Part 16 (2/2)
*He doesn't want to have to relieve him, especially at this point,*
Medart sent. *I don't know how he made it past the psych tests with what I'd cla.s.s as xenophobia and paranoia, but he did, and he's one of the best Security Chiefs in the Fleet. Still, it looks to me like he's gone over the edge this time; once this rebellion's over, I'm going to have him retested.*
She glanced at him and nodded. Davis saw it, traded glances with Forrest, then said, ”That seems to conclude the council as such, Captain Hobison. You and your people are dismissed; please return to your stations, and set course for Terra. Ranger Medart, Sir Corina, I would like you to remain.”
All rose, Hobison and the Command Crew bowing before they left. The Emperor and Crown Prince reseated themselves, and Davis motioned the two aboard Chang to do the same. Then he leaned forward, looking at them intently. ”It's obvious the two of you are holding something back, something important. Tell us about it.”
*You tell them,* Medart sent. *It's your field of expertise, after all, not mine.*
*Yes, Ranger.* At least, Corina thought, she had no reason to be nervous about this. ”I have discovered that Ranger Medart has a high degree of Talent, sire. I have begun training him in its use, and we have been 'speaking'--primarily, he has been rea.s.suring me-- telepathically throughout the conference.”
”Controlled, reliable telepathy?” Davis asked, his expression intent.
”Fully, sire. He also has the potential for strong darlas, and another Talent aspect we have not yet been able to identify.”
”Does that mean he'll be able to help you against Thark?” Forrest asked.
”It is barely possible,” Corina replied, ”if we have the time to develop them. Telepathy is by far the easiest and fastest part of Talent to train. I would estimate it will take at least eight to twelve days before he will be able to use his other abilities with even a novice's degree of skill and reliability.”
Davis frowned. ”Will that be enough to help at all?”
”Any a.s.sistance against Thark will be of help, Your Majesty,” Corina said.
”That's cutting it pretty fine, though,” Forrest said. ”You only give Thark five to ten days before he attacks.”
”They'll just have to do the best they can,” Davis said, then turned to Corina. ”Can you teach that to anyone else?”
”I can if the latent ability is present, sire. And although I have no really firm grounds to base it on, I am beginning to suspect, from what I am learning from Ranger Medart, that most if not all Rangers do have such ability latent. There may be others as well; it appears that humans do use what you call paranormal powers, hunches for example, though not consciously and very weakly.”
”When things get back to normal, I'd like you to check on that, and train any who do have it. For now, though, unless you have any more stunbursts for us, we'd better finish up here and get back to work.”
”That's all we have, sir,” Medart replied. He signalled Corina and the two stood, bowing. The men on the screen returned the courtesy, and the screen cleared.
”I'm sorry, Corina,” Medart said. ”It was a dirty trick to pull on you, making you agree to face Thark the way I did, but can you accept the fact that I had to do it?”
”I should be the one to apologize,” she replied, continuing when she sensed his surprise. ”It should not have been necessary for you to point out what honor requires of me. I suppose I knew, but was unwilling to face it.”
”Don't let that bother you. It's not going to be either easy or fun, and none of us blame you for being reluctant.”
”No, it will not be either,” she agreed. ”Thark is quite powerful. It is entirely possible that he will kill both of us.”
”What're the odds?”
”Not good. I estimate I have perhaps one chance in five of defeating him, perhaps less.”
Medart whistled. ”That's bad. It doesn't change things, though; I'd have done the same thing even if I'd known the odds earlier.”
”Having been in your mind, I am sure of that.” Corina attempted a purr, with little success. ”Nor would I expect otherwise from one in your position. You may phrase it differently, but honor compels you, also.”
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