Stephen's Secure Blog #52
These stories about Stephen began was when he was 10 years old, and
moving to a new part of the country to attend a special school for
gifted students, in the 1950's. This was from a time before computers
would fit on a desk, and when people communicated with friends in other
countries by actual letters sent through the postal service. He wrote
225 of them to a friend. He stopped writing to his penpal, but found he
still wanted to record his life, in case he lost his memory again, and
wrote 30 entries in his first logbook. Then he wrote to an artificial
intelligence called Geenee, in the master computer in his school for
gifted students, which he started attending in 2016. Now it's 2018 and
later, and he's continuing to save his memories in a secure blog.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
The stories may not be posted in chronological order.
Stephen is 13 in this story, in the Spring, near the end of year 3 of
his special school.
Stephen's Secure Blog #52 "First Sale"
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I met with Zander in an uninhabited place on his world, and gave him
the sculptures he had asked for. After a long while, he said,
"Magnificent!" Then he said something else which surprised me; "I feel
such admiration and affection for you, I have the unusual desire to hug
and kiss you as you do with your own. Unfortunately, not only will that
not work as desired, it would actually harm you." I said, with my love,
"I would cooperate with your expression, if I didn't know you would
feel the physical harm to me, and be distressed by it." He said "Yes,
but the thought will have to be enough." I said, "And definitely not
the teeth!" We laughed. I said "If you had been a Tsuriss, things would
be MUCH different!" He said with caution, "How so?" I said "We all
wanted her, but Percy got her, and couldn't keep that from us, and so
didn't try. If she doesn't come back to Earth in that ship again, that
Captain is going to have some trouble he might not expect. He will wish
he was caught between two Van ships colliding with each other at half
light speed." He laughed really hard. Then he said, "He actually had
sex with her?" I said, "Yes, and he said it was great. The feel of her
fur on our sensitive skin, is something you can't directly experience.
what to say to that." I grinned really wide and said, "Your feelings
tell me you would gladly accept such a crystal." He felt very
embarrassed. I said "I finally did it. Embarrassed you! We have a
saying; 'Turnabout is fair play'. That took a long time to make
happen." He grinned and said, "I'm not overjoyed for your success." I
laughed and said, "You will change your position on that, after I spend
some time with her."
Zander said, "Er, well, would you like to know who our client is?" I
said "I'll let you tell me." He said "The President of the government
of my world, who is almost equal to the President of the Galactic
Council." I said "I hope he likes what I've made. That's what I care
about most." He said,"Would you like to make the presentation
yourself?" I said "I wouldn't be opposed to that, but an artist
shouldn't bargain. There is an issue which needs to be resolved, first.
What species should I appear as? There is a conflict involving that, in
my Guardianship goals, and with you, in your connection. I would like
my people to be viewed as worthy contributors to the GC, in helping
people with their technology, and with culture. The problem is we are
from a Restricted World. Explaining my presence off Earth, could be
difficult, and could cause you trouble with the authorities, from being
involved with that. What are your thoughts about this?" He said "He
knows about this world's Guardians. If you tell him you are one from
another world, there will be no problems. He would not ask embarrassing
questions." I said, "Oh. LIke what the Tsuriss feel like." First he
made a strange noise, and then he laughed. He said "Your revenge is
sharp, but deserved." I said "Thank you." We grinned and bowed to each
other.
I said "What does he want? Just ownership? Or exclusivity? What are
the financials? Oh, and I would have to have a GC credit account." We
discussed those things. Then I said, "What about my size? Will he know
I'm physically a child?" He said, "Possibly, but it shouldn't matter.
He has some talents, but not to the level of an Adept. He should be
able to see your aura." I joked, "I don't want an appreciator of my art
made blind." He laughed. I said "I can't be within life detection range
of your Guardians. Specifically, they must not detect my stone. We will
have to meet the client somewhere that complies with that rule." He
said "Established. Ready?" I nodded, and we went into his flyer. Our
destination was an expensive resort. In a desert, naturally.
We landed on a paved driveway of a big and expensive villa. No grass
of course, just sand. I said, as we were getting out, "Are your people
color blind? I can understand no grass or trees, but sand CAN have
different colors." He said "We find this restful." I said "I find sleep
restful, not when I'm awake and can actually SEE things. I AM an
artist, you know." He laughed. There were guards and servants. A lot of
them. Some were not Ssintris. I asked about that in contact. He said
+Showing multiculturalism, but they are at a disadvantage, not having
our telepathy.+ I said +Is it that advantage, which has helped your
people gain the ascendancy it has?+ He said, +Probably, and our long
lives, although we would like to believe otherwise.+ I said +We like a
lot of things which aren't so, but I understand.+ We were shown into a
comfortable room. It was well lit, and had many works of art on
display. I went to look at them. Some of them were done VERY well. I
shifted my sight and perceptions into different frequencies, and some
of the art showed they were made with other colors than were in the
range of vision of the Ssintris. I studied one of those. Zander said,
"Stephen, please meet our host." I said, without turning, "In a
moment." He made a sound like he was strangling. I said "That doesn't
sound healthy. Maybe you should have that checked." More of the same
sound. Then I turned around, and went over to them. I said to the other
Ssintris there, "Your visual apparatus is unable to perceive that work
of art as it's originator intended. It is wasted here." He grinned at
me and said, "I know that. It was a gift from an ambassador that I
couldn't refuse. You're right. It's hideous to me. I am Hissssner." I
said, "I am Stephen, but you already know that." We bowed. I said
"Would you like to perceive it as it's creator can?" He said "Can you
make that happen?" I just stared at him. He got the hint, and said,
"Yes, please."
I ported a crystal to me, and put it to my head, and gave it to him.
I said "This will only work for you and Zander. Put it to your head,
and feel inside it. Better to close your eyes, to avoid visual
confusion." He did, and said, "Wow! It really IS a masterpiece!" I said
"Yes. I agree." He said with feeling, "Thank you." I said "You're
welcome." He looked at the crystal and said, "How does this work?" I
said, before Zander could, "I don't discuss methods with people who are
not able to understand them. It would be pointless. However, there
could be people on this world who might be capable of learning how to
make them, and much more. Zander is starting a school, which will take
the most intelligent and capable of your children, and train them to
realize their full potential, who may, someday, be able to learn this.
If you want this, and more, support his school. I am a graduate of such
a school, and am now a teacher in it." He looked a question at Zander,
who said, "He doesn't lie. He can't." I said to Hissssner, "You can
sense if a person in your presence is lying. It is much more so with
all who I live and work with. That makes lying extremely impractical.
Also, it interferes with our mind management, and so would reduce our
useful abilities." He said "Wow!" While Zander was laughing, I said
with a grin, "I hear that a lot." He gave me a grin in return.
I said "What has Zander told you about me?" He said "Just that there
is an artist who can create impossible and fantastic things, of
unusually costly materials." I said "Do you wish to know more?" He said
"Yes. Let us sit and discuss." We sat. I waited, and he was forced to
ask, "How did you meet Zander?" I looked at Zander and nodded his way,
who told him. Hissssner said in surprise, "A Guardian! I should have
suspected." I said "That's alright. We don't exactly wear the title in
a jeweled crown." He laughed. I said to Zander, "You didn't warn him
about my humor?" He grinned and said, "Deliberately not. The surprise
of discovering it shouldn't be reduced by foreknowledge." I said "I can
appreciate that. On rare occasions." He laughed.
Hissssner asked me, "What material do you work in?" I said "Anything
I want to. If I don't have it, I get it. If I don't know how, I learn."
He said "Really anything? How about excrement?" I said "I have, and not
always intentionally." They laughed. He said "It's unusual for
different species to have compatible humor." I said "I don't know if
that applies to species, or more to individuals, but the more
intelligent of your kind, and the same of mine, do seem to have some
common interests in the subject. I think it must start with an
appreciation and complete understanding of the languages involved."
Zander said, "Stephen learns languages VERY fast." Hissssner asked me,
"How fast?" I said "I can't answer that without knowing to what level
of learning you mean. That is, if I WOULD tell you." He said "Ah,
methods." I nodded. He said "Do you do sculpture or painting?" I said
"Yes." He said "I'll try this in a different way. Is there any kind of
art you don't do?" I said "Semantics gets in the way of that, but I can
tell you one definite thing. I do not do any art which involves harming
people. Perhaps you should tell me what you like, instead of this
poking around in the dark. Or Zander can show you what I brought, if he
thinks it's the right time."
Hissssner looked a question at Zander, who nodded, and opened the
box, and took out a sculpture. It was of two ferocious animals in the
middle of a very active fight. Hissssner was entranced, as Zander
turned it around so the polish and facets would catch the light. After
material?" I said "It is carved from a solid block of a synthetic gem
material I created for the project. The different colors are caused by
the different induced chemical impurities in different sections of the
block. The white teeth, and the red tongue, and the green scales, and
all the other parts, including the base, are all the same gem block.
The different colors were designed into the block, to conform to the
design of the finished work. The gem is made from the metallic oxides
of aluminum, beryllium, and zirconium. Please be careful in touching
it. The teeth and claws are VERY sharp." He said "Wow!" I said "I would
like to agree." Zander laughed. Hissssner said, "Is it available for
purchase?" I said "Yes. I have made it, so it is finished and gone from
my being. It should have another who can give it the love and attention
it should have." He said "I can almost understand that. What is it's
price?" I said "I don't know. There are different cultures, currencies,
values, all throughout the galaxy. I don't bother with those concerns.
I create, not sell. I leave that to my local agents, who's commission
motivates them to er, excel in their work." He laughed. I said, "When
you want to discuss that boring subject with Zander, I could be
studying more of your collection." He said "Please do." I did, and was
pleased.
I was called back to them, and I asked, "Are things satisfactory?"
They both said "Yes." I said "I do commissions, too. I like the
challenge. For example, I didn't realize eating utensils could be high
art, until I tried." Hissssner said "Interesting. Do you have any of
those here?" I reached into my pocket and pulled out a copy of the
chopsticks I had made for Ichi's sister, I had ported to it when I was
looking a the art. I told him what they were made of. He said "Wow!" I
said "If I stay here longer, you might wear that out." They laughed.
"To see if that happens, here are some others I made." I pulled out the
others I had made for Ichi and his family, and said what they were made
of. He almost said wow, but successfully struggled not to say it. I
said "Good effort. It worked." He laughed. He said "How is it you, an
artist, can invent and make materials no others can?" I said "One
shouldn't be influenced by restrictive labels. I am a scholar of
physics, and teach it as well, and a master teacher of fighting arts."
He covered his mouth, and I nodded in appreciation. He laughed. I said
to Zander, "Happy is the man who can make his own self laugh." Zander
laughed. I asked him, "Did you mention exclusivity?" He said "I did." I
said to Hissssner, "I can work in natural gems, too, of size and
quality which would ransom a planet, if desired. I've invented some
mining techniques in support of my art. Unfortunately, the first time I
tried them, a gem quality blue sapphire the size of my head, exploded
on reaching the surface. I have improved them since then." He said, "I
sure hope so! What a loss." I said "Yes, it was nice. I have others
now, and better." He said "You must be very rich." I said "In friends,
absolutely. I don't care for objects or currency except as they support
my goals. I let other people care about riches." He said "I have to say
it. Wow!" I smiled.
Hissssner said very seriously, "May I be your friend?" I said to
Zander, "When he experiences the answer, will he say it?" He said "I
look forward to seeing if he will be able to." Hissssner was looking
confused. I said "Here is my answer." I bowed and gave him my love.
When he recovered his composure, he said, "Thank you!" I said "Can you
be trusted to keep a secret from the GC, if I tell you of something
good in friendship, which concerns you in your official capacity?" He
said "If it doesn't harm my people, I think I can." I said "The Van
have offices in your capital city. They no longer occupy it, and the
matter transmitter in it has been removed. They have a station on
another planet in this system. They no longer occupy it, and all of
their advanced technology has been removed. There are no Van in this
system. They will not come back." His mouth dropped open in surprise.
Then he said, "Did you do this?" I said "I and my associates did, yes."
He turned to Zander and asked him, "Did you know of this?" He said, "I
knew he had done that in some other systems, but not that he did it
here. Make no mistake, HE did it, and his associates are his students."
I smiled and said, "And friends." He said, "Very much so, I'm sure."
Hissssner said to me, "Why don't you want the GC to know?" I said "I
will tell them myself in about 8 or 9 years, when I make my
presentation to them. There is still more work to do, before the Van
issue is completely resolved. When it is, that's when I want them to
know." He said, "You have their technology?" I said "What we haven't
finished destroying, yes. We don't need or want it, and we will not
allow the GC to have what it cannot understand. They couldn't make it
work before, and won't be able to now." I said with a grin, "It would
be cruel to make their scientists experience such frustration that they
would be biting themselves in their sleep." They couldn't help laughing
at that.
I gently said, "Had you forgotten that I'm a Guardian? We protect our
worlds from people such as the Van. No, we will not harm or kill them,
but I did kill one once, years ago. It had taken over a body of another
intelligent species. We do not allow that. Death was the only way to
resolve that." He said "Wow!" I said to Zander, "Did that sound a
little worn to you?" They laughed. Hissssner said "You are successfully
acting against the Van, as a Guardian. Why have other Guardians not
done so in the past?" I said "There is more than one reason, and I
probably don't know them all, but there is one I know very well. Where
they could, they destroyed, murdered, all the Guardians who were
becoming powerful enough to successfully oppose them. They did not
succeed with me, and I will not let that happen ever again, and I will
support schools which will help to ensure that after I'm gone."
Before he could say wow again, I said, "If you would like me to make
any other art for you, that would please me. If you would like others
you know to have some of my work, if you think they are of a personal
quality which could make them friends, I think there could be some
mutually beneficial arrangements in that process. I shouldn't have to
tell you what a small and relatively inexpensive piece of my unique
work, would do to make you a little more appreciated by your favored
ambassadorial visitors." He became very alert at that. I said "Don't
worry, I'm sure you would have thought of that on your own." He laughed
and said, "Thank you for your intellectual generosity." I said "In
time, as I and my work become known, I think it is possible there could
be some interest in collecting it, and therefore could cause some rise
in value of already collected pieces." I grinned at his reaction. I
said "We have given you much to think about. We should depart to let
you get to it, undisturbed by the frequent urge to say wow. If you want
me, tell Zander, and I can be with you sooner than you think possible."
He understood that I was dismissing myself, which was the opposite of
the usual protocol, and they were both amused by that, because by
complying with it, they accepted that I was of a higher status than
they were, which they both knew to be true, anyway. We said our
farewells and left.
On the way back to our departure point, Zander was saying his
equivalent of wow under his breath. I said "I can hear that, you know."
He laughed and said, "I forgot your sensitive hearing. Ichi had said
you ran a meeting with the Senior Adept Guardians. I understand what
that means now. You played him like a musical instrument, and made the
most powerful person of my race actually like it, and you." I said
"Accurate summation. Very good. Don't tell me you didn't enjoy the
show." He laughed and said, "I wouldn't dream of it." I said "I thought
you were going to choke when I wouldn't turn from that painting to meet
with him when you asked. That was deliberate, you know." He said "I
didn't know it then, but suspected it later. Masterful!" I said "Thank
you. Would it be alright if I gave my memory of the meeting to Ichi and
Pete?" He said "Please do, and please show me their reactions when and
if you can." I said "If I can, and if they allow, I will. If you need
me for anything, let me know. If you would like any help in building
your school facilities, well, remember the arena. We really can help.
How would you like student desks made of solid diamond?" He said "I
would like that, but it would make us a target of all the disreputable
persons in the universe." I said "Maybe, but that would make good
practice for your students. Sorry, just fantasizing. We could make them
out of quartz, and nobody would suspect the difference." He said, "You
continually amaze me." I said "That better be a good thing!" We
laughed.
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Grant
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