{start /loop until Story = "End"} get_Story "It came about because..." originality++ awesomeness++ greatness++ {end /loop}
{end /process}
yea, i haven't a life...very interesting where you took it...didn't know where you were going to take that idea of the mimic. hmm...i should update my fic.../me goes off...damn SATs...eck, you'll prolly want me to shut up now.
Thank you all I appreciate the kind words. Here is some more.
I felt the cold on the old mans skin, the ache in his bones, and felt his deep bitter anger at the corporation, more specifically his son. He had been prospecting a new vein of an unknown ore when the call went out, a general call for evacuation. The time to leave not even sufficient for him to reach the entrance of his discovery. The irony of it all was not lost on the old man. It had been rumoured that he had frozen out his father to take control of the corporation. His son had idolised the grandfather.
Pushing all feeling to a corner of his mind, the old man focused his energy into reaching safety. He left the cave after assuring himself no storm was imminent, he had a window of one hour to reach his base. The time went quickly, soon the old man was at the base. He thank the forgotten professor who had taught him the trick.
The trick! the old man as a new student at uni, had been taught how to dis-associate parts of his brain, one to carry on worrying at the problem, and one to carry on with daily life. He would often be seen walking aimlessly around the uni working out answers in his head, avoiding obstacles with an abstract look on his face.
The old man returned to full awarenes and checked his surroundings. The trap was so simple and elegant. The son knew his father went exploring the cave with little or no equipment as it was so close to base. The base was locked and secured. The father, always a deeply suspicious man, always provided secret entrances unknown to anyone, a fact that had saved his life many times. He was thankful when he found and entered his safe haven.
He quickly walked the length of the tunnel and entered his storeroom. The door to the office took some time to open which puzzled the old man until he entered his office. The dark interior was elegant testimony to the power being turned off. The old man knew his office from many hours spent there. He spent little time getting his personal generator going and with it warmth and food. He checked his tanks of fuel and knew his son was responsible, the tanks showed third full, enough for five hours power.
The old man turned on the weather map to justify his suspicions. The map informed him that a storm of scale twelve was to hit in thirty minutes. Not one to let an opportunity pass, the old man entered his comm booth shutting the door to fool anyone where he was. He called the ships captain and told him he was still planetside, the captain offered to send a dropship, which both knew would be suicide and certain death to all. The old man refused, he asked the captain if he was able to record a conversation without anyone knowing. the captain looked at the old man and said, "You taught me remember, of course I can". The old man told him to record the conversation between himself and the son.
The old man was put through to his son. To say the son was surprised was an understatement. "Where are you", the son blurted out. "Where you will never find me", answered the father. "Yes I'm still on the planet where you left me to die, but I wanted you to know I know it was you who planned and executed my death. The sad part about it is I never ever took the corporation from father. You were misinformed, and now you have fallen for the trap, you will loose the corporation to the sharks before I'm even dead".
The ship comm beeped and a voice said before the son could do anything." Thank you for the corporation son, you did exactly as we planned, you were manipulated and performed nicely, we will give you a stipend of 1 million credits every year for the rest of your life, even raising it for CPI". "What do you mean", asked the astonished son.
The old man answered him, "By abandoning me here with no supplies and a scale twelve storm coming you have sentenced me to death, upon my death the corporation goes to Bollards group, an arrangement that your grandfather signed. He was given proof that you were trying to kill me, (Bollard was there with monitors every time you set your traps), this was his way to ensure you would never gain control by murdering me. You have been royally suckered and Bollard can in all truth say he didn't do it. It had one proviso he wanted the corporation to be kept as one entity".
"Remember our conversation at the hospital on Phylos son, if you remember the exact words were [it's funny how he has a heart problem now], and like a good little conspirator you immediately assumed the worst. You jumped to the conclusions we hoped you would. Not once did anyone ever say anything outright, hell we didn't have to, you were always seeing the negative side of everything, all because you thought your father hated you, ha, you fool, he has protected and loved you all his life", said Bollard,
"I am truly sad this happened but glad because I can now complete my plans", said Bollard. "Oh by the way Captain you can stop recording now we have our proof, and yes it was beamed straight to the local magistrates office. Son he has been persuaded to allow you two weeks head start, the account will be setup in any name you wish". With those words a disconnect sign flashed. The captain came on and apologised that he had changed sides. The old man forgave him, and thanked him for the years of service.
The son was devastated, he stammered and babbled and asked his father for forgiveness. The old man knowing the pain of isolation and knowing no satisfaction would come from denial, and still loving his son forgave him. This had a profound affect on the son totally unforeseen by Bollard, the acceptance broke the barrier of hatred the son had built. The son swore to the father he would take back the corporation from Bollard. The father was relieved to hear the conviction in his voice.
"When the storm is passed you will have time to salvage my effects, they will allow you one day to do so, remember the baseball and trust no-one ever again. I will not be found so don't try finding me, take my bag and the disc on my desk, and go to Anchor, if you ship out on the Galaxos you will have ten days to plan and think, do so. They will not chase you if you leave on the Galaxos, if you're stupid and don't leave they will hound and track you for the rest of your days, do you understand"? The son nodded.
The father signed off saying he love the son. The old man entered his closet and donned his own personal armour, which was specially made heavy powered armour with an environment good for ten hours. He armed himself with the special weapons and fifty magazines. This gave him twin .50 calibre pistols and a hmg of .50 calibre. All had been specially made by Guns Unlimited to a research companies specifications paid for by the father. He thought of the cost and the loss but decided that if Bollard was going to send in his goons he would make them suffer for their arrogance.
He went over the specifications as he walked to the armoury. .50 calibre low recoil guns, firing depleted uranium cased phosphorous rounds able to penetrate twelve foot of armour plating, good, no ha/hmg goon would find him a cakewalk. The magazines held fifty rounds, so he had 2650 rounds altogether, a good war can be fought. The armour and weapons were made out of an alloy that was ten times stronger than existing armour, it could stop hmg, grenade and sniper rounds currently used. Bollard would surely have supplied his goons with upgraded equipment. Then again he may just have underestimated me thought the old man.
After entering the armoury the old man went to the back and filled his suits pockets with heatpac food, he took and filled a survival backpack with heatpac food, sticking space food bars in the side pockets. He then chose a survival belt from the next row and left. Thinking over his equipment he decided that speed was not a problem, so surviving long enough was. The suit barely registered the weight he carried, he went back to the armoury and added electronic tracking gear. He spent the time equipping his helmet and shoulder mounted units with spare batteries placed in any available space. He was now loaded for bear.
His last act was out of spite, he changed all the codes on the armoury to a random 1500 alpha numeric code with 1024 bit encryption , and slammed the door. Satisfied he had denied any help in his demise he went to the labs. Here he hit the emergency power and was gratified to see he had only two hours. He went to the confidential labs and using the code he had paid the second in charge for, he entered. It was curiosity that lead him to the labs.
He was shaken by what he saw, here was a full grown hive. What were they doing here? He knew better than to try and access the computers so he checked all the papers and notes. He found hints to research but was unable to figure out their message. As he neared the enclosed hive he was astounded to 'hear' a voice in his head. "Please do not be afraid, we mean you no harm, and besides we can not attack you anyway".
The absurd yet laconic way this was said tickled the old mans fancy. He asked aloud if he could help. "Please think clearly and slowly, we don't understand your sounds". He jumped when a skulk stood on it's hind legs and looked at him. "I need your help to escape this place, I can't stand much more torture", the voice said. "Torture"? the old man asked.
"They call it experimentation, it is killing me and my tribe, we appeal to you to release us or put us to death", the voice said. "We leave the decision to you, we are weary of the constant pain and would like an end to it", The old man was connected to the hive and felt the pain and knew the full sensation was not being transmitted, he was being shielded by the hive. This was all the old man needed to know, he went to the panel beside the door and shorted it. This was to delay the enquiry that would ensure.
The old man then went to the computer control panel and opened the door. He deliberately kept his back turned. The voice came again, "You trust us that you keep your back to us knowing you are vulnerable". Turning the old man jumped to see the skulk at his feet squatting. "If you had attacked it would only have quickened my death, I'll die soon anyway", the old man thought.
"Are you dying , are you ill, what is the matter"? asked the voice. "Can you scan my mind", asked the old man. "Yes if you will allow it", responded the voice. "Please do, it will shorten the story and you will see the problem first hand", the old man replied. The voice told the old man to lie down and relax, when he was comfortable, the hive began to gently probe his mind, it sifted and sorted and colated all the information in his mind then gently withdrew. "This is a big problem, how soon do you think before the goons arrive", asked the hive.
"As soon as the storm blows over, the quicker they do it the less trace there will be", replied the old man. The hive asked if the old man could carry a seed about fifty pounds weight. "Yes with ease", the old man said puzzled. As he watched the hive went into what looked like convulsions, the old man started to became worried when a large seed popped out of the opening on the bottom. The old man picked it up and nearly dropped it when the voice came again. "Thank you for your help".
The old man pushed the door to, and was happy it no longer latched. He went to the computer terminal and scrambled all the data and logs and switched everything off. He lastly shut the lab doors and scrambled the code, locking the lab down tight. His last act before leaving was to turn all the lights on. He listened for a moment and was satisfied to hear the generators whine raise to a high pitch.
He went into the cafeteria and made himself a meal. He touched the seed and asked if they needed any food. The seed said fresh meat for the skulk was all that was needed. As it turned out the skulk had found the thawed meat left by the staff, it devoured every piece. The old man looked for more but the meat locker had been padlocked. He apologise to the skulk as he put his hand on the seed. "The skulk would have eaten more but is replete, they will over eat and store the extra like your bears, to be used later, thank you for your concern though", said the seed.
"Will you need any covering when I carry you outside", asked the old man. "No, I go into a state of hibernation if the weather is cold enough, again like your bears, and the skulk can withstand sub-zero cold", answered the seed. The seed told him the storm was lessening, so he picked it up and walked leisurely towards the entrance. By the time he had opened and shut doors he was pleased to see the snow still falling. The fall was heavy enough to block sub-space tracking of all sorts, and would fill in their footprints.
very nice story so far i can't wait to get to the <!--emo&::asrifle::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='asrifle.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&::onos::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tiny.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tiny.gif'><!--endemo--> ing, i hope there is a sequel
Interesting, it's not as big as that on my comp in word, maybe you have it on too high a font size or something. If someone can help me by explaining how to condense it into zip files, or a zip file I would gladly do so as I like to entertain and for people to be able to read it. If someone can help, please explain it simply, I'm not stupid I just have fun/trouble understanding the net and computers. I'm one of the turn it on, point mouse, click, cross fingers hope it works people, but if someone explains the working simply I then know/remember how it works or I hope I do, lol, hehe. AlsoI have no idea about the FREE website thingie you get with you net account so if you say host it there it means a place in space to me. If you can post a site or explain, that I would appreciate too.
OMG I had a look at my files and gee I apologise everyone, it is about that size. Oooo I'm in trouble cause it has a way to go yet. Umm Taliesin what do I do now, do I finish or find some other way. I haven't finished the story and it's got a way to go yet. Bugga what do I do?, help please.
For webspace: you will need to go to your isp's website and find how to access it. If you have verizon, i can give you the website, if you have charter, you can access the ftp by doing something like <a href='ftp://webpages.charter.net/(YOUR' target='_blank'>ftp://webpages.charter.net/(YOUR</a> USER NAME HERE). I'm not entirely sure about the charter thing, but i'm sure I could find someone to help you. Otherwise, sign up for a free website thingy like geocities.
If you can't do it, I volunteer to host your story on my website.
TalesinOur own little well of hateJoin Date: 2002-11-08Member: 7710NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators
I'd say to push on. Don't truncate a story because it's lengthy... just means you have quite a bit of imagination to play with.
And like I'd said, there's no problem with the length on this story. It's well-written, and quite gripping. Keep writing until you see it through. Write until you're <i>happy</i> with it. After it's done you might think about copying it all into a textfile and putting it up on a webspace, but there's little need to just now.
Thanks Talesin, and thank you for your kind offer zooby and the info. Here next bit.
The old man chuckled, and was gratified to hear the skulks answering chuckle. He said to the skulk to go ahead and look for a cave at least ten miles away, hoping the seed would pass the message on. He knew he was successfull when the skulk bounded away, the old man cracked up to see the skulk bunny hopping, it looked so funny. The seed asked with concern what was going on, the old man told it to meld minds so as to keep contact. The seed did so with profound respect. The old man had realised the potential without any previous knowledge.
Upon melding the seed saw what had tickled the old mans humour and laughed with him. The old man turned on the terrain survival map and looked for cave notations. The voice asked if they were marked wouldn't they be checked. "Yes, but if we find a deep one with water at the bottom, I can jump. Of course the water has to be deep enough. Can the skulk swim or survive under water"? the old man asked. "To a very deep depth, the exact distance is unknown at this time", replied the voice.
It wasn't long before the skulk returned, the meld saw the cave and looking on the map was satisfied this was the one, it connected to a series of caves that stretched for miles with tunnels leading to smaller caves. The cave loomed large and they entered with relief. Turning around, the meld was gratified to see their footmarks being filled. By the time the goons landed no trace would be found, it would be a long track and trace.
The meld sent the skulk ahead and the old man was amazed to see it RUN down the cave wall. The meld tracked the skulk to the bottom and into the water, it was very deep. With a shout of Geronimo the old man clutching the seed tightly jumped. Nearing the water the skulks vision gave them time to prepare for the impact. Even prepared it was a shock that almost lost them the seed. The skulk started to enter the water to find us but from a gentle thought went back to edge of shore.
The meld sent the skulk swimming down the length of the cave before exiting. The old man checked the shore and was gratified to see no prints. He walked back into the water until it was above waist height and walked to the back of the cave. The skulk had fortunately exited on stone. The stone extended into the tunnel system, so with care to not leave a trace, the group entered the tunnel system. After four hours walking the group found a tunnel with luminous sides. Sending the skulk down the tunnel they were estatic to see it bend to the left, and then to the right, the cave at the back was dry and full of soft pale green light.
They all met at the middle of the cave and checking the roof saw anchor points for the seed. The old man walked to one side and holding the seed near the roof felt it expand to attach itself. The skulk waited for the attachment then grabbed a protrusion and slowly walked to another point and held on until attachment. The procedure was repeated twice more. It wasn't long and the hive began to form, it expanded slowly checking the attachments with care. The hive complete, it began to send out bacteria and a mat formed on all surfaces.
The old man removed his helmet and lay down to get some sleep. As always happens he found an object under his shoulder, he sat up and went to pick up the rock and cut himself. As it was a small cut he didn't worry. He settled back down and with soothing sounds from the hive was asleep in seconds. As he emerged from sleep the hive apologised. "Why", asked the old man still half asleep. "You have been covered by the mat of bacteria, possibly due to your cut, it was trying to heal you, lay still and I will order it back, wait it has healed you, but it has altered you, I am very sorry I was busy with our defense", hive said.
The old man tried to move and the mat receded. He stood and was aware of altered perceptions. He saw the light was full of various shades and hues. His hearing was enhanced too, he turned and saw the skulk, it was looking at him with concern. Concern, he could tell emotions on the skulk. As they were still melded the hive noticed the changes, and made the observation that the bacteria had healed and enhanced him. "Some of the enhancements are Kharaa abilities", said the hive.
"Will this be a problem"' asked the old man. "Only if it worries you", answered the voice. The old man thought about the changes and then asked if there were other Kharaa forms, to which the hive sent out a recall signal to the gorge. The little fatteh waddled around the corner at the same time three more skulks were spawned from the hive. The three skulks went into a small egg like shape and then started to gestate. The first to finish was a lerk, followed by a fade and the last was an onos.
The old man asked for and received a full rundown on their abilities. He was also told of the upgrades available if two or three hives were made and the chambers placed. The old man suggested they find another cave or two so all three hives could be built. The gorge was sent back to work building OCs for their defence.
The skulk and the old man went together to check the caves. They went out and turned left and immediately left into the first cave and were astounded to find it had a tunnel then a left turn a right and another left turn and then it opened into a cave that had five tunnels leading off, they explored these five and found they ended in five large caves. The old man asked if the hive could be moved again.
The hive suggested that first the gorge be sent to put a hive in the other caves. The old man asked what was used to build these things. The hive responded with a picture of matter that was in the bottom of the water, minerals seeping from the ceiling and moisture. "So basically any plant waste, some minerals and moisture", said the old man.
"Correct, but on ships we use nano-sludge from resource nozzles", said the hive. "What restrictions will be put on you down here", asked the old man. "It will take time to collect the materials for building", answered the hive. "What have you been using up till now", asked the old man. "Reserves from the lab", answered the hive.
The old man went into each of the five caves and was about to turn and leave the last when he noticed a strange sight. A pool of liquid was pooled at the back of the cave, but it was a strange pool it kept changing size. The old man called the hives attention and they looked together.
The next moment the gorge was there licking the liquid and soon was lapping furiously. It was nutrient sludge. The gorge then went into another cave and the old man heard a spray like noise, when he entered he was amazed to see a hive taking shape, the gorge was building a hive.
The next moment all the Kharaa were with him and gestating, they all turned into gorges. They spent time lapping at the pool then they each entered a cave and built a hive. The odd one went to the last and helped build, when finished they built structures. The odd gorge would take over while the other went and lapped at the pool and so all the structures where constantly being attended to. When the other caves had hives, all the gorges went to the first one and helped it relocate to this cave.
They then went from pool to cave and built three of ever structure in each. they then went and built more so that there were three lots of three in every cave. It was eerie to watch creatures and structures disappear from sight when the sensory chambers were built, The old man noticed that he could see the shadowy shape of the structures. The hive/mind became a vast and vibrant thing. As each hive joined the mind so the depth and breath of their abilities increased.
The bacteria increased quicker as well. Soon it covered the whole cavern floor, stretching to the furtherest reaches. It began the slow steady climbed up the walls and ceilings. It wasn't long before there was no space that wasn't covered. Chambers were spread far and wide so that there was defence and offense everywhere. the building frenzy slowed and the Kharaa changed into skulks and lerks.
More for you, with a bit of ownage (is that the word).
The lerks due to their meld were flying and playing a game of tag. The expansion of the hive/mind had changed all the Kharaa into sentient beings.They had seen the tag game in the memories I had shared.The skulks changed as well and it was fun to watch five lerks playing mid air tag.
The hive mind had been exploring the increased abilities they acquired through having five hives. They found they could send their mind to any part of the cave system, they found two more nutrient pools so sent the lerks to gestating to gorges. The gorges were sent to build more hives, one in every small cave, with the same set of three chambers tripled as well. As the hives were assimilated they added to the power of the collective mind.
The hive/mind then asked the old man if he would like to merge into a hybrid human/Kharaa species. The old man agreed. He was instructed to lay down near the mouth at the base of the original hive, the next moment he felt his body being assimilated. His mind was molded and turned at the same time.
Suddenly the old man felt new sensations as his body and mind changed. His mind had increased in depth and scope, he could see and feel any memory or thought he had ever experienced,.he could sense subtle changes in the wind, the floor and see on many wave lengths. His whole outlook changed, he was a single but a whole, he could perceive the whole without effort.
He thought of the first cave and he was there, the pool of nutrients and he was there. He thought of the cave mouth and he was there.The hive called him and he blinked there. It seemed he could go to any place he remembered. He was about to try the lab when a warning from the hive stopped him.
"Let's check first", the expanded mind suggested, they slowly sent their thoughts questing the wind, the old man easily with them, they slowed as they neared the base. It was well they did, a mind belonging to a goon was a telepath, and would have discovered them had they not taken caution as their motto. They watched from a distance as the telepath was joined by two others, each had an ability. The one that worried them seemed to have a seeker type ability. His range was limited but was quite acute.
He picked up their trail and the three started to follow them to the cave. The hive mind watched and analysed and soon found the trail which they could now see, it was a line of blue dots leading directly to the cave. They analysed the three and saw that they had an armour that was modified to enclose the whole body so spores and acid would not affect them. it was not heavy armour though. The weapons were ordinary heavy machine guns. The hive mind checked all around them and found no link to any others.
An ambush was arranged. Inside the cave mouth five fades and the old man as a fade waited for them. The fades were paired in teams of two to a man so the strike would be swift and brutal, with no chance of a warning given or sent. The goons walked obliviously to their deaths. They were so overconfident they didn't even wait for their eyes to adjust, and so met death instantly.
The bodies were thrown over the side and were stripped and all equipment thrown to the bottom of the lake which we knew to be thousands of metres deep. The bodies were fed to the nutrient pools. We watched with facination as small bacteria instantly dissolved the bodies into nutrients.
The meld went back to the base and slowly checked the outside, finding nothing they entered the base, they found people standing around the lab entrance discussing the death of the hive, they wondered where the skulk was. The meld went next to the armoury in time to hear a captain forward the view that not being able to gain access, the old man had just scrambled everthing. It was so plausable it was accepted.
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->The lerks due to their meld were flying and playing a game of tag<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> <!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->The little fatteh waddled around the corner<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> Ahh, i love this guy... Great story, with a little bit of sly humour in there too <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
Thank you. I have tried to be sneaky with my humour, it looks as though some of it didn't come off, might have to explain it.
The meld then checked the office and saw the son just sitting looking dejected. They were tempted to speak to him but a colonel walk smartly up to him and said he had two hours to collect things, which would be checked, and then they would escort him to a shuttle to the Galaxos as arranged. The colonel walked outside and the meld watched him enter a security room. The meld saw the colonel look at a screen with the office being scanned. The meld went to the office and found the devices and disabled them.
The colonel raced into the room only to find the son still sitting dejectedly as though he hadn't moved. The colonel walked up to him and touched his neck to be sure he was alive, the touch brought the son back to reality with a sickening scream. The colonel jumped six feet and had drawn his pistol. A general raced in and saw the scenario and jumped to the wrong conclusion, he immediately dismissed the colonel to the brig.
The general then went to the son and apologised and said that there was only one and a half hours left. The general left. The son looked around and pumped his hand saying YES, he was very pleased with himself. He looked at the end of the room and found the disc and shortly thereafter the bag, he put the disc in the bag and looked around but he was stumped about the baseball.
The old man suggested they say very low to the son a clue so he would remember as it was important that he take the ball. The meld agreed, the old man said to the son, we were all at the game and then it happened. The son smiled at the memory and then looked at the drinks cabinet, he remembered the room behind the bar at the game. He remembered his father liked to put things in plain view so as to be smarter than others.
Looking at the bar he noticed the pattern, word it said. The son pressed the middle of the o and the cabinet moved. He was pleased. Inside the room was a small museum to baseball. The son moved into the room and took the ball, the bat, the cap, the shoes, the jumper, the pants, the socks and the glove. He made a point of putting the cards on top of the pants where they would be seen. Leaving he pressed the o again and waited until he heard it click.
He walked rapidly to the door then slowed down. He slumped his shoulders and lowered his head, and shuffled his feet along. He was dragging the bat and the bag as though it was a great weight, he walked up to the general and listlessly said he was ready. The general opened the bag and looked at the gear and passed it through. He then said farewell to the son.
As the son passed from view around the corner the general said, "Poor **** only got some baseball gear, cards and a bat". An aide who knew what cards are worth said they are worth a fortune. The general told the aide that where the kid was going the cards would not be able to be sold as no one had the credits.
They felt the going of the shuttle and all at least felt a little sad for the son. The old man was thrilled that his son had gotten away with the goods. The meld went to the sons area and saw him continuing the charade of dejectedness. They stayed with him into his room on the Galaxos. As the son locked the door, the meld checked the room, it was clean. The son then surprised everyone by saying, "Okay dad I know you're here, how"?
"By melding with an alien, and from now on check every room you ever enter", the old man said. "I didn't this time because I knew you would, I have always known when you were in a place, I can feel you, why the baseball"? asked the son.
"The bat is full of gems so you have an untraceable supply of credit, the ball has a key which will let you go to the bank of Balan and access a deposit box, inside you will find a change of identity and a medical kit that will change you to suit the identity, it is clean and no one will recognise you, use it only after you have set up an identity for the million credits and drawn the money. This will throw everyone off the scent and they will believe you stupid and controllable, Change the million into gems as soon as you can".
Here zooby some more (I hope) serious ownage. I've included this snippet as it follows closely the last bit which would lose impact if I got lazy and forgot to post for a day or two
"The box will also have lines of untraceable credit, this was gained legally over many years for such an occurrence. A business goes with the identity, I think you will see the irony when you take control, now you had better start thinking your new life through, you will have to think of ways to change the way you look at things", said the old man.
Saying to the meld the son would not be able to do it without help, he stated that with a meld the son would change completely and would be able to gain revenge for them all. He would fit in and be able to gain all sorts of knowledge because he would know how to use his mind, also at some time Bollard was going to mind look him. The meld could give him a natural looking shield that would protect themselves as well. It was this last that spurred them to agree.
The old man asked the son if he agreed and when answered yes the meld took place, the shield was placed and made to look like profound grief and sorry, the son sifted the knowledge he gained and knew he could change the shield at any time, he re-ordered his mind and laughed heartily when he saw the business the father had set up.
A security firm for those who could afford it. A snobby security firm mixing with the rich and famous. Right under the noses of those looking for him. Out in the open like his father liked to operate. This caused the son hysterics. But his mind was such that he sobered quickly, he probed the new strengths and abilities of his mind and was amazed at the changes. He thanked the meld. He also thanked his father and ask forgiveness again.
The meld return to the cave and watched the hunt and check for the old man. It was an unfortunate occurrence that gave them away. After many losses Bollard sent a team of his own specials to join the hunt. We saw the meld check the specials and rebound, through lack of experience they tried again. The specials were hunter seekers with sensory abilities. They informed Bollard of their find. He joined them 24 hours later.
The meld knew they had made a critical error so the old man went topside to kill the specials. He killed six before Bollard arrived, then the game changed, Bollard was telepathic, it became a real cat and mouse game. The specials were all killed but not before Bollard found the cave. Bollard was a superior mind than most, he came with a combat team who carried for him a base camp setup. Bollard fired fifty rounds of 40mm grenades and listened to the alien screams with pleasure. He interspersed grenades with flares on chutes so as to better aim. Bollard also destroyed a few hives.
Bollard had the combat team rig lights and lower them down the side of the cave. On ledges and outcroppings he placed heavy duty turrets. All equipment he had was new and upgraded, he had been in too many battles to leave himself undefended. He was proud of his survival skills, they had been honed during many shady deals, combat and black operations/wet work. He had assassinated his predecessor to secure the job, and as head of his service he procured the best money could buy
Bollard had the team secure the cave entrance and went to the cave floor. Here he set his sentry turrets and his camp. The combat team having secured the cave joined Bollard. He allowed them to make their camp, then had them set up batteries of lamps all around the cave floor, as each set were built sentry guns were placed to protect them. The place was built like a fortress. Bollard had an observatory built, and then everyone settled down for some rest.
The old man watched courtesy of a skulk that had been ordered to stay on the roof. He entered the cave wearing an identity disc taken from Bollards own specials, the old man guessed that Bollard forgot to change security codes, but after the next attack it would be a fatal error to expect him to continue to do so. While the old man waited for the camp to settle, he disabled the turrets in the cave entrance. His first victims were two soldiers in a tent on the opposite side of the camp to Bollard.
The old man waited till the guard was furthest from the tent he chose, he blinked into the tent and stabbed both men through the chest and repeated the move to make sure they were dead. He looked out of the skulks eyes and saw that the guard was nearing his position so he evolved into his human form. He called quietly to the guard pretending he wasn't well, the unsuspecting guard walked into the tent and was dispatched.
The old man turned all turrets off and removed their Friend or Foe identification boards, throwing them into the lake. He evolved to fade and blinked into the next tent. The second last soldier made a partial scream, alerting the last soldier and Bollard. Bollard was out of his tent armed and armoured in seconds. The soldier being reasonably inexperienced walked out and noticing the turrets off turned the master switch. All hell broke loose. The turrets were now auto with no ID disable mechanisms.The soldier was cut in two by scores of turrets. Bollard dove into the lake thereby barely saving himself, he didn't escape unharmed.
The old man evoked the cloaking ability and walking slowly, turned the turrets off. Satisfied he walked to the edge of the lake and awaited Bollard. By experimenting Bollard realised the turrets were off. He emergrd from the lake and began to walk to his tent for medical attention. The old man struck, but Bollard caught the intention at the last minute and rolled. The strike rendered Bollards right arm useless, unfortunately he was left handed. Bollard fired blindly, but at close quarters a shotgun is deadly. The old man was badly hurt and dragging his right leg limped towards the hive, Bollard saw the trail and decided to follow.
The skulk had raced down the wall as soon as the old man struck so was behind Bollard, the hive directed the skulk to strike. Again at the last minute Bollard evaded the full strike. This time he was badly chewed on the left side. The skulk struck again, Bollard evaded with difficulty but managed to kill the skulk. By now the old man was bleeding profusely from several wounds. He collapsed near the hive and Bollard came in in time to see him uncloak. Bollard walked to the old man and was about to shoot when the hive helped him blink to Bollards tent. The old man used four med packs to recover, he mind merged with the hive.
The hive told the old man to escape and hide, the old man would have refused but the hive asked him to survive to get revenge. The old man did so. The old man changed the codes and restored the turrets. The old man blinked into the tunnel underneath his office. His mind had been altered enough that the old man could mind travel for a short distance, he checked the office and moved to the armoury, he was in time to see them open and change the codes. The old man waited till the staff had left then hazarded a trip to the armoury.
This time he took a survival kit, two duffel bags which he filled with rations and ammo, a scoped hunting rifle with 1000 rounds and water purification tablets. He shut the door gently and went back to his tunnel. Checking each time that it was safe, he repeated the process twice more, each time taking two duffel bags and filling them with rations, a plain but sustaining larder . He waited till all was quiet then walked into the mountains, Two years before he had caught and tamed a local equivalent of a horse who carried the supplies.
Constantly checking his backtrail he slowly made his way into the upper reches of the mountains. He spent an age finding his eventual home, a cave that could not be seen until you were directly in front of it. He knew that he would be here for years so set about hiding his home with local camoflage, rocks and shrubs that he carefully dug up and replanted. Finally satisfied he was amazed that three months had passed. During that time he had cleaned and stored all the armour and components carefully making sure each was oiled and stored in air tight packaging. It took three years before they forgot about him.
Meanwhile Bollard had been busy, he turned to the hive and pulling his knife slashed it a couple of times, he relished the scream the hive emitted. Bollard spoke to the hive and told it to tell him how to become an alien, to stop any attack Bollard kept slashing, he would stop for a moment to use a med pac or to give the hive time to talk, then he would continue to slash and cut.The wounds were administered with clinical efficiency. The hive racked with pain and unable to defend itself gave Bollard the information.
Bollard was about to exit from the inner cave when intuition stopped him, he was by this time extremely wary of the old man, he called for two combat teams to come down explaining the situation with the turrets. The first team was overconfident and sauntered into the upper cave and were cut to ribbons, the second team just fired grenades and blew the turrets to pieces. The squad leader of the second unit had a mortar brought up and just laid the lower cavern floor a wasteland. He had a seasoned vet go to the floor fully armoured in bomb disposal armour over his heavy armour, this allowed him to survive the last turrets fire.
When all was clear, Bollard emerged and made sure all evidence would be obliterated. He personally set charges in every cave and fired them. He checked to be sure none were accessable. He then supervised the sealing of the upper cave. Bollard made sure no evidence would surface to hinder him. He passed the turret incident off as a deranged soldier who had flipped out from being underground. This was accepted as no other evidence had been seen, Bollard had been thorough, the only soldier to have seen the skulk body he had eliminated
Bollard was now in a hurry, He ordered a search be made for the old man and then left the planet. He had hatched a plan whilst removing the evidence, he now needed security and protection. He had the resources, he looked for security, a secure research facility to implement his plan. During the next few years he increased his influence and power, always looking for the secure facility. He forgot the old man as no sighting or information had been recieved. The old man was cautious and being able to cloak no one saw him. He checked the hive, Bollards containment had been efficient, the hive was totally trapped and went into hibernation.
The old man waited for the alert to die, then slowly mixed with the people that had come to live and work here. He carefully joined an isolated community of miners and became their healer. He used modern and ancient methods and was soon accepted by them. His full acceptance came when he went down with a crew and helped recover and save a cave-in trapped crew.
When the first inquiry about him was put because of the publicity of his help (the inquiry had come because he was not a Baatpeire, and looked nothing like one), the mining community told the officials he had come with them as a stowaway. The miners had had a stowaway who had died in the mines so the numbers tallied. The old man was given a foolproof identity by the miners. The old man touched by this generousity asked the mayor why. The mayor reminded him of why they had come to this world, they had fled repression on the world of their birth, they were repressed because they were different.
They were descended from Baatpeires, a strain of people who had no pigment and so were night or underground workers. They built their cities and towns underground to escape the burning rays of the sun. Myths and legends had proliferated for thousands of years about them. The rulers of the lands they lived in would usually protect them because they worked the mines efficiently and cost effectively.
As the mines on earth had diminished they had migrated to other worlds. They had finally ended their escape from prejudice here, where others were useless. The depths of the mines were a burden others couldn't handle. They were in their element, not only could they work efficiently they thrived. They had protected him because he was a friend and had risked his life without thought to help save a crew. This crew had been their best so the loss would have been a catastrophe.They had adopted him as one of their own.
Another reason the mayor said, he had never committed any crime amongst them so was innocent of guilt in their eyes. What happens topside is no concern of theirs. They judge a person from his actions not rumors. As an aside the mayor jokingly said, they liked to thumb their nose at the authorities. The acceptance turned the authorities eyes elsewhere, and so the old man faded from view. The old man had been approached to marry, he withstood the charms of the young lady fearing the results of the genetic mix.
One night the mayor came to him and asked if he would discuss it, he called the young lady and asked her and the mayor to keep the discussion a secret. Upon assurance and the offer of a mayoral seal he began. He told the tale from start till present and sat back waiting for the horror to appear on their faces, puzzled because they smiled he asked why. The mayor indicated the woman talk.
For years we have heard tales of a mythical person who had disappeared from view. We thought they were stories as had been around for our own people, and had been changed to fit this world. We gave them no credence until we found two caves, one had been totally sealed, the other had been carefully and excellently disguised from discovery. We found the second cave by accident during a severe storm, the party moved deeper into the scrub and found an old track. Following the track they found the cave and inside found sealed rations, armour and weapons.
The mayor then took over the telling of the tale. The leader of any group has total control as you know, and realising the significance she set about searching the cave. "Did you know that you were sitting on a Titanium deposit", asked the mayor. "What did you say", asked the old man. The mayor and woman both burst out laughing. The old man joined in. The mayor then told how they had purchased the entire mountain range, and had slowly discovered mineable veins from the bottom up.
They had done this after discussing the evidence of the cave. The mayor had put the events in perspective as he had been the one to know most of the facts. He had suspected the old man had been behind the hidden cave, so when the daughter of one of his friends had asked for his assistance to marry the old man, the mayor double checked all the facts and rumours he could find. As the evidence pointed to the old man and they knew he was a good and honest man the mayor checked deeper, he was perplexed at the rumours and false information surounding the events. Hence the talk.
The old man asked if he should leave, the woman stood and said no so forcefully the mayor burst out laughing. She then explained how she had been trapped by a freak storm one night, and how at the height of the storm a creature had come grabbing her arm between it's teeth and dragged her into a small tunnel that had turned into a cave. Inside the cave were two other different creatures that were small but fat creatures, they all crowded around trying to give her warmth. She was slowly dying when one of the fattehs spat at her, she was indigant then amazed to find herself sitting up, albeit in pain. The fattehs then spat at her until she was well.
She knew that she had been changed and when she first saw the old man had an instant attraction to him, no doubt the mutual attraction of alien cells inside both of them. The woman had told the mayor of the incident with the creatures, but kept the attraction from him until the other day when she asked his help. The mayor then told the woman about all the evidence, which increased the womans desire for the old man as her husband.There was no longer any need for worry, they were compatible.
The date was set for three weeks later and a mighty celebration was held. The children were found to have remarkable healing abilities, exceptional sight, hearing, smell and longer lifespans but no other traits of the Kharaa. This came as a relief to the parents and the mayors. All mayors upon recieving office were shown the hidden mayoral sealed files.
The old man went to the tunnel and found the skulk and two gorges, and provided for them. When they died he buried them, but not forgotten. The old man told the tales to continue the knowledge. One day while prospecting the old man received a telepathic call of help, he immediately sent his mind searching for the location and found the hive had survived but was under attack. The old man told his wife and they set about tunnelling to the hive. By dint of the minerals in the mountain it had tunnels and caves everywhere. One ran reasonably close to the hive.
Here is some more. I will be posting the full story in a couple of posts as it gets chopped off if I post the lot at once. Please enjoy.
The pair had been joined by the crew the old man had saved, they knew his secret and were untroubled by it. They worked feverishly and mined into the back of the cave in time to save the hive from death. It was an ant colony that had attacked the hive unknowing that it was alive. The old man directed the hive to seed and removed it. With discussion among the mine crew and the mayor they decided it would be better to relocate the hive to a primieval type world where the hive could grow and thrive without predators.
They chose a world closer to their sun where conditions were ideal. The only problem was getting it there undetected by anyone. The old man was chosen to lead, as he knew the most about the alien, his second in charge was his wife. A space yacht was bought and the couple set off on their supposed second honeymoon. The seed was placed, secured and grown when the accident occurred. The old man fell and the hive in it's anxiety blinked him inside of itself, this was a disaster as the old mans' body couldn't stand the full impact of the alien organism. He died in the arms of his wife.
The official story told to the media was that he had fallen to his death, he had forgotten that gravity still worked on a low gravity world. He slipped while climbing in a cave. The story was not repeated anywhere. The wife buried her husband near the hive and went home. The mistake the hive made was the old mans immune system had mutated and when triggered saw all cells with alien mutation as the enemy and so literally ate him from inside out. The old man transferred all memories to the hive before final death took place.
These were the memories we shared with Dr. Phind. They were a great boon in our meldings and mergings, the good doctor monitored and recorded the changes. It was he who recommended that only one meld per hive per day occur, and that it be done slowly so as to merge alien dna and nanite tech together. The nanites had been altered to adapt to the changes, the slow process worked flawlessly. The merging process was a strange and uplifting experience with so many minds sharing, the momentary discomfort of becoming two beings in one and absorbing armour was spread out and so diminished. The schedule was for one soldier to merge with Gaia while Alpha helped then Alpha while Gaia helped, then a rest period to occur, this worked to perfection.
As each soldier finished merging he was led into a club to rest and absorb the experience. Three times a day we all melded and shared the memories. this helped everyone to bond and we soon found we had become a unified unit. We operated almost instinctively as one, and became better with each merging. We also practised evolving to other types, we practised and trained each type in earnest. I developed tactics and strategies and we trained until all the troops fought like my original team.
It was at this time I gave the meld another bombshell. We had a third hive structure/mind and that Bollard was behind it. A horified shudder went through the merge. The admiral asked how I came to this conclusion. I asked them all to look back at the memories of the hive when Bollard had attack it with the knife and repeatedly hacked and slashed. Gaia joined them all and led them to the memory.
I led them into the moment when the hive had given the information to Bollard, and the information that had escaped his control as he gloated. The long term plans that he made, and the information we had seen in the computer logs regarding attacks by unknown beings, of unknown abilities, that used our own weapons against us. I had them look at the structure of the Black Delta and note that it was one hundred ninety years ago an unknown director had been put into stasis.
I showed them how at five year intervals the Black Delta had stunning successes against alien worlds, but the information was scanty. Then the Black Delta would go about their business of grabbing control. I showed them how, when a scientific discovery was made a prominent scientist on the research team would quit, and would disappear. Scout (always scout) then said, "The family also disappear as well, and that Bollards mob must bring pressure to bear to do so". "Yes", I replied.
The meld could see the correlations as I pointed them out but couln't see how I did so. The general observed that it was my unique talent, and you either had or not, it could not be taught. I showed how Bollard had gained the scientific team to do unlawful research and that the research here in the Well was a cover for the real research projects, this could be shown by the records of supplies. The amount that Dr. Phind and Engineer had shown fell far short, and only a secret organisation could do so. The clincher was the records of the company names. The two who did nothing yet had a massive budget started by Bollard.
The admiral was all for going in guns blazing, I pointed out this would be the worst we could do. He acceded that we needed to do this slowly so we could get all the records intact, we didn't even know if they were all here. I pointed out that Bollard had shown he was gifted at not showing one hand what the other was doing. I suggested that he had at least two other bases. This one was a major one. The admiral left it in my hands. We were still lightly melded so the thoughts that mattered all saw.
I asked Dr. Phind when the gorge had escaped, his startled response was two years before the brown smelly effluent hit the fan. I redirected the meld to the records and told them to note the increase of unknown attacks from that time, I pointed out that the attacks were always aimed at smaller forces almost as though they were training runs. The general pointed out a disturbing trend also, they were against the best the TSA had. Two theories I gave were they were designed to discredit the TSA, and the attacks were at key points, after the Black Deltas went in no further attacks were made.
This meant that the Black Deltas held key resources and were waiting to negotiate favourable terms. I saw the first failed attempt the Black Deltas left and the area became infested again, the TSA team that was sent Bravo had been wiped out totally and no bodies recovered. I worked out the count and saw that 0ne hundred of the best had been wiped out. An expensive way for the companies to agree.
I speculated that the missing bodies were being remade to attack home worlds as they would be better equipped for less, and the general said they were also for show. A few real Bollard soldiers to devastate a chosen world, like the president then the show of the TSA changed troops to instill fear, no-one would quetion whether they were Bollards men or not. I told the meld we had to capture them alive they had kill switches inside so would have to be stunned unconscious otherwise they would die remotely.
The admiral and general saw this immediately.
When all the soldiers were merged and trained to the best of my abilities, I had Apache lead my squad with myself and Learner in the middle through further training. Apache loved the fade, and delighted in catching us unawares. Leaner gained the most from the extensive training of Apache as he was untrained to the level we were. He became a soldier to be reckoned with.
After training I had Learner choose a squad and told him to make them his, to say he was diappointed was an understatement. The general put him straight by asking if we all went and disaster struck who would then lead or control the rest. Learner understood and promptly set about organising the remainder, he held mini competitions and had one squad attack the other two, he found the best team and became their commander. An irreverent ex-Australian called them Learners Larrikins the name stuck.
The Thinkers as my squad became known evolved into skulks and went over the side. Led by Apache we checked all the spokes on our level then headed back to base. We melded and discussed the best way to make each spoke protected. Gaia suggested we have a four layered defense made up of offensive chambers wall to wall set back twenty yards, behind them defense chambers, behind them sensory chambers and behind them movement chambers, but first fifty yards back from the edge we set a wall of PCMP beams five thick on the floor and one thick at the ceiling.
When asked why, Gaia noted that we could get an infinite supply of sludge quickly but it would take too much time to wait for human equipment and it would be too costly. The PCMP beams would be costly enough. The admiral chuckled and said that the beams were a good idea but why not use the material the corporation left, there was enough to build five foot thick walls for every level and then lots left over. The corporation had had big expansion plans. All could see the funny side of using Bollards corporate resources to keep Bollard out, the thickness was increased to eight feet.
It was Learner who suggested we start at the second level from the bottom and work up. It was accepted. The work was accomplished quickly as everyone was melded and problems overcome rapidly. The workers were escorted by either the Thinkers or the Larrikins. The successful completion of our building was a relief to all, and in celebration everyone had twenty four hours to themselves. Gaia's level had walls twenty feet thick but a tunnel in the middle five feet high. This would allow access to all except onos. The defenses behind the wall were so concentrated that a fly couldn't get in.
I had all the merged teams prepare to go topside and to play tag through the forests of this world, asking the admiral to ensure all weapons were off, a mistake at this time would put the whole venture at risk. The admiral had the troops do so, and initiated a rolling rest and recreation period with a years pay as bonus for any soldier who tagged a merged soldier. This made for interesting games and allowed the soldiers to get used to the merged soldiers.
The soldiers tried hard but the merged ones having cloaking were just too good. It was good training all the same. The best part was everyone unwound so were back at peak when the descent began. Apache lead off and we descended rapidly. We took all precautions and stopped at the second bottom level for a review on tactics. It was Learner who suggested that Gaia send her skulks to this level so we would have ample warning if Bollards group should decide to explore. Thanking him I agreed.
When all were in place we descended, Apache asked Dr. Phind which spoke was the one they used, he showed us the one and we entered walking on the ceiling. Apache said halt and we stopped and looked. We saw a fade come into view and again I wondered how Apache saw it so early. It stopped at the opening and looked around, it appeared to be searching, it was then I nearly brought us all undone, had I not had suction cup thingies on my paws I would have fell and given us away.
Gaia caught my agitation first, and with the general soothed me while asking what was wrong. The being below us is Bollards original gorge. The general asked how I knew, I replied look at what he's doing. The general observed for awhile as did my squad, but all were perplexed and couldn't see it. I said look at the way it is cocking it's head it's not listening it's seeking another source of input. Then it became apparent to all, I voiced the opinion it was seeking mental energy and the only thing that saved us was our height from the creature.
Gaia agreed and set about looking for a shield that would protect us. Apache gave Gaia the idea, he told us that as a child he had been taught that if noise was inevitable make the noise everyone else expects to hear. Gaia then taught us to shield our minds. We had no sooner done so than the fade with a last shake of it's head walked back into the complex. Apache took us to the back of the place where we began our clearance. We found a hive right at the back and we melded with it and stunned its mind, we then reluctantly killed it quickly. We didn't need any enemy hives left behind.
We were saddened yet knew our survival depended on the quick efficient destruction of all aliens and structures we came across. The potetial for mistakes and mayhem was too great. We checked the outside of the buildings and found the area to be clear. We then entered the top floor through an open window and change one by one into fades. We checked and locked the top floor and Apache cautiously headed down the stairs to the next floor, he was almost to the door when we heard a swish swish and an inhuman scream.
I checked Apache was allright then looked for the source of the scream. Impaled on Apaches claws was another fade, I had Gaia quickly check its mind. Unfortunately it was just an ordinary fade, we did learn that Bollards soldier had placed one at each end of every floor. We readied ourselves for combat, we soon heard the distinct sound of running paws with the click of claws, we stunned the creature as it rounded the corner and dispatched it as quick.
We went through the whole structure shutting windows and locking doors. This was done as a security measure. Securing the living quarters we then went into the storage facilities, where Apache said he had better go alone as the more of us the more noise and disturbance we made. We went into an ammunition storage and waited. I observed that a few healing chambers would be good as back up and Gaia helped us to blink to the nutrient pool we had supplied her. Upon return maker went gorge and built two chambers, it was well we did, Apache blinked in amongst us and immediately the chambers went to work along with maker.
He apologised for being so careless, he explained he had gotten careless and walked straight into a live turret. He told us he destroyed it, in temper. This was so unlike Apache I asked why. He said it was the perfect ambush and as he thought this he walked right into it. He had lost his cool for a moment. As combat goes I'm glad it happened now and the lesson was learnt without major injury.
Apache was soon healthy and blinked back to his previous position and continued his checking. I melded lightly with a surface touch to Apache's mind, it was luck I did so at that time for I felt the mind of the other, it was madness, a swirling chaotic twirl of fear, madness and hatred. The hatred I caught was directed at Bollard. I had the whole meld join and with infinite patience inserted a needle thin probe, I had Gaia insert the knowledge that Bollard was in one of the other arms and waiting to kill this fade.
The fade called all the creatures under its command to itself and sent four off to check each spoke. It wasn't long before the expected scream came. The fade sent its creatures rushing into the spoke while it lagged a little behind and then came a few more screams then silence. We sent a minute probe and touched the creatures mind enough to know it lived so pulled back and left it to its own. We finished checking this arm and had maker restock her res and then build a few dozen chambers of each variety across the opening to warn us of any attempt to enter. Maker refilled her res.
We had found a large res pool in one of the storage rooms which I had Maker secure with chambers. I then thought we might finish the other three spokes faster if we changed into lerks. I had Maker build the same structures in the next opening along and had Mule stay as a fade to protect her as she waddled back and forth to the res pool. The clearance went quickly as they were clear. I had the team split into pairs of a builder and fade, to speed up the blocking so we could concentrate on the target spoke.
We finished blocking the other arms and filled up res and all as fades approached the target spoke. Apache went first and even now it was startling to see him disappear. He was so silent I was unsure if he had moved, I extended a tendril of thought and saw that he was in fact a hundred yards away. I had the team stagger formation begin to follow. We saw a claw appear and wave us up. When we reached Apache he mind spoke us to look at what had made him call us.
The sight that met our eyes was an indication of what madness is capable of. On the ground were seven Bollard fades and scores of creatures. The fades had been torn to shreds from the back. A game of I'm in front I'm in back had occurred, the Bollard fades hadn't stood a chance. We were happy that the fades copped it but were saddened for the innocent creatures driven by a maddened mind that cared for nothing but REVENGE. The footprints walking away meant the mad fade still had about forty creatures.
We next observed the buildings. The buildings were a masterpiece of ugly and money, Bollard had built great chunky blocks of stone to the roof, forty feet thick and only an arch into this spoke. It was built with defense in mind, the only problem the defenses were offline. To make sure no mistakes happened I had the team destroy them. I evolved into a lerk and checked the ceiling. I flew down to the floor and had the team blink to me. I had them array themselves into defensive positions while I flew to the res pool, I evolved to fade and drank my fill of res. I asked how the team were for res and Maker said she was low , I had her blink to me and fill up.
We blinked to the team and continued our search. Apache in front and the rest of us staggered behind. We noticed that Bollards base was set two thirds to the back of the spoke it filled the space from floor to ceiling. It again was solid blocks of stone at the nt, with six entrances equally spaced along its length. Apache chose the furthest left entrance and slowly made his way there. We stopped about six feet from the entrance and observed a mixed defense of ordinary troops in heavy armour and fades. there were about twenty, ten of each.
We withdrew to make our plans, as I was coming up with a method of attack a new bunch came into view. I immediately had our squad blink amongst them them attack then blink back out. The chaos that followed was extreme, the second squad came under fire and immediately returned fire. When order was restored only six fades were left.
I had my team choose their targets and let them loose. They blinked in and attack simultaneously, killing all six instantly. I had walked in looking all around for recording devices. To my relief there were none, but this worried as well as puzzled me. I had Apache do a check of the only nearby structure, it was a barracks. It was empty, this was not right. I went into the control room and saw control panels still in the process of being built, This was not like Bollard, he was more organised than this.
I asked the general to check the status of the corporation and was gratified to hear it had been broken up some five years ago, the facilities here were the last of Bollards domain corporate wise. This intrigued me so I asked the general to check the reasons. He wasn't long, he was laughing when he contacted me. He asked us to remember the memories of the old man, and his words about a security firm. The implications were just too funny for words I started to chuckle, the sound brought me back to my senses.
The old man had his revenge in a way that even he couldn't believe. The son and the sons of sons had done all that the old man had advised and more when took up the reins of the security firm. They had made it a hugely successful enterprise so much so that governments and corporations used it for their checks. He did the checks with absolute thoroughness coupled with a reasonable price, the prestige of the firm became unquestioned. The son made it his lifes aim to capture ever dirty deal, scam, murder and con that Bollard did. He then used it to turn the deals back on Bollard.
The reputation of the corporation slowly diminished over 150 years, and the lastest head had driven the nail that had forced the closure of its doors. The head as all the previous heads did, continued to collect all information about Bollard and his group they could but this head, sent all the information that had ever been collected to every corporation and government body and the information always came secretly. No one ever saw who delivered the information.
The Black Deltas had tried standover tactics to the heads of these corporations but they wouldn't budge even when some of them died, the shareholders wrath was a bigger threat. They knew that to loose a head position meant suicide in business. Bollard knew when to quit, also the corporations combined on this issue and put a bounty so huge on him, he had to retire to this place and so his influence waned. The current head also used the tactic of blaming Bollards group for every disaster that happened. The call for his and the Black Deltas heads spiralled to new heights from which Bollard would never recover.
That explained the unfinished condition and why the troops were sloppy, they were second rate. The days of Bollard having all the best was over. I didn't make the mistake of thinking Bollard was finished. His core troops would still be very good. We went to the next entrance and found two groups at stand off, they had heard the shooting at the end and thought they were under attack so challenged each other. I gave Apache the order to blink into the gate people and attack the leader, as he did so I blinked into the relief force and did the same.
Our attack was so well performed the two groups attacked and almost wiped each other out. We again cleaned up any leftovers. I had the team blink up to the next gate and we repeated the procedure. We then went through the barracks to find more unfinished work. I informed the team the tactic wouldn't work again so we approached with more care and less speed. The next gate forces had used the system that had been worked out and had changed the guard. I had the team rest while I worked out the next strategy.
It was so simple, just a variation on the same theme, I had Apache blink into the gate force while I blinked into the team walking away. I fired backwards at the gate guards and blinked back to the team. Apache appeared at the same time, we watched as the two sides fought. Calling each other traitor. The noise of the conflict roused the troops inside the barracks who joined in but fired at both sides thinking they were under attack from an outside force, this turned the situation into chaos, the forces inside the barracks having cover decimated the two outside forces..
I had the team dispatch anyone who poked their head out. We saw a troop approaching so blinked in behind them we again fired at the troops inside the barracks and blinked back to our starting positions. I had the team move outside the gate. Another firefight began between the barracks and the approaching troops. Massive looses occurred before peace was restored. The troops checked the gate and found it to be empty so under direction of the officer set about restaffing the vacant spots.
I mind spoke Learner and had him bring down all three squads. We went further outside the gates and setled down to await the other squads. I reviewed our tactics, and realised we had been doing it wrong. I left the team and looked at the next gate. I noticed that the turrets were on. I looked but couldn't see the controls. I called Apache and asked him to find them, but to make sure he took special care, there were more troops here and they were more alert. "No problem", replied Apachre.
While waiting for Learner and the squads I blink/moved to the first gate. I searched for the turrets and controls only to be disappointed. I mind directed all to my location. It wasn't long before Apache contacted me, he had entered the barracks and found the controls inside, next to the door attended by a squad leader. I saw that no-one was close so had Apache dispatch him. I gave Apache our new location and had him remove the Friendly Fire board.
Just before Apache blinked to our location we heard the turrets begin their dance of death. Any atttacks would now be harder to implement. I had Maker and Finder evolve into gorges and build sensory and defensive turrets. I had them build in a circle big enough to encompass all squads.
As they didn't have enough res I had Mule, Scout and Deadeye accompany and guard Maker and Finder while they went from the res pool to building. I sat and pondered. With a surge of excitement I asked the admiral what Sniper rifles they had, it was a satisfied grunt from Deadeye that I knew we had a winner.
When the building was complete I had Maker and Finder evolve into fades and fill up on res. They all joined me as I finished off my strategies. A short wait and all the squads were together. I asked Deadeye what weapon he wanted, he surprised us by asking for a Tokkler 37. I asked why the change from his preferred weapon, he said it was silenced, had exceptionally good range, was extremely accurate and it used ammo the same as the troops we faced.
I asked the admiral for it and Gaia sensing my intention melded all minds and blinked Deadeye to the bunker. The sudden arrival of a fade amongst them gave quite a few people heart stutters. Deadeye accepted the Tokkler and was blinked back to us. He passed the Tokkler to Scout and evolved into human form. Walking to the dead rines he scavenged all the ammo in a number of trips. He then went into the barracks and was pleased.
He came dragging a box of 500 rounds and a cleaning kit. Checking them he grave a grunt of pleasure, they were glaizzers, a high energy armour piercing round of .50 calibre. Ideal for sniping heavy armour from two miles away. Deadeye spent quite some time stripping, cleaning, oiling and checking his weapon. He asked what I wanted him to do. I had him set and aim the weapon towards the gate and to tell me what he saw.
He settled the tripod more firmly then spotted the gate area. When he saw an Officer of high rank I asked him to shoot that Officer. His breathing slowed then he exhaled slightly, the Tokkler spat and we heard a distant scream. I asked what happened, and melded with him to see. The officer had been shot in the right shoulder shattering the collar bone. Deadeye said in wouldn't happen again, it shot slightly left and down.
I was puzzled until Deadeye said it was supposed to be the neck not the collar bone. The adjustments made, Deadeye scanned the group, I told him to take out the highest ranks down. The next five shots were rapid and effective, I looked and there were no targets. He said that there were two behind cover, I told him to shoot if he could see any part. The Tokkler spoke once more and a soldier fell from the back of some crates, the gap would have been no more than four inches.
Deadeye apologised but the last was too well hidden, the Tokkler suddenly spoke and then a second time, we all jumped, I looked and Deadeye had shot the toes of the soldier, and when he went to hold his foot had shot him in the temple. I told Deadeye to then target the next gate and repeat the procedure at his own pace, he reloaded. Deadeye then fired four rounds before the weapon fell silent. I asked if he could shoot the last gate, he scoped the gate and said yes.
I told him to take any target he could find. He unloaded and then inserted a fresh magazine which Mule had loaded. The gun spat and fell silent. We waited what seemed hours and the Tokkler spoke again. Deadeye said that no targets were available. He suddenly turned the rifle and fired, a body fell out the barracks door, another shot then the slamming of the door.
He slowly scanned for targets then went deadly still, the soft sound of controlled breathing the only indication he wasn't asleep. The weapon fired and a satisfied smirk appeared on Deadeyes face. I looked and saw a fade impaled on the horn of an Onos, the fades skull had been disintergrated. Deadeye reloaded then fired three rounds, his hiss of satisfaction was his signature of approval.
Curiosity made me meld, I brought all the squads into a very light meld and we saw the reason for Deadeyes satisfaction. One shot had damaged the right front foot the next had been in the exposed chest and the last deadly shot had been through the eye. The beast was dead. While we watched we saw another soldier felled, Deadeye reloaded. We watched as three soldiers panicked and were killed as they ran away. The Tokkler fired and we saw a hand disintergrate.
Deadeye apologised, we were all perplexed at this, he then said the enemy knows where we are, the hand had been from a dead rine. He suggested we relocate. I agreed, I had the last three squads move to the res pool and fill up. I had Learner direct the building of another circle of sensory, defensive chambers.
Deadeye had settled and quietly said, I have lots of targets. I told him to start at the top and work down again, or take what ever targets he had. The Tokkler spoke repeatedly and rapidly Deadeye asked me to look, the sound alerted me.
I looked and gave assent, the world went haywire. The DEMONS from HELL were let loose. The ground grumbled and shook bouncing us around like corks on the ocean, the wall fell raining devastation on the enemy troops, and the eye of hell came screaming towards us, I was certain we were about to die and ordered all troops to blink as fast and as far as they could. Gaia and Alpha it was that save us, they instantly melded everyone and blinked us faster and farther than we would have been able. We felt one of our number injured, and stopped. We watched the eye close and the monster return to its source, and die.
The admiral asked what had happened, and if there were any injuries. The ground here shook and felt like an earthquake, I had the admiral and all people meld and look. The scene that met them was straight from a painting of the apocalyse, A huge crater of red hot molten steel and stone met their gaze. Deadeyes shot had gone straight through the officer and set off a demolition charge set around the fuel and ammo supply. A fail safe, no return security measure.
A profound silence descended upon us. We sent mental thanks to Gaia and Alpha as the realisation of how close we had come to annihilation, and we spent a quiet moment for all the dead. I saw that our protective circle was no more, it had been evaporated by the intense heat, only a black patch remained and the floor was covered in black.
I had Learner evolve his squad into lerks and inspect the area, the devastation was complete, no trace remained, it was as if they had never been. I had Maker and Finder evolve to gorges guarded by Mule, Apache and Scout to rebuild the circle adding movement to the defence, offence, sensory chambers. Learner asked whether they should check the end of this arm of the spoke and check the condition of its building.
Adding the instruction to be very careful I watched them fly away with worry gnawing at me. Learner had sent them off with a gap between them, well that he did. The first casualty came about because the first rine/lerk was careless. Even after all the advice to take it slow and observe, the rine/lerk threw caution to the wind due to sheer exuberance of being able to fly.
A flash of blue and the rine/lerk cease to exist. Learner immediately grounded and had the rest return by short fast bursts of flying. No further incidences occurred. I immediately had the team go slightly forward to observe. I evolved into a lerk and fired spikes forward at a angle to the ground. Nothing happened so I moved to the spot where the spikes had hit. I repeated this procedure until I fired and the spikes disappeared as had the rine/lerk.
I established an outer limit, and had Maker and Finder come to the spot and build a pocket of defence/offence chambers. I had Learners lerks move the width of the arm firing spikes, we established that the field was semi circular in shape. By firing spokes at varying heights we found that the top was circular. The building as a reference meant the Blue defence field was circular in shape, I had all lerks fire spikes until we mapped the extent of the border. We built chambers around it one foot from it's edge so no-one would accidently stray into it.
I pondered the puzzle while Learner relayed all that had happened. Dr. Phind and Engineer were excited by the news, although sad we had lost a soldier. Their excitement stemmed from the knowledge of a new power source and energy used in such a way. They wanted to try different techniques for bypassing the defence shield. I told them they didn't have to. I asked them if they had built the base on the bottom of this well and an emergency occurred how would they get out.
They were puzzled. "There are other bases such as this, and I think you will find one on each level", I said. The admiral asked how I reached that conclusion. "Because there are five spokes and five levels, they were built exactly symmetrical. It would be an expensive use of resources to just make a mathmatical structure for aesthetics. I think the five spoke symmetry has a scientific purpose although what that is is beyond my understanding".
Dr. Phind asked Gaia to send lerks to check each spoke from the second bottom layer up. He was bouncing about like a teenager on a pogo stick. So excited at the chance of new discoveries, the normally shy (social wise) scientist grabbed a female staff member and started to dance a jig. He suddenly realised what he was doing and glowed a bright red apologising profusely. The brass had a good laugh.
The call came from the second layer down that another building had been found. Shortly thereafter three more were found. I noticed Learner and the troops were looking at me with astounded faces. To break the tension I melded the troops and asked Dr. Phind to meld with everyone and take control of the nearest lerk and check the building, reminding him of the unfortunate accident of recent time.
Dr. Phind checked the memories and set about firing spikes and moving forward and repeat. The lerk was able to approach the building without incident. The good doctor had himself merged and went fade. Using the combined meld he blinked to the building and re-evolved as human, he instructed the scientific staff to make their way down, and he began a thorough search of the outside.
Before the staff had assembled he satisfied himself that there was no entrance into the building. The outside was totally smooth like the walls, floor and ceiling of the well. A puzzle indeed. Dr. Phind took control of the other leks and checked the other buildings one by one. It was with extreme excitement that a corner section of the second from the bottom had broken away, the concensus of opinion was the explosion and subsequent tremor had been the cause.
Instructing the scientific staff to follow he evolved to fade and blinked to the building. To distract some of the more sensitive types away from the height and the drop to the floor below he posed each a simple mind task that before they knew it they were all safe and sound beside Dr. Phind. They then set about probing the outside carefully.
Dr.Phind had the engineering staff make a cable platform so people and equipment could be transport up and down. It was decided that an electrical system was quiet and sufficient for their needs. The location of all the buildings were incorporated into the schematics of the well. It was seen that the buildings were put one along the arms, that is the bottom one we called ground one, the next up was first two, then second three, etc. The buildings were up a floor and one spoke to the left from the last. The end result was if you looked top down every spoke was represented.
This caused a ripple of frustration for the scientists, they could fathom no reason for the arrangement. Even with the help of a fully melded mind no explanation could be found we had nothing to compare the arrangement with. It was decided that while the scientific team was established my team would explore this whole area. There was the matter of the Bollard fade and his tribe to consider.
We all became cloaked fades and set about searching for clues. The distance of the bulding from the explosion left us hopeful of the survival of the fade and his tribe. We had gone completely round the left side to the wall when we heard the piteous cry. Cautiously I had Apache search for the source of the sound. Off to the left three hundred yards from the chambers we had built Apache found the Bollard fade and the remains of his tribe.
The fade was severely burnt and the tribe had only eight skulks left. I immediatrely melded everyone and restrained and stunned the skulks. We probed their minds and well it was that I was fully melded and had been subjected to so many disturbed and painful memories, the blast of pain, terror, madness, and hatred created a chaotic swirl of force that would have overwhelmed a lesser meld.
Out of the swirl came a distinct fragment of memory which I seized and except for the support of the meld would have lost myself to chaos.The Bollard fade was Bollards younger brother who had been tortured and ill-used by Bollard through blackmail and coersion. Bollard had this mans family in stasis and to ensure his obedience would show him them being tortured and then cured and put back in stasis. This had been happening for one hundred years.
The love of his family and the possibility of rescue had been his only reason for living. The trauma of his own and his families constant torture had driven him mad. The lockdown and his escape from the complex had come about through negligence of safety protocols. Bollards scientist had been using Charlie in an experiment when a call for the testing scientist had disrupted his concentration. Instead of closing down the testing and caging Charlie the scientist had reduced the power. A power spike and Charlie was free.
Charlie had a moment of lucidity, he blinked to the scientist and impaled him before any sound was made. He blinked randomly and found himself outside the Bollard complex. His madness then protected him, he blinked to random places instantly without thought or reason and therefore saved himself, his madness drove him away from the place of torture.
The defences had been momentarily offline due to the powerspike. Dr. Phind was all for scouring the mind for knowledge but it was the general who gave us the plan. He evolved to fade and blinked to us, then re-evolved to human. He took control of the meld and soothed Charlies pain and suffering and offered support, the same as he had done for me. The general removed his shirt and there for all to see was a scarred old warrior, proud of his injuries as they had been gained in honest battle. Charlie had quietened and looked at the old battered and scarred yet proud man in front of him and found a rapport.
The bonding link surprised us all, it was given deeply and profoundly without any reservations. The general had known his man. The general had allowed Charlie access to all his memories and the show of trust mind to mind had shocked Charlie out of his circle of pain, terror, madness, and hatred. Here was someone who had suffered as well, testified to by not only the generals memories but his body. The general asked if Charlie would allow our people to heal him, the request deepened an already strong bond.
This was the first time he had been asked what he wanted, the general had dulled most of the pain so Charlie could think and decide for himself. Charlie asked to be healed but first his tribe be looked after. It was then we noticed that most were also injured. The general had all the lerks join us and evolve to gorges and begin healing everyone. Charlie refused help until his tribe were cured then he passed out as he was being healed. We kept control of the skulks until Charlie revived then gave him back his tribe.
His first action upon awakening was to thank the general for healing and returning his tribe, and for his own recovery. He asked the general if he wished to meld and look at all his memories. The general asked Charlie to use the spoken word and would he allow Learner and I to bring our teams up and listen. Charlie agreed and was astonished to see twenty fades appear then twenty skulks who acted liked pets, rubbing and chuckling when affection was applied.
He asked how, but before he could go any further the general included Charlie into our whole meld. The love and support that he found added another layer of healing to his damaged psyche. The general then unfolded our recent events and explained our mission. Charlie then offered his mind to us to probe. We sifted slowly soothing as we went, examining every memory for every ounce of detail, sometimes going back to check when I asked.
I asked to have a silent thought with the general but before I could explain Charlie showed how advanced his mind was when he said that no he wouldn't get his hopes up about the rescue of his family. To say I was surprised is an understatement. Charlie put my mind at ease and unlocked his blocked off part of his mind. He was apologising when I told him that what I had just learnt was explanation enough.
Charlie it was who was now surprised, the general gave Charlie the mental picture and he saw what most had missed even Gaia. He asked if the general would guide/guard him in what he was about to do. The general looked concerned and then was looking at me with part amusement part worry. I tried to see what they were sharing and found myself blocked, a shield I was unable to pierce was around me.
I became still and pulled my mind into itself, the next minute hell felt as though I was living in it. I was assualted on so many levels that the more I consciouslyfought the stronger the assualt was. I intuitively went into my life-long state of letting my mind do its work and the assualt lessened. Then suddenly my mind did another expansion and I was thinking and looking at things differently. The assault came again, stronger than before but this time my mind fought back on many levels, this was a revelation, the assault became painful and was beginning to defeat me when as quick as it began it ceased.
I looked at the general and saw a grin miles wide, puzzled I reached out with my mind only to watch the general collapse I quickly pulled back and analysed the situation. It was with instant regret and chagrine that I raced to the general with apologies spewing from my mouth. He slowly recovered and smiling at me said to Charlie in an aside, "You were 100% accurate".
I thought about the last minute and realised the whole episode had lasted only a minute plus some odd seconds. I looked inside my mind and found it to be more than it was, A childhood of guarding against hurting others had stunted my mental development, my capacity had been sealed off down in the depths where no accidental loss of control would hurt anyone. Charlie through his forced development had been the only one capable of knowing what it was.
"Aah it is explained at last", Gaia said. Charlie jumped six feet into the air. "You are real then". "Yes but because you were in so much pain I could only reached you occasionly", explained Gaia. "To have done more would have given away myself and my tribe, besides it stopped anyone but Thinker discovering my presence". "Yes he has a very unique mind and should test and practise what he has now gained, it will take all of us to counter him now", said Charlie.
To say I was perplexed, didn't even begin to cut it. Everyone chuckled, they had been in a meld attacking me to force my growth, the only way as I had spent a lifetime controlling and covering my full potential. I had imposed an impenetrable barrier for myself against myself. I scanned my mind and it was sometime before I realised that I had collapsed onto the ground. The technique I had developed to stop myself from discovering accidently my full potential.
This time it was because I was fully occupied with discovering and developing my mind. I went back into myself and checked every nook and segment of my mind and found potential undreamed of. I saw the reason for my blockage, it was my mother who had warned me about the dangers of power that I possessed and she was to train me but died before she could do so. As she lay dying she had asked me to promise not to hurt anyone with my mind, in my young untrained state I had curbed my power not learnt to control it.
I spent some time retraining, integrating and learning about my new abilities. It was a rumbling stomach and the smell of my favourite dish that brought me out of myself. I had been so deep within myself that when they moved me to the circle of chambers I hadn't been aware of it but had noted it mentally. As I was in good hands I had stayed inside myself.
I ravenously devoured my dinner and was given two more helpings, I protested that it would be greedy to eat all this when I saw both plates empty, I was amazed until Charlie explained that power has its downsides too, one is the intake of sustenance needs is increased. Burn out can be a major real problem. Charlie then suggested a nights sleep and then tomorrow I train against the meld aware now of my abilities, and when satisfied we look to training the other members of our teams. Especially to mind shields.
I saw the reason immediately and nodded. I left Learner in charge and immediately fell asleep where I was. I dreamt of my mother and suddenly the reason for my profound block came through, she had died because of a mental attack. Her last words were protect yourself don't show your power. I had mistaken her words and had hidden my power from myself as well, not knowing what she had meant. My inexperienced had protected myself and disabled my power at the same time, the reason for my hunches and my abilities were my powers trying to develop.
I awoke knowing that I needed help, I sought out Charlie and told him my dream and that I was troubled by something and didn't know what to do. "Aaah, at last you have started to get to the base of the problem, I can only travel with you and stop you doing harm but it is going to take everyone and they will all have to be totally relaxed and focused. It will need Gaia, Alpha and myself to be equal leaders this time, and the general as your anchor, this time it is going to be PAINFUL because you have buried your potential under layers of barriers, also the memories of your mother may be the worst part of the discovery".
I asked why, and Charlie explained that I would probably get the manner of her death, he surmised this by how deep I had buried my abilities. I agreed. We began the next morning and all proceeded smoothly until the moment of my mothers death. I saw clearly the attacks used and analysed the way to conbat them, the next few moments were a blur. I came to myself only because of the screaming. I had slipped into a mind frenzy due to pain and the eminence of my mothers death.
Charlie, Gaia and Alpha had borne the brunt of my loss of control, it was Gaia who had screamed and our close bond had allowed me to suffer her pain and anguish, without this close bond I would have gone completely over the edge. Charlie explained that I had full access and memory of my mother, and I had relived her total suffering in seconds, she had suffered for some time, this had been my undoing. We set about soothing and easing everyones hurts and I was grateful that I had caused no permanent injury.
Charlie suggested to the general that if everyone was okay that we cotinue while the memories were fresh and that we take more precautions. Everyone could see the wisdom of this, 'the old get back on the horse that tossed you, real quick, cure. Gaia suggested we have a human female to meld with the general as my anchor. Gaia explained that she had until now missed the female connection as the Kharaa are evolved asexual. We had missed the female perspective to balance the views.
The meld checked everyone and it was with relief that I observed that injuries were minor. I pointed out that Maker was the only other female that I was familiar with. Gaia, Alpha and Charlie broke contact and melded privately with Maker. After what seemed an eternity they remelded with everyone and Maker said she would be honoured to act as the anchor with the general. They spent some little time fitting together.
Concerned I sent a minute probe and was amazed by the transformation and a trifle jealous, "Jealous", asked the two with a chuckle in their tone, it was only then I realised, I had secretly carried a torch for Maker, I had buried it so as not to become too familiar, I would have been unable to give the necessary harsh orders, or order her to do anything that may have resulted in her death if I hadn't. Maker was touched but a little miffed, the general explained that affection/love made people choose wrong sometimes.
Somewhat mollified Maker allowed me to search her mind and memories, I was chagrined yet please to see a measure of affection for me, upon deeper inspection I saw that she loved me as an older brother and her true love was Apache. Charlie asked could he join this conversation and it was with shock I realised that all this had occurred on a level previously unknown to me. A private level that I had kept the rest of the meld away from with ease.
I opened the link to include Gharlie, Gaia and Alpha. They had become worried when the three of us had become absolutely still, they had no evidence to know the extent and depth of the link. Charlie pointed out that the short exposure to my mothers memories had changed me profoundly. I had gleaned information and techniques that he didn't know, Gaia and Alpha also agreed. With the new anchor in place we agreed it was time to re-enter my memories.
Maker suggested we circle the memories from the outside and slowly analyse what we could before confronting them. The beauty of this was the pain and suffering were less and the gathering of facts and details was of great benefit. We circled, then digested the details and slowly became aware that we were confronting the memories direct. The significance of this discovery was met with profound relief, and I realised that some of the meld had been reluctant to fully participate for fear of further hurt. The meld grew in strength and support with this knowledge.
A cry for help and the meld was there, it was a member of the engineering crew on the surface. He was under attack from a Bollard rine, the B-rine had come from an unknown exit and had stumbled on the engineer. I quickly stunned the B-rine, and placing a mental shield around him sent four fully armed and armoured rines to bring him inside the command bunker. Passive sensors were placed all around the entrance and a squad of newly re-equipped rines were placed a short distance away, their orders to observe and report and to fire only if fired upon.
We spent a little time refining their shields. They would not be caught unawares and their shield was reinforced by the meld. We returned to the engineer, and found him to have been pierced by the B-rines knife reminiscent of the technique used by Bollard on the hive of the old man. Medical attention was immediate, a major plus for the meld, action taken without conscious orders. Things done as they were thought of.
I pounced on the B-rine and keeping the shield in place battered him senseless mentally. By keeping the pressure applied on multiple levels at once, he couldn't steady himself for the control necessary for a mental message or call for help. I analysed his capabilities and sifted his mind for all its knowledge, all the time listening to his arrogant tone of dismissal. He kept insisting he wouldn't give any information away and he would not break. I was amazed at the depth I could probe without his knowledge.
We stripped his mind of all useful information and I disassociated his mind. This I did without thought. I was prompted my the Maker-general anchor to now spend time recalibrating my minds abilities as I had gained more potential. I agreed and left the meld with the anchor in charge to watch over the B-rine and the area. I had Gaia, Alpha and Charlie join me to sift, catalogue and assimilate my mind. The process also increased their abilities, they hadn't known, so therefore couldn't train some of their potential. The new depth and breadth of our minds were a wonder to us.
We remelded the whole together and checked for abilities, this became quicker and easier the more trained they became. The training reinforced itself, the more we train the better and faster we became. At the same time the meld trained my mind, it became semi automatic and the control I gained was phenomenal. I was staggered at the changes. I became aware of an itch inside my mind, I chased it madly until my anchor reminded me of my former ability, I was chagrined to realise that I had forgotten my former ability.
I relaxed and allowed my mind to free associate. The speed of the recognition dazed me. I saw that Bollard himself was the cause of my mothers suffering and death. I slowly began to lose control, a hatred unknown and deep started to build. It was a mental slap from Maker that stunned and then turned my lose of control. I was stupefied that someone had slapped me. The laughter of thousands of voices broke the last vicious turn of my mind. I saw Charlie offer a mental hand and took it.
Charlie took me through his mind and his plunge into his former enraged madness. The memories steadied and re-inforced my control. We watched as Bollard worked his torture, then we looked at my own memories of my mother, instead of loss of control I gained further strength and knowledge. My mother had suffered more due to the fact she had been sending me the knowledge she had gained from life, teachers and father. She had forgone her ability to protect herself to give me the necessary memories.
By the time she had placed them deep in my mind with the original shield she had lost control of part of her mind. Bollard though could only gain surface control of her mind, this enraged him to inflict terrible punishment upon her, mentally and physically. She held firm until Bollard in a fit of rage lost it and gave her the fatal blow. Her last thought was a kiss for me.
I again set my mind to free association, the process was almost instantaneous this time, my mind was now a weapon awesome to behold. The devastation that I could inflict humbled me, what an aweful weapon it was, my anchor steadied me and asked if I had been given a prototype gun that was awesome in its potential would I have refused it. I saw the honesty and truth in this. The control of the weapon was the difference between Bollard and myself. Bollard would strike out against any that stood in his way just because he could.
It was with relief and some hilarity that Dr. Phind interrupted, he and his team had gained entry into the unknown building and were looking at unknown science. This gave us a mental picture of a little child with a new toy. Whoever had first pictured it sent the whole meld into a fit of laughter, Dr. Phind sobered us by reminding us of where we were. The unstated picture of Bollard as the enemy steadied us. We explored the room through Dr. Phind. Next minute we lost contact with the good doctors team, the admiral asked whether they had been attacked. "No a barrier has been erected that also stops thought", I said.
"What do you mean also stops thought", asked the admiral. "I believe that the reason Bollard never came to attack us or retaliate when his B-rine was taken is because he doesn't know. The shield that protects his base is also protection against thought", I said. "Well what do we do", asked the admiral. "We investigate", I replied.
Gathering the meld I probed the shield, no weak points could be found. I pulled back and pondered. A possible solution came. I welded everyone tighter than ever before and sent a minute probe to the shield, I checked up and down the levels of thought bands, no luck. It was Charlie who remembered my personal link with the anchor and how he was unable to penetrate. "Is there a chance that we could use this to contact the good Dr", asked Charlie. I replied that I didn't know him well enough.
Gaia reminded me of the fact that I hadn't known Maker and the general well, yet had taken the conversation immediately to the private level. I saw the truth and free associated. I was with Dr. Phind and his staff and was mortified when he asked what had taken me so long, and where was the meld. I realised with surprise that I had left the meld behind, so fast was my minds ability. I apologised and went back for them, we entered slowly and were once again united. This was a shock and a happy discovery.
A sudden blackness to one side had me fortifying shields and searching for this phenomenon. It came from where a scientist was. Concerned I probed using all techniques I could and I even free associated to counter this percieved threat. Just as suddenly the blackness was gone. I looked and saw the scientist holding an unusual belt, this was the source of blackness. An impervious mental shield. The race that built this place were minds of power. The concern this scientist felt from us saw him blanch and begin to stammer an apology.
Dr. Phind reminded them all that this was alien tech and wasn't necessarily benign. All future experiments would be under guidance and control. Dr. Phind asked the scientist to show where he had found the artifact, he walked to a bench and pointed. On top of the bench were maybe a dozen artifacts of varying shape and size.
Dr. Phind looked the items over and knew he was out of his depth. He suggested we examine the belt first to gather any clues we could about the aliens race and their artifacts. We watched them test using scientific tools and fail. We then tried mental probing, it was an intricate maze of circuits and components that emerged. Dr. Phind then looked at the belt, he could discern no access to the belt, it was fitted together with intricate precision beyond our means of current tech.
I probed the artifact again and percieved a minute indentation, Dr. Phind immediately had a nanite machine programmed to make smaller and smaller nanites to produce a nanite that could enter this indentation. He had each unit built with a sender unit incorporated. The nanite machines finished and a picture came of its journey. It entered the indentation and travelling very slowly filmed its surroundings. A series of markings came into focus. The language would take years to unravel if at all. Dr. Phind suggested we find a linguist.
The admiral set the search in motion. I probed the other artifacts gently and found them all to have the same indentations. Nanites were sent, The pictures that emerged were of the same language but each differed from the other. Some similarities were evident. The samples were placed one on top of the other and the differences became extremely apparent. We were out of our depth.
The scientific concensus was to test each of the devices. I refused as I wasn't going to waste lives taking the chance that something useful would emerge.Dr. Phind agreed with me reluctantly, although said that he couldn't stop individuals from testing the devices on their own. I knew what he was hinting at but refrained from commenting. I knew that some would take unnecessary risks, and was partially annoyed with Dr. Phind.
I collected the meld and sent our thoughts to Bollards base, the shield was very visible now. We entered the shield and moving slowly checked the outside. All was the same as the others except in the back corner a hole could be seen, this explained how Bollard had gained entry. I moved with extreme caution into the hole and was thankful that no impediments were here. The interior was lit by an eerie blue glow, the explanation of which was a mystery at this time.
To our displeasure no-one could be seen, we spent some time checking the room. I brought the meld to the hole and was about to leave when I saw a disturbance. It was in the corner and so small as to be unnoticable to any not looking directly at it. I slowly approached the spot and noticed a shimmer. Dr. Phind said it was like a cloaking field, I probe the spot with a tendril so fine that it was almost non existent. The mind I found was to Dr. Phind a blessing. I probed it to the depths then withdrew.
I also returned to our own building, and told Dr. Phind to search our memory. It was a delighted Dr. Phind who now walked with confidence to the bench. He chose a spot to the right and pressed a sequence of patterns, the blue glow started. He reversed the pattern and the glow disappered. He walked to the artifacts and mentally showed us their functions and ways of implementing them.
The artifacts were all explained except for a small round object, we were more cautious than ever, we had seen the results of accidents that had happened forced by Bollard and his hold on these scientists. They were forced to test them against their wills, the alternative was to watch as their love-ones were made to suffer. Bollard and his B-rines were a cruel bunch, torturing for the sake of torture in some cases.
The item the scientist used to cloak was a ring, we had seen the scientist swallow it the first time he had seen it. He had retrieved it later and somehow kept it secret. The scientist had waited till he had more knowledge of the artifacts before he had tested it. We also now knew the written language of this advanced species. Bollard had many years and lots of people working on it. We had the benefit of those peoples results.
I then swept the meld back to the scientist, and was thankful that I had continued to sift his memories. I blinked him to Dr. Phinds' spot whilst keeping his mind and body in a kind of stasis. I had done this subconsciously. I probed and found the small nanite controller and blinked it into the lab near the bunker, the object I placed into a sealed glass containment jar. It was unnerving to watch it try to reach any staff that approached. Its use was found in the scientists mind, a pleasure/pain controller. The usage of which was randomly sent by Bollard or one of his people.
The unit seated itself at the pleasure/pain nexus in the targets mind and did no permanent damage, the signal sent was miniscule and therefore the more insidious, it was powered by the targeted minds own energy. I also removed the bottle of poison he had in his pocket. I re-enterd the scientists mind and soothed and removed blockages, I then awakened him. I told him what had occurred and told him he was free to do what ever he wished. He snorted, "Yes and when I think I'm free you will employ the discipline nanite and I'll be back where I started, how did you find me".
I pointed out that he was still cloaked, the ring on his finger, and if he looked behind him there was his bottle of poison which he was free to use or he could join us in defeating Bollard. He began walking furtively towards the bottle, when he was close he snatched it up and swallowed the contents. As he was dying he realised that I had been telling the truth and his thought of regret spurred me to place him in our hospital. I removed his ring so the staff could work on him, then left him to their ministrations.
It was twenty minutes later when I felt his desire to talk. I showed him his ring and his belongings and then showed him the meld and asked if he wished to become a part. The fact I asked had him crying with relief and sorrow. He answered yes so I melded him. His relief and wonder was delightful to behold. He asked how I detected him, I went through the memories and showed him how to access and use them. He was overwhelmed with the trust, support and freedom we gave him.
He asked what would have happened if he had been a plant to sabotage us. I answered that he would have to know about us and he would have to catch us totally unaware, I reminded him I had probed his mind to its depths, I apologised for having done so. He was happy that I had. He suddenly asked about the B-rine we had in stasis, I caught his reason and suggested to the general that we have a trial. The general-Maker anchor saw my reason and suggested to the admiral he allow it.
A court setting was set up in Dr. Phinds building and the B-rine and the scientist blinked in. The B-rine was in a one piece coverall strapped to a metal chair with his ability to blink turned off, no way for him to escape was overlooked and countered. I had Dr. Phind turn the switch to cancel contact with the outside, the court was convened. The admiral was chosen as judge, The scientist was prosecutor, I awakened the B-rine and explained the situation, he was given his choice of defending himsel or choosing a defence.
His first act was to try and blink away, puzzled he tried again. I explained the realities to him, he was here and here he stayed until sentence was passed. He snidely remarked that he was presumed guilty already, I asked him to look in the witness area and to look who was the prosecutor. He turned a lovely shade of white. The admiral banged his gravel and called for quiet, he reminded the B-rine that his actions already showed he was not to be trusted. The admiral asked me to refresh the B-rines memory of the happenings outside the tunnel.
The B-rine answered, that was an act of war, The admiral asked when had war been declared, the B-rine didn't answer. The admiral called the court to order then asked the B-rine if he wanted to represent himself or to choose someone. The B-rine said he would represent himself. The case began. The scientist asked the B-rine to identify the ring on his finger, the B-rine looked to his left hand and with a smirk of victory twirled the ring. A blue spark and a noise of electricity being used turned his head from the scientist, the sight of the containment jar with the nanite buzzing with electricity inside made the B-rine blanch whiter.
I blinked the ring from his finger and and plced it on the evidence table, dropping it from four inches so it would attract attention, the nanite went still.
The B-rine began to struggle to free himself, the admiral spoke up and told the B-rine that if he continued to struggle he would be given a nerve block, the B-rine went instantly still. I caught the memory of him administering one to a female tied to a table, after which he and three other B-rines repeatedly raped her while her husband was strapped to a chair (having been also given a nerve block) forced to watch. This was as a lesson to behave. They left her and the husband looking at one another as they walked away laughing after ages of their fun.
The B-rine knew he was beaten and that we knew every or had access to every sordid detail of his time as a B-rine, he pleaded guilty and asked for mercy. The admiral asked him to repeat what he had mind spoke, but out loud for the recording apparatus. The B-rine did so. The admiral pronounced him guilty of crimes against humanity and specifically against the engineer and the scientist, he looked at the B-rine and said that sentence would be decided by and carried out by the victims.
The scientist looked at the engineer and motioned him forward to go first. The engineer looked at the admiral, the admiral said, "Its your decision to administer punishment you see fit". The engineer walked to a marine and asked for his knife, the admiral nodded yes. The engineer carrying the knife walked to the B-rine and plunged the blade into the B-rines shoulders, once each side. The engineer dropped the knife and was sick all over the floor. The marine walked over retrieved his blade, cleaned it then sheathed it.
The admiral order the mess to be cleaned away. The B-rine although in considerable pain didn't cry out. The scientist came over to him and just stared at him for a while. The B-rine in an attempt at bravery asked if the stupid scientist was going to look him to death. The comment was the wrong thing to say, the scientist had been debating mercy, the insult swung his resolve to a form of appropiate revenge.
He turned away from the B-rine who stupidly spat at him. The scientist turned once more, took a look and walked to the evidence table. When he slipped the ring on his finger and picked up the containment jar the B-rine knew real fear for the first time. He had been convinced of his own superiority before, he suddenly realised that it was because he had been in a controlled environment, here he was the captive victim. His superior facade disappeared and he began to gibber.
A strap was tightened around his head and the scientist appeared before him. He held the jar for the B-rines inspection, the nanite was trying to get a purchase. To say that the B-rine was terified was an understatement he soiled himself in his terror. "Why are you so frightened, it's only a medical nanite, you told me so yourself. It will make sure you never have a headache again you said. Surely you wish to be free of any more painful headaches".
The scientist placed the jar beside the B-rines ear, and with a quick twist and a thrust held the now opened jar over the ear. The B-rine tried to twist and turn but a thorough job of restraint had been applied, the look of horror on the B-rines face told of the horrors this man had inflicted. The sight dismissed any qualms of all onlookers. A profound sense of justice permeated the meld.
The scientist turned the ring and a look of pain crossed the B-rines face, another twist and pleasure showed. The scientist turned it back and forth, but soon realised the emptiness of the punishment. He turned the ring until extreme pain showed then walked away. As he did so he removed the ring and threw it away. The effect was startling to say the least, the nanite with no control on its role went into a random pattern. The B-rine now felt the nanites full effects, from absolute pain to ultimate pleasure, all randomly applied.
Comments
{run func_read}
{start /loop until Story = "End"}
get_Story "It came about because..."
originality++
awesomeness++
greatness++
{end /loop}
{end /process}
yea, i haven't a life...very interesting where you took it...didn't know where you were going to take that idea of the mimic. hmm...i should update my fic.../me goes off...damn SATs...eck, you'll prolly want me to shut up now.
I felt the cold on the old mans skin, the ache in his bones, and felt his deep bitter anger at the corporation, more specifically his son. He had been prospecting a new vein of an unknown ore when the call went out, a general call for evacuation. The time to leave not even sufficient for him to reach the entrance of his discovery. The irony of it all was not lost on the old man. It had been rumoured that he had frozen out his father to take control of the corporation. His son had idolised the grandfather.
Pushing all feeling to a corner of his mind, the old man focused his energy into reaching safety. He left the cave after assuring himself no storm was imminent, he had a window of one hour to reach his base. The time went quickly, soon the old man was at the base. He thank the forgotten professor who had taught him the trick.
The trick! the old man as a new student at uni, had been taught how to dis-associate parts of his brain, one to carry on worrying at the problem, and one to carry on with daily life. He would often be seen walking aimlessly around the uni working out answers in his head, avoiding obstacles with an abstract look on his face.
The old man returned to full awarenes and checked his surroundings. The trap was so simple and elegant. The son knew his father went exploring the cave with little or no equipment as it was so close to base. The base was locked and secured. The father, always a deeply suspicious man, always provided secret entrances unknown to anyone, a fact that had saved his life many times. He was thankful when he found and entered his safe haven.
He quickly walked the length of the tunnel and entered his storeroom. The door to the office took some time to open which puzzled the old man until he entered his office. The dark interior was elegant testimony to the power being turned off. The old man knew his office from many hours spent there. He spent little time getting his personal generator going and with it warmth and food. He checked his tanks of fuel and knew his son was responsible, the tanks showed third full, enough for five hours power.
The old man turned on the weather map to justify his suspicions. The map informed him that a storm of scale twelve was to hit in thirty minutes. Not one to let an opportunity pass, the old man entered his comm booth shutting the door to fool anyone where he was. He called the ships captain and told him he was still planetside, the captain offered to send a dropship, which both knew would be suicide and certain death to all. The old man refused, he asked the captain if he was able to record a conversation without anyone knowing. the captain looked at the old man and said, "You taught me remember, of course I can". The old man told him to record the conversation between himself and the son.
The old man was put through to his son. To say the son was surprised was an understatement. "Where are you", the son blurted out. "Where you will never find me", answered the father. "Yes I'm still on the planet where you left me to die, but I wanted you to know I know it was you who planned and executed my death. The sad part about it is I never ever took the corporation from father. You were misinformed, and now you have fallen for the trap, you will loose the corporation to the sharks before I'm even dead".
The ship comm beeped and a voice said before the son could do anything." Thank you for the corporation son, you did exactly as we planned, you were manipulated and performed nicely, we will give you a stipend of 1 million credits every year for the rest of your life, even raising it for CPI". "What do you mean", asked the astonished son.
The old man answered him, "By abandoning me here with no supplies and a scale twelve storm coming you have sentenced me to death, upon my death the corporation goes to Bollards group, an arrangement that your grandfather signed. He was given proof that you were trying to kill me, (Bollard was there with monitors every time you set your traps), this was his way to ensure you would never gain control by murdering me. You have been royally suckered and Bollard can in all truth say he didn't do it. It had one proviso he wanted the corporation to be kept as one entity".
"Remember our conversation at the hospital on Phylos son, if you remember the exact words were [it's funny how he has a heart problem now], and like a good little conspirator you immediately assumed the worst. You jumped to the conclusions we hoped you would. Not once did anyone ever say anything outright, hell we didn't have to, you were always seeing the negative side of everything, all because you thought your father hated you, ha, you fool, he has protected and loved you all his life", said Bollard,
"I am truly sad this happened but glad because I can now complete my plans", said Bollard. "Oh by the way Captain you can stop recording now we have our proof, and yes it was beamed straight to the local magistrates office. Son he has been persuaded to allow you two weeks head start, the account will be setup in any name you wish". With those words a disconnect sign flashed. The captain came on and apologised that he had changed sides. The old man forgave him, and thanked him for the years of service.
The son was devastated, he stammered and babbled and asked his father for forgiveness. The old man knowing the pain of isolation and knowing no satisfaction would come from denial, and still loving his son forgave him. This had a profound affect on the son totally unforeseen by Bollard, the acceptance broke the barrier of hatred the son had built. The son swore to the father he would take back the corporation from Bollard. The father was relieved to hear the conviction in his voice.
"When the storm is passed you will have time to salvage my effects, they will allow you one day to do so, remember the baseball and trust no-one ever again. I will not be found so don't try finding me, take my bag and the disc on my desk, and go to Anchor, if you ship out on the Galaxos you will have ten days to plan and think, do so. They will not chase you if you leave on the Galaxos, if you're stupid and don't leave they will hound and track you for the rest of your days, do you understand"? The son nodded.
The father signed off saying he love the son. The old man entered his closet and donned his own personal armour, which was specially made heavy powered armour with an environment good for ten hours. He armed himself with the special weapons and fifty magazines. This gave him twin .50 calibre pistols and a hmg of .50 calibre. All had been specially made by Guns Unlimited to a research companies specifications paid for by the father. He thought of the cost and the loss but decided that if Bollard was going to send in his goons he would make them suffer for their arrogance.
He went over the specifications as he walked to the armoury. .50 calibre low recoil guns, firing depleted uranium cased phosphorous rounds able to penetrate twelve foot of armour plating, good, no ha/hmg goon would find him a cakewalk. The magazines held fifty rounds, so he had 2650 rounds altogether, a good war can be fought. The armour and weapons were made out of an alloy that was ten times stronger than existing armour, it could stop hmg, grenade and sniper rounds currently used. Bollard would surely have supplied his goons with upgraded equipment. Then again he may just have underestimated me thought the old man.
After entering the armoury the old man went to the back and filled his suits pockets with heatpac food, he took and filled a survival backpack with heatpac food, sticking space food bars in the side pockets. He then chose a survival belt from the next row and left. Thinking over his equipment he decided that speed was not a problem, so surviving long enough was. The suit barely registered the weight he carried, he went back to the armoury and added electronic tracking gear. He spent the time equipping his helmet and shoulder mounted units with spare batteries placed in any available space. He was now loaded for bear.
His last act was out of spite, he changed all the codes on the armoury to a random 1500 alpha numeric code with 1024 bit encryption , and slammed the door. Satisfied he had denied any help in his demise he went to the labs. Here he hit the emergency power and was gratified to see he had only two hours. He went to the confidential labs and using the code he had paid the second in charge for, he entered. It was curiosity that lead him to the labs.
He was shaken by what he saw, here was a full grown hive. What were they doing here? He knew better than to try and access the computers so he checked all the papers and notes. He found hints to research but was unable to figure out their message. As he neared the enclosed hive he was astounded to 'hear' a voice in his head. "Please do not be afraid, we mean you no harm, and besides we can not attack you anyway".
The absurd yet laconic way this was said tickled the old mans fancy. He asked aloud if he could help. "Please think clearly and slowly, we don't understand your sounds". He jumped when a skulk stood on it's hind legs and looked at him. "I need your help to escape this place, I can't stand much more torture", the voice said. "Torture"? the old man asked.
"They call it experimentation, it is killing me and my tribe, we appeal to you to release us or put us to death", the voice said. "We leave the decision to you, we are weary of the constant pain and would like an end to it", The old man was connected to the hive and felt the pain and knew the full sensation was not being transmitted, he was being shielded by the hive. This was all the old man needed to know, he went to the panel beside the door and shorted it. This was to delay the enquiry that would ensure.
The old man then went to the computer control panel and opened the door. He deliberately kept his back turned. The voice came again, "You trust us that you keep your back to us knowing you are vulnerable". Turning the old man jumped to see the skulk at his feet squatting. "If you had attacked it would only have quickened my death, I'll die soon anyway", the old man thought.
"Are you dying , are you ill, what is the matter"? asked the voice. "Can you scan my mind", asked the old man. "Yes if you will allow it", responded the voice. "Please do, it will shorten the story and you will see the problem first hand", the old man replied. The voice told the old man to lie down and relax, when he was comfortable, the hive began to gently probe his mind, it sifted and sorted and colated all the information in his mind then gently withdrew. "This is a big problem, how soon do you think before the goons arrive", asked the hive.
"As soon as the storm blows over, the quicker they do it the less trace there will be", replied the old man. The hive asked if the old man could carry a seed about fifty pounds weight. "Yes with ease", the old man said puzzled. As he watched the hive went into what looked like convulsions, the old man started to became worried when a large seed popped out of the opening on the bottom. The old man picked it up and nearly dropped it when the voice came again. "Thank you for your help".
The old man pushed the door to, and was happy it no longer latched. He went to the computer terminal and scrambled all the data and logs and switched everything off. He lastly shut the lab doors and scrambled the code, locking the lab down tight. His last act before leaving was to turn all the lights on. He listened for a moment and was satisfied to hear the generators whine raise to a high pitch.
He went into the cafeteria and made himself a meal. He touched the seed and asked if they needed any food. The seed said fresh meat for the skulk was all that was needed. As it turned out the skulk had found the thawed meat left by the staff, it devoured every piece. The old man looked for more but the meat locker had been padlocked. He apologise to the skulk as he put his hand on the seed. "The skulk would have eaten more but is replete, they will over eat and store the extra like your bears, to be used later, thank you for your concern though", said the seed.
"Will you need any covering when I carry you outside", asked the old man. "No, I go into a state of hibernation if the weather is cold enough, again like your bears, and the skulk can withstand sub-zero cold", answered the seed. The seed told him the storm was lessening, so he picked it up and walked leisurely towards the entrance. By the time he had opened and shut doors he was pleased to see the snow still falling. The fall was heavy enough to block sub-space tracking of all sorts, and would fill in their footprints.
Just found this page from RR.org and holy crap. Did you write enough?
I really gonna have to get time to read this from all the positive comments its got.
WTH???
<img src='http://www.appj76.dsl.pipex.com/story.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
OMG I had a look at my files and gee I apologise everyone, it is about that size. Oooo I'm in trouble cause it has a way to go yet. Umm Taliesin what do I do now, do I finish or find some other way. I haven't finished the story and it's got a way to go yet. Bugga what do I do?, help please.
If you can't do it, I volunteer to host your story on my website.
And like I'd said, there's no problem with the length on this story. It's well-written, and quite gripping. Keep writing until you see it through. Write until you're <i>happy</i> with it. After it's done you might think about copying it all into a textfile and putting it up on a webspace, but there's little need to just now.
The old man chuckled, and was gratified to hear the skulks answering chuckle. He said to the skulk to go ahead and look for a cave at least ten miles away, hoping the seed would pass the message on. He knew he was successfull when the skulk bounded away, the old man cracked up to see the skulk bunny hopping, it looked so funny. The seed asked with concern what was going on, the old man told it to meld minds so as to keep contact. The seed did so with profound respect. The old man had realised the potential without any previous knowledge.
Upon melding the seed saw what had tickled the old mans humour and laughed with him. The old man turned on the terrain survival map and looked for cave notations. The voice asked if they were marked wouldn't they be checked. "Yes, but if we find a deep one with water at the bottom, I can jump. Of course the water has to be deep enough. Can the skulk swim or survive under water"? the old man asked. "To a very deep depth, the exact distance is unknown at this time", replied the voice.
It wasn't long before the skulk returned, the meld saw the cave and looking on the map was satisfied this was the one, it connected to a series of caves that stretched for miles with tunnels leading to smaller caves. The cave loomed large and they entered with relief. Turning around, the meld was gratified to see their footmarks being filled. By the time the goons landed no trace would be found, it would be a long track and trace.
The meld sent the skulk ahead and the old man was amazed to see it RUN down the cave wall. The meld tracked the skulk to the bottom and into the water, it was very deep. With a shout of Geronimo the old man clutching the seed tightly jumped. Nearing the water the skulks vision gave them time to prepare for the impact. Even prepared it was a shock that almost lost them the seed. The skulk started to enter the water to find us but from a gentle thought went back to edge of shore.
The meld sent the skulk swimming down the length of the cave before exiting. The old man checked the shore and was gratified to see no prints. He walked back into the water until it was above waist height and walked to the back of the cave. The skulk had fortunately exited on stone. The stone extended into the tunnel system, so with care to not leave a trace, the group entered the tunnel system. After four hours walking the group found a tunnel with luminous sides. Sending the skulk down the tunnel they were estatic to see it bend to the left, and then to the right, the cave at the back was dry and full of soft pale green light.
They all met at the middle of the cave and checking the roof saw anchor points for the seed. The old man walked to one side and holding the seed near the roof felt it expand to attach itself. The skulk waited for the attachment then grabbed a protrusion and slowly walked to another point and held on until attachment. The procedure was repeated twice more. It wasn't long and the hive began to form, it expanded slowly checking the attachments with care. The hive complete, it began to send out bacteria and a mat formed on all surfaces.
The old man removed his helmet and lay down to get some sleep. As always happens he found an object under his shoulder, he sat up and went to pick up the rock and cut himself. As it was a small cut he didn't worry. He settled back down and with soothing sounds from the hive was asleep in seconds. As he emerged from sleep the hive apologised. "Why", asked the old man still half asleep. "You have been covered by the mat of bacteria, possibly due to your cut, it was trying to heal you, lay still and I will order it back, wait it has healed you, but it has altered you, I am very sorry I was busy with our defense", hive said.
The old man tried to move and the mat receded. He stood and was aware of altered perceptions. He saw the light was full of various shades and hues. His hearing was enhanced too, he turned and saw the skulk, it was looking at him with concern. Concern, he could tell emotions on the skulk. As they were still melded the hive noticed the changes, and made the observation that the bacteria had healed and enhanced him. "Some of the enhancements are Kharaa abilities", said the hive.
"Will this be a problem"' asked the old man. "Only if it worries you", answered the voice. The old man thought about the changes and then asked if there were other Kharaa forms, to which the hive sent out a recall signal to the gorge. The little fatteh waddled around the corner at the same time three more skulks were spawned from the hive. The three skulks went into a small egg like shape and then started to gestate. The first to finish was a lerk, followed by a fade and the last was an onos.
The old man asked for and received a full rundown on their abilities. He was also told of the upgrades available if two or three hives were made and the chambers placed. The old man suggested they find another cave or two so all three hives could be built. The gorge was sent back to work building OCs for their defence.
The skulk and the old man went together to check the caves. They went out and turned left and immediately left into the first cave and were astounded to find it had a tunnel then a left turn a right and another left turn and then it opened into a cave that had five tunnels leading off, they explored these five and found they ended in five large caves. The old man asked if the hive could be moved again.
The hive suggested that first the gorge be sent to put a hive in the other caves. The old man asked what was used to build these things. The hive responded with a picture of matter that was in the bottom of the water, minerals seeping from the ceiling and moisture. "So basically any plant waste, some minerals and moisture", said the old man.
"Correct, but on ships we use nano-sludge from resource nozzles", said the hive. "What restrictions will be put on you down here", asked the old man. "It will take time to collect the materials for building", answered the hive. "What have you been using up till now", asked the old man. "Reserves from the lab", answered the hive.
The old man went into each of the five caves and was about to turn and leave the last when he noticed a strange sight. A pool of liquid was pooled at the back of the cave, but it was a strange pool it kept changing size. The old man called the hives attention and they looked together.
The next moment the gorge was there licking the liquid and soon was lapping furiously. It was nutrient sludge. The gorge then went into another cave and the old man heard a spray like noise, when he entered he was amazed to see a hive taking shape, the gorge was building a hive.
The next moment all the Kharaa were with him and gestating, they all turned into gorges. They spent time lapping at the pool then they each entered a cave and built a hive. The odd one went to the last and helped build, when finished they built structures. The odd gorge would take over while the other went and lapped at the pool and so all the structures where constantly being attended to. When the other caves had hives, all the gorges went to the first one and helped it relocate to this cave.
They then went from pool to cave and built three of ever structure in each. they then went and built more so that there were three lots of three in every cave. It was eerie to watch creatures and structures disappear from sight when the sensory chambers were built, The old man noticed that he could see the shadowy shape of the structures. The hive/mind became a vast and vibrant thing. As each hive joined the mind so the depth and breath of their abilities increased.
The bacteria increased quicker as well. Soon it covered the whole cavern floor, stretching to the furtherest reaches. It began the slow steady climbed up the walls and ceilings. It wasn't long before there was no space that wasn't covered. Chambers were spread far and wide so that there was defence and offense everywhere. the building frenzy slowed and the Kharaa changed into skulks and lerks.
The lerks due to their meld were flying and playing a game of tag. The expansion of the hive/mind had changed all the Kharaa into sentient beings.They had seen the tag game in the memories I had shared.The skulks changed as well and it was fun to watch five lerks playing mid air tag.
The hive mind had been exploring the increased abilities they acquired through having five hives. They found they could send their mind to any part of the cave system, they found two more nutrient pools so sent the lerks to gestating to gorges. The gorges were sent to build more hives, one in every small cave, with the same set of three chambers tripled as well. As the hives were assimilated they added to the power of the collective mind.
The hive/mind then asked the old man if he would like to merge into a hybrid human/Kharaa species. The old man agreed. He was instructed to lay down near the mouth at the base of the original hive, the next moment he felt his body being assimilated. His mind was molded and turned at the same time.
Suddenly the old man felt new sensations as his body and mind changed. His mind had increased in depth and scope, he could see and feel any memory or thought he had ever experienced,.he could sense subtle changes in the wind, the floor and see on many wave lengths. His whole outlook changed, he was a single but a whole, he could perceive the whole without effort.
He thought of the first cave and he was there, the pool of nutrients and he was there. He thought of the cave mouth and he was there.The hive called him and he blinked there. It seemed he could go to any place he remembered. He was about to try the lab when a warning from the hive stopped him.
"Let's check first", the expanded mind suggested, they slowly sent their thoughts questing the wind, the old man easily with them, they slowed as they neared the base. It was well they did, a mind belonging to a goon was a telepath, and would have discovered them had they not taken caution as their motto. They watched from a distance as the telepath was joined by two others, each had an ability. The one that worried them seemed to have a seeker type ability. His range was limited but was quite acute.
He picked up their trail and the three started to follow them to the cave. The hive mind watched and analysed and soon found the trail which they could now see, it was a line of blue dots leading directly to the cave. They analysed the three and saw that they had an armour that was modified to enclose the whole body so spores and acid would not affect them. it was not heavy armour though. The weapons were ordinary heavy machine guns. The hive mind checked all around them and found no link to any others.
An ambush was arranged. Inside the cave mouth five fades and the old man as a fade waited for them. The fades were paired in teams of two to a man so the strike would be swift and brutal, with no chance of a warning given or sent. The goons walked obliviously to their deaths. They were so overconfident they didn't even wait for their eyes to adjust, and so met death instantly.
The bodies were thrown over the side and were stripped and all equipment thrown to the bottom of the lake which we knew to be thousands of metres deep. The bodies were fed to the nutrient pools. We watched with facination as small bacteria instantly dissolved the bodies into nutrients.
The meld went back to the base and slowly checked the outside, finding nothing they entered the base, they found people standing around the lab entrance discussing the death of the hive, they wondered where the skulk was. The meld went next to the armoury in time to hear a captain forward the view that not being able to gain access, the old man had just scrambled everthing. It was so plausable it was accepted.
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->The little fatteh waddled around the corner<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Ahh, i love this guy... Great story, with a little bit of sly humour in there too <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
Keep up the good work mate.
The meld then checked the office and saw the son just sitting looking dejected. They were tempted to speak to him but a colonel walk smartly up to him and said he had two hours to collect things, which would be checked, and then they would escort him to a shuttle to the Galaxos as arranged. The colonel walked outside and the meld watched him enter a security room. The meld saw the colonel look at a screen with the office being scanned. The meld went to the office and found the devices and disabled them.
The colonel raced into the room only to find the son still sitting dejectedly as though he hadn't moved. The colonel walked up to him and touched his neck to be sure he was alive, the touch brought the son back to reality with a sickening scream. The colonel jumped six feet and had drawn his pistol. A general raced in and saw the scenario and jumped to the wrong conclusion, he immediately dismissed the colonel to the brig.
The general then went to the son and apologised and said that there was only one and a half hours left. The general left. The son looked around and pumped his hand saying YES, he was very pleased with himself. He looked at the end of the room and found the disc and shortly thereafter the bag, he put the disc in the bag and looked around but he was stumped about the baseball.
The old man suggested they say very low to the son a clue so he would remember as it was important that he take the ball. The meld agreed, the old man said to the son, we were all at the game and then it happened. The son smiled at the memory and then looked at the drinks cabinet, he remembered the room behind the bar at the game. He remembered his father liked to put things in plain view so as to be smarter than others.
Looking at the bar he noticed the pattern, word it said. The son pressed the middle of the o and the cabinet moved. He was pleased. Inside the room was a small museum to baseball. The son moved into the room and took the ball, the bat, the cap, the shoes, the jumper, the pants, the socks and the glove. He made a point of putting the cards on top of the pants where they would be seen. Leaving he pressed the o again and waited until he heard it click.
He walked rapidly to the door then slowed down. He slumped his shoulders and lowered his head, and shuffled his feet along. He was dragging the bat and the bag as though it was a great weight, he walked up to the general and listlessly said he was ready. The general opened the bag and looked at the gear and passed it through. He then said farewell to the son.
As the son passed from view around the corner the general said, "Poor **** only got some baseball gear, cards and a bat". An aide who knew what cards are worth said they are worth a fortune. The general told the aide that where the kid was going the cards would not be able to be sold as no one had the credits.
They felt the going of the shuttle and all at least felt a little sad for the son. The old man was thrilled that his son had gotten away with the goods. The meld went to the sons area and saw him continuing the charade of dejectedness. They stayed with him into his room on the Galaxos. As the son locked the door, the meld checked the room, it was clean. The son then surprised everyone by saying, "Okay dad I know you're here, how"?
"By melding with an alien, and from now on check every room you ever enter", the old man said. "I didn't this time because I knew you would, I have always known when you were in a place, I can feel you, why the baseball"? asked the son.
"The bat is full of gems so you have an untraceable supply of credit, the ball has a key which will let you go to the bank of Balan and access a deposit box, inside you will find a change of identity and a medical kit that will change you to suit the identity, it is clean and no one will recognise you, use it only after you have set up an identity for the million credits and drawn the money. This will throw everyone off the scent and they will believe you stupid and controllable, Change the million into gems as soon as you can".
"The box will also have lines of untraceable credit, this was gained legally over many years for such an occurrence. A business goes with the identity, I think you will see the irony when you take control, now you had better start thinking your new life through, you will have to think of ways to change the way you look at things", said the old man.
Saying to the meld the son would not be able to do it without help, he stated that with a meld the son would change completely and would be able to gain revenge for them all. He would fit in and be able to gain all sorts of knowledge because he would know how to use his mind, also at some time Bollard was going to mind look him. The meld could give him a natural looking shield that would protect themselves as well. It was this last that spurred them to agree.
The old man asked the son if he agreed and when answered yes the meld took place, the shield was placed and made to look like profound grief and sorry, the son sifted the knowledge he gained and knew he could change the shield at any time, he re-ordered his mind and laughed heartily when he saw the business the father had set up.
A security firm for those who could afford it. A snobby security firm mixing with the rich and famous. Right under the noses of those looking for him. Out in the open like his father liked to operate. This caused the son hysterics. But his mind was such that he sobered quickly, he probed the new strengths and abilities of his mind and was amazed at the changes. He thanked the meld. He also thanked his father and ask forgiveness again.
The meld return to the cave and watched the hunt and check for the old man. It was an unfortunate occurrence that gave them away. After many losses Bollard sent a team of his own specials to join the hunt. We saw the meld check the specials and rebound, through lack of experience they tried again. The specials were hunter seekers with sensory abilities. They informed Bollard of their find. He joined them 24 hours later.
The meld knew they had made a critical error so the old man went topside to kill the specials. He killed six before Bollard arrived, then the game changed, Bollard was telepathic, it became a real cat and mouse game. The specials were all killed but not before Bollard found the cave. Bollard was a superior mind than most, he came with a combat team who carried for him a base camp setup. Bollard fired fifty rounds of 40mm grenades and listened to the alien screams with pleasure. He interspersed grenades with flares on chutes so as to better aim. Bollard also destroyed a few hives.
Bollard had the combat team rig lights and lower them down the side of the cave. On ledges and outcroppings he placed heavy duty turrets. All equipment he had was new and upgraded, he had been in too many battles to leave himself undefended. He was proud of his survival skills, they had been honed during many shady deals, combat and black operations/wet work. He had assassinated his predecessor to secure the job, and as head of his service he procured the best money could buy
Bollard had the team secure the cave entrance and went to the cave floor. Here he set his sentry turrets and his camp. The combat team having secured the cave joined Bollard. He allowed them to make their camp, then had them set up batteries of lamps all around the cave floor, as each set were built sentry guns were placed to protect them. The place was built like a fortress. Bollard had an observatory built, and then everyone settled down for some rest.
The old man watched courtesy of a skulk that had been ordered to stay on the roof. He entered the cave wearing an identity disc taken from Bollards own specials, the old man guessed that Bollard forgot to change security codes, but after the next attack it would be a fatal error to expect him to continue to do so. While the old man waited for the camp to settle, he disabled the turrets in the cave entrance. His first victims were two soldiers in a tent on the opposite side of the camp to Bollard.
right, i should put some pwnage in my story
/leaves to go do that
The old man waited till the guard was furthest from the tent he chose, he blinked into the tent and stabbed both men through the chest and repeated the move to make sure they were dead. He looked out of the skulks eyes and saw that the guard was nearing his position so he evolved into his human form. He called quietly to the guard pretending he wasn't well, the unsuspecting guard walked into the tent and was dispatched.
The old man turned all turrets off and removed their Friend or Foe identification boards, throwing them into the lake. He evolved to fade and blinked into the next tent. The second last soldier made a partial scream, alerting the last soldier and Bollard. Bollard was out of his tent armed and armoured in seconds. The soldier being reasonably inexperienced walked out and noticing the turrets off turned the master switch. All hell broke loose. The turrets were now auto with no ID disable mechanisms.The soldier was cut in two by scores of turrets. Bollard dove into the lake thereby barely saving himself, he didn't escape unharmed.
The old man evoked the cloaking ability and walking slowly, turned the turrets off. Satisfied he walked to the edge of the lake and awaited Bollard. By experimenting Bollard realised the turrets were off. He emergrd from the lake and began to walk to his tent for medical attention. The old man struck, but Bollard caught the intention at the last minute and rolled. The strike rendered Bollards right arm useless, unfortunately he was left handed. Bollard fired blindly, but at close quarters a shotgun is deadly. The old man was badly hurt and dragging his right leg limped towards the hive, Bollard saw the trail and decided to follow.
The skulk had raced down the wall as soon as the old man struck so was behind Bollard, the hive directed the skulk to strike. Again at the last minute Bollard evaded the full strike. This time he was badly chewed on the left side. The skulk struck again, Bollard evaded with difficulty but managed to kill the skulk. By now the old man was bleeding profusely from several wounds. He collapsed near the hive and Bollard came in in time to see him uncloak. Bollard walked to the old man and was about to shoot when the hive helped him blink to Bollards tent. The old man used four med packs to recover, he mind merged with the hive.
The hive told the old man to escape and hide, the old man would have refused but the hive asked him to survive to get revenge. The old man did so. The old man changed the codes and restored the turrets. The old man blinked into the tunnel underneath his office. His mind had been altered enough that the old man could mind travel for a short distance, he checked the office and moved to the armoury, he was in time to see them open and change the codes. The old man waited till the staff had left then hazarded a trip to the armoury.
This time he took a survival kit, two duffel bags which he filled with rations and ammo, a scoped hunting rifle with 1000 rounds and water purification tablets. He shut the door gently and went back to his tunnel. Checking each time that it was safe, he repeated the process twice more, each time taking two duffel bags and filling them with rations, a plain but sustaining larder . He waited till all was quiet then walked into the mountains, Two years before he had caught and tamed a local equivalent of a horse who carried the supplies.
Constantly checking his backtrail he slowly made his way into the upper reches of the mountains. He spent an age finding his eventual home, a cave that could not be seen until you were directly in front of it. He knew that he would be here for years so set about hiding his home with local camoflage, rocks and shrubs that he carefully dug up and replanted. Finally satisfied he was amazed that three months had passed. During that time he had cleaned and stored all the armour and components carefully making sure each was oiled and stored in air tight packaging. It took three years before they forgot about him.
Meanwhile Bollard had been busy, he turned to the hive and pulling his knife slashed it a couple of times, he relished the scream the hive emitted. Bollard spoke to the hive and told it to tell him how to become an alien, to stop any attack Bollard kept slashing, he would stop for a moment to use a med pac or to give the hive time to talk, then he would continue to slash and cut.The wounds were administered with clinical efficiency. The hive racked with pain and unable to defend itself gave Bollard the information.
Bollard was about to exit from the inner cave when intuition stopped him, he was by this time extremely wary of the old man, he called for two combat teams to come down explaining the situation with the turrets. The first team was overconfident and sauntered into the upper cave and were cut to ribbons, the second team just fired grenades and blew the turrets to pieces. The squad leader of the second unit had a mortar brought up and just laid the lower cavern floor a wasteland. He had a seasoned vet go to the floor fully armoured in bomb disposal armour over his heavy armour, this allowed him to survive the last turrets fire.
When all was clear, Bollard emerged and made sure all evidence would be obliterated. He personally set charges in every cave and fired them. He checked to be sure none were accessable. He then supervised the sealing of the upper cave. Bollard made sure no evidence would surface to hinder him. He passed the turret incident off as a deranged soldier who had flipped out from being underground. This was accepted as no other evidence had been seen, Bollard had been thorough, the only soldier to have seen the skulk body he had eliminated
Bollard was now in a hurry, He ordered a search be made for the old man and then left the planet. He had hatched a plan whilst removing the evidence, he now needed security and protection. He had the resources, he looked for security, a secure research facility to implement his plan. During the next few years he increased his influence and power, always looking for the secure facility. He forgot the old man as no sighting or information had been recieved. The old man was cautious and being able to cloak no one saw him. He checked the hive, Bollards containment had been efficient, the hive was totally trapped and went into hibernation.
The old man waited for the alert to die, then slowly mixed with the people that had come to live and work here. He carefully joined an isolated community of miners and became their healer. He used modern and ancient methods and was soon accepted by them. His full acceptance came when he went down with a crew and helped recover and save a cave-in trapped crew.
When the first inquiry about him was put because of the publicity of his help (the inquiry had come because he was not a Baatpeire, and looked nothing like one), the mining community told the officials he had come with them as a stowaway. The miners had had a stowaway who had died in the mines so the numbers tallied. The old man was given a foolproof identity by the miners. The old man touched by this generousity asked the mayor why. The mayor reminded him of why they had come to this world, they had fled repression on the world of their birth, they were repressed because they were different.
They were descended from Baatpeires, a strain of people who had no pigment and so were night or underground workers. They built their cities and towns underground to escape the burning rays of the sun. Myths and legends had proliferated for thousands of years about them. The rulers of the lands they lived in would usually protect them because they worked the mines efficiently and cost effectively.
As the mines on earth had diminished they had migrated to other worlds. They had finally ended their escape from prejudice here, where others were useless. The depths of the mines were a burden others couldn't handle. They were in their element, not only could they work efficiently they thrived. They had protected him because he was a friend and had risked his life without thought to help save a crew. This crew had been their best so the loss would have been a catastrophe.They had adopted him as one of their own.
Another reason the mayor said, he had never committed any crime amongst them so was innocent of guilt in their eyes. What happens topside is no concern of theirs. They judge a person from his actions not rumors. As an aside the mayor jokingly said, they liked to thumb their nose at the authorities. The acceptance turned the authorities eyes elsewhere, and so the old man faded from view. The old man had been approached to marry, he withstood the charms of the young lady fearing the results of the genetic mix.
One night the mayor came to him and asked if he would discuss it, he called the young lady and asked her and the mayor to keep the discussion a secret. Upon assurance and the offer of a mayoral seal he began. He told the tale from start till present and sat back waiting for the horror to appear on their faces, puzzled because they smiled he asked why. The mayor indicated the woman talk.
For years we have heard tales of a mythical person who had disappeared from view. We thought they were stories as had been around for our own people, and had been changed to fit this world. We gave them no credence until we found two caves, one had been totally sealed, the other had been carefully and excellently disguised from discovery. We found the second cave by accident during a severe storm, the party moved deeper into the scrub and found an old track. Following the track they found the cave and inside found sealed rations, armour and weapons.
The mayor then took over the telling of the tale. The leader of any group has total control as you know, and realising the significance she set about searching the cave. "Did you know that you were sitting on a Titanium deposit", asked the mayor. "What did you say", asked the old man. The mayor and woman both burst out laughing. The old man joined in. The mayor then told how they had purchased the entire mountain range, and had slowly discovered mineable veins from the bottom up.
They had done this after discussing the evidence of the cave. The mayor had put the events in perspective as he had been the one to know most of the facts. He had suspected the old man had been behind the hidden cave, so when the daughter of one of his friends had asked for his assistance to marry the old man, the mayor double checked all the facts and rumours he could find. As the evidence pointed to the old man and they knew he was a good and honest man the mayor checked deeper, he was perplexed at the rumours and false information surounding the events. Hence the talk.
The old man asked if he should leave, the woman stood and said no so forcefully the mayor burst out laughing. She then explained how she had been trapped by a freak storm one night, and how at the height of the storm a creature had come grabbing her arm between it's teeth and dragged her into a small tunnel that had turned into a cave. Inside the cave were two other different creatures that were small but fat creatures, they all crowded around trying to give her warmth. She was slowly dying when one of the fattehs spat at her, she was indigant then amazed to find herself sitting up, albeit in pain. The fattehs then spat at her until she was well.
She knew that she had been changed and when she first saw the old man had an instant attraction to him, no doubt the mutual attraction of alien cells inside both of them. The woman had told the mayor of the incident with the creatures, but kept the attraction from him until the other day when she asked his help. The mayor then told the woman about all the evidence, which increased the womans desire for the old man as her husband.There was no longer any need for worry, they were compatible.
The date was set for three weeks later and a mighty celebration was held. The children were found to have remarkable healing abilities, exceptional sight, hearing, smell and longer lifespans but no other traits of the Kharaa. This came as a relief to the parents and the mayors. All mayors upon recieving office were shown the hidden mayoral sealed files.
The old man went to the tunnel and found the skulk and two gorges, and provided for them. When they died he buried them, but not forgotten. The old man told the tales to continue the knowledge. One day while prospecting the old man received a telepathic call of help, he immediately sent his mind searching for the location and found the hive had survived but was under attack. The old man told his wife and they set about tunnelling to the hive. By dint of the minerals in the mountain it had tunnels and caves everywhere. One ran reasonably close to the hive.
The pair had been joined by the crew the old man had saved, they knew his secret and were untroubled by it. They worked feverishly and mined into the back of the cave in time to save the hive from death. It was an ant colony that had attacked the hive unknowing that it was alive. The old man directed the hive to seed and removed it. With discussion among the mine crew and the mayor they decided it would be better to relocate the hive to a primieval type world where the hive could grow and thrive without predators.
They chose a world closer to their sun where conditions were ideal. The only problem was getting it there undetected by anyone. The old man was chosen to lead, as he knew the most about the alien, his second in charge was his wife. A space yacht was bought and the couple set off on their supposed second honeymoon. The seed was placed, secured and grown when the accident occurred. The old man fell and the hive in it's anxiety blinked him inside of itself, this was a disaster as the old mans' body couldn't stand the full impact of the alien organism. He died in the arms of his wife.
The official story told to the media was that he had fallen to his death, he had forgotten that gravity still worked on a low gravity world. He slipped while climbing in a cave. The story was not repeated anywhere. The wife buried her husband near the hive and went home. The mistake the hive made was the old mans immune system had mutated and when triggered saw all cells with alien mutation as the enemy and so literally ate him from inside out. The old man transferred all memories to the hive before final death took place.
These were the memories we shared with Dr. Phind. They were a great boon in our meldings and mergings, the good doctor monitored and recorded the changes. It was he who recommended that only one meld per hive per day occur, and that it be done slowly so as to merge alien dna and nanite tech together. The nanites had been altered to adapt to the changes, the slow process worked flawlessly. The merging process was a strange and uplifting experience with so many minds sharing, the momentary discomfort of becoming two beings in one and absorbing armour was spread out and so diminished. The schedule was for one soldier to merge with Gaia while Alpha helped then Alpha while Gaia helped, then a rest period to occur, this worked to perfection.
As each soldier finished merging he was led into a club to rest and absorb the experience. Three times a day we all melded and shared the memories. this helped everyone to bond and we soon found we had become a unified unit. We operated almost instinctively as one, and became better with each merging. We also practised evolving to other types, we practised and trained each type in earnest. I developed tactics and strategies and we trained until all the troops fought like my original team.
It was at this time I gave the meld another bombshell. We had a third hive structure/mind and that Bollard was behind it. A horified shudder went through the merge. The admiral asked how I came to this conclusion. I asked them all to look back at the memories of the hive when Bollard had attack it with the knife and repeatedly hacked and slashed. Gaia joined them all and led them to the memory.
I led them into the moment when the hive had given the information to Bollard, and the information that had escaped his control as he gloated. The long term plans that he made, and the information we had seen in the computer logs regarding attacks by unknown beings, of unknown abilities, that used our own weapons against us. I had them look at the structure of the Black Delta and note that it was one hundred ninety years ago an unknown director had been put into stasis.
I showed them how at five year intervals the Black Delta had stunning successes against alien worlds, but the information was scanty. Then the Black Delta would go about their business of grabbing control. I showed them how, when a scientific discovery was made a prominent scientist on the research team would quit, and would disappear. Scout (always scout) then said, "The family also disappear as well, and that Bollards mob must bring pressure to bear to do so". "Yes", I replied.
The meld could see the correlations as I pointed them out but couln't see how I did so. The general observed that it was my unique talent, and you either had or not, it could not be taught. I showed how Bollard had gained the scientific team to do unlawful research and that the research here in the Well was a cover for the real research projects, this could be shown by the records of supplies. The amount that Dr. Phind and Engineer had shown fell far short, and only a secret organisation could do so. The clincher was the records of the company names. The two who did nothing yet had a massive budget started by Bollard.
The admiral was all for going in guns blazing, I pointed out this would be the worst we could do. He acceded that we needed to do this slowly so we could get all the records intact, we didn't even know if they were all here. I pointed out that Bollard had shown he was gifted at not showing one hand what the other was doing. I suggested that he had at least two other bases. This one was a major one. The admiral left it in my hands. We were still lightly melded so the thoughts that mattered all saw.
I asked Dr. Phind when the gorge had escaped, his startled response was two years before the brown smelly effluent hit the fan. I redirected the meld to the records and told them to note the increase of unknown attacks from that time, I pointed out that the attacks were always aimed at smaller forces almost as though they were training runs. The general pointed out a disturbing trend also, they were against the best the TSA had. Two theories I gave were they were designed to discredit the TSA, and the attacks were at key points, after the Black Deltas went in no further attacks were made.
This meant that the Black Deltas held key resources and were waiting to negotiate favourable terms. I saw the first failed attempt the Black Deltas left and the area became infested again, the TSA team that was sent Bravo had been wiped out totally and no bodies recovered. I worked out the count and saw that 0ne hundred of the best had been wiped out. An expensive way for the companies to agree.
I speculated that the missing bodies were being remade to attack home worlds as they would be better equipped for less, and the general said they were also for show. A few real Bollard soldiers to devastate a chosen world, like the president then the show of the TSA changed troops to instill fear, no-one would quetion whether they were Bollards men or not. I told the meld we had to capture them alive they had kill switches inside so would have to be stunned unconscious otherwise they would die remotely.
The admiral and general saw this immediately.
When all the soldiers were merged and trained to the best of my abilities, I had Apache lead my squad with myself and Learner in the middle through further training. Apache loved the fade, and delighted in catching us unawares. Leaner gained the most from the extensive training of Apache as he was untrained to the level we were. He became a soldier to be reckoned with.
After training I had Learner choose a squad and told him to make them his, to say he was diappointed was an understatement. The general put him straight by asking if we all went and disaster struck who would then lead or control the rest. Learner understood and promptly set about organising the remainder, he held mini competitions and had one squad attack the other two, he found the best team and became their commander. An irreverent ex-Australian called them Learners Larrikins the name stuck.
The Thinkers as my squad became known evolved into skulks and went over the side. Led by Apache we checked all the spokes on our level then headed back to base. We melded and discussed the best way to make each spoke protected. Gaia suggested we have a four layered defense made up of offensive chambers wall to wall set back twenty yards, behind them defense chambers, behind them sensory chambers and behind them movement chambers, but first fifty yards back from the edge we set a wall of PCMP beams five thick on the floor and one thick at the ceiling.
When asked why, Gaia noted that we could get an infinite supply of sludge quickly but it would take too much time to wait for human equipment and it would be too costly. The PCMP beams would be costly enough. The admiral chuckled and said that the beams were a good idea but why not use the material the corporation left, there was enough to build five foot thick walls for every level and then lots left over. The corporation had had big expansion plans. All could see the funny side of using Bollards corporate resources to keep Bollard out, the thickness was increased to eight feet.
It was Learner who suggested we start at the second level from the bottom and work up. It was accepted. The work was accomplished quickly as everyone was melded and problems overcome rapidly. The workers were escorted by either the Thinkers or the Larrikins. The successful completion of our building was a relief to all, and in celebration everyone had twenty four hours to themselves. Gaia's level had walls twenty feet thick but a tunnel in the middle five feet high. This would allow access to all except onos. The defenses behind the wall were so concentrated that a fly couldn't get in.
I had all the merged teams prepare to go topside and to play tag through the forests of this world, asking the admiral to ensure all weapons were off, a mistake at this time would put the whole venture at risk. The admiral had the troops do so, and initiated a rolling rest and recreation period with a years pay as bonus for any soldier who tagged a merged soldier. This made for interesting games and allowed the soldiers to get used to the merged soldiers.
The soldiers tried hard but the merged ones having cloaking were just too good. It was good training all the same. The best part was everyone unwound so were back at peak when the descent began. Apache lead off and we descended rapidly. We took all precautions and stopped at the second bottom level for a review on tactics. It was Learner who suggested that Gaia send her skulks to this level so we would have ample warning if Bollards group should decide to explore. Thanking him I agreed.
When all were in place we descended, Apache asked Dr. Phind which spoke was the one they used, he showed us the one and we entered walking on the ceiling. Apache said halt and we stopped and looked. We saw a fade come into view and again I wondered how Apache saw it so early. It stopped at the opening and looked around, it appeared to be searching, it was then I nearly brought us all undone, had I not had suction cup thingies on my paws I would have fell and given us away.
Gaia caught my agitation first, and with the general soothed me while asking what was wrong. The being below us is Bollards original gorge. The general asked how I knew, I replied look at what he's doing. The general observed for awhile as did my squad, but all were perplexed and couldn't see it. I said look at the way it is cocking it's head it's not listening it's seeking another source of input. Then it became apparent to all, I voiced the opinion it was seeking mental energy and the only thing that saved us was our height from the creature.
Gaia agreed and set about looking for a shield that would protect us. Apache gave Gaia the idea, he told us that as a child he had been taught that if noise was inevitable make the noise everyone else expects to hear. Gaia then taught us to shield our minds. We had no sooner done so than the fade with a last shake of it's head walked back into the complex. Apache took us to the back of the place where we began our clearance. We found a hive right at the back and we melded with it and stunned its mind, we then reluctantly killed it quickly. We didn't need any enemy hives left behind.
We were saddened yet knew our survival depended on the quick efficient destruction of all aliens and structures we came across. The potetial for mistakes and mayhem was too great. We checked the outside of the buildings and found the area to be clear. We then entered the top floor through an open window and change one by one into fades. We checked and locked the top floor and Apache cautiously headed down the stairs to the next floor, he was almost to the door when we heard a swish swish and an inhuman scream.
I checked Apache was allright then looked for the source of the scream. Impaled on Apaches claws was another fade, I had Gaia quickly check its mind. Unfortunately it was just an ordinary fade, we did learn that Bollards soldier had placed one at each end of every floor. We readied ourselves for combat, we soon heard the distinct sound of running paws with the click of claws, we stunned the creature as it rounded the corner and dispatched it as quick.
We went through the whole structure shutting windows and locking doors. This was done as a security measure. Securing the living quarters we then went into the storage facilities, where Apache said he had better go alone as the more of us the more noise and disturbance we made. We went into an ammunition storage and waited. I observed that a few healing chambers would be good as back up and Gaia helped us to blink to the nutrient pool we had supplied her. Upon return maker went gorge and built two chambers, it was well we did, Apache blinked in amongst us and immediately the chambers went to work along with maker.
He apologised for being so careless, he explained he had gotten careless and walked straight into a live turret. He told us he destroyed it, in temper. This was so unlike Apache I asked why. He said it was the perfect ambush and as he thought this he walked right into it. He had lost his cool for a moment. As combat goes I'm glad it happened now and the lesson was learnt without major injury.
Apache was soon healthy and blinked back to his previous position and continued his checking. I melded lightly with a surface touch to Apache's mind, it was luck I did so at that time for I felt the mind of the other, it was madness, a swirling chaotic twirl of fear, madness and hatred. The hatred I caught was directed at Bollard. I had the whole meld join and with infinite patience inserted a needle thin probe, I had Gaia insert the knowledge that Bollard was in one of the other arms and waiting to kill this fade.
The fade called all the creatures under its command to itself and sent four off to check each spoke. It wasn't long before the expected scream came. The fade sent its creatures rushing into the spoke while it lagged a little behind and then came a few more screams then silence. We sent a minute probe and touched the creatures mind enough to know it lived so pulled back and left it to its own. We finished checking this arm and had maker restock her res and then build a few dozen chambers of each variety across the opening to warn us of any attempt to enter. Maker refilled her res.
We had found a large res pool in one of the storage rooms which I had Maker secure with chambers. I then thought we might finish the other three spokes faster if we changed into lerks. I had Maker build the same structures in the next opening along and had Mule stay as a fade to protect her as she waddled back and forth to the res pool. The clearance went quickly as they were clear. I had the team split into pairs of a builder and fade, to speed up the blocking so we could concentrate on the target spoke.
We finished blocking the other arms and filled up res and all as fades approached the target spoke. Apache went first and even now it was startling to see him disappear. He was so silent I was unsure if he had moved, I extended a tendril of thought and saw that he was in fact a hundred yards away. I had the team stagger formation begin to follow. We saw a claw appear and wave us up. When we reached Apache he mind spoke us to look at what had made him call us.
The sight that met our eyes was an indication of what madness is capable of. On the ground were seven Bollard fades and scores of creatures. The fades had been torn to shreds from the back. A game of I'm in front I'm in back had occurred, the Bollard fades hadn't stood a chance. We were happy that the fades copped it but were saddened for the innocent creatures driven by a maddened mind that cared for nothing but REVENGE. The footprints walking away meant the mad fade still had about forty creatures.
We next observed the buildings. The buildings were a masterpiece of ugly and money, Bollard had built great chunky blocks of stone to the roof, forty feet thick and only an arch into this spoke. It was built with defense in mind, the only problem the defenses were offline. To make sure no mistakes happened I had the team destroy them. I evolved into a lerk and checked the ceiling. I flew down to the floor and had the team blink to me. I had them array themselves into defensive positions while I flew to the res pool, I evolved to fade and drank my fill of res. I asked how the team were for res and Maker said she was low , I had her blink to me and fill up.
We blinked to the team and continued our search. Apache in front and the rest of us staggered behind. We noticed that Bollards base was set two thirds to the back of the spoke it filled the space from floor to ceiling. It again was solid blocks of stone at the nt, with six entrances equally spaced along its length. Apache chose the furthest left entrance and slowly made his way there. We stopped about six feet from the entrance and observed a mixed defense of ordinary troops in heavy armour and fades. there were about twenty, ten of each.
We withdrew to make our plans, as I was coming up with a method of attack a new bunch came into view. I immediately had our squad blink amongst them them attack then blink back out. The chaos that followed was extreme, the second squad came under fire and immediately returned fire. When order was restored only six fades were left.
I had my team choose their targets and let them loose. They blinked in and attack simultaneously, killing all six instantly. I had walked in looking all around for recording devices. To my relief there were none, but this worried as well as puzzled me. I had Apache do a check of the only nearby structure, it was a barracks. It was empty, this was not right. I went into the control room and saw control panels still in the process of being built, This was not like Bollard, he was more organised than this.
I asked the general to check the status of the corporation and was gratified to hear it had been broken up some five years ago, the facilities here were the last of Bollards domain corporate wise. This intrigued me so I asked the general to check the reasons. He wasn't long, he was laughing when he contacted me. He asked us to remember the memories of the old man, and his words about a security firm. The implications were just too funny for words I started to chuckle, the sound brought me back to my senses.
The old man had his revenge in a way that even he couldn't believe. The son and the sons of sons had done all that the old man had advised and more when took up the reins of the security firm. They had made it a hugely successful enterprise so much so that governments and corporations used it for their checks. He did the checks with absolute thoroughness coupled with a reasonable price, the prestige of the firm became unquestioned. The son made it his lifes aim to capture ever dirty deal, scam, murder and con that Bollard did. He then used it to turn the deals back on Bollard.
The reputation of the corporation slowly diminished over 150 years, and the lastest head had driven the nail that had forced the closure of its doors. The head as all the previous heads did, continued to collect all information about Bollard and his group they could but this head, sent all the information that had ever been collected to every corporation and government body and the information always came secretly. No one ever saw who delivered the information.
The Black Deltas had tried standover tactics to the heads of these corporations but they wouldn't budge even when some of them died, the shareholders wrath was a bigger threat. They knew that to loose a head position meant suicide in business. Bollard knew when to quit, also the corporations combined on this issue and put a bounty so huge on him, he had to retire to this place and so his influence waned. The current head also used the tactic of blaming Bollards group for every disaster that happened. The call for his and the Black Deltas heads spiralled to new heights from which Bollard would never recover.
That explained the unfinished condition and why the troops were sloppy, they were second rate. The days of Bollard having all the best was over. I didn't make the mistake of thinking Bollard was finished. His core troops would still be very good. We went to the next entrance and found two groups at stand off, they had heard the shooting at the end and thought they were under attack so challenged each other. I gave Apache the order to blink into the gate people and attack the leader, as he did so I blinked into the relief force and did the same.
Our attack was so well performed the two groups attacked and almost wiped each other out. We again cleaned up any leftovers. I had the team blink up to the next gate and we repeated the procedure. We then went through the barracks to find more unfinished work. I informed the team the tactic wouldn't work again so we approached with more care and less speed. The next gate forces had used the system that had been worked out and had changed the guard. I had the team rest while I worked out the next strategy.
It was so simple, just a variation on the same theme, I had Apache blink into the gate force while I blinked into the team walking away. I fired backwards at the gate guards and blinked back to the team. Apache appeared at the same time, we watched as the two sides fought. Calling each other traitor. The noise of the conflict roused the troops inside the barracks who joined in but fired at both sides thinking they were under attack from an outside force, this turned the situation into chaos, the forces inside the barracks having cover decimated the two outside forces..
I had the team dispatch anyone who poked their head out. We saw a troop approaching so blinked in behind them we again fired at the troops inside the barracks and blinked back to our starting positions. I had the team move outside the gate. Another firefight began between the barracks and the approaching troops. Massive looses occurred before peace was restored. The troops checked the gate and found it to be empty so under direction of the officer set about restaffing the vacant spots.
I mind spoke Learner and had him bring down all three squads. We went further outside the gates and setled down to await the other squads. I reviewed our tactics, and realised we had been doing it wrong. I left the team and looked at the next gate. I noticed that the turrets were on. I looked but couldn't see the controls. I called Apache and asked him to find them, but to make sure he took special care, there were more troops here and they were more alert. "No problem", replied Apachre.
While waiting for Learner and the squads I blink/moved to the first gate. I searched for the turrets and controls only to be disappointed. I mind directed all to my location. It wasn't long before Apache contacted me, he had entered the barracks and found the controls inside, next to the door attended by a squad leader. I saw that no-one was close so had Apache dispatch him. I gave Apache our new location and had him remove the Friendly Fire board.
Just before Apache blinked to our location we heard the turrets begin their dance of death. Any atttacks would now be harder to implement. I had Maker and Finder evolve into gorges and build sensory and defensive turrets. I had them build in a circle big enough to encompass all squads.
As they didn't have enough res I had Mule, Scout and Deadeye accompany and guard Maker and Finder while they went from the res pool to building. I sat and pondered. With a surge of excitement I asked the admiral what Sniper rifles they had, it was a satisfied grunt from Deadeye that I knew we had a winner.
When the building was complete I had Maker and Finder evolve into fades and fill up on res. They all joined me as I finished off my strategies. A short wait and all the squads were together. I asked Deadeye what weapon he wanted, he surprised us by asking for a Tokkler 37. I asked why the change from his preferred weapon, he said it was silenced, had exceptionally good range, was extremely accurate and it used ammo the same as the troops we faced.
I asked the admiral for it and Gaia sensing my intention melded all minds and blinked Deadeye to the bunker. The sudden arrival of a fade amongst them gave quite a few people heart stutters. Deadeye accepted the Tokkler and was blinked back to us. He passed the Tokkler to Scout and evolved into human form. Walking to the dead rines he scavenged all the ammo in a number of trips. He then went into the barracks and was pleased.
He came dragging a box of 500 rounds and a cleaning kit. Checking them he grave a grunt of pleasure, they were glaizzers, a high energy armour piercing round of .50 calibre. Ideal for sniping heavy armour from two miles away. Deadeye spent quite some time stripping, cleaning, oiling and checking his weapon. He asked what I wanted him to do. I had him set and aim the weapon towards the gate and to tell me what he saw.
He settled the tripod more firmly then spotted the gate area. When he saw an Officer of high rank I asked him to shoot that Officer. His breathing slowed then he exhaled slightly, the Tokkler spat and we heard a distant scream. I asked what happened, and melded with him to see. The officer had been shot in the right shoulder shattering the collar bone. Deadeye said in wouldn't happen again, it shot slightly left and down.
I was puzzled until Deadeye said it was supposed to be the neck not the collar bone. The adjustments made, Deadeye scanned the group, I told him to take out the highest ranks down. The next five shots were rapid and effective, I looked and there were no targets. He said that there were two behind cover, I told him to shoot if he could see any part. The Tokkler spoke once more and a soldier fell from the back of some crates, the gap would have been no more than four inches.
Deadeye apologised but the last was too well hidden, the Tokkler suddenly spoke and then a second time, we all jumped, I looked and Deadeye had shot the toes of the soldier, and when he went to hold his foot had shot him in the temple. I told Deadeye to then target the next gate and repeat the procedure at his own pace, he reloaded. Deadeye then fired four rounds before the weapon fell silent. I asked if he could shoot the last gate, he scoped the gate and said yes.
I told him to take any target he could find. He unloaded and then inserted a fresh magazine which Mule had loaded. The gun spat and fell silent. We waited what seemed hours and the Tokkler spoke again. Deadeye said that no targets were available. He suddenly turned the rifle and fired, a body fell out the barracks door, another shot then the slamming of the door.
He slowly scanned for targets then went deadly still, the soft sound of controlled breathing the only indication he wasn't asleep. The weapon fired and a satisfied smirk appeared on Deadeyes face. I looked and saw a fade impaled on the horn of an Onos, the fades skull had been disintergrated. Deadeye reloaded then fired three rounds, his hiss of satisfaction was his signature of approval.
Curiosity made me meld, I brought all the squads into a very light meld and we saw the reason for Deadeyes satisfaction. One shot had damaged the right front foot the next had been in the exposed chest and the last deadly shot had been through the eye. The beast was dead. While we watched we saw another soldier felled, Deadeye reloaded. We watched as three soldiers panicked and were killed as they ran away. The Tokkler fired and we saw a hand disintergrate.
Deadeye apologised, we were all perplexed at this, he then said the enemy knows where we are, the hand had been from a dead rine. He suggested we relocate. I agreed, I had the last three squads move to the res pool and fill up. I had Learner direct the building of another circle of sensory, defensive chambers.
Deadeye had settled and quietly said, I have lots of targets. I told him to start at the top and work down again, or take what ever targets he had. The Tokkler spoke repeatedly and rapidly Deadeye asked me to look, the sound alerted me.
I looked and gave assent, the world went haywire. The DEMONS from HELL were let loose. The ground grumbled and shook bouncing us around like corks on the ocean, the wall fell raining devastation on the enemy troops, and the eye of hell came screaming towards us, I was certain we were about to die and ordered all troops to blink as fast and as far as they could. Gaia and Alpha it was that save us, they instantly melded everyone and blinked us faster and farther than we would have been able. We felt one of our number injured, and stopped. We watched the eye close and the monster return to its source, and die.
The admiral asked what had happened, and if there were any injuries. The ground here shook and felt like an earthquake, I had the admiral and all people meld and look. The scene that met them was straight from a painting of the apocalyse, A huge crater of red hot molten steel and stone met their gaze. Deadeyes shot had gone straight through the officer and set off a demolition charge set around the fuel and ammo supply. A fail safe, no return security measure.
A profound silence descended upon us. We sent mental thanks to Gaia and Alpha as the realisation of how close we had come to annihilation, and we spent a quiet moment for all the dead. I saw that our protective circle was no more, it had been evaporated by the intense heat, only a black patch remained and the floor was covered in black.
I had Learner evolve his squad into lerks and inspect the area, the devastation was complete, no trace remained, it was as if they had never been. I had Maker and Finder evolve to gorges guarded by Mule, Apache and Scout to rebuild the circle adding movement to the defence, offence, sensory chambers. Learner asked whether they should check the end of this arm of the spoke and check the condition of its building.
Adding the instruction to be very careful I watched them fly away with worry gnawing at me. Learner had sent them off with a gap between them, well that he did. The first casualty came about because the first rine/lerk was careless. Even after all the advice to take it slow and observe, the rine/lerk threw caution to the wind due to sheer exuberance of being able to fly.
A flash of blue and the rine/lerk cease to exist. Learner immediately grounded and had the rest return by short fast bursts of flying. No further incidences occurred. I immediately had the team go slightly forward to observe. I evolved into a lerk and fired spikes forward at a angle to the ground. Nothing happened so I moved to the spot where the spikes had hit. I repeated this procedure until I fired and the spikes disappeared as had the rine/lerk.
I established an outer limit, and had Maker and Finder come to the spot and build a pocket of defence/offence chambers. I had Learners lerks move the width of the arm firing spikes, we established that the field was semi circular in shape. By firing spokes at varying heights we found that the top was circular. The building as a reference meant the Blue defence field was circular in shape, I had all lerks fire spikes until we mapped the extent of the border. We built chambers around it one foot from it's edge so no-one would accidently stray into it.
I pondered the puzzle while Learner relayed all that had happened. Dr. Phind and Engineer were excited by the news, although sad we had lost a soldier. Their excitement stemmed from the knowledge of a new power source and energy used in such a way. They wanted to try different techniques for bypassing the defence shield. I told them they didn't have to. I asked them if they had built the base on the bottom of this well and an emergency occurred how would they get out.
They were puzzled. "There are other bases such as this, and I think you will find one on each level", I said. The admiral asked how I reached that conclusion. "Because there are five spokes and five levels, they were built exactly symmetrical. It would be an expensive use of resources to just make a mathmatical structure for aesthetics. I think the five spoke symmetry has a scientific purpose although what that is is beyond my understanding".
Dr. Phind asked Gaia to send lerks to check each spoke from the second bottom layer up. He was bouncing about like a teenager on a pogo stick. So excited at the chance of new discoveries, the normally shy (social wise) scientist grabbed a female staff member and started to dance a jig. He suddenly realised what he was doing and glowed a bright red apologising profusely. The brass had a good laugh.
The call came from the second layer down that another building had been found. Shortly thereafter three more were found. I noticed Learner and the troops were looking at me with astounded faces. To break the tension I melded the troops and asked Dr. Phind to meld with everyone and take control of the nearest lerk and check the building, reminding him of the unfortunate accident of recent time.
Dr. Phind checked the memories and set about firing spikes and moving forward and repeat. The lerk was able to approach the building without incident. The good doctor had himself merged and went fade. Using the combined meld he blinked to the building and re-evolved as human, he instructed the scientific staff to make their way down, and he began a thorough search of the outside.
Before the staff had assembled he satisfied himself that there was no entrance into the building. The outside was totally smooth like the walls, floor and ceiling of the well. A puzzle indeed. Dr. Phind took control of the other leks and checked the other buildings one by one. It was with extreme excitement that a corner section of the second from the bottom had broken away, the concensus of opinion was the explosion and subsequent tremor had been the cause.
Instructing the scientific staff to follow he evolved to fade and blinked to the building. To distract some of the more sensitive types away from the height and the drop to the floor below he posed each a simple mind task that before they knew it they were all safe and sound beside Dr. Phind. They then set about probing the outside carefully.
Dr.Phind had the engineering staff make a cable platform so people and equipment could be transport up and down. It was decided that an electrical system was quiet and sufficient for their needs. The location of all the buildings were incorporated into the schematics of the well. It was seen that the buildings were put one along the arms, that is the bottom one we called ground one, the next up was first two, then second three, etc. The buildings were up a floor and one spoke to the left from the last. The end result was if you looked top down every spoke was represented.
This caused a ripple of frustration for the scientists, they could fathom no reason for the arrangement. Even with the help of a fully melded mind no explanation could be found we had nothing to compare the arrangement with. It was decided that while the scientific team was established my team would explore this whole area. There was the matter of the Bollard fade and his tribe to consider.
We all became cloaked fades and set about searching for clues. The distance of the bulding from the explosion left us hopeful of the survival of the fade and his tribe. We had gone completely round the left side to the wall when we heard the piteous cry. Cautiously I had Apache search for the source of the sound. Off to the left three hundred yards from the chambers we had built Apache found the Bollard fade and the remains of his tribe.
The fade was severely burnt and the tribe had only eight skulks left. I immediatrely melded everyone and restrained and stunned the skulks. We probed their minds and well it was that I was fully melded and had been subjected to so many disturbed and painful memories, the blast of pain, terror, madness, and hatred created a chaotic swirl of force that would have overwhelmed a lesser meld.
Out of the swirl came a distinct fragment of memory which I seized and except for the support of the meld would have lost myself to chaos.The Bollard fade was Bollards younger brother who had been tortured and ill-used by Bollard through blackmail and coersion. Bollard had this mans family in stasis and to ensure his obedience would show him them being tortured and then cured and put back in stasis. This had been happening for one hundred years.
The love of his family and the possibility of rescue had been his only reason for living. The trauma of his own and his families constant torture had driven him mad. The lockdown and his escape from the complex had come about through negligence of safety protocols. Bollards scientist had been using Charlie in an experiment when a call for the testing scientist had disrupted his concentration. Instead of closing down the testing and caging Charlie the scientist had reduced the power. A power spike and Charlie was free.
Charlie had a moment of lucidity, he blinked to the scientist and impaled him before any sound was made. He blinked randomly and found himself outside the Bollard complex. His madness then protected him, he blinked to random places instantly without thought or reason and therefore saved himself, his madness drove him away from the place of torture.
The defences had been momentarily offline due to the powerspike. Dr. Phind was all for scouring the mind for knowledge but it was the general who gave us the plan. He evolved to fade and blinked to us, then re-evolved to human. He took control of the meld and soothed Charlies pain and suffering and offered support, the same as he had done for me. The general removed his shirt and there for all to see was a scarred old warrior, proud of his injuries as they had been gained in honest battle. Charlie had quietened and looked at the old battered and scarred yet proud man in front of him and found a rapport.
The bonding link surprised us all, it was given deeply and profoundly without any reservations. The general had known his man. The general had allowed Charlie access to all his memories and the show of trust mind to mind had shocked Charlie out of his circle of pain, terror, madness, and hatred. Here was someone who had suffered as well, testified to by not only the generals memories but his body. The general asked if Charlie would allow our people to heal him, the request deepened an already strong bond.
This was the first time he had been asked what he wanted, the general had dulled most of the pain so Charlie could think and decide for himself. Charlie asked to be healed but first his tribe be looked after. It was then we noticed that most were also injured. The general had all the lerks join us and evolve to gorges and begin healing everyone. Charlie refused help until his tribe were cured then he passed out as he was being healed. We kept control of the skulks until Charlie revived then gave him back his tribe.
His first action upon awakening was to thank the general for healing and returning his tribe, and for his own recovery. He asked the general if he wished to meld and look at all his memories. The general asked Charlie to use the spoken word and would he allow Learner and I to bring our teams up and listen. Charlie agreed and was astonished to see twenty fades appear then twenty skulks who acted liked pets, rubbing and chuckling when affection was applied.
He asked how, but before he could go any further the general included Charlie into our whole meld. The love and support that he found added another layer of healing to his damaged psyche. The general then unfolded our recent events and explained our mission. Charlie then offered his mind to us to probe. We sifted slowly soothing as we went, examining every memory for every ounce of detail, sometimes going back to check when I asked.
I asked to have a silent thought with the general but before I could explain Charlie showed how advanced his mind was when he said that no he wouldn't get his hopes up about the rescue of his family. To say I was surprised is an understatement. Charlie put my mind at ease and unlocked his blocked off part of his mind. He was apologising when I told him that what I had just learnt was explanation enough.
Charlie it was who was now surprised, the general gave Charlie the mental picture and he saw what most had missed even Gaia. He asked if the general would guide/guard him in what he was about to do. The general looked concerned and then was looking at me with part amusement part worry. I tried to see what they were sharing and found myself blocked, a shield I was unable to pierce was around me.
I became still and pulled my mind into itself, the next minute hell felt as though I was living in it. I was assualted on so many levels that the more I consciouslyfought the stronger the assualt was. I intuitively went into my life-long state of letting my mind do its work and the assualt lessened. Then suddenly my mind did another expansion and I was thinking and looking at things differently. The assault came again, stronger than before but this time my mind fought back on many levels, this was a revelation, the assault became painful and was beginning to defeat me when as quick as it began it ceased.
I looked at the general and saw a grin miles wide, puzzled I reached out with my mind only to watch the general collapse I quickly pulled back and analysed the situation. It was with instant regret and chagrine that I raced to the general with apologies spewing from my mouth. He slowly recovered and smiling at me said to Charlie in an aside, "You were 100% accurate".
I thought about the last minute and realised the whole episode had lasted only a minute plus some odd seconds. I looked inside my mind and found it to be more than it was, A childhood of guarding against hurting others had stunted my mental development, my capacity had been sealed off down in the depths where no accidental loss of control would hurt anyone. Charlie through his forced development had been the only one capable of knowing what it was.
"Aah it is explained at last", Gaia said. Charlie jumped six feet into the air. "You are real then". "Yes but because you were in so much pain I could only reached you occasionly", explained Gaia. "To have done more would have given away myself and my tribe, besides it stopped anyone but Thinker discovering my presence". "Yes he has a very unique mind and should test and practise what he has now gained, it will take all of us to counter him now", said Charlie.
To say I was perplexed, didn't even begin to cut it. Everyone chuckled, they had been in a meld attacking me to force my growth, the only way as I had spent a lifetime controlling and covering my full potential. I had imposed an impenetrable barrier for myself against myself. I scanned my mind and it was sometime before I realised that I had collapsed onto the ground. The technique I had developed to stop myself from discovering accidently my full potential.
This time it was because I was fully occupied with discovering and developing my mind. I went back into myself and checked every nook and segment of my mind and found potential undreamed of. I saw the reason for my blockage, it was my mother who had warned me about the dangers of power that I possessed and she was to train me but died before she could do so. As she lay dying she had asked me to promise not to hurt anyone with my mind, in my young untrained state I had curbed my power not learnt to control it.
I spent some time retraining, integrating and learning about my new abilities. It was a rumbling stomach and the smell of my favourite dish that brought me out of myself. I had been so deep within myself that when they moved me to the circle of chambers I hadn't been aware of it but had noted it mentally. As I was in good hands I had stayed inside myself.
I ravenously devoured my dinner and was given two more helpings, I protested that it would be greedy to eat all this when I saw both plates empty, I was amazed until Charlie explained that power has its downsides too, one is the intake of sustenance needs is increased. Burn out can be a major real problem. Charlie then suggested a nights sleep and then tomorrow I train against the meld aware now of my abilities, and when satisfied we look to training the other members of our teams. Especially to mind shields.
I saw the reason immediately and nodded. I left Learner in charge and immediately fell asleep where I was. I dreamt of my mother and suddenly the reason for my profound block came through, she had died because of a mental attack. Her last words were protect yourself don't show your power. I had mistaken her words and had hidden my power from myself as well, not knowing what she had meant. My inexperienced had protected myself and disabled my power at the same time, the reason for my hunches and my abilities were my powers trying to develop.
I awoke knowing that I needed help, I sought out Charlie and told him my dream and that I was troubled by something and didn't know what to do. "Aaah, at last you have started to get to the base of the problem, I can only travel with you and stop you doing harm but it is going to take everyone and they will all have to be totally relaxed and focused. It will need Gaia, Alpha and myself to be equal leaders this time, and the general as your anchor, this time it is going to be PAINFUL because you have buried your potential under layers of barriers, also the memories of your mother may be the worst part of the discovery".
I asked why, and Charlie explained that I would probably get the manner of her death, he surmised this by how deep I had buried my abilities. I agreed. We began the next morning and all proceeded smoothly until the moment of my mothers death. I saw clearly the attacks used and analysed the way to conbat them, the next few moments were a blur. I came to myself only because of the screaming. I had slipped into a mind frenzy due to pain and the eminence of my mothers death.
Charlie, Gaia and Alpha had borne the brunt of my loss of control, it was Gaia who had screamed and our close bond had allowed me to suffer her pain and anguish, without this close bond I would have gone completely over the edge. Charlie explained that I had full access and memory of my mother, and I had relived her total suffering in seconds, she had suffered for some time, this had been my undoing. We set about soothing and easing everyones hurts and I was grateful that I had caused no permanent injury.
Charlie suggested to the general that if everyone was okay that we cotinue while the memories were fresh and that we take more precautions. Everyone could see the wisdom of this, 'the old get back on the horse that tossed you, real quick, cure. Gaia suggested we have a human female to meld with the general as my anchor. Gaia explained that she had until now missed the female connection as the Kharaa are evolved asexual. We had missed the female perspective to balance the views.
The meld checked everyone and it was with relief that I observed that injuries were minor. I pointed out that Maker was the only other female that I was familiar with. Gaia, Alpha and Charlie broke contact and melded privately with Maker. After what seemed an eternity they remelded with everyone and Maker said she would be honoured to act as the anchor with the general. They spent some little time fitting together.
Concerned I sent a minute probe and was amazed by the transformation and a trifle jealous, "Jealous", asked the two with a chuckle in their tone, it was only then I realised, I had secretly carried a torch for Maker, I had buried it so as not to become too familiar, I would have been unable to give the necessary harsh orders, or order her to do anything that may have resulted in her death if I hadn't. Maker was touched but a little miffed, the general explained that affection/love made people choose wrong sometimes.
Somewhat mollified Maker allowed me to search her mind and memories, I was chagrined yet please to see a measure of affection for me, upon deeper inspection I saw that she loved me as an older brother and her true love was Apache. Charlie asked could he join this conversation and it was with shock I realised that all this had occurred on a level previously unknown to me. A private level that I had kept the rest of the meld away from with ease.
I opened the link to include Gharlie, Gaia and Alpha. They had become worried when the three of us had become absolutely still, they had no evidence to know the extent and depth of the link. Charlie pointed out that the short exposure to my mothers memories had changed me profoundly. I had gleaned information and techniques that he didn't know, Gaia and Alpha also agreed. With the new anchor in place we agreed it was time to re-enter my memories.
Maker suggested we circle the memories from the outside and slowly analyse what we could before confronting them. The beauty of this was the pain and suffering were less and the gathering of facts and details was of great benefit. We circled, then digested the details and slowly became aware that we were confronting the memories direct. The significance of this discovery was met with profound relief, and I realised that some of the meld had been reluctant to fully participate for fear of further hurt. The meld grew in strength and support with this knowledge.
A cry for help and the meld was there, it was a member of the engineering crew on the surface. He was under attack from a Bollard rine, the B-rine had come from an unknown exit and had stumbled on the engineer. I quickly stunned the B-rine, and placing a mental shield around him sent four fully armed and armoured rines to bring him inside the command bunker. Passive sensors were placed all around the entrance and a squad of newly re-equipped rines were placed a short distance away, their orders to observe and report and to fire only if fired upon.
We spent a little time refining their shields. They would not be caught unawares and their shield was reinforced by the meld. We returned to the engineer, and found him to have been pierced by the B-rines knife reminiscent of the technique used by Bollard on the hive of the old man. Medical attention was immediate, a major plus for the meld, action taken without conscious orders. Things done as they were thought of.
I pounced on the B-rine and keeping the shield in place battered him senseless mentally. By keeping the pressure applied on multiple levels at once, he couldn't steady himself for the control necessary for a mental message or call for help. I analysed his capabilities and sifted his mind for all its knowledge, all the time listening to his arrogant tone of dismissal. He kept insisting he wouldn't give any information away and he would not break. I was amazed at the depth I could probe without his knowledge.
We stripped his mind of all useful information and I disassociated his mind. This I did without thought. I was prompted my the Maker-general anchor to now spend time recalibrating my minds abilities as I had gained more potential. I agreed and left the meld with the anchor in charge to watch over the B-rine and the area. I had Gaia, Alpha and Charlie join me to sift, catalogue and assimilate my mind. The process also increased their abilities, they hadn't known, so therefore couldn't train some of their potential. The new depth and breadth of our minds were a wonder to us.
We remelded the whole together and checked for abilities, this became quicker and easier the more trained they became. The training reinforced itself, the more we train the better and faster we became. At the same time the meld trained my mind, it became semi automatic and the control I gained was phenomenal. I was staggered at the changes. I became aware of an itch inside my mind, I chased it madly until my anchor reminded me of my former ability, I was chagrined to realise that I had forgotten my former ability.
I relaxed and allowed my mind to free associate. The speed of the recognition dazed me. I saw that Bollard himself was the cause of my mothers suffering and death. I slowly began to lose control, a hatred unknown and deep started to build. It was a mental slap from Maker that stunned and then turned my lose of control. I was stupefied that someone had slapped me. The laughter of thousands of voices broke the last vicious turn of my mind. I saw Charlie offer a mental hand and took it.
Charlie took me through his mind and his plunge into his former enraged madness. The memories steadied and re-inforced my control. We watched as Bollard worked his torture, then we looked at my own memories of my mother, instead of loss of control I gained further strength and knowledge. My mother had suffered more due to the fact she had been sending me the knowledge she had gained from life, teachers and father. She had forgone her ability to protect herself to give me the necessary memories.
By the time she had placed them deep in my mind with the original shield she had lost control of part of her mind. Bollard though could only gain surface control of her mind, this enraged him to inflict terrible punishment upon her, mentally and physically. She held firm until Bollard in a fit of rage lost it and gave her the fatal blow. Her last thought was a kiss for me.
I again set my mind to free association, the process was almost instantaneous this time, my mind was now a weapon awesome to behold. The devastation that I could inflict humbled me, what an aweful weapon it was, my anchor steadied me and asked if I had been given a prototype gun that was awesome in its potential would I have refused it. I saw the honesty and truth in this. The control of the weapon was the difference between Bollard and myself. Bollard would strike out against any that stood in his way just because he could.
It was with relief and some hilarity that Dr. Phind interrupted, he and his team had gained entry into the unknown building and were looking at unknown science. This gave us a mental picture of a little child with a new toy. Whoever had first pictured it sent the whole meld into a fit of laughter, Dr. Phind sobered us by reminding us of where we were. The unstated picture of Bollard as the enemy steadied us. We explored the room through Dr. Phind. Next minute we lost contact with the good doctors team, the admiral asked whether they had been attacked. "No a barrier has been erected that also stops thought", I said.
"What do you mean also stops thought", asked the admiral. "I believe that the reason Bollard never came to attack us or retaliate when his B-rine was taken is because he doesn't know. The shield that protects his base is also protection against thought", I said. "Well what do we do", asked the admiral. "We investigate", I replied.
Gathering the meld I probed the shield, no weak points could be found. I pulled back and pondered. A possible solution came. I welded everyone tighter than ever before and sent a minute probe to the shield, I checked up and down the levels of thought bands, no luck. It was Charlie who remembered my personal link with the anchor and how he was unable to penetrate. "Is there a chance that we could use this to contact the good Dr", asked Charlie. I replied that I didn't know him well enough.
Gaia reminded me of the fact that I hadn't known Maker and the general well, yet had taken the conversation immediately to the private level. I saw the truth and free associated. I was with Dr. Phind and his staff and was mortified when he asked what had taken me so long, and where was the meld. I realised with surprise that I had left the meld behind, so fast was my minds ability. I apologised and went back for them, we entered slowly and were once again united. This was a shock and a happy discovery.
A sudden blackness to one side had me fortifying shields and searching for this phenomenon. It came from where a scientist was. Concerned I probed using all techniques I could and I even free associated to counter this percieved threat. Just as suddenly the blackness was gone. I looked and saw the scientist holding an unusual belt, this was the source of blackness. An impervious mental shield. The race that built this place were minds of power. The concern this scientist felt from us saw him blanch and begin to stammer an apology.
Dr. Phind reminded them all that this was alien tech and wasn't necessarily benign. All future experiments would be under guidance and control. Dr. Phind asked the scientist to show where he had found the artifact, he walked to a bench and pointed. On top of the bench were maybe a dozen artifacts of varying shape and size.
Dr. Phind looked the items over and knew he was out of his depth. He suggested we examine the belt first to gather any clues we could about the aliens race and their artifacts. We watched them test using scientific tools and fail. We then tried mental probing, it was an intricate maze of circuits and components that emerged. Dr. Phind then looked at the belt, he could discern no access to the belt, it was fitted together with intricate precision beyond our means of current tech.
I probed the artifact again and percieved a minute indentation, Dr. Phind immediately had a nanite machine programmed to make smaller and smaller nanites to produce a nanite that could enter this indentation. He had each unit built with a sender unit incorporated. The nanite machines finished and a picture came of its journey. It entered the indentation and travelling very slowly filmed its surroundings. A series of markings came into focus. The language would take years to unravel if at all. Dr. Phind suggested we find a linguist.
The admiral set the search in motion. I probed the other artifacts gently and found them all to have the same indentations. Nanites were sent, The pictures that emerged were of the same language but each differed from the other. Some similarities were evident. The samples were placed one on top of the other and the differences became extremely apparent. We were out of our depth.
The scientific concensus was to test each of the devices. I refused as I wasn't going to waste lives taking the chance that something useful would emerge.Dr. Phind agreed with me reluctantly, although said that he couldn't stop individuals from testing the devices on their own. I knew what he was hinting at but refrained from commenting. I knew that some would take unnecessary risks, and was partially annoyed with Dr. Phind.
I collected the meld and sent our thoughts to Bollards base, the shield was very visible now. We entered the shield and moving slowly checked the outside. All was the same as the others except in the back corner a hole could be seen, this explained how Bollard had gained entry. I moved with extreme caution into the hole and was thankful that no impediments were here. The interior was lit by an eerie blue glow, the explanation of which was a mystery at this time.
To our displeasure no-one could be seen, we spent some time checking the room. I brought the meld to the hole and was about to leave when I saw a disturbance. It was in the corner and so small as to be unnoticable to any not looking directly at it. I slowly approached the spot and noticed a shimmer. Dr. Phind said it was like a cloaking field, I probe the spot with a tendril so fine that it was almost non existent. The mind I found was to Dr. Phind a blessing. I probed it to the depths then withdrew.
I also returned to our own building, and told Dr. Phind to search our memory. It was a delighted Dr. Phind who now walked with confidence to the bench. He chose a spot to the right and pressed a sequence of patterns, the blue glow started. He reversed the pattern and the glow disappered. He walked to the artifacts and mentally showed us their functions and ways of implementing them.
The artifacts were all explained except for a small round object, we were more cautious than ever, we had seen the results of accidents that had happened forced by Bollard and his hold on these scientists. They were forced to test them against their wills, the alternative was to watch as their love-ones were made to suffer. Bollard and his B-rines were a cruel bunch, torturing for the sake of torture in some cases.
The item the scientist used to cloak was a ring, we had seen the scientist swallow it the first time he had seen it. He had retrieved it later and somehow kept it secret. The scientist had waited till he had more knowledge of the artifacts before he had tested it. We also now knew the written language of this advanced species. Bollard had many years and lots of people working on it. We had the benefit of those peoples results.
I then swept the meld back to the scientist, and was thankful that I had continued to sift his memories. I blinked him to Dr. Phinds' spot whilst keeping his mind and body in a kind of stasis. I had done this subconsciously. I probed and found the small nanite controller and blinked it into the lab near the bunker, the object I placed into a sealed glass containment jar. It was unnerving to watch it try to reach any staff that approached. Its use was found in the scientists mind, a pleasure/pain controller. The usage of which was randomly sent by Bollard or one of his people.
The unit seated itself at the pleasure/pain nexus in the targets mind and did no permanent damage, the signal sent was miniscule and therefore the more insidious, it was powered by the targeted minds own energy. I also removed the bottle of poison he had in his pocket. I re-enterd the scientists mind and soothed and removed blockages, I then awakened him. I told him what had occurred and told him he was free to do what ever he wished. He snorted, "Yes and when I think I'm free you will employ the discipline nanite and I'll be back where I started, how did you find me".
I pointed out that he was still cloaked, the ring on his finger, and if he looked behind him there was his bottle of poison which he was free to use or he could join us in defeating Bollard. He began walking furtively towards the bottle, when he was close he snatched it up and swallowed the contents. As he was dying he realised that I had been telling the truth and his thought of regret spurred me to place him in our hospital. I removed his ring so the staff could work on him, then left him to their ministrations.
It was twenty minutes later when I felt his desire to talk. I showed him his ring and his belongings and then showed him the meld and asked if he wished to become a part. The fact I asked had him crying with relief and sorrow. He answered yes so I melded him. His relief and wonder was delightful to behold. He asked how I detected him, I went through the memories and showed him how to access and use them. He was overwhelmed with the trust, support and freedom we gave him.
He asked what would have happened if he had been a plant to sabotage us. I answered that he would have to know about us and he would have to catch us totally unaware, I reminded him I had probed his mind to its depths, I apologised for having done so. He was happy that I had. He suddenly asked about the B-rine we had in stasis, I caught his reason and suggested to the general that we have a trial. The general-Maker anchor saw my reason and suggested to the admiral he allow it.
A court setting was set up in Dr. Phinds building and the B-rine and the scientist blinked in. The B-rine was in a one piece coverall strapped to a metal chair with his ability to blink turned off, no way for him to escape was overlooked and countered. I had Dr. Phind turn the switch to cancel contact with the outside, the court was convened. The admiral was chosen as judge, The scientist was prosecutor, I awakened the B-rine and explained the situation, he was given his choice of defending himsel or choosing a defence.
His first act was to try and blink away, puzzled he tried again. I explained the realities to him, he was here and here he stayed until sentence was passed. He snidely remarked that he was presumed guilty already, I asked him to look in the witness area and to look who was the prosecutor. He turned a lovely shade of white. The admiral banged his gravel and called for quiet, he reminded the B-rine that his actions already showed he was not to be trusted. The admiral asked me to refresh the B-rines memory of the happenings outside the tunnel.
The B-rine answered, that was an act of war, The admiral asked when had war been declared, the B-rine didn't answer. The admiral called the court to order then asked the B-rine if he wanted to represent himself or to choose someone. The B-rine said he would represent himself. The case began. The scientist asked the B-rine to identify the ring on his finger, the B-rine looked to his left hand and with a smirk of victory twirled the ring. A blue spark and a noise of electricity being used turned his head from the scientist, the sight of the containment jar with the nanite buzzing with electricity inside made the B-rine blanch whiter.
I blinked the ring from his finger and and plced it on the evidence table, dropping it from four inches so it would attract attention, the nanite went still.
The B-rine began to struggle to free himself, the admiral spoke up and told the B-rine that if he continued to struggle he would be given a nerve block, the B-rine went instantly still. I caught the memory of him administering one to a female tied to a table, after which he and three other B-rines repeatedly raped her while her husband was strapped to a chair (having been also given a nerve block) forced to watch. This was as a lesson to behave. They left her and the husband looking at one another as they walked away laughing after ages of their fun.
The B-rine knew he was beaten and that we knew every or had access to every sordid detail of his time as a B-rine, he pleaded guilty and asked for mercy. The admiral asked him to repeat what he had mind spoke, but out loud for the recording apparatus. The B-rine did so. The admiral pronounced him guilty of crimes against humanity and specifically against the engineer and the scientist, he looked at the B-rine and said that sentence would be decided by and carried out by the victims.
The scientist looked at the engineer and motioned him forward to go first. The engineer looked at the admiral, the admiral said, "Its your decision to administer punishment you see fit". The engineer walked to a marine and asked for his knife, the admiral nodded yes. The engineer carrying the knife walked to the B-rine and plunged the blade into the B-rines shoulders, once each side. The engineer dropped the knife and was sick all over the floor. The marine walked over retrieved his blade, cleaned it then sheathed it.
The admiral order the mess to be cleaned away. The B-rine although in considerable pain didn't cry out. The scientist came over to him and just stared at him for a while. The B-rine in an attempt at bravery asked if the stupid scientist was going to look him to death. The comment was the wrong thing to say, the scientist had been debating mercy, the insult swung his resolve to a form of appropiate revenge.
He turned away from the B-rine who stupidly spat at him. The scientist turned once more, took a look and walked to the evidence table. When he slipped the ring on his finger and picked up the containment jar the B-rine knew real fear for the first time. He had been convinced of his own superiority before, he suddenly realised that it was because he had been in a controlled environment, here he was the captive victim. His superior facade disappeared and he began to gibber.
A strap was tightened around his head and the scientist appeared before him. He held the jar for the B-rines inspection, the nanite was trying to get a purchase. To say that the B-rine was terified was an understatement he soiled himself in his terror. "Why are you so frightened, it's only a medical nanite, you told me so yourself. It will make sure you never have a headache again you said. Surely you wish to be free of any more painful headaches".
The scientist placed the jar beside the B-rines ear, and with a quick twist and a thrust held the now opened jar over the ear. The B-rine tried to twist and turn but a thorough job of restraint had been applied, the look of horror on the B-rines face told of the horrors this man had inflicted. The sight dismissed any qualms of all onlookers. A profound sense of justice permeated the meld.
The scientist turned the ring and a look of pain crossed the B-rines face, another twist and pleasure showed. The scientist turned it back and forth, but soon realised the emptiness of the punishment. He turned the ring until extreme pain showed then walked away. As he did so he removed the ring and threw it away. The effect was startling to say the least, the nanite with no control on its role went into a random pattern. The B-rine now felt the nanites full effects, from absolute pain to ultimate pleasure, all randomly applied.