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"The Agency: Meeting of Souls "Written By: Karina Pairings 13x6 [eventual], 5xS, 3x4, Others undecided at this time. Warnings: Extreme Alternate Universe setting. Unbetaed, Aussie spelling and grammar, not much else in the early chapters though it will involve murder, stalking and possibly some colourful language down the track. Some Out Of Character depictions are unavoidable considering the alternate universe setting. Rating: M [In Australia that would be mature adult 15+] Not sure with the new rating system about international ratings. Rated for violence and language and adult concepts. Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing. That's about as plain as you could say it. Summary: The world took a very different turn with the acknowledgement of psychic abilities and training of select psychic individuals enlisted in elite fields such as law enforcement and politics. A grading system for the strength of psionic abilities was developed and those who were the top of the elite have been dubbed Prime Talents and are highly sought after. Elite institutions have been developed to mark, train and employ individuals with useable psionic talents. The colonies of canon Gundam Wing do exist in this fic and were constructed before the psionic system was founded. With the advent of psionics in open use in society younger people are appearing in positions of power as they are awakening to their abilities earlier and are highly trained in their fields of expertise. Archive: Gundam Wing Universe [gundam-wing-universe.net]
Note: This chapter betaed by the wonderful ShenLong
//…// Thoughts
Chapter Twenty Two Considering the clientele catered for by the University, Treize had expected Tsuberov’s Research, Development and Training facilities to be the best money could provide; and he was not disappointed. The Dean took the opportunity to show off his extensive complex, expounding on the virtues of the facilities. Nor was he was shy about naming past students from influential families who had made names for themselves and benefited from the training available. Much of the equipment, Treize noted on the tour, was state of the art. While they watched one unit undergoing installation, the Dean informed them it was a gift from a grateful family whose kinetic son was now one of the leading kinetics in the Earth Sphere. Though not a Prime Telekinetic he was a Level 9 and was proving to be more than beneficial to his family's mining company. Stationed in the Asteroid Belt at the hub station handling the mining traffic to and from the region, the young man had managed to avert a number of collisions between ships and saved lives, equipment, money and time. //Of course, the mining conglomerates would be after every kinetic they could get their hands on.// Treize followed after the Dean and Gabriella in silence. //Donating training equipment to Tsuberov would ensure the continued training of kinetic talents, who would quickly be marked by mining conglomerate scouts.// He was more than mildly surprised that during the grand tour Gabriella remained silent and attentive to every word the Dean uttered. Treize had expected her to firmly put the Dean in his place with a display of verbal mastery and imaginative rhetoric and have them hustled to the destination they had come to view. Instead the Prime took her time, examining the facilities and asking to the point questions about equipment, Professors and technicians and the students themselves. Trieze made a note of which installations and instructors aroused the most interest, though she was careful to spend equal time in each laboratory. He was not deceived by such care. Gabriella was drinking in every nuance of conversation they were privy to. At the end of the evening she would be able to repeat every word spoken in her presence. Certain machines used in the training process produced a flicker in dark eyes and whether her interest was for good or ill, the University would know within the week. If Tsuberov could secure the recommendations of a Prime it would be a very large feather in their bonnet. Hargraves was in his element, delighted to finally be able to please the Prime, but Treize watched and wondered at the reasons behind Gabriella’s actions. He had learned early in their association that Gabriella never did anything without a motive. This silent and attentive woman on the arm of the Dean almost frightened him. An amiable Gabriella was extremely dangerous. The Gypsy Prime sauntered along on the arm of the Dean, her dark eyes flashing with interest and keen intelligence. What Treize found most worrying was the faintest of smiles curving her full lips. He noted the exact degree of attention she paid to particular members of the teaching staff; showing interest in their past employment and their ambitions for the future. So amiable was the Prime that Treize began to make note of the exits they passed in the event he needed to quickly disappear. Marquise and Winner were not the only students working in the complex. As the tour progressed and they observed work sessions, Gabriella would enquire as to a student’s name and ability; their level of expertise and the projected levels for the students on concluding their tenure at Tsuberov. Some aroused more interest than others and a number of the students even earned the honour of an introduction to her, at her request. //What is she up to?// They paused in laboratory 23, listening to the Dean and a technician explaining the uses of the latest kinetic monitoring system used to test the first year students. Those students tagged with kinetic markers to their talent would spend time in this laboratory determining the strengths and weaknesses of their ability. //Usually she skips over the tourist route and cuts to the chase.// No sooner had the thought flickered through his mind than he felt her dark eyes on him. Glancing up he noted Gabriella was indeed watching him and he caught the reproach in her glance. He managed what he was sure would be a sickly attempt at a smile and projected interest in the kinetic technician monitoring the station. He was either so transparent the woman instinctively knew where his thoughts strayed, or his shields had slipped and she had caught his thoughts. Either way he had been noticed and warned to mind the business at hand. Content he at least gave the appearance of being interested, Gabriella returned her attention to the Dean, leaving Treize to wonder why she was being so accommodating where earlier she had made no effort to be the well mannered and patient woman she now projected. Her reputation was such that the Dean should be quivering in his boots with trepidation at the abrupt change of attitude. He had to wonder about the intelligence of the man. Or his lack of a survival instinct. Honestly the woman confounded him and no doubt she took a fiendish delight in that fact. Treize freely admitted he could not keep up with her or her mercurial mood shifts, but he loved her dearly and for that simple truth he would tolerate a great deal. She was the one person who had understood him and the will that drove him when all others had determined the course of his future. It had been Gabriella who had taught him to live his life, not merely to exist. He owed her a great deal. Perhaps his mood was the result of touring the kinetic laboratories, when all he really wanted was to lay sight to a certain cascade of very blonde hair. When finally they made their way out of the building he had high hopes of finally reaching the Empathic and Telepathic training centre. He should have known better. The Dean escorted them into the recovery complex separating the kinetic laboratories from the E/T complex. Hargraves set about showing them the student recovery rooms, the teachers lounge facilities and the conference room where, twice a day, the teaching staff consulted the day’s roster and evaluated test results. “We have state of the art facilities in all of the Psionic sciences, as you have seen and I am proud to say that our teaching staff is the very best…” “The best?” Gabriella’s voice, low and throbbing with amusement, drew his attention immediately. While not exactly scoffing at the claim made by the Dean, Treize could detect more than a trace of the acerbic tone he was more familiar with. He noted the Dean tense and waited for the explosion he was sure would not be far away. “It is having the best staff to teach your students you are saying? How can this be so?” Gabriella wafted a hand around the staff room which chanced to be empty. “Gabriella has taken note of the staff you are employing, particularly staff who have the teaching of telepaths and empaths.” Dark eyes flicked to the Dean and her lips twitched slightly with a smile. “Now, look not like Gabriella has hit you. Is truth, nothing less am I saying. How can any establishment, even your much adored Tsuberov, claim the best teachers when you yourself admit no Primes have you here? Pfft! Silly Man. No Primes resident to train young minds, mean Psi’s of tomorrow train under second best teachers.” The Dean blinked, staring at the Prime with steadily lifting eyebrows. Gabriella waved a hand expansively, ignoring the incredulous expression. Treize slowly began to relax, not seeing imminent explosions of Gabriella style put down in the offing. “This is to be expected, yes it is. Primes have many matters to attend and sleep we need. Work we have enough of, believe me. We take it upon ourselves to train younglings who come to work with us. Many things can not be taught in places like Tsuberov and must be faced out there. Out there in real world. Out there where shelter there is not for the young who expected to be adults overnight and face harsh reality called real life. This is where Primes watch over younglings and fill the gaps in their education.” Now that was more the Gabriella Treize knew. Her dark eyes flashed with unholy amusement and a saucy grin silenced the Dean’s protest. Treize felt an impudent flick at his shields, as though Gabriella had just given him the finger for his earlier thoughts. Would he ever understand this woman? The Dean flashed him a confused look, beseeching him for some explanation of the Gypsy Prime. Treize shrugged, far from surprised Gabriella had come out with the unexpected. It was her forte after all. At least she was playful and not haranguing the University for every short fall imaginable and then a few peculiar to only Gabriella’s inventive mind. Did the man honestly think the fire tongued Prime he had met in the administration building was the exception and the docile polite woman was the true Gabriella? More fool he if he did. Besides, Treize reflected, technically she did have a valid point. How could Tsuberov, or any of the Psi training centres around the world, claim to have the best instructors in the ESUN for developing psychics? There was not a single Prime talent in any of the varied fields of psionics who was employed in a teaching capacity. Not even the mammoth Psychic Institute he had chosen to oversee his own training, could boast the services of a Prime Talent within its ranks to work with the student body. He had learned much, gaining his Prime accreditation from the Psychic Institute, but he had learned as much, if not more, under the observant eyes and minds of the Prime’s supervising him following his training and entry into the work force. Why were there no Prime talents engaged in the actual teaching process? The simple truth was there simply were too few Prime talents in existence to waste their talents as instructors. That he knew of there were only three Level Nine telepaths employed at the Psychic Institute and one at Tsuberov and none of the three telepaths had an empathic rating greater than Level Eight. Nor was it just the telepathic empaths with a Prime psi rating who were rare. It was frightening how great a gulf there was in measurability of talent between the Level Nine talents and the Prime talents. Given the differences in capacity for work it was no wonder if you were found to have a Prime’s talent you could look forward to a pampered life. Pampered but hard working. The Primes earned their money. He certainly earned his pay and he was earning his time off too. When this business was dealt with he was taking that vacation, seeing his daughter and taking the opportunity to simply vegetate. He would luxuriate in utter idolatry for all of two days before the itch to do something would drive him insane. Primes were never idle and doing nothing was alien to their experience. They had little experience in leisure time and it quickly annoyed them on the rare occasions they were graced with the opportunity to indulge. //I never could abide doing nothing for any length of time. A few days to get my shields sorted and some time spent with Marie… Yes, I could enjoy that. Three weeks would be good if I can manage to escape for that length of time and secure Marie to keep me occupied. I doubt they would give me more.// His attention snapped into focus at the lightest of touches to his arm, the feather touch of one Prime to another. He recognized Gabriella’s touch and the warmth that pervaded him from the briefest brush of her mind to his. It was an alert for his attention; an understanding brush of mind to mind promising work on his stressed shields at a later time and a request for his patience and attention. There were two people approaching them and Gabriella wanted his opinion later, he could feel her interest and understood why she had touched him. The hallway ahead of them led to the telepathic and empathic training facilities and he was relieved they were near their goal. The tests being carried out this night on Marquise were listed as routine, part of an assessment carried out for the final year assessment. Winner was undergoing tests on his telepathic talent, lesser exercises demanding considerably less in expenditure of talent and effort. He was a lower level telepath than Marquise and Treize had to wonder if he would develop enough strength and range with his telepathy to make the rating as a Prime Telepathic Empath. While he had expected to at least view a part of a working session given the grand tour they had undergone, he had not expected to run into the Winner heir in the hallway. The young man was smiling broadly, blue eyes dancing with genuine pleasure and offering a deep and courtly bow to the beaming Gabriella. “Prime Gabriella. A most unexpected but welcome pleasure. It has been some time since last we met.” Quatre Winner was a charmer and Treize found himself wishing Trowa luck with their relationship. Handsome, intelligent and talented, he was assured of his place in the world, never having doubted himself or his right to stand where he did. The Winner heir had never lacked for anything, or had cause to doubt his right to be exactly where he was. “Prime Gabriella… you know Mr. Winner?” The Dean looked between the two, waving the young talent's Supervisor back and to wait. “But of course,” Quatre beamed at Hargraves. “Bounce this cherub on my knee I did. When there was more knee visible to bounce him on.” Gabriella looked at her chubby middle with a wicked grin. Treize smirked and the Dean looked scandalized, but Quatre laughed and presented himself to be enfolded in a classic Gabriella hug. He was at ease with the Prime and when she permitted him to escape her clutches he offered a polite bow to Treize. “Your Grace.” “His Grace, Duke Kushrenada, Quatre Winner.” The Dean made formal introductions hastily. “Tsk. Prime Kushrenada,” Gabriella corrected. “Prime rating exceeds all titles of nobility and rank. Nobles are as common dross. Is Primes that are rare, is it not?” Treize rolled his eyes at the superior tone of his fellow Prime and noted Quatre was quick to smother a laugh. The Dean was caught gaping at the Prime, who arched an eyebrow at his expression before summarily dismissing him, returning her attention to Quatre. “Pleased am I to be learning how your studies progress. So, little Bright Eyes, is it making of yourself a Prime Empath you are? Shall it be Tsuberov crediting two Primes to their tally before too many years must pass?” That was a salve to the Dean’s abused sensibilities, Treize knew. From shocked disbelief the man positively preened at mention of a Prime tally beginning for the University. Quatre spared a smile for the Dean, but kept his attention focused on Gabriella and Treize. He was obviously aware the Dean would be scandalized if the Prime’s should feel insulted or shorted of attention whilst on the University grounds. “At this stage I am projected to make Level Nine, so it is entirely possible by the time I complete my training that I may make the jump to Prime status, at least as a receiving Empath. I still have great difficulty in projecting emotions, Gabriella.” “Bah. Pfftt.” A pudgy hand waved dismissively. “Barely more than babe are you. Gabriella will keep her hand and her eye on your progress. Doubt it not, I will be watching and kick you in breeches I will if I see less than best effort on your part. Gabriella is fond of bright eyed young men who need seat of britches warmed with her love.” The podgy fingers twitched for emphasis and Quatre resisted the urge to giggle while Treize sighed in defeat. The woman was horrible and delighted in her antics. Quatre offered a bow to her, blue eyes glinting with his amusement. “It would be my honour to have you warm the seat of my pants should I fail to perform at my best. My apologies, Prime Gabriella, but I am expected in laboratory 5 in just a few minutes. Professor Jensen has made it clear in the past he does not approve of tardiness.” “Pfftt! You will be telling this Jensen fellow satisfying terrible old women is not tardiness, but well developed survival instinct. If agree he does not, then suggest he come and argue truth of terrible old women with Gabriella.” “You are not to be survived, Prime Gabriella, but adored.” Quatre bowed once more, going so far as to take the Prime's hand and touch his lips to the back of her hand in a quick, fleeting and graceful movement. //Silver tongued brat,// Treize mused. There was no denying that Winner knew how to get on the good side of the notorious Prime. He was clearly not above using unashamed flattery to his benefit. Rather a smart young man and Treize decided he could like the youth. //No wonder she chose the name Bright Eyes. They are by far his best feature.// “Get along with you and your golden words, urchin. Gabriella will demand you visit and pay court to her before leaving this city. Words of flattery said so prettily have not graced these old ears for a long time. Is nice change. I would learn how your father is doing, Bright Eyes and how well it is you two are dealing. Big dog snarling at small snarling dog is not good.” “Father is quite well, Gabriella and we have not been arguing of late. I shall be most happy to have the honour of an audience with you.” He half turned, offering a polite and quite courtly bow to Treize. “Your Grace. It has been a pleasure.” Treize nodded and with a final nod, this one to the
Dean, Quatre hurried off, his Supervisor at his side. For a long moment
Gabriella watched him depart and then turned to the Dean. The Dean shook his head slightly, not hesitating to respond to her query. This was a Prime asking of the future prospects of a studying student, one who well might, given his talents, come to work with the Prime in the future. “The current statistics lead us to project a rise in his telepathic capacity to perhaps that of a level six, certainly no greater than a level seven. He is a fully receiving and sending telepath, but the link enabling his empathic talent to be generated and magnified through his telepathic talent is not well developed. It is at present doubtful we can produce a change of such significance as to enable him to attain Prime level gradients. In regards to his empathy, he receives very well indeed, however his projection function is low. We do not believe at this stage there will be a great enough improvement with the focusing links between telepathy and empathy to lift him to full dual Prime function. However, he still has development and growing to do before his talent settles. He may be a late bloomer.” “So.” Gabriella considered the hallway where Quatre had vanished. “Not a Prime telepathic empath; this is more than a pity but something not unexpected. Prime level as a receiving empath with lesser projecting function is more likely?” “That is more probable. At his last evaluation the projection stood at level 9 ability. Given the time he has remaining at Tsuberov and the development over the last year or so, as he ages it is projected at a ninety five percent chance of becoming a Prime Empath, with a moderate grading toward high telepathic range. I have little doubt he will earn the Prime designation in at least the Empathic function. Given he is only eighteen he has at least another two years of psi development ahead of him. In light of the information received on his development prior to arriving at Tsuberov, we expect his talent to peak by the time he turns twenty.” “Such a nice boy,” Gabriella murmured. “Bright Eyes name is inscribed on Gabriella’s list of bright young men who need watching over.” The Prime's hands met in a sharp clap and she fairly bounced in place, turning to the Dean. “Now Dean of fancy school with much money and much potential; let us away, yes? Gabriella is wishing to see this one who will make Prime and become one of Gabriella’s bright young men.” //God, Marquise, I apologise now for letting her loose on you. I sincerely hope you have more of a backbone than they seem to think. My Gabriella can be quite overpowering and if she has already decided you will be one of her bright young men, there is nothing I can do to get you free of her clutches.// Treize followed Gabriella obediently, noting the flash of fire in her dark eyes. The Prime was, it appeared, done with the tour and the Dean seemed to realize it. He did not mind his own standing as one of those bright young men Gabriella claimed as her own. He by far preferred to be considered one of her bright, pet talents than to be one of the psi’s Gabriella took an active dislike to. The woman had a reputation which spanned the entire Earth Sphere. He did not know of any high powered psi or government official who, at one time or another, had not received a dressing down from her scathing tongue. She could be overwhelming, but once she decided to accept you and go out on a limb for you, she was an indomitable mother. With Gabriella it was all or nothing, she loved or hated with equal passion. Should she take a shine to Marquise she would be as tame as a mother wolf defending her cub. As one who could testify to this from personal experience, he could say he had found it to be a pleasure to be beneath her protection. He might shiver and tremble with her displeasure, but Gabriella was always fair and always honest. The odd days of her displeasure were survivable purely and simply from knowing she chastised you with love. He loved her as a mother, this woman who had been the first person to truly understand him. “Mr. Marquise is using laboratory seven this evening. The session should be underway by now and there will be more to watch than preparations.” //I was beginning to think you were trying to avoid our meeting with him. You have ensured we missed the beginning of the session, so was that happenstance and you wanting to showcase your facilities, or was it something else? Ah, look at me. Treize, you have developed a deplorable habit of looking for the worst case scenario. I need to spend some time away from the Agency before it permanently colours my vision. Let’s see just what the boy has got working for him in a session. This should give us a fair indication of his potential.// Boy? Young man, but perhaps if he forced himself to think of Marquise as a boy, a youth still underage, he could control the ache developing within him. According to the universities records Zechs Marquise was twenty years of age and nearing his twenty first birthday. That clearly marked him not as a boy, but a young man and a young man who was almost of an age to be independent of the state system. Upon reaching twenty one he would have full rights by ESUN law to control his life independent of a legal guardian’s control; though being a Prime talent he was required to take up employment that would benefit the ESUN itself. //But you were not known to be a Prime talent, were you? Until recently we did not know there was another who could stand with us. Your development has been kept quiet and I have to wonder why they were trying to keep you under wraps. There is more going on here than we think and I am uncertain it has anything to do with the stalker. The identity of the corpse worries me, in that we have not learned his identity and it is now approaching forty eight hours since his death. There is something there suggestive of deeper waters running around us. Slow, dark and treacherous. How did they think they could keep someone with a Primes talent secret? He would have been noticed at some stage, even if it was when he entered the work force under contract. Questions would have been asked. Answers would have been demanded. One can not permit a Prime talent to be trained in secret and used. It smacks of slavery, at the least a monopoly on young, impressionable talents.// Something was very wrong and they needed to ensure they examined the procedures at Tsuberov to ensure future students all throughout the Earth Sphere received a fair deal. The thing about the use of telepathy and empathy was that most of the time an observer could not tell if the user was actually doing anything. They were abilities invisible to the untrained eye. The dietary requirements of a Prime’s diet could tell you the expenditure of energy they had extended reflecting the depth of level required to complete their work assignment. The energy expenditure involved in deep level work tended to make certain most Primes in their various fields had gargantuan appetites, a reflection of the bodies attempt to renew the calories used in the exercising of their talent. Kinetic Primes could be observed to be doing something, the lifting or manipulating of physical objects was quite discernible to the human eye. Telepaths and empaths, however, could be mistaken for appearing slothful at first appearance. Only when you observed the monitoring equipment at a test facility such as this, could you gain some indication of the activity taking place and quite often that activity would exceed the projected figures of the tests being undertaken. As they entered the observation deck of the laboratory, the first thing to draw his attention was the bank of monitors on the near wall. He was not alone in his attention, as Gabriella ignored the staff monitoring the session, moving immediately to sweep the monitor readouts with experienced eyes and then moved to the two way mirror overlooking the laid back chair and young man seemingly asleep. His tall, slender form was stretched out over what most people would mistake to be a dentist’s chair. A thin band of silver from which fine filaments of wire protruded and linked the youth to the chair was fitted to his forehead. Through the shimmering pale waterfall of hair, Treize could just make out the glimmer of the pads placed over neural centres, fine wires linking back to the brow band. His eyes were closed, his breathing light and even, the regular controlled breathing of a well trained Psi in working mode. There were three technicians in the control room, each attending to a bank of computers monitoring and recording data, and moving between each station was the test supervisor. The man would study the readouts and make notes, the only sounds in the room the scratch of his stylus on the hand pad and the hum of the machines. No one spoke, all eyes focused on the stations and the only concession to their presence was the Supervisor offering a small nod before moving to a second station. Treize placed himself out of the immediate walk way, but ensured he had a decent view of the monitoring stations and could look down into the laboratory itself. All eyes, he noted after a quick look around, seemed to be lingering on the Alpha wave readouts, a healthy wiggle on the graph gradually picking up in frequency. The theta band was concise, regular and picking up in intensity, a clear demonstration, given the scale being used, of the talent contained in that delightfully blonde head. //Enough of that, you idiot. Business before pleasure and there is a great deal of business to accomplish before one can even think to entertain the pleasure aspect of the old adage..// Had Marquise been asleep the fluctuation in the Alpha band would have suggested he was dreaming and the heart and respiration indicators graphed beneath the Alpha line would suggest it to be a halfway pleasant dream. There was not so much as a wiggle in a graph line to suggest stress in any of the readouts Treize observed and he tried to keep his eyes on the monitors, not on the slender young man who unknowingly disturbed his peace of mind so easily. “How is the exercise progressing?” The Dean kept his voice to a low murmur designed not to distract the technicians, moving to station himself roughly in the centre of the room so the Supervisor could circulate between monitoring stations without having to go around him. “Contact has been established with the first four of our test subjects and his responses are logged. He has not missed once, but then he never does; does he?” “Excellent.” Hargraves sounded extremely satisfied and turned first to Treize and then to Gabriella, deciding he needed to keep a wary eye on the Gypsy and not the aristocrat. “The testing this evening is evaluating his range and any effect long range might have on the clarity of his reception and sending to the designated targets.” “The targets assigned, how far will this be reaching? Gabriella must know his range.” The Prime turned from the window, her dark eyes thoughtful. “This evening is the fourth and final global evaluation of his ability,” the Dean informed her. “Should he succeed with low to no indicators of stress, we will have him attempt to project as far as the L1 colony cluster. We have three agents waiting for the attempt; however, he has ten targets to contact on Earth before we give the go ahead for the reach into space.” The Supervisor inclined his head by way of greeting to the Prime, immediately returning his attention to the monitors. Gabriella turned back to the view into the laboratory and studied the long strands of pale hair; hair somewhere between the palest gold, silver and white. An unusual colour and rare she knew and a colour she could not help but know intrigued her Naughty Boy. She was well aware of Treize’s evaluation of the young man, both his physical characteristics as well as the depth of talent glimpsed in their initial contact. He did not quite claim the Nordic colouring she had expected to find, given the glimpse of him from her fellow Prime's mind and the photographs in his file. Close, but something was not quite Nordic about that fine bone structure. With narrowed eyes she took in the fine planes of his face and the slender body; slender but not thin by any means and there was evidence he worked out to tone that lithe body. From the vidpics of him she knew he claimed crystal blue eyes and she was eager to see what she could see in the depth of those eyes. It was the eyes, after all, which were the windows into a soul. This one is pretty, Naughty Boy. Very pretty. Gabriella could wish she was forty years younger. Teach him I would what it is to live. Feel I do I have seen this one before, but this is not possible. Sure I am I have not. Treize flicked his eyes toward her. He is familiar to you? Good looking boy he is, any mama would be happy to have so pretty a son. Gabriella ignored Treize, turning her attention to the Supervisor. “Reached beyond the planet has he before?” A quick jotting down of figures and the man turned to her, offering a small very proper bow. “No, ma’am. This will be his first off planet attempt.” “For first attempt L1 is distance of considerable reach.” “His past test evaluations suggest anything closer than L1 would not be a test of his ability. I doubt he will have to pull too deep from within his reserves to reach as far as L1.” “Which of the L1 colonies is the designated target?” Treize queried. “L1 08379. We have a research station established on the colony,” the Dean explained. “We often use our personnel stationed there for distance testing. I assure you the target psi’s are all above level six, all fully trained and are quite practiced at clearing their minds for the students to contact.” //L1. A good distance. Admittedly a decently trained Level Nine psi can reach there, but for a first attempt at off planet contact it is quite a test,// Treize mused, flicking his gaze toward Gabriella and wondering what she thought of the target. “How long would it be before the examinations are completed? This one will be named a Prime when?” Gabriella’s gaze bypassed the Dean and held the Supervisor, making it clear beyond any doubt who she intended answer her. “At this point in his examinations, Mr. Marquise is mid way through the examination levels projected for his graduation. Prior to the end of term break he was designated at Level 9. Preliminary projections indicate that by the turn of the year the process of examination and classification should be concluded. At this stage I would suggest he would make a Prime’s designation by Christmas, but it would not be for another six or seven months before he could be ratified by the Psi Board.” “Christmas.” Gabriella’s dark eyes shuttered and Treize was surprised he did not hear a muted mental rumble rise in the room as she mulled over this information. “So.” Dark eyes lightened and she dismissed the Supervisor with a decisive nod to turn back to staring through the glass partition. //Now what is that about?// Treize watched her with well disguised curiosity. // She knew before we arrived at Tsuberov what Marquise’s projected study course was. She knew the projections for his examinations and the certification dates before she even arrived in the city, so what is she up to? Something is not right here. What game are you playing, Gabriella?// There was something in her stance, in the almost purr of content he read from her, his empathy leaving him in no doubt as to her emotions, despite her excellent shielding. Gabriella was one to have secrets, though no one was permitted to have secrets from her. “Remain we will to observe conclusion of this test. Interested I am and appreciate a chair I would.” Gabriella looked to the Dean expectantly. Treize scowled. //We intended to remain and observe through the entire session, so why…? She is definitely up to something.// Recalling the events of the day and in particular the evening and Gabriella’s antics since arriving at Tsuberov, Treize was more certain than ever Gabriella was keeping secrets. There were a number of oddities he had noted during the evening, particularly before they had left for the complex which he had not thought much on at the time, but it had been enough to allow him to know Gabriella had something on her mind. One thing that particularly stood out in his mind was the incident in the cafeteria, where Gabriella had reacted to the appearance of the Princess of Sanc. At least he had thought she had noted the Princess, though it appeared to be Otto who had actually attracted her attention. //What was so special about her seeing Otto? She commented on having worked with him some years back, but she has worked with a great many people and never reacted to any with such interest that I know of. It is almost as though he is the very last person she would have expected to find working here. She said he was one of the King's Personal Guard.// The Dean appeared startled by her demand, though he was quick to see about sending for additional seating and it gave Treize time to consider the Prime’s very small, very subtle smile. He recognized it if no one else did. //He was a high level security officer in Sanc. I saw the picture hanging in his office of the Imperial Guard and thought it odd then that someone in Royal Security would be found at a place like this. He is certainly on friendly terms with the Princess, so he spent time guarding the family itself, not just the palace. Perhaps he has been stationed here to oversee not merely the university security, but the personal security of the Princess herself? But why send him so far in advance of the Princess' arrival? Otto has been here for a number of years, the Princess has only just begun attending Tsuberov. No, something more, I think. Something more and Gabriella has an idea of what it is.// “So, if this Pretty One is to be rated Prime by Christmas, Gabriella is interested in his work placement for experience. Where is he to be assigned? Meet with my approval it must. At least one Prime rating close to hand there must be.” There was nothing casual about the enquiry, her tone brooking no prevarication. Treize forgot about the puzzle of the Security Chief and watched as the Dean’s back snapped taut and the man’s face reflected dread. The Supervisor and Dean exchanged looks before the Supervisor returned to monitoring the readings, leaving the unfortunate Hargraves to deal with Gabriella. Treize would not put it past Gabriella to be using her talent on the man, though such was expressly forbidden by protocol. He was equipped with a state of the art neural shield, but such things were not total protection from a high level psi, as Treize could attest to, and Hargraves was pinned by the Prime’s dark eyes. The man would be glad to see the back of them, particularly Gabriella, who was at the best of times difficult to read. Now she was like an enigma brought to life, a short plump enigma designed to give anyone and everyone a headache. And she did it so well. “Mr. Marquise’s work placement has not, as yet, been decided. We are as yet uncertain as to his exact potential and wish to conclude this round of tests before we decide what would be best for the young man.” “Pffftt!” An expansive wave of one hand dismissed the Dean’s argument. “Make Prime he will, of that Gabriella has no doubt. It shines out of him, this potential you are blind to, putting your faith in soulless machines and numbers. Still, doubt his potential not do you. Primes know other Primes and this one is Prime. Know you we who are Prime look out for our own and this pretty youngling Gabriella is claiming for herself.” “Excuse me?” The Deal looked scandalized. “Madam…” “Too few of us there are. Puff up not like goldfish with bulgy eyes. Gabriella has spoken and Gabriella is not one to be ignored.” “Madam, I have no intention of ignoring you, however…” The dark eyes flashed and Treize winced at the crackle of energy he sensed. Empathic and telepathic Treize caught the flow from her and noted the Dean flinch as he too caught the current, the plain warning he desist immediately. “There are too few of we who are designated Prime talents in this society spreading out to the stars. There are too few of us who are viable, usable talents, graced with strong enough wills to be classified sane. As of this moment, Hargraves, Mr. Marquise is designated one of us, Prime, beneath my express protection and I defy you to find another who would dare to gainsay me.” //Where did Gabriella go?// Treize stared and did not care that anyone who looked would catch him staring. They were all too busy staring at Gabriella to worry about the other Prime in their midst. This cold eyed woman with the quiet voice, who spoke so precisely and strongly, was not the woman he though he knew so well. Even her accent was gone and she spoke precisely, with no trace inflection in her voice and no skipping words as she was want to do. She was very clear, very concise and seriously frightening. “I… see,” the Dean managed after a long moment. “I doubt that, Mr. Hargraves, but in time you will. Now. I believe I requested information on Mr. Marquise’s work placement.” The technicians exchanged looks and determined it was safer to mind their work, turning to their monitors and attempted to look as though they were not present. The Supervisor hesitated and then quietly stepped to one side, closer to a monitoring station and with shaking hands brought his palm pad back up; effectively abandoning Hargraves to whatever mercies the Prime might graciously permit him. “As of this day, Mr. Marquise’s work placement has not been discussed with me. His benefactor has requested such matters be delayed, as he wishes to…” he hesitated beneath the baleful stare. “We have been waiting for his benefactor to put forward a projected list of possible placements before we make any arrangements.” “A projected list of placements. I see. I take it consultation with the young man himself has not been considered necessary?” The Dean made the mistake of reacting to that barb by flinching and Treize knew Gabriella had made the correct assumption. He was pleased to know his fears had been well founded and disgusted that Marquise would be expected to quietly take the work placement without objection. Did they presume to know his interests so well they could make the choice that best suited his nature, or were his views and interests considered to be of no importance? “Gabriella does not approve of this arrangement, therefore all other Primes do not approve.” //Jesus. // Treize managed to contain his reaction, maintaining a calm facade with difficulty at the cold, deadpan delivery. Gabriella was studying the Dean with the intensity of a scientist observing a new species of insect. The chill emanating from her seemed to double and Treize fought with his gut reaction to remove himself from her vicinity. This was playing havoc with his tattered shields, but he was Prime and this was a matter for Primes. He would not move; he would not flinch. //What has gotten into her? I know I was concerned with what was happening here, but… Gabriella does not approve? She is going to go too far, even for her. He will lodge a formal complaint about this.// “I… beg your pardon?” Treize was well aware the monitoring staff were eyeing the small dark haired woman and not paying attention to their monitors. The readings were being recorded, but a good technician could pick up on something happening before it became apparent to the casual observer. If Marquise required assistance even a few fractions of a second delay could have far reaching effects on his talent. The Dean looked to be on the verge of collapse, eyeing the Prime with trepidation and no small amount of anger flickering there beneath his amazement and awakening fear. He was reacting to her broadcasting and Treize wanted to remind her the Dean was a low level send and receive Telepath. He could easily be overwhelmed by her stronger talent, despite the protection of the neural screen. Gabriella was playing on the mystique of the Primes throughout the Earth Sphere Alliance to interfere in a matter that was really of no concern to the other Primes. Marquise was still a student, not a designated Prime talent at this time and he was not in any immediate physical danger from the staff or his benefactor. Technically they had no right to interfere in his life. There was talk of introducing legislation into the House of Representatives designed to protect the growing number of psychics from exploitation. To his knowledge that was all it was, talk. Eventually some form of advanced protection would be required, but these things were notoriously long winded and generally people were hurt, even died, before protections were established. He was not happy with the situation, but realistically, what was a person to do? Legally, how could the Primes interfere in this situation when it was obvious the subject of their concern was not an underprivileged individual missing out on training and being physically abused? Zechs Marquise was the legal ward of someone who was providing an exemplary education and the best possible training of his talent. Such training and living facilities were normally available only to the children of the ESUN’s most privileged families. The Prime talents had no blood ties to him; no legal rites to interfere in the education of the young man. Though Treize disliked what he had heard thus far and wanted something done, he could not dispute that in any court of law in the ESUN, Marquise would be seen as being given an opportunity normally denied a child from his background. To Treize what was happening here smacked of possible exploitation. The University and the unknown benefactor of the student would be well within their rights to demand legal action be taken against Gabriella and for the Prime to be sanctioned for her interference. Gabriella could find herself up before a board of enquiry with a please explain and the politically placed opponents to a steadily developing Psi society sprouting on about heavy handed psychics who thought they owned the world. Her dark gaze flicked over each person present, staring the technicians into turning back to their monitors one by one, turning to Treize and moving on to the Dean. She was not cowered or cautioned. Again Treize could only wonder where the gypsy he adored had gone. This sharp eyed woman with the hard lines around her mouth and the agate cold eyes was not the Gabriella he knew and loved. “Be aware, Dean Hargraves, recently Gabriella was contracted to the Department of Psychic Affairs.” Her dark eyes flashed fire with deep seated satisfaction. “It has been noted in the past the ESUN does not stand still, but expands and grows exponentially. All too often this growth is with little, if any, centralized planning. It has come to the attention of certain persons in influential positions that high level Psychics are being exploited, monopolized and mistreated; in some deplorable cases, mistreated physically and mentally. Too many persons are thinking because they train us and pay for our upkeep, that we have little in the way of ethics and we may be swayed on their word to their ideals. No. No, this is not to be permitted. Gabriella is now in a position to interfere with such misuse of psi talent.” //Oh my God.// Treize blinked, but managed to contain himself to that one flicker in his composure. //No wonder she arrived on my doorstep and swept through the Agency without fear of censure. She’s not acting just for the Primes. She is acting for the Government as a Government trouble shooter.// “I don’t… I fail to see what the problem is.” The Dean straightened, facing her with more of a backbone than he had shown to date. “Mr. Marquise is a student here undergoing training at the behest of his legal guardian. He is in training…” “Official notification will be released by the end of this week in a statement to all educational institutions, from the House of Representatives. For the ESUN to continue to expand more Psi children are required to be found and trained. Already there has been a marked increase in instances of exploitation. It is known children are being tested and taken without notification to the appropriate authorities. This is an abuse of their fundamental rights. The government is there to protect the rights of the individual and finally it has decided to act. By years end, by law, it will be required for all children within the Earth Sphere to undergo mandatory testing for psi development twice yearly. Government sponsored clinics will be established to this end. All children who test positive will be further assessed and registered. All existing and future educational institutes training children in psi talents will be required to file a plan for the development of their students with the Psi Council and thereafter be subject to review and monitoring on a yearly basis. The Psi Council, under the instruction of the House of Representatives, retains the right to veto any training it considers inappropriate to an individual psychic and to suggest appropriate training be undertaken in its place. This applies to the placement of work related experience under a student scheme as well.” The Dean blanched. “What you speak of is impossible. Statistically it would be impossible to scan the millions of children that will require testing annually. There are not the facilities, nor the trained staff, available to test even an eighth of the numbers you are talking about. As an educator and a psi myself, I heartily approve the proposed measures in the bill, but realistically it is not a viable proposition. This was the reason why the government decided against mandatory testing and evaluations twenty years ago and again ten years ago. They have neither the staff nor the financial capacity to fund such a project.” Gabriella smirked and Treize resisted the urge to flinch back from her. He must not react, either to the pain from the overflow of emotion in the room or to the Dean’s despairing look, as though he expected Treize to be the voice of reason. “What was considered to be not possible before is now a fait accompli. Recent advances in technology make it possible, if not exactly a comfortable procedure, to process the volume of people we are talking about. The consensus is that Psionic ability is too valuable a commodity to be wasted. A marked increase in the birth rate of psi active children over the last two generations has led the government to believe there is no choice other than to begin this program.” Gabriella’s eyes narrowed. “It was always only a matter of time before these measures were required to be taken. The human species is changing, adapting, developing as we venture out into space. Psychic ability has been marked as an active development in the species since the Colonies were introduced.” Where was his lovable gypsy now? In place of the volatile gypsy sat a hard faced government official, whose speech patterns were far from the gypsy lilt and directness he was accustomed to. This woman, if she had even a half of the political clout she suggested, was now extremely dangerous to cross… not that it had been smart for anyone to cross her before. Gabriella on her own was frightening enough, but Gabriella with the backing of the government was a terrifying prospect. //These measures could stop exploitation, at the least reduce it considerably, but with each successive change of government there is the potential for abuse of the system they now are introducing. The government itself could exploit it on a mass scale.// Yes, there is potential for abuse, but we will ensure there are as many active Psi’s on the Council as there are normal’s. Worry not, my Naughty Boy, Gabriella knows what she is doing. He caught her glance in his direction and the faint nod of reassurance she offered him, as well as the soothing caress of her psi touch to his abused mind. He could only trust she knew what she was doing and that adequate safeguards would be put in place to protect future generations. He loathed the very thought of psi’s becoming mindless government tools. “Prime talents of all fields will be available
for private contract, but as of the end of the week with the official
release of the legislation, all new Prime talents registered will
be under government sponsorship. This includes the current generation
now being trained in educational facilities.” Gabriella wagged
a finger at Treize as he instinctively reacted to that announcement
in protest. “Rest easy, Gabriella is not a fool. The government
will have a say in the assignment of the Prime, but will not interfere
in a safe and reliable placement for the Prime being contracted out.
Private contracts may be accepted if they meet with government sanction
and the agreement of the Prime in question.” ————————————————— Notes: Treize Kushrenada : Level 10 Sending/Receiving Telepath + Receiving and Projecting Empath at Level 10. Prime rated. Agency Operative contracted term of 5 years with 2 years remaining. [25yrs of age] Training facility: Psychic Institute Munich Division. Gabriella : Romany descent. Level 10 Sending / Receiving Telepath + Level 10 Receiving and Projecting Empath. Prime Rated. Training facility rumored to be Government Laboratories of the Prussian Republic deposed in the year AC 45. Age: Unknown [rumored to be approximately seventy four]. Oldest of the Prime Telepathic Empaths. Dean Alexander Hargraves: Dean at Tsuberov University and Parapsychic Institute. Neural Implant. Sending / Receiving Telepath Level 3 Quatre Raberba Winner: Psi student, 2nd year at Tsuberov Parapsychic Investigation and University. Current Level 5 Telepath, projected Level 7, Current Level Receiving Empath 9.3, projected Level 10, Prime. Current Sending Empath Level 2, projected Level 4. Colony of Origin, L4 Cluster [18 years of age] Zechs Marquise: Psi Student 5th year at Tsuberov Parapsychic Investigation and University. Level 10 Receiving/Projecting Empath [approaching Prime Designation] + Level 9 Sending /Receiving Telepath, Projected L10 function. Finder function suspected, not officially registered. Country of origin, Luxemburg. [20 years of age] |
