In Exchange
by YEN
version (11/19/99)
final edit (02/05/2000)

Yui smiled as a small blue bird hopped boldly into her hand and pecked seeds straight off her palm. Its fellow companions clustered near her feet feeding eagerly on the seed she had scattered for them. Their leader suddenly chirped loudly and flew away, the others following an instant later. Yui stared at them, wondering what had scared them away.

"It's all right." She glanced to see Azuire sit down beside her on the low bench. "They'll be back as soon as we finish talking." He shrugged slightly before looking at her. "Birds are very discreet creatures. They understand a private conversation when they see one."

It was early dawn, and they were alone in the uncharacteristically deserted Plaza.

Yui looked away. "It's not as if they'll tell anyone, Uncle."

"Maybe, but one can never be too careful."

"... You know-"

"Did you ever really believe I didn't?"

She sighed, both embarrassed and relieved. "I could never keep a secret from you."

He snorted derisively. "There are few things I don't know about."

"I know," Yui smiled affectionately at him. "You were the best agent Shevat ever had in her service. The information network you established on the surface and extending to even Solaris has kept us privy to our enemy's activities."

Azuire sighed wearily. "True, but the system has fallen apart and deteriorates rapidly as more and more of my contacts are taken by Solaris." He stood up and paced to stare at the fountain, watching the sheets of water fall down, his eyes seemingly transfixed by crystal flashes. "I do not know exactly what they do to the prisoners they have taken, but it is effective. ... Their minds are lost to me. I know they are not dead, but they are not the same as before... I cannot explain it."

Yui stood up and walked over to stand behind him. She could feel his exhaustion and dread and knew that it was serious. That she could feel his anguish meant that he was also very tired. Azuire was not one to show weakness easily. She closed her eyes and hugged him, feeling him start in surprise. "It will be all right, Uncle," she whispered softly, turning her head to press her cheek comfortingly against his back. She heard and felt him sigh. "Thank you, little one."

He turned towards her, and her arms fell back to her sides. His hand raised and touched her face just as her eyes closed again.

I will have to go down to surface soon-

But, Uncle, you have not gone down in years!

I know, little one, I know. However, it is necessary. I must touch the minds of more people to replace the ones enslaved by Solaris. They have been kidnapping more people these days, and I am concerned with their increased need for slaves.

We are also rescuing more people from the surface.

I advised the Council to initiate those rescues... I have been sensing urgency from my few contacts in Solaris. Warning bells and alarms are going off all over the planet, and I fear that something bad is about to happen.

... Do you think Hyuga is part of it?

I see you're on a first-name basis with him.

...

Yes, the Solarian definitely has a part in it. He is dangerous, Yui.

... I know, Uncle. I am well aware of that.

Of all the beaus you have, you had to pick him.

Uncle! You knew about him. Why didn't you stop me?!

What did you want me to do? Threathen him to stay away from you?

Why not?

Because it would never work. He's the tenacious type. Even Gaspar wouldn't be able to drive him away.

Hmph. At least Grandfather would have tried. Some guardian you are.

Don't you dare talk to me that way, young lady. You don't know how close I came to barging into your love nest.

... You were watching?!

Of course not. I'm not like you, child.


Hyuga watched as Yui smiled and waved good bye to a tall distinguish-looking man before going inside the house.

... That must be Azuire... The other man smiled broadly before walking away. ... What could she have been doing with him so early in the morning?

... Why does it matter? I will finish my work soon, and Solaris will have their guinea pig...

His chest suddenly burned, turning into a tight knot of pain. He grimaced and shut his eyes. They felt hot, irritated as if sand had entered into them. ... I don't want it that way...

Pain... His family... They were so happy, even as third class citizens, looked down upon and treated as no more than animals. They killed them... They took them away from me! Helpless... I couldn't save them... I was only a child... I couldn't save them... I couldn't do anything...



Stop it! He screamed, backing away from them. It hurts! Leave me alone! They always come back, always hurting him. Why are you doing this to me?!



No! He gasped and shook his head violently. He trembled, fighting the nightmarish memories away. I'm not a child anymore! I can protect myself! I can protect the ones I love! ... His eyes opened slowly, disbelief numbing him. Love...? His hands clenched into fists. ... I promised not to care, not to love... Only duty matters... His throat tightened. ... How did this happen...? Yui...

What will I do?


Yui was in the kitchen when Hyuga entered quietly and hugged her. He came so close to having a frying pan smashed on his head.

"Hyuga?! ... Don't you ever scare me like that again!" Yui glared at him, who was now two arm-lengths away from her and staring warily at the frying pan held threatheningly in her hand.

"Didn't your sixth sense warn you?"

She sighed and lowered the cooking utensil. "My telepathy is not that sensitive." She placed the pan back on the counter. "I wasn't concentrating either and with that mental block over your thoughts, you give out practically nothing." Yui frowned and stared at him thoughtfully. "Anyway, I have been meaning to ask you, how do you manage to shield your thoughts so effectively?"

"..."

"Do Solaris have telepaths as well?"

"... We do have a few, but not any who are as gifted as you are."

She turned away from him. "And that is why you are here." Her voice was soft as she continued, "Do you want them to have me, Hyuga?"

He moved closer to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. Delicate muscles tensed then relaxed as he rubbed reassuringly. He moved closer, wrapping his other hand around her small waist and pulling her slender frame against his. "No," He answered truthfully, his other hand moved from her shoulder to go under her arm and gripped her chin firmly. He turned her face towards him and looked honestly into her eyes. "I do not want them to have you."

She looked back at him for a few moments before glancing away, but his fingers tightened, forcing her to look at him again. Yui breathed in sharply when he kissed her possessively.

... They will not have you, I promise...


"Your price?" Cain repeated increduously, he was never as startled as he is now.

"That is correct," he answered calmly.

"The Lady Gaspar is your target." Cain tilted his head slightly, staring at his servant speculatively. "You cannot claim her."

"She is not my only objective," he bargained, "I will fulfill my other duties, but I want her."

Cain shook his head. "Solaris needs her. This is no time for sentimental feelings, Guardian. I warned you not to weaken."

"..."

"Follow your orders."

"Solaris does not need her. It is her talent."

"That is correct. Now unless you can find the Wiseman who sired her, you must deliver her as planned."

"Will another telepath do?"

"... You have found another?"

"I believe so, and one who is even more powerful."

"Interesting, what evidence do you have of the existence of this individual?"

"Shevat has eluded us for so long. It is true that her success may be attributed to her mobility and the shield barriers which matches Solaris' own. We almost had her, if not for the Lady Gaspar's perception and interferance. The plan was doomed to failure from the start, but she is not the only reason why we failed."

"This other telepath?"

"I have found that though she is extremely intuitive, she is not that skilled or so confident with her talent. From what information concerning her was gathered from Nikolai Balthasar, it would appear that someone else raised her other than Gaspar."

"You think this person is also telepathic?"

"He or she must be. Her talent is a closely guarded secret. No one on Shevat knows about her skill. Only another similarly gifted person could have helped and trained her to conceal her unique ability."

"I see."

"Also, despite Shevat's high technology, the country is in a piteous state. Its people are decadent, and the moral structure is crumbling. Her defenses, other than the generators, is practically nil, and the ruling class is accomplishing nothing. I find it hard to comprehend how Shevat has evaded our invasion forces for so long."

Cain laughed. "Don't forget, Guardian, you were in charge of the last fleet, and you were bested by a woman."

"Yes," Hyuga said earnestly, "Don't you see? We attributed my failure to Lady Gaspar's congenivity, but she couldn't have been the reason for the failures of the earlier invasion fleets."


Before I leave, little one, I want to tell you how to go into other people's minds.

... But, Uncle, we both know I cannot do that. My telepathy is not strong enough.

Mine isn't either.

?

I cheat, little one. I do not have the ability to enter other people's thoughts either.

?? But your reports and insights into Solaris are so accurate. How can you say you cannot read minds? Aren't you reading my thoughts now?!

I cannot. Like you I can receive, but I cannot go into other people's minds, even yours.

???

I am confusing you, child. Please forgive me. Let me start from the beginning. I do not penetrate minds, I receive raw feelings and sensations, and it is up to me to decipher them accurately. Your talent is much more refined than mine. You can actually read my thoughts. With similarly receptive minds, mental communication like we are doing now is possible, but I do more work, analyzing your thought processes.

... You mean I was better than you all along?

That is correct.

... So I can also read other minds far away from here?

You can, if you know the person's mental patterns. Otherwise, it would be like trying to separate a single note from a symphony. That is the secret.

... Please explain further, Uncle.

I had to teach you first how to effectively and efficiently shield your mind from others. The unspoken world is even more noiser than the verbal one. From your infancy, I shielded your mind, only letting a small portion of mental energy to touch you..

I'm glad you did. The first time you withdraw your block was horrible. It was so deafening, and that had been with my own mental blocks up.

Uh humm... Now, your control has improved to the point where I feel it is now possible for you to extend your telepathic range. Don't fall asleep now, little one.

I promise I won't, Uncle.

Good! The answer lies in the theory that similar minds think alike. A person becomes my contact when I am familiar with his mental or brain patterns. With that knowledge, I can manipulate my own brain patterns to mimic the other's. What he or she is feeling then, I too feel to a lesser intensity.

You know my mind then?

Yes, so even with great distances between us, I may still know what you are up to. This method is used most effectively when the contact is far away from you. I believe that with a little practice and training, you will soon be able to accomplish the same.

How about people with mental blocks of their own?

... Hmm... the infamous Hyuga, I presume.

Wait a minute... You said you cannot read thoughts. How did you know his name?

My insight is more detailed in close links.

Okay...

The contact method may go by any mental block, but you will have to know the person intimately... mental intimacy, Yui, not physical.

I know that!


Author's note:

I think I know what I'm writing or don't I... Yen ponders.

Yen
alex@gsilink.com

Go to next part...
Rebuilding
Worlds Collide