Empire Turmoil (Gate Ghosts Book 10), page 21
After a few minutes of musing, Wymron enumerated, “Quellers. Conclave. New ships. Implants. Travelers. New races. All good. Wymron old.”
Iltaft was taken aback by Wymron’s consideration of himself as old. Then again, she considered that she may have misunderstood his elder speak.
“New senior elder?” Iltaft queried hesitantly.
“Yes,” Wymron said definitively. “Implant to start.”
“Elders?” Iltaft inquired.
“Their choice,” Wymron replied.
“When?” Iltaft asked.
“Now,” Wymron responded.
When Iltaft stood, Wymron did too. While he walked beside her, she made rapid calls to Timteri, Temtalum, and Cremsylon.
Temtalum was waiting for the pair. Having been forewarned by Iltaft, she was careful to curb her cutting humor, realizing the momentous decision that Wymron had made.
After landing on the Alexander, Iltaft, Wymron, and Temtalum were met by Cremsylon. The senior elder found conversing with the senior SADE in elder speak to be comforting.
The foursome walked corridors and rode lifts to reach the medical suite.
“Big ship,” Wymron commented.
“Not for SADEs,” Cremsylon returned. He pointed forward. Having signaled three SADEs approaching, they shifted to sliding gaits and quickly closed the distance before they shot past.
Wymron grunted his amusement and patted Cremsylon’s shoulder.
In the medical suite, a SADE instructed Wymron to sit on a medical table. After he did, he reached a hand toward Iltaft, who gently grasped it.
The last memory Wymron had was the feel of Iltaft’s fingers. Then the inducer’s effect took hold.
Iltaft released his hand, while the SADEs eased him down on the table. Then she stepped back, and the SADE delivered the tiny piece of conclave tech invented by the Méridiens.
The SADEs were warned by Iltaft not to remove the inducer until she was beside him. When she received their signal, she walked to the table and grasped Wymron’s hand.
The inducer was removed, and Wymron woke with a start.
“Everything is fine, Senior Elder Wymron,” Iltaft said deferentially. “The operation is finished.” She felt Wymron squeeze her hand before he released it.
Shoya and Gat’r walked into the room, and Iltaft introduced them.
“Wymron, it’s best that Gat’r train you. He’s much more adept than I am, and he’s an experienced teacher,” Iltaft encouraged.
“Time?” Wymron inquired.
“Good student. Seven cycles. Poor student. Ten cycles,” Gat’r replied in elder speak.
Wymron tapped his chest and said, “Twelve cycles,” which had everyone laughing.
“Stay aboard, Wymron. Queller communications delivered to you,” Cremsylon promised.
That eased Wymron’s concern, and he nodded his approval. Slipping off the table, he found Gat’r offering an arm, and he chose to rest his hand on the unusual suit. Then Cremsylon, Gat’r, Shoya, and he walked toward a private, well-appointed cabin.
Iltaft sighed deeply, as she watched Wymron walk away.
Iltaft considered the idea. Then she grunted happily, threw an arm around Temtalum’s slender shoulder, and sent,
Temtalum whistled her laughter and shared,
By the time they boarded, Iltaft explained the idea that Temtalum’s suggestion had given her.
Iltaft replied.
On an upper deck, Wymron reached his cabin. He looked around in surprise at the spacious salon. “On a ship!” he exclaimed incredulously.
Then Cremsylon and Shoya vacated the cabin, and Gat’r asked Wymron to be seated at the conference table.
“Implant teacher,” Gat’r said touching his chest. Then pointing at Wymron, he added, “Student.”
Wymron nodded his understanding.
“Teacher here. Implant used,” Gat’r continued.
“Not here. Not used,” Wymron supplied. “Begin instruction.”
Gat’r started with the simple process of thought controlling the implant. They progressed to linking and controlling security. Within the hour that Gat’r had allowed, Wymron had made amazing progress.
When Wymron touched his temples with both hands, Gat’r ended the training.
“Understand cautions,” Wymron said gratefully. “Must rest. Next instruction?”
“This evening or tomorrow morning?” Gat’r inquired.
“This evening,” Wymron replied. He glanced at his device. The comm queue was backing up.
“Advise rest,” Gat’r said, seeing Wymron regard his workload.
“Yes. Rest,” Wymron affirmed, walking slowly toward the sleeping quarters.
Gat’r met a SADE, who was stationed outside Wymron’s cabin.
After Wymron had four days of training sessions, Iltaft could wait no longer to check on his condition. The senior elder had never been more important to Quellers than he was now.
As Iltaft made her way from the bay to the topmost deck of the Alexander, she tried to assume a casual air, as if visiting an old friend.
However, Temtalum, who walked beside her, recognized the signs. Iltaft used the thumb of her right hand to touch her fingertips. Temtalum kept that information to herself. Everyone had their tells, but that didn’t mean they should be openly shared.
When the pair entered, Wymron stood and extended his arms in an expansive air.
“Trouble?” Wymron asked Iltaft.
“Uh, no,” Iltaft replied lamely.
Wymron grunted. “Worried,” he pronounced and reached across the table to comfortingly pat Iltaft’s hand.
“Yes,” Iltaft agreed self-consciously.
“Disobeyed teacher twice. Mistake,” Wymron said. “Lesson learned.”
“How much longer does Gat’r think before you’re ready?” Iltaft inquired.
“Two more cycles,” Wymron replied. “Still careful afterward.”
“On that subject, I wasn’t a good student either,” Iltaft said.
“Driven Quellers,” Wymron, pointing at her and himself. “Other subject?” he queried.
“Important. Citizen announcement. You. Implant,” Iltaft replied.
Wymron thought about the idea of him announcing his adoption of conclave tech to the citizenry. He considered it as a tool that would help him with his official duties.
Iltaft saw Wymron hesitate. “I’ve a plan,” she said. “Many accompany you.”
“Details,” Wymron requested, intrigued by Iltaft’s machinations.
“Orbital station manager interviews,” she replied. “Timteri, Lemtaca, Ergatisa, Erastal tech, Devona pilot applicant, and me. Then you.”
Wymron saw the wisdom of presenting a broad group of individuals who’d adopted the implants. He’d just be one more Queller. “Citizens. Advantages.”
“Precisely,” Iltaft replied, echoing the SADEs’ often used response.
“Organize. Three cycles,” Wymron replied, encouraged by Iltaft’s idea.
Iltaft nodded. She wanted to reassure Wymron with a touch, but it felt inappropriate.
Nonetheless, Wymron noticed the moment. So, he stood to escort Iltaft and Temtalum to his cabin’s door. He gently patted Iltaft’s shoulder as she exited.
Aboard the traveler, Iltaft made multiple calls. The first was to Timteri to inform her of the plan and the broadcast’s date and time. Then she made calls to Lemtaca and Ergatisa.
Finally, she linked to Shoya and Gat’r to repeat the details, adding,
Gat’r replied.
Iltaft’s humorous grunts mixed with Gat’r’s laughter.
Aboard the orbital station, the director was enthused to hear Iltaft had landed. He hadn’t been of service for a while, and he was feeling left out.
The director listened intently to the request to host the broadcast. Of course, he didn’t really consider that the representative needed his permission, especially when the opposite was true. It would be a momentous event, the adoption of conclave technology, and he would be at the center of the announcement.
Then the director heard Iltaft end her plan by explaining that Wymron would be an interviewee. He realized that Iltaft and Temtalum were waiting for him to answer, but he was dumbfounded. “Our senior elder has adopted alien technology by allowing it to be placed in his head?” he asked.
“Was the implant necessary?” the director inquired.
“There you have an excellent question for Wymron,” Iltaft enthused. “What other questions do you think citizens would like to ask?”
As the director thought, Iltaft could see he was engaged in designing his interview of the senior elder, which was exactly what she needed.
“How much time do I have?” the director asked.
“In the morning, three cycles from now,” Iltaft replied, and she added the broadcast time.
When Iltaft and Temtalum left the station, the director closed his office door and went to work. He designed his announcement to the citizens about the upcoming broadcast. As Iltaft had suggested, he put an exciting spin on it. Quellers were truly joining the conclave’s presence. Important changes were coming to their worlds. He’d reference the new exchange system. Basyat Quellers were reaping the benefits of conclave members purchasing their food, wares, and tickets to events.
On the morning of the broadcast, Temtalum collected the participants from Devona. Then she flew to the Alexander and added Wymron, Gat’r, Shoya, and two selected pilot trainees.
Iltaft sat in the passenger cabin beside Wymron.
Aboard the orbital station, the participants sat in a conference room waiting their turns, while they listened to the station director’s interviews.
There was a general introduction by the director about the purpose of the broadcast. Then he began with Timteri.
“You’re the senior admin for Representative Iltaft, is that correct?” the director asked.
“I am,” Timteri replied.
“And you have conclave tech in your head,” the director stated flatly.
“It’s called an implant,” Timteri replied.
“Were you forced to get it?” the director asked.
“If I wanted to work for the representative, I had to be willing to accept one,” Timteri replied. “You do know that she has one, yes?”
“I’ve heard that,” the director replied.
“You say it like you doubt what you’ve heard,” Timteri challenged.
In the conference rooms, the participants grinned or grunted.
“With an implant, I can query any conclave individual and gain the information I need instantly,” Timteri pressed. “In addition, I can be assured that it’s accurate because it’ll have originated from a database maintained by SADEs. Would you like to test it?”
“Okay, how many conclave members are present in the Basyat system at this time?” the director inquired.
Moments later, Timteri reeled off the number.
“That count includes Julien, correct?” the director queried.
“No, it doesn’t,” Timteri swiftly replied. “You asked about the Basyat system, and he’s not here now.”
“Where has he gone?” the director asked.
“Representative Iltaft has informed me that you’re getting off topic,” Timteri pointed out.
“Listeners, I’ve just witnessed an implant in action on two separate occasions,” the director announced. “Timteri communicated with a conclave member and our conclave representative, and neither of them is present with us.”
Turning to Timteri, the director said, “You needed an implant to work for the representative. Why did you want to apply?”
“The conclave is here. We’re members. They’ve tech that’s far in advance of ours, and I wanted to be part of that future,” Timteri explained.
“How has the implant been a credit to your efforts as a senior admin?” the director asked.
“Many times I’ve spoken with Representative Iltaft when she’s not in the building,” Timteri explained. “I would say I accomplish twice as much in a day as I would without the implant. Plus, I’m more accurate in my work.”
“How is that accomplished?” the director queried.
“I keep a recording of my exchanges with the representative in my implant until I’ve executed her wishes,” Timteri replied. “Then those recordings can be stored or deleted.”
“Aren’t those the same things that you’d do with your device?” the director asked.
“The representative and I can have a conversation while I’m in line to buy food for my household. Would you like to accomplish that on your device at that time?” Timteri put to him.
“Admittedly, no,” the director replied. “Have you felt any problems with that tech in your head?”
“If I did, I would notify the SADEs immediately,” Timteri responded. “But I’ve had no issues. In fact, I’m interested in the unlimited possibilities of implant apps.”
“Such as?” the director queried.
“I carry a currency exchange app in my implant,” Timteri explained. “I’ve only to think or see one currency and the app presents the equivalent in the other. Furthermore, I can connect to any conclave member and purchase without my device. My thought signals the transfer.”
“So, what are the negatives?” the director inquired.
Timteri humorously grunted and then said, “I’ve yet to find any flaws, but if I do, I’ll notify you.”
Perhaps the most energetic interview came from an Erastal tech who’d been accepted for pilot training.
“Why would you want to fly an alien craft?” the director asked.
“If you’ve not ridden in one, you’re in for a treat,” the tech enthused. “A Queller shuttle ride is a horror compared to a traveler lifting. Aboard a traveler, I can stand and chat. If I want to get food and drink, I can do that too while lifting, flying, or landing. It makes no difference. The pilot has to turn up the main cabin lights to warn non-implant passengers that they’ve landed.”
The next to last interview was with Wymron and Iltaft.
“Representative Iltaft, am I interviewing you with our senior elder?” the director asked.
“Do you think your listeners will understand elder speak?” Iltaft responded.
“I see what you mean,” the director replied.
“I’m here to assist with translations, if necessary,” Iltaft clarified.
“I’ve been informed, Senior Elder Wymron, that you’ve recently adopted an implant. Why?” the director asked.
“Elders lead,” Wymron replied.
“Understood, but do you need an implant to do your work?” the director inquired.
“Define,” Wymron replied.
The director looked at Iltaft for help. She replied, “Director, you asked if Wymron’s work needs an implant, and he asked you to tell him what you think his work entails.”
“I couldn’t really say,” the director admitted.
“The conclave has arrived, and the members are here to assist us with achieving the minimum level of technology necessary to participate with the organization,” Iltaft explained. “We interact nearly every cycle with seven key conclave members. They have comms or implants. I have an implant. How is Wymron supposed to assist us to reach the right decisions for Quellers if he’s burdened by the lack of an implant?”
