“Good morning!”
“Saobona Bernardo.”
A mélange of greetings rode above the general buzz of the smaller conference room. Everyone looked restored after a good nights rest and an excellent breakfast.
“Today we start with the practical aspect of the testing process.” He announced.
“This morning will be individual tests for each of you, while after lunch we will start testing in you in groups.
During this testing we will firstly be testing the couples, who seem to have special affinities amongst themselves and amongst the couples.
After that we will include the two Joes together and with the various couples.
Once this set of tests and a couple of administrative details have been completed, we should be able to set up your training schedules.”
The second day of testing was totally different.
A great deal of the testing was based on the results of the first day’s testing.
Firstly they were introduced to the fishnet, a lightweight sensor network which could both read and stimulate neural activity with three dimensional accuracy. The readings were monitored and recorded by the master AI.
When specific stimulation was required it was controlled by the same AI under the guidance of one of the specialists.
Some of the tests which had been done the day before were repeated, this time with added stimulus from the AI.
All of them were surprised to see results that had been negative suddenly come up positive.
“But what is the use of a talent which only works if the machine kicks it off?” Michael asked Minerva, the senior sensitive in the group which was were testing him.
“Actually if the AI can stimulate it to operancy, it is what we call a highly latent talent.
That means with proper training including some initial stimulation, it can be raised to full strength. Ironically, some of our most powerful talents only develop with training.”
“So if the AI can find it, I get to keep it?”
“That’s it in a nutshell. Most of the high empathy and the higher teleports are still latent except in a few individuals, and even in those it was generally raised to operancy because of a high stress situation.
There are currently world wide only about a hundred full teleports.
Another talent that is very rare normally is the ability to communicate directly to the AI. Very few people have that talent, even the most powerful telepaths. It seems to be closely linked to the xenotelepathy.”
“Are you talking about communicating with actual aliens?”
“We have so far had contact with one race of aliens we were able to communicate with. However the first application of xenotelepathy, and so far the most important, has been to the Dolphins and the Whales.
We have also had some luck with anthropoids, mostly by very powerful homotelepaths. The great apes are close enough for us to understand each other.
And of course there are a very small number of magos capable of full merge telepathy.”
“What is that?”
“It is the ability to fully merge your mind with that of another being, to the extent of being able to control him, her or it.
The capability at sub operant level is reasonably common; as a matter of fact it serves as the basis of the traditional Shaman’s curse, but it does not seem to be controllable at a conscious level, except by the very small number of people I mentioned previously.”
:”I’ve heard various titles and classifications bandied about, like enforcer, warrior and so on. How does it all fit together?’
“Actually all of those are traditional classifications, and are very vague. Nowadays we use a classification string, which uniquely identify each persons talents and the strength of each talent.
The old terms usually refer to the strongest powers or combinations individuals possess, which is why they continue in use.
An enforcer for example, is usually reasonably strong in telekinesis, but extremely strong in shield and detection, especially against teleportation.
Warriors are very similar but they are generally stronger on the TK, and with some degree of teleport and telepathy.”
“Are warriors the highest classification?”
“No, the highest classification, with a balanced armorium of at least twelve talents, is the Mago.”
“I don’t suppose there are many of those.”
“On our side we have had less than thirty in all the centuries, while the enemy has six or so and a couple of possibles.
We also have a couple who come close, but are either too unbalanced in skill groups or fall slightly below the required power levels.”
“The Magos form our ruling council who make most of the routine decisions. They also tend to lead us in times of conflict.”
“Who are these Magos?”
“You have met quite a few – Tina, Dianna, Uncle Fox and Bernardo are amongst the most powerful. Some of the ones you haven’t met are Hermes, Zeus, Horus, Marduk and Gea. They are either out with some of the colony ships, or underground on a mission.
Some of the Top level warriors that you have met are myself, Thor, Hymdal, Cormac McArt and Ammon. There are a number of others who you will be meeting eventually.”
“Why are there so few Magos after all these centuries?”
“In the first place, most people tend to be channeled into certain strong talents, especially telepathy and telekinesis. Even the warrior levels tend to be strong in a group of talents rather than across the spectrum.
The second reason is less pleasant. A number of potential Magos were destroyed by the enemy, either in ascendance battles, or to prevent them joining us.
The worst time was when Tiamat was in control of the supremacists. She destroyed at least six who we were aware of. Then quite a few were killed in the wars, the one we miss the least was Tiamat.
That was when we learned about tuned couples.”
“Exactly what do you mean by that? Both Marianne and I, and David and Dianna have been told that we are matched couples. But no one has so far adequately explained the term to me. ”
“Basically, certain individuals seem to have a special affinity with each other. When they work together, they can gather other lesser powers and synthesize them into a much greater power.”
“So the whole is greater than the sum of the parts?”
“Exactly. Most of the known tuned couples are warrior level, with the exception of Awaki and Anzashi – who you would know as Hermes and Athena – and Marduk and Gea.”
“Tina is Anzashi?”
“Yes, and with Awaki probable the most powerful talent of all. It was the two of them that worked out the tuning and destroyed Tiamat.”
“What about the enemy?”
“Their most powerful mago is Abaddon, also known as Ahriman. We believe he is currently on their moon base.
Second to him is Ares, who is working in New York as part of a law firm, and his partner Hades who is known here and now as Frank Eriksson.
They have a large number of Warrior and enforcer levels, but all tend to be low on empathy. This means that they have been having a great deal of trouble trying to set up tuned couples.”
“And the neutral groups?”
“Most of the neutral groups are composed of highly empathic talents. They tend to have a lot of tuned groups (mostly warrior level), which together with our protection, has kept them from being destroyed by the enemy.”
“So I can assume that the neutral groups are not highly likely to make a difference in the balance?”
“That’s right. They are mostly totally pacifist – couldn’t harm a fly – or a cockroach!”
“Oh well, I suppose we will just have to muddle through on our own.”
“Amen Brother, Amen!”
*** *** ***
A light lunch was served in the smaller conference room, while the results from the morning tests were correlated by the AIs.
The sensiti
ves and scientists stood in small groups, discussing the tests, and planning the next step.
The new recruits also came together. They chatted about the mornings tests. Dianna explained some of the background to the tests, especially the involvement of the AIs.
“We are forming quite a good idea of what each of you is capable of, and where you will be able to fit into our organization.” Dianna explained.
“No one will be forced into anything, but you will be given choice of positions you would be compatible with.”
“What you haven’t told us yet is how you fit in.” Michael said with a smile.
“I’ve sort of gathered that you are not simply an archeologist.”
Dianna blushed. “It’s not usually my main job, although I do have the formal qualifications for it. I got pulled in after you two threw the cat in the stewpot with your find in India.
I started on the lecture circuit and ended up at the University of Cape Town, where I met Marianne and David.
Once I saw their ideas about Greater Zimbabwe, I started getting more involved, and pulled in Tina and you, Michael.
We knew there had to be a temple there, but record do get lost, especially over almost two thousand years.
Nobody expected anything like what we found.
Usually these temples were decommissioned and all traces of the godstone removed. Something drastic must have happened there, for the temple to be left in the state it was in.
We suspect that the invasion or rebellion during which the entrance was sealed occurred at a time when our observers were away, or during one of the periods when they were cut off.
This allowed the temple to be sealed and all memory lost.
While we were planning and preparing for the dig, I got more and more involved with David, and discovered in him something I had been looking for my whole life long.
That, and my friendship with you three, was the major reason I got so upset when you discovered the godstone.
The strange thing is that some kind of serendipity seems to have been resting on us, leading us all together at that specific time and place.”
“I think Bernardo is trying to get our attention guys.” Marianne interjected, and they all returned to their seats.
“We have finalized all the standard tests, and the AIs have correlated the results.
They have set up a battery of supplementary test including you Dianna, to determine the nature and depth of the sympathy that seems to appertain between some of you.
For our two Josephs, we are testing your compatibility with meld mode operation, to see how you could fit into a possible team.
After completion of the test series the recruits will be free till tomorrow morning, when we will reconvene here. All scientific staff are requested to meet here on conclusion of the session to complete debriefing.
Thank you all until we meet again.”
*** *** ***
“Michael, you and Marianne please come with me, David and Dianna, Hymdal will take you, and Joe and Sprout please go with Ammon.” Minerva directed.
She led the way to her laboratory.
Each of them was fitted with a fishnet sensor, and the testing commenced. Michael found a number of the tests rather disconcerting, since they exposed areas of their respective psyches to each other.
But both of them pounced on each of the new techniques like a hungry cat on a mouse.
An interesting side effect of these tests was that Michael found that he was starting to understand the AI.
When he realized that Marianne was not yet getting anything he showed her the band and the tuning. Under his guidance she was able to contact them as well, but was unable to merge with them as he soon was able to do.
Under discreet prompting from the AI’s, they didn’t mention this occurrence to anyone at this time.
After a while they were joined by David and Dianna, and the tests were widened to include all four of them.
By six o clock all of them were exhausted.
They met up with the two Joes for supper at their local dining room, but conversation during the meal was desultory, and they broke up as soon as was compatible with good manners, each to their rest.
Bernardo O’Higgins Station – Chilean Zone - Antarctica – 30th August 2035
“Good morning everybody!”
Once again Bernardo greeted the group of scientists and recruits. This time he was not alone on the small stage, but was accompanied by a number of people including Tina, L’ki, Dianna and a few none of them had seen before.
“We are pleased to welcome all of our council who were within reach here today,
We are pleased to announce that we have just had confirmation this morning that Awaki and Horus will be joining us in a couple of weeks. We are looking forward to their arrival.
We are also pleased to announce that the testing phase for our new members is completed. The time has come to acquaint you with the results and recommendations, and for you to decide what you want to do.
We have confirmed that at least three of you have the potential to become Magos, with the proper training, of course.
The other two are both at least high warrior, and will be eligible for the extended council
All four new recruits have been confirmed as immortals.”
The room rang with a cheer from the assembled testers.
“Congratulations, all of you” Minerva was the first to reach them, followed by the whole testing team.
“We have done a lot these last couple of days, and we are only too happy to see things go well.
Most of us will have a hand in your training, so we will be seeing a lot of each other.”
Sprout walked over to Tina and Harold. “I assume from the welcome that my deep scan was satisfactory?”
“Indeed. You checked out to a much deeper level than you may even suspect.” Tina replied.
“Your ex employers have some excellent psychologists, but they tend to be rather mechanistic, as you have discovered.
They had a beautiful structure set up to prevent tampering. What they didn’t tell anyone, was that their final defense, when triggered, would destroy your mind, as well as the invader.”
“From the fact that I am still thinking I assume that you were able to negate the security measures.”
“It was not all plain sailing, but the fact that your mind saw us as friends, not invaders, helped us in our task.
And they didn’t reckon with your latent empathy.
And once the defenses were down your subconscious confirmed everything you had said.
We have no doubt that you honestly want to join us.”
“Not that I had any doubt” Harold interjected.
“Your instinct has proven itself many times over cousin, but it is nice to have it confirmed once more.”
“I know what you mean!”
As Gods Above Page 19
