Patterns of Chaos: Book One - The First War

The training continued for days. Once she had gained mastery of basic telekinesis, Stragdoc moved to advanced techniques: small, fine objects. Brute force was one thing, but sometimes a delicate touch could be required. And surprisingly, it was far more difficult.

Karman found them in training one day. Calixta sitting atop the Emperor’s desk, concentrating at a deck of cards which she was slowly placing into position atop one another. The Emperor was watching her with obvious pleasure. “Hello, Commander.” she said, unblinking and not moving her gaze for a moment as another card lifted itself into place before her.

“M-ma’am.” Karman stuttered. It was well-known gossip that Calixta and Stragdoc were involved romantically, but the fact that she was capable of similar feats was news to him. “Sir, I have the latest reports from Site A. The prototype is ready whenever you are.”

“Excellent. Isn’t that excellent, my dear?” Stragdoc murmured, looking over the tablet display Karman handed him.

“Extremely excellent.” she giggled behind him. “Done.”

“What do you think, Commander?” Stragdoc led him over to the tower of cards.

“Very skillful.” He admitted. “I’m quite impressed, ma’am.”

She beamed at him, and held up her hand. The cards levitated upwards, stacked themselves neatly, and lowered to her palm. “Care to test me, Commander?”

“Go ahead.” the Emperor encouraged. “Pick a card, any card Commander.”

Looking a bit uncomfortable, Karman randomly said “Nine of clubs?”

Calixta threw the deck in the air, cards scattering, then just as quickly restacking, the nine of clubs face up on top.

“H-how?” Visibly impressed, eyes wide.

“Our Emperor has given me a great gift.” She turned her smile onto her beloved. “His love and his power.”

“The power was within you, my dear, I simply helped unlock it.” The Emperor helped her from the desk, looked over at Karman. “Just as you will unlock your own someday, Victor.”

“Sir?” Karman felt the headache coming back again.

“I’ve come to a decision.” Stragdoc walked around him. “Our people are coming into the same sort of abilities I demonstrated when I rescued Calixta and her people from Earth. You know about the children, of course.”

“I’ve heard reports, sir.” Karman replied, somewhat confused.

“But the rest of you are beginning to develop those powers as well. That’s the source of the headaches, you see.” The Emperor patted him on the shoulder, leading him to the window overlooking the construction.

The new prow of the vessel was complete, looking like a pair of fangs pointing outwards. The aft end was now undergoing reconstruction to accommodate the new engines. “Victor, our people are standing on a great threshold right now, you realize that?”

“Sir?”

“We are about to make a great blow for our freedom as a species. The humans reject us, so we strike back. Nevertheless, we must all be as one. There cannot be any deviation, anyone who still feels more human than Alphite. Do you understand?”

“Sir, since the day you cured me of mortality, I have never looked back.” Karman stood ramrod straight. He took his status very seriously, having been dying of pancreatic cancer at the time of his treatment. “I am your man to the very end.”

“I know Victor. But others might not feel the same. Huh. Listen to me; I’m starting to sound absolutely paranoid.” The Emperor chuckled self-derisively. “If there is any hint of subversion, you will of course tell me immediately?”

“Absolutely sir.” Karman saluted briskly.

“Now.” The Emperor put his hand out. “Take my hand, and I will help you to the next level.”

“The next level, sir?”

“Like me.” Calixta’s voice. “Able to move things, read thoughts. I know you can a little already.”

Karman started. He had thought he was going crazy, hearing voices that were not there. “How...how do you know?”

“Because her lips didn’t move a millimeter, Victor.” The Emperor smiled. She moved into his eyeline, smiling contentedly.

“You have no idea how it feels to be able to do these things.” Again, her lips stayed closed, but her voice echoed in his head.

Karman looked at the Emperor’s hand, still outstretched. Then grasped it firmly.

When he woke up sometime later, he was ravenous. He looked around, saw he was in the vessel’s medbay, surrounded by the Emperor’s other chief advisors. Simms. Dalth. Peters. Others. Most were unconscious; some like him were waking up.

Are we...different now? One voice echoed in his head. Turning his head, Karman saw Simms looking at him.

Yes. I think we are. Karman found himself smiling. And I could not be prouder.