellers.”
He gave an abrupt nod that sent part of his silver mane flopping into his eyes. “Very well. I shall have a word with someone who can take the information to the appropriate time and place.” Master Thomas tightened his grip on Rada’s arm as she opened her mouth to protest that she could do it. “There has been activity in this area, Miss Ni Drako. I would prefer you to return directly to Drakon IV.”
A shiver ran up and down Rada’s spine and she felt her tail fur puffing up. “I shall do as you advise, sir.”
He smiled. “Then I advise we not wait any longer, lest the cook become upset,” and he opened the door for Rada. Her stomach growled as a mélange of wonderful scents reached her nose.
The woman relaxed. Master Thomas rarely used his contacts, but when he did, planets changed orbit and stars sprung into being. Rada curtsied slightly and took her place at the table, content to let Master Thomas finish the task.
6: Juniors and Justice
Drakon IV – 770 AGR (3670AD)
Cheeker ducked farther under the bush and shivered. His sister shivered as well where she cowered beside him and he draped his tail over her, waiting for the commotion to die down. Cheeker heard his dam’s mate, Zhaet, thrashing through the greenery on the other side of the trail, growling and hissing as he looked for the female’s offspring, but without success. After a while he gave up abusing that particular bit of shrubbery and went farther along the path. The objects of the irate male’s search waited a little longer, then eased farther away from the path into the overgrown brush. It was getting darker and would soon be full night with only one moon, but Cheeker had made up his mind: he’d rather risk spending a cool night in the forest than have Brska and him hurt by their dam’s mate again. Brska stayed one step behind her older brother as the pair slipped into the shadows.
«Pet, how long have you been away from Singing Pines?» Zabet asked into her ‘lord’s’ mind, watching as the Azdhagi servants scampered around in frantic haste, trying to get the quarters she shared with Commander Rada Lord Ni Drako ready.
“Twenty five years, boss,” the mammal answered in Trader. “It’s amusing to discover that I’ve turned into a legend and a ghost at the same time.” The grey-eyed woman looked around, her long, black-furred tail swishing back and forth as she observed the commotion. “You owe me five credits.”
The slender, silver-blue True-dragon counted out five coins and handed them to her Pet, limp whiskers drooping. «You’re no fun.»
“So what now? How much have you won off me over the past century or so?” Rada inquired. Zabet didn’t deign to respond, instead looking around at the steady stream of meter-tall quadrapedal, grey, brown, green, and yellowish reptiles hurrying with fresh bedding, furnishings found in storage, and cleaning supplies. A similar commotion went on in the courtyard, where more manor servants were refurbishing the quarters for the Lord Defender’s four guards. The Lord Defender smiled a bit evilly as she watched the barely controlled chaos.
Steward Briisch, neck spines trembling with agitation, bustled up to where Ni Drako and “his concubine” lounged. “My lord, please forgive my lack of preparation,” he all but groveled. “The Palace neglected to inform me of your return until this morning,” Briisch explained yet again. The brown reptile gestured with his green foreleg, “Everything is being returned to how it was when you were last here, my lord. Is there anything new you would care to have?”
Before Zabet could say anything that would further discombobulate the Royal Steward, Rada clamped her hand over the True-dragon’s muzzle as a warning. “Not for the moment, Steward Briisch, thank you. I am curious. Did I not leave instructions with Steward Xheh to keep my quarters in a state of readiness for my return?”
Briisch’s tail trembled and his spines folded flat against his neck as he said quietly, “I don’t know my lord. I was not told anything by my predecessor, nor have I read into Xheh’s instructions for him.” Which didn’t surprise Rada, given her reception at the Palace. Captain Beekre hadn’t fainted, but had come close to it when she’d walked into the wardroom in the Palace Guard barracks. Xheh had probably been so happy to see her disappear that he’d also assumed she was gone for good.
«Which makes him doubly a fool.» Zabet said tartly into Rada’s mind.
The mammal responded as silently, «Indeed. I won’t be burning any incense for his repose in this lifestream, silver dancer. How long until the servants realize I don’t eat Azdhagi?»
The lithe reptile’s tail swished gracefully as her sapphire eyes surveyed the diminishing bustle. «I don’t know. I sort of like watching people jump when you say boo.»
Later that evening, after the appropriate furnishings had been returned to her quarters, her communications links re-secured, and a hearty meal eaten, Rada and her “concubine” set
tled in for the night. As usual, the gossip-tree had begun flowering within minutes of their arrival and Rada both laughed and sighed at the various tales, whispers, and stories that Zabet had overheard from the manor staff. “I’ll have to remember the one about having single-handedly defeated a company of Cygnids and beating Shi-Dan four times in unarmed combat—especially the bit about my leading the charge that broke the Cygnid invasion. The embellishments were quite poetic,” Rada allowed, referring to a story Zabet had been told about the mammal’s exploits over a quarter century earlier. “Better story about the leg, too.”
«Yes, getting shot while at the head of attacking troops is much more flattering than having been potted while pissing in the bushes. However, I prefer the tale about your eating an entire gantak for dinner one day,» she opined from a pile of cushions and bolsters. Once again, through some method that probably defied the laws of physics, she had managed to end up with three-fourths of the bedding without moving from her original location. Rada still hadn’t caught her friend in the act and wondered how she managed it. Zabet yawned, «What’s on the agenda for tomorrow?»
“Oh, weapons practice, then walking the area probably. I need to see how things have changed, what trails have moved or overgrown, that sort of thing, before hunting season starts and I get lost and look like a fool.” The woman laced her fingers together behind her head, thinking over the possibilities. She dozed off listening to Zabet’s whistling version of a snore, wondering if all True-dragons did that.
After supervising her guards’ morning workout and running a series of sword drills of her own, Ni Drako ate breakfast, then headed out into the woods west and south of Singing Pines manor house. Zabet decided to join the stroll and the pair walked quietly and quickly through the late summer greenery. The sunnier space around the path grew almost rank with brush, wildflowers and other light-loving plants, but once away from the trail, the heavy canopy shaded out most other plants. Rada was trying to decide if it was time for a burn in these woods, to prevent worse fires and to improve the browse, when Zabet froze. «Do you hear that?»