{"id":3720,"date":"2022-08-17T17:35:03","date_gmt":"2022-08-17T17:35:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novels.zerosilver.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=3720"},"modified":"2024-02-28T16:57:11","modified_gmt":"2024-02-28T16:57:11","slug":"bond-with-a-terrorist-sample","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/novels.zerosilver.com\/wordpress\/bond-with-a-terrorist-sample\/","title":{"rendered":"Bond With a Terrorist Sample"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Katherine Padilla<\/a> \u00a9 2006<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Prologue: A Gold Box Filled with Discs<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 1: A Job Offer<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 2: A Questionable Memory<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 3: Bond of Heritage<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Prologue: A Gold Box Filled with Discs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aulanora Nalaurev carried the commudisc that had just arrived into her bedroom, her hands trembling and her throat burning. The return address read, \u201cB. Nalaurev, Box 287, Fleet Post at Shalaun.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A commudisc from Braysel came every two weeks, and every one was as difficult as the one before. She slid the disc out of its envelope and sat down on the edge of her bed in despair, staring at the disc in her hand for a minute, then clenching her fist to hide it from her view the next, then opening it again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aulanora stared at the disc for fifteen minutes, fighting the urge to slip the disc into the telepathic transmission recorder and assimilate its contents, her emotions in chaos. Why was her son in the Fleet? How could he kill other human beings? What had she done wrong? How could he live with himself? How could she live without him? Would it be so wrong to see his image for just a moment? To feel his thoughts and emotions?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She went to her dresser and picked up the little picture that always lay there, a child\u2019s drawing of a yellow-haired woman with a ball. The sky was a thick blue line at the top of the piece of paper, the sun was a bright orange ball, and behind the woman were blue waves. The misspelled words on the paper read: \u201cMama, I love you because you make me sweet rolls and nut cookies and play ball with me on the beach. Braysel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The burning in Aulanora\u2019s throat rose into her mouth, and tears blurred her vision, leaving the picture a blue, orange, yellow, and white blob in her hand. She set the picture back down on the dresser and gingerly placed the commudisc in the velvet-lined gold jewelry box with all of the other un-assimilated discs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Return to the top<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Chapter 1: A Job Offer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Colonel Sharad Quautar communicated with Ton as usual at the Palm Pavilion, proceeding with unusual care. King is being extremely cautious in his effort to destroy you. His agents have made no attempt yet to harm you. I believe that he plans to have you shot at his trial.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The colonel\u2019s suggestion was logical in some ways, ludicrous in others. Ton could feel no fear because he didn\u2019t believe King planned to have him shot at a trial he might never attend, a trial that might never occur. I\u2019ve thought about this a lot. It makes sense to me that King would want to display his power that way, but there are too many variables. What if King never goes to trial? Even if he does, how does he know I\u2019ll be there?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plan does seem shallow in some ways, but right now, it makes more sense than anything. It gives us something to plan for.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ton\u2019s spirit cringed with foreboding. What was coming? Even the colonel couldn\u2019t know for sure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll wear a protective force field vest under your clothing, which will repel neurodarts and diffuse laser beams, <\/em>Colonel Quautar explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ton dropped his napkin onto his plate. And if the assassin aims for my head?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My greatest fear. There will be no way to secretly protect your head, and a direct hit to the head on high power would mean instant death. Your only hope in such a circumstance will be if I observe the assassin in time and am able to push you out of the way of the shot.<\/em> The colonel placed a hand on his shoulder with a squeeze. This is a dangerous business. Are you sure you want to go through with it?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t have much choice.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The colonel raised his eyebrows. There may be more choices than you think.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t understand.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do you want to do?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why didn\u2019t the colonel just communicate what he was thinking? Why did he always have to play these stupid games? I just want to be done with this.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re done with this, where do you want to live?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ton always hated this question. There were so many possibilities, yet nothing appealed to him. More than anything, he just didn\u2019t want to think about it. I don\u2019t know. Let me think about it some more,<\/em> he communicated wearily, knowing he wouldn\u2019t think about it at all anytime in the near future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ton progressed through his days thinking as little of the future as he could and working to understand himself and deal with his past. He still communicated with Counselor Shauna Brunel, although his sessions were now only twice a week. Session after session, he relived the events and feelings of his past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Counselor Brunel had green eyes and white hair that she usually wore in a French braid. She was pleasant and professional, a perceptive questioner, and Ton had always felt comfortable with her. He was so anxious to put his life in order that he was completely honest with her and with himself and did everything she told him to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For years, Ton had not been able to come to terms with the destruction of Adrian and Angela\u2019s marriage, Angela\u2019s false accusations that Adrian had beaten her, and Adrian\u2019s subsequent refusal to communicate with him for three years. Ton had never wanted to confront his feelings on what had happened and had successfully avoided thinking about the events of that afternoon most of his adult life. Counselor Brunel led him into the pain again and forced him to express his feelings about what had happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why were you so disturbed that Angela and Adrian\u2019s marriage broke up?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because I wanted it to work.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why did you want so badly for it to work?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because I wanted Adrian to be happy.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you ever think Adrian would be happy with Angela?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ton thought about that question for many minutes. No,<\/em> he finally answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why not?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because Angela had always liked men with money, and Adrian didn\u2019t have much money.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe she loved Adrian enough to overlook the fact that he didn\u2019t have much money.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That was what I wanted to believe when they got married.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What did you believe?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That Angela was the way she had always been.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you so doubted Adrian would be happy, then why did it disturb you so much to be proved right? Naturally you would have felt sorry for Adrian and been disappointed that things didn\u2019t work out the way he wanted them to, but you were too skeptical about the marriage in the first place to be overly disturbed or disillusioned.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ton had to admit that the counselor\u2019s observation was logical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Was there a reason other than Adrian\u2019s happiness that made you want so badly for the marriage to work?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ton nodded bitterly. I wanted my mother to know Adrian and see that a poor man from the neighborhood could be a good husband and a worthwhile person.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adrian found your sister with another man. The fault for the break-up appears to have lain with her. It seems to me that Adrian proved his worthiness.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My mother didn\u2019t think so.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Were you really so surprised that she wasn\u2019t convinced?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ton shook his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why not?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because she didn\u2019t want to accept him, and not enough time had passed.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So you were upset because the marriage ended prematurely, before Adrian had a chance to prove himself to your mother.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ton nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why, Ton, would that disturb you so much now, six years later?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ton experienced a sinking feeling of degradation, and he wanted to turn and run out of the office rather than face the truth. He gripped the armrests of his chair so hard his hands hurt. It doesn\u2019t.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then what does disturb you?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ton stared at the floor. I don\u2019t think Angela was lying.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why don\u2019t you think Angela was lying?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because Angela wasn\u2019t a liar and because . . . because Adrian kept saying, \u201cI\u2019m so sorry, Ton, I\u2019m so sor . . .\u201d<\/em> Ton released the armrests and dropped his head into his hands, unable to continue. There was no way he could express the disillusionment, the loss of respect for Adrian, and his own subsequent feelings of worthlessness and despair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Counselor Brunel\u2019s spirit brushed his in compassion. Why did Adrian\u2019s weakness make you feel worthless?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because I\u2019m like Adrian. Because Adrian failed.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did Adrian fail, Ton?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He failed to be different.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Different from whom?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other boys in the neighborhood. Mamma was right.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adrian may not be perfect, Ton, but he is different. What sort of education did he have to acquire to become a teacher?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three years of advanced school.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How many of the other boys and girls who grew up in your neighborhood went to advanced school?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t know. Jacquae and me, and there was another girl, Sandra.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And you don\u2019t think graduating from advanced school made Adrian different?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I always thought it did. I was wrong. <\/em>Ton forced himself to sit up and look at the counselor again. If an educated person can\u2019t be decent and moral, who can be?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyone who wants to be badly enough. The rich, the poor, the educated, the illiterate, the powerful, the laborers. Whether a person is moral has little to do with what his external circumstances in life are or even what other internal qualities he may possess. For example, a person may be honest, but he may not be humble; he may be patient, but not kind; he may be intelligent, but not moral.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what you\u2019re telling me is that determining a person\u2019s sense of morality by his level of education is kind of like determining a person\u2019s ability to practice neuromedicine by his knowledge of botany.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exactly.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you learn morality? And what makes one person\u2019s morality right and another person\u2019s morality wrong? Who decides?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sense of morality comes from parents, religious training, and from conscience. A person will know in his heart if what he is doing is right. He just has to have the courage and the humility to look for the answers and the self-discipline to live them once he finds them.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It still doesn\u2019t make sense to me, <\/em>Ton admitted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Counselor Brunel smiled. I think Adrian is different, and I also think that in many ways he\u2019s an idealistic, moral person. Not only that, but a person can change tremendously in six years. Do you think Adrian wanted to change?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ton fingered the corner of his mustache. After many moments of reflecting, he nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What did he communicate or do that makes you believe he wanted to change?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was just so shaken up, and he was more hurt and ashamed than angry at Angela. And when I saw him again, he was different. Kind of relaxed and relieved, but solemn and mature\u2014just different.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you think he was happy?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, I think so. He was married to a woman named Sliata, and they had a child.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ton left Counselor Brunel that day, still puzzling over the issue of morality. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn\u2019t understand it. Where did morality come from? From religion? But where did religion come from? If it really was from God, then why were there so many different religions? And why were there religions like Zarrism whose purpose it seemed was to demean and manipulate and exploit? Were religions creations of God that were corrupted by man over time, or were they mere creations of man? Or were they both? Could there be an uncorrupted religion? By the same token, could a religion created by man ever teach morality?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parents could teach morality, it was true, but where did the parents learn it? If parents never learned morality or taught it to their children, then what hope did the children have? What hope did civilization have? Over time civilization, losing more and more moral consciousness with every generation, would deteriorate into chaos and corruption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If it was true that a person learned morality from his conscience, then what was the origin of conscience? Was it passed from one generation to the next genetically? If it was, how? Why hadn\u2019t the evil genes multiplied with each new generation until they had consumed humanity completely? If the source of conscience was genetic, how could he, an Earthon who had been born on the other side of the galaxy, share any values with the Novaunians at all?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why did he feel so emphatically that human life should be preserved, that it was wrong to hurt people, to lie, to steal, to cheat, and to murder; that it was wrong for a man to strike his wife, to be unfaithful to her, or to abandon her and his children? Where had he learned these things? He certainly hadn\u2019t learned them from his parents. Had he learned them from Earth\u2019s culture? Why then did he know that Zarrism, one of the sources of Earth\u2019s culture, was exploitative and wrong? Where had he obtained a conscience that was so different from that of his mother and sisters? Or had he? Did he have the same conscience and just use it differently?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ton decided that he would study the religious development and various philosophical creeds of different planets and cultures in an attempt to understand the concept of morality. He began spending forty-five minutes in study every night of the hour he normally spent assimilating InterMind news. He didn\u2019t tell anyone of his new pursuit. He understood something of the Novaunian philosophy and knew that Novaunians attributed the source of conscience to God. Perhaps they were right; perhaps they were not. He knew he would not be able to make a comprehensive study with too much persuasion from one point of view. He wanted to form his own conclusions and decided not to direct any more questions on the subject to Counselor Brunel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lren Tervel finished his apprenticeship with Dr. Hovaus and, after New Year\u2019s Day, started his new job on the General Network in northern Palensea. The conflict between Ausha and Lren had made everyone who worked with them tense, and no one was disappointed to see Lren leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Occasionally Ausha asked Ton where he wanted to work after they certified, a question Ton always evaded. Before lunch one day in Ton\u2019s office, Ausha pressed a commudisc into Ton\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ton glanced at the disc in curiosity. What\u2019s this?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ausha\u2019s eyes shown with excitement. It\u2019s from my father. An application for position as neurophysician at his clinic. He doesn\u2019t want our partnership to be dissolved, and he believes you would work with him and Faurney as well as you work with me.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ton stared at Ausha. A research position with an authority in neuromedicine like Dr. Vumen Ferudant seemed like a magnificent dream, almost too magnificent to be real. It was the position for which he had been working his whole career. How could he not be ecstatic about it? On the other hand, how could he even consider it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is there enough work for both of us?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

They have more work than they can handle right now and are referring much of what comes their way to other specialists. Father plans to hire a fourth specialist, and he would like it to be you.<\/em> Ausha squeezed Ton\u2019s arm. I know you weren\u2019t expecting this, but please consider it. I can\u2019t bear the thought of going back to Dinevlea without you.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ton couldn\u2019t bear it either. He wanted it more than he had ever wanted anything. He gazed at her in tenderness and confusion, wanting to tell her everything but knowing he couldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ausha communicated hopefully, as if in answer to his thoughts, You have to come. We\u2019re partners.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Return to the top<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Chapter 2: A Questionable Memory<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul sat across the kitchen table from his grandfather, his grandmother having just left for the day to go shopping in Jastray with Maranda Vundaun. His grandfather had communicated little that morning and seemed not only preoccupied, but disturbed. His manner was so unusual that Paul couldn\u2019t help but feel uneasy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul,<\/em> his grandfather finally communicated, pushing his plate aside. There\u2019s something I want to communicate with you about, and I\u2019m not sure how to do it.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several things raced through Paul\u2019s mind at once, and he found himself growing anxious. Was Grandfather ill? Had Colonel Quautar\u2019s people found Sanel? Had Deia been in an accident? Had she lost the baby? Paul suddenly felt angry at Sanel and what he had done to Deia. He missed her more than ever now that he wasn\u2019t allowed to communicate telepathically with her anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patan perceived Paul\u2019s agitation and patted his arm. No, no one\u2019s hurt. It\u2019s nothing like that.<\/em> He withdrew his hand, his gaze tentative. I want you to be the Doshyr heir.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul couldn\u2019t have been more astounded if his mother and father had miraculously walked through the door. During the nine months he had lived on Novaun, virtually no one he had met in Menaura had let him forget that he had been born to be the Doshyr heir, no one but his grandfather. They had discussed the possibility once during Paul\u2019s first days on Novaun, and his grandfather had never mentioned the subject again. To have him now communicate his desire so bluntly bewildered Paul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s very difficult for me to ask you to do this because you haven\u2019t been on Novaun long and I know you\u2019re not completely comfortable with your life here yet. I\u2019ve thought about this a great deal and discussed it with Uncle Cherl and Saum, and we all agree that you should be the heir. We all feel you would be an excellent high patriarch when the time comes. It\u2019s what they believe is right, and it\u2019s what I want\u2014I want it very much. I know this is a shock, but please consider it; seriously consider it. I\u2019ll give you as much time as you need\u2014months or even a year if you need it.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On one hand, Paul was flattered; on the other hand, his grandfather\u2019s request filled him with apprehension. What answer could he give? His grandfather had asked him only to consider it. How could he refuse? He nodded slightly. I\u2019ll consider it.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

His grandfather\u2019s countenance suddenly filled with joy, and Paul knew that his grandfather was sincere in his desire and that he believed him capable. For a fraction of a second, Paul himself almost believed he was capable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Deia Zaurvau awoke Third Day morning of the third week in First Month, her feelings mixed. On one hand, she was excited about the prospect of seeing Paul. She hadn\u2019t seen him since her visit to Menaura, and since her home was secured under mind shield, she had been forced to correspond with him by commudisc instead of through direct telepathic communication. On the other hand, she knew they wouldn\u2019t be able to mentally put aside the reason they were getting together in the first place\u2014their mother had died a year ago that day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teren left for work, and Deia set the breakfast dishes in the synthesizing machine to be cleaned. Paul arrived only a few minutes later. She embraced him, tears coming to her eyes. \u201cThanks for coming. I don\u2019t think I could have made it through this day without you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think I could have either,\u201d Paul whispered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deia withdrew and gently wiped her eyes. \u201cI don\u2019t think she would want us to weep. Our lives are exactly the way she would want them to be. Sort of.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul allowed Deia to lead him into the living room. \u201cAre they?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deia seated herself on the couch and motioned Paul into the lone red armchair. \u201cIs your life really so bad?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, it\u2019s not bad, just confusing.\u201d Paul leaned on one arm and stared at the floor. \u201cGrandfather asked me to be the Doshyr heir.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deia thought Paul should feel honored, but she didn\u2019t dare tell him that. \u201cWhat did you tell him?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat I would consider it. What else could I do?\u201d Paul sat up and recounted the conversation he had had with their grandfather. \u201cI\u2019m still in shock. It makes me feel good that Grandfather has that kind of confidence in me, but, at the same time, I don\u2019t know if I could ever cope with having that kind of responsibility. More than anything, I don\u2019t know if I\u2019ll ever feel like a Novaunian.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s only been nine and a half months, Paul.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNine and a half months seems to have been long enough for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deia shook her head quickly. \u201cNo, not really.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t feel like a Novaunian yet?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI do in some ways. In other ways, I may never.\u201d Deia thoughtfully stroked the red linen armrest. \u201cBut I don\u2019t think that matters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaybe it doesn\u2019t matter in your life, but it does in mine. I don\u2019t know how I can be the Doshyr heir if I don\u2019t feel like a Novaunian. Deia, I don\u2019t even feel like a Doshyr!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGrandfather doesn\u2019t seem to care about that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s true,\u201d Paul admitted. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat do you want to do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHonestly? I don\u2019t know.\u201d He looked at Deia\u2019s stomach with interest. \u201cYou\u2019re starting to look pregnant. Have you felt the baby move yet?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, but I have seen her move on the Awareness monitor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHer?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes! Our baby is a girl. We\u2019re naming her Michelle Rose.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Paul remained in Shalaun five more days, spending Seventh Day evening with Ton and Ausha and their friends at a Coalition social, having a wild and enjoyable time with young people who didn\u2019t know him and didn\u2019t care whether he would ever be the Doshyr heir. Once Paul left, Deia was dumped back into her lonely routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If Deia handled her confinement well, it was only because she was so lacking of energy that she didn\u2019t want to go anywhere anyway. Colonel Quautar allowed her very few excursions away from her home other than Devotional, and those she was allowed were always under guard. Even her physician saw her in her home. She was depressed and irritable at times, which was difficult for Teren, but in concern for her emotional well-being, he didn\u2019t go anywhere she couldn\u2019t go except school, work, and an occasional shopping trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deia spent her days doing a little housework, playing a little piano, and spending a lot of time sleeping and studying for her elementary school certification exam. Twice a week a tutor came and gave her formal training in telepathy. She was progressing, but she still felt telepathically weak. Teren and Deia\u2019s friends and family members spent many evenings at their home, and on the evenings they were alone, they studied the Novaunian cultural arts together, an exciting topic for Deia and a relatively unfamiliar one for Teren.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes Deia reached into her memory in an attempt to discover who had bound her mind to his and was never successful. One day when she was feeling more energetic than normal, she decided to conduct her search in earnest. She sat at the piano and played minuets in an attempt to put herself into her childhood and clear her mind of other thoughts. Event after event from her childhood with Lena, Paul, and Sanel flowed through her consciousness, but she saw and felt nothing that even remotely resembled a violation of her mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where was it? How had it happened? Who had done it? As illogical and impossible as it seemed, Deia believed Sanel was the person who had captured a cell in her brain and that he had simply taught one of his agents how to manipulate the bond. Deia went over and over every event in her childhood in Tryamazz that had involved anyone other than Sanel, Lena, or Paul and found nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She played for hours, her back aching and her hairline wet with perspiration as she reached further and further into her memory. It had to be there somewhere, perhaps before Sanel had taken her to Earth. She remembered her mother\u2019s sadness, her father\u2019s broad shoulders, and playing with Mara. She remembered lying with Paul on a different floor, in a different house, with Mara shaking toys in her face, and she remembered Evelayna\u2019s wispy blond hair and her Aunt Tashaura\u2019s smiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She felt large hands lift her from the floor, hands like her father\u2019s. She looked curiously into peculiar eyes that didn\u2019t belong to her father, feeling confused. She kicked her legs and whimpered. She wanted her father, not this strange person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShhh . . . shhh . . .\u201d the stranger whispered with a smile. It\u2019s all right. I\u2019m your Uncle Jovem. He held her close and rocked her, soothing her with his whispers. She smiled and cooed. She felt warmth around her head, and then it was gone. A moment later, the strange man who was so like her father put her back on the floor next to Paul, and she watched his feet move across the carpet as he walked out of the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deia awoke to her present surroundings as if awaking from a dream, her elbows on the piano and her face in her hands. Everything around her seemed so silent. Even her heart felt silent, silent with emptiness. Uncle Jovem had done it gently in his own home, there in the presence of his wife, daughter, and children of the brother who had loved him, and no one had ever known.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deia reached out to Teren for comfort but was prevented from doing so by the mind shield that was protecting her and holding her captive. She slowly arose and trudged to the couch. She lay very still, staring at the white velvet upholstery, feeling polluted, her heart convulsing in loneliness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teren returned home hours later and found her still lying on the couch. He knelt down beside her and caressed her, and she clasped him and pulled him close.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Two evenings later, after Deia had numbed herself somewhat to what she had remembered, Colonel Quautar came to her home to discuss the situation with her and Teren as they were finishing dinner. Deia told the colonel about her efforts to remember when a cell in her brain had been captured, then detailed her memory of her Uncle Jovem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Colonel Quautar folded his arms on the polished wood table. I have no doubt of the accuracy of your memory, Deia, but what you remember about that moment in your uncle\u2019s home may not be when you lost control of that cell in your brain. There\u2019s no way your uncle could have manipulated that bond without being here. It has to be someone else.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deia stood up and began stacking dishes. Theoretically, yes, but there\u2019s no way you can really know. My uncle worked with Earth\u2019s Ex-men and Eslavu for seventeen years and was certainly able to develop new methods of mind control. He\u2019s already developed a way to do the impossible\u2014lie about his essence. What is so preposterous about his being able to figure out a way for another person to manipulate that bond?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teren arose and picked up his plate. You have to admit, she has a point.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The colonel gazed at Deia thoughtfully. You do have a point, but I\u2019m still skeptical.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deia took Teren\u2019s plate and headed into the kitchen. I know that Sanel supposedly has to touch his spirit to mine to manipulate the bond, but could he do it through another person with whom he has a telepathic bond? <\/em>She set the dishes on the marble countertop and dampened a clean dishtowel. Could he manipulate Aunt Tashaura\u2019s bond and cause her to manipulate my bond? Could he manipulate my bond and by so doing use the dijauntu bond that exists between Teren and me to try and manipulate Teren?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deia returned to the tiny dining area just in time to see both Teren and the colonel nod. Teren took the damp dishtowel from her hand. One mind can always be used as a channel for another, and one bond can always be a channel for another bond. Even so, to manipulate a bond, spirits have to touch.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

King could use Tashaura\u2019s mind to manipulate yours, but to do so he has to touch his mind to hers, which still means he needs to be on Novaun<\/em>, the colonel explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deia sat back down at the table as Teren quickly wiped it. But perhaps he is here.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The colonel shook his head. He isn\u2019t here. I know where he is.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You do?<\/em> Deia communicated in surprise. Then why hasn\u2019t he been apprehended?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teren took the towel into the kitchen and slapped his hands together over the recycling tank. Because he\u2019s on the<\/em> Sovereign with an entire fleet to protect him.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deia had no doubt that Teren was right and was satisfied that Sanel was not on Novaun. I know that Sanel never did a dijauntu bond with Aunt Tashaura. Could he have a dijauntu bond with someone? That person would know everything about him, would in a sense be him. Wouldn\u2019t that person be able to manipulate the bond?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teren returned to his chair. No, because the dijauntu partner would only be him in memory, not in spirit. To manipulate a bond, spirits have to touch.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But they do touch, always, in that thread that binds them,<\/em> Deia communicated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The colonel shook his head. It isn\u2019t enough.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Theoretically,<\/em> Deia communicated pointedly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Theoretically, anything is possible<\/em>, the colonel admitted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teren took Deia\u2019s hand across the little table. Have you been able to trace the bond, minon?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, but it hasn\u2019t done any good. The thread leads us only to space.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, then that proves it,<\/em> Deia communicated. My bond goes into space and Sanel is in space. What more do you want?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That doesn\u2019t prove anything, Deia,<\/em> the colonel communicated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps not, but you have to admit, it does make sense.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The colonel\u2019s face was solemn with concern. What is it that\u2019s worrying you?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deia sighed. I\u2019m not sure. Maybe I\u2019m just afraid that you\u2019re going to find this mysterious agent and that it won\u2019t matter, that I\u2019ll be Sanel\u2019s slave forever.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You aren\u2019t your uncle\u2019s slave,<\/em> the colonel assured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aren\u2019t I? He\u2019s a tiny step away from controlling my mind, and he most certainly controls my life.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Chapter 3: Bond of Heritage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Braysel took the commudisc he had just received from Miaundea out of the telepathic transmission recorder and threw it down on his bunk. Why did she have to work in Mautysia? Why did she always have to tell him how wonderful the people there were? Why did she always have to tell him things about his history that even he didn\u2019t know? He was sick of it. He couldn\u2019t wait to marry her and get her away from Novaun. Then she could study Gudyneans or Latanzans or Manoureans or whomever and would stop nagging him with her grand ideas about getting the Isolationists and Fleet supporters to understand each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Braysel didn\u2019t receive another commudisc from Miaundea for another five days. He slipped the disc into the telepathic transmission recorder, and her image materialized in front of him. She had recorded the disc sitting in a chair, and Braysel seated himself in a chair facing her, touching her hands as he always did and imagining she could actually feel his hands on hers. The minute he looked at her face, he knew something was wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her face was pale, her yellow-green eyes glistening. Hello, Bray. I just received your last commudisc and . . . <\/em>She stared at her lap for a moment, then looked back up at him, heartbroken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Braysel couldn\u2019t bear to see her so hurt. What had happened? He waited for her to continue, holding his breath in dread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I feel that something\u2019s wrong between us, and I don\u2019t know what it is.<\/em> She paused again, the same painful kind of pause as before. You\u2019ve just been so . . . cold and distant. At first I thought you were having problems with work. Please communicate with me soon and tell me what\u2019s bothering you. I don\u2019t want it to be like this.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miaundea\u2019s image faded, leaving Braysel shocked and humbled. His first instinct was to communicate with her immediately and tell her that nothing was wrong, but he quickly stopped himself. Cold and distant? Had he really treated her that way? But how could he have? His feelings for her certainly weren\u2019t cold and distant. On the other hand, Miaundea was sincerely hurt. Either she was being abnormally sensitive or something really was wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Braysel didn\u2019t like what she was doing in Mautysia, it was true, but he wasn\u2019t irritated with Miaundea personally, or at least he didn\u2019t think he was. Could his dislike of her work be affecting his relationship with her? The possibility made him feel more ashamed than ever. Perhaps the only way to make things right with Miaundea was to somehow force himself to feel comfortable with her work in Mautysia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Braysel slept little that night. The one thing he had to admit was that Miaundea\u2019s plan to give their children their pacifist heritage was a good one. One way or another they would get it, and Braysel certainly didn\u2019t want them to get it from members of his family. Why, however, did she have to work to change all of Novaun? All of the Union? Even as Braysel asked himself those questions, he couldn\u2019t help but ask himself the same question in reverse\u2014why shouldn\u2019t she?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Was Miaundea\u2019s plan to help the Fleet supporters and Isolationists understand each other a good one or not? Was it the right thing to do or the wrong thing to do? Braysel couldn\u2019t make himself believe that what Miaundea was doing was wrong. Perhaps her plan was not completely realistic, but something about it felt right. Understanding between the two factions would make Novaun more unified and that was a very good thing\u2014that was the right thing. So why did he feel so threatened by this good, right thing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Braysel eventually drifted to sleep, his mind still churning with questions and self-reproach. When he awoke in the morning, he understood his inability to support Miaundea\u2019s work. Deep down he believed that if he accepted pacifism in any way he would undermine the Fleet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was what his parents felt, only in reverse. They could not accept the Fleet in any way because that acceptance would undermine the Isolationist Movement. Intellectually, Braysel had known the ideologies weren\u2019t so different and that a person could, theoretically at least, believe in both\u2014Miaundea had helped him understand that\u2014but in his heart, he still hadn\u2019t accepted it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What would he communicate to Miaundea? He understood what his problem was, but he didn\u2019t know how to fix it. After work, dinner, and a hard workout at the gym, he finally knew what he had to do. Once he was alone in his compartment, he transmitted his thoughts to a relay, who in turn transmitted his thoughts to Novaun and Miaundea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Angel . . . I\u2019m so sorry I hurt you.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bray? Are you all right? Are you angry with me?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

No. I\u2019m not angry with you. I\u2019m just a selfish idiot. He poured his feelings out to her. Miaundea, I need to feel good about my heritage. I want you to teach me pacifism.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can I teach you anything about pacifism?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I need you to teach me everything about pacifism.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But you know far more than I do.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What I know is warped and you have such a fresh perspective on it. Please, Miaundea.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, when you put it that way . . . yes. Yes, of course I\u2019ll do it.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

In the months that passed, Miaundea saw Braysel\u2019s sister Mauya once in a while, but when they met, they never discussed Braysel. For this reason, Miaundea was surprised when Mauya asked her to lunch with one surprising purpose in mind\u2014We need to communicate about Bray.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miaundea met Mauya at a quaint little restaurant in the theater district. Mauya, as glamorous as ever, was wearing a soft, cream-colored body suit trimmed with rubies and onyx, her lips bright with red gloss, her wavy gold hair pulled away from her face with a band of red, black, and purple silk. Once they had ordered, Mauya came directly to the point: You have to persuade Bray to quit the Fleet.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can\u2019t do that.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mauya shook her head adamantly. No Miaundea, you don\u2019t understand. Bray has no choice. He will never be accepted back into the family if he doesn\u2019t quit the Fleet.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can\u2019t do it. I have no right to ask him to do something he wouldn\u2019t feel good about.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You have no right? Of course you have the right! This is serious, Miaundea. This is your future we\u2019re discussing, your future, not just Bray\u2019s. The future of your children. Grandfather hasn\u2019t changed his position one iota. He will not perform a marriage for Bray or allow him contact with the family if he doesn\u2019t repent.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foreboding filled Miaundea\u2019s heart. Braysel\u2019s grandfather was requiring repentance, nothing less. Miaundea didn\u2019t think that quitting the Fleet would be enough. She had no doubt that Braysel would be required to admit that joining the Fleet had been wrong and sever all ties to his Fleet past. His parents didn\u2019t like the fact that her father was a Fleet officer. Would total repentance require that he sever all ties to her? Or would it require that she embrace the pacifist ideology? Miaundea thought that either possibility was likely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I agreed to marry Bray, I knew what I was getting into. I\u2019ll marry him with or without his family.<\/em> Miaundea felt as if marrying him without his family would be easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mauya stared at her in disbelief. I\u2019m sorry, Miaundea; I don\u2019t mean to offend you, but you are extremely na\u00efve, and I don\u2019t mean about the whole financial side of things, but about the marriage relationship itself. Bray is my brother, and I love him dearly, but do you really think that a man who would put the Fleet above his family won\u2019t eventually do the same thing to you and to your children? How can you marry into a situation like that?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mauya\u2019s assertions pierced deeply, not because they were new, but because they were so astute. Many people Miaundea knew had at different times suggested the same thing, and Miaundea couldn\u2019t deny that she had thought about it herself. More than anything, this entire attitude made her angry because these people hadn\u2019t the slightest comprehension of what Braysel was going through. They didn\u2019t know how much he loved his family and how much pain the separation caused him. Miaundea was confident in Braysel\u2019s commitment to her. Why did people keep attacking her for something they didn\u2019t understand?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mauya perceived something of Miaundea\u2019s anger and loyalty to Braysel in the exchange. I\u2019m sorry, Miaundea.<\/em> She sighed in frustration. I\u2019m just worried about you two. And what\u2019s going on between Bray and the family is just so wrong, so utterly wrong.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Braysel\u2019s entire situation baffled Miaundea. She had believed for some time that, in the eternal scheme of things, Braysel was somehow a catalyst to bring the Isolationists and Fleet supporters together, but how? The course Braysel was following seemed to be doing the opposite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miaundea and Mauya\u2019s food arrived, but neither one of them could bring themselves to eat yet. Finally Miaundea communicated, I agree that it\u2019s wrong. But I don\u2019t have any solutions. My father told me that I should let Bray work out his family business on his own. I\u2019m thinking more and more that it\u2019s some of the best advice he\u2019s ever given me.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mauya relaxed and gazed at Miaundea affectionately. You\u2019re the best thing that\u2019s ever happened to Bray. I just wish Mother and Father agreed with me.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What exactly do they think of me?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m not sure they know themselves. I know they don\u2019t entirely approve of you.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can they?<\/em> Miaundea communicated humorously. My father is a Fleet officer.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that seems such a little thing. You would think they would be relieved that you\u2019re a Novaunian.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miaundea wasn\u2019t comfortable with Mauya\u2019s comment. She frowned, taking a bite of her sandwich. Relieved that I\u2019m a Novaunian?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, yes. It would have been so easy for him to marry a girl of a different race.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, I guess it would have been,<\/em> Miaundea communicated, feeling disturbed and not sure why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Braysel expanded his spirit to encompass every fiber of his armed shuttle. His spirit flowed through the metal, the circuits, the electromatrixes, the lasers, and the engine like blood, making the ship\u2019s body one with his. As navigator Mykal Vandur, telepathy scientist Trevaun Surkel, and engineer Wilyl Faumtren expanded their spirits and overlapped each other\u2019s and Braysel\u2019s, Braysel could feel that their nervousness and anticipation was as intense as his own. After months of thought control exercises, flight simulation, maneuvering exercises in the armed shuttle, and practice in the VisionRun lanes moving themselves with the spirit dimension formula, they were finally getting to use the formula in flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The four executed their separate parts of the spirit dimension formula as they had done so many times before, carrying it through with a speed and precision that came only through countless hours of practice. A surge of living energy engulfed the craft and pressed down, everything in their field of vision seeming to sink away and, at the same time, advance toward them, every hint of sound sucked into nothingness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Braysel\u2019s mind was blank except for the coordinates of the shuttle\u2019s destination, but his spirit reveled in the rapture and excitement it felt in the combined spirit energy of his companions. Everything around them changed to an opalescent blur, and in an instant, the craft traveled from the airlock to its projected coordinates two thousand meters from the Glautel Monsa<\/em>. The four gazed in wonder through the canopy at the curve of the Glautel Monsa<\/em>\u2019s white wing and the hundreds of airlocks that led to launching and landing tubes, when suddenly, they felt their bodies again. Mykal whooped in excitement, and the other three followed with vigorous cheers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The weeks that followed brought stringent flight control exercises. Braysel and his crew spent hours in the armed shuttle, their minds blank except for the spirit dimension formula and the repeated coordinates given them by the Command Center. The Command Center formulated fight paths that took them as far as thirty light-years away from the Glautel Monsa<\/em>, directing them to move about the test area with increasing precision and speed. Then came days flying with one other ship of their squadron, then the weeks of flight coordination with the entire squadron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Braysel and the other pilots, navigators, engineers, and telepathy scientists that composed the flight crews of the two new squadrons spent many hours brainstorming new design ideas for a compact two-man crew fighter that would be energized by the spirit dimension formula. Braysel, as young as he was compared to most of the other men involved in the flight testing, was the only one who possessed equal knowledge in the fields of piloting, navigation, engineering, and telepathy science. He was anxious to have a new craft designed and contributed many creative ideas which Colonel Sedel, the engineer directing the project, found useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As much as Braysel enjoyed his work, he was anxious and depressed much of the time. He continued to send a commudisc to Maurek every two weeks, and Maurek still refused to reply. Braysel had known it would take awhile for Maurek to feel comfortable with his betrothal to Miaundea, but half a year was a long time. Braysel had almost given up hope that he and Maurek would ever be friends again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Braysel lived for commudiscs from Miaundea. Every commudisc she sent contained hours of information on the history and culture revolving around Novaunian pacifism, along with her observations. She was excited about all she was learning, and her excitement was beginning to move Braysel to appreciation. He had never felt such understanding and support from anyone, yet he couldn\u2019t help but think that Miaundea was the cause of his current dilemma. Had he not met Miaundea, he wouldn\u2019t have had to betray Maurek. Had he not become betrothed to Miaundea, he wouldn\u2019t have ever had to worry about how he was going to provide her with a family and an honorable marriage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Braysel corresponded regularly with Mauya and sent commudiscs to his parents often, telling them what he could of his life without mentioning his work, but he never received any type of reply. He bitterly realized that they probably disposed of the discs as soon as they received them, without assimilating so much as a thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He anguished for Miaundea, but the prospect of an extended leave filled him with anxiety. He believed it was still a year away, but what could he possibly accomplish in a year that he hadn\u2019t moved a millimeter toward accomplishing in half a year? His situation seemed more and more hopeless, and he couldn\u2019t help but feel frustrated and trapped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After work one day, Braysel received a small package from Miaundea. He took it back to his cabin and eagerly opened it. Inside the small box was a commudisc and an exotic ring carved out of green jade with the word \u201cbeloved\u201d engraved on the inside of the band. Breathless with anticipation, Braysel quickly inserted the commudisc in his telepathic transmission recorder. Miaundea\u2019s image materialized in front of him, vivid and beautiful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emotions of love and emptiness immediately overwhelmed Braysel. Her eyes were intense with yearning. I miss you, Bray.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I miss you too, angel,<\/em> he whispered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Braysel lost himself for thirty minutes in Miaundea\u2019s communication, then sat in front of his own telepathic transmission recorder and formulated his reply. He spent much of the evening praying, begging God to inspire his parents to accept him back into the family. He fell asleep feeling serene, as if everything would eventually work out. After all, hadn\u2019t Miaundea agreed to marry him? Hadn\u2019t her father approved the marriage? Weren\u2019t those two things, in themselves, miracles?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Braysel dreamed strange, graphic dreams of soaring through space in a new fighter, at the same time mentally seeing every process that made the fighter function, only there were no electromatrixes or engines, but instead, an artificial brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Braysel awoke and sat up in bed abruptly, overwhelmed with excitement. That was it! The artificial brain!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He and his colleagues had been perplexed by how they could construct a craft to function with the spirit dimension formula without the necessary four people. They had decided that such a craft would need a device that would store spirit energy and would use the stored spirit energy to produce new spirit energy to work in conjunction with the spirit transformation formula emitted by the pilot and his navigator, thus eliminating the need for the two crew members presently needed to execute the spirit energy formula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scientists had, in the past decade, made advances in harnessing spirit energy for medical and commercial use. Much work had been done to develop ways to incorporate the spirit energy in space flight, but Novaunian engineers had encountered the same problem those on the Glautel Monsa<\/em> now faced\u2014how to construct a device that would store and produce spirit energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Braysel\u2019s grandfather had already designed an artificial brain that was powered by spirit energy. His grandfather had not discovered a way to produce spirit energy, but he had found a way to store it and to make it work with the Awareness monitor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The power generators and matrixes in Braysel\u2019s dream were almost identical to the artificial brain his grandfather had engineered. The spirit energy generators of his dreams not only stored spirit energy and allowed it to interface with the Awarenesses of the men in the flight crew as the artificial brain interfaced with an Awareness image produced by an Awareness monitor, they produced new spirit energy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The formulas were all there in his mind, and he had no doubt they would work. It all was so simple. Why hadn\u2019t anyone thought of it before? His mental image of the spirit energy generator was as vivid as if he had already built it. He immediately transmitted a thought to activate his telepathic transmission recorder and poured his new knowledge into the machine. Then he telepathically turned on the lights, sprang out of bed, and awoke Wilyl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know how to do it, Wilyl! I know! It came to me in a dream! I know how to build a spirit energy generator!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wilyl awoke with a start and sat up, his light brown hair disheveled, his gray eyes wide with vigor. You aren\u2019t serious.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course I\u2019m serious! It\u2019s based on the same principles as the artificial brain!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Miaundea stepped noiselessly up the walk to the Avenaunta home thirty minutes before dawn. Maurek had not come home on leave once since her betrothal to Braysel, and Miaundea knew that he still hadn\u2019t replied to any of Braysel\u2019s commudiscs. She had been heartbroken for Maurek in the beginning, but five months had passed and she was on the verge of exasperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She thought that if she could communicate with Maurek and explain to him what had happened, she might be able to soften him a little. She had enlisted the help of Maurek\u2019s mother, and finally, after four weeks, his mother had been able to persuade him to come home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mineste Avenaunta met Miaundea at the door and gazed down at her with sad blue eyes. Miaundea was instantly alarmed. What\u2019s the matter?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s changed. He\u2019s cynical, and there\u2019s a harshness about him I\u2019ve never seen before. He may refuse to communicate with you.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have to try.<\/em> Miaundea turned and walked down the quiet hall to Maurek\u2019s bedroom, her emotions a tangle of anticipation, anxiousness, and dread. Miaundea knew Maurek\u2019s mother didn\u2019t understand why she wanted to communicate with Maurek in this way, but it didn\u2019t seem to bother her and she didn\u2019t ask any questions. Miaundea carefully pushed open Maurek\u2019s door and slipped into his room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maurek lay in bed under a blue quilt, the starlight pouring through his window and illuminating his face. In his sleep he didn\u2019t appear cynical or harsh, just exhausted and desolate. Miaundea hesitated there for a moment, unable to breathe. What would he do? What would he communicate? Suddenly she wasn\u2019t sure this was a good idea. Was this the way Maurek had felt when he had invaded her bedroom?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not seeing a chair, she knelt down next to his bed. Hearing movement near him, Maurek opened his eyes and turned toward the noise. Miaundea froze. She hadn\u2019t expected Maurek to be such a light sleeper, to discover her presence so soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maurek sat up abruptly and scowled down at her. What are you doing here?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I . . . I wanted to communicate with you.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have nothing to communicate with you. <\/em>He lay back down, nestled himself into a comfortable position, and closed his eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miaundea hadn\u2019t known what to expect, but she hadn\u2019t believed he would ignore her. She reached out with her thoughts: Please don\u2019t be this way, Maurek.<\/em> But he had closed his mind to her communications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She stood up. \u201cYou make me sick, Maurek. Bray didn\u2019t pursue me; I pursued him. We didn\u2019t mean to fall in love; it just happened. It nearly killed Bray when he realized how much you would be hurt. Now here you are, so proud, and so bitter that you can\u2019t think of anyone but yourself. You don\u2019t care one iota that Bray is despondent, thinking you hate him, that he misses you desperately, and that he needs your support. Some friend you are.\u201d Maurek didn\u2019t so much as flutter an eyelash in reply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miaundea remained there a minute longer, gradually gaining control of her anger. \u201cI was so thrilled, Maurek, when we started trying to understand each other. I wanted us to be friends, and I believed at the time that I had made my feelings about you perfectly clear. I never imagined you would place such conditions on our friendship.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miaundea lingered there another moment, waiting for Maurek to open his eyes and communicate with her, but he didn\u2019t. Finally she turned and left, communicating nothing to Maurek\u2019s mother on the way out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miaundea took an airbus back to Mautysia that morning, worked her shift at the restaurant as a hostess, then took an airbus back to Shalaun that evening. She went to Devotional with her family the next morning, and as she had anticipated, Maurek was there. She tried many times to get him to look at her, but he avoided even that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miaundea\u2019s family sat in the holy room several rows in front of Maurek and his family. Miaundea couldn\u2019t concentrate on the service. It was as if she could feel Maurek\u2019s stare bore through her head. Was he angry? Or was he still deliriously attracted to her? She wasn\u2019t sure which possibility disturbed her more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, when the service was over, Miaundea turned and smiled at Maurek weakly. His face was pale, but his features had relaxed and his icy blue eyes had become soft with love. After a moment, Maurek self-consciously averted his gaze, and Miaundea knew that he wasn\u2019t ready to communicate with her yet. Still, she felt progress had been made, and she left the house of worship feeling relieved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The days passed, and Miaundea didn\u2019t worry about Maurek anymore. He would accept the situation eventually, and Miaundea had no doubt that he still considered Braysel his friend. Miaundea told Braysel about her meeting with Maurek and tried to assure him that everything would be all right, but Braysel remained skeptical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Miaundea had first moved to Mautysia, her work had been physically demanding, but exciting. She spent her early afternoons working as a hostess in a restaurant downtown and her evenings working in the backstage crew at one of the city\u2019s minor theaters. She met many types of people from different pacifist countries and planets in the Union and was learning a great deal. Nearly everyone she met was unsure of her motives for being in Mautysia and treated her as an oddity, but they were helpful and kind. She was frank about her involvement with Braysel, and although people sometimes made critical comments, most respected her honesty and sincerity enough to remain silent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miaundea\u2019s attitude began changing, however, after her discussion with Mauya about Braysel\u2019s situation. As hard as she tried, Miaundea couldn\u2019t forget Mauya\u2019s relief that Miaundea was of Novaunian race. That a pacifist would be less offended by marriage to a strong Fleet supporter than by marriage to a person of another race suggested that even if they didn\u2019t think interracial marriage was a sin, it repelled them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if Braysel had married a woman of another race? Would that have been such a terrible thing? Despite the potential discrepancy between lifespans, Miaundea couldn\u2019t make herself feel that such a marriage would have been wrong, not if the woman shared Braysel\u2019s values and religion. Mauya, however, obviously believed it would be wrong, and that nagged at Miaundea until she could think about little else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why did Mauya think marrying outside of the race was wrong, and how far did her reluctance go? Did she feel it was only wrong if one married a person who was not a Novaunian citizen? Or did she feel it was wrong for a Novaunian citizen of complete Novaunian race such as Braysel or Teren to marry a Novaunian citizen of mixed race such as Ausha Ferudant?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Miaundea saw Mauya again, she almost asked her but didn\u2019t dare, feeling as if she might lose control and communicate something that would offend her. The possibility that Mauya or any other person of pacifist heritage would consider it wrong for Braysel to marry someone like Ausha made Miaundea feel queasy with disgust and humiliation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The weeks flew by, and Miaundea noticed every remark that possessed even a hint of racism. I never thought Bray Nalaurev would actually convince a Novaunian woman to marry him . . . You know the Earthon doctor? Do you know anyone who\u2019s actually gone to him for treatment? How could he be qualified to practice Novaunian medicine after only a year? . . . You spent two years studying a primitive planet\u2019s culture? Why?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miaundea slowly began realizing that Mauya wasn\u2019t the only person of pacifist heritage who was concerned about keeping the race pure. Once Miaundea began looking for evidences of it, she found it everywhere, even among pacifists who were not native Verzaunians. Perhaps Ausha and the other Coalition officers had been right. Perhaps the pacifists really were racists. Then again, did aversion to interracial marriage mean they were racists? Or did it mean they understood the enormous difficulties inherent in a marriage between two such different people and were simply cautious?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miaundea was too troubled to let the matter rest. She invited all of her roommates out to breakfast one Eighth Day morning and, after they had all ordered, asked, I\u2019m just curious. Let\u2019s pretend you meet a man at the Shamunja one evening and he asks you to dance. You like each other and dance several dances, and in that time, you find out that he\u2019s from the planet Bristaun. He asks you for an engagement. Would you go?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Nanci\u2019s turquoise eyes sparkled impishly. What does he look like?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s gorgeous! Not only that, but he\u2019s charming and very kind. What would you do?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nanci shook her head. I don\u2019t know. That\u2019s a hard one.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The waiter set a glass of milk in front of Miaundea. Why would that be a difficult decision? You like him, and it\u2019s only an engagement.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ll have to agree with Nanci,<\/em> Jere communicated, receiving a glass of juice from the waiter. On one hand, it\u2019s only an engagement, but on the other hand, what if you really started liking him? What if the relationship started getting serious?<\/em> Jere was nearly twenty-five, a history teacher and pacifist activist from Narquasa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what if it does?<\/em> Miaundea asked. He\u2019s a good man, he\u2019s a Novaunian, and he shares your values.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But he isn\u2019t a Novaunian,<\/em> Nanci communicated. Not really. He might be just as much Gudynean as Novaunian.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

They really did have a problem with interracial marriage. Why would it matter that he\u2019s part Gudynean?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tausha shook her head quickly. I don\u2019t think it would matter so much to me. If I liked him, I would certainly go on an engagement with him. Perhaps I would marry him. I don\u2019t know.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nanci set her glass down quickly, astounded. What would your parents think? <\/em>Nanci, the only native Mautysian, was the youngest of the group, an art student who still depended heavily on her family for financial support. Miaundea wasn\u2019t surprised that her first concern was how her parents would react.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh, I don\u2019t know. I don\u2019t think they would be thrilled about it, but I don\u2019t think they would oppose it. It wouldn\u2019t be like he was from Gudynea itself or anything\u2014it\u2019s only Bristaun, after all, not a planet on the other side of the galaxy.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tausha was from Systrina. Perhaps pacifists from other planets in the Union were in general less xenophobic than their home world counterparts. The possibility was worth exploring. What\u2019s wrong with marrying a person with Gudynean blood? Many Gudyneans share our religious beliefs.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nanci shook her head quickly. It just wouldn\u2019t be right.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because Novaun is for Novaunians and Gudynea is for Gudyneans\u2014we have a certain obligation to Novaun and our posterity to keep the race pure.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jere frowned at Miaundea. You don\u2019t think so?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To tell you the truth, I\u2019d never thought about it before.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So you would go on an engagement with the man from Bristaun?<\/em> Tausha asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miaundea shrugged. Before I met Bray, sure.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jere\u2019s golden eyebrows shot up. Would you actually marry him?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, I think so.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nanci grimaced. Even though you would outlive him by half a century?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m betrothed to a Fleet man. He may die in battle while still in his prime. Does that mean I shouldn\u2019t marry him?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tausha\u2019s mouth quivered, as if she were struggling not to laugh. Well, none of us would marry a Fleet man!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nanci did laugh. And we certainly wouldn\u2019t marry Braysel Nalaurev!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miaundea knew they were teasing her and laughed with them. When the laughter died, she asked, So what do you think about the existence of Bristaun, Jeltar, and Dinevlea? Do you consider them Novaunian planets?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can you not? <\/em>Nanci communicated, stretching her neck and peering in the direction of the kitchen. They\u2019re part of the Union.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miaundea glanced toward the kitchen and saw that their food was coming. That\u2019s not what I mean.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jere unfolded her embroidered white napkin and set it in her lap. Well, I think it\u2019s a crime that Novaun ever cooperated with Gudynea on a colonizing venture to begin with. Both groups lost major portions of their heritages when they began to intermarry. What happened to those six planets was that they ended up creating worlds that are neither Novaunian nor Gudynean.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miaundea unfolded her own napkin. I\u2019m not sure that\u2019s true. I know several people from Bristaun and Dinevlea, and they all think of themselves as Novaunians. Not only that, but they act like Novaunians.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And you really think that\u2019s right<\/em>? Tausha communicated. Here you have people of Gudynean ancestry who have no ties to their Gudynean heritage. That\u2019s just as wrong as a person born half Novaunian who has been smothered by the Gudynean part of his heritage such that he knows nothing of his Novaunian heritage.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nanci and Tausha nodded in agreement as the waiter began serving them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dinevlea, Bristaun, and Jeltar have had nearly a thousand years to develop their own unique race, history, and culture,<\/em> Jere communicated. Personally, I\u2019ve always felt that they ought to join with Roysa, Lylenta, and Dretundel to form their own union.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A union of six planets? So close to the Dirons?<\/em> Then Miaundea remembered that the Isolationists didn\u2019t think of such things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jere ground pepper over her eggs. Why not?<\/em> They would be politically independent, which would probably suit their purposes better, and they could maintain an alliance with our Union or the Gudynean Federation or both, whatever they wanted.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miaundea left her roommates later that morning, disturbed. No wonder Ausha and so many of the other Coalition members were such zealots. She understood, but oddly enough, she believed that some of those people, Ausha included, were too sensitive about the issue and too bitter and blind with their own prejudices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miaundea communicated telepathically with Braysel the next evening and told him everything. Braysel communicated, uncomprehending, I don\u2019t understand why you\u2019re so troubled. What did they communicate that was so wrong? It is important to preserve our race and heritage. How can you find fault with that?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Realization crushed Miaundea\u2019s heart. Braysel believed as they did! He really was one of them! Miaundea was so outraged that she ended the communication abruptly. Braysel tried to resume the communication, but she ignored him. How could he feel that way? How?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\""Get<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
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\"Blue<\/a><\/figure><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Katherine Padilla \u00a9 2006 Prologue: A Gold Box Filled with Discs Chapter 1: A Job Offer Chapter 2: A Questionable Memory Chapter 3: Bond of Heritage Prologue: A Gold Box Filled with Discs Aulanora Nalaurev carried the commudisc that had just arrived into her bedroom, her hands trembling and her throat burning. The return address read, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3728,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-fullwidth.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3720","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","post-preview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novels.zerosilver.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3720","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novels.zerosilver.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novels.zerosilver.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novels.zerosilver.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novels.zerosilver.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3720"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/novels.zerosilver.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3720\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5347,"href":"https:\/\/novels.zerosilver.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3720\/revisions\/5347"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novels.zerosilver.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3728"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novels.zerosilver.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3720"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

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