Eli and Michael Gathering · Page 3

Currently the routine looks like this:

Michael’s routine M14:
1-2 Continue making clothing
2-3 Eat
3-5 Physical training- Eli's basic style practice
5-7 Physical training- laps – running around outside perimeter of Umak Tek
7-7.5 Physical training- laps - walking around outside perimeter of Umak Tek
7.5-8.5 Eat
8.5-10 Bowl
10-12 Practice Eli’s basic style
12-14 Make Clothing
14-15.5 Physical training - stretching
15.5-17.5 Physical training - laps – running as above - with loaded pack
17.5-18 Physical training - laps – walking as above - with loaded pack
18-19 Eat
19-20 Make Clothing

Do you concur, or did I miss something or does something need revision? Actually, somehow in the process of eliminating training Eli in psionic devices, your own study of them seems to have dropped off the list. Are you sticking with that?

--M. J. Young

Well, I'm missing an hour of my 20 hour schedule in there again. it would have to be 0-20 or 1-21 to be 20 hours. I'll practice with the psionic drill at the end of the day to fill that hour.

Later I may move away from practicing with the psionic drill and towards learning the items I haven't learned, but that's not now. For now I'm just continuing the above schedule with the added psionic drill practice after the 19-20 make clothing.

Seven days after Eli has versed out, you have made about twenty-five yards (at five foot wide) of the thin smooth nylon-like grasscloth, which is probably ample for making everything you intend to make from it; your plan included making something from the heavier and rougher burlap-like creepercloth, which you have not yet made, and you have to work out how you are going to pattern, cut, and sew the material you have.

Meanwhile, you are getting a bit more comfortable with the psi drill, and your physical condition overall is improving as is your ability to do the basic stance and maneuvers Eli taught you. It is not what anyone would call measurable improvement, but you can tell that it is helping you overall.

I need to put a stamina and a will power on your sheet because those are both being impacted by your current routine. What are your thoughts on your relative ability in these areas?

--M. J. Young

Stamina I'd say I'm about average, so 1@5 probably.

As for Will Power I'd say I'm a decent amount above average, as it's not easy to trick me or lie to me, so probably 1@7.

I'll start getting ready to make the clothing I have the cloth for now, and handle the heavier cloth making afterward. For the pattern I'm going to ask Paul and Annie if they have any idea of how to create patterns for clothing, as I currently don't. For the scissors I'm going to attempt to make them out of plastic steel, two bladed edges that have round handles and are equal in size. I'll then drill a hole in them using the psionic drill and use a nail to act as the hinge. The needle I'll also make with plastic steel, shaping the needle shape, and then allowing it to harden then using the psionic drill to create the hole for the needle to go through. Since both of these need either sharp edges or bladed edges I'll use the hammer I have from my original equipment list to form these shapes more easily.

...it's not easy to trick me or lie to me, so probably 1@7.

Annie suggests that you look at how your own clothes are made, and cut pieces in the shapes used for them--a bit bigger, so you have some to fold over into the seams.

--M. J. Young

Oh, how stubborn am I, that's depends on how the person trying to persuade me is.

I'm very easily swayed when arguments are put into logical statements. (Existing knowledge/acknowledgment of previous points are true and subsequent proof based upon these points)

Conversely I'm almost impossible to convince that something is true without proof unless I see it myself. (Silly example would be had I never been outside before and someone tried convincing me the sky was blue just because it was, I would not accept that by any means. In this case I would be extraordinarily stubborn until a logical argument was proposed)

As such I'm not really sure how to rate myself. If I'm being persuaded in the right way (logical argument stated to convince me of a point) I'm not very stubborn at all and tend to accept the statement rather quickly. Probably 1@3 or 1@4.

However I'm very very stubborn if facts aren't provided to back up a statement. In the case of "You'll have to trust me that this is true" I almost never due, probably closer to 1@9 or so.

I'll attempt to use the plastic steel to form flat sheets that are relatively thin and then use my shirt as a template and the psionic drill to cut around the shirt with about 1.5 inches outside from the shirt itself, just to be both safe and have room to sew the shirt together.

Ah, but stubbornness is not simply about yielding to an argument. Can you resist temptation? Can you do another sit-up after having done more than you thought you could? Can you quit a bad habit? Can you stand your ground to a bully? Can you stick by your decisions once you have made them? Can you finish the project even after it seems hopeless or moot? Can you stay on a diet? Do you have will power?

You easily roll out quarter-inch thick sheets flat (from the cleared clay work surface) on one side, a bit uneven on the other, which harden by nightfall.

You place your T-shirt flat on the surface, and get in close with the psionic drill. You focus your mind on it, aim it carefully, and get a potent beam from it, which cuts through the plastic steel easily as you move along the desired line--and then it shuts down. You have cut about two and a half inches, a quarter of an inch wide. The line is good, though.

You can shift to a different strategy, or we can pursue this one shot at a time, or you can authorize me to keep rolling for so many minutes (one shot per minute) and report the results, or you can authorize me to keep rolling until either you have completed the task or you botch.

--M. J. Young

Oh, that definition makes it much clearer, thank you. I'd rate myself at around 1@7 for that then, I'm pretty good at holding my ground/not becoming addicted to things/pushing myself.

As for the cutting, I'll continue until I finish or botch. Hopefully the prior.

Your next shot advances you another inch or so, but the next is deflected by the surface. You move another inch, and then on the next shot you mar the surface but don't penetrate, and then the weapon fails to fire at all on the next try. Another success, and you have managed to cut a total of six inches in maybe six or seven minutes, but you keep going, cutting another long inch, another long inch, another failure, and another two and a half inches, not yet a foot but making progress. The next shot cuts a long three and a half inches, but the next only mars the surface. Then you do another inch, another two and a half inches, and then the gun fails to fire, and then it fires but only mars the surface again, and the next shot deflects without leaving a mark. You then cut another inch, and another two and a half inches, and you've now cut just over twenty-one inches, and passed the midway point somewhere over the collar.

I assumed that you put the bottom edge of the shirt along the bottom edge of the plate, and began from the edge to cut around. That seemed as good a method as any, and if you'd meant something different I expect you would have said.

You have been doing this for twenty minutes, and your brain needs a break, and you're getting a bit thirsty, too.

--M. J. Young

I'll get a drink then and sit down outside propped against a wall and relax, resting my eyes but not going to sleep. I'll just try to clear my mind and take a drink every so often, not really focusing on anything.

I'll do this for probably half an hour, or if I'm extraordinarily tired for an hour, after which I'll resume my schedule.

You return to the task, and you manage to make two more good cuts to cover another five inches.

On your next attempt the drill does not work, but your mind suddenly opens to the thoughts of someone or something outside yourself.

"Ah, preparing for combat! Excellent. What battles have you fought of late?"

--M. J. Young

"I am still preparing, I have much to learn and unfortunately no one to learn from so it is slow going. I haven't been in any battles recently as I have met no opponents to confront. Could you possibly advise me how I could prepare for battle faster?"

Am I completely engrossed by the conversation with this something or am I still functioning in my physical body? Main reason I'm asking is whether or not I'll be able to go and talk to Paul about what might be going on.

It is a strong telepathic link, but you are still aware of your surroundings and in control of your body.

The voice says, "Ah, a child. Spar with your peers and get advice from your elders, and learn to use the world spheres to understand the problems of combat in different worlds. Face the dangers of the world as you are able, the enemies I have put here to challenge my warriors toward excellence! Soon you, too, will be part of our invasions."

--M. J. Young

"Things are in disarray where I am, there are no elders to assist and no peers to spar with. Regardless I have begun preparing myself through the only world sphere I have access too, and training myself in all the weapons I have access to. How will I know when I will be part of the invasion?"

"Where are the elders? Where are your peers? The world ought to be filled with kraal; surely there is someone who can train you! The vast kraal armies are not all deployed."

--M. J. Young

"I honestly don't know, I only recently arrived in this world. I wish to follow the path of the kraal, despite not being blessed in the body of one. I have met none however, only learned of them through the devices I have been training with. I will follow your direction wherever you send me however, all I ask it to be pointed in the direction to prepare better. Possibly to be allowed to aid in the invasion, despite my inferior physical form."

"You are not kraal?"

There is menace in the feel of the thought.

--M. J. Young

"I'm afraid not. I would be willing to act as a vessel for you to learn where the kraal are however, if you but allow me to, or whatever else would please you."

You realize that you are about to be attacked by a powerful psionic opponent. You have mere seconds to attempt anything.

--M. J. Young

I'll attempt to force the psionic connection closed. I guess this is an attempt to develop a skill? My goal is to sever the mental connection currently active. He can probably reconnect easily enough but maybe it'll delay this attack. I'll close my eyes like I do when I try to connect to the psionic devices like the computer and visualize cutting off all connections outside my own mind.

While you are attempting to figure out how to do this, you are abruptly hit with something best analogized as "someone took the defibrilator paddles and applied them to your brain". You are definitely injured, and trying to think straight. After a moment, you gather all your mental strength and attempt to push the alien mind out of yours--unsuccessfully.

It seems to be gathering power for another strike, but you may have a moment to try again or try something else, as you prefer.

--M. J. Young

Do I need a change of circumstance before I'm able to try to push him out again?

If I don't, then I'd like to try again, it currently seems like my best course of action.
I'll be struggling to get this to work until I die if I'm allowed.

If I can't try again due to no change of circumstance I'll run to the psionic museum and try to put on and activate the psionic helmet. I remember being told it offered some psionic defenses, doubt it will be enough but it might give me enough time.

You can try once per minute unless you botch. You can also take physical action while you do so.

Your second attempt to eject the other mind from yours fails.

--M. J. Young

Ok, I'll dedicate my efforts towards trying that every minute. While doing this I'll run to Paul and Annie and ask if they know how to sever a telepathic connection, and explain I'm being attacked psionically.

You run to find Paul or Annie, and make one more concerted effort to force the presence out of your mind. You feel a huge surge of power as every synapse in your brain fries.

Let's pick this up in a new thread, Michael Warlock.

--M. J. Young