Cain's Crusaders (28 page)

“It was as I suspected; it is a miracle any of us are still alive.”

Adam’s jaw fell open, even though he didn’t have a clue what Convor was talking about. It was Trimen who spoke next.

“The High Celebrant tried to warn you. Even though you were unconscious, your brain was still creating thoughts, and your curiosity regarding the operation of the Gift was foremost in those thoughts.”

“I’m confused.”

Convor sat down heavily in the only chair in the room. He looked extremely tired. “The device had to be tuned and the switch tested. I had hoped that since you were under deep sedation, your thought patterns would be minimal. I was incorrect.

“The Gift began to seek control of every electronic device within range and without limits,” Trimen continued. “Surgical lights exploded, automatic equipment went into spasms, and monitor screens blew shards of glass throughout the room. And the Gift was only activated for a moment.”

“I don’t remember any of that, or even any dreams I may have had.”

“Your subconscious mind was apparently fixated on the device. Even below dream level, you were thinking of every electronic device you could imagine. The visual aspect of your thoughts was easily translated by the device and turned into action. You even managed to conjure up a small static ball – which is unheard of in the small time frame the device was activated.”

“What’s a static ball?” Was this like the sparkling ball Arieel had formed? He had made one of those!

e ha

“That is not important now; I will explain later. Right now it is imperative that you not activate the device until we have had time to go over some of the protocols of the Gift, and well as place you in a safer location.”

Adam smiled. “So now you
want
to train me.”

“It is not a matter of want, but rather necessity. Unless you are willing to leave the planet immediately, we do this for our own safety. And if you were truthful about having a file ready for download into the Library, I must make sure you survive long enough to countermand your precautions.”

Adam nodded. “That’s pretty smart, Convor. I’m glad we’re finally working together.”

“Do not find solace in the actions I am taking. At the earliest opportunity, you will be placed onto a ship and cast off into space – but only after we are assured that you are satisfied with our side of the
negotiation
.”

“Fair enough, but how soon until I can take this thing out for a test drive?”

Convor and Trimen looked at each other and frowned, attempting to decipher the translation playing in their ears. Then Convor said: “You will be transported to a location in the country, outside the city, but it will still be a day or so before you will be able to activate the switch without too much pain. At that point, you will have to be closely monitored, ready to sever the contact at a moment’s notice, no matter how painful the action may be.”

“I can’t wait. Besides, what’s a little pain among friends?”

Chapter 21

I
t took incredible effort on Adam’s part not to activate the unit over the next two days, but the time did allow his wound to heal some. After all, he fully intended for the device to an integral part of his life from here on out. He had time to get used to it.

In the meantime, he was transported to a simple cabin located outside the capital city of Vull, in the backwoods of Formil, to begin his brief training session. The structure was constructed of wood and plaster, and consisted of a combined living, eating and cooking area, as well as two small private bedrooms, each with very basic grooming stations.

Trimen accompanied him to the cabin; Convor was too important and prominent a figure to disappear from view for the ten days the Formilians had allocated as Adam’s basic training session. Both of the high ranking Celebrants had been very adamant that at the end of this period Adam was to leave the planet, whether he felt comfortable with the operation of the device or not. It was further explained to him that all Trimen would be teaching him was the basic theory behind the device. Refinement of his skills would be self-taught over months, if not years.

During the brief time he had spent with Arieel, Adam saw that the device could do much more than simply turn switches on and off. He recalled the soft blue glow that had surrounded her body as she lay injured on the ground of Uniss-3. In addition, the comment she had made that about her
life-force being enhanced
haunted his thoughts.

Just what is this thing? Can it also heal wounds and increase strength?
Adam was anxious to find out … as well as more than a little apprehensive. He had also witnessed Arieel’s foolish overconfidence in her abilities, and he knew thinking like that could get him killed.
But one step at a time
, he thought.
First I have to learn how to control this thing without killing anyone, including myself!

On the morning of the first day of training, Trimen emerged from the bedroom he’d claimed for himself carrying a black and silver electronic device about the size of a large walkie-talkie. He placed the device on the solitary table in the room and sat down.

“Sit, Adam Cain,” the alien commanded, as a master would to his dog. His demeanor still broadcast the resentment he felt towards Adam, however, over the past few days he’d let slip some of the excitement he felt about the unique opportunity to study the operation of the device with the mind of a male. Trimen was first and foremost a scientist, and even though his faith had been badly insulted by Adam’s actions, his natural curiosity was sometimes hard to disguise. Adam figured he could use this conflict to his advantage. If possible, Adam would become Trimen’s star-pupil, and therefore gain the alien’s trust and respect.

“As you have noticed, there are very few electronic devices within the structure,” Trimen began. “The lights are gas-operated, as are the meal preparation facilities. We are isolated from the power grid, with no electric sources closer than ten miles away.”

He picked up the rectangular device from the table. “This is a field monitor. With this I will test your external influences, as well as study the strength and effectiveness of the link between the
Gift
– the
unit
, I will call it – and your thought patterns. There should be nothing in the cabin or in the surrounding area that can cause either of us harm, even though you will soon come to learn that the influence of Mislin and Sufor is with us always, even when no actual electronic devices are present.”

“You mean like static electricity?”

Trimen paused, looking into Adam’s eyes with impatience. “The translation is close enough. If that is what you must use to better understand, then so be it.”

Adam nodded quickly, while sending an innocent, puppy-dog-like look at Trimen. “I can’t pretend to understand all the complexities of your religion,” he said, “but I do respect them. However, it might be easier for both of us if we just used basic scientific terms during the training. The last thing I want to do is insult you even more than I already have.”

Almost instantly Trimen’s expression changed. He stared at Adam for several long seconds before nodding back. “That is reasonable. I know we come from divergent cultures and share different religious beliefs, however you appear to have a very basic understanding of science which can be our basis for commonality.”

What?

“I will dispense with the religious connotations during the training, if you agree not to demean them any further.”

“No problem; whatever you say.”

“Good, now we can begin.” He picked up the field monitor and pressed a button just below the small display screen. “This screen will provide a graphic representation of the electric fields within the room. Once you activate the unit, you will notice a substantial change in its configuration. This will be your unit scanning for all electric fields and control processors within range. The unit does this constantly.”

“Arieel was able to detect approaching flash weapons,” Adam stated. “Will I be able to detect them, too?”

“That will come later. The unit can detect all such devices. With time and skill you will learn how to interact with it, receiving information, rather than simply giving commands. But that will come much further into your training, and not something we will cover during the time we have together. Now, please activate the unit.”

Adam’s heart began to race; this was the moment of truth. Would he be able to control it, or would the unit control him? He reached behind his back and felt for the hidden nub. He winched with pain when he pressed the button the first time, but then he gritted his teeth and bore through two more quick presses of the button.

But nothing happened.

Adam sat up straighter and blinked several times. “It’s not working. Either the switch is broken or it’s the unit.”

Trimen smiled ever so slightly. “It is working, Adam Cain. See here.” He turned the monitor so Adam could see the screen. The red circle in the center was now pulsating and changing color as it did so to a brilliant – and appropriate – electric blue.

“You are more in control of your thoughts at this moment than you were when unconscious during the operation. This is good. The unit is now ready to receive input.”

“What input? How does that happen?”

“Your unit must build up a very substantial database of corresponding brainwave patterns. For example, when you think of the monitor, you produce a very unique wave pattern based primarily on your visual impressions of the device. This pattern will be stored in the memory of the unit. Now when you think of the monitor again, whether you think visually or more abstractly, the unit will recognize the pattern and seek to assume control of the device.”

“It can do that … I mean take control that easily? Can it do it for just about anything?”

“That is how it works, so of course it can, especially if the device it seeks to control has a control processor or computer module. And even when it doesn’t, all electronic devices and circuits are still emitting an electric field, which the unit can also influence. And now, the first test.”

Trimen placed the monitor on the table in front of Adam. “There is a small light above the monitor screen. Turn it on.”

Adam reached out to pick up the monitor but Trimen stopped him by intercepting his hand with his own. “No, do it with your mind. This is the most basic function of the unit.”

Adam pulled his hand back and then stared at the monitor. He could see the clear crystal globe that was the light, but it was still dark. Adam stared hard at the light, chanting to himself
turn on, turn on
. But still it remained dark.

Trimen smiled. “There is a process that must be followed, Mr. Cain. First you must essentially register the light in the database of the unit.”

“How do I do that?”

“Just as you did with the monitor; look at the light, concentrate, and think
light
.”

Adam followed the instructions, but still the light remained dark. He was already growing frustrated.

“Now imagine the light being on. A command is often the same as an image in most cases. Try it.”

In his mind’s eye, Adam could see the light come on, and then through his visual awareness, he noticed it was. He sat up straighter and smiled. This was his first telepathic command! He could see the light.

“Very good,” Trimen said with genuine admiration. “Since males utilize the left side of our brains more – the visual side – you may find the process of cataloging the images of various electronic devices to be rather easy. Even now, the unit is reading your brainwaves and associating them with all the various items you see throughout the room, even non-electronic objects.”

“So the unit will know when I think of a table and chairs, even though I will have no influence over them? Doesn’t that take up a lot of memory?”

“The unit can accommodate the data,” Trimen said smugly. “Our science is much more advanced than even others are aware. Long before the Speakers were blessed with the Gift – forgive me, it will be difficult for me not to let such terminology slip into our conversations. But even long before the Speakers, Formilian technology in the field of electronics and electricity was far beyond anything else in the galaxy. I might equate this to the Humans propensity towards weapons development, which although primitive by Expansion standards, still appear to be very sophisticated for the age and technological level of your race. If you were given another thousand years to perfect your instruments of war, how efficient would they become?”

“That’s a scary thought, Trimen. They’re already pretty efficient at what they’re designed to do.”

“Just be assured that the technology given to us by the gods – or that we have developed – is sufficiently advanced. I believe you will be amazed as your training continues. The unit you carry within you can achieve some truly magical feats, and even to this day, the Speakers are discovering more.”

“No shit? You mean even
they
don’t know all that the unit can do?”

“It is not so much that, but rather what more
they
can do with it. There appears to be a level of individual ability associated with each Speaker. Some have been basically competent with their implants, while others have been truly extraordinary.”

“So skill does come into play? And how does Arieel rank among the Speakers? Is she up there with the greats?”

Trimen smiled again. “You spent time with her on the journey from Uniss to Formil. What do you think?”

Adam was taken aback by the question – he had no idea, nothing to compare it to. “Hell if I know. She seems able to do some amazing things – when she gets past her incredible ego and arrogance.”

Trimen nodded. “Yes, those are traits often associated with our Speakers. This is understandable when you realize they are born into their status and know of no other reality. But to answer your question, Speaker Arieel is of common skill, as was her mother. We have not had a truly exceptional Speaker for nearly three hundred years. But still their purpose is served, and Arieel performs her duties efficiently.”