Architects of Destiny Read online

  “I’ll try.” Cris focused on Poltar’s position. Initially, he didn’t detect any movement, but slowly the energy seemed to shift. Cris started by turning only his head to track the movement, and then rotated his whole body. He moved back and forth several times, and then spun around entirely when he thought he sensed something behind him. The movements continued, becoming increasingly more erratic. It was difficult for Cris to follow at times, but whenever he started to feel lost, the presence seemed to come to a resting place. It was a fun game at first, but Cris started to feel bored with the exercise as it stretched on.

  “You may open your eyes,” Poltar said eventually.

  Cris breathed a sigh of relief. I couldn’t take much more of that. “How did I do?”

  “You seem to be tracking well,” Poltar replied. “I’d like to see how accurate you are at judging distance.”

  Cris tried to keep his boredom hidden. “All right.”

  “For reference, I’m currently three meters away,” Poltar said.

  This just keeps getting more thrilling. Cris closed his eyes and made note of how Poltar’s presence felt at that distance. “Got it.”

  “Whenever I stop, call out how far away I am.”

  Cris sensed movement, and then Poltar stopped.

  Cris thought for a moment. “Five meters.” It was a guess, but he thought it was a reasonable attempt. There was movement again. Cris turned to his right as he tracked. “Seven meters.” After the next movement, Poltar seemed closer. “Two meters.”

  Like the previous iteration, the exercise went on for far longer than Cris found engaging. Why won’t he tell me if I’m guessing right? I can’t improve if I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.

  “All right. Let’s try something else,” Poltar said, breaking the silence.

  Finally. Cris opened his eyes.

  Poltar moved toward the entrance door. He touched the wall, revealing a compartment. Inside, there were several chrome spheres. Poltar took four spheres from the compartment and closed it again. “These are probes. They will emit a minute electromagnetic pulse. I want you to identify the active probe.”

  That sounds like more of the same. “Okay,” Cris acknowledged, a little disappointed. I’m sure he has a reason for doing this, even if it doesn’t make sense to me now.

  Poltar used telekinesis to distribute the probes around Cris at varying distances. “Point to the probe when it’s active,” he instructed.

  Cris tried to locate the probes, but he couldn’t detect anything other than Poltar himself. “I have no idea.”

  “It’s subtle. Just give it your best guess.”

  Cris sighed inwardly. “Fine.” He kept his eyes closed and started pointing in different directions—wherever gut instinct told him. He didn’t consciously detect any signal from the probes, but following his initial reaction seemed reasonable.

  Poltar gave no indication of how accurate he was, just made generic statements of encouragement every so often. Though Cris felt like he was randomly guessing, he continued.

  “Okay, open your eyes,” Poltar said, breaking the silence. “That’s enough for a solid baseline.”

  “How’d I do?” Cris asked.

  Poltar pulled out his handheld. “It’s more important to judge your improvement than where you are now.”

  “Yeah, but—”

  Poltar returned the handheld to his pocket. “It’s been almost three hours. Want to break for lunch?”

  He’s smart to distract me from my question with food. “That would be great.” Cris’ stomach felt like it was about to eat itself, having only had two protein bars in the last day. But I know better. “I really am curious how I’m doing, though.”

  Poltar yielded. “You’re a little more advanced than I anticipated. But there’s a lot for me to teach you.”

  I hope we’re almost done with the testing and can get to the fun parts. “I look forward to learning.”

  Poltar pulled Cris telekinetically toward the entrance door. He opened the hatch and they passed through the lock to reacclimate to gravity. Once outside, Poltar led the way to the central elevator that would take them up to the main Headquarters structure.

  After some prodding, Cris got Poltar to explain the setup of the Headquarters structure during the elevator ride. The structure’s eleven Levels were self-contained rings connected by a central shaft, and each served a distinct function. There were multiple floors on each Level, which could be accessed by stairways, but the central elevator shaft was the only means to access other Levels. The top Level was for Command and Medical. Agents were on the next three Levels, with Level 2 for the Primus Agents, the Level 3 for Sacon Agents and Level 4 for Trion Agents. Each of those Levels had Trainee quarters for the new students that were not yet assigned an official Agent class or area of specialization. There was also ample classroom space where the trainees in all ranks would convene, of which Cris was assured he’d see plenty in the coming years. Levels 5 through 9 were housing and training space for the Militia division. Level 10 contained primarily research labs and Engineering. The bottom ring of Headquarters, Level 11—where he had thus far spent most of his time—was suspended away from the rest of the structure. Since it was specifically for practicing telekinetic skills, Level 11 was outside of the subspace containment shell that surrounded the rest of the facility. Telekinesis could only be used sparingly in the rest of Headquarters, due to the natural dampening properties of subspace; it kept the trainees from getting out of hand.

  Poltar took Cris back to Level 2, for the Primus class. There was a mess hall on every Level, Cris learned, except for the training area. Though Agents and trainees of any class were permitted into the other classes’ mess halls, it was convention to use the facilities on the same Level as one’s quarters unless invited to another—and such an invitation was always necessary for Militia members. The TSS culture dictated that at mealtime, Agents and trainees could come together in one place without the distinction of rank. When Cris walked into the mess hall, he was pleased to see Agents, Junior Agents, Initiates and Trainees sharing tables, though the clothing colors indicated that people still tended to stay within their own group more than not.

  The Primus mess hall was large enough to accommodate four hundred people at the same time. Long tables with seats for ten people on each side filled the center of the room, and smaller tables dotted the perimeter. There were even some booths behind a short wall at the back of the room, for those seeking a more private conversation. The entire space was decorated with warm wood tones accented by gray and black fabrics, and potted plants stood out amongst the tables and the matte black floor. Along the right wall, people moved through a buffet line before selecting an open seat.

  “Help yourself.” Poltar gestured Cris toward the buffet.

  Cris took a heaping tray of steaming meats, vegetables and bread with a few more cookies than would be considered appropriate. Poltar raised a skeptical eyebrow, but said nothing.

  After surveying the room, Poltar led the way to one of the smaller tables along the left wall. Cris felt like everyone watched him pass by, not sure if it was because he was an unfamiliar face or that he was in the company of an Agent.

  Cris dove into his meal, ravenous now that food was in front of him. Poltar had taken only a light lunch for himself and ate in silence across from Cris. While eating, Cris took in the people around him and tried to identify a pattern to the social framework. The more he observed, the more he realized that the co-mingling he thought he’d noticed when he first walked in was actually just a commander seated with their trainee group. Cris was the only individual below the rank of Junior Agent seated alone with an Agent.

  “Why am I getting such unusual treatment?” Cris asked once he was most of the way through the plate of food.

  Poltar tilted his head, questioning.

  “I’m the only one here with a one-on-one mentor. I might be more advanced than some, but why not just throw me in with other new Train
ees?”

  “You have a lot of potential, Cris. Probably more than anyone else in this room. And now that you’ve begun to tap it, you need to be taught control before it overwhelms you.”

  Cris shook his head. “All of this has happened so fast. And all this talk of ‘potential.’ I hardly feel like I know myself anymore.”

  “I heard about what happened at the spaceport—that kind of power is extraordinary. Most wouldn’t be able to do those things without years of training. Without a foundation. Jumping right in at that level… well, the holes need to be filled in quickly. You could never get that in a normal training group.”

  “I just don’t see how I’ll ever fit in.” Yet again, I’m set apart. Is that just how it’s destined to be for me?

  Poltar smiled. “Don’t worry about that. I’ll help you get control of your abilities, and then everyone will want to work with you. Who wouldn’t want to have the best on their team?”

  Cris shrugged. “I’m sure there’s someone.”

  “Then they’re shortsighted and ignorant. Anyone worth your time will respect you,” Poltar said, looking Cris in the eye. “There is greatness in you. It’s apparent to anyone who knows what to look for. They already see it in you.” He surveyed the trainees and Agents throughout the room.

  Cris looked about the room again. No uncertainty remained about whether he was being observed. People were engaged in their own conversations, but they kept glancing over at Cris. Darting glances, trying not to be caught. “What if I’m not what everyone thinks I am?”

  “That kind of humility will get you far.” Poltar eyed Cris’ empty plate. “Ready to get back to it?”

  There’s no use fighting it. It’s not my fault if they’re wrong—I didn’t ask for any of this. “Yes, sir.”

  CHAPTER 9

  Cris felt like the walls were closing in on him. There was too much energy buzzing around him to concentrate.

  A red cube hung in midair at eye level, spinning slowly. Poltar raised his hand and rotated his wrist, and the cube responded likewise. He lowered his hand, and the cube returned softly to the metal floor.

  Cris let out his breath, not realizing he’d been holding it. “Is it always so intense?”

  Poltar shook his head. “This room is an amplifier. It’s designed to assist trainees like you. Even moderate exertion from a full Agent can seem like much more than it is.”

  There were four cubes on the ground in front of them, in ascending size. The smallest cube, green, was the size of Cris’ fist. A yellow cube was twice that size, and the red Poltar had used for demonstration was about the size of his head. A blue cube, nearly a meter on each side, dwarfed the others.

  “Clear your mind. Focus on the green cube. Command it.” Poltar stepped to the back wall behind Cris, out of his view so he was not a distraction.

  Cris stared at the cube. He squinted, willing it to obey his command. With clenched fists, he thought about it hovering in the air. Nothing happened. He sighed.

  “You’re trying too hard,” Poltar said from behind him.

  “I have no idea what I’m doing.” I threw a person across the hall without thinking about it, and now I can’t do anything when I try.

  “Treat it as an extension of yourself,” Poltar said. “Like a limb. When you’re first learning to walk or write, you need to concentrate on what you’re doing. Eventually, it will come without thinking.”

  Cris frowned. “I tr—”

  “No, really clear your mind. Open yourself to knowing the cube. Feel it.”

  Fine, I’ll try again. Cris breathed slowly and evenly, clearing his mind as Sedric had taught him for combat. He envisioned a void, with the green cube as the only object in existence. He explored the cube, noting the way the light hit each of its planes. He evaluated its weight, the way it would feel to be held. Rise. The air began to buzz, vibrating. In Cris’ mind, he saw a faint glow around the green cube, white light that seemed to shimmer. Ever so slowly, the cube began to lift off of the ground. Rise! The cube rose to a meter off the ground, a faint, glowing white column supporting it from the floor. Cris looked back to Poltar, excited, “I’m—!” The cube crashed to the floor. “Or, I did.”

  Poltar grinned. “Not bad at all.” He leaned back against the metal wall. “Maintaining the levitation while talking is another lesson.”

  Cris smiled. “I’ve never seen anything like it. It was glowing.”

  Poltar nodded. “That was the electromagnetic field. Everyone seems to visualize it a little differently. I see yellow electric sparks, myself. Putting an image to it is common, helps with control.”

  “It just appeared.”

  “The mind is an amazing thing,” Poltar said with a smile. “Now that you have a way to visualize the field, it should be easier to control.”

  “Huh.” Cris stared at the cube, now seeming so plain and dull. I don’t know if I can ever look at things the same way again.

  “Why don’t you try a larger one?” Poltar suggested.

  “Okay.” Cris focused on the yellow cube next. He cleared his mind again and made the yellow cube the center of the void in his mind. After several seconds, a white glow emerged, billowing into a column beneath the cube as it rose. The buzz of energy filled him, fueled him. He thirsted for more. Feeding the energy into the cube, he brought it up two meters off of the ground before slowly lowering it. I did it! He felt warm from the exertion, but invigorated.

  “Good, and the next,” Poltar instructed.

  Cris concentrated. The red cube became surrounded by a white glow, but it didn’t rise at first. Cris focused on it more intently, picturing it levitating in his mind, seeing the column pushing it upward. Rise! The cube inched upward, gaining speed as it rose. It overshot the height Cris had intended, nearly hitting the ceiling, and then descended quickly to the floor with a thud.

  “Almost,” Cris said sheepishly.

  “Try the last one.” Poltar nodded toward the largest blue cube. It was a significant jump in mass compared to the progression of the others.

  Cris evaluated it dubiously. “Okay…” He focused on the blue cube, envisioning the white glow around it. The cube began to shudder as it was infused with energy. Rise! The cube quaked on the ground, rattling against the metal floor. Cris focused even more intently, seeing the energy flow into the cube. It glowed brighter, almost enough. He pressed harder. A corner of the cube rose off the ground, lifting—

  “Stop! Don’t strain yourself.” Poltar put his hand on Cris’ shoulder, and Cris felt the energy dissipate.

  Cris nodded and let out a breath. That felt incredible! The power… He grinned at Poltar. “I was so close.”

  Poltar nodded, suddenly serious. “Go back to the yellow one.”

  After the difficulty of the blue cube, the mid-sized yellow object rose easily from the ground. He brought it to eye-level, and began slowly rotating it clockwise. The cube spun at a fixed height, steady. It was an island in the void of Cris’ mind, surrounded by glowing energy. He felt like he could maintain the hold forever.

  “Good, that’s enough for today,” Poltar stated, breaking the moment.

  The cube faltered but didn’t fall. Cris regained his serenity and lowered the cube slowly to the ground. The glow faded when the cube was at rest.

  Cris rubbed his temples.

  “Nicely done.” Poltar clapped Cris on the shoulder. “How do you feel?”

  “My head hurts. I feel wired.” The buzz that had been in the air still hummed in his head. He wasn’t sure if he was feeling it or hearing it.

  “You should get in some physical exercise, too,” Poltar added. “It’s easy to get over-charged from telekinesis, until you know exactly how far to extend yourself. Exercise is a good release.”

  Cris nodded. Aside from any post-telekinesis benefits, there was no need to explain the importance of exercise while in artificial gravity. He had neglected his exercise routine for three weeks in the middle of his stint on the Exler, and the rapid a
trophy he experienced was enough for him to never lapse again.

  Poltar took Cris into a large open room with a track around the perimeter and weight equipment in the center. Only a few pieces of equipment were presently in use and several people were jogging around the track at various speeds. “You can use this track for now. A lot of trainees run laps in the residential halls, but we’ll wait on that until you know your way around.”

  “All right.” Cris’ mind was still reeling, shocked by what he’d been able to do through telekinesis. The buzz had yet to subside.

  “I’ll leave you to it,” Poltar said. “Run some laps and help yourself to the weights, if you feel up to it. We’ll put together a formal physical training routine tomorrow. I’ll meet you at the same time in the morning at your quarters.”

  “Yes, sir. Thank you.” I need to clear my head. Running laps is just what I need right now.

  “Great work today, Cris.” Poltar hurried off.

  Cris sighed. The entire day felt like a blur.

  He jogged laps around the track, taking a leisurely pace for most of it but occasionally surging forward into a sprint. He noticed a few of the other runners were with a partner, but some were by themselves. Finally, somewhere I don’t stand out. The buzz in his head lessened with each lap, eventually fading entirely. He thought about using some of the weight equipment but decided against it. Though the oppressive hum was gone, his mind was still racing, and he thought it best to just take some time to unwind back in his room.

  Cris made his way back to the central elevator and through the halls to his quarters. Though he was on the verge of making some wrong turns, his memory served him well and he found the correct hallway. He placed his hand on the panel outside the main door to his quarters and it slid open automatically for him.

  “How was your first day?” Scott asked as Cris entered. He and Jon were lounging on the couch.

  “Exhausting.”

  “Yeah, that tends to happen.” Scott smiled. “So, what did you go over today?”

  Cris collapsed on the couch across from the Junior Agents. “First, he took me down to one of the spatial awareness chambers, I think they’re called. He circled me while I had my eyes closed, and then had me sense some probes.”