Tel leaned back and settled comfortably in his chair. The living room of the timeship Narnia had been dreamt by Ace and programmed by Pierce. A lot of the math necessary had come from Mick, though Pierce hadn't told him what he was working on until he asked for Ace's "I wish we'd built." All the Knights Gallant had given their skills to the project of reconstructing the initialization program of the dimensional matrix. The Builders' computer, Aslan, was experimenting with the climate in the garden just beyond the clear doors. Tel smiled at Mick and Ace.
"We need to define sentience."
"Why? We always recognize it."
"Do we, Ace? How do we know? War pains us all. The Defenders' job is to make big wars smaller. Usually, Cass, Dan, Pip and I do that by trying to prevent them. It's the first task Dutch, Clete and Lane took on. It was a change. Lane made it. Without timeship or powers, they found a way to prevent war between the Federation and the Durcassin Empire. I think of it as their most amazing feat."
The change in Tel's ability as a timewalker still bothered him a bit, but he understood he was needed more as he was. Seeing the points of decision in people he touched was part of what he was as the mind healer. He admitted to himself he really would prefer it when he got used to it. He'd never been comfortable as a timewalker.
"I'm quite all right, Tel. The choice was made. I did what I believed best at the moment of choice."
"Good. Define the Sixth Power. What did you become, Ace?"
"That IS a sensible question. We're not sure. We've worked together our whole lives. Mick and Red are true complements. Red, with barriers he can control--"
"No, Ace, you control."
"Yes, I made that decision when I changed Mick. And I changed him, no one else. I chose to wield what Mick, Red, Pierce, Cap and I became. I bound Mick's body to our race. I had him rebuilt in my image. I gave him the finest physical body I know of, mine. When he died, I would have carried his mind forever. I chose to take the responsibility of what I was to us. I'm a very reasonable man. I deal with reality well. The sixth power is Unity, purposeful work done together. Like all the powers, it carries tears in its heart. Only tears shed in love are carried in the heart. What do you sense in us? I trust your feelings. What about us has you worried?"
"Ace, your nephew is dangerous."
"We're working on it."
"Are you working on it the right way? You four can only control what you've become if you learn what that is. Mick's telepathy is a double sided gift, not a double edged blade. Use what you are. You already know how to control people's response to the four sexiest men in existence. The timewalkers say you're known as the Charmers by your grandchildren. We thought it was great, so we adopted it. We'll tell our kids they thought of it. The charm you've practiced til it oozes is the way you control it. You can charm people into keeping their hands off you."
"Mick, he's right. It's how we've always done it. We charmed every granny in the community into letting us raid their cookie jars. Ban was the perfect teacher. He's also right about it being a defense. You win, Tel. We'll train ourselves to use ALL of what we are. Mick, your powers--"
"Have to be under your control, Ace. I don't want the decision to wield them to be mine. I couldn't use them if it was."
"Then we've got to... Red!"
"Make it short, Ace. I've got potatoes frying."
"After dinner, we're going to attempt to learn to use and control what we've become. Can you barrier us enough to do it?"
"Too close, Ace. There are fifteen of us on Pastora. If I couldn't block enough, it might have a disastrous effect. Mick's power is more than I can block. Some of it will travel through the psychic bond. We do this, I think it should be away from the family. If I dropped a barrier, Sandy would amplify the force of Mick's sexual attraction. Some of us already glow from the last time that happened."
"Hello, Pierce. Are we making you dizzy?"
"Very. Tel, you saw a nexus of decision when you touched one of us. It wasn't in my future memories. Since the future is now playing kaleidoscope in my mind, I'd say you have bumped us onto a path of change in what we are."
"The nexus was clouded, Pierce. It was a great deal clearer when Dutch said, 'Go visit the Builders.' It involves us all, Ace, but only YOU can make the choice."
"I already have. Mick, path everyone we need to talk, the girls too."
"Mike says she'll eavesdrop. Dan will keep Cass in touch. Butch says the change is good and she'll be listening."
"Why does my daughter's memory clear faster than mine?"
"It doesn't, Pierce. She says we don't go into a lot of detail about where we've been and what we've been doing, none of us do. She also says we tune them out before any of the girls get much more than a warning."
The fifteen assembled. Three 'listened in'. They ranged in size from just over one hundred ninety centimeters to Clete's incredibly developed two hundred eight and hair color from ice blond to deep red. There were nineteen Knights Gallant. The fifteen men gathered physically. Three of the women were present mentally. Maggie wasn't called. They didn't often call her. The Knight Mystery would come if she wished. They were quite surprised when Butch relayed a message from her.
She bid them thanks for the love and aid they had given. They didn't think she'd known they'd spent the entire time of her, near three days, labor giving her and Sandy's new daughter their strength through the psychic bond. But she was Knight Mystery, she ALWAYS surprised them.
The three half brothers had jumped through time and gathered children, grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. The difference in the age of the generations totaled a bit more than twenty. Their great-grandson Dez had bound their timelines. No future generations would become so tangled. Their father was present. He was a bit older. He'd outlived a universe. The three were the chosen defenders of life. Their family was a species creating itself to carry out the task. Dutch, Clete and Lane were somewhere in their forties. Three of their sons and the son of Dutch's adopted son were known as the Builders. They had suddenly become the sixth great power. The others were held by individuals. They, as a group, had become one. It was not the same thing.
When all were comfortably settled with a snifter of excellent brandy, Dutch turned to his son.
"We're all here, Ace. Talk."
"There's a reason we exist, Dad, a reason we became what we are. We need to learn what we are to know the reason. We're currently a threat to all of us."
"You mean, I'm a threat."
"No, Mick, I don't. What you are is part of us. Part of what you are is the sexiest creature in the existence. Your forefathers were bred for telepathy and sexuality for at least two hundred generations. Your grandmother stopped it or they'd have found out they'd succeeded with your father. Your mother was one of the most powerful telepaths in her universe. You're the product of the two joining, and you're part of what we are."
"Currently a very dangerous part."
"Yes, but the danger is because the power is new and we haven't learned to use it, not in the power itself. I didn't realize what it would do when your mental powers were combined with the physical structure and drive of a Gallant. If I had, I would have still had your body restructured to our genetic code. I love you. I would still choose to give you a body that will not age and die."
"Or die from damage I can now quickly heal. Thank you, Ace, but we still need to learn to control what I am."
"Learning to control a horse is better than walking if you've got a long journey ahead, even if the horse is a stallion and more difficult to control."
Mick blushed a very deep shade of pink. He thought it clashed with his red hair. No one else did.
"Thank you, Cal. I'm sure I needed that."
"You did, Uncle Mick. You've yet to sit down and laugh about it. You're a rather reserved person. To know, every time you get excited, you cause hemispheres to glow ought to leave you giggling. It doesn't because you have no guarantee it won't burn them up."
"I agree. Ace, you need to set a time and place to learn."
"That's why we're here, Dad. We'll journey into the past. When we've found them, we'll warn you all."
"We'll make preparations. The mechanical lifeforms, if that's what they are, pose no immediate threat to the Vendis group, but someone should keep an eye on them. I pathed Cass to schedule Fed observation flights. We should look for places we're not a problem if there's 'spillage'. We know Red can't block it all and the Builders can't learn what they are if they're trying NOT to exercise what they are."
"We know where we're going, Dutch. We're going back seventeen thousand years."
"Do you all know where you're going, Dez?"
"Yes. Mom will barrier the girls in this time and Butch and she will protect themselves and the children at home."
"Dutch, if Maggie's going to maintain barriers for the girls, my only real objection is gone. One difficult premature birth was too many. Cass and Mike are both pregnant and Maggie's got a newborn, but I trust her and Butch to keep them barriered against anything that happens."
"That was my biggest concern as well, Clete. Why the smile, Lane?"
"This is where you tell Mike, Butch and Cass that they've been taken care of and it's boy talk from here on."
"I see. I say, 'OK, girls, you're taken care of. Now go away so we can talk over how those of us who aren't are going to deal with this.' Ooh, Mike did not like that at all."
"Mother Mike worries about us. Dutch, we're going to have a VERY good time. We're going to Yret Bahaille in the age of Tourvanlor the Great."
"I see, Cal. Well, they had a fairly low population at the time and you'll fit right in."
"Actually, we will. It was a time of dragons. Heroes walked the land, and we WILL walk. This takes five months. We'll meet at home for the birth of my son."
"Roughly corresponds to Earth's middle age? I'm going to be a giant."
"They were a fairly tall race even then, Sandy; big, rowdy and good-hearted in general. At the time we're going, they're expanding civilization. Admitted, it's pretty primitive by our standards, but it's there. Three men bearing swords and a magical beast are just what the troubadour ordered. There's something that needs to be done. The dragons don't belong there."
"Five months, longer than I'd planned to stay on this world. Lane?"
"We don't stay here, Dutch. We have something to do too. We're going to Prima Zon. Not far from this time. They have a problem. You solve it for them."
"Where are we going, Con?"
"A place called Mist, Turk. We're going to BE troubadours."
"That leaves us and you, Gallant. The Defenders request your company for awhile. You, Tel, Pip and I are going to have some good times too."
"An interesting invitation, Dan. I bring Alice?"
"Of course, you'd start missing her in about three HOURS. Besides, you'll need your ship. You're going to pay visits to most of us. Fight a dragon here, kiss a princess there, you'll have an interesting five months."
"Where are we going, Pierce?"
"Lu Cless du Avoceil, Ace. It's nine thousand years and four galaxies away. It WILL be work, but some of it will be fun. The work begins with Red telling us we need to get in shape."
"We do. We need to spend time getting ourselves back in condition. This last job consisted of too much luxury and too little exercise. You have tone to regain. Ace and Mick were injured and have muscle to rebuild. Ten days might BEGIN to get us back in shape."
"The next step is a chorus from Clete, Sandy, Turk and Dan that they're in agreement and ALL of us have need of at LEAST ten days of training regimen."
"At least. Dez drew a lot of our energy reserves and at least one out of every group was injured. Ten days really isn't enough."
"Clete's right. I'm not particularly fond of the thought, but I had holes in me. I can feel how low my energy levels are."
"Turk, I never thought I'd hear that from you. Cal and Dez, especially Cal, need to rebuild muscle tissue. I doubt ten days is really enough for you, Cal. You were hurt badly. So were you, Dan."
"Yes, Sandy, and I had bone damage. I'm going to be growing and adding mass. My body has decided, if I'm going to be that hard on it, it's going to get bigger and stronger. Gallant, don't look so disgusted. Tel will tell you I'm not QUITE the slave driver Clete is. He's NOT going to let you get away without working off the damage you took. I go for more lifting and sword work than ten/five/ten runs."
"I suppose you're right, Dan. ANY one is less of a slave driver than Clete."
"Thanks, Dad. Dan has plans to get a LOT of sword work in. I could feel his excitement when he said it. He plans on lessons while he has the chance. Dutch, I'd like to see India before we leave. I left rather abruptly."
"Yes, Clete, I imagine you did. When I teleported you back, you weren't wearing a shirt."
"You didn't warn me to grab it. I think Lane should see Varenya too. Whoa! Down, boy. Lane, you just hit every empath here with a blast of heat."
"Not just the empaths, Clete. Go on, Lane. I can tell by your smile, you were waiting for the suggestion."
"I was, Dutch. Later."
"He didn't waste any time. Clete, he's only been out of regen a few hours."
"The regeneration unit did a good job healing him and, since he was out of the loop the three days Dez was taking strength for Maggie, he isn't quite as depleted as some of you are. He could also trance to aid the healing. The rest of you couldn't. Besides, about every thirty minutes he gets a dazed look and I get warm. Training starts tomorrow, Dutch. Later."
"I've been deserted by everyone."
The huge white sentient cat called Puck jumped up on the couch and made as if to sit on Dutch's lap.
"Excuse me, Puck. I didn't mean everyone. Honest. You're so dependable, it went without saying... I'm not going to talk my way out of it? I didn't think so."
"We won't be leaving until tomorrow, Dutch. We have a night on the town planned. We have ladies we want to see again too."
"Wonderful. May I remind you, the ladies I found interesting are now on our home world, Cal?"
"We go out, Dutch. Believe it or not, I won't get you in as much trouble as Cal did a couple nights ago. We won't be anyplace there are chandeliers to swing from."
"Chandeliers? Tell me more, Dez."
"Gee, Turk, I'd love to, but every time I ask Cal about it he groans or giggles. I did hear Avis Jorn thought Gallant did a better strip. Of course, his was just for her, not most of the city."
"Good work. They're both pink. I've got dates for dinner. Shasta and Sheila are cooking in the kitchen of their new cooking school the first time tonight. I WILL eat well."
"There's no point in all of you looking at me. I am NOT going to tell you all to go see ladies. I'm jealous and I won't. Have fun."
"My, Dutch, you do know how to clear a room. Uh, uh, Dad. You four don't go see ladies."
"Mick, we don't."
"Yes, Pierce, I can see it. I can also see Red and Ace are not happy about it."
"It's necessary. We leave as soon as we all get hugs from our dads."
"Be careful, boys. I get four hugs and a rub from Cap?"
"Always, Dad. Safe journeys."
"The same to you, Ace. Oh my, you two changed quickly."
"Yeah, Dutch, Lane is ALMOST dressed."
"Look who's talking, Clete. There's a great deal more muscle than cloth in that outfit. We came for hugs."
"We figured the best time to leave was before you go to see Varenya, Dad."
"Probably wise, Pierce. My future memory of this evening was what was warming Clete up all day."
"Did you get a hug from everyone, Red?"
"Yes, Dutch. Evidently, everyone knew we were leaving but us."
"I told the nonwalkers, Red. You need to go, Dad."
"I know, Dez. No hug, Gallant?"
"Of course a hug, even if giving you one DOES make me nervous. Learn, Mick. Now, I have a lady I'd like to see too. Will I see you soon, Pierce?"
"Soon, Grandfather. We'll visit your younger self soon too."
"About TIME someone did. Just because I'm here now--"
"Doesn't mean you didn't need to see us then. See you soon. Both of you. Go on, Dad. We'll be fine."
"I worry, Ace."
"Dad, we ALL know that."
"Be careful."
"Come on, Dutch. They need to leave. Dad, you will learn the control you need. Take care of him, Ace. Later. Out the door so they can go, Dutch."
"Yes, Dez. Now what?"
"Now we go out. It's going to be a very warm night. Wear the white with diamonds. I'll come to Melissa after I've changed."
"You plan on wearing?"
"You'll see."
Dutch grinned when Dez walked in. He'd been fairly sure he knew what he planned on wearing.
"That could get you in trouble, Dez."
"It did the last time I wore it."
"I do remember that. Is there anywhere we WON'T be recognized in this town?"
"Silly question, but no one's going to mention they saw us where we're going tonight."
"Why does that make me nervous?"
"It's your job to be nervous. You do it better than anyone else. Dutch! Help. You've got me dizzy already. Don't make too many changes. This isn't all just for fun."
"Uh, oh. Now I'm not nervous. I'm worried."
Lane smiled when the housekeeper opened the door and ran off yelling, "Varenya, he's here!" He stepped inside and closed the door. The fragrance of the dooliravine he'd given her rocked him. He caught her on the wide staircase and swept her into his embrace.
"Lane, I--"
"You wanted to believe me when I said four days, but it wasn't easy."
"You were unconscious and covered with blood when those machines took you."
"I'm back. I'm healed. And Dutch found a way to make it three days instead of four. This door?"
"You don't waste any time. Yes, my rooms. How did they find you?"
"Dutch can always find any of us. He just couldn't come after me until Maggie and her child were out of danger. Taking that much psychic energy out of the bond... He could have taken some of what we'd given them. The dooliravine fills the house. We have this night, then--"
"You leave. Your work here is done. Come back, Lane."
"Oh, I will. Feel why. Feel what you do to me. In my case, fevered with desire is an understatement."
Lane kissed the woman who was the first to touch his deep passion in many years. As he deepened the kiss, rational thought fled.
Clete slipped in quietly. He brushed his fingers gently across the velvet fire he'd given her. The polyps, which resembled a scarlet rose made of velvet, responded by releasing their fragrance. He heard India shout his name from somewhere deep in the house and caught her in the hall as she ran toward him. She laughed in delight when he swung her around.
"Lane must be back and well or you wouldn't be brimming with happiness."
"He is. We're all a bit depleted, but we'll soon regain our strength."
"You're leaving."
"We can't stay. India, we'll be back. Lane and I... Neither of us had found a woman who stirred us so deeply in a long time. He programmed the coordinates for Varenya's home into Melissa's command file. He plans frequent visits."
"And Dutch?"
"He's pleased. He's already begun to tease Lane. Now, weren't we doing something when Dutch, basically, pulled me out of your arms?"
"Well, we'd started to do something."
Gallant groaned. The Jorn home was filled with people. His chances of quietly finding Avis and slipping away were minimal. Her father spied him and smiled. He raised one finger and pointed up. Gallant grinned and dashed for the staircase.
Hobern Jorn succeeded in keeping attention from wandering toward the hall. Gallant would be near mobbed by people delighted to see him. He caught his daughter's eye, smiled, winked, and pointed up. She ducked through the kitchen and ran up the back stairs.
Six other Gallant men found the women who would make Pastora an oft visited world.
Dutch wondered where Dez was leading him. The darkened warehouses around him didn't seem to offer a great deal in the way of entertainment.
"Dez, it's already begun to be a warm night."
"You can't complain, Dutch. You've sent Clete and Lane running for cold water too often."
"You know I'm not complaining. I just have the feeling I'm going to think of this world as the place Puck and I spend time in the swimming pool. I miss Red's barriers. I got spoiled."
"Back to normal. One of a bondgroup gets toasty, the rest run for company or cold water. That building. You're going to play some cards. Puck is going to enjoy cleaning up on the roulette wheel."
"Gambling? Here?"
"An unlicensed casino with a very high profit margin and no tax forms to fill out. Gambling on Pastora is restricted to a certain type of entertainment district and closely watched. The taxes pay for the rehab of people who develop a habit they can't afford. Many of the dealers, bartenders, waiters and cashiers have some type of good training in recognizing the signs. The result is a market for a place like this. It caters to people who aren't society. It's quite portable. Most of the clientele are spacers."
"It's still operating because?"
"Until recently, it was somewhere FOR the spacers. Too many have begun to lose their earnings here and their winnings in a nearby alley. We won't be recognized, at least not by anyone who's going to talk about it. We want to be invited to the back room."
"Oh, goody, a BACK room. Puck says that's too old to work as a plot line."
"I totally agree, Puck, but I wasn't given edit rights on the script. You play, Dutch. I'm your friend. I brought all the cash you need. Our real goal is the man in green. He wants you to bet me. Do it."
"No! Puck doesn't like it either."
"You'll win. We want what he puts up as his bet. He's got a piece of technology that's drifted a long way. He doesn't know what it is. He thinks he's found a gem of some kind. It's a data store. It's the most complete atlas of this universe in existence. I can build a reader. Some of the information on species is very important to us. He won't be happy about losing it."
"It still makes me nervous, Dez."
"Yes, but we need that store. It'll tell us who created the mechs."
"Dez, I don't want to destroy them, but they're inimical to life. They don't have any feelings. They don't have an awareness of them. They're without compassion, but does that mean it can't ever be there?"
"The more we learn about them, the greater the possibility you can find some way to stop them without destroying them. It's all I can give you. I can't even tell you it's a strong possibility. I see only war ahead, but I will always look for ways to ease your pain."
"I love you too. Where ARE we going?"
"It's rather practical to be much closer to the rear exit than the front door in an establishment such as this."
"Puck says he still doesn't like it, but he'll feel better after a beer and a run on the wheel. A collar?"
"It goes with our outfits and it'll really mess up the magnetic field generator in the roulette table. With this on, you'll be playing a straight wheel, Puck. Yes, it's Pierce's work. I did a bit of molecular magic. The collar itself disturbs the fields. There's no circuitry. Pierce liked the idea. Keep it in your pocket. You can put it on and take it off yourself."
"He likes it and wants a bit more information, and nose filters. I agree. This place smells!"
"It used to be a fish processing plant. The polarization in the collar is variable. Con added a bit too. Amazing what kind of information turns up in data store when Voyeur passes through a system. Puck, it will interfere with any magnetic field within a meter and a half."
"Puck, it would NOT be funny to stand next to people whose clothes were held on with magnalocks, especially if it was me. Oh, DO get out of our way. We obviously know what we walked through that maze to find. Now, open the door. Thank you. My, that was simple. I was afraid I'd have to say Joe sent me."
"Oh, Dutch. Let's get Puck established as a player, then move to the card tables. We'll get your invitation there."
The crowd around the roulette wheel made room for Puck when he drew a thousand cred note from the nontime pocket Dutch had made for him. The cash didn't impress them. The five centimeter claw on which it was impaled did.
Dutch ordered him a bowl of beer and had the croupier give him ten hundred cred chips. An interesting looking woman in her fifties thought Puck was a great person to back on the table. Dez pathed Dutch she'd see to it he was well taken care of. They headed for the card tables.
Dutch was a little surprised when Dez sat on the floor beside the chair he'd taken and leaned against his leg.
"You'll get dirty. Give me some cash."
"It'll brush right off."
Dez handed Dutch a large stack of bills and pathed him to be affectionate. They had to establish Dez was his playmate before they were invited to the back room. Dutch grinned and ran his fingertips down Dez' chest beneath the open jacket. He shivered and arched to his touch.
"You're mine, Dez."
"Body, blood and life, I am yours, Lord."
It was true. Dez was the wielder of the creative force. He was the primary target of the destructive force. Only the chosen champion of life could keep him alive. That was Dutch. It hadn't been easy for Dez to give himself to him. It had been more difficult for Dutch to take him. They'd finally resolved it and the love that had always existed between them became even stronger.
Dutch smiled softly and laid his ante on the table. Dez was blocking some of the heat coming through the bond. Holding it within himself to keep it from him. He wondered if he knew how he was doing it.
Dutch accumulated a pile of winnings and groused a bit at the table limit. He stated blackjack was all right, but he was looking for a good game of poker. A man leaned down beside him and asked if he could handle a high stakes game. Dutch laughed and snapped his fingers. Dez pulled stacks of cash from nontime. The man nodded, told Dutch to cash in and indicated a door at the back of the room.
He didn't bother cashing in. He just gave up his place to Puck. The woman who had played the wheel with him took a seat by him. She smiled and put a large stack of thou cred chips in front of each of them.
"He's very good."
"His name is Puck. He says you're pretty good too. He enjoys your company. He says beautiful company always makes the evening more pleasurable. Puck, I found a poker game. Find me when you're ready. Come on, Dez."
"Dutch, it's about to get VERY hot. A lot of heat... A lot of my dad's excess power is going to hit us. We're going to be very attractive to these people and each other."
"They didn't get far enough away. We keep them at bay by obviously being only interested in each other."
"Well, not quite. You establish you think of me as yours by sending me to a group of ladies sitting at one end of the room. You take me back when I get REAL warm. It'll be obvious you and I both think of me as yours."
"I see. That warm. This is beginning to make me VERY nervous."
"It's rather close to the edge, but not the card game or the bet."
"Hot and bothered and at my feet."
"It won't be the first time."
"No, that's true. Gina was rather happy when the war with the arkoosans ended and you weren't lying across the foot of my bed."
"Dutch, before we go in. My training is going to break down. I'll be out of it. This is the only time I see it happening in my future memory. I draw off the heat from my father. Everything Red can't block, I take. It frees me. I spread a lot of it around, but I WON'T be in control."
"Oh boy, I like this less and less. Frees you how?"
"Would you believe I'm repressed? I break through to the rest of my heritage from my father. I'll never be what he is, but I don't come far from reaching it."
"You sexier. I think that scares me. I suppose I'm going to get hit with a lot of this too, aren't I?"
"Sorry about that. Take care of me."
"I always will. You SURE we need this data store?"
"If we don't take advantage of the coincidence of it being here... If the mechs get it, they'll have the mineral surveys of a billion billion planets."
"They'd compute the logistics and expand faster. Let's go get it. Gentlemen, I was informed this game is more suited to my taste."
"There's an empty chair. No limit. Ante's a thou. Where's he pulling that cash from?"
"Where he keeps it for me. He says it's just a magic trick based on math. His father worked it out. Dez, that group of women like your suit. Let them have a closer look, a lot closer look."
"But... Yes, My Lord."
"Hey, one of those women is mine."
"Don't worry. I plan on taking him back when he gets nice and warm."
Dez played reluctant and Dutch gave him a slight shove. He actually was a bit reluctant. Dutch had no idea how warm things were going to get. He walked slowly toward the group of women on the big couches. He walked into the center of them and knelt on the floor.
"Ladies, you are all so beautiful. He sent me among you. He likes me warm."
Dutch attempted to slow his metabolism again. He played out the hand and was VERY glad one of the players called for a break. He tried to reach Dez mentally and backed off quickly. He was beyond coherent thinking. He walked over and pulled him from among the women. He was hot to the touch and trembling. He was also pulsing with energy which Dutch saw as light and felt as searing desire. He wondered how much was coming from Mick and how much from Dez himself.
"He's hot. Real hot. I don't usually find men interesting. I'd make an exception in his case."
"I did, Raille. He's beautiful and he's mine. He responds nicely."
"Shivers every time you touch him. Be willing to play for him?"
"I've never seen anything I wanted that badly. He's useful if I want a room full of women warmed up. He does anything I say. He says he loves me. I like it."
"He makes me want to touch him and I'm not the only one."
"I know. He chose me because I can keep him from being mobbed. Open the door for my friend Puck. If he gets impatient, he'll break it down."
Dutch picked Dez up and sat down in a big chair with him in his lap. Puck padded over and sat down beside it. He gave Dutch an image of an ice field and Dez melting it. Dutch smiled and agreed. He ran his hands over Dez and decided it had definitely been a mistake when he moaned softly and pulled his hand to him. Dutch noticed Raille was sweating when he pulled a deep teal crystal from his pocket.
"I'll bet this against him. My analyses say it's a dense silicate. It's five times as hard as diamond."
"I don't believe it."
"It's super dense and crystal clear. Here. Feel it. It's heavy. Every test I could do said the same thing. It can't exist, but it does."
Suddenly Dutch realized what Dez had done. He became very angry. He knew some of the anger wasn't his, but couldn't keep it out of his voice.
"Give me the key, Dez."
"Can't. Don't have it. Do it, Dutch."
Dutch dropped him on the card table. He was nearly enraged. He struggled against it. Too much was his own.
"He says he doesn't have the key for the ring. It makes me angry. Let's play."
"Those gems real?"
"I doubt it. I don't pay for things I don't have a key for. Don't touch him. He's not yours. Give him the jewel to hold. Puck, keep the rest of them back."
"One hand. Five card draw."
"Agreed. Deal."
Dutch won the hand, picked up the jewel, put a hand on Puck and they disappeared. Raille looked at Dez writhing on the table and grinned.
Dutch was furious when he reached Melissa. So furious, he poured himself a brandy before he called Dez to him. Dez arrived as he always did with nothing but sword and coronet. It was the way to get the ring off him. The mark it had left was livid. He was so angry he didn't notice there was no mist around Dez.
"I am here, Lord. What would you have of me?"
"Kneel there until I release you. Come on, Puck. Let's go for a swim. Yes, I'm terribly angry. I'm working on it. No, I won't leave him there long."
Dez was near maddened with the heat he was getting through the psychic bond the family shared. He held his place with his will to obey Dutch. Finally, he begged him to release him. Dutch ran for him. The call had been desperate.
"I release you. Why, Dez? Why?"
"To force me to contain the power. To make it build. Dutch, help me. Please."
Mick was near terrified. His son was burning and he was the cause. His voice was filled with pain.
"Pierce, you knew we wouldn't get far enough. I can't stop it."
"I knew, Mick. We all did."
"Then why? No, I can't do this to you. Put me down somewhere. Get away fast."
"No. We're not afraid of you, Mick. You don't revolt us. We've known what would happen. We're here. We won't let you run from what you are and we won't run from you. Ace, tell him."
"It's simple. We love you."
"Ace, you CAN'T know what you're doing. Oh! Ace--"
"We have to learn to hold it within us. You won't burn us up. Look at Pierce's future memories. This MUST happen or we'll never learn to handle it. We don't resent it. You don't want to see it as it is. Look, Mick. I said LOOK AT THE TRUTH. Surrender to me!"
"I surrender. I have no choice."
"No, Mick, you don't. You couldn't make it; therefore, it became mine. Release what you are to us. Levitate. Red, your barrier leaks."
"Dez is channeling what I can't contain through himself."
"He'll be all right, Mick. I promise."
"I trust you, Pericles. I always have. Apollo, I give you what I am. Roberrin, protect the others. Please."
"Ace, he's terrified and totally trusting."
"I knew that when he called us by our full names, Red. Michael, we love you. We're prepared. Well, as prepared as we can be. Free your power!"
Dez arched and screamed. It was hours before it ended and he and Dutch truly became coherent again.
"Dez, I hurt you badly."
"Did get a little out of hand, didn't it? I had to keep most of it between us. I'm afraid Gallant, Clete, Lane, Cal and my grandfather got a pretty hefty charge. I tried not to hit Sandy with it. Oh, I've got pieces loose."
"Trance. I'll put you in the regeneration unit. I broke some of your ribs. Why did it become violent?"
"Me. I GET violent. You're not, but I can't take a swing at chains of circumstance that keep my life at risk. The anger builds. Usually I arrange to get in a fight with you. I can't win and you knock it out of me."
"I see. I don't know whether to laugh or cry."
"Laugh. I just made every male in the family sexier. Do you know they call you the Blond Bombshell and the three of you the Blond Bombers?"
"Sounds like a-- It WAS a roller derby team! All women!"
"Only in a movie, I think. You know, this regen unit is getting to be as comfy as my bed. Dutch, it wasn't one sided. You need to heal too. Night."
Clete and Lane met on the lift to the penthouse suite. Clete knew Lane had arranged it that way.
"How bad, Lane?"
"Dez is in regen and Dutch is in trance. Easy! He'll only be in for about twenty minutes, then he'll sleep for about an hour. It'll give us time to clean up."
"Clean up? Lane, talk to me."
"Melissa looks as if someone fought a war in the living room, blood everywhere. Dez took everything Red couldn't block. He kept most of it between them. It got crazy when he broke through to his own passion."
"Say what? Lord, what a mess!"
"Clete, Dez is your grandchild and mine and Mick's son. He's always been hot, but not really passionate."
"Women in groups. He finds pleasure in them and he returns it. Heat, but no fire. Arousal, but no desire."
"Dutch was the only one who could free... He'll actually be less wild. Of course, that's only by comparison."
"Lane, there's a LOT of blood."
"Most of it belongs to Dez. Hello, Puck. Oh, you feel waterlogged? Most of the night in the pool? Yes, they worked each other over again. I know. The love doesn't diminish even when they're fighting. Dutch always gives him what he needs. Yes, I had a very nice night."
"Let's get to work. We don't want Dutch to see this. He'd drown me in guilt for months. I know he didn't notice or I'd already be feeling it."
"True. I'm tempted to just restructure the holoreality, but that would only get me out of part of the work. We have help coming. Get rid of the cushions. I'll replicate new ones. You start on the carpet. I'll get walls and upholstery. We'll be done in time to start breakfast."
One by one they drifted in. Plants were repotted and furniture repaired or replaced. Two items in the living room had been carefully, almost instinctively, avoided. The grand piano and perfectly preserved cel from Disney's Snow White were untouched by the violence that had made a shambles of the rest of the room. Gallant walked in as they were finishing putting it in order. He headed straight for Cal.
"We talk. Now."
"Let the others leave and Clete and Lane go to start breakfast. Just us Gallant. Sandy, start breakfast. You know how hungry I am."
"Yeah, my stomach's been growling in sympathy."
The room quickly cleared. Gallant pointed at a chair and Cal sat.
"What happened? I nearly lost control and hurt a woman I really care about. That doesn't happen to me."
"It nearly happened to all of us. Don't tell Dutch or Dez. Gallant, Dez triggered something in us all. You too."
"Me? Explain."
"I'll try. When Hensk tampered with you, he kept you from complete maturity. Mick's power, it's in all of us. You don't want to know why. I don't want to know why. I know it exists in Maggie. She told me what it was."
"Will I--"
"No. It won't be wild and near violent again. On the other hand it will make your life a bit more difficult. You'll draw women like bees to a field of flowers. It makes it more difficult for us to have children. There must be real feeling before we can create new life. The woman must be fairly high psi. That's why Lily, Rose, Heather and Mary were so important to us. They already love us all and they have very high psi sensitivity. Most bernisi do. Many adithi and humans have it as well, but very few will love us ALL."
"I see. My daughters?"
"Leaven in the bernisi race. Their world gives our world many children over time. You waited who knows how long to come among us. Last night repaired the damage Hensk did to you. We didn't see it coming until Dutch sent Tel to the Builders and said fix Mick. I think his people may have been trying to create one of us."
"What?"
"He's too much like us. His body wasn't, but Dutch wanted Lan as his son the first time he touched him. He sensed he was one of us. Mick is more so. His mental powers are extremely strong, but... Gallant, when we find that world, it's obvious. The ruling class wasn't even the same SPECIES as the rest. Probably never were. My grandfather didn't come from a small greenish race with seven fingered hands and triple jointed arms. Elan won't speak of her people. I learned Lan had no ancestral memory of seeing more than the forty who ruled and their daughters. Only the 'perfect' were brought for the king to sire children. He didn't know where the daughters came from. He had no knowledge of what happened to any child not 'perfect', or what happened to women who were no longer brought to the king. I didn't ask any more questions. It hurt my grandfather too much to look at his memory of a hundred generations used as studs for a breeding program and called kings."
"What exactly did last night trigger in me?"
"Look in a mirror."
"What?"
"You're going to look about twenty-five in a few days. We all will. You'll look like a cousin, not a father. I know, you've looked forty-something for millennia. Welcome to your second youth. Your laugh lines are already starting to disappear. You'll grow a bit too, a cen or two. Gallant, you have a quality that makes you the most beautiful of us. It's become more noticeable. Wear the circlet. It'll keep you from being mobbed by peasants."
"I don't think I'm pleased. I worked for my wrinkles. I like the way I look. It makes me uncomfortable."
"You'll get used to it, honest. Remember, this fixed what Hensk did. Oh, and you glow."
"I WHAT?!"
"We all do. Most of the time it's unnoticeable, but when you get excited anyone with high psi will see it. It won't be a problem."
"I'm going to look like I'm twenty-five, attract women, glow in the dark and it WON'T be a problem."
"Exactly. Later."
"Oh, help. Lane!"
"In here, Dad!"
"Did you KNOW what was going to happen?"
"It won't be a problem, Dad. At least we don't all look fifteen."
"What are you two talking about?"
"We're getting younger looking again, Clete. Dutch's tiny little worry lines will disappear. He'll start working on getting them back though."
"How young, Lane?"
"Not bad. We'll look about twenty-five."
"WONderful. Dutch is awake, worried and feeling guilty. We tease?"
"Definitely. Hello, Dutch. I thought you two were going to play QUIETLY."
"Uh, things got a little out of hand, Lane."
"I've told you boys roughhousing is to be kept out of the living room. You might break something. Like each other?"
"Yeah, Dad. It was--"
"Beyond your control, Dutch. A good part of what happened was because Mick was terrified and COULDN'T fight or run. It's going to be an interesting five months while they learn to control it, but the terror's gone."
"Dez didn't realize that's what it was, Lane."
"Don't tell him. He took Mick's anger at the terror along with what Red couldn't block. He held it away from the Builders. Sandy felt it. You know Dez doesn't want to know it. Sandy said Dez was near hysterical. Usually a shouted calm down or, if necessary, a slap is all that's needed. Did you just knock over my schefflera, or did you drop it on his head?"
"Actually, I think he dropped it on mine. I dropped the palm on him. Thanks for cleaning up the mess. I'm hungry. Smells wonderful."
"Dutch, you can quit worrying about your worry lines. They're going away."
"What? Please explain that statement, Dad."
"Well, according to Cal, we're all going to look about twenty-five in a few days, me included. Dez seems to have done a facelift on us all."
"Oh, my. Anything else I should know?"
"Not really. Well, you should probably know we all seem to have acquired a great deal of Mick's sex appeal and we glow in the dark."
"WHAT?!"
"But only to people with fairly high psi and it's not very noticeable til we get excited. Dez was keeping it pretty well under control until you dropped the palm on him. His concentration slipped a bit. Was pretty intense for a few moments."
"Just how--"
"Cal told me to wear the circlet to keep the peasants from mobbing me. I DO have a few things to say to Dez. If he doesn't giggle, I won't put him back in regen. This gives new meaning to the phrase the glow of health."
"He's awake, but rather timid about coming out."
"Clete, he's going to be teased about this and he knows it. It was his power that made it happen this way, not Mick's. He'd have made us glow when he got excited. Only Dez could make us glow when WE get excited."
"I'll go get him."
Dutch felt like laughing. He walked in, opened the unit and grinned.
"Dez, the worry lines really didn't bother me THAT much. You didn't have to change everyone to make them go away. Damn! You're going to have to carry a stick to beat them off."
"So are you, Dutch. I just upped your charisma. You're not more beautiful, but a LOT more people will notice. Lane's the one I really did a number on."
"He didn't say anything about that."
"I enhanced his other-worldly quality. I also made the magic symbols on him permanent. They won't be gone in a few years. He hasn't noticed them in his memory yet. He won't notice til he looks in a mirror and sees they've changed."
"Changed?"
"I redesigned them. Dutch, I really DON'T know how I did it."
"DEZ!"
"Uh, hi, Lane. Shall I bother washing off the regen mist?"
Lane sat down on the floor, looked at Dez, shook his head twice and giggled. There just wasn't any other reasonable response.
"I have iridescent curls in my HAIR. There are symbols on my palms. Help."
"What kind of symbols, Lane?"
"I have NO idea. Ask him."
"I don't know either, Dutch. They were already there. I just added sparkle."
"Whoa! Back up. Already there?"
"Quite clear. He was in my mind a moment and all the symbols were glowing and I said, 'Oh, THAT'S how they're supposed to be. The women got them wrong.' and I fixed them."
"The pentacle is the only one I recognize, Dutch. There's a seven-pointed shape on... Oh, help."
"Dez?"
"Well, it doesn't ALL sparkle anymore."
Dutch laid down on the floor and laughed with Lane. Clete came in to see why he felt like giggling. Gallant found them all rolling around the surgery floor, helpless with laughter. Dutch couldn't talk, so he pathed the reason. Gallant sat down, buried his face in his hands, groaned, then laughed with them. He couldn't say too much. He'd gotten them into the situation that had gotten Lane decorated in the first place.
Dez and Gallant had breakfast with them. Shortly afterward, everyone piled in to get hugs and give Clete the coordinates of their destinations. Clete never forgot a number. Mick pathed and mentally checked them over. His relief they were all well was obvious in the touch of his thoughts.
Turk and Con left first. Gallant smiled, put on the elegant circlet of platinum and gold and left with Dan and Tel. Dutch picked Dez up, put him over his shoulder and carried him to the swimming pool. He dropped him in and jumped in on top of him. They played. It was a change and it made Dez incredibly happy. The wild violence of the night before would not be the time they spent together freshest in his mind.
Cal, Sandy and dripping, giggling, Dez left and the three brothers and Puck were suddenly alone. Dutch smiled softly.
"Got real quiet real fast, didn't it? I'm going to get dry and changed, then I want to talk."
* * * *
Paradox Equation Page
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Copyright © 1999 Sharon L 'Spinner' Reddy
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