Stephen's Secure Blog #190
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 16 in this story, in the Summer after year 6 of his special
school.
Stephen's Secure Blog #190 "Checking Up"
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I had a meeting with Pete, Chad, and Tomba. I updated them on what
had been happening with Srinoy. I said "These summers off are a big
waste of time. I don't want Srinoy to have any opportunity to waste any
of it. He has a lot of potential to develop." They all agreed. I said
"I'll be using him on missions, too. I have a big one, and it's on
Earth. Tibet. I didn't volunteer, but I will do the best possible."
Chad said "I've been hoping all these years." Pete said "Worthwhile,
but VERY difficult." I said "You don't have to tell ME that. I already
told Tomba. I intend to explore the use of my new status among the
Buddhists, to see if I can enlist some Temples into supporting what I
might do. They have been way too passive about this." Tomba said
"That's what Buddhists are supposed to be." I said "Physically, yes.
But they can speak. In this, silence has been deadly, and I have to
think they share some responsibility for that." Tomba bowed, and said,
"Unfortunately, there may be some truth in that. I know what you want
me to do. I will spread the word about your status, with a lot of
concentration in China."
I said "To limit nationalistic reprisals, I should be
internationalized. We don't want Americans targeted because of me. I'm
going to explore what the Navajo might think about this, a victimized
native population." Pete said "That's a VERY good idea!" Chad said
"Yes, sometimes he has one or two of them." They laughed. Pete said,
"All of us are citizens of Belize, too. With that passport, and from
the UN, you don't have to tell them you're American. Your apartment
there is listed as your home address." I said "Well, I've been in it
once. I should probably go there soon to make it look lived in. Before
the end of the summer, I want to visit some temples in China and Tibet.
The real question I haven't decided on, is if I should go in costume.
Yes, I can act like a Monk, and do all that they do, and officially,
now. I know all that they know, and more. But I don't feel it. Because
of that, I'm not sure that it's ethical or right."
Tomba had a secret smile trying to break out. I said "Alright, out
with it." He said, "You know you were investigated all the time you
were in Thailand. I have all that information, and everything Rose gave
me. Whether you wear the robe or not, you will always be who you are,
which is fully of what the robe signifies. Wear it in confidence, if
you choose to wear it." I shook my head, and said, "Absolutely NO
privacy whatsoEVER." He grinned and said, "True." I had to laugh. Then
I said, "That still doesn't answer my question. Being dressed as a
tourist, or as a businessman, or as a plain Monk, or as Master of
Abbots, all have their different advantages and disadvantages, in each
of the many changing situations. I really could use some advice about
that, and up to the minute, based on our current at that time promotion
of me. Please be thinking of that."
I said "Oh, and I plan to take Srinoy with me sometimes. Want to
guess why?" Pete said "It has to be different from the usual gaining
experience reason." Silence. I said "Those in the Temples might want to
and said, "You sneaky suspicious devious devil!" Pete said in mock
outrage, "That's MY line!" Tomba kissed him, and said, "Royalty paid."
Pete said "Alright." Chad and I laughed.
I said "I'm going to visit Mongolia. With my bow. This summer." Pete
said "That will be interesting!" I said with a grin, "I sure hope so!"
Then I said, "But first, I want to test how the school kids are
welcomed at the next Navajo festival, with me in attendance. Rose says
they recognized my love broadcast, and that might have helped them get
over the scare we gave them some time ago." Pete said "That scared us
ALL. We played that whole thing at the school, from your arrival, to
the end. It was well done, but probably won't be repeated in our
lifetimes, so all of us should see how our abilities can be used well
in the extreme." I said "Nightmares?" He said "Showed only to adepts,
and a few, but treated." I said "For the students, well, I'm glad I
didn't have to make that decision. Speaking of that, we need a student
from China." Pete said "It would have to be one of your rescues." I
said "There are some possibles, but none yet of the Han." Chad said,
"Yes, we would need that." Tomba said, "We will just have to wait. I
feel terrible wishing for the kind of circumstances that could bring us
a rescued child, but the benefits to the world can alleviate some of
that. For me, anyway." I said "We all have to deal with that. Me, most
of all. But it's a duty I accept. Too many times in the past I let my
weaknesses cause me to fail. I want my last life to be clean of that."
Chad said "I can understand that, but temperance is helpful." I said
"Well, after I huff and I puff, and blow all their houses down." Pete
They laughed.
I ported to my house on Misnok. I called the auctioneer and asked if
the last of my gems had been auctioned. He said they had, and the sales
numbers were terrific, and already transferred to my account. I said
"That's great. I have a school to pay for. Is there anybody you would
recommend to manage a trust fund for that?" He said "Yes, your real
estate agent." I said "Thanks, I'll look into that. Any change on your
position on personal training?" He said "No, not yet." I said "Fine. If
or when there is, contact me." He said "May I er, use some of the money
to build the museum you requested?" I said "I thought it was finished,
as a part of the main building of the museum." He said "There has been
a er, slight change of plans. Our Planetary President, and somebody by
the name of Wantune, have gotten together with the director, and have
decided to go for the big museum you had requested." I said "That's
unusual. Most just accept their consequence, with good or bad feelings,
and don't think correction with me will be useful. In this case, it
could be possible. Yes, use up to half of the money, but wisely. If
more is needed, call me, and I'll invent some new art. When the plans
for the building are ready to be implemented, let me know the list of
materials. If I can find them, or something like them, on the dead
planet, I can provide them." He said "That would be very good. I like
that." I said "Thank you for all your help."
I checked where Admiral Krack was, and found him at his desk. I asked
if I could visit, and he said yes. I ported to his office. He said like
it was a question, "Stephen?" I said "Yes, and the voice is changed,
too. I've had some er, life changing experiences." He said "Wow!" I
said "Well, that's what I said." He laughed. I said "How has it been
going with you?" He said "Almost unbelievably great. Our force is
working surprisingly well, now that we have good people in it. I didn't
expect so much more efficiency with less people." I said "Too many
useless supervisors really get in the way of the people trying to do
the actual work. And all that plotting and backstabbing, and outright
criminality, really drains productive time and motivation away from
everybody." He said "So you expected this." I said "I hoped, but YOU
made it happen. I'm glad." He looked embarrassed, and said, "Er, thank
you." I grinned, and said, "You're welcome." He said "I mean it for
more than that statement. I've had time to think. I know now that you
did something to me like the suspended admiral, but more subtle. Who I
was before I met you, could not have done this. You have helped me to
become the man who could and did." I said "Oh, I've been exposed!" He
tried to be serious, but couldn't quite make it. I said "My associates
and I actually discussed that, after I saw you last. We wanted more
like you, but came to the conclusion that the set of circumstances
which made it happen, and who I was given to work with, couldn't be
duplicated in any useful way, in any reasonable amount of time. We were
VERY disappointed." He was so humbled, he couldn't say anything. I
wrapped him in my love.
He was startled, and said, "That's something new!" I said "Well, I
like new. So, how is Angrala doing?" He said "She left the service and
is starting her school. From what I heard, it hasn't been easy, even
though the President is supporting it." I said "I thought so. She's
next on my list of things to attend too. I'm SO busy. We've discovered
a new star empire, which makes how the military was here, look like er,
babies. There, Adepts rule by terror and murder, and other intelligent
species are slaves." His mouth dropped open in surprise. I said "It
gets worse. They are more technologically advanced than you are. And
even more worse, they use telepaths. Or did. I kind of fixed that." He
said "Oh, no! What did you do?" I told him about the walking dead. He
had an interesting mix of very strong reactions, which looked like a
convulsion. I pointed my finger at him, and said, "Ha! That's what they
looked like." He had to laugh. Then he said, "Took away their powers by
the dead ejaculating in their faces. And THEY rule by terror!" He
laughed some more. I said "Well, I had to give them a recognizable
cause, so they wouldn't target innocent people in revenge, or suspect
who really did it." He said "I apologize for thinking you did it for
base reasons." I said "Forgiven. Don't think you were the first,
though." He laughed some more.
I said "We're training the guardians of the other species there, and
some children of the Adept race, which, I'm sorry to say, is related to
ours. Yes, they were taken as slaves from my planet about 25,000 years
ago. Their masters died in a war, before their recorded history. We can
read those records, even though they can't." He said "Do you actually
go LOOKING for trouble?" I said "Yes, actually." He said "I didn't
expect that." I wiggled my eyebrows at him and said, "I know." He
laughed, I said "Seriously, for us, it's better we find trouble first,
before it finds YOU." He said "Seriously, I really appreciate that." I
nodded. I said "It's been good talking with you. I don't get to hear
such good things very often. I should be getting on with my rounds. If
you permit, Angrala is going to find your reaction to the squirting
dead very interesting." He laughed, and nodded. I said "Farewell." He
stood and saluted me, and I bowed, and ported away.
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Grant
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