A Learning Time

by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

certain characters copyright others, used with permission

Kena tugged at her jumpsuit, struggling as she followed the longer legged Krystal through the SHREVEPORT. It had been decided that the tiny mouse would join the crew and, as a new crew member she needed to know the ship as well as possible. Since Krystal had sponsored her membership, she had been placed in charge of the mysterious little alien. Unlike the others, Kena had selected a tight, bright silver jumpsuit for shipboard wear, having taken a cue from the thoughts of those three crew members she could 'read'. Her swift scans had given her the true story. From what she read, Krystal was indeed infatuated with her. The others had thought it an interesting situation, considering the half-mother they continued to refer to. Their bet was interesting, considering the simplicity of the action involved.

Kena followed the half cat, half mouse deep within the ships structure. For better or worse she had decided to 'go with the flow.' It had always been her best option before, there was she felt no reason to change now.

"And this is the ships aft lifeboat" Krystal said, bringing Kena out of her thoughts. "It holds six, but if there is ever a need just launch. Another is amid-ships and two forward."

Kena reached out, softly laying one hand on the others wrist. She could feel the slight tenseness her touch brought. Unable to 'read' Krys' mind she would have made a mistake and thought it fear, until she had 'seen' Casey's vivid daydreams. Daydreams that had quickly left her short of breath.

"Krystal . . . " she half-whispered, her throat suddenly dry. "Tell you something I must. Important something is."

Krystal stepped back, suddenly serious. Thoughts flashed behind her eyes and, many times faster than any normal person, she read and discarded dozens of possibilities before the mouse could continue.

Kena looked up into the others still unreadable eyes, taking a deep breath, "Minds I read can Krys" she blurted. "Magician stage like not . . . Deep dive can I if time, thoughts all . . . " She saw the guarded expression that came to her partners face. Smiling sheepishly she held out her hands. "Case you except. Read not thoughts yours . . . Are what you l. Friend." She stopped, catching herself, "Bright thoughts yours are, touch not fast are, natural not . . . sometimes Yes . . . understand almost none. Images not, words not think you."

Reaching behind herself, Krystal triggered the lifeboat hatch. Motioning toward the opening portal she stepped aside. "I think we better talk" she decided. "And the lifeboats are the only really private places on this ship. Mimi saw to that."

Kena quickly stepped into the small chamber, making room as the Catmouse followed her. When the hatch sealed the small space quickly became warm, and very personal.

"All right" Krystal said, settling herself on one of the three small bunks. "You say you can read minds, prove it."

"Yours not, yes others" the tiny mouse replied, carefully seating herself on the small section of open decking. "Know things not could, tell yes?"

Krys groaned, the mouses strange way of talking made it difficult for even her to follow every sentience. Still, she nodded. "Tell me something you can't know from hearing us talk, or reading my computer files. If you can, you'll wait here while I go brief the others." She caught the shadow of fear that passed the others face. Covering her mouth she giggled. "Don't worry. If you can read minds, your going to be an excellent addition to this crew, and an important one."

Kena let the flash of drifting through space in an unpowered lifeboat fade away. Nodding, she thought over what she had read in the others minds.

"Aries Kena lost shift reality" she started. "Time centuries. WatersSnow save, Joke play. Milk frozen? Marry. WaterSnow children two have. Third lost one." She paused, trying to understand something beyond her technical knowledge. "Mean Stardeath what?" she asked. "DiamondStar Starkill star? Understand not."

Krystal felt a cold rush run through her. Aries and Kela, maybe their story was in the logs but the Diamonds advanced starkilling ability wasn't. She knew that for a fact. Sitting rigid she listened to the tinymouse rattle off personal information. How Krystal herself had come to have a body, things that had happened in that other time. Suddenly she realized Kena was trying to explain a certain event she didn't understand well.

"Okay, that's enough" she ordered, feeling the blood rush to her face. She KNEW no one but her and Terry knew about that little event. "Stay here. I've got to tell the others." She laughed, "Ohhh . . . Casey is going to be so embarrassed." Still laughing, she left Kena alone.

"SHE WHAT?" Casey exploded. "What do you mean she . . . "

"With a talent like that" Terry started, only to be drowned out by Casey.

"I'll kill her, I'll tear her apart if she breathes one word of this to anyone." Casey ranted. "Tell her to stay out of my private thoughts from now on, understand?" Glaring at Mimi, watching her partner rolling on the floor holding her stomach. "What are you laughing about, shorty." she growled.

Mimi gasped, taking deep breaths before she managed to answer. "You . . . " she answered, "I thought no one could . . . could beat you."

"In a fair fight" Casey replied. "And Aries wasn't fighting fair."

Krystal relaxed, Terry had taken it rather well, but then he had met a real mind reader once. For a real moment she had been afraid Casey was going to stomp down to the lifeboat then manually release it. Without powering it up first. Looking around she sighed, perhaps everything was going to be all right after all.

"I can see where her talent will be helpful" Terry said, breaking into the squabble between the other two woman. "Really helpful. But, well you can see that she's going to have to learn to leave us our privacy." He shook his head. "You say she's not native to our galaxy? Then I don't think we'll see others like her. This could be a big windfall for us so you better bring her on up."

Krystal nodded in agreement. "I'd feel better if we could get that collar off her, but all my researches show it's not possible. Not even Snowaters knows how, and if she doesn’t, I don’t think anyone does." She stood, "Still. Maybe. Maybe if we could find a way to deactivate it later."

Terry nodded in agreement. "When you find a way to get that thing off her, without removing her head from her shoulders, do it."

Krystal smiled as she lead Kena to the conference room. 'Still' she thought, 'In over three thousand years, no one has ever found a way to remove a slavers collar. At least, not without killing the wearer.'

Kena stepped quietly into the small conference/living room. To her it felt like entering a courtroom, the air was heavy with others thoughts. Forcing herself, she slowly shut out first one, then the other minds. Finished, she locked eyes with Terry, spread her hands in supplication and fell to her knees.

"Hurt not Kena meant" she begged. "Know not way other, out locked have minds yours. Read not word give." A small tear fell from her cheek, striking the floor with thunderous sound in the suddenly silent room.

Casey stood, approaching the supplicating woman. "First" she said, her voice hard. "Never EVER get into my private thoughts again, unless I let you."

Lowering her head Kena sobbed. "Mistress, understand I do" she answered, her voice hollow.

Reaching down Casey slid her hands under Kena's arms, easily lifting the smaller woman to eye level.

"Second, Never EVER supplicate yourself to us again. Not in this ship, not unless it's an act. Your not a slave anymore, you're not property and you're not less than any of us."

"Slave not, understand I" Kena replied, slowly lifting her head to look into Casey's eyes. "Training old is, year free only, learning still."

Casey frowned, dark thoughts flashed behind her eyes. Thoughts that would have frightened the tiny mouse, had she not already locked out that mind. She lowered Kena to the floor. "Krystal" she half whispered.

"Mmmm Yes?" Krystal answered, looking up into the human's face, a sly smile playing at her lips.

"Two things" Casey growled, her throat rumbling as she fought to control her anger.

"Mmm?" Krys replied, glancing at Terry, who was rapidly making bets with Mimi in sign language.

"Teach her everything she'll need to know, and break this subservient attitude" the woman growled. Without another word Casey turned, and left the room.

"You lose" Terry crowed, pulling out a small ledger. "She didn't punch out the door this time. Leessee, that's twelve hundred you owe me now."

SHREVEPORT had been out of warp less than an hour, the first patrol sector for Galdic System was still two hours away. Kena sat at the scanner station, Krystal hovering behind her as instructor. The little woman had proven to be a quick study in many areas, but the idea of Navigation simply eluded her. It was obvious to the ex-AI that the problem was a simple lack of education as manual tasks came easy. It was painfully obvious however, the focus of her attention had never been inside any school.

"Contact 237 Mark Z 16-500k range" Kena announced. "Freighter small size." Her voice ceased, her eyes took a far away look, "Lambert Jacon F. Captain. Brightwaters last, Delegation Galdic Brightwaters, seven. Ship yacht private." Her eyes refocused.

Terry glanced over, "A very valuable addition to the crew" he announced. Glancing at the tell-tells he noted the range, 492,000 kilometers still separated the two ships. More than enough time to have reacted should the other ship have proven hostile.

Turning his seat around, facing Kena's back he reached over and tapped her shoulder. When she looked up, he pointed toward the blip on her screen. "You said you can affect people, even at your full range?"

"Sir yes" she replied. "Example want you?"

Glancing at her displays he nodded. "There's no reason for a course change, not until they reach the inner systems. Make them take a Z Plus 27 turn, accelerate nine seconds, then X minus 13 degrees. Followed by a return to base course."

Kena nodded, mouthing the orders as he spoke. Her eyes glazed over a moment, then cleared. "Changes course seconds seven" she reported, then turned back to her station.

All watched the smaller ships course, awed as it suddenly preformed the indicated maneuvers, then returned to its original course.

Casey whistled, staring with sudden respect at the innocent looking woman sitting next to her. "So that's how you dealt with those criminals" she whispered.

"Casey yes, Simple is, minds weak" Kena answered absently, watching for any other blips to appear on her screens.

"An excellent addition to the SHREVEPORT" Mimi giggled, "Gods we've needed her and never knew it." Behind her eyes a thought flashed. 'And pity one tricky cat the next time she tries to play ship games.'