You teach yourself the skill. Sometimes Ishara resists smiling despite the suggestion; sometimes you have trouble placing ideas in Bob's oddly different mind. However, you continue practicing.
--M. J. Young
Awesome! I'll continue practicing with different suggestions. I'll try and get Miralla to blow a kiss at me during meal times, and the captain hum a tune during meals.
Pharaoh
Assuming this is practice, all I can tell you is that sometimes it works and more often it doesn't. If you want specifics, it ceases to be practice and we have to roll for each attempt.
Otherwise, things continue as normal.
--M. J. Young
I'm just going to keep practicing this along with my other psionic evdeavors. When I'm ready to try something specific, or really big, I'll let you know. Train, train and more training. Practice, practice and moe practice.
Pharaoh
After a few days of this, a meeting is called.
The captain asks Ann to explain the purpose.
"I don't know how many of you know about Ruth Mekita. She's a resistance organizer who moves from planet to planet, helping local resistance units, well, get organized. She trains them in weapons and tactics, and helps them learn how to pick targets and carry out missions. Then once they're ready to continue without her, she moves to another planet.
"I just picked up a message which I recognize as her request for transport. She's a few systems away from here, and is hoping someone can pick her up and take her to her next destination, which she hasn't included in the message."
"I've worked with Ruth," Ishara says. "I'm all for helping her in any way we can."
"It's not what we'd call a safe mission," Banson says. "After all, if Ann knows Mekita's signal, there's the chance that the Federation knows it as well. Even if we are certain that Mekita did send this signal, and that it's not Federation bait, there is still the possibility that the Federation also received it, and if so they will be sending someone to attempt to capture her, and possibly also whoever comes for her."
"Which is why we should do it," Ishara replies. "They won't expect us; they won't send a force sufficient to be a serious threat to Destiny. We can easily dispatch their force and get out before they can get reinforcements."
"That is," Alexander says, "if they didn't do this to lure us to this planet in the first place. But I agree with Ishara: we are the best people to do this. What does anyone else think?"
--M. J. Young
"Well, I don't suppose there's any way to confirm this, so I say we go for it."
Pharaoh
"Torbin: time to orbit at speed factor five," and Captain Alexander gives what must be the name of the planet. The computer answers.
"Fifteen hours, thirty-seven minutes."
"Thank you. Set course and engage. When we get there, we'll have to figure out how to contact and locate her without the Federation interfering."
"We could get there faster," Marilyn suggests.
"Yes, but we don't want to call undue attention to ourselves. Anything over factor five is going to be noticed. Let's not advertise this yet. On the way, I need a bridge crew who can spot trouble and handle it; we'll need a landing team of at least three, at least one of whom knows Mekita well enough to confirm her identity; but I want that team well rested, so that they can respond to trouble."
"Ishara should be on the team," George says. "He knows her best, and he's the best with small arms. I'll stand by on weapons systems en route. I'm assuming that if we're engaged, we make a run to lead the Fed forces away?"
"Yes, and that means Gary will be at the helm for this trip. I'll get some rest, and take over when we get there. Who else for what?"
--M. J. Young
"I'll go on the landing team, but I would like to request that my wife and Bob remain on board. I don't particularly want them in harm's way on this one. I suggest that everyone who can get some rest before we arrive. We should be sharp."
I there's nothing more I'll try alert rest before we arrive. If I fail, it leaves me a window to get the real thing.
Pharaoh
"All right, that means right now Ann is on her communications post, with Gary at the helm and George on weapons. When we get there, I'll take the helm; Ishara and Pharaoh are going down with one more, I think--Tom--"
"Me?" The thief seems genuinely agitated, but that's his normal state, really. "Why me?"
Ishara answers. "We might need your expertise, depending on what we find. It would be better to have someone who can deal with locks and security systems rather than have to have them send you to us later."
"Right," John says as if that settled it. "Toni will work the transporter when we get there, and then take over in engineering so Burly can get some rest. I will want someone on the bridge with me on the way out--Phil, is there any reason that shouldn't be you?"
"Given that George will need to sleep, I would say Ishara should be on weapons at that point, but we don't know for certain that everyone will come back in good shape, so I'll expect to have to cover whatever has to be covered."
"Which is a good point. Miralla and Marilyn, you're our medical team; be ready to deal with casualties if we have any, and also, I'll want a complete medical check on Mekita when we get her on board. We want to make sure she's healthy; we also want to be reasonably certain she is who we think. Pharoah and Tom, you'll stay with her at all times until we've confirmed this. Have I covered everything?"
"What should I do?" Bob asks.
"Stand by at the transporter, and stay with our guest for the present. If Pharoah or Tom are injured, we'll need someone to watch her while they're treated. Does that cover everyone and everything?"
--M. J. Young
I think that covers it. I'll get my gear checked and ready for the mission. I'll be taking the same gear I did on the last mission. Hopefully my weapons skills with lasers has improved a little. But if not, there's always my lajatang.
"What's this planet we're going to like? Any indig lifeforms I should know about? Terrain? Climate?"
Pharaoh
"Those are good questions. Torbin, are there any outstanding features of the planet of our destination, specifically significant life forms, terrain features, and climate?"
"Working. There are thirty-three thousand nine hundred forty-two documented species indigenous to this planet, ten notable studied geological features, and six climatic regions. Please focus your question for specific information."
"Well, Pharoah? What do we want to know? We don't know where Mekita is, and won't until we get there, so information about climate and terrain might not be very useful at this point, but maybe you've got some insights into what to ask?"
--M. J. Young
Ok. In all terrains, are there any potentially deadly or hostile life forms? Are there any indiginous humaniod life forms? Or is this just some rock that luckily is able to sustain human life?
Pharaoh
The planet is warm and moist, excellent for agriculture, but primarily lush forest and jungle. There are no known intelligent species (at least by Federation standards) anywhere in the galaxy besides humans, but there are warrior primates in the jungles, plus a number of powerful feline, canine, ursine, crocodillian, and avian predators--the avians too small to pose a threat to people. Populated/cultivated ground is guarded against the larger and more dangerous creatures, and no venemous creatures have been identified.
--M. J. Young
Was Pharoah sober when he versed out? If not, does he remain intoxicated the entire time he verses?
Ok. I suppose that's all I need to know for now. I'll wait for the landing mission.
Pharaoh
Oh and Wicker, the difference between us is I get drunk, and you're an asshole. I can always sober up.
Well said Pharaoh
You and your companions return to your quarters where you attempt to replace sleep with alert rest; after an hour you realize you're not resting, so you sleep for several hours and awaken hungry with about five hours before landing.
Miralla appears to have stayed up; she says that those alert rest techniques are pretty useful when they work. Bob is also rested.
--M. J. Young
Ok. No sense risking our lives on an empty belly. We'll grab some food, and check our gear once more.
When the time comes, we'll meet the others and head off to the planet.
Pharaoh
Food is plentiful, and soon you are kitted up for your mission.
Ann has gotten coordinates for a point apparently in the forest a few miles outside a particular settlement where Mekita's people will meet you. It's a security precaution at her end, to ensure that you are not Federation spies pretending to be Resistance.
You don the harness required for the teleporter, and the three of you step onto the platform. Toni activates it, and after that sensation of having your molecules disintegrated you find yourself standing in the woods.
What have you brought or worn for this trip?
--M. J. Young
My armor (trenchcoat and faceplate included), lajatang, what ever energy pistol they have in this scenario ( I forget), goo grenades, bowie knife, and whatever landing team gear they provide.
Pharaoh
The energy weapon is a kinetic blaster; the only other gear they provide is a teleporter harness with communicator. You have to be wearing it to beam up. They'll also give a spare to the team, for Mekita, since that's the most practical way of bringing her aboard.
It is dusk, so the woods are gloomy; you hear the sound of a vehicle not far off, and in a moment can see headlights of something like a car moving along what must be a road through the trees. You are not on the road, and can't see it from here, but it must be ahead, and the car is moving right to left across your field of vision.
Ishara says, "we should get closer to the road; this might be her, but we need to be able to see them, and they will need to know where to stop to meet us."
"Why don't we just wait and see if they stop? Then if they look right, we can call out to them," Tom suggests. Ishara glares at him.
--M. J. Young
I will try and psioniclly scan the thought of the person or persons in the vehicle. It might give us a heads up as to who it may be.
If I fail, I will agree with Ishara that we should move closer to the road. If Tom wants to hang back a bit (but not too far), he should just to be on the safe side.
Pharaoh
I am assuming that you mean that you are using your 1@2 Read Surface Thoughts P1@1; this skill will only work on people you either can see or already have contacted telepathically (including having read their minds). The vehicle is enclosed, and in the dusk you cannot see anyone through the tinted glass.
Or did you have a different skill in mind, or were you going to create a new one?
--M. J. Young
I'm going to try and create a new one.
Pharaoh
You reach out with your mind looking for a mind where the vehicle is--and you find one, and pick up its surface thoughts.
At the moment it is thinking that it needs to find the people who are supposed to be here.
--M. J. Young
"Ok. Ishara, let's you and I move towards the road, but be at the ready in case there's trouble. Tom, you hang back and keep us covered. If there's any trouble be ready. Let's roll."
Pharaoh
You move toward the road.
"You know," Ishara says, "Tom's idea of being ready for trouble is finding a good hole in which to hide and a quick escape route."
The car sees you along the side of the road, and slows.
"I would think it better for guns to be at our sides, but with the safeties off," Ishara says. "We don't want to be defenseless, but it's entirely possible they have nothing to do with us, and creating a problem is not the best way to start."
The car comes to a halt about ten feet from you, its lights shining toward you.
--M. J. Young
If still in contact with the mind of the person in the vehicle, I will scan for anything that may lead me to believe that this is a trap.
"Agreed, my friend. Unfortunately, my lajatang doesn't have a holster or a safety."
I'll throw him a quick wink and a grin.
"well, let's go make nice if we can."
I'll follow Ishara's lead for now.
Pharaoh
The person is thinking that they have to be careful, because they don't want to walk into a trap or pick up the wrong person. You don't look like Federation agents, but then, what would Federation agents look like?
Ishara steps up to the car, and something like a window opens.
"Can I help you?" someone says.
"I was supposed to meet an old friend here," Ishara answers. "You don't look like her, but I thought she might be with you."
"No, I'm not her; but I was looking for the friends of a friend, and my friend might be your friend."
"She might indeed. We are strangers here, though, offering to give a friend a ride."
"Then let me offer to give a stranger a ride, and perhaps we can all become friends."
Ishara nods, and looks at you.
--M. J. Young
"It's all good.", I'll say to Ishara. "We have one more friend with us. He's just a little shy, that's all"
With that, I'll motion for Tom to come forward.
"It is our honor to meet a friend of our friend.", I will say to the person spaking from the vehicle. "And have no worries. The Federation is no friend of ours. You may lay your doubts aside. My name is Pharaoh, and you may trust us."
Pharaoh
The door opens to reveal a spacious back cabin, something like a short limosine; although the vehicle does not appear so large, apparently the engine is considerably smaller than in cars of your experience, leaving more space for passengers. There is an elderly man in the back, a woman driving up front, no wall between the two areas. Ishara signals for the two of you to get in, and Tom waits for you to go first, but follows, with Ishara, warily, taking up the rear.
The man speaks; he has a heavy southern accent. "Farrah is a strange name; ah don't believe ah've known anyone called that befaw. Ah'm Zeke, that's shawt faw Zekiel. Ruth is waitin' back at mah place. Ah insisted that we should take the risk faw huh, make shuh that you wuh what you say.
"As to that, they say yaw from the Destiny. How do ah know that's true?"
"Well, for one thing," Ishara says, "it's obvious that we don't have any transportation here, and that we haven't been here long enough to have been dropped off more than a few minutes before you arrived--which means you would have seen a transport. Only Destiny has the ability to deliver people this way."
Tom adds, "And I'd be glad to show you how it works, by going back myself right now."
"I don't think that would be necessary," Ishara says rather coldly, and Tom shuts his mouth.
"No, ah reckin not," the man says; "but ah do think ah maht need more'n that, if you've got anithin?"
--M. J. Young
"It's pronounced Feh-Rho. Please try and remember that."
I'll mutter to myself, "Great, the Beverly hillbillies in space. Just my luck.
I'm going to attempt to scan Zeke's thoughts for any indications of deception. If he's telling a lie or not, in any form.
Pharaoh
Are you simply reading his surface thoughts and comparing them to what he says, to see whether he's hiding his thoughts more than most people, or did you have something else in mind to achieve this?
--M. J. Young
I guess I'm just going for his surface thoughts and comparing them to what he says.
Pharaoh
Zeke's thoughts aren't much different from yours--trying to determine whether you are who you say you are, or whether he's stepped into a trap, without being inhospitable on the one hand or careless on the other. However, you do pick up that he's worried about Mekita winding up caught because of his mistake.
--M. J. Young
"Rest assured we are who we claim to be, and I can tell from your thoughts you are too."
I will let Ishara take the lead here.
Pharaoh
He is quite taken aback.
"I had heard rumors of a telepathy project, but had no idea there had been any successes. Who are you?"
--M. J. Young
"That's a long story for another telling. Let's get on our way, and I'll tell you what I can. The longer we stay out here, the more likely our chances of being discovered."
Once in the vehicle, I'll give hime an abridged version of who I am, and how I came to be in this world.
Pharaoh
This is interesting. What is the "abridged version"?
You are underway.
--M. J. Young
"I'm not from this universe/dimension. I died o my homeworld some years back after being infected with a substance called scriff. As a result, I cannot truly die. I merely cease to exist in one world, and move on to another. There are others like me. I have currently visited 10 worlds including this one. By worlds, I don't mean planets, I mean universes/dimensions."
I will look at the man named Zeke.
"All other questions will have to wait for another time."
Pharaoh