The last chamber felt different. The first thing Questor did was to peer down into the circular shaft. It's diameter was nearly three arms. The bottom wasn't visible due to a slight curve in the structure of the shaft but it appeared to be quite deep. It's sides were of smooth cut stones stacked in an interlocking pattern. The surface of each stone was approximately two subarms tall and five wide. At the back of the shaft, one stone of every other layer was recessed enough to serve as a crude ladder. After he looked down the shaft Questor turned and approached the pedestal bearing the thee disks.
“I've got a hunch,” he said. “That I can touch these disks if I'm careful enough. And I don't feel anything one way or the other about that sink hole over there. How about you BillSong?”
BillSong was standing resolutely just outside the fifth chamber.
“That is indeed how I felt,” he said after a brief pause. “The first time I was here. But now, I feel like the whole chamber you are standing in is forbidden to me. And that pit now frightens me.”
Questor carefully passed his hand over the disks on this last pedestal.
“It actually feels like I've been invited,” he said. “To choose some of these disks to take for my own. Even as I presume you took yours. But I feel like I should take care not to touch all three.”
“Yes it was the same for me until I chose mine,” BillSong said. “And yes the answer to your unspoken question is I took my two disks from that table. I have no idea where the two replacements came from. They were ‘not’ there when I left.”
Questor chose to only take the third disk that was different from the two BillSong had. As soon as he made his decision and before his hand even began it's motion to pick it up. He suddenly felt that he was no longer welcome to touch either of the others. He felt that he should pick up ‘his’ disk, at once. He also felt invited to descend into the shaft below.
Once he had his disk in his hand he stood still for a moment examining it carefully. He was interrupted by BillSong.
“Do you not feel compelled to leave that chamber?” he asked.
“Actually, no I don't,” Questor said. “In fact I think I'm wanted down there.”
BillSong shuddered.
“Then I shall wait for you in the trees until the second dawn,” he said. “But do not look for me to come in after you. If you do not find your own way out.”
Questor thought about it for a moment.
“No, BillSong,” he said. “I will leave with you. I've a hunch that I'll still be welcome to climb down that hole when I come back. And come back I will. But I've already made arrangements to see someone that it wouldn't do to keep waiting. And I've a few other things to tend to before I'll really have the time. Shall we go?”
Without a word BillSong began to walk back towards the entrance. As they left Questor had the impression. That he shouldn't spend any more time than he needed to. Before he returned to climb down into the darkness below.
Chapter 20 The Gift of Wildernest
Cindy picked up her pink and white leather dress from the shelf on which she had placed it 3 weeks ago. She was looking forward to getting home to Hillside. Yet at the same time she regretted having to leave Wildernest. She decided to configure the nano-leather as a shoulderbag. She would spend this day like any other she began at Wildernest, stark naked. She wondered what her friends would think of her new tattoos.
There were two of them. Between her breasts she now sported a ring of fire similar to the one Stephanie had. Like Stephanie's tattoo, both of Cindy's were applied with an ink brush that didn't need to break the skin. For the pigments of the special inks to work their way into the cell structure. It had been quite an honor when Kernislarn had first asked her if she would accept the mark and become an honorary ‘Sister’ of Rebirth.
She had been doing well in her training. A fact that she attributed more to Kernislarn's telepathic training methods, than to her own aptitude. Stephanie however appeared impressed with her improvement, the last time they had sparred.
“You've improved some more,” was all Stephanie actually said.
“Tell me again,” Cindy had teased. “Why you insist on only sparing with me when I'm not nano-boosted?”
“Because,” Stephanie had replied tolerantly, “Your just too damn good, bitch! I explained that to you before Kernislarn even started polishing your skills. My superior augmentation would still give me the upper hand, even when your boosted, but not enough of an advantage for me to guarantee that neither of us gets seriously hurt.”
“Oh?” Cindy had chuckled. “Is that it? But seriously, I know that Kernislarn's training has improved my ability to use Sandra's booster packs effectively. But it sounds like you think my non-boosted skill has also improved?”
Stephanie stepped back and leaned on her staff in the deceptively relaxed defensive pose they used to signify a temporary truce like pause in the combat.
“Really girl,” Stephanie had alleged. “If Jake's not careful your gonna knock him on his ass!” Then with a shrug she added, “Once anyway... But since you brought the subject up. I want to talk to you about your boosted state. I've been watching you spar with Kernislarn. And I noticed something disturbing.”
Cindy leaned on her staff acknowledging the truce.
“Disturbing you say?” Cindy inquired.
“Yes!” Stephanie continued. “I've got great respect for Sandra's work Cindy. In fact, I like her nano-toys so much that I had her install a bunch of them in my staff. And while my augmentation is incompatible with the body boosters she packages up for some of you, I do pay attention to what they can do.
The fact is Cindy, your getting more out of your body boosters than you should. Your boosted reflexes, for example, are at least 20% faster than should be possible. And even when I allow for the way you've learned to use them in controlled minibursts, You don't run out of them nearly fast enough. I'm quite sure the results of my assessments would alarm the guild council.” Then seeing apprehension in Cindy's eyes, Stephanie added, “Don't worry, I'm certainly not going to tell those pompous asses about it. But don't count on fooling Steve. Nor even Jake for very long.”
There was relief in Cindy's voice when she replied.
“We don't intend to,” she explained. “But Sandra made me promise to keep it a secret until Steve got back. Still, I think your right, her nano-technology has advanced a great deal further than she lets on. She only shared so much of it with me, because she thought I might become a target for some enemy, that Jake doesn't yet know he needs to protect me from...”
Stephanie smiled.
“Sandra is a very smart woman Cindy,” she allowed. “To tell you the truth, that's the very reason I wanted Kernislarn to train you.”
“And she has been a very good student Stephanie,” Kernislarn's voice intruded on their discussion, as she stepped out of the shadows. “In fact Cindy your combat skills have progressed so far, that there is little more I can teach you.
What's more, you've reached a skill level so impressive that I'm proud to offer you honorary membership in my order.”
As she said that she traced the circle that burned in her own cleavage. Cindy almost dropped her staff but recovered quickly enough to deflect Stephanie's strike.
“Damn it girl, your getting too good, Stephanie protested. “It took me a full year to earn my fire ring. Very well, I concede, I can't beat you anymore without using my augmentation.” Then Stephanie laughed. “You realize your going to have a hard time finding good sparing partners.”
It was only one week earlier that Cindy had asked Kernislarn about the other tattoo.
“Can I ask a favor from you?” She had said.
“You can certainly ask,” Kernislarn replied.
“Would you mind giving me a tattoo?” Cindy asked.
“That depends,” Kernislarn answered. “What did you have in mind?”
“Well actually it's a little more than just a tattoo,” Cindy hedged. “I was hoping you would help
me to permanently remove all traces of my pubic hair. Then put a heart down there with an arrow through it. And finally, in the very fine detail that sets your tattoos apart from the best my people can do, I'd like a close inspection of the arrow itself to reveal Jake's name.”
Kernislarn had frowned for a moment then she laughed.
“I suppose you intend to point at it every now and then when you ask him to pierce your heart again?” Kernislarn replied. “Sure we can do this. But I think we better discuss the style of heart your looking for. I don't suppose you really want an anatomically accurate one.”
“No,” Cindy had agreed. “That wouldn't do at all.”
She felt fortunate that Kernislarn had done both tattoos for her. The special inks used here on rebirth retained much greater detail over time than anything Sam could have done for her. This way even the ultra fine detail work that put Jake's name on the arrow shaft would remain crisp and clear for a very long time.
She adjusted the shoulder strap of her pink and white bag, so that the the bag hung just above her left hip and the strap crossed over to her right shoulder just below the circular tattoo in her cleavage. She fondly fingered the circle and stepped outside to where they were waiting for her.
“Are you ready?” Stephanie asked.
Before Cindy could answer Kernislarn interrupted.
“One moment please!” she began. “I'm sad to see you leave sister and I look forward to your next visit. But before you leave, I have another gift for you. It is an honor we extend but rarely to offworlders.
You have been a good student Cindy. It should come as no surprise to you that I've been studying you closely since the moment you first arrived. But I doubt you realize just how closely... The science of Rebirth doesn't include nanites. We chose a different path.
We are however aware of how your nano-technology interacts with our natural science. And I have been most interested in the difference between the mechanisms that Sandra has concocted for you and the ones that Steve gave to Stephanie. I'm happy to inform you that I have been able to formulate an elixir of life for you.”
When Kernislarn mentioned the elixir, Stephanie's eyes betrayed surprise and for the briefest moment, something close to envy.
“It can,” continued Kernislarn. “Restore the vitality that the genetic code you were born with would have given you, if only you had always been protected from the damage caused by exposure to cosmic and other energetic particles. In your case this would not greatly increase your physical strength nor grant you significantly faster physical reflexes. Though you might notice some improvement when your not actively using Sandra's nano-boost technology. What it would do for you is to greatly improve your immunity to diseases and hasten the healing of any wounds you may suffer.
It's main benefit, however, would be to help you to utilize more of your brain and perhaps the latent telepathic abilities that I believe are hidden there. You would eventually become able to reach out to my mind, even as Stephanie does. But unlike her, your mindsong may eventually become strong enough to reach me, even when I'm not trying to listen. It won't serve to link your brain directly to artificial control systems. But it won't interfere with the link you have developed with that control module. Which you had hidden in the leather garment you wore when you arrived here. In fact, it may even increase the speed and accuracy with which the organic synapses of your brain access it.”
As Kernislarn described the elixir, Cindy remembered that Stephanie had told her of this elixir that gave the people of Rebirth greater vitality and strength than most people. Stephanie had also said that she had once had to choose between accepting the gift of it or keeping the augmentation Steve had given her.
“I've heard of this elixir,” Cindy spoke up. “Stephanie told me it was a rare and precious potion, of which your supply is limited. She also told me why she declined it, many years ago. I need to think carefully, so that I may choose wisely. My heart wants me to accept this honor. But Jake is like Steve. And sooner or later he's bound to offer me some kind of augmentation like Stephanie's.”
“It is well that you would consider such things,” Kernislarn continued. “But you won't have to make that decision until such a time as he does. What would happen if you accepted such a gift from Jake, is that his nanites would assume control and the benefits of the elixir would soon fade. But in the meantime, the vitality my elixir can give you, combined with the way Sandra's toys can shield you, would make of you a surprisingly formidable foe. To whoever might foolishly attack you or perhaps one of your friends.” It took only a few seconds for Cindy to make up her mind.
“Very well then, I'll accept the honor,” she said. At which point Kernislarn handed her a small bottle.
“It has a strong taste,” she cautioned. “Which will quickly fade as you begin feel it's benefits.”
Cindy raised the bottle to her lips and drank the liquid fire within. As she felt it's effects burn though her body, Cindy thought about the side effects that Stephanie had told her about.
“How long before I lose the rest of my hair?” Cindy asked.
Kernislarn laughed.
“I did say I had specially formulated this dose for you,” Kernislarn replied. “Perhaps I should have explained that this batch shouldn't have much effect on your hair. Except perhaps it might affect it's color slightly. Now before you ask about the bluing. In your case there should be little change in your outer appearance. Though it's likely that, should you cut your finger, your blood might briefly appear more blue than red.”
Chapter 21 Air Power Failure
The remotely powered aircraft took off vertically. There wasn't any sound. At least not loud enough for the passengers to hear from inside the aircraft. That is to say, it would take augmented hearing to detect the distinct nearly subsonic hum of the power conversion system as it converted it's power signal's resonance value into usable energy. Or the faint high pitched whine as the central air impeller matrix began pushing air through it's belly thruster ducts fast enough to achieve a smooth lift off from it's landing pad.
On the other hand Jake decided that the simultaneous click. Followed by the nearly undetectable floor vibration, as the wing segments locked into their horizontal flight positions. All combined in such a way that any observant passenger would have felt the reassuring moment when the wings were secured in their mounting brackets. He also decided that no one onboard could fail to notice being gently pushed into the seatbacks by the acceleration. As the the impeller power level increased to feed the primary horizontal thruster vents. Which rapidly accelerated them to cruising speed. It was about two minutes after takeoff when Mary's voice came over the sound system.
“Welcome aboard,” Mary's voice said. “This is your pilot. We are on course and on schedule. Passengers may now move about the passenger compartment at will.”
Jake was the first one out of his safety harness but he chose to wait until his companions stood up, to check out the view from the observation deck. Most of the other passengers wore Slowlane Service uniforms. Though about one third of them wore something else.
The majority of those wore either a pair of bib-front overpants or bib-front knee length dresses, depending on their gender. They hadn't been on their feet long when Mary appeared in the passageway to the forward crew compartment.
“Hello lover boys,” she said with a smile. “I thought I'd check on you. My copilot is pretty good, so I can visit for a few minutes. This leg of the flight will take about 2 hours. Then we should be on the ground at Westport for perhaps 20 minutes before we spend another couple hours in flight to Capital City. Can I get you anything?”
“Anything you like,” said Sam.
The other passengers tried not to stare at Sam's form fitting leather outfit. At least the ones in the bib-fronts tried not to. Those in Service uniforms didn't pretend not to be at least casually curious about him.
“Be on your best behavior Sam,” Jake spoke up. “You've got an audience and I suspect
that you make some of them nervous.”
“Yes Boss, I have noticed the ‘fiery hot’, cold shoulder I've been feeling,” Sam said.
People began losing interest in the view displayed on the observation deck's big screen. When the view faded to a monotonous image of the ocean streaming by. That is, everyone except for Jake's team. They seamed to find the view fascinating. When Mary excused herself to relieve her copilot by taking her place at the controls. She pointed at the observation deck's intercom talk switch.
“I'll be monitoring that channel,” Mary said. “So if you need something...”
“In the meantime though, there is some risk of turbulence,” she explained as she pointed at the simplistic image of a seat harness that had just become illuminated. “So if you wouldn't mind, please sit down and strap yourself in. Thank you.”
Twenty minutes later, Mary saw only a glimpse of the flash out of the corner of her eye through the cockpit's direct view window. The flash was the direct result of the island power relay station suddenly disintegrating. Slowlane's advanced medical system could have eventually saved her other eye, even without help from the medical nanites Jake wound up leaving in her system.
She didn't need to see to know what happened. The control yoke in her hand was suddenly sluggish as she doled out her limited emergency reserve power to maximize their glide path. Slowlane pilots were trained to fly by touch using their biofeedback enabled control systems.
She didn't know how but something had to have completely disrupted the power outflow from the power relay station. The brief build up of thermal energy before the primary power signal could be terminated. Would have been more than enough to vaporize the artificial island that housed it. What she didn't understand was why it seemed like her sight was slowly returning. Just then she heard Jake's voice, as one of his nano-pods took up residence in her inner ear.
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