Stephen's Secure Blog #141
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 15 in this story, in late Winter of year 5 of his special
school.
Stephen's Secure Blog #141 "Formal Reception"
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It wasn't until the afternoon, that we were contacted by the Confed
PA's office, to ask when we would be available. I said "I'm here to be
available, and so I am, any time. The only notice we need is for
scheduling transportation and security, and that's out of our area. So,
you tell us when, and arrange it, and we'll be wherever we are needed."
I received a surprised thank you for my cooperation. There would be a
reception in my honor in the evening. Full formal dress. I asked if I
could bring a companion, besides my Confed Staff. They said I could.
Then I said, "And companions for my staff?" That was allowed, also. I
thanked them. Then I called Captain Krack, and told him about it, and
said he could bring his wife. I said if he or she didn't have the right
clothes, we could help with that. He said they didn't need help, and
would join us at the hotel before we left.
Angrala said, "I don't have anybody to bring." I said "You could ask
Wantune?" She grinned and said, "He might accept." I said "Want to do
that with mindtalk?" She said in surprise, "You would allow?" I said
"That doesn't apply. This is your world, and you are a very responsible
adult. Yes, you will always be our student, for all the things we can
still teach you, but we do not rule anybody, not even our own. So, if
you want to reveal that to him, that is your decision. Bear in mind
that then, the teaching of him will be your responsibility, and not
ours. I think you knew this would happen." She had tears in her eyes,
and she said, "I still don't understand your kind of leadership which
isn't, or your trust, but I'll do my best to deserve it. I would like
to wait until all this is over to do that, because I'll be accompanying
you back to your GC, and so won't be available to him for teaching." I
said "Do you think I knew what your decision would be?" He said "You
can be VERY frustrating!" I said "So I'm told, mostly by my best
students." I hugged and kissed her with love, which she returned.
I said to Rose, "They are going to ask if we are mated." She grinned
at me, and said, "I'll be very interested in seeing and hearing how you
respond to that." I said "You are NOT helping." She said "I noticed." I
growled, and she laughed, while Angrala and Hawk grinned at each other.
Rose and Angrala remotely searched for the kind of formal gowns they
wanted to wear, and chose and modified the designs they wanted, and
asked me for gems to wear with them. I said "I didn't think of that.
Great idea." Hawk said "Will make the men keep their eyes on the gems,
and not down their their necklines." I said "Only the gay men." He said
"Better than nothing." Rose and Angrala had a problem. Their gowns
didn't have room or other compatibility for Guardian gear. So I made
some for them in their jewelry, instead, which they really appreciated.
Wantune did accept Angrala's invitation, but needed help with his
clothes, which she and Rose supplied. The Captain and his wife arrived,
looking very good. She was excited to meet us, and to go to the
reception with us. Captain Krack said "My wife will be coming with us
when we return to the GC. Being a diplomatic mission, it's not just
allowed, but encouraged that we bring our spouses. Our children are
grown, so we are free to explore the galaxy together." I said "That's
great. I'll do my best to see that you both have a wonderful time."
Wantune arrived in his new clothes, also looking excited. I said to
everybody, "I see you're all excited about this function. I'm not. What
am I missing?" Hawk said "The pressure will be on you, and not on us,
and you have to behave all dignified and formal, which is definitely
NOT who you are. And you're wearing clothes you hate. Oh, that is if
you could feel hate." I said "I'm getting lessons in that, every second
like this." They laughed. I said "That's right. Laugh at my misery. I
can take it." I said, looking around, "And throw you out the window
with it." Rose came and made to hug me, and I said, "Window treatment
postponed indefinitely." More laughter.
I said, just before we left, "A reminder. They will probably be
serving intoxicants. We have too many secrets to pass through loose
lips, to risk their effects." Captain Krack said with a smile, "Yes,
boss." I said "Well, I at least have to ACT like I'm charge of this
mission." Some grins, the biggest from Wantune. I said to Hawk, "I'm
sorry we couldn't include you in this." He said "Perfectly alright. If
you did, all the rest of us would be all over you." I said "Hmm, that
sounds interesting." He laughed, and we hugged. And then one of my
medals got caught in his shirt. We laughed.
A protocol manager was in the limo with us, and I handed him the card
which had who we were on it, with our titles. Rose was listed as
in contact, +As far as I know, it doesn't mean anything. Well, I
couldn't say 'extra boss', could I?+ She sent back a rude noise. We
successfully tried not to laugh. We were introduced one by one at the
entrance, and the PA was there to take me aside to have a word. He said
listened to. Three amplified directional microphones are focused on us,
and four lip readers are watching us VERY closely. My lips aren't
moving, and you are hearing my voice by minute vibrations in your ear
canal, which the mics can't resolve." He said "I'd like to go over them
with you at your convenience." I said "Any time." He said "There are
some people I'd like you to meet. If you please?" We went to meet them.
During the party we were twice asked if Rose and I were married. Both
times I answered, "We each haven't made our plans, if any, public.
However, when the time is right, I expect to be told what my plans
are." Both times, that got us knowing grins and nods. Rose indicated
she was not displeased.
The party went on as usual, until near the end. I talked in the PA's
ear again, "This is Stephen. I apologize for the interruption, but I
was just handed a drink with poison in it. What shall we do about? If
you whisper under your breath, I will hear it." He said "I'll ask my
security chief. A moment, but stay in touch." I said "Will do." He did
that, and I said, "I heard. I will put the drink down on that table,
with a paper with all the pertinent information on it. There are no
other poisoned drinks in the hall." He said "I don't know how you can
know that, but I believe you. Thank you for not dying." I said "Good
one. You're welcome." I did, and there was a security man to take it,
who had gloves on.
After the function was over, Rose took Captain Krack's wife away, and
the rest of us had a private meeting with the PA and his people. First
he looked at me, and I said, "Clear." He said "My security chief knows
what I know about all of this. Are we free to discuss everything?" I
said "With those here, yes." He said "Even Guardian things?" I said
"Yes." He said "I was a planetary president of one of the colony
worlds. I know about Guardians. You, Stephen, are a Super Guardian?"
Angrala said "Among his own Guardians, and the other species Guardians
he teaches, he is known as the Master Guardian. As far as anybody
knows, he is the most intelligent and powerful person in the Galaxy." I
said "And often the most embarrassed. Can we skip that and go on to the
real business at hand?" He grinned, and said, "Right. There was indeed
poison in the glass. It would have killed a regular person, very
dramatically. The person who delivered it to you was unaware of it. We
have the others in the chain you listed, in custody, and there is
partial conformation of their guilt. Unfortunately, we don't know why
they wanted you dead. Will you assist us in discovering that?" I said
"Yes. Where are they?" He told me. I told him who originated the plot
and why. Then I said, "The Commander acted on his own, but his people
are fanatics, and won't volunteer information about him, without some
assistance I can provide. I would need your approval for that." He said
"You have it." I said "They will tell the truth about anything they are
asked for and about, now. That is as far as my ethics will allow,
because nobody was actually harmed." He nodded, and the security chief
went out.
Then he said to me, "You had the patience of a Saint with them, on
that station." I laughed. Then I explained, "I'm sorry for laughing,
but it was at me, not at you. I remember many past incarnations. In
three of them, I was what is now regarded as a Saint. Only one of them
"I was a woman just once. Because of what happened because I was a
woman, and how I felt about that, I never incarnated as a woman again.
It was only in my last incarnation that I first consciously remembered
that life, but I'm sure it affected all of them in some way." He said
"Wow!" Angrala said "He hears that a lot." He laughed. I said "We have
a way of recording memories, and can project them onto memory cards.
The Master Museum here has some of that, and will release it, or part
of it, when you, the Planetary President, and their Guardians decide it
should be done. Here is what she saw of herself in a mirror." I
projected her image. I said "Anything else you would like to discuss?"
He grinned and said "Yes, a LOT, but not much that would do me any
good. I have work to do, not the least of which is to assemble an
embassy for you to bring to the Galactic Council." I said "That
shouldn't be much of a problem. It will have little power. Anybody who
remains upright will do. And the more arrogance the better. The one
which the planetary president sends will do most of the work, because
that's where the most power lies. Here is a card of the discussion we
had last night, which covers some things which will help you understand
that better." He said with a smile, "Someday we will have a discussion
about actually having a discussion." I said with a grin, "Sounds like a
good idea."
I said "Have you noticed something about me having things in the
museum, and at auction?" He said "No, I haven't. More of your
preparation?" I said "Yes. Being known as something other than a stuffy
diplomat is useful. It makes the person look like a real person they
can relate to. And for me, more truthful, because I'm not a real
diplomat, and never wanted to be. In this life and the last, I am an
artist first, in outlook and occupation. Secondly, a teacher. All else
arrises from duty. Well, except for one thing, which is at the center
of my being, which rules all who I am. And that can only be
demonstrated. If you stand, I will help you experience it." He did, and
I hugged him with all my love. Angrala helped him to sit down again.
Rose said in the air, "I love it when he does that." We laughed.
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Grant
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