Tales of the Vuduri: Year Three

by Michael Brachman

  “I don’t understand,” Rome said. “Are you a livetar? From the Library? From the clone ships?”

  “No, it is truly me,” OMCOM said. “The one you used to call Planet OMCOM.

  In the book, the text in bold is actually typeset in Courier New 11 point bold, OMCOM's original font. Sneaky, huh? Oh well, it amuses me, at least.

  Entry 3-163: June 7, 2015

 

  Privacy concerns

  In the 35th century world of Rome's Revolution, all of the 24 chromosome Vuduri are mind-connected and part of the Overmind. What is also mentioned several times throughout the novel is that other Vuduri can look into your mind and therefore there is no such thing as privacy.

  In fact, because everyone is always looking into everyone else's business, if you had an original idea and for some reason wanted to make sure you got credit for it, you had to go to mind court and plead your case.

  Well, Rome solved all of that by being able to disconnect from the Overmind when she was Cesdiud (cast out). She learned to rather enjoy the concept of privacy within her own thoughts. When she became reconnected in the middle part of Rome's Revolution, she was not about to give that up. She very quickly learned how to connect and disconnect at will so she could have privacy when she wanted it.

  Just one small snag... Aason, her unborn child. She forgot he could listen in to her thoughts using not one but two modalities. Here is the little scene when this hit her:

  Rome put her hands to her head and moved it back and forth. She was trying to see if it felt different but it did not. Finally, she gave up and just stood on her balcony watching Mockay rise on its mad dash across the heavens. It made her heart race to know that she would soon be speaking to Rei and it made it ache at the same time. Aason kicked her gently.

  “Is it good news?” he asked.

  “Were you listening in?” asked Rome in her mind.

  “Yes, Mother. I could not help it.”

  “It is fine, baby, and yes, it is very good news. I will be able to speak to your father very soon.”

  “Will I be allowed to speak to him as well?” the baby asked.

  “It would seem that way, son.”

  “Oh good, Mother. I cannot wait.”

  “Nor can I, baby, nor can I,” answered Aason’s mother.

  Obviously, this was her child so having him listen in was of lesser concern. Nonetheless there were times when she did not want even Aason listening (ahem, like in the bedroom), so she learned to turn off all of her broadcast mechanisms when she wanted to.

  In our world, we all have privacy concerns. Every search via Google is logged, your IP traffic is tracked and all the meta-data of daily texts, credit card purchases and cell phone calls are probably being logged by the NSA. But at least we can think privately. Right?

  Unless you write a blog, then, of course there is no such thing as private thought. Ha, ha.

  Entry 3-164: June 8, 2015

 

  The test is over, part 1

  Several days ago, I gave you the scenes where Rome's "cell-phone in the head" was coming on line. The posts were called Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3. Well, once MINIMCOM figured out how to hook Rome and Rei together, this became a very useful tool. However, there is a first time for everything and in this case, Rei had no idea that Rome had acquired this ability. This event occurred as Rei and Fridone were sitting on the back of one of the war wagons heading toward an unavoidable confrontation with the Vuduri:

  “Because they are Garecei Ti Essessoni,” said Fridone. “That title is not just because of the Great Dying. It may not apply to you but it is the trait, the hallmark of your generation.”

  “I think you are right,” said Rei. “I think the Great Dying was going to happen one way or another. But the mandasurte, they should know better.”

  “Puh,” Fridone said. “The mandasurte think for themselves when times are good. When times are hard, they are just like the Vuduri. They listen to whoever speaks the loudest, not the smartest.”

  “The Vuduri just think with one mind,” Rei said. “That is different.”

  “Not as different as you think,” came a beautiful voice in his head.

  ould not believe it. “Romey?” Rei said out loud. “Is that you?”

  “Who are you speaking to,” Fridone asked in Vuduri.

  “Shh…” Rei said to Fridone.

  “Yes, mau emir. It is I,” she replied.

  “You are all right? Are you my Romey?” Rei asked.

  “Yes, I am your Romey,” she replied.

  Rei laughed out loud. “How…how are you doing this?” he said. “You are in my head?”

  “You gave me the magic pill for my back,” she thought to him. “MINIMCOM says that it has been coming on for a while. There is now a telephone in our heads. When we used the bands, we must have been practicing and not known it. Plus, I have had more experience than you in these matters. I had my blece and asdolada. It was just a question of time. So tell me, how are you? How is my father?”

  “I’m fine. He’s fine,” Rei turned to Fridone who shrugged and waved. “Your father says hello. So how are you, sweetheart? How do you feel?”

  “I am fine. They have treated my body and Aason has promised to wait as long as he can. I am not in nearly as much pain.”

  “Aason? You’ve talked to him?”

  “Oh yes. We talk now. He is a nice boy.”

  Remember, Rei was not there when Rome first made contact with her unborn child. Tomorrow, more of the conversation where Rome and Rei try and figure out how to get back together.

  Entry 3-165: June 9, 2015

 

  The test is over, part 2

  Yesterday, I gave you a little bit of the conversation between Rome and Rei in the middle part of Rome's Revolution. This was the first time that Rei had spoken to her since she had been reconnected to the Overmind of Deucado. Rei thought he had lost the love of his life forever. But, no, she "sounded" normal, as normal as a voice in your head can sound. Rei was floored by the fact that Rome had had discussions with their unborn child:

  “Aason? You’ve talked to him?”

  “Oh yes. We talk now. He is a nice boy.”

  “That’s fantastic. And a little bit weird. So Rome…”

  “Yes, mau emir?”

  “How, what happened back there? Wait!” Rei said. “Are they listening in?”

  “No, dear. They can only hear what I want them to hear. I am in control of my mind.”

  “But, honey, when you turned away from me. I thought…”

  “I had to do that so that they would not kill you. I had to get you out of there for your own safety. I did not know the limits of my power and that was the only way. They thought they had me so I pushed the order back on them. They did not question that it was from the Overmind.”

  “What do you mean?” Rei asked, thoroughly confused.

  “No one has ever heard another voice in their head before, besides the Overmind. It was all I could do to let you go. As it was, I think the Overmind just let it slip past. It could have overridden me when I passed out.”

  “Passed out? What do you mean? What happened?” Rei asked, concern rising in his voice.

  “I will explain everything when I see you. For now, just know that the Overmind and I have had some discussions. It listens to me now. It just never had anyone to talk to before. It has seen the error in its ways.”

  ”That’s unbelievable. You versus the Overmind?” Rei said admiringly.

  “Not versus. We talk,” Rome said.

  So now a lot of things have become clearer to Rei. He now understood why Rome had him kicked out the Vuduri compound and also why the Vuduri had not attacked until now. But it takes two sides to make a war and while the Vuduri may have held back, Captain Keller and the rest of the Essessoni (or at least the new Ark Lords) had one thing on their mind and that was to fight.

  So how do you stop a war when all the two parties want to do is fight?


  Entry 3-166: June 10, 2015

 

  How to stop a war, part 1

  Yesterday, I showed you Rei's reintroduction to the "new" Rome in the middle part of Rome's Revolution. This version of Rome had a rapport with the Overmind of Deucado and had some influence with the bodiless entity which meant she controlled the Vuduri to some degree.

  You have to understand when I was writing this book, I knew the climax of Part 2 would be the confrontation on the plains near the eastern shore. What I did not know was how the heck they were going to stop the war. I kind of introduced the Deucadons because I thought they'd make for a richer planetary history. But that random act allowed me to set up the final twist. Here you will see the plan forming:

  “Not versus the Overmind. We talk,” Rome said.

  Even so, how is it going to make things right? The Vuduri seem so ready to hurt others.”

  “No more hurt. The Vuduri now do as I tell them. The Overmind allows it.”

  “You mean, like, you’re in charge now?” Rei asked, trying to understand.

  “Not exactly,” Rome thought. “More of a meeting of the minds, if you will pardon my pun.”

  “Well, Rome, the people here…they’re crazy too. They mean to attack you, the Vuduri. They are coming to kill all the Vuduri.”

  “The Overmind knows this. How long until you get here?” Rome asked.

  “We’ve got a long way to go. It won’t be until after dawn,” Rei replied.

  “We will be ready for them. We have a plan.”

  “No, Rome, you don’t understand,” Rei protested. “They’re bringing weapons. Some really nasty ones. Essessoni weapons. Estar was right. I don’t think the Vuduri here have ever really seen the likes of these.”

  “Can you stop them? The Overmind here intends to set them free. There is no reason for anyone to get hurt.”

  “I tried, honey,” Rei said. “They don’t listen to me. It’s like they are crazed or something.”

  “If they will not stop on their own, the Overmind has the power to stop them. Violently if need be. We must not let it come to that.”

  “The only thing I can tell you is that Captain Keller promised me he wouldn’t fire the first shot. Is there anything we can do with that?” Rei asked.

  “I do not know,” Rome replied. “We must find a way to talk some sense into them before someone is killed. I do not want anyone to die. I do not want our son to die. I want to be with you.”

  It sure seems like they are talking themselves into believing the situation is even more hopeless than it really was. Tomorrow, I will show you an innocent statement by Rome that causes a cascade of events, leading to stopping the war before it starts.

  Entry 3-167: June 11, 2015

 

  How to stop a war, part 2

  Yesterday, the conversation between Rei and Rome in the middle part of Ark Lords wanted a war above all else. It was a fundamental requirement that they establish their dominance of the planet no matter what the cost.

  Rome has insights into the psyche of the Vuduri. Rei has insights into the psyche of the Essessoni. They're both smart people. They have to be able to come up with something. I know I couldn't and I'm the author! So here is the moment when Rome says says that causes Rei to say a-ha!:

  “And god, do I want to be with you. But, if you’re part of the Overmind now. How can we be together?”

  He could hear Rome laugh in his head. To Rei, it sounded like wind chimes made of the purest crystal.

  “I am only part when I want to be. I turn it off when I wish. Like now. It is just you and I.”

  “Did you know this was going to happen?” Rei asked. “Did you know that you would be able to do this?”

  “The ability to speak to you in your head?” Rome answered. “No, that was unexpected. But the ability to stand up to the Overmind? To stay as myself? I was, let us say, confident.”

  “But honey, why didn’t you tell me?” Rei asked, sounding melancholy.

  “I asked you to trust me, remember? That should have been enough.”

  “Yes, you’re right,” Rei replied, brightening. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I should never have doubted you.”

  “I understand. And I am sorry that I caused you any pain. I just had to make sure you would be safe. This was the only way.”

  “Well, I’m safe right now,” Rei said, “but it looks like things are going to get out of hand pretty quickly. Can we just leave this place? Go somewhere together?”

  “I would love to but we cannot leave now. We must see this through. You know this.”

  “I know. I just want the war to be over before it starts. I want somebody to beat some sense into all these stupid, stupid people. Before anybody gets hurt,” Rei said angrily.

  “Then let us find a way. I know how to stop the Vuduri. I know how to stop the Ibbrassati. What I do not know how to do is stop your people, the Essessoni. I think all they want is blood,” Rome observed.

  “Yes. They think they should own this planet. They’ll stop at nothing to take control,” Rei spat out.

  Rei could hear Rome sigh in his mind. “That is all they understand,” she said. “Force. And authority. They need to answer to somebody. It is too bad there is no such thing as the rightful rulers of the planet. They would understand that. That would make things so easy.”

  Tomorrow, turning the “a-ha” into an actual plan of action.

  Entry 3-168: June 12, 2015

 

  How to stop a war, part 3

  Yesterday, I showed you how Rome and Rei were trying to think their way out of what seemed to be an unavoidable confrontation in the middle of Part 2 of Rome's Revolution. I highlighted (or put in bold) Rome's seemingly innocent comment that she wished they could find the true rulers of the planet to cause both sides to step down. This cause Rei to put two and two together:

  “Hmm,” Rei said. “It’s funny you put it like that. I met some people who might actually qualify for that title.”

  “Who? Where?” Rome asked.

  “You’re sure the Overmind cannot hear us?” Rei asked.

  “Yes, of course,” Rome replied.

  “Down the river. They are what’s left of another Ark mission. They’ve been here for over 500 years. I think that pretty much qualifies them as the rightful heirs to the planet.”

  “Oh,” Rome said pensively. “The Overmind made reference to such people but could not piece together their origin. It never occurred to it to just ask. I did not understand. And these people? Where are they now?”

  “They live underground in a giant cave,” Rei said. “Their society was ruined by an asteroid that hit a couple hundred years ago. That’s what made them go underground in the first place. And now they live in fear of the Vuduri as well. The Vuduri killed several of them with their goofy no-technology rule. But I’m not sure how much they could help. There aren’t that many of them.”

  “We do not need many,” Rome said.

  “What are you thinking?” Rei asked.

  Rome told him of her plan.

  “That’s a great idea, honey,” Rei said, admiration in his voice.

  “Do you think these people…?”

  “I call them the Deucadons.”

  “Very well, the Deucadons. Do you think they will go along with it?”

  “I don’t know,” Rei said. “But if it means they could come to the surface when they want, even if it is just to get some supplies, without getting blown to bits, I bet they would.”

  “Do you know how to find them?”

  “Yeah,” Rei said. “At least I think I do. I know where to start. I can get MINIMCOM to come and get me and we can go try to find them.”

  “Then go do it. Go pick them up.”

  “Rome, I’ll need you to come too. You’re going to have to convince them that they will be safe. They do not trust the Vuduri. Besides, I want you with me just in case things don’t go right when the time comes.”

  I guess it never
occurred to Rei that Rome might have really turned and he was selling out the Deucadons. Oh well, it never occurred to me either. The awesome and wonderful Rome has to believe that Rei can pull it off because she has no other choice. Tomorrow, the pact is signed.

  Entry 3-169: June 13, 2015

 

  How to stop a war, part 4

  Yesterday, I showed you how Rome's seemingly innocent statement evolved into an actual disarmament plan in the middle of Part 2 of Rome's Revolution. And it really was going to work. I knew it because I wrote the book and I need the dynamic duo to head on back to Earth for their confrontation with the true evil, MASAL.

  All they had to do was to get their affairs in order and execute. Hopefully that didn't mean their execution. Here is the final part of that scene:

  “All right. I will come with you. You can pick me up shortly, but I want you to wait just a little while longer,” Rome said in his thoughts.

  “Why, sweetheart?” he asked.

  “I need to rest just a little more. Also, my work here with the Overmind is not quite done. I promise. I will let you know when it is time.”

  “Anything you say, honey. I can’t wait to be with you again.” His heart leaped in his chest at the thought.

  “And I cannot wait to be with you, either, mau emir.”

  “I’ve missed you so much, Rome. My heart aches all the time,” said Rei.

  “I have missed you too, mau emir. It is as if a part of me is gone. I am no longer whole.”

  “So…has it been long enough? Can I come get you now?”

  Rome laughed gently inside his head. “Soon, my love, soon.”

  “All right, Rome. I’ll be ready.”

  Switching on his connection to MINIMCOM, Rei thought to himself, “Hey MINIMCOM, I need you to be on standby. We need to be ready when the time comes to go get Rome. She’s like the Queen of the Vuduri now.”

  “At your service, sir,” MINIMCOM replied, a bit sarcastically.

  “Wise guy!” thought Rei.

  “I like that name, Queen of the Vuduri,” replied Rome, laughing inside of Rei’s thoughts.