Chapter 9

Posted: September 02, 2006 - 01:53:42 am

It was a 'rocky period', to say the least. For a few days, Brenda didn't talk to any of us, nor return our calls. She had stormed out of the house when Ben told her she was a talent, and that he was trying to recruit her. When she did speak to us, it was to accuse of us all manner of things. Manipulating her being at the top of the list. It got worse, from there.

She finally agreed to meet us. She said she had taken precautions against being kidnapped, so we'd better not try it. I was stunned at her reaction. We were sitting on a bench at the St. Louis Arch. People were all around. Ben had assured me that he had checked the area out, and there were no monitoring devices other than the park's security cameras. He brought a noise box with him to block anyone trying to pick up our conversation by electronic means.

"Ok. I am willing to say, for the sake of argument, that I have an ability. What gives you the right to turn my life 'topsy-turvy'? Who elected you people 'guardians of my abilities', and why didn't I get a chance to vote on this?" Brenda started off.

"Brenda, I understand you're aggravation. However, if the government gets a hold of you, you will have damned little choice in how you use your talent, and not very much in the way of self-determination. Ask Scott what his specific job is," Ben responded, nodding at me.

"I am a consultant, but for the US government. I let them know I had this ability of mine a little over a year ago. They have taken over my life, to some extent. They do not know of my telekinesis, just my remote viewing capability. But that was enough to get them on my case, and force me to work for them. I am doing so not by my choice, but to stay out of a prison situation," I told her.

"Yeah, right," she said sarcastically.

"Seriously. I told them about a terrorist I had located, and they arrested me for terrorist activity. When I convinced them of my ability, and they tried to get a judge to hold me indefinitely on a 'material witness' warrant. My attorney pointed out I had come in voluntarily and told them about this terrorist, and that a 'material witness warrant' was only used to coerce a reluctant witness, not a volunteer. We won. Then they said they were going to move to take me in as a security risk, or intimated it, if I didn't voluntarily work for them exclusively," I said a bit bitterly.

Brenda had been looking at us scornfully until I said what I did. Her eyes softened a bit then.

"So you can understand my point," she said quietly.

"Oh yes. This is why we want to try to train you, Brenda. We want you to get control over this and stay out of the government's hands. If they get you, they will keep you for the rest of your life. You will either work for them actively, or they will try to remove your ability with drugs or an operation," Ben told her.

"Why do you assume the worst of the government? Maybe they could help me. And for that matter, what do you get out of it?" she asked curiously.

"First, while the government still has the benefit of the whole country as a task, they are stepping on our rights to do it. We don't want you to have to live the life of a government slave. If we train you, we'll try to give you conscious control over your abilities. The government will never know you have these abilities. So you will be safe from their manipulation and control," Ben was explaining.

"So then control is passing from them to you?" Brenda said scornfully.

"Not at all. We just want to help you get a handle on your abilities. No blackmail, no coercing, no forcing you to work for us. We want to help you explore the possibilities. At least let us both learn from each other, and if you want to move away or have nothing to do with us after you get your control, feel free," Ben said earnestly.

"Somehow, I don't feel you're all that altruistic," Brenda said.

"Of course I hope that you will want to keep in touch with us. I know Scott cares a great deal for you, and you him. Don't let this ruin a good thing. Would you have believed us if we would have come straight out and said something like, 'hi we are a private group that wants to train your mental abilities?' Somehow, I think not," Ben said gently.

She chuckled at that and I relaxed a little. I was hopeful now, anyway.

"I have to admit, it's a strange situation. What would this training involve?" she asked curiously.

"I know of a place that knows about mental abilities, and can train and bring them out in people. They are not associated with the federal government. If you give them a few months of your time, I am sure they can bring you at least partial, if not total control of what you can do. Also, they can give you tips on training yourself, and practicing your talent. Ask Scott here, he has been through a similar course," Ben said with a slight smile.

"You're planning on having her do what I did?" I asked stunned.

"Oh, no. Her classes would consist of just the 'abilities training'," Ben responded.

"I'm missing something, here. What kind of training did Ben send you through?" she said with a glance my way.

I tossed the dice, mentally, and decided on 'truth and disclosure'. I told her I had spent six intensive months being trained in survival techniques, hand-to-hand combat, mental training, and weapons training.

"Six months! I can't do anything like that for six months! No, absolutely not! I have school and my career to consider. I don't really believe in deliberate violence on someone, anyway" Brenda stated with a deadly quiet.

"You would not be required to take the same courses that Scott took. He actually agreed to it before hand, and he actually learned a lot about himself and his abilities while doing it. No, yours will be a course done in a classroom or a relaxed atmosphere. Plus, you can bail, anytime you want.

"You might be interested in knowing that this course is taught in an alternate reality. I would move us a slight distance back in time, and then take you to the 'reality fracture', for this place. Effectively, no time would be lost to you here. It would be like you getting an extra six months or however long your training is, for free. Zero time in our reality would have passed, with the exception of a few seconds, when I return us," Ben said enthusiastically.

When we adjourned our meeting at the arch, she actually said, "Maybe we should discuss this in detail, more privately."

I was excited that she was coming around. I could see she was intrigued. We went to a very out of the way place. It was quiet and private. Ben transported all three of us to his home! Courtney greeted us, and had a smile for Brenda.

We had coffee and discussed some aspects of the training. She also wanted to know more about this 'jumping through time' with no time lost while spending a lot of time in a totally different reality than this one.

Ben responded that this was a fairly new ability he had discovered. he thought his practicing was what led to it. Finally, it was agreed. But Brenda wanted Courtney, as well as Ben, to stay with her in that place until they all came home together. They quickly agreed. I was a bit hurt that she hadn't wanted me there too. I tried not to let my disappointment show, but I am not sure how successful I was.

"Cheer up, Scott. Once we leave here, we will only be gone a few seconds in your time. Enjoy your coffee. We will be back before you finish it!" Ben exclaimed with a grin.

He gathered Courtney and Brenda close to him, and they 'moved', all at once. They disappeared, just like that! It was still an amazing thing to see. I was contemplating going to the couch and waiting, when they reappeared before me!

"Wow, I didn't even get to take a sip of my coffee," I said with a grin.

"Scott! How nice to see you again!" Brenda said and came to give me a hug.

This was much better than the vibes she had been giving off a few seconds ago. She appeared more relaxed, and smelled of damp earth, of all things.

"Wow, you smell like the earth after a shower or rainstorm," I said, inhaling deeply.

"That seems to be a side effect of my ability," she giggled.

"'Home sweet home'. Those four months kind of dragged for me. Good thing I had good company," Courtney said, grinning and grabbed Ben.

"Four months? You guys were gone for four months? Not six?" I blurted.

"I didn't take the same course you did, Scott. I watched some of that training, and I am glad I wasn't in it," Brenda said with a shudder.

The three of them went to get coffee, and I followed them. I tried to get everything out of them, but they asked me to wait long enough so they could get comfortable with their coffee, on the couch.

I went and sat, and Brenda came and sat next to me. That was nice, considering she had not seen me in four months, and we had not really been together that long. I was kind of surprised, actually.

"Ok, first tell me about this 'earth smell' I keep getting from you, Brenda. When did that start?" I asked curiously.

"Well, that came fairly recently. About three weeks ago, I guess. I can take a bath, or shower, and I smell normal. But an hour later, I smell like this. Most people like it," she said looking at me.

"Oh, I do! I'm not complaining, just wondering. Does it mean anything?" I asked wonderingly.

"I think it's part of my connection to the earth and to nature," Brenda said frowning a little.

"It started up around the same time she could consciously call up storms," Ben said.

"So she can do that?" I asked.

They filled me in on her accomplishments, and on some of her failures. She was doing well with controlling weather elements. Wind, rain, snow, sleet, hail... she could control them all, well enough. She could slow or stop severe storms, and she could change their direction. She could call up a storm, but it was easier for her to work with an existing storm. Lightning was under her control also.

"I feel positively energized during a storm now. Before, I used to feel antsy, but now I know why. I had always been trying to reach out, and become part of the storm. It's the most wonderful thing ever, Scott!" Brenda exclaimed enthusiastically.

"I take it you're over your snit with us at how we recruited you for training?" I asked with a grin.

She punched my arm. "Silly. I had no idea. I'm glad you guys took the time to explain it, and were patient with me," she said seriously.

"Well, I thought you were worth it. It sounds like it was a positive experience for you," I said and smiled at her.

We talked some more about the training methods she used, and the difference in some of my own training methods. We both had mental abilities, but used them differently. Hers were related to nature and the weather, mine was far seeing, and Ben had the most useful if you asked me. Time travel... this hiding in the 'almost there' of his... then going to alternate worlds... Made me feel like the kid really. Only Courtney apparently did not have any 'talent' in our group, and it didn't seem to bother her a bit.

Another day working, and it was a dreary Monday morning. If I were ruler of the world, I would do away with Mondays. Ah, well. If wishes were money, I would be a millionaire. Eric BS'd with me in the office, until he was called out to be back up on a field assignment.

This left me alone again. I was actually feeling left out. I sat reading the paper, and covertly using my ability on my bosses in the building. I kept getting the feeling I was missing something, and had this feeling for a while.

It was confirmed when two of the three upper managers were called to Washington for a conference. They were flying in a private jet, which was unusual. The reason became clear a short time after they were at their assigned altitude. They had a sort of video conference call.

It was an interesting call to say the least.

"Is the subject suspicious at all?" asked the man on the screen.

"No sir. He seems to be assimilating with the organization and is fitting in well. He has no idea of operation 'Lampshade'," one of my immediate bosses said.

"'Lampshade'?" I asked myself, silently.

The rest of the conversation was uninteresting, and ended shortly after that. Now what the hell was 'lampshade', and how did it pertain to me? The conversation seemed coded. It was almost as if they were worried about someone overhearing. Could that be normal security? Or it could be they were talking in code or generalities, in case they thought I could hear?

Hmm!?

Was I getting paranoid?