Persist (Discipline Book 3)

by P. S. Power

“That won’t work. Don’t give into your fear now, you held things together so well so far. You don’t want to seem cowardly in front of the alien after all. Plus, we might need her later. Um… So, am I prisoner, or…” Ben didn’t know and no one else spoke for a bit, or thought all that much. A few of them actually went so still inside that anything could happen.

  There was no sense of the future for him either, which could mean anything, including that he was being blocked by someone else there, or that nothing of note was going to happen.

  The nicely dressed version of himself bowed a bit.

  “I think not. Forgive my poor manners, I fear I was taken aback by the events of the moment. I’m Ferdinand. Thank you for your aid. I…” The man stopped, feeling embarrassed. Horribly so. It wasn’t a small thing either. “I don’t wish to give offense, but would it be all right if Bethany questioned you? She can do so using telepathy, and it won’t be painful, or more invasive than needed. If you refuse…” The man was about to suggest that he’d understand in that case, since it was a great breach of personal trust.

  “That’s a good idea? I’m not shielding right now. I’m kind of telepathic as well, so it might get a little strange? I have some other things going on, so… Just remember that this is what’s real, all right?”

  Gwen, who hadn’t introduced herself in the slightest, patted him on the back.

  “Good. You get the idea, there are two versions of the King standing here, which will cause some problems if we don’t get to the bottom of it. On the good side, if you aren’t a threat, I’m almost certain that everyone will be more than willing to overlook that part of things. Just don’t take over. If you do that, then you’ll end up stuck with the job, which has to suck.”

  Ben smiled, and looked at the woman, then gave her a hug, which got everyone else to stiffen for some reason. Probably assuming he was going to attack her. She did it back though, which oddly got everyone to pause for a bit.

  She laughed a bit.

  “That’s probably a bit too cuddly for this place. It’s a little like Victorian England, as far as things like that go. At least the television version of it.”

  Ben stood away from her, thinking about things.

  “Old fashioned flat screen? My father told me about that. It’s all dimensional now, or holo-display. The programing is pretty similar though, I guess?”

  The woman didn’t know what most of that was, but nodded anyway. As long as Ben understood not to try to dry hump her in public they should be fine. The thoughts were a bit rough for him not to laugh at, and she meant them to be funny, doing it for both him and her friend, who was already reading his mind.

  He could tell, since several things from his life triggered at once, causing them both to relive them. Most of them weren’t fun. There was the bit about his father and Fluffs, which hit with full emotional impact. It moved from there to Micha beating him, nearly to death. Then a montage of his training, and trying to stop the terrorists. There was even a bit of lingering over most of the sex that he’d had, while a good bit of other stuff was disregarded almost instantly.

  After a long time, they both broke free, and he shook himself.

  The other woman stood there, until Gwen touched her arm.

  “You can come out of state now, Beth?” She seemed a bit concerned, since the woman was crying. Starting a bit, the thin blonde lady, who looked like no one he knew at all, started to nod.

  “This man isn’t a threat. He’s who he says. Some of his life has been very harsh, however. Not all of it. I can’t say more without giving away confidences, which I believe the King just assured?” She looked at Ferdinand, who after a moment nodded.

  “Indeed, Bethany. We need only to make certain that our new friend isn’t a secret threat. More than that is not our right.” He looked slightly relieved, relaxing a bit. “Now, that being out of the way, and the current matter handled, should we retire to a sitting room? I see no need to sit on the deck here, and it will be some time before we can land, though I know that you all must be eager to do so. I know that I am, at the moment. A rather shaking experience, nearly dying like that. Especially at my own hand.”

  Ben got it and nodded.

  “I hear you there. I didn’t have time to pick up too much about him either. A bit, about his body. I mean, clearly he’s had some kind of work done. He’s psychic, but not at the level I am, but stronger physically, I guess? He wasn’t doing it, but most of the time he shields well enough that I can’t get anything from him at all. I’ve encountered the mind before, unless this is a different version? If so…” It seemed likely, so Ben grimaced. “Not great. So, you’re the King here? That must be an interesting job.”

  “At times. Most days it’s even fairly easy, though don’t tell anyone that, or they’ll think to replace me. You said that you were a research subject?”

  Ben nodded, walking slowly, staying near Gwen still. She didn’t jump away or anything. Even if it was clear that she felt slightly uneasy around him. It wasn’t the part where he was the King’s double exactly, either. That felt like part of it. It was due to her early life, which had been hard, too. She’d been very different then, which he got to live first hand.

  For about a minute, until she shook him. Smiling he looked up at her.

  “Are you all right? Concussion…”

  “Oh, I’m fine. I should heal a lot faster than most here would. By about ten times or so? I… My brain, it doesn’t always work right now. That’s why Beth was living those memories with me like that. Instead of how it normally must seem to her. I was just doing that with you. From when you were about sixteen or so? I take it that you, at least part of you, isn’t from around here?”

  The woman touched his arm lightly, to move him along, and looked away for a moment. Thinking rather than hiding her thoughts from him. She honestly didn’t care about that part of things.

  “Sorry. No one should have to live through that. All the angst and depression. I was kind of stolen from that world, in spirit? Then ended up here in this body. I looked really different, but was basically Heather…”

  “I got that part already. Neat. So… I don’t suppose since we’ve kind of prevented a war, that we might throw in as for an alliance? I have no authority to get that kind of thing done, but I can talk to the President about it? He should take my call. It’s not like anyone else can get it done if I don’t manage it.” They entered a door then, which showed a very nice looking interior space. It was like something from centuries before, with a lot of wood, and polished surfaces, as well as red velvet and slightly golden yellow fabric covered chairs. It was really impressive. Ben stood, waiting for the ladies to sit first, since words flashed up in front of him, saying that he should.

  The Queen, the bitchy one that had called for an innocent bomb-girl to be put to death due to her own nerves, settled first, with Gwen going next. The people in blue uniforms all stood and moved back, since they were there to guard the King. Which they’d nearly failed at, which was making them very uneasy, as it replayed in their heads.

  Not that he blamed them for the failure. They’d all frozen, not having been trained to kill a different version of their own ruler. It was an oversight, but one that none of them, except Gwen, could even see a way past. The conditioning was deep, and when Ben lived through part of what Heidi had gone through that way, he screamed and had to pull himself out of it.

  “What the hell?” He glared at Ferdinand, then explained, as everyone looked at him funny. “You let this little girl be tortured?”

  He meant Heidi, who wasn’t very little now, but had been in the memory.

  The King looked horrible at least. The man also understood what was meant.

  “To my greatest shame. It was done in my name, and I could have stopped it, but didn’t. We have made changes to the program, so it isn’t nearly as rigorous now. It’s still harsher at times than I love, but not like it was.”

  Gwen nodded. Then interrupted, recovering from the
screams first.

  “You really live the things you pick up? Like you were there when it happened?”

  “Yeah. It’s almost never as interesting or nice as it sounds. For some reason I never get the good parts, just the tragedies and black emotional states. Not… That isn’t totally true, but it feels like that at times.”

  “Ah. Well, just to change the topic, you have the ear of the President? Who is that there?”

  “President Richards. I’m dating one of his daughters. Kind of. Mags. Um… Basically she’s you? The body part, not Glenda, my mentor. That’s… Heather, here?”

  Oddly, that got Bethany, the telepath to nod, feeling free to speak about it all now that Ben had. At least the parts that he’d mentioned. It made sense, as far as rules for that kind of thing had to go.

  “I saw her. The other Heather as well. That one is rather different. Powerfully built.” She had a sly smile, as if she were going to tease someone.

  Ben cleared his throat.

  “She’s older, about ninety, for all she looks about thirty still. When they did her genetic changes they made her hyper-muscular, and very lean, which tends to make her look a bit like a man. She’s a good person though. A really good fighter, and weapons expert. She makes them, I mean.”

  Rather than go on, Beth just nodded, and kept her lips closed, for the time being. It was really clear that she wanted to say more, but the King spoke, his words softer now.

  “Fascinating. I have to say, the idea of an agreement between our lands, and perhaps worlds, seems a grand plan. I fear that things are changing now, regardless of what we do, personally. We need to stand as a united front, or else we may well find that things fall apart around us, rather quickly. Rest assured however, Ben, we will do what we might, to return you to your place, as soon as possible. You will want for nothing in the meantime. If I have anything you need, if my land does, we stand ready to deliver it.”

  The strange part of that was the idea that the man really meant it. Up to and including leaving the throne to deliver it to Ben. Which normally was the kind of thing that people might say, but that wouldn’t be deliverable. With this man, it might. As long as they dyed his hair first and gave it a proper trim.

  He shook his head.

  “I won’t need much, I don’t think. A place to sleep, and some food. A lot of that. The changes made to me take a lot of calories each day. Right now, I probably need to see if I can find a way home? I know that Gwen said she knew some people, but it can’t hurt to at least try to get in touch and explain why I’m being all lazy like I am.”

  That got the King to clap once, and stiffen a bit.

  “I understand. If you need private quarters for that? Or we could leave the room?” That was all about saving his dignity, in case tears came. Ben picked that up easily enough, but managed not to go behind the other version of himself’s eyes.

  “It might not be very interesting, but it isn’t a secret or anything. I could use someone to guide me though? I need to find a tear in space, I think. Or, really, I can…”

  He laughed then.

  “Oh, duh. I feel brilliant now.”

  The ruler of the place looked at him, his face pleasant, as if he were happy to hear about genius, wherever it came up.

  “I know where a tear is. I started working on the one I came through about two weeks before the attack was going to happen. There really isn’t any reason I can’t use the same one to go back now. I mean, it’s in the past, but that shouldn’t be an issue really. It isn’t like time really exists. I just need to find it.”

  No one else appeared to understand that part, but Gwen started to nod, her head motion becoming big then.

  “I get it. Everything exists now, we just don’t see it that way. So, how do we talk?”

  “Um, well, that part won’t be hard. I’ll dump any treaty information behind that chair over there?” It was in the corner of the room, and indeed there was a paper envelope, a very large and nice one, already there. That got a troubled looking Heather to jog over.

  “It feels like papers. It could be a trap however. Let me go outside to open it?”

  The King waved for her to do that, and they waited then. About fifteen minutes later the fit looking woman, who seemed to be in her mid-forties, walked back in.

  “Sire? It seems to be papers.”

  It was opened, and the man took them himself, and started reading. He blinked a few times, and then nodded.

  “Wonderful. I need to sign some things, to show my agreement, which I do. It’s very even handed. I can’t disclose the information in it to you, Ben, since there’s a note here, telling me not to. When you return, you can deliver them to the President? Then pass them back here. There’s also talk of communication, which I believe will come through Gwen? Please keep me informed on that one, at need?”

  That got the attractive lady to nod.

  “Not a problem. All right, so get your signing groove on and I’ll see if we can work out how to get you back, Ben?”

  Closing his eyes, Ben forced a smile.

  “Let’s get that done. I bet no one even noticed that I was gone yet? At least if we do this right. I can come back in right after I left. So…”

  Gwen it seemed was kind of used to working with people like him, and helped him find the correct sense of the tear in space easily. Then she guided him toward not only the feeling of where he was from, but the location that he needed, including the correct time. Which meant that the woman had everything she needed to come and visit, he realized.

  That wasn’t spoken out loud, however.

  A bundle was pressed into his lap. Papers, and a collection of things in a box, that he had no clue about. His eyes were closed, but all he had to do was live, in his mind, where he wanted to go, and know the rout to take first, through the rip in space. It wasn’t like that kind of thing went away. It always existed once they were formed. Time just felt like it moved on, making them harder to find.

  Ben simply pressed through the tear, carefully, and ended up sitting in his chair, in the rec room. No one else was in it, though there was a gasp, which got him to open his eyes. It was Glenda, and she was still dressed for her interview. Dave was getting him on vid too, and Beth smiled at him.

  “All right, that scared me. You vanished for like ten seconds. Some kind of telepathic illusion? Making us think you weren’t here?”

  He held up the stuff in his hands.

  “Nope. I stopped the bomb. It was a girl, by the way. Heidi Westmorland. From a different reality. Which… There was some strange stuff going on. I had to fight a different version of myself to stop it, but he escaped. I do have a peace agreement from their King, Ferdinand? Great guy. Really good looking, too.”

  Glenda looked at him, her face wry.

  “Oh?”

  “Me, from their reality. Whatever else is happening, I seem to be tied up with part of all this. You too, Glenda. You were there, twice. So was Mags. I’ll go over that later. Right now, we need to pass this to the President? I think? I don’t know what’s in it, since apparently I’m not allowed? Which I guess makes sense. I think I can get the thing back now, and… Might have worked out how to travel between worlds? Part of the time, I mean, but not just to specific places or events.”

  Someone walked into the room, just about then, getting them all to turn. It looked like Mags at first, but when he really looked, the woman stomping her feet a bit, he realized that the tan jumpsuit and heavy boots weren’t anything that she owned.

  Ben didn’t wait, just making sure it was the same woman that he’d just met. Gwen. If it wasn’t then she was from a world so close to that he couldn’t tell the difference. She recalled the same exact meeting he’d just been at. It was further in the past for her, however, several months, it felt like.

  “Ben?”

  “Gwen! I just got back here. Like two minutes ago, so we don’t have the treaty signed yet. Did you… Come to score some nachos? I don’t know if we have any, but
I think it’s taco night?” Glenda looked confused, but smiled.

  “I bet we can do that. I…I’m Glenda.”

  The other woman winked, her face working a bit too hard to really make it.

  “I know. I’m actually here for a meeting. The others should be here soon, I think? Unless I got here early. Either way, tacos sound wonderful. I’m starved.”

  Ben smiled, and stood up.

  “Great. Me too. Oh, um, Glenda, Gwen is you. In part. Also Mags. I’ll let her cover that part? We should probably collect everyone from here up? Can they find us in the dining hall?” That was for Gwen, who nodded.

  “They’ll all probably end up wherever we are. I came in by tracking you, Ben. The others will probably use either me or Glenda here, so if we stick together it should be fine.”

  “Great. Well, this is exciting then. Let’s go and get something to eat?”

  Everyone followed along, Dave bringing all the camera gear, without being asked to.

  It seemed like that kind of event. The sort of thing that they’d need a record of later, to prove it really happened.

  Chapter sixteen

  Ben had sort of feared that the people coming would be noisy, and that the number would be in the hundreds, but the reality was more sedate, even if it was still pretty notable. Almost as soon as they arranged for Gwen to have a tray filled with tacos, a bottle of hot sauce stolen from the side bar where all the condiments were kept for their table, the others slowly came in.

  They didn’t just charge the place either, most of them being far too polite for that. The first one there simply stood outside, waiting to be noticed, being uncertain where to go. Ben could feel the question in his mind, wondering if it was the right place. He had a friend with him, but it was only one person. A very calm, and kind seeming one, when Ben touched his mind.

  So he was a bit shocked after he hopped up to go get them from out front, and saw who was there. One of them, the person in charge, seemed to be an Asian man, who looked thin and like he was made out of iron at the same time. Not literally, but every muscle stood out on his body, even without being tensed.