Stephen's Secure Blog #120
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 after
2018, 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 14 in this story, in the early Winter of year 5 of his
special school.
Stephen's Secure Blog #120 "Surreptitious Angrala"
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Back on Earth, we joined with the other part of the fully briefed
team we had left behind. I said "Do you think he will let the shrink
come here alone?" Ichi said "I think he would not at first, but suggest
a falsely private meeting in his ship." Rose said "Which would be made
private." To which Nigel said, "Causing some usefully constructive
embarrassment." Pete said "Right. If any do visit here, what should we
show them?" Ichi said "That would depend on how closely they could be
made to look acceptable to the local population." Hawk said,
"Neanderthals would be noticed. I know that's not what they really are,
but that's close to it." Pete said "Stephen could make a disguise they
could use." Ichi said "But wouldn't that reveal too much about us?" I
said "I agree with that, except as it would apply to the shrink alone.
I think we have to trust her with more, because she already knows a lot
more about us, which she can't reveal without exposing herself, and we
need her fully committed to us." They all agreed to that.
Hawk said "I like how you isolated them with the comms. If they are
all allowed to keep them, do you think the shrink will contact you
privately?" I grinned and asked that of Rose, and she said, "There will
be bloody war in her mind, with the conflicts of loyalty to her
Guardians, the Captain and the Confed, and professional need to know
us, and thirst for personal improvement, and her fascination with
Stephen, to which I have to admit to having some irritation." Hawk and
I hugged and kissed her, while the others tried to suppress their
grins. She said "So, to answer the question, I say she probably will
call Stephen, when she spends enough time waiting desperately for him
to relieve her of that decision by calling her first. In between four
and ten hours, is my best guess." Nigel said with admiration, "Very
well done!" She was embarrassed, but pleased. We hugged and kissed her
again.
I said "We have something more important to consider. Does this
necessitate a change in our timetable for action against the Van?" Ichi
said "Can we go to the GC, and reveal something of who we are, without
completely resolving the Van issue?" Ivanna said "If we want to, can we
resolve it now?" I said "Yes we can. We are waiting for their ship
coming here to slow down enough to allow us to capture it. We don't
want their homeworld to warn them about us before we can do that. What
we can do is transfer their transmitter stations to us, and set up an
automatic watch, which will take care of that problem. But then, they
won't be able to access the station they are building for us, which
they are almost finished with. If we want to abandon that, we can
complete the major action against the Van in minutes, and just wait
like we planned for the other ships to become available, and deal with
them on an individual routine basis. The other issue is, should we
reveal some of who we are, before our offworld schools are fully
established? Our timetable for that requires at least five more years.
We can do everything we want to, when we want to, with the Van, and
reveal it later, because nobody is likely to go there to check on them.
If somebody does, and reports it, then we might have to, to prevent
somebody else from claiming credit and causing a panic."
Ichi said "Revealing something of us to the Confed, won't be as bad
as doing that to the GC. They are unlikely to tell the GC about us,
because they would consider that to be a useful advantage. You can
approach the GC about the situation by using Hissssner and Hoechess
for entry. Maybe the Posintan Ambassador, too. I know you already
planned that." I nodded, and said, "If necessary, we can use them
directly, and bypass the GC in the beginning. We still have at least a
month before their ship will be back home. We'll have time to confer
with our offworld supporters, and make more firm decisions then."
Rose said, "What if, despite Krack's objections, they mess with you?"
I said "Blockade until they cooperate. And maybe remove all the weapons
from their ships." Hawk said "Drastic, but sure to get their notice." I
grinned and said, "I would address their assembly first, and make them
feel really guilty and ashamed, before resorting to that." Pete said
"That's the Stephen we know!" They laughed. Then I laughed. I said
"They switched!" Hawk volunteered to act as my straight man, and said,
"Who switched what?" I said "In the ship. They switched comms among
themselves. They think that if we call one of them, we will get another
instead." Rose said "Now she will think she HAS to call you, and as
soon as she can be alone to do it in secret, she will." I said "She
can't detect my 4th viewpoint if I don't do anything psionic through
it. That's how I know what happened, besides the trace I kept on the
comms. I'll keep watching, and warn her if she isn't as unobserved as
she thinks she is."
Three hours later, Ship's Psychologist Angrala called me by pushing
the button on the comm she had. I used a 4th viewpoint and vibration
tools to speak in her ear canal, and said, "This is Stephen. Please be
silent while I explain. Your Captain is suspicious of you. I made those
comms, and so could feel what happened to them. He switched with yours,
and made the others switch to make his action regarding you less
obvious. Your room is being monitored. Anything you say in it will be
recorded. Only you can hear what I'm saying. Well, and me. If you
understand all this so far, wiggle your head. That was SOME wiggle.
Don't laugh. I see we have to work on your control. I'm speaking to you
by vibrating the air in your ear canal. Unfortunately, you can't talk
to me that way. I can contact you mentally, which does not invade
Alright, you don't have to be so energetic." I said in contact, +You do
know how to wiggle! To reply, just think words at me, and I'll hear
them, just like you hear mine.+ She said +I like your humor.+ I said
+Thank you. Unfortunately, your fascination with me was very noticeable
to your Captain, even before he had the idea that I might be the
leader. That's what started his suspicions. Not that he would trust a
Psych, and two of them together would send him looking for a fission
device.+ She struggled not to laugh. I said +So, what would you like to
talk about?+ She said +Even now, you don't volunteer much.+ I said +To
us, you personally are still partially restricted. Among us, you would
barely qualify as Basic adept. Then there is Junior Adept. So far, we
have never encountered what we would qualify as a Senior Adept, other
than our students, and there is nobody at my level of Master Adept in
the entire explored galaxy. Even telling you that much, might be a
violation of Restriction.+ She said +Wow!+
I said +I agree. So, what's on, er, IN, your mind?+ She almost
laughed again. She said +Can you teach me?+ I said +Yes. We have a
school for offworld adults on the planet where the GC has their
headquarters. Our school in this system, being that the world is
Restricted, wouldn't be appropriate for people which would cause the
regular population to run away from in fright, or come at you with
weapons. We could teach you in isolation, but being unhappy as that
would cause you, would not be conducive to efficient learning. We know.
The person who runs the offworld school, went through that, after we
saved him from being murdered. He began with us at your level, as an
adult, and may never reach Senior level, even though some of his
students will. More questions?+ She said +Can you at least teach me how
to do the mindtalk?+ I said +I was planing to offer to do that at the
end of our current conversation. Some things I can do with you at any
distance, but most require physical presence, and some require more
than one other participant. I have some questions. You have had some
training for your abilities. How so?+ She said +We have secret
Guardians, too. My abilities were recognized, and I received the
training. I know you will ask, so I'll tell you. I am equal to the best
in skill, but not in seniority.+ I said +It's good you were honest. We
scanned your planet, and discovered your Guardians. Do you think your
Captain suspects you are one of them?+ She said +He hasn't so far, but
may at any time.+
I said +Among us, we do not go by seniority, but by ability,
intelligence, and wisdom, in our very loose hierarchy. What you might
learn from us could cause you some conflict with your fellows.+ She
said +Yes it could, but I would accept that.+ I said +I'm not
surprised. One thing which does surprise me, is your lack of sufficient
mental control. That, more than talent, is required for useful
advancement now, because talent without full control is disastrous. For
example, how I talked in your ear. If I hadn't had absolute control
over that, it could have easily blown off your head, and possibly the
entire ship. One way to learn control is through the study of martial
arts, which is why we are all so good at it. We don't need a physical
defense. We start our training in all things but psionics, at ten years
old. By twelve, we are already masters of martial arts, and have many
university degrees. As you should see, we train VERY hard. Then, with
that preparation, we develop our psionic talents.+ She said +Wow again!
I don't understand how you can learn that fast, even as super
geniuses.+ I said +We have special teaching aids. Another thing which
helps, is we know the science of what we do.+ She said +That's more
than we know.+ I said +That is evident in your limited training. We
can't teach you the science, until you are able to understand it, and
that requires training. Some of it requires knowledge of advanced math
and physics. One more thing. Our required teaching aids will not work
with people who are not fully ready for them. That's necessary to
prevent permanent damage. We can teach you what you are able to learn.
We would like to. But, should we? Do we have a right to interfere with
your Guardian system? If we do, would that be bad for your society and
ours? Our teaching methods impart a high level of ethics. Does yours?
Can your people be trusted with the abilities we could give them? Is it
wise for us to even tell you all these things?+ She said +I had not
thought all that out. I see that I need to.+
I said +Now, should I give you the first lesson in mindtalk?+ She
said +I want you to, but in all honesty, I don't know if you should.+ I
said +Wise. That first step is the biggest, because it is the basis for
much more. If you would like, we can end this conversation now, and
resume it after you have done some heavy thinking. You can contact me
at any time the same way.+ She said +Even when you are sleeping?+ I
said +I have background processes set to watch the comms. I will wake
instantly should you touch the button. I don't sleep much, anyway, but
it's a great excuse to be in the arms of those I love.+ She said +You
love more than one?+ I said +We all love each other, and always try to
sleep with company. We do not discriminate regarding gender or sexual
orientation, or the size of the group, except with committed couples,
in sleeping with, or with sexual activities. For us, love is all.+ She
said +Wow! That will take some getting used to.+ I said +It might, but
doing that is necessary for full advancement, as our student who is
running the other school found out. Very repressed. Not so, anymore.
Your spirit has to be clear, to be all you can be.+ She said +I would
have trouble accepting that, if I had not had you as an example. You
have given me much to think about. Thank you very much. I think now is
the time to end this while I can still think.+ I said +I agree. Till
next time, then. Be at peace. Disconnecting.+
I sent the memory of that discussion to all who were interested. Then
I increased the urgency of the Van who were building the new station
for us. Then we had another conference. I said "Comments?" Ivanna said,
"Even their Guardians are militaristic in organization." I said "They
don't recruit children, so they are unlikely to improve over what they
are now, without a lot of help." Rose said, "But YOU can." Hawk said
"So there is a possibility we could bypass their Guardians and create a
new and better set with our values." Rose said "Maybe with Angrala's
help." Ichi said "Even if she wanted to help, or train with us, would
she be able to escape her er, servitude to allow it?" Pete said "Not if
her Captain suspects something bad about her. Treason is a charge which
is tough to live down." Nigel said "She could resign when her ship
returns." Pete said "Then the Captain will be sure something is up."
Ichi said "But couldn't do anything about it but suspect, because she
won't be found." I said "Good discussion, with viable options. We will
have to wait for some more moves before we can take any action on
this."
I said "There is another issue. We gave them some information on the
Van, but not where they are, which they are sure to notice." Ichi said
"They will demand to know where they are, and will want to see for
themselves. If we don't tell them, it will make them even more
suspicious of us than we already think they will be." I said
"Therefore?" He said "I want you all to notice I'm not groaning." We
laughed, and those nearest kissed and hugged him. "Therefore we tell
them the location when they ask, after we have blockaded the planet,
and tell them we didn't include the location in the original
information, because it wouldn't have done them any good." I said
kisses. He said "They will respect us more, and make them more likely
to realize we can do what we say." I said "Alright folks, any doubt
now?" Nigel said "I'll speak for us all. No doubts. None. A real full
Situation Manager!" We all jumped on Ichi, and hugged and kissed him,
and then all our clothes came off and we did a whole lot of sex play in
the link, to have some great orgasms at the end. Ichi said "Better than
a diploma, any day." We laughed, and I spread our love all over us.
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Grant
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