V
It was 0900 Standard, 0600 at the MacLeod's Landing time she wasaccustomed to, when Corina was awakened by her doorchime. "Who isthere?" she called, stretching herself out of bed.
"It's just me, Sunbeam," came from the door speaker.
"Come in," Corina called back, taking her kilt from the autocloset.She slipped into it, then stuck her head around the partition. "Canyou wait a few minutes while I brush myself?"
"Sure thing," Sunbeam replied. "I'm yours to command, Sir Corina;remember Captain Hobison assigned me to you yesterday?"
"I remember," Corina said. "I do not wish to inconvenience you,however. I will be with you soon." The closet, she was glad to see,had cleaned her kilt; otherwise it would be looking rather bedraggledby midday. She went through her morning routine, then walked into theliving area ready to face the new day.
"What do you want to do this morning?" Sunbeam asked.
"That is hard to say," Corina replied thoughtfully. "It all depends onwhat Ranger Medart has planned for me. Right now, though, I would likea glass of milk." She started toward the service panel, but Sunbeamwas already there.
"I'll get it for you," Sunbeam said. "I could use a glass myself."
"Thank you." Corina wasn't used to having others do things for her,but she sensed that Sunbeam was agitated about something and wanted tomove around, so she sat in one of the armchairs, tucking her feet underherself.
She took the glass Sunbeam brought, enjoyed a deep swallow, then said,"What is disturbing you, Sunbeam? Can I help?"
"Well . . ." Sunbeam hesitated, then blurted, "It's that demonstrationyou gave yesterday. Stars above! The whole ship's talking about howyou put down five top Marines with no more trouble than I'd have, oh,swatting a fly! I'm about half scared to be in the same room with you!"
"You should not be," Corina said, projecting amusement to try and calmthe human Ensign. "I am the same person you met yesterday, and Icertainly had no intention of frightening anybody."
Sunbeam ventured a half smile. "Maybe not, but you did a great jobwithout meaning to, then."
"Are the Marines all right?"
"They're fine, from what I hear," was the slightly steadier reply."Except for their pride; that was pretty badly battered." Sunbeampaused, then grinned. "Four of them, anyway. That cute Sandeman keepssaying how pretty you are, and what a warrior you'd be if you'd beenlucky enough to be born on Sandeman. If I didn't know better, I'd sayhe has a crush on you."
"I am quite content being Irschchan," Corina said, no longer needing topretend her amusement. "Though I must admit his compliments areflattering . . . I do regret causing the others distress, though thedemonstration was necessary. Nor was there any dishonor in theirdefeat; they did as well as possible for those who lack Talent."
Sunbeam looked more cheerful. "Maybe it would help if you told themso."
"I will, then, at the first opportunity."
"And you should see Colonel Greggson!" Sunbeam barely managed tosuppress a giggle. "He's grumping around the ship like an old bear,snapping at everyone. I don't think he's too fond of you. Maybe Ishouldn't say it, but he keeps talking about an oversized kitten makingmonkeys out of his men."
"He seemed to dislike me even before that," Corina said.
"Probably. He isn't too fond of non-humans, and he doesn't even likemany of us. Sometimes I don't think he even likes himself. But therearen't many of that kind aboard Chang; most of our people are reallynice. You'll like them."
There was another chime at the door. Without bothering to find out whoit was, Corina called out, "Come in."
Medart entered, and she and Sunbeam stood.
"I'd like to talk to Sir Corina alone," he told Sunbeam. "Can you findsomething to keep yourself occupied till we're done?"
"Can I ever!" Sunbeam exclaimed happily. "I've been trying to finishthat new xenology tape for days!"
Medart shook his head slowly, watching her leave with a lopsided grin.Then he seated himself in the other armchair and gazed intently atCorina for several seconds. She returned the look with equalintensity, wishing she could get through this unusual human's mindscreen.
Finally he spoke. "I have to ask you something very important, SirCorina. I don't want you to answer me now; I just want you to thinkabout it for awhile. Will you do that?"
"Of course," she replied, puzzled by his strangely hesitant manner.
"I was talking to the Emperor again earlier today. I spent most of themorning studying your records, then told him what I'd found. We wereboth quite impressed." Medart paused, seeming unsure of himself, thenhurried on. "We need more Rangers, especially non-human ones, and youmore than qualify. We're--I'm asking you to consider joining us."
Corina's first reaction was to wonder about Medart's mental stability.He couldn't possibly be serious!
No, from the look on his face, he was serious. "I cannot," sheprotested, shaking her head. "I have not even finished school--I am tograduate this summer, and Thark did not insist I join the Prime Chapteruntil then--I am only twenty-two, Standard, I could not possibly--"
"Hold it," Medart interrupted mildly. "You said you'd think about itbefore you answered. I'm keeping you to that."
"Urr . . . all right." Corina nodded reluctantly. She would not begraduating, or joining the Prime Chapter, or . . . She forced thosethoughts from her mind. The past was past; she had to go on. "I didsay that. But I will not change my mind."
"Don't be too sure," Medart said. "At least three of us said the samething, and they're part of the group now."
Both were silent for almost a minute, with Corina trying to think ofsome way to change the subject, and at last she succeeded. "I have anidea I would like to try, Ranger, if you have no objection."
"That depends on the idea. What is it?"
It wasn't really a strong conviction, more of a feeling, but Corinasaid, "Unlike Thark, I believe that humans, at least some, do haveTalent and simply do not know how to use it. Were you an Irschchan,with a mind shield as strong as the one you certainly possess, I wouldbe sure that your other Talents were equally strong. What I would liketo do, if I can get past your screen, is to find out if that is thecase. If it is, I would then teach you to use your Talent."
Medart sat in silent shock. Esper ability? Him? The psych peoplekept trying to find real espers, but until Corina revealed her Talent--despite what she'd said about the Rhine experiments, he didn't considerthem either complete or conclusive--he'd heard of nothing he foundconvincing. If he weren't adaptable, though, he wouldn't be a Ranger;after a few seconds, he said, "You really think there's a chance ofthat?"
"A chance--that is all I am certain of, but yes, I think there is."
"Let's try for it, then."
"One caution," she said. "Even if you have the potential I thinkpossible from your shield, I have never trained anyone before."
"That's all right. I'm willing to take the chance if you are."
"Very well. You will have to let down your screen, however, before wecan accomplish anything. It would be best if you can drop itwillingly, though since you were unaware of its existence, that may notbe possible. If not, perhaps we can weaken it by inducing a relaxedemotional state. I will not attempt to break through with darlas,though I am sure I could, because it would be extremely painful atbest, and it would probably damage or destroy your mind. Nor, mostcertainly, will I do what was done during the struggles to establishthe Order."
Omnivorous curiosity was part of a Ranger's job description; Medartindulged his. "What was that?"
Corina's ears went back in distaste. "The infliction of systematicpain, weakening both the will and the ability to resist."
"I wouldn't want that," Medart agreed. "We try the voluntary partfirst, right? You'll have to tell me how to do it, though; until yousaid something about it yesterday, I never even considered thepossibility of having one. And which is it--shield or screen?"
"The terms are u
sed interchangeably, though technically a screen isless powerful than a shield. I will try to be more precise henceforth.Yours is a shield, and I am not sure I can tell you in words how to letit down; you may have to work that out. It can be described as a sortof mental force field, with your mind as generator and field both. Youhave to relax, deactivate the generator as it were."
Medart closed his eyes, leaned back in the chair, and relaxed all hismuscles. Corina concentrated on his shield, ready to slip through thesmallest opening, watching his face as he tried something totallybeyond his experience.
A sort of mental force field, Medart thought. He knew how to turn offa standard field; all that took was touching a control. This was a lotmore nebulous. He didn't have any switches to throw or dials to turn,he had to deactivate part of himself. Relax, she'd said. What were acouple of those tricks Jasmine had tried to teach him?
Deep breathing, he remembered. That was supposed to help, as long asyou didn't overdo and hyperventilate. In and hold, then out and holdwas the pattern. He began the exercise, doing the best he could torelax--though he couldn't help wondering how he'd know if he succeeded.
After what seemed like an hour, he opened his eyes. "How'm I doing?"
"I noticed no reduction in field strength," Corina said. "You aretoo--it is difficult to put properly. Defensive, perhaps, or suspicious.If this is to work, you must trust me." She thought for a minute, thentook the dagger from her belt and held it out to the Ranger, hiding awince of anticipation at his touch. "Perhaps it will be easier if I amnot armed."
Medart took the soul-blade, too surprised not to. Unlike Dawson, heknew the blade's significance, and could appreciate Corina's action.She had to be really determined about this working, he thought.Thark's betrayal must have hurt even more than he'd gathered earlier."Let's give it another try, then. But it isn't easy turning offsomething you never knew was on."
"True." Corina was surprised to find his touch on her blade didn'tbring discomfort. That was highly unusual, but she was becomingaccustomed to unusual things around this human. "Again, try to relax.I will continue to check your progress."
"Right." For the second time, Medart closed his eyes and began thedeep-breathing routine. In and hold . . . body relaxed . . . out andhold . . . cat-clean scent . . . in and hold . . . cat-and-mouse . . .oh, hell!
"What is it, Ranger?" There had been a flash, an instant of touch toofast for her to grasp and expand, then nothing.
"This isn't going to work, and I think I know what the problem is.Every time I try to relax, I see those four Marines stunned on the deckand the other one with your knife at his throat."
"So your undermind considers me dangerous, is trying to protect youfrom that. Yes, that is reasonable." Corina thought for a moment. "Iseemed to get the impression of memory-smell, though I cannot be sure.And perhaps of a small feline. When MacLeod discovered Irschcha, hethought of us at first as 'overgrown pussycats', and other humansseemed to agree. Perhaps if you thought of me as some sort of domesticpet?"
Medart considered that idea, then chuckled. "I used to raise Siamesecats, and you Irschchans do remind me of them. It's worth a try."
Kimi and Saren, his first pair. Not Saren, who'd been on the blockyside for a Siamese; young Losinj was more like Kimi, slender andincredibly graceful. She'd climb up on his lap, butt his chin with herhead to demand that he scratch behind her ears . . .
Corina, observing carefully, felt his shield start to weaken. Thatcontinued until she was able to catch a mental picture of herself, withparts of her fur more deeply colored, curled up on the Ranger's lap andpurring with contentment while he gently scratched behind her ears.
She echoed his amusement silently, then began examining his mindpattern. She was careful not to let him realize what she was doing,though she was reasonably sure he could not feel her check. That wasboth quick and thorough, his mental "atmosphere" far less murky thanthe other humans she had touched--and his patterns were clear as well,easy to read and work with. His Talent was unmistakable--his potentialTalent, she corrected herself; he might not be able to learn its use.
She could at least try activating his latent telepathic ability. Thatmight be somewhat delicate, given his humanity, but with such clearpatterns, it should not be particularly difficult. She knew thetheory, and Thark had done the same for her; it was merely a matter ofredirecting the mental impulses of communication from the speech centerto the TP center, something she ought to be able to do without him evenrealizing the change was being made.
*That is a little better,* she thought at him while pretending to speakaloud. *Perhaps if we combine what you are doing now with a discussionof something else for awhile, it will be more effective.*
"Yeah, maybe." Excellent, Corina thought. He could definitelyreceive, then--a very good sign. "What do you want to talk about?"
*It does not really matter. Something you like, a memory you findrelaxing or humorous.* She felt her ears twitch nervously, hoped hedid not notice. The redirection she was attempting was indeed simple,but delicate with the human-different patterns however clear they were,and she needed no extra complications.
"There aren't too many of those in a Ranger's life," Medart saidslowly. It was rather like listening to a simultaneous echo, Corinathought as she very cautiously nudged the flow of impulses. "It's adamn good life, don't get me wrong, but it doesn't have many laughs,and the most satisfying parts are usually the result of a lot of work,and sometimes pain." He chuckled, ruefully. "Exactly what I shouldn'tbe telling someone I'm trying to get to join us, I guess--but if youpay attention to Imperial news, you picked up on that for yourself. Assomeone said a lot of years ago, Rangers and active Life Nobles tend toget into 'dangerously interesting situations'."
It seemed like a good enough subject, as well as having a strongbearing on the offer he had just made her, so Corina pursued it.*True. I find it difficult to believe, however, that individuals ofsuch value are permitted to place their lives at serious risk sofrequently.*
Medart chuckled. "We're perfectly aware of our value, believe me, andwe're just as fond of life as anyone else--maybe more so, since we'reat risk so often. But there're some things worth the risk--a feelingyou share, or you wouldn't be here."
*Also true,* Corina conceded. *The Empire has given my people much;saving it for them, and others, is something I think well worth therisk I took. But I am a private individual; no one may forbid me totake whatever risks I judge necessary.*
Medart grew thoughtful, making it easier for Corina to establish themental pathway she was working at. He was still speaking aloud,though. "We aren't, but that evaluation is still up to us; if we thinkthe situation's worth risking a Ranger, or if it needs our abilities,we go in ourselves. If not, we send in someone else--and that's a hellof a lot harder, I'll tell you right now."
*Thinking of one's own life objectively is difficult,* Corina agreed.*I believe I would find it difficult to think of my life as having morevalue than another person's.*
*Or a group's,* Medart said, speech now echoing telepathy. *You learneventually, but it is hard, especially at first. We've all made atleast one bad call, usually going in when we should've sent someone.That hasn't been fatal so far, and doesn't even always mean gettinghurt--but Steve Tarlac's first solo mission came within an hour or soof being his last.*
*I believe I have heard about that incident,* Corina sent, *but wouldyou mind refreshing my memory?*
*It got made into a holoshow, so I'd be surprised if you hadn't--butokay, why not? He got captured by a group of rebels--a lot smallerscale than this rebellion, just one system--who beat him with a whipthey'd soaked in a particularly nasty poison. He'd refused a commimplant for reasons he never explained, so I can't argue them, but itmeant he couldn't call for help. If it hadn't been for a young camperwho rescued him, and one of the rebels who decided to call the Marineswhen a Ranger got hurt, he'd have died of stingweed poisoning. Therebel was killed by his forme
r colleagues before Marines could get tohim to protect him, but the youngster earned a Life Dukedom.*
*I believe I do remember,* Corina sent. Medart's voice had keptgetting softer, and by the time he finished, he was using onlytelepathy. The redirection was successful, the new pathway nowestablished. Still, Corina hoped he would not realize it right away,would instead remain intent on the conversation for at least a fewminutes more to strengthen the new pattern. *The young man was DavidScanlon, was he not? And he cared for Ranger Tarlac in a cave, was inthe middle of a gun battle with the rebels when the Marines arrived. Ihave wondered if that part was the holo director's dramatic license, orif it actually happened that way.*
*That was how it happened,* Medart assured her. *Scanlon wasn't aboutto give up, either, according to the Marines' testimony. He insistedthat one of them come into the cave to prove @'s identity before he'dgive up his blaster--and when he did, he only had one half-exhaustedpowerpack, and a knife for a backup. That was one brave and determinedyoung man.*
*I must agree. Ranger Tarlac was most fortunate he and the unusualrebel were in the area.*
*Right, but the Traiti'll tell you it was the Circle of Lords lookingafter him. Speaking of which, how do you feel about religion?*
*I know it is a subject both important and sensitive to humans, so Inormally hesitate discuss it. To most Irschchans, religion is a ratherpeculiar aberration; while a deity or deities may exist, they areunnecessary and none have shown any proof of themselves. I prefer toregard them as interesting possibilities. May I ask you the samequestion?*
*I was raised Omnist, and it stuck; I believe in one Creator and a wideassortment of secondary gods. I have no more proof than you do, butsince that's how I was raised and I can't disprove their existence, Iaccept them, though I'm not what you'd call devout. Most of us areeither Omnist or agnostics, like you, and the rest aren't dogmaticabout their beliefs being the only truth.* He chuckled. *Naturally,since the Empire doesn't promote any given religion or lack thereof.*
*Quite understandable, from what I have read of human history.* Corinawas no longer pretending vocal speech, though she wasn't being obviousabout her silence; he was doing well enough that he deserved a fairchance to discover how he was "speaking" to her.
At that thought, he gave her a sharp look. "How I'm doing what?"
*You have been using telepathy alone for the last few minutes,* Corinasent with a purr. *And you have surpassed your teacher; it was someweeks before I could receive thoughts not specifically directed at me.*
Medart rose and stalked to where she sat still purring withsatisfaction, and glared at her, fists on his hips. "You tricked me!"Then he gave her one of his lopsided grins. *But I guess you had to,didn't you?*
*I am afraid so,* Corina agreed, pleased but not surprised by theRanger's rapid grasp of the situation. "It was the only way I couldget past your shield."
"How long?"
"Since that mental picture you had of me curled up in your lap. Itrelaxed and amused you enough that you dropped your shield to the pointwhere I could get past."
"Well, I'll . . . be . . . damned," Medart said, half in admiration andhalf in wonder. "I never felt a thing."
"You were not supposed to," Corina said calmly. "If you had, theprocedure would have been a failure."
"Can I work it on humans? Did you find anything else?"
"I know of no reason you could not. In fact, you should find it easierwith other humans than with me, because the basic mind pattern ought tobe more similar. As for your other question, you do have muchpotential; it remains to be seen if you can develop it. Your mindshield can be made stronger with practice, and there is unusuallypowerful darlas latent. I sensed no traces of the other usualTalents."
She paused, then continued, puzzled. "There is also something else,but I cannot be sure what it is. I have never before sensed such anaspect of Talent. Even describing it vaguely is difficult." Shepaused again, laying her ears back in a frown. "The closest I can comewould be to call it a sort of darlas in reverse, but that is almostpathetically inadequate."
Medart could feel her puzzlement changing to amusement, echoed it withsome of his own when she sent, *And Thark believes humans areunTalented! Undeveloped and untrained, most certainly, but hardlyunTalented. You have not bred for it, even as indirectly as we have,so the percentage of Talented humans is probably much lower than it isfor Irschchans, but--*
*--we're hardly the total incompetents he thinks we are,* Medartfinished.
"True. However, he does not know that and would not be convincedmerely by being told, even if we knew his location and were able tocommunicate with him; his beliefs, once established, requireoverwhelming proof to be changed." Her ears twitched. "I have thoughtabout contacting him telepathically, but even if he were to accept mymind-touch, which I am certain he would not, he no longer trusts meenough to believe my unsupported word."
"I'm afraid you're right," Medart agreed. "There's not going to be anyeasy way to end this Crusade of his. I'm just hoping the informationyou've already given us, and the help you're still going to give, willlet us stop it without too much bloodshed."
"I hope so, as well," Corina said, her tone as serious as his."Irschchan culture was quite chaotic and warlike at one time, but theOrder was a civilizing influence, and the idea of unnecessary bloodshedhas become quite unpleasant."
"Civilizing influence? I suppose so," Medart said with less than totalagreement. "It did cut down on warfare, which is a major benefit--butI still say it caused stagnation, too. Your progress slowed fromfaster than ours to almost nothing after the Order took over, in thename of stability. Even slower than the Traiti, and for them gradualprogress is the norm. It took you fifteen hundred years to go from acrude aircraft to just a system-capable spacecraft--it took Terra lessthan a hundred."
"That was fortunate for you," Corina said with a touch of pique."Otherwise Terra would be an Irschchan subject world rather than thecenter of a growing Empire." Then her tone grew softer. "But I wasraised an Imperial citizen, and I am glad of it. If the Academyaccepts me, I will be able to travel, always finding out new things . . .meeting people of all races and species . . ."
Her voice trailed off, and Medart was struck by the sudden enthusiasmand warmth replacing her normal controlled formality. No, he mused,she'd never be happy in a society as static as Irschcha's, even as amember of its ruling elite.
She was quiet now, gazing wide-eyed into nowhere, and Medart decided totry his new ability. He sent a faint, wordlessly-questing thought ather, and was rewarded with a mental image she had of herself. She wasclad in Imperial Navy service blue with an ensign's stripe, standing onthe bridge of a ship. The vessel appeared to be much smaller than theChang, and it was highly imaginative--didn't correspond to any actualclass--but he got the feeling it might be a courier or perhaps a scout.
He withdrew, letting the picture fade from his mind. So that was herdream. She could achieve it easily with her ability, of course, andmore . . . yet what a waste it would be. Anything short of the Rangerswould be a waste as far as she was concerned, but he knew he couldn'tforce her into that decision. There were compensations, sure, but itwas still a tough job, one that had to be taken on willingly. He couldand would use all his powers of persuasion; he could not and would notuse any form of coercion.
He'd been turned down once before, which had been disappointing--butCorina's refusal would be worse. He wanted to make her accept theEmpire's need of her, its desperate urgency to make the best possibleuse of such outstanding minds--especially, now, a non-human's. LindaEllman might have found it easier to persuade the young Irschchan, hethought. She'd said Steve Tarlac had had a similar lack ofself-confidence when she'd recruited him. But that was nothing but idledreaming; this was up to him, not to Linda.
He shrugged, then said, "Sir Corina?"
She shivered slightly, returning to reality. "Yes, Ranger?"
"It's almost noon. Why don't I
call Sunbeam, then you two have lunchand get her to show you the ship? I have some work to do, and ifyou're planning on going to the Academy you'll want to know all you canabout the Navy."
"Yes, I think I should. Personal experience is far superior to merestudy. But you need to rest, give your undermind a chance to adjust tothe idea of telepathy. Your overmind accepts it now; the undermind isnormally slower to accept change."
"I can't really rest," Medart said slowly. "I don't have the time. Ican work on something that won't take too much thinking, though. Goodenough?"
"I suppose it will have to be, though true rest is better." WhileMedart called Sunbeam, Corina thought. Her former teacher meant well,she was sure, had turned traitor out of conviction that it wasnecessary and not for gain . . . yet the thing which had made him thinkthe humans unfit for rule, their lack of Talent, was not the case. Howwould he take it when he could finally be convinced of his error?Would he do as honor demanded, or would he continue his treason?
"We'll find out when it comes to that, won't we?" Medart responded."This works between us; I'd like to try it on Sunbeam, make sure itreally does work for me with humans."
Fascinating that he could read her undirected thoughts while doingsomething totally unconnected, Corina mused. She could prevent that byshielding, of course, but it was her first experience with it, and shepreferred not to. Such contact was not unusual between Talented familymembers or extremely close friends, but Medart was neither, and she hadnot found herself reading him that way.
"Maybe you know you shouldn't be able to, so you can't, but I don't, soI can?"
Corina purred, wishing she could laugh. "That is as reasonable anexplanation as we are likely to get, I would say. But I am not sure Ican approve of you attempting to read Sunbeam. It is honorable toprobe the unTalented only when truly necessary, since they cannotdefend themselves--and you do not know your own strength; if you shouldaccidentally use darlas against her, she could be seriously hurt."
"I don't want to hurt her, of course," Medart said, "but I think thisis necessary. I need to know all I can about Talent, especially yoursand mine--and so far you're the only one I've read."
"That is true." Corina thought for a moment, then nodded. "I canmonitor, and if you should begin using darlas, protect her. It is arisk, but in this case justifiable."
The door signal chimed, and Corina called, "Come in, Sunbeam."
"Ready for lunch, Sir Corina?" the small ensign asked as she entered."I sure am!"
"In a moment, Sunbeam," Corina replied. *Try now, Ranger, while Ispeak to her.*
*You can talk and still monitor?*
*If you can read me while thinking of something else, why not?* Corinacontinued aloud, to Sunbeam. "Did you get to finish your xenologytape?"
"I sure did," was the enthusiastic reply. "It was fascinating, too--Imay take a full course on it, and who knows? I may decide to switch toSciences instead of staying a Line officer. I just wish there weresome way I could do both--there's so much to learn, and so much to do!"
Corina purred. "Perhaps there is, or could be. I do not see the twodesires as exclusive; perhaps Ranger Medart can investigate a combinedLine/Science section."
"Not a bad idea," Medart said. "I'll have the Navy look into it, andif there aren't any major problems, ask His Majesty to implement it."
"Great!" Sunbeam exclaimed. "Would you like to borrow the tape, SirCorina? I think you'd enjoy it, and if you're going to the Academy itmight help you pick one of your specialties."
"I would appreciate that. I do expect some difficulty in choosingthose; I have found so few things that do not interest me that I willprobably need considerable help finding three or four to concentrateon."
Then Corina felt the Ranger's thought. *No trouble, she's not evenscreened. But it seemed somehow harder with her than with you, noteasier. Any idea why?*
*Not immediately, no,* Corina replied, puzzled. *As I said earlier, itshould be the other way around. Let me think about it, please.*
*Okay.* Medart continued aloud, to both. "Well, why not go eat? Thengive her the grand tour, Sunbeam, anything she wants to see. Just haveher at Briefing Room One by 1600."
"Yes, sir."